FIC: Kathryn [G]

[ass_fest_mod]

Author: alafaye
Title: Kathryn
Pairing(s): Albus Severus/Scorpius
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Word Count: 5353
Summary: Scorpius wakes up one morning and finds out that he's a father. (See prompt.)
Prompt: Immediate Post-Hogwarts (like, Al and Scorp are eight/nineteen-ish) - Scorp and Al are the best of friends who share a flat. Scorp (or Al-either one) gets a girl knocked up. As soon as the baby is born the mother disappears, leaving the baby with Scorp. Family not wanting to take care of the bastard, half-blood child (In Scorp’s case), Scorp decides to take care of it himself. Well, not really by himself. With Al’s help, too, of course. Major bonus points if either Al or Scorp gets into an accident that leaves them in critical condition. “Please, I can’t do this by myself”. [submitted by reikokatsura]
Notes: Thanks to my beta, mrs_jack_turner.



Scorpius blinked in the early morning light that streamed in through the window. Something had awoken him, yet none of their wards had been disturbed... Ah, that's what it was. He groaned and rolled out of bed. Shirt, he needed a shirt. Yawning, he opened their door. "Hello, Mrs. Tingleby. How can I help you?"

Mrs. Tingleby frowned and pointed to the floor. "That. A young woman just dropped it off downstairs and told me to tell you."

Scorpius stared down in surprise at a now gurgling bundle. "Er..." He looked up when Mrs. Tingleby started to walk off. "Hey, hold on! What's all this about?"

She turned back and raised her eyebrows. "Usually when a young woman drops off a baby on young man's doorstep--or, in this case, his neighbour's and asks her to give it to him--it means that he is the father."

Scorpius gaped in shock as he watched her leave. From the floor, there was another gurgle. Scorpius glanced down and decided it was entirely too early for all of this.

Albus shuffled into the living room. "Wh-what's up?" His hair was sticking up in ten different directions. He scratched his stomach with one hand, the other stretched above his head. Scorpius decided that of the two, Albus was infinitely more appealing than the baby.

"There's a baby on our doorstep."

Albus raised his eyebrows. "Must have drunk too much last night. Did you say--" Again, a gurgling. "Baby? Is there a note? Surely if this is a cliché--one straight from my father's own story--there should be a note. So long as it isn't from some doddering old man."

"What?" Scorpius was confused. "How does any of that make sense?"

Albus sighed and pushed past Scorpius to look at the baby. "You must the only person in the whole wizarding world who doesn't know my family's history."

"That's why you like me, though," Scorpius defended.

Albus had picked the child up and handed over the attached note. "Here, you read it. I think this one needs changing."

"I'll trust you, oh member of the family that never seems to stop reproducing," Scorpius replied.

"Hey, don't knock my family! It’s not our fault your family can only manage one per generation." Albus had the baby unwrapped and its nappy--that's what it was called, right?--open.

"Must be a balance," Scorpius said. "Your family reproduces ten for every one of us. Makes sense."

Albus smirked. "Read the letter, git, so we know what to tell the authorities when we drop her off."

"Mrs. Tingleby said a woman left the baby and told her to give it to me." Scorpius unfolded the parchment and a dawning sense of recognition flowed through him. "Uh, Al?"

Albus looked up from the baby--who was happy with the attention--and frowned. "Scorp?"

"She's mine."

"What?"

~~~

Days later, Scorpius huffed as held the carrycot. It would have been easier to transport with magic, but Albus had cautioned against it because of what some great-great aunt or something of his had said. "You're supposed to be cute and just sit there, you know?" The baby blew bubbles at him. Luckily, Al knew the basics of what babies needed and they had gone shopping while waiting for St. Mungo's to finish the potion that would determine whether the baby truly was Scorpius' or not.

Now, at home, Scorpius had the parchment that made it official--she was his daughter. The paperwork for her birth certificate had been started over at the Ministry. The only thing left to do was inform his parents. He sighed and looked around the hall he was walking down. She wasn't a pureblood. He knew that. With a family as infamous as his, he preferred to frequent Muggle bars. However, maybe his parents would accept her anyway. Maybe?

The house elf that was leading the way opened the parlour doors and bowed. "Master and Mistress are waiting."

Scorpius gulped and hoped this wouldn't fall apart. He clutched more tightly to the results from St. Mungo's and nodded to himself. Not a pureblood, but still family. She was. He glanced down at her. Even if she wasn't to them, she was still his.

"Scorpius!" His mother called. She looked like a portrait, dressed in a soft blue dress robes and wearing just the right amount of jewellery.

"Mother," he set the child down and opened his arms to embrace her.

"You were just here last week," she said, pulling away just enough to look at him. "And you've brought...a baby? Unexpected, of course. Ah, Draco?"

His father was stolid, hand on a rather familiar book. "Quite unexpected. The paper, Scorpius?"

Scorpius’ hand shook as he handed over the official parchment that listed him as the child's father. "I--"

His father silenced him with a raised hand. He read the paper, looked over to the book and shook his head despairingly. "A Muggle, Scorpius?"

"I know. It was just the once," Scorpius weakly protested. He hoped his father wouldn't see through the lie.

"And yet clearly it was enough," Father said. "Did we teach you nothing?"

Scorpius hung his head. "You taught me well."

"Then would you care to explain to me why you have a...half-blood for a daughter?" Father asked. His voice was chilling in its quiet tone.

Scorpius held his tongue. There was no explanation; a gulf was expanding in the room. His mother looked between them both, it was clear to Scorpius from her body language who she sided with. He had been raised to uphold the traditions and expectations of the family, but if there was one thing Scorpius had learned at Hogwarts, it was that he did not have to be a carbon copy of his father.

Scorpius remembered the girl--she had been pretty, with dark hair and green eyes. A student going on to become a doctor. Scorpius would have loved to have seen her again, but she had said she wasn't looking for anything serious. Scorpius had let it go. After all, he would not be able to give her the attention she deserved. His heart belonged to another.

"No answer for us?" His father stood and tossed the parchment at Scorpius' feet. "Why did you bring her here?"

"To meet her grandparents, of course," Scorpius said. He dared to look up. She was his daughter. That was that.

"That--" his father pointed to the baby, "--is no blood of mine. Get rid of her, Scorpius. An orphanage would gladly take her in, or give her to those red heads you love so much. Know this, however, if you persist in keeping her, in declaring that she is yours, you may never set foot in here again."

So that's how it would be. "She's not listed in the book?"

His father narrowed his eyes. "Of course not. I had to check, of course. Astoria's mother paid a visit since she had not been informed that she was expecting a new in-law nor that there was a child on the way. The girl is listed in the Greengrass' book. However, as you noted, she is not in ours."

Scorpius nodded and picked up the carrycot. He turned sharply on his heel, as best he could, and left the Manor. He bit his lip to keep from crying and clutched his charge close to him as he Disapparated.

~~~

"Albus Severus, why are you so interested in how to raise a child?" Grandma asked, peering at Al over her cup. "Do you have something you need to tell me?"

Al flushed. "No! It's...it's not for me, okay?" He sighed. "It's for Scorpius."

She nodded. "Ah. But why isn't Scorpius here, asking me himself? He knows he's welcome here, right?"

"Well, see, he--"

There was a commotion in the front yard. Someone rushed through the door. Albus was standing with his wand in hand, but soon calmed down. It was Scorpius. He looked upset. Albus took the carrycot from Scorpius, only to have Grandma to take it from him. Instead he pulled Scorpius into the kitchen. "Come on. What happened? What did they say?"

"Oh, she is a right joy!" Grandma said. She cooed at the little girl who responded happily, waving her limbs around. "You produced quite the beautiful little girl, Scorpius."

Scorpius smiled feebly. "Thanks, Mrs. Weasley."

"Grandma," she admonished. "I've told you before. Now, cup of tea, yes? Always helps, I think. And some biscuits."

Scorpius seemed to relax a bit. He slumped down in his chair. Albus rubbed his back. "What happened?"

"They don't accept her," Scorpius said. He looked broken. "Said she wasn't a Malfoy."

"Your parents?" Grandma poured them all fresh cups of tea and a plate of chocolate biscuits appeared on the table.

Scorpius nodded. "Yeah." He played distractedly with his cup. "I just don't understand! I know her mother is a Muggle, but she's still mine!"

"Of course she is," Grandma said with a nod of her head. She waved her wand and a bottle filled up with milk. She handed both the baby and the bottle to Scorpius. "Just like that, dear. Yes."

Scorpius struggled for a moment, but when the girl settled down peacefully to drink, he relaxed too. "I know. I can't imagine giving her up."

Grandma was beaming. "A natural father. A bit young, I suppose, but Arthur and I were as well. You'll do fine. Even if your parents won't help, I've always thought of you as one of the family. You'll have all of us."

Scorpius smiled. "Thanks."

Al played with her toes and she giggled. "I bet they didn't even look at her. They'd have fallen in love with her otherwise."

~~~

Scorpius blinked several times, trying to get his eyes to work properly. He glanced at the clock. Three am. What--? Another scream broke the silence of the flat. He groaned and rubbed his face. He made to get out of bed and tripped on the duvet. He swore under his breath--why didn't babies sleep through the night?

He stumbled towards the living room where they had--temporarily--set up the cot. The lights were on and Albus was struggling with a pink bundle. "What's going on?"

Albus shrugged and shook his head. "I don't know! She was just screaming! She's dry and warm enough. I tried to give her a bottle, but she won't take it!"

"How long has she been screaming for?" Scorpius rubbed the back of his head then held out his arms for her.

"Twenty minutes? I don't know." Albus sank into the couch, looking run down. "Think we should call my grandmother?"

"She's old, Al. She doesn't want to be woken up at this hour," Scorpius said.

"My parents?" Al offered again.

Scorpius started pacing, bouncing her in his arms as he walked. He'd seen one of Al's relatives doing it. Maybe it would help? "You're the one with the huge family. Why don't you know what to do?"

"Because I'm not a girl? I never babysat," Al yawned. "Try singing. She might like that."

"I can't sing!"

"Neither can I!"

Scorpius sighed and looked down at her. Her face was scrunched up and red; tears streamed down it. He started humming something. He didn't know what, but it seemed to help. She was calming down, hiccoughing quietly as she stopped crying. "There, now."

She blinked at him with watery eyes. "Do you think she misses her mother?"

"Maybe," Al said. "I remember when we got our dog--he spent the first few weeks with us pining and moping."

"She's not a dog."

"I know that. I'm just saying..."

Scorpius blinked in surprise when a large rumbling came from her stomach. He hesitantly offered the bottle to her after grabbing it from the coffee table, she took it happily. Al smirked. "Guess she likes you better. Good thing, too. I'm not her dad."

Scorpius huffed. "How are we going to do this?"

"Dunno about you, but me? I'm going back to bed," Al yawned. "Night."

Scorpius huffed as his flatmate walked away. "Right. He's a nutter, isn't he?" She looked at him and then back at the bottle. "I hope he doesn't move out. Not that I mind living with just you, love. It's just..."

She snuggled further down in his arms, content. Scorpius shook his head. "Right. You don't mind. So long as someone feeds you and cleans you, you're happy. Wish it were always that easy."

~~~

Mrs. Weasley accepted babysitting duties with a happy smile. "Oh, I miss having little ones around. Now at least my grandkids are producing the next generation."

Scorpius shook his head. "One of yours?"

She patted his cheek. "You have been since Albus brought you home one summer. Looking so lost among all of us; blond among the red. Harry was like that, you know. Albus' father, I mean. Needed someone to take him in. You--well, you did have your parents, but you seemed to welcome us as much as we welcomed you. Not at all like your father, are you? Now, I've got everything I need--and you young man, don't dawdle. She won't wait for you to have a free day to need new nappies."

"My training--"

"Exactly. It's why you brought her here, yes? But after training, you have to go shopping."

Scorpius nodded. "Right. But...I--"

"Don't know what to do. I should have known. Where do I put my head, sometimes? You wouldn't know and Al...well, he tries, doesn't he? So bring him and yourself here after your training. I'll show you the ins and outs."

"Al doesn't have to come."

"Oh, Scorpius." She clucked her tongue. "Make sure he's with you. You hear me?"

Scorpius nodded and bent to kiss his daughter goodbye. "Thank you for this. I appreciate it."

"Oh, no worries, dear," she said with a wave of her hand. "I've done it several times and I know there are two of you--"

"No, there aren't. I don't know where her mother is."

"Of course not. But you do have Albus; together, that's two."

"Er..."

"Two, though, is sometimes not enough. Not when you're both working and this is why you keep in touch with your family. Someone is always willing to babysit."

"Molly, you're holding him up." Scorpius smiled at Arthur when he interrupted. "Go on, now. Training won't wait for you. She'll talk your ear off when you go shopping later. Go, go."

"Arthur!"

Scorpius shook his head and left them to it. They needed something big for helping him out like this. When he'd woken up that morning to get ready for work, she had woken with a cry. Suddenly he was at a loss for what to do. She couldn't be left alone, but he needed to go to training. Babies weren't cheap. He needed to work. Being an Auror would at least bring in the much needed funds.

He had gone to the Burrow and had been relieved to find that Mrs. Weasley wouldn't mind babysitting for him that day or any others. In fact, she nearly made him promise to bring her every day.

Though he had been running a bit late, he luckily made it in with five minutes to spare. Albus grinned at him. "Everything okay?"

"No thanks to you, prat," Scorpius elbowed him. "Where were you this morning?"

"Left for a pastry," Albus winked. "I'm not the father here."

"Not if your grandmother has anything to say about it," Scorpius muttered.

Albus opened his mouth to reply, but their instructor walked in at that moment, halting the conversation. For now.

~~~

Scorpius gasped in surprise when he walked into the Burrow after training. "Grandmother?"

Narcissa Malfoy, looking like she belonged in the living room despite her expensive clothing, smiled. "Scorpius!" She engulfed him in a hug. "How are you, dear? Well, aside from suddenly having a child to look after."

Scorpius looked over at Mrs. Weasley and his daughter. "Don't know quite yet. Haven't had a chance to think it over."

His grandmother sat down again and cooed at the little girl. "She's a dear. Looks a lot like your father. I am sorry about his behaviour. I had thought after the war...but that's in the past. Now we have a new generation of Malfoys."

"Father said she wasn't." Scorpius sat down and shook his head. "I can't believe it. He disowned her."

"It's the Malfoy way," she said and patted his hand. "I am ever so glad that you have more of Astoria's sensibilities. Now, where is your friend? Albus and you are usually attached at the hip."

"He was right behind me," Scorpius said.

Mrs. Weasley raised her eyebrow. "Lose him, did you?"

Scorpius shrugged. "I don't know." He looked at both women and frowned. "He's confusing me. Sometimes he acts like he can't get enough of her and then other times he wants nothing to do with her."

"Boys," Mrs. Weasley muttered.

Grandmother hummed. "Quite."

"Ah, here he is now!" Mrs. Weasley stood and bustled over to something that vaguely looked like Al. However, with Mrs. Weasley in the way, he couldn't be sure. Scorpius chuckled when it sounded like Al was getting a lecture.

"He will help you, you can trust me on that," Grandmother said.

Scorpius raised his eyebrows at her. "Oh?"

She smiled enigmatically and sipped her tea. Mrs. Weasley clapped her hands. "Now, we have some time--we need to get this little girl everything she needs, right?"

Scorpius stood. "I need to find a bigger place, that’s what I need to do."

"And what about me?" Al protested.

"You don't need a bigger place, boys," Mrs. Weasley said. "You can simply share one room and give her the other."

Scorpius flushed and Al coughed. "What?"

Grandmother stood and summoned her cloak. "It makes perfect sense."

Albus stuttered something, but they were both ushered toward the Floo, and Scorpius was handed his daughter. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Al and then, they were shouting out for Diagon Alley in the midst of green flames.

~~~

Scorpius set the carrycot down and fell onto the sofa. "That...was painful."

"A bit, yeah," Al said. "Why does any one human need this much stuff?"

She laughed from her seat and Scorpius sighed. "We need to name her."

"We?"

Scorpius looked over at Al. "Yes, we."

Albus frowned. "You know, Grandma and Mrs. Malfoy were both suggesting that she's ours. And you--you..."

"What are you saying, Al? Do you not want help me with her?"

"No, it's not that!" Al ran his hand through his hair. "It's just...I mean, she's not mine, right? What if her mum comes back for her? You'll be sharing custody with her and--uh, Scorp? What's wrong?"

Scorpius was not panicking. No, he wasn't. "Do you...would she come back?"

"We'll deal with it if it happens," Al said. He sat next to Scorpius on the couch and then swore. "This is just really difficult for me, Scorpius."

"What is?"

Al bit his lip. "I don't want to get close to her. I mean...it's like our grandmothers said--two of us. You and me. We're going to be...her dads. I don't know if I could...well, what if you find someone you want? What if you get married? What'll I be then? Uncle Al?"

"So that's why you've been hot and cold with her. You don't want to lose her."

"I suppose."

Scorpius looked at her, then back at Al. "I don't think there will be a girl you know."

"What?"

Scorpius bit his lip. "Do you ever wonder why I agreed to share a flat with you?"

"Because you're as broke as I am?"

"Okay, yeah, that. Partly. I..."

Al jumped back from Scorpius. "Wait, wait. Please don't tell you're going to confess your undying love for me?"

Scorpius flushed. "What?" He shook his head. "No. Not my undying love. Just...well, I like you. More than a friend, sure, but, well, I don't know." He swallowed hard, heart beating hard in his chest. "We could...I always thought you liked me that way, too."

Al flushed himself and coughed. "What? I...I...erm...look, none of this matters. You're a single dad now. She's your priority. Not relationships and sex. You need to think of her first."

Scorpius stood up and grabbed Al's arm. "Wait. Al--be honest with me. Do you have feelings for me?"

"Maybe?" Al shrugged helplessly. "I never thought about it much. We're great friends--no need to muck it all up with sex."

Scorpius felt his heart break a little. "Suppose you're right. I get it. Sure."

"Wait, Scorpius, that's not what I meant."

Scorpius shook his head. "No, it's like you said. I'm a dad now. I've got a baby to think about." He picked her up and looked into her eyes. "She needs a name."

"There wasn't a name in the letter?"

Scorpius shook his head. "No. She said she didn't want to get too attached."

Al winced. "Scorpius--"

"Got any ideas for names?" Scorpius was determined to not deal with their personal issues. They were flatmates. That was it.

Al sighed. "Kathryn?"

~~~

One Year Later

Kathryn grew fast. (They had several arguments over her name, but in the end agreed to something that was neither too Muggle nor a constellation.) The Healer that specialised in children at St. Mungo's had determined that when she was dropped off she was about three months old. Her first birthday had passed eventfully, but quietly. The Weasleys--particularly Mrs. Weasley--had made sure it was a first birthday to remember.

They held it at their new cottage, and celebrated both her birthday and their new home together. It had needed a bit of work, but with extra hands, hadn't taken long to be habitable. There were four bedrooms--one for Kathryn, one for Scorpius, one for guests and the other for Albus (who had moved in with them despite his earlier protests). It suited them all and while it did have enough room for a young girl to grow in, wasn't too large.

It was comfortable...too comfortable, in Scorpius' opinion; almost like they were a real family--two parents and their little one. They even had a garden and a few chickens (though where those came from, Scorpius didn't know. He suspected George had something to do with it).

"Malfoy!"

Scorpius jumped and stood up. "Sir?"

Auror Gibbins, the man in charge of the particular division of Aurors Scorpius was part of (illegal potions), frowned. "Get your head out of the clouds, boy. You’ve got a case."

Scorpius gathered his things. "What do I need?"

"Simple bust," Gibbins said. "Nothing that will require heavy grunt work. Pars was on his way here when I redirected him to the Floo. You'll meet him there. He'll debrief you."

Scorpius did a final check--accio proof armour and wand. He raced to the Floo and greeted his partner, Tommy Pars. "Gibbins said it was a simple bust?"

Tommy nodded. "Yeah. We got a tip from the neighbour--said she had seen some people going in to the house and coming out looking funny. There's a team with her right now to get out of her exactly what she saw and we're meeting people from general in case this isn't a potions bust."

Scorpius followed Tommy into the Floo, his wand drawn, and tumbled into what must have been the woman's living room. He shared a nod with the team as she yelled something about "people coming and going! I thought the Ministry was better than this!"

"General is over behind the bushes," Tommy whispered. "We'll go in the front when we have clearance to go in. They'll move behind the back. If we don't get clearance, we'll force our way in."

Scorpius nodded and followed quietly. Tommy knocked and a white-haired gentleman opened the door. "Aurors. How may I help you?"

Tommy smiled sunnily. "Just investigating a tip. We have to follow through the procedures and inspect the house if that is all right."

The gentleman looked behind him and then nodded. "Of course. Do come in. Would you care for a cuppa?"

The door opened wider. The man stepped to the side, seemingly to let them in. However, out of the dark hallway came a curse that hit Scorpius right in the chest. As he went down, in a black haze of confusion, he heard shouts and saw the bright lights of curses and counter curses.

~~~

Ow. Scorpius focused on not moving as he slowly opened his eyes. White ceiling, smell of potions, the hum of magic... St. Mungo's. The raid! He sat up quickly--too quickly.

Immediately, alarms blared and his body exploded in great pain. He fell back onto the bed with a gasp and bit his lip to keep from screaming. Footsteps came running into the room and several people were shouting. When the alarms finally died down, his eyes were pried open.

"Sorry, dear, but we need to check your pupils," a soft voice said.

Scorpius looked up into the worried eyes of the Healer above him and obligingly kept his eyes relaxed for the examination, despite his migraine. "What happened?"

"Curse," she said. "Rather nasty one. We can't be sure, but we think it damaged your nerves. Once you're up to it, we'll do some tests."

Scorpius thought over the information. "Wait--Albus Potter! You need to contact him! He--"

"We know," she said with a soft smile. "He's been here every day; sometimes with that little one of his. Matter of fact, he should be here any moment. Now, do you want more pain potion or are you okay?"

"I want to see him," Scorpius said. "Then I want more potion."

She clucked her tongue. "If you insist." She put a box in his hand that had a button on it. "Once you're ready, press that and a nurse will be with you. Don't make the visit too long."

She left, but it wasn't long before Albus was running in to take her place at his side. "Scorpius! They just told me! How are you feeling?"

"In lots of pain." He held up a hand as best as he could. "Wait. I need to know before they give me the potion--how is Kathryn?"

"How do you think? Asking for you, day and night. When she comes home from the Burrow, she cries when you're not there. It’s turned her world upside down."

Scorpius' heart broke. "Bring her, okay? I don't care what you have to do, but..."

Albus nodded. "I will. Potion first, though?" Al squeezed his hand. "Be right back."

~~~

Scorpius dozed through the potion, aching to hear his daughter’s laughter or Al's footsteps. Nurses came and went by his door. A food trolley. A doctor. Scorpius was almost fearful--what if Al had been stopped by his well-meaning relatives instead and wasn’t coming back soon?

Eventually though, Al was back and with Kathryn in his arms. Scorpius wanted to take her himself, but he knew his arms wouldn't support her. He smiled weakly. "Perfect."

She was reaching out for him, but Al held her securely, whispering to her. "No, love. You can't. Not yet. He's not well enough."

She pouted and Al sat closer to the bed. She put her hand on Scorpius'. "Da?"

Scorpius gripped her hand. "Hey, there, love. I'm here. Safe."

She calmed and rested her head on their entwined hands, happy simply to know that her dad was going to be okay. Scorpius sighed. "Thank you."

Albus shrugged. "She's been a right terror, let me tell you. Grandma will be bringing her around tomorrow so you can see her more."

"Not too much, though. She shouldn't have to see this."

"I know." Albus smiled carefully. "Glad to see you're awake."

"Thanks. The raid...do you know how it went? What happened?"

Albus adjusted Kathryn so they were both more comfortable--she grumbled, but settled again quickly. "Apparently they were selling a rather unique potion that was made from the Muggle drug marijuana, but the magic made it more dangerous. The man running it decided to not take chances and went with 'shoot first, ask questions later'. Didn't help. We got him. He's waiting for his trial."

"The others?"

"Fine. They all made it through."

"Good. Do you know what curse they used?"

"No. There's a research team looking into it, but all we know for now is that it did something to your nerves. Apparently when they brought you in, your body was jumping all over the place, like it couldn't stay still. Eventually, that stopped, but one of the nurses noticed the discrepancies in your responses. You aren’t responding as well as you should to some stimuli, but then sometimes you react too well."

"So if they don't know the curse..."

"They don't know how to fix it."

Scorpius swore and Albus sighed. "I know."

~~~

One Month Later

Home. He was home. Scorpius took in the unique scents of the place and smiled. This was good; days of rehab and relearning his body and he was finally home. He put his cane against the mantle and sat on the couch. "Finally."

Albus smiled from the front door where he was setting down Kathryn's things. "Good to be home?"

"Of course." Scorpius waved Albus over from the door. "Sit down. I want to enjoy this without you hovering."

"Sorry, family genes," Albus said. He handed Kathryn over to Scorpius who gently took her. It was a good day; none of his nerves were acting up.

"Couldn't have done this without you, you know," Scorpius said.

Albus smiled weakly. "You could have."

Scorpius looked over at Albus and frowned. "You know, I may not ever let you leave now."

Albus furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"

"Well, it's not as though I can take care of her on my own," Scorpius said.

"Right."

Scorpius decided he was done waiting. His feelings for Al had never dimmed and his recent accident had scared him enough. He wanted Al. Plain and simple. He reached over and took Al's hand in his. "I mean it though. That I...well, I can't imagine life without you. When I was in the hospital recovering, all I could think of was home: this cottage, Kathryn...and you."

Albus flushed a light pink. "Scorpius--"

Scorpius tugged on Al's hand and the other man moved closer. "I know you don't want to muck it all up with feelings and sex, but Albus, that's what I want. All the messy complicated part of it and our home and our daughter."

Albus was speechless for a few minutes, but the silence seemed tinged with anxiety to Scorpius. "Are you...what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that when we have a night to ourselves, we are going on a date," Scorpius said. "We've done things a bit backwards--the kid, then the house, then the dates, but that's okay."

"Right," Albus muttered. "Do I get a say in all this?"

Scorpius smirked. "I declared you her other father no matter what life throws at us, I forced you to move in here...do you think I'd let you have a say now?"

Albus looked thoughtful. "One condition--I want to kiss you. Now. Have to know what I'm getting into and all that."

Before Scorpius could say okay, there were lips pressed against his and it made his heart pound hard in his chest. "We're doing that again."

Albus licked his lips. "Oh, yeah. So this date?"

"Dinner?"

"Now?"

Scorpius shrugged. "Unofficial. We'll go on an official one later."

Albus laughed and jumped up. "Let me see what we've got and then I am whipping up something special. Our family is all home again."

Scorpius grinned and turned to Kathryn who had woken up. She looked around confused. "Your daddy is crazy, but we love him, don't we?"

"You had better!"