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It was morning time in wizarding britain, the sun shining bright in the clear sky, the streets quiet and calm.
Malfoy manor had been decorated, just a bit, to fit the autumn theme that had began to cross the towns.
Orange red and yellow colored houses everywhere, leaves piling in yards and carved pumpkins on porches.
This strange activity did not exclude the Snape Malfoy family, as their own porch and yard had been decorated with charmed pumpkins and beautiful decorations that would have people stopping by and admiring it all.
The inside was just as beautiful however.
Small fairy lights and autumn themed flowers and lights were strewn all over the place, and the front near the kitchen smelled deliciously like pumpkin spice and Apple cinnamon.
Lucius sat on the couch, his ten month old daughter in hand babbling and spitting her baby nonsense that the older man couldn’t help but play along with as her beautiful white eyes stared happily up at him. Pumpkin pie smeared across her lips.
Athena opened her mouth for another small fork of pie and Lucius allowed her to take the piece and mush it in her mouth, and he smiled before setting the plate on the table.
“Let’s get you cleaned up, that alright with you my little minnow?”
She babbled at him and reached for the pie again and he at first denied her advances but then she gave him the puppy eyes and he couldn’t resist.
His finger glided through the filling of the pie and he allowed her to suck it off his finger, a barely visible grimace marking his features at the feeling.
When he pulled away he wiped his finger off and then stood so that he could head for the nursery, the constantly changing theme of her room was currently set to a spooky theme with cute ghosts and autumn leaves and she cooed as one of the ghostly birds cawed in her direction before vanishing.
Lucius sat her on her changing table, she had already had a diaper change earlier so only a brief cleanup and a change of clothing would do for his precious lass.
Baby wipes were pulled one by one from their pack before he took to gently wiping down her messy face and hands, he then took to pulling off the cat onesie and replacing it with a raven one, the wing cape attached to the arms making her giggle.
“Is that all better, my darling?”
As if to answer him she babbled and looked at him with wide glittering eyes, a big smile on her face.
“Would you like to wake your mommy?”
She squealed at her mamas name and Lucius chuckled softly before retrieving the squirming minnow in his arms and pretending to fly her to their room to which a sleeping Severus lay.
Ever since Severus gave birth to Athena he’s been a little more tired recently so Lucius has took to taking care of Athena at nights so that the other can rest, he lets him sleep in as well but on most days he knows his husband does not have that choice because of his work.
“There’s your mommy, Minnie, Wanna say hello?”
She squealed again, her arms extending to the sleeping form under the newly bought green duvet. Lucius nodded and took her towards the form before sitting her on the mattress so she could crawl over to the other man, who at first had groaned in annoyance from the constant patting of soft chubby hands before hearing the quiet babbling of his daughter and he shifted.
Turning around in bed with squinted eyes to hug the body close to him, and she giggled, her hand laying against his face squishing it softly.
“Well good morning to you too, Minnie, I must say, it’s rude to wake a man from his slumber you know that?”
She giggled, eyes closing just barely to look up at him in a squint, mimicking Severus’ thinking face and the darker man chuckled before the dark orbs fell on Lucius who stood near the mattress.
“Morning, my love”
Lucius smiled, cooing at Athena before removing his shoes and robe so he could lay Comfortably in bed, his body pressed gently against Athena who snuggled gratefully into Severus.
“Morning, My raven, how’d you sleep?”
Severus yawned, shifted Athena into his arms before sitting up and stretching his body until the satisfying crack of his bones echoed about the room.
“Surprisingly fine, if it had not been for the little terrorist waking me I’d still be in my wet dream”
He pulled back the soft blanket and stepped onto the floor then made way to the bathroom to shower and do his other hygiene.
When he was finished however Lucius about wanted to tear him out of his outfit.
He held baby Athena close as he sat up to gape at the man he loved, wanting nothing more than to just pound him into the mattress… no Lucius fuck off…
Sev chuckled at the others expression and pulled at the white turtleneck, the black trousers fitting wonderfully with the fuzzy socks he had been gifted by Minerva. He at first despised them and claimed he would throw them in the fireplace but here we were.
His long hair had been tied back into a pony, small strands falling from the style and he just wanted to rake his fingers through it.
“You look stunning, dear”
The other hummed and continued walking out of the room shaking his head, glancing back with a smirk and wink as his hips swayed seductively and Lucius cursed inside his head, oh how lovely it was to be seduced when a child was right in your arms.
“Your mama is annoying sometimes”
“I heard that!”
He flinched before chuckling causing the little one to giggle as well.
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Severus grumbled on the couch, floo powder in hand, or well what was left of it. He’d just chatted with Minerva who had stated that she and a few other staff were going to be dropping by with gifts and to see Athena since they didn’t get to after the birth.
Severus had technically went into hibernation after that, especially since Lucius allowed him to sleep so often to restore all that lost energy.
He protested multiple times against her statement but the stubborn women insisted and had currently been on her way and he didn’t take it lightly.
The other man however just watched and chuckled, their daughter in her play pin, clacking blocks and chewing on her bears.
“Sev, dear, what’s the matter”
He grumbled again, the powder being dumped and dusted back into its container before he slumped back against the couch cushion.
“Minerva is what’s wrong, she thinks she can just waltz into our home with guests as if she owns the place!”
He huffed, his lip being taken rather aggressively between his teeth and constantly picked at.
“I don’t want guests, I don’t want to be stressed right now, or ever… she knows how much I hate people including those I work with…”
Lucius chuckled and walked up behind the man, his arms looping over and around his neck and his chin resting on his shoulder.
“Sweets they’re just coming to say hi to Athena, she’s a baby, that’s what godmothers do. Especially the ones that show up randomly no matter what you say… she’s just being her”
The darker man rolled his eyes and huffed again, grumbling a fine before turning towards the play pin to watch their daughter play, the entire fence charmed to where she couldn’t climb out and wander off or fall over it and hurt herself.
He admired the pale baby, her white eyes being his favorite thing about her, he truly wondered how that was even possible when neither had a white eyed ancestor or grandparent in their family. Nor did either of them have it. Her hair wasn’t much of a concern since the black family had a daughter with split hair that she obviously could have inherited it from.
He smiled at her and cooed when she looked up at him, a big smile gracing her face when she saw him and all things were abandoned as now she wanted to climb into his arms.
Severus stood, stretching once more before walking over and picking her up, she babbled instantly and clung to his thin form.
“Sometimes I wonder how me made such a beautiful creation”
Lucius chuckled somewhere behind him but he didn’t focus on it as he was to focused on the beautiful face in front of him giving him a two toothed smile. And he grinned, she was getting too big for his liking, it was like yesterday that she was whining for touch from her cot her blurry eyes cracking open before closing again.
Arms wrapped around his waist and he jumped until the smell of pine filled his nose and he sighed, leaning into the touch.
“You didn’t hear anything did you?”
Severus shook his head, rocking Athena who had began picking at the buttons on his shirt, not acknowledging her daddy standing there.
“I said… it does not matter because either way she’s perfect, my precious girl”
His hand grazed her occupied cheek and she glanced up smiling, once again abandoning her activity in excitement for her daddy, who swiftly took her from the others arms and began to bounce her around.
The darker man watched, leaning against the force field of the play pin admiring Lucius being an incredible father. That was until Sev remembered about Minnie’s afternoon feed, he clicked his tongue and hurried to the kitchen to grab the heating bottle of milk.
It was a small clear stubby looking thing, it resembled a cup in all ways except for the fact it had no handles on it, according to the mediwitch it was to help with weening her off of the bottle.
“Lucius! Bring her here, please”
His voice was soft but stern, they learned the hard way that their little girl did not like loud noises and would wail if it went on for too long.
Often times this particular issue led to them using a noise canceling spell on all three of them, though of course the two parents could still hear just not their daughter so that she would not throw a tantrum in public.
They’ve been trying to find earmuffs for her but lately they have not found any, as all of the stores are either sold out or not in stock so they’ve settled on the spell, it seems to work better anyway.
Lucius walked into the kitchen, his daughter tearing up as her stomach rumbled and Severus cooed at her.
“Looks like I took this off the burner at the right time”
The blonde nodded, gently bouncing the infant on his side to cut down her cries of hunger, but as he thought it was not working.
“Yea, she started getting fussy the minute you left”
He nodded, plucking her from his arms and settling her into his own and almost immediately greed took over her face, the sight of the bottle filling her with happiness.
Severus pressed the nipple to her mouth and she immediately began to suckle, grunts and hums of approval filling the silence as they watched her feed with small smiles.
“Do you have her binky? And her spit up cloth, I need both for when she’s done feeding”
The blonde nodded. Last place he saw those items were in the nursery, and as he thought her binky and the cloth were laying by the crib and he took them both before exiting.
When he got back to the kitchen the bottle had just finished being emptied and was being removed from the milk drunk infant who looked dazed and sleepy.
“Someone’s looking rough”
This brought a chuckle from the darker man, he shook his head and grabbed the spit up cloth settling it over his shoulder before propping her against it and patting her back in various areas that could help rid a baby of any gas.
“Rough is an understatement, maybe drunk? She looks like you did back in sixth year after you drank whatever it was that Narcissa gave you at yule”
Lucius chuckled. He can recall that night like the back of his hand.
Clearly Narcissa had thought Lucius was in love with her, when it was the total Opposite, and decided to make her final move of spiking his punch with love potion. A very strong one at that.
She had been trying all week to get him to ask her, letters, owls, cards, flirting you name it, she did everything in the books yet it still did not work. As one can see.
Lucius had already asked someone when Narcissa started her attempts, that person being Severus who usually didn’t go to events.
In fact if he could remember correctly the two men were in a secret relationship with one another, keeping it quiet so that it would not spread throughout the entirety of the school.
“Ehh drunk sums it up”
The blonde shrugged only then realizing that their daughter was quietly suckling on her binky now blinking tiredly, the spit up cloth sat folded to the side, clean.
“Let’s get the house ready before they come, shall we?”
The darker chuckled before extending a hand towards Lucius who gently grasped the appendage and pulled them out of the kitchen.
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Minerva handed Severus yet another gift and he cringed, he swore under his breath, if this women pulled another gold and red box out of her ass he was going to lose it.
She held onto a sleeping Athena, who let out quiet hums around the binky as she slept comfortably in the woman’s arms.
Soft music played in the background, and gentle chittering of the different people invited lower than the music found it’s way to his ears.
There were not many people here, just a few who thought it was right to show up. Though he’s sure most of them just wanted to see his daughter rather than he himself, though he wasn’t complaining. Severus was thankful on that part.
There were a few students, most of them grown up but he taught them surely, Mr Potter included who stood near Lupin chatting it up.
Sev had to be honest, he did not mind Lupin that much, of course he despised the wolf, pretty much terrified of it after their last encounter when they were just mere kids at hogwarts, getting worse After what happened at the womping Willow that night.
But he’s fine. Lupins invite was approved by Severus, Sirius black however was not. Sirius and James were the main bullies of the four, those two picked on him more than he spoke. Peter was not seen with the group often so he did not mind him all that much either though he still heavily disliked him for being a gryffindor.
Lucius was over near Astoria and Narcissa, the two women became best of friends after Yule, the blonde had broke the woman’s heart by accident though as time passed she got over it and realized her mistakes, luc being himself forgave her and have been friends with her since.
Bella was around the house somewhere, so was Ron Weasley and his two mischievous brothers, Granger could not make it, not that he minded all that much.
He glared at what had to have been the thirteenth box from Minerva alone, he sighed and began to peel the paper off so that it could reveal a few soothers that Severus and Lucius themselves have been having trouble finding.
A barely noticeable smile crossed his face and her looked up at her, a question in his eye and on his tongue.
“How did you know we needed this?”
Minerva chuckled, her hold on the little one tightening when she shifted, a small whine coming off her lips before she settled down again.
“I might not have children, Severus, but I know a lot about babies and while I couldn’t get them to you sooner I have them now…”
He looked down into the box and smiled a bit bigger, ignoring those around him, he picked up a rubber bear one, it was small and looked to have fit over a babies fist so they could chew on it. Another was a ladybug binky with soft rubber bumps on the nipple. The others were simple water filled gadgets that you freeze for your baby.
He lifted the binky and looked at Athena, he would have to move quick if he wanted to keep her from breaking into a wail and disturbing the small get together.
Minerva stopped rocking her so he could switch out the binkies since movement as he was doing it would no doubt set her off quicker. His child was a drama queen.
Severus sat closer to Minerva, reached towards the red binky in Minnies mouth and tugged it out, startling the infant who began to whine at the lack of her soother, he was quick to shush her in a hushed tone before replacing it with the teether and she sucked greedily as if it were her bottle.
“Safe to say she likes it”
By that time Lucius had wandered over, a glass of red whine held delicately in his hands fitting with the fancy red robes he wore.
“Likes what?”
His voice was silky and startled both adults who turned to look at him before sighing, Minerva had tightened her grip over the infant protecting her but it relaxed upon the sight of the babies father.
“Ah Mr. Malfoy, we were just settling the little tyke with a new binky”
He nodded and leaned over the couch his hand extended to Severus so that he could take the wine glass and finish what was left over, the glass was then sent to the kitchen by the elves walking around.
“Minerva grabbed her a few soothers, we’re no doubt going to need them for when the rest of her teeth start coming in”
Lucius nodded, that same hand going down to graze over the little loves hair, the black and platinum strands soft against his fingers.
“She’ll need to be woken up soon, my love, a changing is well needed”
A sigh left the darker man at the remembrance of their infant’s schedule, her afternoon nap is followed by her being changed and put in the play pin. She won’t eat again until dinner so they usually give her a few chopped fruits or something small to save her appetite.
Severus looked up expectantly and he gave a sideways smile.
“Could you change her this time? I’ll get her up and calm but I don’t think I can handle another dirty diaper today”
Lucius chuckled, despite the want to protest, he nodded anyway.
“Fine, but you’re getting up with her tonight”
Severus smirked almost as if he were being challenged.
“You’ve got yourself a deal.”
Both men were unaware of Minerva chuckling at their antics, the way the two were dealing off their parts with Athena for the day was quite amusing.
She snickered and looked back down at the sleeping baby in her arms.
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When it came time to actually wake the infant up the small get together had been over, most retreated after a couple of drinks and coos over the baby, others left without a word, and Minevera was hesitant as ever.
She had not wanted to leave Athena, and this made both wizards happy to see since the others that had shown up aside from Narcissa, Harry, Lupin, and Astoria barely spent time with the little lass.
They would take a picture of her and would then dip away from the infant immediately after, afraid she’d burst into a fit of historic wails in their presence.
Minerva had not done that, she ignored the fact that the house was slowly clearing and decorations were being put away save for the fairy lights hanging from the walls and ceiling.
She continued to sit on the sofa, her eyes staring warmly at the lass in her arms, longing present in her eyes.
Severus had watched from afar.
His eyes scanning her downturned face as she looked at the little one, and he realized that she seemed to be having the same problem he was to have when he was away from her for far too long.
It was a magical bond. Severus just called it separation anxiety or attachment issues.
They had been notified early on that Athena’s magic held a certain affect with those she felt protective, protected and safe around even if she was unaware of it.
The mediwitch told them that as she grew it would only grow stronger and expand to other people she meets, and Severus grew defensive over that, anyone she meets depending on their aura would feel compelled magically to be close to her at all times like with Lucius and Sev and very obviously Minerva…
Lucius had brought up that the affect was taking place, Severus noticed a minute later and they both concluded that she could for sure be the lass’s godmother since they were already planning it anyway.
That was their way of getting her out of their home, a promise to come see the baby tomorrow and even take her out, though that was a big step in Severus’ opinion since he hasn’t and never will overcome the affect of their daughters magic.
-
Severus approached her cot, a frown on his face, she looked so peaceful and relaxed making the raven not want to wake her at all.
His hands occasionally twitched but he still did not make a move, he only admired her from above, his magic clashing with her own.
Lucius’ voice coming through the door frightened him from that moment though and he hesitantly turned around to face the pale blonde.
“Have you woken her?”
His voice was soft but firm, if Sev hadn’t woken her yet then he definitely would, whether that be with his voice or with his hands.
The darker man shook his head no and turned back towards their daughter to continue admiring her.
It was ruined however when gentle arms wrapped around him and lightly pressed against his belly, and then a warm presence formed against his back and he felt lovely and relaxed.
“She needs to be woken, Sev, no matter how calm she looks… I refuse to disrupt her schedule”
And with that the warmth disappeared and he watched as the little girl was disturbed by gentle hands, resulting in a small sob of displeasure from the infant.
It made his heart ache and he sighed shakily as the blonde picked her up and removed the binky she was suckling on moments prior.
“Good afternoon little one, oh so grumpy, just like your mommy”
He grumbled, oh how he hated that, being a male bearer was one thing but being called a mom because of pure blood instinct was just disturbing.
A scowl formed on his face, and when Lucius turned around to look at him he froze, holding Athena tight to his lean body.
“Severus… you can’t seriously be mad about this”
His scowl deepened and his lip turned up into a silent snarl.
“Really? This is a bit extra, even for you, you never seemed to be this moody all the other times we’ve woken her after a nap”
Severus said nothing. Yes this was childish but sometimes he did not want to wake her up, sometimes he wanted to let her sleep all day and do as she pleases, he really just wants to do stuff his way sometimes.
Lucius sighed and shook his head, striding over towards the changing table so he could change their daughters nappy, he was sure to add her creams and powders to the places that was infection prone after she was clean and then put a new nappy on her.
Athena was wide awake by the time her nappy was done being changed, babbling happily up at her daddy who made random funny faces that caused bursts of giggles to emerge from the infants body.
Severus still standing by the cot softened, a smile forming on his face that he quickly hid and stormed out to go cut up some fruits they had.
Lucius watched him go, frowning, his husband was really being a prat about such a small situation.
He sighed and looked down at the partially naked baby, her chubby body wriggling in the diaper clamped tight to her bottom.
“Your mother is such a grump”
Lucius held a pink onesie in one hand and a footless one piece outfit in the other trying to decide which one to go for, and if it hadn’t been for the small hand tightly gripping the onesie he probably would have been there all day.
It was magically put on her, and luckily it fit snugly, Lucius smiled at her as he ran his hand through her two colored hair.
—-
In the kitchen stood a very upset Severus who grumbled as he carelessly chopped some pear, pineapple, bananas and oranges.
The knife moving so fast that surely his own brain could not keep up with it, the only sound in the room being the metal hitting wood with each smooth glide through the fruit as it was cut into wedges and slices.
His eyes held a venom inside the Iris, it swirled dangerously, and Severus sighed.
Their baby had never missed an afternoon nap nor has she ever missed being woken from one, but just this once he wanted to allow her to just sleep with no disturbances. He wanted her to wake at her own time.
But Lucius being a pure blood, and the dominant figure of the household has certain rules and laws and policies and Severus was sick of it. Tired of it all. He wants to do stuff his way.
The banana was sat on the cutting board, and again his hand began slicing away with the blade, up until it caught his own finger and he hissed reeling back as if he had been bitten by something.
The pain blossomed randomly and pulsed angrily, blood oozing from the large cut on his finger. He huffed and went towards the sink to wash it but the blood kept coming and he grumbled frustratedly, eyes prickling with tears.
He sniffed them back and again attempted to wash the cut, but again it kept coming, he must’ve dove deep.
They began to fall suddenly and he huffed in frustration, he wasn’t sure why he was crying, maybe he was stressed? Athena had taken up a majority of his anxiety ridden thoughts and if not her then Lucius, who was being such a prat.
Severus silently sobbed, letting them fall freely with silent hiccups that shook his shoulders.
Gentle hands however eased themselves around his body and he went rigid, tensing with soft sniffles and badly hidden jerks of his lungs catching air.
The body behind him was gentle as it pressed against him, easing him into comfort as he began to slowly but surely relax in the pale arms. He turned around in them, his head on Lucius shoulder, head slotted in the crease where the neck met his shoulder.
“What’s wrong, Severus?…“
The voice was soft and gentle and reassuring and he couldn’t help the shivers that wracked his body, tears soaking the fancy button down that the blonde wore. Lucius tried to hush him, calm him down and reassure him and Severus listened but he couldn’t get it all under control.
“Sev, my love, why’re you crying?”
They squeezed each other tight and only then with hiccuping breaths did the darker man speak, eyes red and puffy, sore from crying.
“Everything… it’s all too much… Minerva, Athena, Your stupid laws and traditions… this schedule we have set… I’m just under a lot of pressure and being a bearer makes it worse.”
The breaths he was taking in were shaky but he managed to say it all and Lucius was the one to tense, having not realized the amount of stress being put on Sev overstimulated him.
He soothed his lover, cooing softly before pulling back a bit, he had healed the finger the minute he stepped in, so that was the least of his worries right now.
“Baby, what’s wrong with the schedule? And my… my traditions?”
Severus heard the slight voice crack, the tone pitching before dropping back to his normal smooth tone.
Severus wished he hadn’t asked that, there was so much he could have named that he disliked but only one really bothered him severely.
“I… Lucius, I don’t like being referred to as’mama’… it’s uncomfortable and yea I’m a barer, it’s normal for us but… it doesn’t fit… I want to be called papa or dad or maybe daddy but I can’t when your teaching her to call me something I severely dislike.”
His words came out in a whisper but with him being so close Lucius heard him just fine, he sniffed and pulled back a little bit.
“I would also think that I can make decisions for my daughter as well… I did not wish to wake her earlier… her little sob of discomfort… I didn’t like it, I don’t like it…”
He pulled away and crossed his arms, looking up at the blonde with puffy eyes, and Lucius frowned.
“Severus… I didn’t know you felt that way, you could have told me earlier—“
Severus scowled, that was an utter lie, they both knew that Lucius would immediately bounce to the point that he was pureblood and it was law.
“Ok maybe not but I promise you I’ll work on it, alright? I’ll start saying dada more, does that sound alright?”
Severus sighed, nodding his head and reluctantly falling into the calling warmth of his lover, the other man having pulled him into it.
Lucius kissed his head before looking down at the badly cut yet healed finger.
“You should put extra healing salve on that, we don’t need you getting an infection.”
The raven chuckled before making way out the kitchen, allowing Lucius to work on the rest of the chopped up fruit for Athena.
After that they fed it to her and all three sat on the couch, leant against each other as they watched Athena’s favorite cartoon on the Telly.