[epilogue]

"The audacity of Weasley to get married and get pregnant a couple months after you slipped into a coma give birth while you were in a coma is just too much for me, Theodore." Blaise ranted as he poured milk into his tea "Then, Astoria and Viktor had the audacity to get married soon after too! None of them could wait for you! Now, Draco—"

"The audacity of to come ranting here to you after disappearing on us for an entire year." Draco glared at Blaise as he fixed his cufflink

"Now, is getting married without you too! By the way, Weasley and Potter threw Goyle's arse into jail." Blaise continued, walking over to Theo "You've grown a beard, mate."

"I was too busy with the wedding preps to clean him up this week, I think." Celine said thoughtfully as she watched Draco wave his wand to clean Theo up—giving him an odd-looking beard "If that doesn't make you want to wake up, I don't know what will." he muttered "And he already knows about Goyle, that's old news, Blaise."

"If you haven't noticed, I've only recently began catching up with the news, and besides, was I speaking to you?"

Draco leaned against the foot of Theo's bed and stared at Blaise accusingly "After a year of dipping out on all of us, you and Pansy come back for my wedding? Are you even staying for the reception?"

"Are you kidding? Why would I pass up on the chance to eat that roasted duck? Of course we're staying for the reception." Blaise snickered "We had to come back because who would be your best man? Weasley?"

"Potter, actually."

"Oh shut up, Malfoy." Blaise looked at Theo "Hear that, Theo? I'm his man!"

"Are you staying at all, Blaise?" Celine asked Blaise from her seat next to Theo, crossing her arms

"You know the only reason that'll get us to stay is if that guy behind Draco wakes up." Blaise shrugged, setting the cup of tea down "Otherwise, it's Spain for us, and then Romania, and then—"

"Just stay for a little while. Let's all catch up. Little James has grown loads since you left." Draco insisted

"Miss me much?"

"It's my wedding day, I'm allowed to have emotions."

", and won't you be late for your own wedding if you stay here for much longer?" Blaise pointed out "Granger will have my head if I don't get you down there right now." He said, avoiding Draco's offer.

He did want to stay, he really did.

But they were all moving on—moving forward, and it hurt too much to see that while knowing one of his best mates is getting left behind.

He didn't have the heart to stay and watch all of them move on with their lives while Theo is stuck to a bed.

It hurt too much.

The last year he spent exploring the world with Pansy has kept their minds off of the fact that Theo's been in a coma for two years now.

"Are you happy, Blaise?"

"I'm free, Draco." Blaise answered, then looked at Theo "But we all know we'll never feel complete again."

"You don't know that." Celine said as she hung a garment bag in the wardrobe across Theo's bed "He might wake up tomorrow or next week, for all we know."

"We've been saying that for two years now, Cel." Blaise sighed, finishing the last bit of his tea "Now, Malfoy, are you sure you're not trying to flee from your wedding by being here?"

"Hermione insisted I check on Theo today before the ceremony begins, dumbass." Draco rolled his eyes "She was hoping to dance with him today. Apparently they made a promise."

"I'll dance with her twice." Blaise assured Draco "You better wake the fuck up soon, Theodore. I've been doing this shit for you far too many times already."

"If I have to dance with Pansy twice at her wedding too just because you aren't there, I will end you." Draco threatened Theo, who remained motionless on the bed. Draco sighed "Well, I do have to go. The wedding will start in thirty minutes. I can't have everyone, including the press, thinking I ditched the Wizarding World's golden princess."

"Who said Pansy and I weren't already married?"

Draco's eyes moved towards the direction of Blaise's left hand and smirked "Well for one, she'd kill you if you didn't wear your ring, and two, Ginny Weasley would have your head if you didn't include her in your wedding plans."

"See, you still know me well." Blaise snickered as he dusted off the invisible dirt from his pants "Let's get you married, mate."

"Hell, I'm getting married."

"I know, you're ."

"Still better-looking than you." Draco scoffed

"Hey, Cel, nice job on these clothes, by the way." Blaise complimented his cousin's work "Are you coming?"

"I'm right behind you." Celine nodded as she brushed the hair away from Theo's eyes.

Draco and Blaise gave their best mate another fleeting look, before walking out the door of his hospital room.

"You need a haircut, my love." Celine whispered quietly, her voice shaky "Blaise came back. Everyone's here. Are you still not going to wake?"

The hospital room was quiet, just as it usually was these days. Theo remained motionless on the bed. Though his cheeks were no longer pale, and his skin was warm with the blood rushing through his veins, he laid unconscious and unmoving.

"You know, I had to adjust Hermione's dress again today." Celine whispered quietly, her blue eyes checking if Draco was still by the door "Draco doesn't know, but she's a month pregnant and starting to show." Celine's voice shook as the tears began to form in her eyes "She's showing so quickly because she's pregnant with twins, Theo. Their magic is strong and healthy." She wiped the tears from her cheeks "Will you not wake? You promised her you'll be the godfather, didn't you?"

Still nothing.

"Your best friend is getting , Theo." Celine whispered "He's getting married and having ...What about us? How much longer are you going to make me wait?" She cried softly pressing a wet kiss to his cheek. "Please don't make me wait too long, darling. I long to plan our own wedding, too."

She straightened up and brushed her tears away. Celine stuck a note to the garment bag.

With one last longing look at the love of her life, she left the room to go watch two of her closest friends tie the knot.

———

"Here's your something old, my dear." Narcissa smiled at Hermione as she fixed a diamond bracelet around her left wrist "A gift from a long line of Malfoy's."

"Who are probably turning on the graves at this moment." Hermione laughed as she gave Narcissa a hug "Thank you, Narcissa. It's beautiful." The bracelet matched the Cartier that Draco had given her perfectly.

"Something borrowed. I want this back, Granger." Pansy walked into the bedroom, waving around a lace garter "Tell Draco to shoot it at Blaise's head."