Saturday December 27 [32w 5d]
"Bell, come downstairs for a second, will you?" I groan, seriously contemplate feigning sleep, but finally decide to see what my brother wants. I throw my blankets off and roll myself onto the floor. Getting out of bed as been much easier since I figured out this handy little trick. "Bell, you coming?"
"Oh shut up, would you already. One can only travel so fast when their gravitational pull is that of the sun." I slide my slippers on, a very much appreciated Christmas gift from Lena, and visit the toilet before going downstairs. Once I feel ready to tackle the stairs I shimmy down them sort of sideways. I saw a Healer before coming home for the holidays and she said I'm measuring quite farther along than I should be. I'm told it's nothing to worry about but is there really any point in telling a worried pregnant lady these things?
I reach the bottom of the stairs to see what Nate wants. When I enter the kitchen I'm surprised to see Lena sitting at the table. She sees me and jumps up, engulfing me in a gentle hug, careful of the belly. "Oh, Bell, hi!"
"Lena! What are you doing here?" She holds me at arms length.
"Our holiday plans fell through so I came to see you." I smile.
"I'm so happy to see you." She grins and pokes my belly. I narrow my eyes and smack her shoulder.
"I've missed you and the belly." I roll my eyes and sit at the kitchen table. She resumes her spot and tucks her legs under her. "How has your holiday been?" I rest my chin in my hand.
"It's been pretty well. Mum and Phoebe hosted a shower for me which was a total surprise. I fell asleep at the end and couldn't even say goodbye to anyone." Lena grins.
"Oh, no. I could hardly blame you though."
"It was a great night. I got way too much stuff, Len, my goodness. I have no idea how I'm going to store it all." Her grin gets bigger and I look at her suspiciously. "What are you smiling at?"
"Speaking of gifts, I brought you something."
"No. Stop bringing me things." She looks behind me so I twist in my chair and hear a voice that makes my heart jump.
"Shall I take myself back then?" A smile breaks across my face and threatens to tear it in half. Draco crosses the room just as I pry myself off the chair. I swing my arms around his middle as his arms reach around my head and pulls me against him tightly. Gods, I've missed him. I breathe him in, a scent that is uniquely Draco. I'm not sure how long we stand together, hugging ourselves silly. I have no idea what happened to Lena, where my brother factors in or even where he is. And I don't care. Draco finally releases me and stares at me with an actual smile on his face, his hands cradling mine.
"Now what are you doing here?"
"All in good time. Right now your friends and I are taking you out." A slight frown creases my face.
"Out? Out where?" His hands release my face and he shrugs in a graceful way. "Wait. Friends plural? Who else is here?"
"All in good time, my love. Let's get you dressed then, yes?" I look down at my pajama bottoms and frown again.
"But-" Draco shakes his head and waggles his finger at me.
"No buts." He turns and sticks out his arm, clearly for me to take. I rest my hand on his arm and raise an eyebrow. "Your room, miss?" I roll my eyes and lead him up to my room.
"I would have cleaned up a little if I'd known you were coming." I watch as Draco waves his hand dismissively while he surveys the things on my walls and shelves. Pictures and trinkets and things that are important to a teenage girl. I open my closet and examine my options. Without knowing where we're going it's hard to pick an outfit. I decide on a flowy maternity top and some leggings. I'm aware of Draco's gaze on me as I pick out my clothes and set them on my bed. He smirks a little and clasps his hands in front of him. I shake my head and smile. "No fucking way. Out."
"What if you require assistance?" I roll my eyes and point to my door.
"Out." He holds up his hands and chuckles, leaving me to dress. After I'm done I open the door to find Draco standing in the hallway looking at the pictures all over the walls. I watch him for a few seconds before he notices me. Once he does a smile lights his face and he gestures toward a rather embarrassing picture of me when I was 8. Lots of missing teeth, a lovely purple dress with a ton of frills, and a really wonderful haircut. "Oh, goodness, I do wish she'd take that picture down."
"I like it. Even if it doesn't move." I glance around and then look at Draco.
"Is it weird? Being here in a muggle house? It didn't even occur to me." He looks down at me with a faint smile on his face.
"Different, yes. Weird? Not as much as I had expected." He takes my hand and I rest my head on his chest.
"So where are we going?"
+++
5 hours later I'm sitting on my living room couch, having been practically shoved onto it by everyone. Phoebe planned yet another afternoon surprise for me, this time including Lena, Draco and Gabe. We went to a movie and then for an early dinner. I feel entirely happy and full and spoiled and tears are suddenly streaming down my face. It alerts everyone. "Guys! Stop. I'm just happy. This has been a fantastic day and I'm so grateful for all of you." Once they're all sure I'm actually fine conversations starts flowing. Phoebe and Gabe have a lot of questions for Lena and Draco.
Lena is a pureblood herself and knows quite a bit about the muggle world, as her family doesn't believe in the superiority nonsense. She has visited muggle places and I've yammered on about my life before finding out I was a witch. Draco obviously knows very little and has many of his own questions. I sit back and watch them talk back and forth, feeling again that sense of family. These people are my tribe and I couldn't be happier. This baby is going to have a lot of love. Just then Gabe, Phoeb and Lena get up. I blink. I missed something. "What's going on?" I catch a look between Phoeb and Lena.
"Gabe and I are going to show Lena around, give you and Draco time to chat."
"Time to chat about what?" I sit up a little and lean forward, watching my three friends say their goodbyes and leave. "Well. That was unexpected." Draco chuckles and shifts on the couch so he's angled toward me.
"Not completely. I know what they're doing, of course." My eyebrows knit.
"When am I going to be clued in, here? Do I have to get on my knees and beg?" I see Draco's mouth twitch and grin.
"While I daresay I would enjoy that, there's no need. Would you even be able to get up from the floor?" I smack his arm and roll my eyes. "So you want to know what's going on." I nod. "What say I kneel on the floor then, eh?" I feel a flush over my entire body as Draco gets off the couch and kneels in front me, right there in my living room.
"What are you doing?" He pulls a small black box out of his pocket. "Draco." My voice rises an octave as my throat constricts. "What-"
"Bell. Shut it for a second." I clamp my lips shut and press them together with my fingers as an added precaution. Draco takes a deep breath and looks, what feels like, into my soul. "Annabel, you have seen the absolute worst parts of me and haven't gone running. I want to spend my life showing you the best parts. I want to know your dark and your light and everything in between. I want us to spend our lives making each other happy. Will you honour me and become my wife?" I just stare at him, stunned.
He had told me how he felt, had given me a glimpse of his feelings and what they meant. "Draco.." It comes out quietly and full of emotion. "What happened to graduating and spending time together after school and figuring things out?" He looks at me patiently.
"And we can still do that. I'm not talking about getting married in a week or even a year if you aren't ready. I've chosen you and I want everyone to know that." I feel a second bout of tears slide down my face.
"You're absolutely insane, do you know that?" Draco grins and opens the box, that until now I had completely forgotten about. I gasp when I see the ring. "Oh my god, Draco! You're kidding right?" His smile widens and he chuckles a little.
"Certainly not. Now, are you going to give me an answer or do I need to spend more time on my knees trying to convince you to marry me?" I pry my eyes from the stunning ring to the dazzling smile on his face.
"No convincing needed, you idiot. Are you going to put the ring on or do I have to do it myself?" He laughs and takes the ring out of the box, takes my left hand, and slides it delicately onto the proper finger. "Wow.. Draco, this is too much." He grunts as he gets up and sits beside me on the couch.
"Nonsense, love. Mother insisted." My eyes widen as I look at my finger.
"What? Your mother knows?" I glance up at his face in time to catch the tightening around his eyes.
"Yes. As does my father." I turn toward him and he takes my hand, running his thumb along my fingers. "Mother could tell there was something different. She badgered me for two days before I finally told her. I didn't know what to expect, but a hug and tears and an engagement ring were not it. My father, however, was less than pleased. He hasn't spoken to me." I frown and look at our hands.
"I'm sor-"
"No, Bell," He lifts my chin to look at him. "You do not take on any of this. These are his own problems and they have nothing to do with you. I mean it." I nod as a few more tears leak out. Damn these hormones. "Mother has requested to meet with you and your parents. Before you panic, I told her about your bed rest and that traveling more than is necessary will not do. She offered to come here but I didn't want to overwhelm you."
"You guessed right. I can hardly believe what's happened already." A thought occurs to me then. "Hold the phone. It's the 27th, we've been on holidays for a week. How long have you been planning this?" A slight blush crosses his cheeks.
"If you must know, I've been planning it for weeks. Lena and Phoebe have been very helpful."
"Liars, all of you."
"Can this liar kiss you now?" I laugh as he brings his face down to mine.