Sometimes Astoria just needed to get away. To escape the manor and her life as the wife of the minister and all the obligations that went along with it. To enjoy the solitude that she so desperately craved, no obligations, no one to bother her, no social secretaries or guards. The healer just needed some time to herself and whenever those feelings arose, she found herself in Germany.

Of course the couple had kept the old cottage, where so many good times had occurred. Family pictures lined the walls and she often felt more at home here than the large Manor that was the hereditary Malfoy home. It was cozy, homey, perfection when one needed an escape from the duties and expectations of the paths their lives had taken.

Curled up in the bed in an oversized sweater and a large quilt around her, she happily read her book in the peaceful quiet that was the cottage and allowed the knots in her back to unwind, the sirens in her head to silence themselves, all of it to melt away. And then she heard a voice. A voice that was most certainly her husband's voice, the Minister himself. She cursed her poor luck or maybe they really did think alike. At events it took no more than a look for them to communicate, perhaps this was just another manifestation of that.

Quickly putting her book aside and grabbing her cup and saucer she walked down the stairs and found Draco standing there, looking handsome and worried as he always did. "Hello, love. I didn't expect to see you here, I didn't leave a note." There goes the alone time but maybe this was for the best.

"No. No, I took some time off work. I have been… under the weather and thought some fresh air would help." It was strange, after so many years working at St. Mungo's her immune system was nearly impenetrable but Astoria had been horribly ill the last few days. She just felt queasy and shaky and needed to shake this illness before work needed her back or she was forced to attend another luncheon. That was all she needed, to vomit all over the old matrons in their Sunday best. What fun, that was certainly a way to bring honor to the Malfoy name. No, it was a better idea hiding in the cottage, alone, until she felt better. Though the alone part of her plan was now out the window. "Yes, I heard you enter and was surprised to hear your voice. I was just about to make more tea, would you like a cup?"

If they were to be stuck together tonight, might as well play nice. It had been a very long time since they had spent quality time together, just the two of them. No work separating them, no rushing off to meetings or dealing with their often unruly son. Time to themselves, to talk, to… reconnect. Because Astoria honestly couldn't remember the last time this had happened. Especially with the rumors of a possible werewolf uprising and her near indiscretions. Draco looked tired and worn out, maybe this time at the cottage was something they needed. Some of her favorite memories of their time as a family was here, time with just the two of them, with Scorpius, with Daphne and her children. It was a beautiful place and her favorite way to escape.

"What business do you have in Germany? Anything I can help with?" Astoria sat on the old, plush couch and swept her feet underneath, looking up at her husband, the man she married so long ago. Where had the time gone? How could Scorpius be old enough to have a serious girlfriend? What were they to do now, to fix this gap that had grown between the two of them?

The concern on his face was heartwarming. Draco had always been fiercely protective of the people he cared for and even with an entire country to worry about it was something that never changed. It was in his nature and one of the things Astoria had loved about him from the minute they reconnected until now. With a slight laugh Astoria shook her head and sat comfortably against the couch. "Nothing to be concerned about, just a small bout with the flu. Nothing a healthy dose of fresh air and some tea can't cure." It was strange, that a flu had hung on for so long but it had been so long since she was last sick like this that it had to be a formidable strain. But to be reminded of how much her husband cared for her, even in the simple act of getting her tea made her smile. They had been together for so long and life had taken them to remarkable heights but moments like this: slowing down and being alone, caring for each other like they always had.

"My normal tea is fine, honestly, Draco, you don't need to do this. I'm not an invalid and you have other things to worry about." But it was very nice, she added in her mind, before pulling a blanket across her lap. It sometimes baffled her, how much work his job contained. So often she had found him asleep on his desk and she'd loosen his tie and move the ink plot and turn off the light before slipping back into bed. With how little sleep he already got she couldn't interrupt him, just try to make him as comfortable as she could. "That's disheartening to hear, I hope some reasonable conclusion can be reached soon. But yes… I am very glad to see you here. Though why you trust our son I will never understand but you were not the one to find them in our bed." Even know she wanted to throttle her husband with the nearest blunt object for finding humor in that situation but she just stuck with rolling her eyes and pursing her lips at him. That damnable charming smile of his, somehow always cut through her temper. Even now, when they both were aware of the distance growing between them. Yes, this was a very fortunate turn of events.

Well, this was a strange turn of events. Here Astoria had wanted to get away from everything, from Draco, from her job, from her near infidelities and just hide until she felt better. And now she was sitting, her husband full of concern and fetching her tea. Maybe this was exactly what they needed. "The difference is that we were never caught." A smile spread on her face as she took a sip from her tea, allowing it to warm and soothe her. "He is much too like his father though I can't say that is entirely a bad thing." There was so much of him in Scorpius it was sometimes like looking in a time machine, headstrong and intelligent and fearless. Time and life had begun to take it's toll on them, as it does on everyone.

"It is wonderful to see you, love. It's been.. too long since we had time to ourselves without our other obligations getting in the way." Astoria wondered how much he had heard about her social life. It was almost impossible for the wife of the minister to fly under the radio and despite the discretion of their friendship even the other healers she worked with were asking about the nature of her relationship with Jasper. Part of it infuriated her, that the only time she ever had any privacy was when she escaped the country she called her home.

Grabbing a pillow and setting it behind her, she sighed contentedly. There was something to be said about the familiarity of marriage, the two of them spent together made for an easy relationship, despite the distance that had grown between them. This was… very nice, to say the least and it was easier for her to feel better when she could relax.

But with so much between them, what was there to talk about other than work? With that off the table, all there was to discuss was their distance caused by the existence of his love child and her near infidelity. Neither of them seemed a safe topic at the moment so she just sat there, comfortably against him, sipping her tea and enjoying the silence.

The thought of the similarities between her husband and her son brought a smile to her face, despite how much it annoyed her at times. "He was just born to better world is all." A safer world, that would hopefully stay that way despite the troubling rumors Astoria had been hearing. But hopefully her son would be off to Aridorn next year, far away from the potential of any danger. Two birds with one stone, a continuation of his studies and a safer environment for that to happen in. "Trust me, he is every bit as headstrong and impossible as you," she teased, nudging her husband's knee with her foot.

"Not neglectful. Don't blame yourself: with Scorpius in school and I with the study it hasn't just been you." Astoria had never thought taking on a trial study would require so much time but she found herself in St. Mungo's more than she had been since her residency. So much paperwork and new details to constantly pour over, waiting for the anomaly to show itself. Astoria smiled an ran her fingers along the inside of his wrist, as she had always done, when he touched her cheek. So much time together, half a lifetime it seemed. "I would like to get away with you more often, even just for a night. Everything seems so much more… peaceful out here." Their cozy nook in the world, where nothing could bother them or their family.

Astoria tilted his head at the conspiratorial smile that was now plastered on Draco's face. "On the deck?" The idea of getting up seemed impossible and her stomach began to churn at the idea. But the smile on his face was absolutely infectious and she found herself smiling back at him with a nod. "Three o'clock?" Whatever he was planning she knew she wanted to be a part of it.

Astoria couldn't help but grin at the excitement present in her husband. It had been long since she had seen him like this, even before their fight about his daughter with that woman. But that was so far removed from his face, beaming with mischief. The healer nodded and sat there for another few moments, finishing her tea before getting up from her spot on the couch. But the minute she her feet touched the ground she instantly regretted it. Her stomach turned and she found herself rushing, with impressive speed, to the sink. The mug clattered in the sink, the handle breaking off the mug as she heaved the contents of her stomach into the drain. Damn, she was really hoping she could at least hold the tea down. It had been… when was the last time she ate? It had been at least three days, four if she counted the nausea. Four days since she had eaten or held anything down.

Once her stomach had finally vacated her attempt to stave off dehydration she sank to the floor, jut sitting on the cool tile, trying to catch her breath. Her limbs felt like they were on fire from the dehydration and her hands wouldn't stop shaking. This was terrible. And now Draco was here, waiting for her outside. She needed to get there. Stand up, old girl, get up and meet your husband on the deck. But Astoria couldn't will her legs to pick her up, curled up useless to her chest. Get up. It was as though her brain had stopped sending signals to her hands and feet and despite all her efforts she had yet to move.

This was not just a stomach flu, that much she was certain. Or food poisoning. The woman had food poisoning a few years ago and it was never this bad. Whatever this was, even the smell of the floor polish was turning her stomach. This was a nightmare, that's what it was.

Astoria gave up on willing herself to stand up and just closed her eyes, trying to ignore her pounding headache and nausea for as long as possible.

Astoria didn't know how long she had been on the floor before her husband's concerned voice broke the silence. She lifted her head, her expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, Draco, I had a bit of a turn. I'll be right out." She took a few deep breaths, hoping it would steady her spinning head enough to stand up and join him out on the deck but it did nothing but make it all seem to spin faster. "I don't know what's wrong, I thought it was a bug but.." Something clicked in her head but she quickly dismissed the idea. Impossible, she was just dehydrated and delusional.

Her stomach was in knots and if she had anything else left to come up she knew it would but she instead pulled her knees to her chest. "Help me up. Please?" Maybe standing would help, though she doubted anything would help her feel better at this point. Her voice was full of guilt. "I'm so sorry, I'm just going to to Mungo's, don't worry about me." Astoria's legs were shaky as she tried to stand on her own, knuckles turning white from gripping the counter so tightly. "It's honestly nothing, don't let me bother your time here." This was not what she had in mind, when she saw Draco's face at the bottom of the stairs. Time spent together, reconnecting. Not her gripping the ledge of the counter as though she were about to fall into an abyss, her vomit in the sink.

"It'll be okay, just… need to get over to the fireplace." No way that she could apparate in this state, she was barely certain she could correctly navigate the floo network at the moment.