Disclaimer: I'm not J.K. Rowling, and I don't own anything you read. Also while I'm disclaiming stuff, the cover photo isn't actually mine either *gasp*

"Sirius I'm pregnant"

There was a long pause as Marlene waited with bated breath. Her hands were shaking and she could feel her eyes sting. Glancing up, she saw Sirius staring down at her with his face frozen in his previous expression - full of laughter and mischief. But then his wide smile began to look forced until finally it was wiped off completely.

"What?" He whispered, leaning on the wall behind him. And right then, Marlene saw a certain emotion flash across his eyes; one she had never seen before in the grey orbs: fear. It burned brightly as they flickered between both of her own blue ones, searching for any possible misunderstandings - anything that might suggest that the words she had uttered were not real.

But it was real. Marlene had known for a while now. She hadn't been sure whether to tell him or not, but as days turned into weeks, she knew she wouldn't be able to keep it hidden for long. Marlene didn't answer Sirius. The helplessness and desperation in her eyes was enough confirmation for him.

Sirius had been revisiting that night over and over again for the past two days, since it had happened. He'd remembered her voice; it had only spoken those three words, yet it had seemed to be a cry of plea. He also remembered his reaction. Sirius had stopped thinking when he'd heard those words. His eyes had glazed over and he'd roared as loud as he could, nails digging into his thighs. They were lucky that the room of requirement was sound proof, or he'd been sure that the whole school would have heard. In his fit of rage, Sirius ricked over chairs, punched walls in and turned tables over. He'd spent ten whole minutes just cursing at the top of his voice, completely oblivious to Marlene's almost unfazed facial expression. In fact the only sign she showed in response to Sirius' violent outburst was the steady stream of tears.

After storming out of the room, Sirius had proceeded to avoid Marlene as much as possible, feeling worse every minute. It got to the point where his guilt and self-disgust had risen so much, it had completely over ridden the underlying fear of commitment.

The Marauders had long gone up to bed, leaving Sirius standing up against a wall in the shadows, staring into the cracks of the walls. He wasn't thinking of anything – not really. For once Sirius was trying to figure out what the right thing to do was – what he believed the right thing was. Sirius knew fully well he was being a complete jackass, but until recently, the paralysing feeling he'd get at the thought of a wife-and-child future was enough to override it.

He heard a soft pair of footsteps come downstairs from the girl's dormitories – Sirius didn't have to turn around to know that it was Marlene. She must have had a nightmare and the thought filled him with anger – knowing he had most likely played a large role in it. The footsteps paused as Marlene took in his presence, and slowly inched toward his corner of the room. She sank into one of the nearby armchairs without a word. They stayed silent for a long while, both lost in their own thoughts – until Sirius cautiously decided to break it.

"How - how long … do you know when …" His brain had constantly been going into overdrive lately, and whenever he'd tried to focus on a thought, he'd just blank out. He sat down on the edge of an armchair opposite to Marlene's. He shut his eyes tightly, but it just caused his head to start throbbing. Him – a father? Sirius Black – disowned and notoriously reckless … The prospect had never occurred to him, but now it was staring right at his face with a wand at his throat. Placing his head in his hands, Sirius took a deep breath. After what felt like an eternity, he heard Marlene's voice.

"5 weeks. I'm due in December" Her voice was quiet but she might have shouted, the way Sirius' head snapped up. He nodded slowly.

"Okay" He whispered - almost to himself. "Okay" He repeated, louder with slight determination laced in his voice.

"What am I going to do Sirius? I'm barely 18, we're graduating in three months … and then what? I can't be a … a mother!" Marlene's voice began to grow high pitched and the tears she seem to always be holding in came cascading down her face.

Automatically, Sirius clasped her hands in both of his and scooted forward off his seat and on his knees as she sat in her armchair. It was 2 in the morning in the Gryffindor Common room and the fire blazing across the empty room was the only source of light. Marlene's tears shimmered, reflecting the dancing flames, and Sirius gently wiped them off.

"Lena, I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know how safe any of us will be outside of these walls. And you can bet all your gold that I certainly don't know how to look after a child. I do know though, that I'm so sorry, and that I'm sticking with you – if you'll have me. I won't let you take this on alone. I'm scared Lena. I'm so fucking scared. But I know it's nothing to what you're going through … so let me be there for you, okay? Oh and for the record, you're going to be an amazing mother"

With a muffled wail, Marlene fell out of her armchair into his arms. She buried her head in his neck and cried. They lay on the floor of the common room together; Marlene's heart wrenching sobs and Sirius' silent tears as he rubbed her back.

They fell into an uncomfortable slumber, both with puffy eyes and dry throats. The morning would arrive soon, and they would be expected to act as if nothing had changed - as if their world hadn't completely turned 180. They both knew that they weren't supposed to work. They should have been in that physical relationship, with no complications - but before it had even started, Marlene and Sirius were in too deep.

Or maybe, they were meant to be together. After all, there were little things that made them click. Like how Sirius never once asked Marlene whether the baby was really his … or even if she was going to keep it. Or the way Marlene had left an option open for Sirius to back out if he wanted to - because even though Sirius Black was known for keeping true to his words, one of his biggest fears was being tied down, and Marlene wasn't about to force him into anything.

It was the little things about Sirius and Marlene that made them work, because when they did finally wake up the next morning to various catcalling, Marlene flipped the bird up at the lot of them while Sirius simply refused to take his eyes off of her.