Life After Death - An Erica Black Continuation (4)

Thirty Two

"I didn't fall in love with you,
I walked into it with my eyes wide open.
I chose each and every step of my journey.
Today is not the will of the fates,
it is my will and, I hope, yours too.
I would choose you in a thousand lifetimes.
In my darkest moment, I found my light.
In the loss of my Sun, I found the stars.
I take you, exactly as you are
And vow to give you the best of myself in return." Smiled Draco Malfoy as he spoke.

"You cannot possess me, nor I you for we belong to ourselves
But whilst we both wish it, I will happily give you that which is mine to give
And take only that which you are willing to give me in return.
I will hold your hand in mine as we face the future as partners, as equals.
To be loved is to be known and I will continue to know you until the day we part.
I know your past, I share your present and I hope to help create your future.
I take you exactly as you are
And vow to give you the best of myself in return." Spoke Erica clearly and precisely, flashing her soon to be husband an excited grin.

"So, do you, Draco Lucius Malfoy, Take Erica Willow Black to be your lawfully wedded wife in the eyes of the Ministry of Magic, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, to death do you part?"

"I do."

"And, do you, Erica Willow Black, Take Draco Lucius Malfoy to be your lawfully wedded husband in the eyes of the Ministry of Magic, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, to death do you part?"

"I do."

"Well then, It is my absolute pleasure to announce you husband and wife. Mrs Erica Black and Mr Draco... Black?" Erica looked up at her husband in shock,
"You didn't!" She laughed out loud, throwing her head back
"You didn't want to lose your name and besides, Mrs Malfoy was my beloved Astoria. You, my beloved Erica, are no Mrs Malfoy, but I hope to become a Mr Black, that is, if you'll have me...?"
"Merlin, of course I will, you daft, daft man"
Kingsley Shacklebolt cleared his throat, "You may now kiss the bride" Draco Black took his wife's hand and kissed it lightly before gently spinning her, she laughed at this and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek as their family applauded behind them.

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Draco and Erica Black re-entered the party, he was wearing the same, formal dress robes with a Slytherin green waist coat and she was wearing a Slytherin green, floor length, off the shoulder gown. Elegant and refined as ever, they looked the picture of what a typical pureblood union would be expected to. Narcissa Weasley couldn't help but think back to her first wedding, to Draco's father, Lucius and to her-own parent's wedding portrait..
"Mother, Mother? would you take a photograph for us?" She was snapped from her thoughts by her son approaching her.
"Oh! Yes, yes of course I will Draco, darling." She smiled, taking the camera and waiting for the family to arrange themselves. Draco stood with his right arm around his wife, on his left stood her twin girls, Willow and Charlotte in their dresses, the same colour as their mother's. Willow was as neat as a pin, much like she always was, her black ringlets pulled back into a half up, half down style with her wand securing the bun. Charlotte had her own, straight, hair down except for a braid that went around her head like a crown, and her tights were laddered in a way that made Narcissa cringe internally although she tried hard not to show it, it wasn't the child's fault that Narcissa had been raised the way she had. On Erica's right, stood Narcissa's own grandchild, an adult Scorpius Malfoy- now the only Mr Malfoy.

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The celebrations continued for hours, well into the early hours of the morning and the sun was creeping into view as the last of the guests left, "When should we tell them?" sighed Erica, looking to her new husband for an answer..
"I'm not sure, whenever you're ready, Eri" he offered, rather unhelpfully, resting his hand on her back as a signal of support,
"it's already been almost thirteen weeks, I'll start showing soon..."
"Well, when will we know the sex?" he asked, trying to hide the excitement in his voice.
"I have an appointment in the morning" She grinned, she'd never found out the gender of the twins, she never had a scan and she wasn't even aware there were two of them until the day they were born. But this time, they had elected to use a muggle insemination method called IVF, it was all very clever.
"I suppose, we ought to look into housing as well, the term is almost over and we have nowhere to go besides my home but I don't want you or the girls to feel like guests.." He trailed off, his wife smiled at him, he was kind and considerate, traits it was hard for her to not appreciate.

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"Well, Mrs Black, would you like to know the baby's sex?"
"Please," she smiled "before my husband passes out" the technician chuckled, glancing up at the man, holding his breath is silent anticipation before pressing the device to the slim woman's flat stomach, adjusting it slightly and hesitating for a moment
"Okay! Well Mrs Black, Mr Black, it looks like you have a healthy baby girl in there"
"A girl? I'm going to have a daughter??" Yelled Draco, leaping from his seat in excitement.

Instead of flooing or apparating home, the two of them elected to walk through the streets of London, looking at houses as they went.
"I don't know, none of these really speak to me Dray, I'd really love something like Malfoy manor, spacious and in the country but full of magic." She sighed, lost in thought.
"Then, that. That is exactly what we shall find, my love" The blond man grinned down at the petite woman.