AN: Well sorry to be a little late with this but my summer class has been taking up all my time...fortunately it was cancelled tonight so i wanted to put this out. This story is almost over. I've been thinking about a sequel but haven't had much "flow" on it. However, I have been working on another completely different story which I'll probably start putting up in the fall. Hope you like this and keep reviewing!

Chapter 8- Trouble on the Horizon

July 31, 1981

"Happy birthday Harry!" The adults all sang and Harry burbled up at them with a grin on his face. Adhara started to cry and Gia moved a little bit away from the group and bounced the baby to stop her from crying. Lily smiled at the look in Gia's eyes. She'd told Lily what a handful the baby was and they had joked that even though she resembled her mother, Adhara took after Sirius in her personality.

"Let me help." Sirius said and Gia gave him a grateful look as Lily kissed Harry and went to cut the cake.

"Thanks." Gia said and smiled as Adhara quieted down in Sirius' arms.

"You go and chat with Lily. I know that the baby's been keeping you busy and you two haven't been able to see a lot of each other…"

"Yeah. And the Order's been keeping all of you busy." She added in an undertone.

"We're careful though." Sirius said jiggling the baby and giving his wife a smile. Gia couldn't help but smile back.

"I hope so." Gia gave him a quick kiss and went over to Lily who was watching James try to interest Harry in a toy wand, but Harry was trying to "catch" the moving snitch on the wrapping paper. "They look so happy together." Gia said with a smile as she reached Lily.

"Yours too." Lily said and gestured to where Sirius was holding a now asleep Adhara in his arms.

"So how's it with you Lils? It seems like forever since we've got to have one of our chats."

"I know." Lily sighed. "James and I had a close call with Voldemort last week." Gia instinctively grabbed Lily's hand. Lily gave her a half smile.

"Oh God! That was the third time, wasn't it?" She swallowed shaking off her fear. "Sirius never said a word!"

"He doesn't want to worry you." Lily said and Gia sighed.

"He should tell me these things though."

"I told him, but he, well he loves you Gia and feels guilty about bringing you here, closer to the war." Lily said earnestly and Gia looked over at Sirius thoughtfully.

"He does, doesn't he?" Gia mumbled and Lily grinned at the dreamy look on her friend's face.

"I should tell you…" Lily started but trailed off as she looked around the party at everyone laughing and having a good time.

"What's up?" Gia asked snapping Lily back to reality.

"James and I, well, we've heard that Voldemort is after us."

"No!" Gia exclaimed. She didn't know how many more shocks she could take. Lily frowned.

"Dumbledore thinks there's a spy in the Order." Lily paused while Gia digested this. "James and I are thinking of going into hiding."

"You are?" Gia thought about it for a bit. "That could be a good idea. I bet James hates it though." Lily smiled.

"He does." They both paused for a bit. "Are you going into hiding?" Gia looked at her surprised.

"Whatever gave you that idea?"

"Sirius mentioned it at the last meeting." Lily muttered and Gia looked over to Sirius who was helping Harry open his presents with James as Adhara slept curled up in his arms.

"He never mentioned it to me." Gia muttered. Lily looked a little bit anxious.

"I just messed you two up again, didn't I?"

"No." Gia said with a sigh. "He's an idiot for not telling me sooner, but now I know that he does it because it's his way of protecting me. And Adhara." She ground her teeth together in frustration and Lily laughed. Even though she understood didn't make it any less annoying.

"You're right. He does do that." And soon both women were laughing. Soon their laughs tapered off.

"I have to admit though with Voldemort after us, it makes James and I feel better knowing that Harry'd go and live with you and Sirius."

"Lils…"

"No. I mean the alternative of him with Petunia." Both women shuddered. "I know that you and Sirius would love Harry like he was your own."

"We would. Of course we would." Gia said earnestly and took Lily's hand. "Just like you and James would with Addy." Both women sniffed not wanting to think about the fact that their future was so shrouded in danger. "Let's hope that-"

"I know." Lily said not needing to hear the rest.

"What's this Lils? You two are supposed to be happy! It's Harry's birthday." Sirius said brining a hungry Adhara back to Gia.

"We're happy." Lily said wiping tears from her eyes. She sniffed a little and saw James about to take Harry out on the broom. "James, no! I'll be back." Lily raced off leaving Sirius and Gia chuckling behind her.

"You want me to go into hiding." Gia blurted out after a brief moment of silence taking the baby from him and going into the house to feed her. Sirius sighed and followed.

"Gia, don't be mad." Sirius said following after her.

"I'm not mad." She admitted and he looked at her a bit skeptically. "I'm not. I don't like the idea of going into hiding, and I have to admit that if it was just you and me I would probably would be mad. But Addy…"

"I know." He said and kissed her temple, relieved that she seemed to be agreeing with him.

"But I'm not going without you." She said and shifted Adhara to one side.

"Gia…"

"Don't Gia me. I thought we were a family. I thought that you said that we'd get through this together."

"Dammit Gia! I can't let anything happen to you two! I love you!" He yelled feeling his temple rise.

"Well I don't want anything to happen to you either! I love you!" She shouted back then immediately slapped a hand over her mouth. "Sirius."

"Don't take it back." He said in a harsh voice gripping her arms tightly. "Don't."

"I can't. I love you." She said looking up at him with tears in her eyes.

"I love you too. Say that you believe me." He begged, his eyes never leaving hers.

"I do." Gia said quietly finally admitting to herself that he really did love her. "I believe you." He pulled her close, being careful of Adhara who was nestled between them, and kissed her. They pulled apart.

"I swear we'll get through this. All of us. James, Lily, Harry, Remus, Peter, us, and Adhara. We'll all get through this war, together."

"We'll do our best." She said seriously and Sirius grinned down at her, feeling happier than he had in a long while.

"Let's get back to the party." Sirius said and together they joined the rest of their friends in the backyard where the party was still going on.

AN: review please! please please please!