A/N: I'm going by the estimation that the 5th book is set in 1995. Thanks to Sara for the name, and I obviously own Raesha. My ipod is my friend during these writing missions.

Wicked

Prologue: Christmas Eve, 1980

Remus laughed as he watched James playing on the floor with his six month old son, Harry. Lily could be heard humming carols in the kitchen, and Peter was putting ornaments up on the tree.

"Where's Siri and Rae?" James asked as Harry clapped his hands together and giggled.

"They said they were going Christmas shopping, but that was two hours ago." Remus replied, looking at the clock. It was 10:43 p.m.

"They've been gone an awfully long time." Peter said, looking over at them.

"Who, us?" A winded Sirius laughed, shaking off stray snowflakes as he came in the front door. Raesha, Remus' little sister, followed, carrying a large stack of parcels, which she deposited under the tree, almost knocking Peter off his chair.

"Sorry Wormtail," She grinned, taking off her coat and tossing it onto the couch.

"Where were you two?" James asked curiously, looking up at his best friend. Sirius just grinned.
"Can't say." He replied, making Remus raise a brow. "Don't give me that look, Moony."

Remus shook his head, then grinned playfully, grabbing Raesha's arm and pulling her down on the couch with him. "You better not have corrupted my poor baby sister," He said jokingly, hugging her tightly and stroking her hair in a possessive way. "You know what'll happen if you do."

"Hey!" Rae protested, laughing as she pulled away from Remus and got back to her feet. "He's not corrupting me." She said, grinning, as she kissed Sirius' cheek. "But if you wanted to," she whispered in his ear. "I wouldn't mind."

Sirius laughed. "I'll make note of that."

James sat up and placed Harry in his lap as Rae skipped into the kitchen to help Lily with the cookies, looking at Sirius interestedly. "So…" He said quietly, not wanting to be overheard by the girls. "You do it yet?"

"No." Sirius replied, sitting next to Remus and running a hand through his hair.

"Are you ever going to do it?" Peter snickered, licking a peppermint stick that hadn't managed to find its way to the tree. In fact, only three of the original twenty had.

"Yes!" Sirius replied defensively. "I just can't find the right moment."

"I just can't get over it." Remus stated thoughtfully. "You and my sister. This'll mean we're family, now."

"Don't remind me," Sirius teased with a laugh.

"Hey!"

Everyone was woken up early Christmas morning by Harry's loud crying, causing the group to slowly congregate into the living room.

"Presents?" Sirius asked brightly, not at all at a loss for missing any sleep. James chuckled as Lily held a squirming Harry, whom after his bottle, was now reaching eagerly for the brightly wrapped objects. "Read his mind, Padfoot."

"Morning." Rae muttered to Remus, curling up on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her figure.

Remus smiled in greeting to her as James passed out the pile of presents under the tree. The pile diminished quickly as they went through their own stacks, and it wasn't until Lily noticed a small box hidden in back of the tree that the room became silent.

"What?" Lily frowned, not having been in the inside loop. Rae looked around to each face curiously.

With a sideways glance at Sirius that went unnoticed to anyone but Remus, James reached under the tree and pulled it out, reading the name that was scrawled on the wrapping. "It's for you." He said quietly, tossing it to Raesha. She blinked.

"Me?" She tilted her head to the side as she began to unwrap the parcel. It was a small velvet box, tucked into a slightly larger cardboard box. She looked to Sirius confusedly, due to the fact he was looking a little green, before taking out the second box and flipping up the top. "Sirius…" She breathed, staring at the sparkling diamond ring within.

James and Lily grinned at each other as Sirius got on one knee, looking up into Raesha's eyes. "Rae, you've always been there for me when I needed you, even," he grinned widely "in the middle of the potions final exam, and you've always known just what to say to cheer me up. You're my best friend, the best girl I've ever met, and I truly believe my soul mate. I'm begging you, will you marry me?"

Rae broke into a watery smile. "Yes, of course." She threw her arms around his neck. "But I thought we agreed you wouldn't tell about that potions exam?"

Sirius laughed and James pretended to pout. "And I thought I was your best friend?"

"Well, Prongs, you don't look as good in a skirt as Rae does."

"I thought I did…"

"I don't even want to know." Lily laughed, getting up and going to get Harry a bottle.

"So," Sirius smirked, looking around. "Snowball fight, anyone?"

A/N: It gets darker as the story goes on, and much better. Please review.