Loving Lucissa

the soft glow of moonlight streamed through the tall windows of the black family manor, casting long shadows across the opulent sitting room. the air was filled with the quiet hum of the night, the gentle rustle of leaves outside mingling with the distant sound of the ocean waves crashing against the cliffs. in the middle of the room, sprawled comfortably on a plush velvet couch, were cygnus and druella black, both slightly tipsy and wrapped up in the warm afterglow of a wonderful evening.

they had just returned from a splendid date night, one filled with laughter, fine wine, and whispered secrets. it had been one of those rare occasions when they could truly let their guard down and simply be themselves, away from the watchful eyes of the wizarding world and the responsibilities that came with their family name.

druella, with her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders and her cheeks flushed from the wine, looked particularly enchanting. she giggled softly as cygnus leaned back against the couch, his arm draped lazily around her shoulders. his usually immaculate attire was slightly askew, his shirt untucked, and his tie loosened. he had a relaxed, almost boyish grin on his face as he looked at his wife with an affectionate gaze.

“did you enjoy yourself tonight?” he asked, his voice low and warm, tinged with the playful confidence that came with a few glasses of wine.

druella tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “you mean, did i enjoy the dinner, the dancing, or the part where you tried to impress me with that awful french accent?” she teased, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his chest.

cygnus chuckled, feigning offence. “i thought my french was rather impeccable, thank you very much. je suis très charmant.”

she laughed, a sound like the chiming of bells, and leaned in closer. “oh, very charming indeed,” she murmured, her breath warm against his ear. “especially when you tripped over that step during the waltz.”

cygnus groaned, covering his face with his free hand. “ah, yes, my moment of glory,” he said, peeking at her through his fingers. “but you have to admit, it was a memorable night.”

“memorable,” druella agreed, her voice softening. she shifted, sliding her hand up to cup his cheek, her thumb brushing gently over his skin. “you always know how to make me laugh, even when you’re being a complete fool.”

he turned his head, catching her hand in his, and pressed a tender kiss to her palm. “and you,” he murmured, his eyes locked with hers, “always know how to make me feel like the luckiest man in the world.”

there was a moment of silence, the world outside fading away as they gazed at each other. the warmth between them was palpable, a comfortable intimacy that only years of deep affection could bring. cygnus leaned in, his forehead resting against hers, and closed his eyes. the scent of her perfume, mixed with the faint hint of wine, was intoxicating.

druella sighed contentedly, her fingers threading through his dark hair. “we should do this more often,” she whispered, her lips ghosting over his as she spoke. “just the two of us, away from everything.”

cygnus smiled, a slow, lazy grin. “agreed,” he replied, his voice a mere breath against her lips. “but let's make the most of tonight, shall we?”

without another word, he closed the small distance between them, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. it was gentle at first, a tender meeting of lips that spoke of love and familiarity. but as the seconds passed, the kiss deepened, growing more passionate. druella's hands slid up to his neck, pulling him closer, while cygnus's arms wrapped around her waist, anchoring her to him.

the world seemed to melt away, leaving just the two of them wrapped in each other's embrace. they kissed as if they had all the time in the world, lost in the moment. the taste of wine still lingered on their lips, sweet and intoxicating, adding to the heady mix of sensations.

eventually, they broke apart, both slightly breathless, and cygnus rested his forehead against hers once more. he opened his eyes, looking at her with a soft, adoring expression. “i love you,” he whispered, the words slipping out effortlessly.

druella smiled, her eyes shining with affection. “i love you too,” she replied, her voice full of warmth. she pressed a quick kiss to his lips before snuggling into his arms, resting her head against his chest.

for a while, they sat in comfortable silence, the only sound the gentle crackle of the fire in the hearth. the night was peaceful, and for a brief moment, all was right in the world. they were simply cygnus and druella, two people in love, enjoying a quiet moment together.

bellatrix and rodolphus found themselves alone in the lestrange manor's grand living room, the air thick with the excitement of a rare, unsupervised evening. their parents were out at some fancy dinner party, leaving the two teens to their own devices. with a shared glance and a mischievous grin, they both knew what they wanted to do.

“i can't believe you actually did it,” rodolphus whispered, eyeing the bottle of vodka bellatrix had liberated from her parents' well-stocked liquor cabinet. she waved it triumphantly, her dark eyes gleaming with glee.

“they won't miss it,” she replied, setting the bottle down on the coffee table. “besides, they deserve it for leaving us here. we're practically adults anyway.l

rodolphus snorted, shaking his head. “yeah, practically.” he plopped down on the plush sofa, grabbing two glasses from the table. “so, what should we do with this newfound freedom?”

bellatrix sat next to him, curling her legs under herself. “how about a game?” she suggested, already pouring generous amounts of vodka into each glass. “never have i ever. it's classic.”

“you're on,” rodolphus agreed, taking his glass and raising it in a mock toast. “ladies first.”

bellatrix smirked, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “never have i ever... snuck out past curfew.”

rodolphus laughed, raising his glass and taking a big gulp. “well, that's unfair. you know i have. remember that time we went to that muggle diner in the middle of the night?”

“oh, right,” bellatrix chuckled, remembering their spontaneous midnight adventure. “those burgers were totally worth it, though.”

rodolphus grinned, then thought of his own statement. “never have i ever... stolen something.”

bellatrix's eyes widened in mock surprise. “are you calling me a thief?” she teased, then raised her glass and drank. “but fine, i might've taken some stuff from narcissa's room when we were kids. she had the best makeup.”

the game continued, each confession more lighthearted and absurd than the last. they talked about pranks they'd pulled on their siblings, the time rodolphus accidentally dyed his hair pink, courtesy of his brother rabastan, and bellatrix's secret obsession with dark romance novels.

“never have i ever... kissed someone under the mistletoe,” rodolphus said, raising an eyebrow.

bellatrix giggled, blushing slightly. “okay, guilty,” she admitted, taking another sip. “that was in third year, at that christmas party. it was just a peck, though!”

rodolphus smirked, leaning a bit closer. “so, who was the lucky guy?”

“none of your business,” she retorted, sticking her tongue out at him. “your turn.”

“never have i ever... broken a rule just to impress someone,” rodolphus declared, looking at her pointedly.

bellatrix paused, then raised her glass. “okay, fair point,” she admitted, drinking again. “i may have done a few reckless things to get someone's attention.” she looked at him over the rim of her glass, a playful glint in her eyes.

“and did it work?” rodolphus asked, his tone teasing yet curious.

bellatrix set her glass down, leaning in closer. “maybe,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. their faces were inches apart, the air between them charged with a new kind of tension. rodolphus's gaze flickered to her lips, and without another word, he closed the distance.

their kiss was sweet and tentative at first, a gentle brush of lips that quickly deepened. bellatrix's hands found their way to his hair, and rodolphus wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. they kissed with the reckless abandon of teenagers who knew they were breaking the rules but didn't care.

when they finally pulled apart, both were breathless and slightly dazed. bellatrix laughed softly, her cheeks flushed. “well, that escalated quickly,” she quipped, grinning.

rodolphus chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “yeah, it did,” he agreed, still holding her close. “but i'm not complaining.”

on a bright, breezy afternoon, abraxas malfoy stood beside a sleek, silver automobile parked in the expansive driveway of the malfoy estate. he glanced over at his wife, evelyn, who was adjusting her gloves and looking over the car with a mix of excitement and curiosity. she had insisted on learning to drive, a modern skill that intrigued her, and abraxas, though apprehensive, agreed to teach her.

“are you sure about this, my love?” abraxas asked, his tone laced with playful concern. his grey eyes twinkled with a mixture of amusement and worry as he handed her the keys.

evelyn flashed him a confident smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “absolutely. besides, how hard can it be? you manage it just fine,” she teased, her voice light and teasing.

abraxas chuckled, shaking his head. “very funny. let's see how well you do, then.” he opened the driver's door and gestured for her to take the seat. evelyn slipped into the car, adjusting the seat and mirrors with practised grace. she had been watching closely during their drives, eager to learn.

abraxas climbed into the passenger seat, feeling an unusual mix of pride and protectiveness. “right, let's start with the basics,” he said, trying to sound authoritative. “foot on the clutch, then gently into first gear.”

evelyn followed his instructions with surprising ease. she started the car, and it purred to life. slowly, she released the clutch and pressed the accelerator. the car moved smoothly down the driveway, and abraxas couldn't help but glance at her, a bit taken aback by her composure.

“you're a natural,” he admitted, a hint of admiration in his voice. “are you sure you haven't done this before?”

evelyn laughed softly, casting him a sideways glance. “just a quick learner, i suppose. or perhaps i'm just more attentive when you're driving,” she teased, her tone flirtatious.

abraxas felt a warm flush creep up his neck. evelyn had always had that effect on him, even after all these years. “well, keep your eyes on the road,” he chided lightly, though he couldn't help but smile.

they continued down the winding estate road, evelyn handling the car with surprising skill. she navigated turns smoothly, shifted gears effortlessly, and even managed to avoid a few imaginary obstacles abraxas pointed out. all the while, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease, not because she was bad at it—quite the opposite. she was too good, and it unnerved him.

“you know, you're doing better than i did my first time,” abraxas confessed, watching her expertly manoeuvre the car. “i stalled at least five times.”

evelyn grinned, her eyes still on the road. “i'll make sure to remind you of that the next time you boast about your driving skills,” she quipped.

as they reached the end of the estate's private road, evelyn slowed the car to a stop. she turned to him, a triumphant smile on her lips. “so, how did i do, instructor malfoy?”

abraxas sighed dramatically, feigning concern. “far too well for my liking. now i have to worry about you speeding off on adventures without me,” he said, his voice mockingly serious.

evelyn leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of affection and mischief. “oh, don't worry. i'd never leave without you,” she murmured, her voice soft and intimate.

abraxas felt his heart skip a beat. he reached out and gently cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. “good,” he whispered, leaning in to capture her lips in a tender kiss. “because i don't think i could handle that.”

they stayed like that for a moment, the world outside their little bubble seeming to fade away. when they finally pulled apart, abraxas sighed, a contented smile on his lips. “you really are full of surprises,” he said, his voice filled with admiration.

evelyn grinned, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “i aim to keep you on your toes,” she replied, a hint of challenge in her tone.

abraxas laughed, shaking his head. “and you do, my love. you certainly do.”

with a playful wink, evelyn put the car back into gear and drove them back up the driveway. as they reached the manor, she expertly parked the car and turned off the engine. she looked over at abraxas, her expression proud and a little smug.

“i think i passed,” she declared confidently.

abraxas chuckled, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “with flying colours,” he agreed. “but next time, maybe i'll drive. i don't want to be upstaged too often.”

evelyn laughed, a light, joyful sound that filled the car. “deal,” she said, her eyes shining with love and amusement.

in the sun-drenched parlour of malfoy manor, the gentle sounds of a brush stroking canvas filled the air. lucius malfoy stood at his easel, focused intently on capturing the image before him. his wife, narcissa, sat comfortably on a plush chaise longue, a leather-bound book resting in her hands. the soft light from the tall windows cast a warm glow on her fair skin and platinum hair, creating an ethereal aura around her.

narcissa was lost in her book, her delicate fingers occasionally turning a page. she exuded a calm, elegant grace, her posture perfect and poised. the serene expression on her face suggested she was completely absorbed in the story, unaware of the outside world, save for the man painting her. her dress, a soft blue that matched her eyes, flowed around her like a gentle wave, adding to the tranquil scene.

lucius glanced up from his work, his eyes tracing the elegant lines of narcissa's form. his hand moved with practised precision, capturing the delicate arch of her neck, the gentle curve of her lips as she read. he couldn't help but smile at the sight of her so engrossed, her usual regal demeanour softened by the quiet intimacy of the moment.

for lucius, painting was more than just a pastime; it was a way to immortalise the moments he cherished. and this moment, with narcissa bathed in the soft afternoon light, was one he wanted to remember forever. he marvelled at the way the light played off her hair, giving it an almost silver sheen. his brush danced across the canvas, blending shades of gold and cream to capture the subtle hues of her skin.

narcissa felt his gaze and looked up from her book. their eyes met, and a gentle smile spread across her lips. “how is it coming along?” she asked, her voice soft and melodic.

lucius returned her smile, his eyes full of affection. “beautifully, as always,” he replied, his tone warm. “but no painting could ever truly capture your beauty.”

narcissa chuckled, a light, musical sound. “ever the charmer,” she teased, a playful glint in her eyes. “you flatter me too much, lucius.”

he set down his brush and stepped back to admire his work, then turned his gaze back to her. “i speak only the truth,” he said sincerely. “you are my muse, my inspiration.”

a soft blush crept into narcissa's cheeks, and she looked down, momentarily flustered. she had always appreciated the way lucius could express his feelings so openly, even after all their years together. it was one of the many things she loved about him.

lucius walked over and sat beside her, gently taking her hand in his. “thank you for sitting for me,” he said, his voice tender. “it means more than you know.”

narcissa closed her book and leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. “anything for you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. she felt a surge of warmth in her chest, a deep, abiding love for the man beside her.

in the dimly lit kitchen of their cozy home, the warm aroma of freshly baked apple pie filled the air. the old wooden table was set with two plates and a jug of cream. cygnus black leaned against the counter, watching as druella served generous slices of the golden-brown pie. her slender fingers delicately wielded the knife, cutting through the flaky crust, and revealing the tender, cinnamon-spiced apples inside.

druella glanced up and caught cygnus’ gaze. her eyes twinkled with mischief as she placed a slice on his plate. “you're staring,” she teased, her voice like honey.

cygnus smirked, unable to tear his eyes away. “can you blame me? it's not every day i see a masterpiece in the making.”

druella chuckled and handed him a spoon, her fingers brushing his in a fleeting touch that sent a shiver down his spine. she sat across from him and took a bite of her pie. as she savored the taste, cygnus watched, entranced. the way her lips curled into a satisfied smile, the slight sigh of pleasure that escaped her, it was all so mesmerising.

she dipped her spoon into the creamy filling and brought it to her lips, licking the sweetness from the utensil with a languid, deliberate motion. the sight was utterly intoxicating to cygnus. the way her tongue moved, the way her eyes half-closed in delight, it was all too much. she looked up and caught his eye again, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

“something on your mind, darling?” druella asked, her voice low and sultry.

cygnus leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “just thinking about how stunning you are,” he murmured, his voice thick with admiration. “you make eating apple pie look like a work of art.”

druella arched an eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful smirk. she slowly licked the back of the spoon, not breaking eye contact. “it's all in the presentation,” she said, her tone teasing. “and perhaps a bit of practice.”

he couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head at her flirtatiousness. “you're impossible,” he said, though his eyes were filled with warmth.

“and yet, you can't look away,” she retorted, her voice softening. there was a tenderness in her gaze, a silent acknowledgment of the connection they shared.

cygnus reached across the table and took her hand, his thumb gently caressing her knuckles. “i wouldn't want to,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “not when you look at me like that.”

amidst the quiet countryside away from the hustle and bustle of the streets a few miles ahead, lived a newly married couple, druella and cygnus. druella, having grown up loving old hollywood movies and fashion and cygnus, a goofy jokester, spent their honeymoon evenings watching movies under a blanket fort in their living room.

as the screen danced with tales of love and laughter, cygnus, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye skilfully tossed popcorn, catching each piece effortlessly in his mouth to charm druella. “cool, ain’t it?” cygnus remarked, winking at his beloved, she playfully rolled her eyes, teasingly challenging him, “you’ll need to do more than that with your mouth to impress me, dear.” their playful banter filled the room with warmth and love, a sweet melody in the symphony of their budding romance.

“is that so, huh?” cygnus smirked at his wife, his eyes full of playful intent. chuckling, he gently pinned her down, his smile mirroring hers. leaning in, he whispered, “i better put my mouth to good use then, don’t ya think?” her eyes closed in bliss, reflecting admiration for his playful spirit, as they shared a moment wrapped in the sweet embrace of their love.

their movie nights evolved into a treasured tradition, blending cinematic enchantment with their own love tale unfolding in the gentle glow of the screen. as popcorn danced in the air and kisses deepened, druella and cygnus's bond strengthened, their laughter echoing joy throughout the room. in those serene moments, enveloped by the scent of buttered popcorn and the embrace of each other's presence, the couple discovered solace in the simple yet profound connection they shared.

snowflakes danced gracefully in the air, twirling in the gentle breeze as they made their descent. the world below was wrapped in a soft, white blanket, muffling the usual noises of the small town, casting a serene hush over the streets. the air was crisp and cold, with a hint of pine and woodsmoke, as the first light of dawn began to filter through the frosty haze.

at the edge of the town, hidden amongst land and land of woods, malfoy manor stood with a fire crackled merrily in the drawing room’s stone hearth, casting a warm glow that flickered against the brick walls. the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the fragrance of light sandalwood and vanilla, hinting at the manor’s mistress as she descended the marble staircase, draped in oversized green silk robes, to where her lover stood, coffees in hand. “good morning, beautiful,” he smiled, gently placing the cup of coffee in her hands. “thank you,” she murmured, savouring a sip, the warm liquid trickling down her throat. “good morning, lover boy,” she teased, cup in hand, her other resting lightly on his arm, as he led them both into the drawing room to bask in the heat.

as they reached the window, the couple sat close on a loveseat, cocooned in a cozy blanket, cups placed on the table before them, observing wedding preparations - flowers, centerpieces. while unconventional for an unmarried couple to live together, the snow-in led lucius malfoy, the manor’s master, to keep his beloved narcissa safe for the night. despite disapproval from narcissa’s parents, the couple chose to ignore outside opinions, focusing on each other.

as robes fell away, the couple lay by the fireplace on the carpet, wrapped in the blanket, sharing sweet, lingering kisses. lucius held narcissa’s cheeks tenderly, while she ran her hands through his long locks. with rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes, narcissa looked radiant, her blonde hair catching the fire’s glow. lucius, smiling softly, kissed her forehead before returning to her lips, savoring each moment. their entwined hands deepened the kiss, bodies moving in sync with a shared rhythm of love.

narcissa, after their passionate moment, drifted into sleep, as outside, the snow fell softly, blanketing the evergreens in a pristine shimmer. lucius, gazing at the snow, awaited her awakening. “lucius?” she murmured upon waking. “i’m here, my love,” he whispered, soothing her. “is it still snowing?” she inquired, adjusting her appearance. “yes, looks like you’re staying another night,” lucius teased, winking. narcissa chuckled, “i doubt cygnus black will be pleased. knowing my father, he’ll brave the weather to rescue me,“ she remarked.

lucius quipped, “rescue you?” as he sauntered to his naked fiancée under the blanket, tracing her jaw, planting kisses from ear to neck, causing delightful shivers. “am i holding you prisoner?” he whispered, his words sending tingles down narcissa’s spine. “don’t be cute” she murmured, falling back softly as lucius draped himself over her once more.

rolling her eyes, narcissa ran off to fetch andromeda or lucius to dance with her instead. balls at the black manor were always narcissa's favourite time of the year. usually, bellatrix would always be fond of such events, but today she just didn't seem up to it, especially with her mind elsewhere. she hoped no one would notice because that would mean questions would be asked, and bellatrix could feel whatever little energy she had at the moment fade away at the sheer thought of having to speak to anyone.

it hadn't even been a few minutes when bellatrix felt the shadow of someone nearby. she rolled her eyes and tried to shut her mind off but from how loud the room was, doing so felt impossible. "belle?"

bellatrix smiled when she felt her mind clear when she realised who was next to her. "yes, rod?" she hummed, doing her best to act as unbothered as she could. "i know you, belle," he chuckled, gently nudging her with his elbow, smiling when he noticed a small smile grace her lips.

rodolphus knew better than to ask a simple "you okay, love?" and instead sat down with his fiancé for a few minutes, until he too started becoming bothered by just how loud the room was getting. "wanna step outside with me for a bit? i'm starting to get a bit fed up in here," he winked, smiling when bellatrix rolled her eyes at him. although it looked like she was bothered by this, rodolphus secretly knew she was grateful for his actions, as she placed her hand on top of his, allowing him to guide her out of the room and into the gardens where the couple could spend as much time as they'd like out in the fresh air, away from the hustle and bustle of the party indoors.

"thank you, roddy," bellatrix whispered once the couple make it outside.

rodolphus didn't say anything. he just turned and looked at his fiancé, with a knowing grin, she had grown to become quite fond of lately.

"mama..." a small voice croaked, causing druella's eyes to flutter awake. "mama, you gots to wake up," the voice continued, this time causing druella to wake up entirely. "hmm," she moaned, rubbing her eyes as they recalibrated onto the sight in front of her - her three daughters who had somehow all ended up in the room: bellatrix being fast asleep, snuggled up in cygnus's arms, and narcissa sprawled in between mother and father, her little arms resting above her head, her mouth ajar, and dried up drool sliding down her cheeks. it was then that druella realised that andromeda was the one begging for her to wake up.

"andy, baby. what's the matter, little one?"

"noises. too loud," the little girl cried, covering her ears with her little hands, and looking up at her mother with tears in her eyes. andromeda usually didn't have much trouble going to sleep, but lately bedtime had not been kind to her, causing both mother and daughter to be curled up in bed together, as druella would rock andromeda back and forth until the little girl would fall fast asleep, feeling at peace in her mother's arms.

"noises?" druella questioned. "what noises, my little love?"

"scary ones. wake daddy, please," andromeda pleaded with her mother. this wasn't much of a surprise to druella, given how wonderful of a father cygnus was to the girls, it was no shock that all three had their daddy wrapped around their little fingers before they learned how to walk.

upon hearing the small uttering of "daddy", cygnus's eyes slowly fought against sleep, and were soon awake, and readjusting to the sight of his wife and middle daughter huddled up together, both looking rather disheveled and concerned. "wha's going on?" he yawned, gently picking up bellatrix's hand in his own, entwining her fingers with his, smiling when he noticed how small they were in comparison to his own.

"daddy, scary noises," andromeda babbled, crawling over to her father, while still keeping close to her mother. "scary noises, huh?" cygnus asked this time devoting all his attention to his middle daughter, who was now in desperate need of a hug as she laid her head against his chest. "yes, daddy. scary noises. think they're coming from down-"

CREEK.

cygnus's heart leaped out of his chest at the sound, while druella almost scurried under her sheets in fright. as andromeda silently burst into tears, druella was both concerned and relieved when she noticed the other little girls still sound asleep. "cygnus, what was-"

druella didn't even get to finish her sentence as she watched cygnus pick bellatrix up and off of him, before leaping to his feet and drawing his wand as he neared the bedroom door. "ella, if anyone and i mean anyone comes through this door, don’t even think, just cast”

"bu-"

before druella could even form a coherent response to what her husband had just ordered, he was out of the room, leaving druella to stay on guard as she encouraged andromeda to try and lie down by her sisters and get some sleep, noting that mummy and daddy were on the case. with andromeda suddenly zonked out from the adrenaline and sleep deprivation from the week, druella carefully slipped out of bed, wrapped her robe against her frame, and clutched her wand up close as she braved herself out the door, but not before casting a charm to lock the door from the inside, in hopes it would keep her girls safe.

as she snuck downstairs, druella's heartbeat grew louder and louder, thumping around so heavily in her chest when she heard footsteps. trying her best to decipher the steps, she realised that there were two steps, causing her heart to beat even faster when she realised that her husband could be harmed. even though cygnus was strong and a resilient duelist, druella had more wit and was quicker on her feet compared to him. ducking downstairs, druella hid in plain sight, behind the living room curtains, and kept an eye out to peak on what was going on.

druella was ready to just leap into action and start casting spells and curses like no other, but just as she was about to, she heard a very familiar laugh... well, it was more like a slurred laugh, conversing with her husband.

"i cannot believe you. what time do you fucking call this?!" cygnus hissed.

"oh, ligh'en up, li'l brotha... we're not all borin' sticks in the mud, like you."

"oh bordel!" druella snapped, swiftly pushing the curtains open and stepping out from behind it to see her husband looking both pissed off and exhausted, and her charming older brother-in-law, drunk off his ass. "ella, viens ici, ma sœur," alphard slurred, as he sat there, completely oblivious to his actions.

druella simply sighed in frustration, "alphard... you owe andromeda an apology tomorrow morning for disturbing her sleep and upsetting her."

"m'kay, ella-"

"-druella. she's druella to you, you piece of shi-"

"-i'm going back to bed... cygnus, deal with your blood. i'll see you both in the morning," druella interrupted. as much as she adored when cygnus would get all hostile and overprotective of her, now was very clearly not the time. now, was the time to sleep. and sleep she would do, as she headed back upstairs to bed to sleep with her three little angels, and leave her husband to deal with his family, snickering quietly when she heard cygnus's pleas and frustrations as to what he was left to deal with.