Second Chances

12. Horror, Alliances and Draco

"No..." Tom breathed out making to stand up.

"Avada...."

"TOM!" Tom jerked upright trying and failing to catch his breath, his skin was sweat soaked and his heart beat to fast to keep track of. His red eyes frantically scanned around himself until he found Harry's worried green eyes, the teen sitting next to him in bed, his hand still resting on Tom's arm where he had clearly been trying to wake him.

Before he could stop himself he ripped back the covers and yanked up Harry shirt, one hand stroking over the bump there, the other resting over Harry's chest, desperate to find the heart beat there, desperate to feel it underneath his hand.

"Tom, Tom its alright, it was just a dream, its fine, we're safe, we're here, its alright," Harry's soft, soothing voice and gentle hands helped sooth away the immediate panic in him, closing his eyes as he felt Harry's heart beat, his hands stroking his face, the skin warmed metal of his consort ring brushing his cheek bone whenever Harry got that far up.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry," the words spilled form his mouth before he could stop them. He was stunned to feel his eyes burning, tears welling up where they had not been in decades.

Lips brushed over his eyelids before sliding over his cheeks and then brushing gently at his lips, all the comfort that they meant sinking in him and warming him.

"Tom it was just a dream," Harry soothing not stopping stroking his face in soothing gestures.

"It was so real, I couldn't...I wasn't there in time he...you...you were...and...the baby...he had the baby and...I couldn't protect you, either of you..." Tom gasped out a shudder running through his body as the memories of the dream shot through his mind again.

"Tom, it didn't happen, we're here, safe with you. I trust you with my life and more importantly I trust you with our son's! I know you would burn every inch of this world and everyone that came in between you protecting him if you had to," Harry said with such surety in his voice that Tom opened his eyes to meet determined, fiery ones.

"You as well," Tom admitted, his hands stroking over the bump of Harry's stomach.

"I'm not some damsel in distress, I know you can protect me, but I will fight tooth and nail against anyone that tries to take me away from you," Harry smiled leaning forwards to kiss him.

"I don't deserve you," Tom shook his head the words from the dream echoing back to him. "I don't deserve this, this chance at happiness, of a family, of love, I don't deserve it,"

"Well you have me now and I'm not going anywhere, and I would burn everything on this earth to stay at your side. Tom you deserve love and happiness, a family and a home as much as anyone if not more, and you already have it, all of it," Harry said firmly, clutching Tom's face in his hands and making him look at him.

"All of it?" Tom frowned uncertain he was hearing this right.

"All of it! I love you Tom, and me and our son, we're not going anywhere now. You're stuck with us," Harry smiled as Tom's breath caught in his chest and he stared at Harry wide eyed.

"You...truly?" He blinked stunned as the words tried desperately to sink into his brain, but it just wouldn't accept them.

"I love you, and our son will love you," Harry nodded.

"I...Harry I can't....not yet I...I'm sorry I..."

"Shush, when you're ready to say them, I'll be ready to hear them. You don't have to say it out loud for me to feel it," Harry shook his head, his eyes still warm and his smile even brighter. "Now lie down, its still early, go back to sleep," Harry urged him gently back down onto the mattress and pulled the covers over them.