Written for:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Religious Education
Task 2: write about leaving for something important.

Warnings for infidelity

Sometimes Love Just Isn't Enough

xXx

Sirius stared into Marlene's eyes unflinchingly.

"You have nothing to say for yourself Marlene demanded.

Sirius shrugged. "What can I say? It is what it is."

"What it is," Marlene stressed the last word, "is you got that slag pregnant. You cheated on me with her."

For the first time, a flash of remorse crossed his face. "I'm sorry I cheated on you. It was a moment of weakness. We were fighting. Alice had a bad fight with Frank. It happened, and there's no way to change it. But I'm not going to apologize for doing the right thing. Alice is going to be the mother of my child. I'm going to be a dad. You know how much I want to be a dad. Our fight was about the fact you don't want children. I'm sorry I hurt you, but I'm not sorry about the baby."

Marlene crossed her arms over her chest. "You seem almost giddy."

"I'm going to be a dad. Of course, I'm excited."

Marlene averted her eyes. "I guess I wasn't enough for you."

$Sirius took her hand. "Marlene, I do love you, and I hate that you got hurt, but I'll never regret my future son or daughter."

She looked at him imploringly. "You would have never stopped wanting to be a dad?"

He shook his head.

She straightened her spine. "Then I'm glad this happened now. Sirius, I wish you the best of luck. I hope you get everything you want."

Sirius stared as she walked away, his heart spasming just a bit.

X

Sirius looked up as Alice walked in. "How did it go with Frank?"

"About as good as I expected it to go. I was called a lying, cheating tart who would forever regret it. Of course, it's all my fault. He didn't constantly put his job before me. Oh no. It was okay that I was always second."

"Alice, everyone made mistakes. I owned up to mine with Marlene; you should own up to yours."

Alice's eyes watered. "I do love Frank, but sometimes love just isn't enough."

"I know," Sirius whispered.

"Frank kept saying later. Everything was later with him. I loved his ambition, but I wish he had been more ambition about our relationship and not just his career."

Sirius stood up and brought her into a warm embrace. "It will be okay."

Alice clenched his shirt with tight fingers as silent tears slid down her cheeks. "I don't love you," she warned.

"I don't love you either," Sirius admitted, "but I love this baby."

Alice nodded. "We'll be a family for our baby."

They both hoped it would be enough.

xXx

(word count: 444)