Challenge: aBlackinnonweek,

Prompt: Day 2: I Love You


It was at James and Lily's wedding, exactly 6 months into their relationship when those three words were, sort of, uttered.

Sirius grabbed Marlene's hand, as the best man and maid of honour, they were obligated to dance together. She tried not to grimace. Sirius laughed.

"Stop pouting, Marley, one dance won't kill you."

She scowled, "Yes it will. Dancing brings up painful memories of my mother trying to teach me and whacking me when I stood on my brother's toes."

He laughed again, and spun her out and back in to his chest. One hand rested on her waist, the other gripped hers tightly.

"You know, anyone would think with that mighty scowl on your face that it was me you had a problem dancing with."

"Maybe I do."

"I'll bet you don't."

"What makes you so sure about that?"

He smirked. Marlene raised her chin so she could look him in the eye. An amused smile played on the corner of her lips.

Sirius dipped her, and leaned in, bringing himself closer to her face, so close that his lips were barely inches from hers. His smouldering grey eyes bore into her brilliant blue ones.

He brought his lips to her ear and whispered huskily, "Because you love me."
She stared at him in shock. Her heart beat was so loud, she could hear it pounding in her chest.

There was none of that mocking glint in his eyes, oh yes, he was teasing her, but his voice held undercurrents of seriousness.

He pulled her up and span her out again. When she span in, he put both hands on her waist to guide her closer to him.

There was just a little bit of fear in his eyes, the true extent of his nerves well hidden, but Marlene could to read his emotions just as well as James.
Her breathing quickened.

Did she love Sirius? The answer was yes, and had been yes for a very long time. She'd just never wanted to admit it, didn't want to run the risk of having her heart broken. Sirius Black was a flight risk, but then again so was she. They were the only two people in the world who could make the other stay.
So she smiled, and tightened her arms around his neck. If he was going to tease her, then she wasn't going to make this easy for him.

"Do I really?" Marlene grinned.

He smirked. They both knew the answer to that question, although nervous energy still filled the air. They'd both had too much damage done to their hearts to ever be rid of the fear completely.

"Mmm, you do. Why else would you be here, do something you hate, with me, right here, right now? Why else would you still be mine, and I yours, after six months? Why haven't you ran away?" He paused, and rested his forehead on hers. His eyes met hers, and her pulse quickened. The playful tone was gone. They were wading in dangerous territory, but neither seemed to want to stop. "The only plausible reason I can think of, is that you do love me."

Marlene bit her lip, before meeting his eyes. "This goes both ways, why would you still be here after all this time, why haven't you ran away in fright, or moved on and found someone else? Unless you love me?"

He grinned. "You're not going to make this easy for me are you?"

Marlene shook her head. "The hardest things in life are the most rewarding," she teased, earning a bark life laugh from Sirius.

"Bloody minx."

"But you love me."

"And you love me."


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Xx

Liza