Shaking his head to dislodge thoughts of Hermione, Lucius turned back to his desk. He had work to do, he couldn't just sit here and dwell on his daughter-in-law. Once he started back on with his work, Hermione didn't enter his thoughts again, until a house elf unexpectedly popped into the room a good couple of hours later. "What do you want Misty?" Lucius asked, briefly looking up from his work to see which elf entered his study. Since the end of the war and the new laws freeing elves, the Malfoys had a lot less elves working at the Manor, but the ones they did have were loyal and were very hard workers. Misty, the elf who had entered his study, was the elf Narcissa had assigned to look out for Hermione. "Miss Hermione needs help." Misty squeaked, wringing her hands nervously. "What is it?" Lucius asked in a bored tone. "Can't it wait until Narcissa gets back?" "She's having a baby." Misty replied. "I had noticed." Lucius drawled. "But what does that have to do with anything?" "She's having a baby, right now." Misty amended, making sure to add the vital bit of information. "Now?" Lucius jumped to his feet and looked around in a panic. "Why didn't you say anything? Come on." Not checking to see if the elf was following him, Lucius bolted out of his study and headed off in the direction of Draco and Hermione's room. XXX Hermione clung onto the back of the chair as another wave of pain hit her. The pains had started coming shortly after Narcissa had left the room, but thinking it was another false alarm Hermione had ignored them. However, nearly two hours later she knew this was no false alarm, she was in labour. "Misty." She called for the elf Narcissa had asked to keep an eye on her since arriving at the Manor. With a small pop Misty appeared beside Hermione. The helpful smile soon slid off the little creature's face as she took in the sight of her young mistress. "Is Narcissa back, yet?" Hermione gritted out, trying to breathe through the pain. "No, Miss." Misty shook her head. Hermione's reply was swallowed by her screams as another contraction hit. Realizing she needed someone, Hermione reluctantly sent the elf off to get Lucius. While her father-in-law wouldn't have been her ideal choice of help, he would have to suffice. It took nearly ten mintues for Lucius to come bursting into the bedroom and by that time Hermione's contractions were coming every couple of minutes. "Come on, we have to get you to the hospital." Lucius immediately took charge of the situation, his earlier panic subsiding when he witnessed Hermione in labour. "Draco." Hermione gasped as Lucius took hold of her arm. "I need Draco." "Misty, send for Draco." Lucius snapped at the elf. "Tell him to meet us at the hospital." When Lucius began leading Hermione to the fireplace in the room, she shook her head. "It's not connected to the floo network." "Bloody hell, I'll kill Draco." Lucius muttered. "Do you think you can make it to mine and Narcissa's room?" Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but all that emerged was a loud cry. Lucius took one look at his daughter-in-law and called for another elf. This time he sent the elf off to the hospital with order to bring back a Healer. Carefully he walked Hermione over to the bed and sat her down. "What are you doing?" Hermione asked, crying out as another contraction hit. "This baby isn't going to wait." Lucius said. "We don't have time to get you to the hospital." "Yes we do. Aah." Hermione's protests turned into screams as her body agreed with Lucius. "You're having a baby now, so stop arguing." Lucius told his daughter-in-law. "Draco and the Healer are on the way, let's get you comfortable." Hermione let Lucius help her get settled on the bed, she even held onto him and dug her nails into his arm a couple of times as the pain hit her. "I think I need to push." Hermione said, looking at Lucius in horror. "You can't." Lucius' face mirrored the look of horror on Hermione's face. "The Healer isn't here yet." "I can't help that." Hermione panted. "But you're not ready to give birth. You're still wearing your pajama bottoms." Lucius argued. "I know." Hermione muttered. "You get up here and don't look." She ordered her father-in-law. Lucius quickly made his way to the head of the bed and turned away as Hermione removed her pajama bottoms. Throwing the bed sheet over her uncovered lower half, Hermione once again held onto Lucius as the contractions carried on coming closer together. "Where's the Healer?" Hermione questioned through her screams. "I don't know." Lucius muttered. "I should have gone myself." "Don't leave me." Hermione cried, worried that she would be left alone to deliver her baby. "I'm not going anywhere." Lucius soothed, running a hand through Hermione's hair. "Do you still feel the need to push?" "Yes, it's getting stronger." Hermione panted. "Then do it." Lucius ordered. "What if something happens to the baby?" Hermione asked, fear evident in her voice. "What if it gets stuck?" "Nothing will happen, I promise." Lucius smiled at Hermione reassuringly as he took hold of her hand. "Now push." Lucius almost wished he hadn't taken hold of Hermione's hand when she almost crushed it with her surprisingly strong grip. However he didn't remove his hand, he merely let Hermione squeeze it as she almost screamed the house down. When Hermione collapsed back onto the bed, her hand slipped under the sheet that had been covering herself. "I can feel the head." She announced, before frowning and turning to look at Lucius. "You're going to have to go down there." "What?" Lucius looked at her as though she was mad. "Why? I can help from here." "I need to be sure the baby's okay." Hermione said. She didn't like the idea any more than Lucius did, but her baby came first. "Please Lucius." She pleaded through gritted teeth as the urge to push began to grow again. Reluctantly Lucius nodded and leaving Hermione's side he headed to the bottom of the bed. With a deep breath he took up his position and trying to forget who he was dealing with, he helped Hermione deliver the baby. The rest of the labour passed easily and before Lucius knew where he was, he was cleaning up a tiny bundle and checking the baby was okay. "What is it?" Hermione gasped. "It's a boy." Lucius grinned. Just as Lucius wrapped the baby in a blanket and handed him to Hermione, the house elf Lucius had sent to the hospital appeared, followed by a Healer. The Healer apologized for the delay, citing an emergency at the hospital, as he hurried forward to examine Hermione and the baby. While the Healer was in the middle of his examination of Hermione, Draco burst into the room. He frantically took in the scene before sprinting over to the side of the bed and grabbing hold of Herminoe's hand. "I'm so sorry I'm late. I was in a meeting and Misty told me to go to the hospital but when I got there you weren't there. One of the Healers said you sent for help, so I rushed straight back here." Draco said, kissing Hermione on the forehead. "But since I'm here now you can have the baby."
