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Ginny is half-awake, curled into one side of the couch with a cup of coffee held delicately in her tired hands and a pair of pirouettes held tight in her fingers. She takes a long sip, warmth running through her body and fighting off the chill. Ginny looks up at Draco who's been staring at her for at least five minutes. "Why are you looking at me like that?" She asks tiredly.
Draco smiles wider, hiding behind his own cup, full of tea- not coffee like hers. "No reason." Daffy comes padding through the living room, tongue lolling as she trots. Ginny lifts her cup and pats her thigh. Daffy jumps up immediately, stretching across Ginny's lap, her tail thumping against the couch.
"Come on, out with it," she whispers. On a day like today, the most quiet they got together was in the mornings before their early riser awoke. At exactly 6:47, Daffy's ears perk up, and a moment later, Ginny hears the tiny footsteps coming down the hall.
"Mumma?" Aries' little voice is hoarse and soft. Ginny turns her head. He's still dressed in his blue teddy bear pyjamas. His blond hair is tussled, his face red, and ne tiny fist rubs his eye. Ginny leans forward -over the dog- to set her cup on the table, but Draco is already to his feet, padding across the living room to scoop Aries up in his arms.
She shoos Daffy off her lap, meeting Draco halfway. His hand already feeling their son's flushed face. "Gin?" She lays the back of her hand on Aries' face, feeling his hot cheeks and sweat-damp forehead.
"Mumma," Aries croaks, his head drooping against Draco's shoulder as his hands reach for her. With nearly six years of parenting together, they've got a lot of practice seamlessly passing children to and from each other. Ginny holds him close to her.
She runs her fingers through his damp hair, murmuring gently. "My sweet boy, I'm sorry you're feeling poorly."
"I'll go check the twins." Draco kisses her temple and goes down the hall with Daffy trotting after him.
Ginny walks a slow circle around the living room before she sits back down. Aries curls up in her lap, burying his face in her neck. "Are you thirsty?" Aries shakes his head in response. "Okay, we'll get you some water soon, hmm?"
When Draco returns, Aries is dozing. He leans over the couch, his fingers at the back of her neck, brushing the ends of her short hair. "Asleep still," he says against her ear before pressing his lips to Aries' forehead. "I can call your mum, let her know we can't make it."
"Don't." Ginny disagreed softly. "I'll stay here with him. It's the twins' birthday, they should go. You can take them if they aren't sick."
"You'd be here alone." He's not looking at her, but a certain warmth radiates in the loving intensity of his silver-eyed gaze.
"I can handle it," she counters. Quiet, calm, her voice even-toned while she rubs circles in her five-year-old's back.
Draco sighs, kisses her cheek, and replies without hesitation, "I know you can, but do you want to? We're a team for a reason." He tilts his head to face her, his eyes searching.
Ginny can't help smiling and turning her head to kiss him quickly. "I want the boys to have a good birthday and see their grands, aunts, uncles, and cousins. The quiet will be good for Aries. He'll rest easier without them running circles around him."
He nods and pushes back. "Another hour, and I'll get them ready, I can take them to Diagon for a while, I'm sure your brothers wouldn't mind having them around."
"Fred and George?" Ginny's mouth twitches upwards, "No, they'd be pleased as punch, I'm sure." He's stepping away when she calls his name. Draco tilts his head and Ginny looks at him over the back of the couch. "I'm lucky to have you around, Draco. I love you."
Draco smiles.
"I was thinking exactly the same thing."