Draco still shrugged off the praise as nice as it was to hear. Funny how life changed. Once? He has been ready to accept accolades for nearly anything, earned or not.
It was a good thing Alphard warned him about the hug or there would have been another awkward repeat of their earlier greeting. Instead, Draco actually smiled and hugged his uncle back hard. It was more than he dared hope for when he set out to talk with Alphard. It felt good and warm and safe. He may have taken to fatherhood at his tender age, but he was still very much a child needing an adult to look out for him too. Lucius tried, Merlin help him, but there were years of issues to work out there. Alphard was largely uncomplicated. "I love you too," Draco whispered.