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Title: Never Easy Part I
Author: Ruby13b
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: R
Warnings: Adult Language, Sexual Content, Mpreg
Summary: Sequel to The Recovery Boys. Loose ends are tied up. New drama occurs. It's never easy for Harry and Draco.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and am owned by no one. Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling. I am not being paid for this.

This is a Harry/Draco fanfic. Meaning boy/boy. If you don't like don't read. You have been warned.

“Larry.”

“Yeah, I see that.”

"Mary Ann.”

“I was thinking Wendy. But I like that.”

“What about that guy?” Marilyn pointed to an older man. He had fading white hair and was wearing glasses.

“Alfred,” Harry stated firmly. “Definitely an ‘Alfred’.”

“Just what are you two doing?” Draco’s suspicious voice asked. Harry turned around and beamed at him. Draco was carrying a basket of supplies for the shop. Draco had actually started working in the coffee shop, to Harry’s surprise. Draco had scoffed and said that someone needed to keep an eye on Harry. And who was better to do it than his overprotective boyfriend?

Harry put an arm around Draco. “Me and Mare are naming customers,” Harry told Draco brightly.

“Naming customers?” Draco asked in a disbelieving manner. “Why the fuck would you do that?”

“Because it's fun,” Marilyn chimed in. “Harry was the one who made the game up, and don’t swear in front of me here. I’m still your manager.”

Draco waved her off like an annoying fly. He set the basket down and started unloading the supplies. Harry and Draco had now been living together for about two years. For the most part, it had been an amazing two years. They fought, bickered and fell in love even more. They still lived in the same apartment, but for the last two years, Harry had been toiling diligently on getting Malfoy Manor back for Draco. About a month ago he had been successful. They would be allowed to reclaim Malfoy Manor in about another month. Draco had been so excited when he found out, and he had thanked Harry endlessly. Harry was only happy that he could do something for Draco, something that brought Draco so much joy.

“And why exactly do you name the customers?” Draco asked, shoving a bag of coffee beans on a shelf.

“Because they need names,” Harry shrugged, leaning against the counter.

“Couldn’t you just ask for their real names, then?” Draco said. He stood up from where he had been crouching and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.

“Yeah, but that would end our game,” Harry pointed out. “It gets boring in here sometimes. This helps pass the time.”

Draco didn’t say anything for a moment. “Your logic bewilders me sometimes,” he finally said. He picked up the basket and headed back to the basement to put it away. Harry was left standing behind the counter, wondering what had just happened. He needed to go talk to Draco. Harry looked over at Marilyn, his eyes silently asking for permission. Marilyn tipped her head to the side as if to say, ‘You might as well.’ Harry grinned at her and ran after Draco.

Harry found Draco in the basement, of course. He was looking over the list of the bags of coffee beans that had been delivered earlier that day. Draco sighed, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. Draco looked up and saw Harry standing in front of him. He didn’t seem surprised that Harry had followed him.

“I assume you came down here on your own,” Draco said. Harry nodded. Draco sighed again. “What can I do for you, then?”

“I only want to know what’s going on inside my boyfriend’s head. Recently you’ve seemed rather distracted,” Harry told him honestly. Harry had learned the hard way that if they were going to make this work, they had to be honest and talk like adults. Well, talk like mature adults, that is. Or not scream at each other like they wanted to, at least. Oh sure, there was yelling at times, and sometimes one of them would even storm out on the other one. But their fights never lasted that long. For some reason, they couldn’t find a reason to stay mad at each other for too long.

Draco closed his eyes for a moment. He then opened them, folded up the list, put the list on the shelf with the extra coffee beans, and turned to face Harry. Draco forced a painful smile onto his face.

“Nothing’s wrong, Harry,” he tried to say cheerfully. But it came out rather choked and Harry wasn’t buying it for a second.

“Nice try, love,” Harry said, folding his arms across his chest. “Care to try again?”

“I don’t know, Harry, I really don’t,” Draco said with yet another exasperated sigh. “Maybe I’ve just been pushing myself too hard. You know my tests are in two weeks.”

Draco was training at St. Mungo’s to be an Assistant Healer. He was really enjoying it and definitely had a knack for Healing, but his classes were quite rigorous, and they were starting to take a toll on him. Harry was being as supportive to Draco as he could. But he couldn’t help but be mad at the hospital for making Draco so tired.

“Maybe you ought to go home early,” Harry said, walking up to Draco and wrapping his arms around him. “You should catch up on some sleep. I know you haven’t been sleeping.”

Draco nodded and laid his head on Harry’s shoulder. Draco felt he could fall asleep just as he was at that moment.

“Or I could clear out the shop so you could take a nap on the couches,” Harry joked. Draco smirked into Harry’s shoulder.

“I think I’d like that,” Draco admitted.

“Which one? You going home early or me closing up the shop?”

“Both.”

Harry laughed a little and kissed Draco on the forehead. “Seriously, love, I’m worried about you.”

“Don’t fuss, I’ll be alright!” Draco exclaimed. He pulled himself out of Harry’s grasp. Draco picked up the folded list and climbed out of the basement. Harry shook himself a little and followed him.

When Harry reappeared in the shop, Marilyn caught his eye, silently asking what was happening. Harry gave her a shrug, as if to say, ‘how the hell should I know?’ Draco was now making a sandwich for an extremely impatient customer who was shouting orders at Draco from in front of the counter. Draco, however, was not in the least bit fazed by this.

“The more you yell at me, the slower I’ll go,” Draco said in a cute, sing-song way.

Draco finished the sandwich, wrapped it up and handed it to the customer with a, “You should really learn to relax, you’ll live longer.” The customer left in a huff and Harry had to jump out of her pathway to the door. Harry frowned at Draco, who was now sitting on top of the mini-fridge, picking the dirt out from under his nails. His legs dangled off the side and he was swinging them back and forth like a little kid. What the heck had gotten into him? It must be the stress of studying for his tests, or something. That’s what Harry was hoping, at least. He couldn’t imagine what else it could be. He hoped it was nothing serious, at any rate.

Marilyn was trying not to laugh. Harry could tell. She kept putting her hand over her mouth as if she was coughing. Harry ran his fingers through his hair. Finding out that Marilyn was a witch really hadn’t changed much between them. Knowing, in fact, actually made it easier. Harry didn’t have to worry about letting something slip like he did with most Muggles. It was kind of silly, actually, all of this secrecy of the Wizarding world. It was also a little ridiculous, if truth be told. It was like the whole community was ashamed, or something.

Harry looked over at Draco, who was still on top of the mini-fridge. What was his problem? Could it be that he was nervous about getting the manor back? That was very likely. Harry cautiously approached his boyfriend, who stopped picking at his fingernails and smiled at Harry. The fact that Draco had stopped with his nails just to smile at him scared Harry to no end.

“Draco? Baby? Are you feeling alright?” Harry asked timidly. He put his hand on Draco’s shoulder. Before Harry knew what was happening, Draco had flung himself into Harry’s arms and was sobbing uncontrollably.

Through the crying, Harry could make out bits and pieces of sentences that Draco was saying. “People (choke) have (sob) names (hiccup) should ask…” Is that what Draco was crying about? Dear Lord. He was crying over some stupid game? Something was not right with this picture. That couldn’t be it.

“Draco, honey, it’s just a silly game. We know most of the customers' real names. We just like giving them names of our own. We’re not being mean. It’s just something we do to pass the time.” Harry was trying his best to explain this. Poor Draco, he must be so tired. Harry glanced around the shop and realized that they were causing a scene. ‘You want a scene? I’ll give you a scene!’ Harry thought angrily. Harry pulled Draco away from his shoulder and kissed him soundly on the lips. Harry could hear a few gasps but nothing more dramatic than that.

“I’m taking him home,” Harry announced to Marilyn.

“Shoo,” Marilyn said, waving them off. “You’ve stayed past your shift anyway.”

Harry led Draco out into the alley way so that they could Apparate directly. When they landed in the apartment, Harry scooped Draco up into his arms. Harry struggled a little. It seemed Draco had gained some weight. While Harry considered this a good thing, he knew he couldn’t say anything to Draco. Draco would freak out and then not eat anything but carrots for the next week and a half. Draco could be so funny about his appearance.

Harry carried Draco into the bedroom and put him into bed, pulling the covers around him.

“Go to sleep,” Harry soothed. “You’ve worn yourself out.”

“Stay with me?” Draco asked.

Harry didn’t verbally answer. He merely kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed next to Draco. Draco didn’t cuddle up to him like he normally would. Harry opened his arms and said, “Come on, what are you doing over there by yourself?”

Draco scooted over to Harry and nestled himself against him. ‘Just like a little mouse,’ Harry thought to himself. He grinned.

“Hey, Harry?” Draco questioned in a small voice.

“Yes?’ Harry said patiently. Harry didn’t want to push Draco into telling him something that Draco wasn’t ready to tell. But if Draco was going to make it easy and come right out and say it, Harry wasn’t going to waste the opportunity.

“I love you,” Draco whispered. Harry sighed. He should have known Draco better than that. Draco loved a good secret, after all. But he also really did love Harry.

“I know, baby, I love you too.”

“And you’d never…?” Draco started. Harry didn’t say anything. He was trying a new ‘don’t push Draco’ theory, hoping that Draco would tell him on his own instead. “...never leave me, would you?” Draco finished under his breath.

Harry was at a loss for words.

“Draco, where are you coming up with this? When have I ever given you any reason to believe that I’d ever leave you?” Harry spoke in a soft voice while he rubbed Draco’s back. This was stress at its worst. Harry couldn’t wait for Draco’s dumb tests to be over with. Then Draco could actually start acting normal again. Well, normal for Draco. Which actually wasn’t normal at all.

“Don’t know, just tired,” Draco said sleepily.

“You’re really starting to scare me, love,” Harry told him. “You’re acting like some crazy female.” Though in Harry’s personal opinion, all females were frickin' nuts. That’s why he preferred to be with a boy. Or more specifically, with Draco. Harry didn’t have to worry about ‘that time of the month’. Nope, lucky him, Draco was crazy and hormonal all the time. Not that he would trade Draco in for anything. At least he couldn’t get Draco pregnant. That was his one saving grace. Though this was a little upsetting to Harry. He had wanted a family. Oh well, there was always adoption.

“'M not a girl,” Draco muttered. He was almost asleep at this point.

“Of course you’re not,” Harry said. “You’re just stressed out over your tests. You’ll see, everything will be put right.”

And even though it was only 5:00 in the afternoon, both Harry and Draco fell asleep without another word.

~~~

Harry woke at about 2:00 the next morning. It was pitch black and Harry couldn’t see at all. Harry reached beside him for Draco, only to find that Draco was not there. Harry stumbled out of bed in search of him.

Harry found Draco in the kitchen. He was sitting at the table with what looked to be half of the library with him. Draco had propped open many books and had several more in stacks on the table. Harry, in fact, almost couldn’t see Draco’s head because of the stack of books in the way. Draco was bent over a book reading and taking notes in his notebook.

“Draco?” Harry said quietly.

Draco was startled and turned around. “Don’t do that!” he exclaimed, putting his hand over his heart.

“I’m sorry,” Harry said, sitting down on the stool that was by the sink. “You getting some good work done?”

“A little,” Draco answered distractedly. He was flipping through his notebook. Harry watched him.

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Yes, you can be quiet,” Draco said, but it wasn’t in a nasty way. Just more stating what he needed.

Harry got up and put the kettle on the stove to boil some water. Harry made Draco a nice hot cup of peppermint tea (one of Draco’s favorites) and set it down next to Draco, kissing him on the top of his head.

“Come back to bed soon,” Harry said. “We’ve both have work tomorrow. Unless you want to take the day off?”

“No,” Draco said, shaking his head and then taking a sip of his tea. “It’s too short notice. I’ll just take my notes to look over during the off moments.”

“I was thinking more that you should sleep and rest up, but alright,” Harry told him. “Don’t be too long.”

“I shouldn’t be too much longer,” Draco said. He had already returned to his notes.

Harry nodded and left the room. He headed back to the bedroom and got into bed. It felt lonely without Draco there beside him. Harry hoped Draco really wouldn’t be too much longer. Though knowing Draco he would lose track of time. Harry drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

~~~

When Harry woke to his alarm clock later that morning, the first thing he noticed was the absence of his boyfriend. Grumbling, Harry got out of bed and headed to the kitchen. Sure enough, there was Draco, fast asleep on one of his many textbooks. Harry gently shook Draco by the shoulder.

“Bugger off!” Draco muttered, slapping Harry’s hand away.

“Should I telephone you in sick to work?” Harry asked.

“No! I’m up! I’m up!” Draco exclaimed, jumping up. Harry didn’t know why Draco didn’t want to miss a day. In fact, he couldn’t remember that last time Draco had taken a day off. He was always either working or taking class.

“Well, come on then. We’ll be late if you don’t hurry,” Harry told him.

Draco got ready in record time. He just threw on the first thing he saw. That bothered Harry greatly. Usually Draco would spend half an hour picking out what he was going to wear. Even to work, which was something because the dress code was a black or white shirt and some kind of casual trousers.

But today Draco put on what was in reach, which happened to be what he had been wearing yesterday. Harry thought his heart stopped when he saw this. That was a normal thing for him to do, not Draco. In fact, Draco had complained about Harry wearing the same clothes more than one day in a row. He said that Harry was wearing dirty clothes like a peasant on the street, and that he should just go out and live where he belonged. That caused them to engage in a long, heated battle, which turned into the clothes not being an issue because neither of them was wearing any. They had been very late to work that day.

“What?’ Draco asked, when he emerged fully dressed from the bedroom.

“Nothing,” Harry said. He took Draco’s hand. “You’re cute, that’s all.”

“Get off me, you lunatic,” Draco snipped, pulling his hand away. Harry laughed at this and put his arm around Draco, and together they Apparated directly to work.

Marilyn happily opened the door for them.

“Oh, good, there you are,” she said. “We have about fifteen minutes until we open the shop, and I have a lot for you to get done before that.” She was looking at Harry when she said this.

“Just me?” Harry asked indignantly. “What about Draco? Do you have a lot of work for him, too?” Harry probably wouldn’t have let Draco do any heavy lifting at the moment anyway, but it was the principle of the matter.

“Oh, I have plenty of book work for him to do,” Marilyn said, waving Harry off. “I need you to do the physical labor.”

“Why me?” Harry asked, though he thought he could come up with plenty of reasons on his own. He knew he sounded whiney. But sometimes he just didn’t feel like it. He was really tired today because of his lack of sleep. He would just have to suck it up.

“Because, you’re the biggest and strongest,” Marilyn said simply. She handed Draco the list of the milks that were going to be delivered that day, and she handed Harry the list of supplies they needed from the basement.

“Between a girl and a wimp, that’s not hard,” Harry muttered under his breath.

“Hey! I heard that!” Marilyn and Draco said in unison.

Harry sighed and headed to the basement. This was going to be a long day. He could tell already.