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Title: Never Easy Part II
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.

Harry was just finishing his task of carrying the milk downstairs and putting it in the fridge when it happened. He suddenly had a wave of nausea. It was the kind of feeling that either could mean you were sick or you were hungry. Harry shook his head. He felt very dizzy and lightheaded. It was almost as if he was getting high off of something.

Harry found his way back upstairs in a daze. His vision was beginning to blur, and he was having trouble walking straight. His body felt nervous and his heart began to pound. He knew what was going to happen. Harry could feel more than see Draco’s frown, as he made his way back behind the counter. Harry realized that he must appear to be drunk. He almost laughed at this.

“Harry, I need you to walk to the store. We’re out of ice,” Harry heard Marilyn’s voice say from somewhere around the register.

“Alright, just give me a second,” Harry said. He put his hands on his knees and bent over. Damn, this really hurt.

“Harry, are you feeling alright?” That was Draco.

“Yeah, just give me a second,” Harry repeated. People could be so dumb sometimes. Did he look like he was fucking alright? Harry felt it happen before it actually did. He got another wave of nausea, and started to lose his vision even more, as tiny little spots began forming around his eyes. Harry knew he was going to hit the floor, and he knew that there was nothing he could do to prevent it. All of this went through Harry’s mind in a mere second. Then he was out cold.

                                                        ~~~

Harry awoke to Draco’s concerned face hovering above him.

“You alright?" Draco asked.

Harry nodded, sitting up. He still felt really weak and his head hurt where he had fallen on it. Draco held up a gargantuan glass of orange juice, which Harry was certain had to be an entire container of the stuff. Draco held the glass to Harry’s mouth and practically forced him to drink all of it.

“Draco!” Harry sputtered. He coughed, giving Draco a dirty look. Draco returned the look ten-fold. Harry knew he was in for it.

“Did you eat anything today?” Draco asked. That stern look of his was still fixed on Draco's face.

Harry didn’t answer. No, he hadn’t. And he knew Draco was going to be angry with him.

“You didn’t, either,” Harry muttered. It was all he could think to say.

“That’s not the point,” Draco said, putting his hands on his hips. “I’m getting too fat, anyway. But you, you know what happens to you when you don’t eat.”

Draco had been running checkups on Harry as practice for his training as a Healer. He had freaked when he learned that Harry had extremely low blood pressure. It wasn’t something Harry thought was a problem. He had always considered having low blood pressure to be a good thing, even if it was slightly below the norm. Draco, however, seemed to think it classified Harry as an ‘invalid’, and he constantly fussed over Harry, especially about his getting enough nourishment.

“I’m fine, Dray. I told you. Just give me a moment,” Harry said. He stood up, holding onto the counter for support. The world swayed a little and Harry gripped the counter tightly.

“Go sit down on the couch,” Draco ordered. “I’m making you a sandwich.” His tone didn’t leave any room for argument.

Shaking, Harry made his way over to the couch. He sat down, reveling in the way the couch seemed to sink beneath him. Draco returned a moment later with two tuna sandwiches on whole wheat. Harry frowned. He much preferred white bread, but Draco seemed to be on a health food kick.

"For some reason, last night when I was studying I really wanted tuna. It’s all I could think of,” Draco told Harry. He set the sandwiches down on the coffee table in front of the couch and sank down next to Harry.

Harry could remember getting cravings for the weirdest foods during exam times at Hogwarts. It was lucky for him that he had known where the kitchen was, and that the house-elves were more than happy to give the food away. He and Ron used to make food runs for themselves and the other boys in their year. They had even gone for Hermione a few times when she had insisted that she couldn’t study another word without an apple with peanut butter on it.

“Sweet Merlin, I’m starving!” Draco said, picking up his sandwich and taking a huge bite out of it. Harry laughed and followed suit.

A couple of minutes later Marilyn came over. It had been a slow day, so she didn’t mind the boys resting up. She understood how stressed out they both had been lately.

“Hey, a customer decided they didn’t want this after I’d already made it. Do either of you want it?” She held up an iced chai latte.

“I’ll drink it!” Draco exclaimed, snatching it out of her hands.

Marilyn studied Draco for a moment. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but closed it again and smiled. She shrugged at Harry and went back to the register.

Draco had finished his sandwich in record time. He was now drinking the latte casually. He leaned his head back on the couch, closing his eyes.

“Hmmmm, this is really good! Wanna try?” Draco held the drink in front of Harry's nose.

“No, that’s alright, you go ahead,” Harry told him. Draco was acting so strangely. Harry wanted to know why, but he was almost too scared to bring it up. He was hoping it was just the stress of Draco’s tests that had him so riled up.

Draco had pulled his head upright and was looking at Harry suspiciously. “Something wrong?” he asked.

“No, nothing,” Harry answered. There truly wasn’t, either. Nothing he could verbally describe to anyone, at any rate.

“I’m still hungry,” Draco complained, rubbing his stomach.

“Well, we have plenty of food in the shop. What do you want?”  Harry asked.

Draco thought for a moment and then said, “Fried potatoes, with loads of ketchup.”

Harry just stared at him. There was no kitchen in the shop. There was no way to make Draco what he wanted. They didn’t have any of the ingredients. Harry didn’t know what to do except stare. Draco, however, was still deep in thought and didn’t notice this at all.

“No, no, I want chocolate,” Draco announced.

“Well, we don’t really have any chocolate, except for the syrup we use in the mocha drink. I guess you could eat that.”

Draco’s eyes flashed dangerously, and Harry was suddenly even more afraid of him. Though he really wasn’t afraid of Draco, more of what Draco might do. Draco could be quite stubborn sometimes. And he was especially difficult when he didn’t get his own way.

“Don’t be a prat. I will not eat syrup. But I’ve decided that I don’t want chocolate. What I really want is pineapple.” Draco began to pick invisible dirt out from under his fingernails.

“We don’t have pineapple in the shop,” Harry said slowly. He felt like he was telling a dragon that it couldn’t shoot fire and eat people. This wasn’t going to end well. Harry was going to be burned to a crisp and then eaten, with ketchup, most likely.

Draco stopped fussing with his nails to growl, “Then go out and get some!”

“Go…out?” Harry questioned dimly. This was just getting insane.

“Yes. I want the pineapple to be cut in chunks. Not rings, not slices, chunks! If it’s not cut in chunks, I won’t eat it. And it better be unsweetened, and fresh. If it’s not, I’ll kill you.”

Harry blinked. What the hell? He knew Draco could be demanding, but damn! This was just crossing over into the realm of being truly bizarre.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Draco barked, causing Harry to jump in surprise.

“Draco, I can’t leave during work,” Harry told him as nicely as possible. He could feel himself starting to get annoyed.

When Harry told him ‘no’, Draco got a very hurt look on his face. His bottom lip began to tremble.

“So you won’t do it?” Draco said sadly.

You would have thought that Harry had just told him he was canceling Christmas. Or that his pet hamster was being put down. Draco sniffed, and Harry could see a single tear gliding down Draco’s cheek, which he quickly wiped away, as if hoping Harry hadn’t seen it.

“Are you crying?” Harry asked in disbelief.

“No,” Draco lied, shuffling his feet and staring at the floor.

Harry sighed. He was going to hate himself for this one. “I’ll ask Marilyn. We probably need tomatoes for the shop, and Mare already said that she needed ice. I can pick up your pineapple while I’m there. I might even be able to go right away.”

Draco’s mood changed in the blink of an eye. He beamed and threw his arms around Harry’s neck. Draco kissed Harry on the cheek and said, “Thanks, love!” Draco then settled himself back down on the couch, happy as a little mouse. He nestled himself in the cushions and looked up at Harry expectantly.

In a confused daze, Harry wandered over to Marilyn, who was manning the register. She was helping a customer who was being very picky about the actual amount of coffee that was in their coffee mug. Harry waited, not so patiently. He caught himself tapping his fingers nervously against his legs. He carefully slipped his hands into his pockets. Finally, after what seemed like ages, the customer moved on, and Harry stepped up to the register.

“What can I do for you?” Marilyn asked.

“Listen, Mare, Draco is really stressing here and is insisting that he needs pineapple. I was wondering if I could go get him some at the store, and while I was there maybe I could pick up some ice and tomatoes for the shop,” Harry explained.

“That’s a great idea,” Marilyn said. She opened the register and handed Harry some money. “That’s for the ice and tomatoes. I’m afraid you’ll have to buy whatever lover boy there needs with your own money.”

“Thanks, Mare. I’ll see you in a few,” Harry called. He was already most of the way out the door.

                                                           ~~~

When Harry got back from the store, Draco was sound asleep on the couch. There were also hardly any customers left in the shop. There was one guy sitting at a table in the corner that had only ordered one cup of coffee and had been there all day, working at his computer. Harry set the bag of groceries down on top of the mini fridge and glanced over at Marilyn. She grinned and held her finger to her lips, motioning over to Draco sleeping on the couch. Harry smirked and went over to him. Draco was sleeping on his back, with the back of his hand over his eyes and his other hand resting on his stomach. Harry smiled. He was so sweet when he was sleeping. Harry leaned over Draco and pressed his mouth against the sleeping boy. Draco stirred, wrapping his arms around Harry and pulling him closer. Harry drew back, sweeping the hair out of Draco’s eyes. Draco smiled sleepily at him.

“I got you the pineapple, love,” Harry said quietly.

“Too tired, wanna sleep. Eat it later,” Draco murmured. He closed his eyes again and snuggled down into the couch.

Marilyn suddenly appeared next to Harry. She shook her head at Draco, saying, “Fired. He’s so fired.” Harry grinned at her and she returned the smile. “Seriously, you can take him home. There’s no need for you two to be here anymore.” Marilyn gestured around the shop. Harry wholeheartedly agreed with her. It was like a ghost town shop in here today.

Harry went behind the counter to grab the bag of pineapple, and then he came back to Draco. Harry put the bag into his backpack, lifted Draco into his arms and went out to the alley to Apparate home.

Once home, Harry put Draco to bed. And then he himself went into the living room and switched on the television. There was absolutely nothing on, though, so Harry turned it off again. This wouldn’t do. Something was wrong with Draco and Harry couldn’t take it anymore. It couldn’t just be Draco’s tests. Maybe Draco was really sick or something. Harry had to find out.

Carefully and as quietly as he could, Harry crept into the bedroom. Draco was dead to the world and most likely would be for quite some time. Harry put his hand on Draco’s forehead. His temperature felt normal to Harry. Draco stirred and opened his eyes. He blinked a couple of times as if not believing Harry was really there. Draco then smiled and pulled Harry into the bed, wrapping his arms around him.

“I love you,” Draco whispered.

“I love you, too, baby,” Harry answered.

“Mmmmmm,” Draco responded. Draco was asleep before Harry could count to ten. Harry was left alone again with his thoughts. But it did feel better to be close to Draco. Even after two years, Harry loved to just hold Draco in his arms while Draco slept. It was simple things like that which made their relationship last so long. Eventually Harry fell asleep too.

                                                              ~~~

When Harry woke, Draco was missing and Harry could hear sounds coming from the bathroom. Harry found Draco crouched down in front of the toilet. He looked up as Harry came in.

“I’m not feeling so good,” Draco said. He got a sudden pained look on his face before he leaned over the toilet and was violently sick into it.

Harry walked up behind Draco and put his hands on Draco’s shoulders. He rubbed circles on his shoulders.

“You alright, love?” Harry asked.

Draco stood up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “I’m hungry,” Draco said, walking out of the bathroom in the direction of the kitchen. Harry was left in the bathroom, completely confused. He had to think for a moment before he followed after Draco.

Draco was eating the pineapple Harry had bought the day before. He hadn’t even put it in a bowl. He was just eating it out of the container.

“I don’t even know why I’m eating this,” Draco told Harry, shoving pieces of the pineapple into his mouth, “I’m getting so fat.”

“You’re not getting…” Harry began to say, but he stopped, actually looking at Draco. There was definitely more to Draco’s stomach than there used to be.

Draco noticed Harry looking at his stomach. He put down his piece of pineapple and glared at Harry. “See?” he said. “Even you have noticed! I’m too fat to live!” Draco threw the container across the room. It hit the refrigerator and spilled all over the floor.

“Draco!” Harry exclaimed indignantly.

Draco opened his mouth as if he was going to say something and then closed it again.

“I’m so sorry, Harry,” Draco said. He walked over to the spilled pineapple and began cleaning it up. Harry joined him a moment later. Draco’s hands were shaking as he picked up the now dirty pineapple. “What a waste. And after you were so wonderful to get it for me.”

“Draco I just want to know what’s going on with you,” Harry told him honestly. He threw the pineapple into the rubbish bin. “You’ve been acting really strange.”

“I don’t know what’s happening to me, Harry. I feel so different inside,” Draco said. He sat down in one of the chairs at the table, putting his hand on his forehead. Harry watched him. This was very bewildering.

“Different how?” Harry asked.

“I don’t know,” Draco responded, though he appeared to be a little distracted, like he was lost in thought. “I just feel…different.”

“You’re going to hate me,” Harry said slowly. He didn’t know how to bring this up.

“No,” Draco said immediately.

“You don’t know what I am about to say,” Harry said.

“Oh, yes, I do!” Draco said coldly. “Typical Harry. You were about to say ‘we ought to go to the hospital’. What’s wrong? Haven’t gotten enough ‘hospital time’ in your life? Need a bit more?”

“Well, I didn’t say, ‘let's go to the hospital’, you did, but that’s a good idea. Get your jacket. We’re going.” Harry took Draco by the arm and tried to lead him out of the kitchen. But Draco wasn’t going to have any of it.

“Harry!” Draco whined. “No! I’m at the hospital enough!”

“That’s for class,” Harry told him firmly. “This is for you. It’s entirely different.”

“Fine!” Draco growled. “We'll go and they’ll tell me there’s nothing wrong, and you’ll look like a jerk. That’s absolutely fine with me!”

“That’s fine with me, too,” Harry said calmly. Yeah, there was something very wrong. Harry helped Draco put his jacket on. Draco gave him a very dirty look, which Harry simply chose to ignore. Sometimes Draco liked to pick fights. Harry had learned not to rise to the bait that Draco dangled in front of him. Sure, Draco was in a rotten mood. Harry didn’t blame him for this in the slightest. He only wished Draco would make it easier for him. For both of them.

“Draco, I know you don’t like this. I’m not doing this to be mean or controlling. I’m worried about you, and I need to know there’s nothing really wrong.” Harry walked up next to Draco and wrapped his arms around him. To his surprise, Draco hugged him back.

“I know that,” Draco muttered. “I’m scared that there may be something wrong. Something we won’t be able to handle.”

“We can deal with anything thrown at us,” Harry told him. “You have to believe that, sweetheart.” Harry kissed him on the forehead. Draco nodded.

“Alright, I’m ready,” Draco said.

“Then let’s go, baby,” Harry said, putting an arm around Draco’s waist.

A split second before they Apparated, Harry could have sworn he heard Draco repeat, in a whisper, the word ‘baby’.