He knew she was upset. That much was evident from her position on the bed. Usually when he'd come in late he'd go into their bedroom just to change as Marlene sprawled across the entirety of the bed in her sleep. Not tonight. Tonight she was curled into a ball around her pillow. He slowly approached the edge of the bed and placed a kiss to her temple.
"Marley, princess, wake up baby doll"She groaned and slowly turned over. "Merlin something major must have happened" Sirius thought to himself taking in her makeup stained face.
"Sorry love I tried staying up to see you when you came in" she replied groggily.
Kissing her lips gently Sirius replied, "Don't worry about it. Is everything ok?"
Marlene bit her lip and fought to hold back the tears that were brimming in her crystal blue eyes.
"No" was all she managed to croak out before losing all resolve and sobbing into Sirius' shirt. He instantly knew what it was about.
"Who?"
"Doe"
"Shit" he swore under his breath.
While being younger than them, dorcas and Marlene had become close. He would have put money on Marley even thinking she was a baby sister to her. He kissed the top of her head and held her as she calmed herself down. Of all the nights for him to be running late. Damn the jeweler. He sighed and Marlene looked up into his steel grey eyes.
"What is it Siri?"
"Nothing baby doll. Just thinking" He had peaked her curiosity.
" 'bout what?"
"The future. And how it's so….. not definite."
She laughed at this "Wow Sirius black philosopher extraordinaire"
"Shut up." he gently shoves her and barks out a soft laugh.
"Make me!" Marlene quipped.
Without thinking he blurted out what had been on his mind for a while. "Marry me"
"Wh…. what?"
"Marlene McKinnon, I have known you for years and loved you for almost as long. At first it was your company I loved. Then I realized that I only wanted your company. I closed my eyes at night and saw you and me. It's always been you and me. So please. Marley…. my princess…. I'm sorry I'm not your prince charming or knight in shining armour but I'd be the happiest man alive if you'd let me be your retard in tin foil forever and always." He stole a glance and noticed tears brimming in her eyes.
With a quivering lip she replies "Sirius, you have not only always been my retard in tin foil, but my knight in shining armour. You saved me from myself and from the war going on around us. I couldn't imagine a greater honour than becoming your wife. Yes. A Thousand times yes!"
He sighed with relief and slowly slid a sizeable diamond ring onto her finger before kissing her with every ounce of passion he contained.
Beaming up at him she cheekily quipped "But I swear the first time you refer to me as Mrs. Black I will hex you from here into next week"
"Is that a threat McKinnon?"
"Oh no. It's a promise."
"There's my Marley" Sirius threw her one of his trademark smirks.
She just rolled her eyes at him and cuddled into his chest. This was perfect. Absolutely perfect. In a perfectly imperfect Sirius and Marlene kinda