A/N - Just a quick response to one of the guest reviews I got - I know people don't like Daniel, which I agree with wholeheartedly, but I will reiterate that he is part of a major plot point that is going to resolve itself in the next several chapters and therefore, will be a part of the story again. If that forces you to stop reading, well I guess there's not much I can do about that, but it's not going to make me rewrite a major part of my plot either.

So moving on, as I said last chapter, roller coaster ride ahead, so hold on tight. Thanks to everyone for continuing to read, review, alert and favorite! And congrats to sarahmichellegellarfan1 for being the 50th reviewer! Prize to follow soon. :)

Chapter 9

Swamped

21 December 1996

Catherine smiled at the happy chatter that filled the kitchen. The children were home, they'd had dinner and Catherine felt more relaxed than she had in quite some time. She had finished her last shift at work the day before, the two days she missed not being held against her, so she was officially finished with her 2nd year of Healer training. Remus had been released from St. Mungo's earlier that day and much to Catherine's delight, he had allowed Tonks to accompany him back to his cottage. Catherine had also convinced the two of them to come for Christmas Eve. And now all her family was here, save Sirius who should be home from work any moment and it was almost Christmas. They had a party to attend at Myra's tomorrow and her mother and Edward would be married in just a few days. She sighed in contentment.

Sirius came into the kitchen just as the telephone rang. Catherine moved towards it, but was grabbed around the waist by her husband who kissed her soundly. She heard Miranda giggle.

"I'll get it Mum," Ellie said with a laugh, jumping up and grabbing the ringing phone. Harry stood and hugged Sirius and then Sirius turned to Rory. He put a hand on the boy's shoulder and Rory merely gave him a nod. Sirius' smile faltered the tiniest bit, but he said nothing, looking to Ellie instead. Catherine's gaze followed Sirius' as his expression turned to one of concern. Ellie's face had lost all color and her hand was trembling. Catherine immediately stepped towards her.

"Ellie," she said in concern.

"I-It's for you," Ellie managed to whisper, handing the telephone to her mother. Confused, Catherine took the receiver.

"Hello?" she said still looking worriedly at her daughter. Ellie's eyes locked with hers and Catherine knew who it was before he even said anything.

"Catherine, it's Daniel," he said. "Was that Ellie?" Catherine's knuckles turned white where she was gripping the receiver.

"Why are you calling?" Catherine hissed, turning her back on the rest of her family and striding from the kitchen. She heard someone follow her and when she reached the dining room saw that it was Sirius. He came up next to her and put a hand on her back.

"I just wanted to make sure the kids got home safely," he said.

"Damn it Daniel, I told you I wasn't going to say anything to them until after Christmas," Catherine snapped.

"Look, I don't understand why it needs to wait that long," he said. "And I was thinking that maybe I should be there when you tell them."

"Absolutely not," Catherine said, grabbing Sirius' free hand and gripping it tightly. "Daniel I told you that I would talk to them, but I will do it my way."

"Catherine," he said, but she cut him off.

"No, I am not doing this now," she said. "I will speak with you after Christmas. Good-bye." She disconnected the call and turned into Sirius' chest. Sirius kissed her temple and hugged her tightly.

"Ellie knows, doesn't she?" Catherine asked.

"I think so," Sirius said. "Your mother was with her when I left the kitchen. The others are confused because she wouldn't say anything."

"God damn him to hell," she whispered. She sighed. "I've got to talk to her." Sirius nodded and they went back to the kitchen.

Ellie sat at the table next to her grandmother who had an arm around her shoulders. The kitchen was empty save for them.

"Edward took everyone else into the other room," Jane explained. Catherine sat down in the chair on the other side of Ellie and took one of her hands.

"Sweetheart," she said tentatively.

"It was him wasn't it?" Ellie asked. "My, um, my father?"

"Yes," Catherine replied.

"Why is he calling here?" Ellie asked. Catherine sighed.

"He's back in England," she explained. Ellie gripped her hand so tightly Catherine nearly winced.

"Is he coming here?" Ellie questioned.

"That depends on the three of you," Catherine said. Ellie nodded. "I was going to talk to all of you about it, but I was going to wait until after your grandparents' wedding." Ellie nodded again. There was silence for a few moments.

"Can I go to my room?" Ellie asked quietly.

"I don't know if that's a good idea sweetheart," Catherine said in concern. "I think we should talk about this."

"Please Mum," she said her lip trembling.

"Ellie," Catherine said trying to take her daughter into her arms, but Ellie pulled away from her.

"Please," she said again. Catherine tried to swallow over the lump in her throat and nodded. Ellie jumped up from the table and nearly ran from the room. Catherine put her head in her hands and let out a shuddering breath.

"Tell me where he is," Sirius growled.

"I don't know where he is Sirius," Catherine said tiredly.

"Jane, does Edward know?" Sirius asked.

"Sirius, stop this," Catherine said before her mother could answer.

"No," he said flatly. "I will not have him harming my family any more than he already has."

"So what are you going to do?" she demanded looking up at her husband. "Hex him? Beat him up? Kill him? Because it would really help us if you were locked up in jail or worse, Azkaban." Sirius' eyes flashed.

"He is hurting the people I love," Sirius said tightly. Jane spoke for the first time.

"And you don't think you're doing the same?" she snapped. "There is enough here for us to worry about without being concerned that you are going to go off and do something stupid. You have one child that has locked herself in her room because she cannot even begin to figure out how to deal with this situation. You have three more that are completely confused and at least in Miranda's case, even frightened. Not to mention your wife who has been told repeatedly to try and avoid stress as much as possible. Now grow up and quit thinking about revenge and start thinking about what your family needs from you." Catherine stared at her mother with her mouth hanging open. Sirius was just as shocked. Jane had never spoken to Sirius like that; in fact she rarely spoke to anyone like that. Jane continued to glare at Sirius until he finally took a breath and blew it out.

"You're right," he said. "I apologize." Jane sighed.

"I know how you feel Sirius, believe me I do," she said much more gently. "But there's no place for that right now." Sirius nodded and moved towards her. Jane smiled and hugged him after he kissed her cheek. Jane turned to Catherine.

"What are you planning to do?" her mother asked.

"Is running away where no one can find us an option?" Catherine quipped. Jane chuckled as Sirius put his hands on Catherine's shoulders and squeezed gently. She looked up at him. "We're going to have to tell them aren't we?"

"I suppose so," he said with a sigh.

"Bugger," she said.

"Mm," he replied.


Catherine knocked lightly on her daughter's door. Hearing no response from within, she knocked again. Still getting no reply, Catherine opened the door a crack and saw Ellie sitting in her window seat staring outside.

"El?" Catherine said hesitantly. Ellie didn't move. Catherine came further into the room. "Sweetheart?"

"Did he come to take us back?" Ellie asked still continuing to look out the window.

"Take you back?" Catherine replied in confusion.

"To live with him," she said. "Without magic." It was only then that Catherine noticed the change in her daughter's voice. It sounded younger, flatter, with no emotion. Catherine closed her eyes for a moment to stem the flow of tears that had gathered.

"No baby, he's not going to take you back," Catherine said as she walked to Ellie's side. She put a hand on Ellie's shoulder, but Ellie shied away from her touch, just as she had after Catherine had found them and brought them home. A tear ran down Catherine's cheek.

She managed to slide herself into the open corner of the window seat and looked at her daughter. Ellie's eyes, while not dead looking as they had been for such a long time when she was six, were unfocused as she gazed across the neighborhood outside the window. She had pulled her legs up as far as she could and wrapped her arms around them tightly, her old defensive posture.

"Ellie, listen to me," Catherine said, putting her hand on Ellie's foot. Ellie shifted, but Catherine did not let go. Ellie began to hum under her breath, something else she'd done in those first few months, after. Catherine could tell she was losing Ellie to her memories. "Baby, look at me. Ellie please." Ellie's eyes finally flicked to her mother, but they seemed to look through her. Catherine smiled at her all the same.

"Don't go back there sweetheart," Catherine said. "Stay here with me, please. You're here in your house with me and Grandma, Rory and Miranda. Granddad is here too and Sirius and Harry. You remember." Ellie looked confused for a moment. "You're fourteen years old, you go to Hogwarts, you're a Ravenclaw, just like I was." Ellie shook her head.

"Magic is bad," she whispered.

"No Ellie, no it isn't," Catherine insisted, the tears coming down her cheeks more quickly now. "Ethan, think about Ethan."

"Ethan?" Ellie said uncertainly.

"Yes, Ethan," Catherine said, grabbing on to anything to pull her daughter from her memories. "Ethan with those blue eyes that are darker than yours, but just as brilliant, and that cute dimple he has on his cheek. You love him, remember?" Ellie smiled and her eyes seemed to clear. She looked at Catherine, really looked at her this time. Catherine somehow managed a smile and Ellie's lip trembled again before the tears began to run down her cheeks. She threw herself into Catherine's arms and Catherine gathered her daughter to her as best she could.

"Why did he call here?" Ellie asked.

"He wants to see you," Catherine said. "All of you."

"I don't want to see him," Ellie said immediately.

"You don't have to," Catherine assured her.

"Why now?" Ellie asked. Catherine sighed.

"I will tell you Ellie, but it would be easier if we waited for your brother and sister," she said. "I only want to do this once." Ellie nodded. "Will you come back downstairs?"

"Okay," Ellie said quietly. They rose from the window seat and left Ellie's room, Ellie wiping the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. Catherine wrapped an arm back around her and they walked down the stairs.

Catherine realized something that she'd suspected for some time. Ellie hadn't dealt with everything that had happened all those years ago nearly enough. She decided to seek out Celeste at her next appointment with Arianna and discuss the possibility of Ellie speaking with someone from the mind-healing department. It would probably do all of them good, come to that. Daniel's reappearance had brought up things that Catherine had thought she was long over.

They stepped into the lounge where everyone had gathered. Sirius was speaking quietly to Harry who was nodding. When Catherine and Ellie came into the room, Harry and Sirius looked up.

"I'm just going to go up to my room and organize a few things," Harry said. Catherine gave him a grateful smile and squeezed his hand as he walked by. He flashed her a smile and left the room. Catherine glanced at everyone. Sirius had moved to one of the armchairs and Miranda had climbed into his lap. She saw Rory glowering at the two of them from his seat on the hearth. Jane and Edward sat on the couch and Catherine gently pushed Ellie toward them. She settled in between them and Edward put an arm around her, while Ellie laid her head against his shoulder. Jane took her hand. Catherine went and sat in the other armchair and took a deep breath.

"There's something we need to talk to the three of you about," she said looking at each one of her children in turn. Ellie snuggled further into Edward's side and Miranda looked confused. Rory had a strange look in his eye and if Catherine weren't mistaken it looked like anticipation. She was confused by this, but ignored it for the moment. She glanced at Sirius who smiled at her encouragingly.

"Daniel, your father, came back to England this past July," she said. Ellie gasped, not having realized that Daniel had been back for so long. "Sirius and I have spoken with him and he would like to see you." Ellie closed her eyes and Catherine could see that she was crying again. "We were against it at first, but he appears to have changed and he has told us repeatedly that he is accepting of your magic now. We decided that the three of you were old enough to make your own decision as to whether you would like to see him or not. I intended to wait until after your grandparents' wedding to talk with you about this, but he was the one that called earlier and since Ellie knows now we decided to tell the two of you as well."

Catherine paused and looked at her children. Ellie was still crying silently and Miranda looked frightened. She had leaned back into Sirius and he had wrapped his arms around her. She gripped his hands tightly. Rory, on the other hand, was nearly bouncing in excitement. He had a wide smile on his face and Catherine couldn't help but gape at him. Shaking her head as if to clear it, she continued.

"As I said, it will be up to you," she said. "We won't force you to see him if you don't want to and he's agreed that he will abide by your decision. You don't have to decide now either. It can wait until after Christmas."

"Yes!" Rory exclaimed as soon as she finished speaking.

"Sorry?" Catherine replied.

"Yes, I want to see him," Rory said.

"Rory, like I said, you don't have to decide now, and," Catherine began but Rory interrupted.

"I want to Mum, I'm not going to change my mind," he said. Catherine closed her eyes for a moment and pulled in a breath.

"All right," she said quietly. She glanced at Ellie, but her oldest daughter had buried her face in her grandfather's chest and Edward was leaning over whispering to her. Jane was rubbing her back, looking concerned. Catherine turned to Miranda.

Miranda's eyes were wide and her knuckles were white where she gripped Sirius' hands. She was staring at her brother with something akin to horror.

"Miranda," Catherine said gently.

"Mummy, I don't want to," Miranda said in a small voice, sounding much younger than her nine years. She looked terrified. Sirius wrapped his arms more tightly around her and kissed the top of her head. "I want to stay with you and Daddy." Catherine opened her mouth to speak but Rory jumped up before she could say anything.

"He's not your daddy," Rory scornfully.

"Yes he is," Miranda insisted.

"No he isn't," Rory snapped. "You have a dad and it's not him." Miranda, her ire provoked, jumped off of Sirius' lap and faced her brother.

"Yes he is too my dad," she cried hands on her hips, glaring at her brother. "I don't even know Daniel, he left when I was a baby."

"Don't call him Daniel," Rory yelled. "He's your dad!"

"Rory Thomas, you shut up!" Miranda shouted. "I'll call him whatever I like. And Sirius is my dad!"

"No he isn't," Rory yelled back.

"Rory, Miranda," Catherine finally said, but the two ignored her and continued arguing. Catherine looked at Sirius helplessly. He made to stand as if to separate the two.

"Stop it, just stop it!" Ellie shrieked. The tears were pouring down her face. "Leave her alone Rory! Sirius is her dad, she never knew ours. Lucky her." She let out a strangled sort of laugh and Catherine stood from her chair in concern. All eyes in the room had turned to Ellie. Rory was looking at her in astonishment. "Did you forget?" Ellie continued. "The things he said, the things he did? Did you forget what he did to Mum?" Rory's eyes darted to Catherine for a moment before sliding back to his sister. "How can you want to see him? How, after everything? How, when you can see how much it hurts me, hurts Mum, hurts Miranda? How can you?" Her voice had lowered to a whisper by the end and Rory's expression softened for a few seconds before it hardened once again.

"He's different now," Rory said defiantly. "He made a mistake, but it's different now."

"A mistake?" Ellie repeated incredulously. Catherine's eyes had narrowed as she listened to her son.

"How do you know he's different?" Catherine asked. Rory startled.

"Wh-what?" he stuttered.

"You said he's different now. How do you know that?" Catherine asked again.

"Uh, you said, erm, you said he's changed," Rory said, but he was flustered.

"You're lying," Catherine said, her eyes narrowing further.

"No I'm not," Rory said lamely.

"Yes, you are," Catherine returned. She crossed her arms in front of her and stared at her son. He squirmed under her gaze for a few seconds before his defiant expression returned.

"Fine, I've been writing to him," Rory said and Jane gasped.

"What?" Catherine hissed.

"I've been writing to him all term," Rory replied, his back straightening, locking eyes with his mother. She stared at him for a few moments until the pieces started clicking into place.

"When you told me you were writing to Kevin," she said and Rory nodded.

"I was writing to Dad," he confessed.

"How?" Catherine asked, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose.

"I was in the park, the day after Sirius told us his name got cleared," Rory said boldly. "Dad showed up and we talked. He came by every few days until I went back to school and we've been writing since then." He looked to Ellie.

"That's how I know he's changed," he said. "He always wants to hear about school and Quidditch. He's proud of me. I didn't forget, but he's different." Ellie studied her brother for a few moments before she stood.

"If you believe that you're stupider than I thought," she said. "He'll never change." She then turned and ran from the room and Catherine heard the slam of a door from upstairs a few moments later. She sighed and sank back into her chair, feeling very tired all of a sudden.

"I want to see him," Rory said again.

"Not now Rory," Catherine said tiredly.

"But you said it was our choice," he continued.

"I said not now," Catherine repeated an edge to her voice.

"But," he began.

"Rory," Sirius interrupted. "Not. Now." Rory glared at him.

"You're not my father," he hissed. "I don't have to listen to you." Before she could say anything, Sirius had taken two strides across the room and stood directly in front of Rory. Her son had grown taller in the last year, but Sirius still towered over him.

"You are upsetting your sisters and your mother," Sirius said, his voice deadly quiet. "And you will stop immediately, regardless of who your father is." Rory took an inadvertent step back, but then drew himself up and glared at Sirius.

"I said I don't," but before Rory could finish a hand had reached out and clamped on to his arm. Rory looked up into the angry face of his grandfather.

"Enough," Edward said sharply. "You are being insolent and disrespectful. Your mother and grandmother taught you much better than this." Rory tried to shake himself from Edward's grip, but his grandfather merely tightened his hold. "You will apologize. Now." Rory tried to glare but something in Edward's eyes cowed him.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled in Sirius' general direction. Edward let go of his arm.

"I think it best if you go to your room," Edward said. Rory quickly left the room without so much as a glance at the rest of its occupants. There was silence for a few moments until Catherine heard a small whimper.

"Mummy," Miranda whispered. Catherine had completely forgotten her youngest daughter was still in the room. She opened up her arms and Miranda hurried into them. "I want to stay with you and Daddy," she said in Catherine's ear. "I don't want to see him. Please don't make me."

"I won't sweetheart, I promise," Catherine assured her. She tried to pull Miranda onto her lap, but it was difficult given the current size of her belly. Sirius put a hand on Miranda's shoulder and she turned and flung herself at him. Sirius hoisted her up in his arms and she wrapped her arms and legs around him, clinging to him like a monkey.

"Don't worry Princess," Sirius soothed. "No one is going to take you away from us." Catherine pulled in a breath and let it out. Her mother rose from the couch and came to stand next to her, putting a hand on Catherine's shoulder.

"We'll get this sorted," she said quietly. Catherine could only nod, not trusting her voice at the moment. Sirius looked at her, clearly torn between continuing to comfort Miranda or going to his wife. Edward, once again, intervened.

"Come Manda," he said reaching out his arms toward the little girl. "Let your mum and dad talk." Miranda allowed herself to be taken from Sirius' arms and resumed her same position with her grandfather. Jane put a hand on the girl's arm and the three of them left the room.

Sirius turned to Catherine and pulled her up from the chair, then sat down himself and pulled her into his lap. She buried her face in his neck and fisted his shirt in her hands. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and rested his cheek on top of her head. They sat there in silence for quite some time before Catherine finally raised her head up to look at him.

"And here I thought now that Remus was back, getting him and Tonks together was going to be our biggest problem," she said. Sirius snorted and hugged her tighter and she allowed herself to smile for a moment before she sighed heavily again.

"Not exactly the welcome home you were expecting eh?" Sirius said and she shook her head. The tears came to her eyes again and he hugged her tightly. "We'll figure it out love, we always do." She managed to nod. "At least Rory's revelation explains why he hates me so much."

"He doesn't hate you," Catherine said. Sirius shrugged.

"At the very least he sees me as the interloper," Sirius said. "Explains why he felt the way he did about the baby too." He rubbed a hand across her stomach. "She's tangible evidence that there's no chance for Daniel to win you back."

"As if that would have ever happened anyway," she said with a snort.

"Maybe Rory thought it might," he said. Catherine sighed.

"God, Sirius what are we going to do?" she asked.

"I suppose we'll have to let Rory see him," Sirius said.

"Yes, but I told Daniel that we would have to be there," she reminded her husband. "I won't force the girls to see him if they don't want to."

"Then we'll meet Daniel somewhere else or send the girls to Myra's or out with your mother and Edward once they get back from their honeymoon," Sirius said. "Don't worry about that part. We'll keep our promise to them."

"I don't know if Daniel will be satisfied with that," she said. "He wants to see all of them."

"We'll just take it one step at a time love," Sirius replied. "It's all we can do." Catherine sighed again and leaned her head back against his shoulder.

"I need to go talk to Rory," Catherine said. "And check on Ellie and Miranda." Sirius kissed her temple and Catherine stood. Sirius rose behind her and took her hand, the two of them making their way upstairs. They stopped first at Miranda's door and looked in. Edward was sitting on Miranda's bed, Miranda in his lap and he was reading to her. Miranda's thumb was in her mouth and she was holding tightly to his sleeve, rubbing it between her thumb and forefinger. Catherine gripped Sirius' hand tighter at the gestures her daughter was using for comfort, things she hadn't seen for years.

Miranda looked up and saw them standing there. Pulling her thumb from her mouth, she reached out to both of them and they came into her room. Catherine sat down on the edge of the bed and Miranda wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and held on tightly. Edward surrendered his spot to Sirius, who hugged both his girls.

"Are you all right?" Catherine asked her, choosing not to comment on the thumb for now. Miranda nodded but didn't look all that convincing. Catherine looked up at Edward. "Where's my mother?"

"Trying to speak to Rory," Edward replied. Catherine nodded knowing she would have to go there next.

"Miranda, I've got to talk to your brother and check on your sister," Catherine said.

"Can Daddy stay with me?" she asked quietly. Catherine glanced at Sirius.

"Of course Princess," he said. Miranda relinquished her hold on Catherine's neck and settled into Sirius' lap instead. Her thumb instantly went back into her mouth as Sirius' arms came around her. Sirius glanced at Catherine in concern over Miranda's head but she shook her head slightly. They'd worry about the thumb tomorrow.

"Granddad?" Miranda said, removing her thumb for the moment.

"Yes Miranda," Edward acknowledged.

"Will you keep reading to me?" she asked.

"Absolutely," he replied settling down into a chair next to her bed and opening the book once more. Catherine leaned forward and kissed Miranda's temple before leaving the room and heading for Ellie's. She looked inside and Ellie was lying on her bed staring at the ceiling.

"El," Catherine said.

"Hi Mum," Ellie replied.

"I just wanted to check on you before I talked to Rory," Catherine explained.

"I'm fine Mum," Ellie said.

"Somehow I doubt that," Catherine said with a sad smile.

"Really, I'm okay," Ellie said. "You can talk to Rory." Catherine sighed.

"Do you want me to send your grandmother in?" she asked.

"No," Ellie said, still looking at the ceiling. "I just want to be by myself for a while." Catherine studied her in concern, but Ellie wouldn't look at her. Something was off; she was much calmer than Catherine would have expected her to be. She would send her mother in regardless.

"All right," Catherine finally agreed. "I'll be back in a bit." Ellie said nothing and Catherine left the room. She turned back to Rory's door and knocked lightly. The door immediately next to his opened and Harry looked out. Sirius had done similar magic on Rory's room that he'd employed in the cottage and added a room for Harry. He had essentially just expanded Rory's room and then cut it in half, putting in another door to lead to Harry's side of the space. The change in the original size of the room was negligible and Rory hadn't really seemed to notice. Sirius intended to do the same thing to their bedroom to create a nursery space for the baby.

"Oh, sorry," Harry said as he saw Catherine standing in front of Rory's door. "It's hard to tell whose door the knock is coming from." Catherine smiled at him.

"I'll have Sirius look into that tomorrow," she said.

"Is everyone all right?" Harry asked tentatively.

"Not really," Catherine said honestly. "But I expect we'll work it out in time." Harry nodded.

"I sort of overheard some of it," Harry said apologetically.

"It's all right Harry," Catherine assured him. "You're part of the family. It's fine if you know."

"I'm just," he trailed off and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry this is happening to all of you."

"Thank you," Catherine said sincerely, giving him a quick hug. "I'm sure Sirius will be in after a while. He's sitting with Miranda right now."

"It's all right," Harry said. "I understand."

"You're a fine young man, Harry Potter," Catherine said with a smile, kissing his cheek. Harry blushed, but grinned all the same. Catherine knocked again on Rory's door as Harry went back into his room. Her mother called for her to come in seconds later.

Rory sat on his bed, arms crossed sullenly in front of him. Jane was in his desk chair that she had pulled up next to the bed. She looked just as irritated.

"I was just trying to explain to Rory why not everyone is as enthused about his father being back as he is," Jane said. Rory glowered at her.

"Rory," Catherine snapped. He glanced up at her. "I understand that you are upset about everything that's happened, but I will not continue to tolerate your insolence toward every adult in this household. Your grandmother deserves respect and you will give it to her."

"Yes Mum," Rory muttered. He looked at his grandmother. "I'm sorry Grandma." Jane nodded and patted his leg.

"I'll leave you to it then," she said to Catherine.

"Will you look in on Ellie?" Catherine asked. "I was just in there, but I'm concerned about her."

"Of course," Jane replied, squeezing Catherine's hand before she left the room. Catherine sighed and scrubbed a hand down her face before she sat down in the chair her mother had just vacated.

"Why didn't you tell me you were writing to your father?" Catherine asked without preamble. Rory looked surprised for a moment.

"Because I knew you'd be upset," he said.

"You're right about that," Catherine said derisively. "What has your father been telling you Rory?"

"What do you mean?" Rory asked.

"I mean your attitude lately, especially toward Sirius," she said. Rory's face instantly hardened. "That, right there. Every time Sirius' name is brought up that's the expression you get."

"He's trying to be my father," Rory said begrudgingly. "And he's not."

"No, he isn't," Catherine agreed. "But he is your stepfather and as such, he does have some say over your life."

"He shouldn't," Rory muttered.

"I beg to differ," Catherine said. "When Sirius and I got married, my family became his and his mine. This is not going to be some kind of his and hers situation. When things are going on with you or your sisters I'm not going to make the decision about what to do on my own, Sirius is going to be involved. The same goes if it's something with Harry. Sirius and I are going to discuss it and decide what to do. Together. That's what being a family is Rory. You know that." Rory flicked at a nonexistent piece of lint on his bed.

"Daniel has been gone for eight years," she continued. "Just because he's back does not automatically grant him privilege in the parenting department. He has to earn that. And Sirius will still be included regardless. The same thing would happen if Daniel remarried."

"Fine," Rory said, but Catherine could tell he meant anything but. "When can I see Dad?" She sighed.

"I told you before Rory, I wasn't even planning on talking to any of you about this until after the wedding," she said. "So it won't be until after that."

"That's not fair!" Rory exclaimed.

"It's not fair?" Catherine repeated incredulously. "Did you even notice your sisters' reactions to hearing that your father wanted to see them?"

"So, you told them they don't have to see him if they don't want to," Rory said with a shrug. "So why should it matter if I do?" Catherine's eyes narrowed and she reminded herself that he was only twelve.

"Rory," she said tightly. "Are you telling me that if you see your father, you won't come home and talk about it?"

"No?" he said in confusion.

"And, given your sisters' reactions this evening, do you think that they will want to hear about it?" she continued. Realization dawned on his face.

"I guess not," he mumbled.

"All I'm asking for is a few days for everyone to get used to the idea and enjoy Christmas and the wedding," Catherine said. "That's not too much to ask, is it?" Rory shrugged and sat in silence for a few moments.

"Fine," he finally said, a bit resentfully however.

"There's something else you should know," Catherine said. Rory looked up at her. "Sirius and I will be there when you see Daniel." Rory's eyes widened.

"That's not fair!" he exclaimed.

"Rory," Catherine said quietly holding her temper in check by a very slim margin. "Ever since your father found out about magic, he maintained that there was something wrong with us because of it. The last time I let him take you on a visit, he kidnapped you. Do I need to remind you what happened when you were with him?"

"No," Rory said softly.

"And now he shows up here out of the blue, claiming that he has changed," Catherine said. "And maybe he has. But I am not going to take that chance. And neither is Sirius. Until I am satisfied that Daniel has indeed accepted your magic, he is not going to see you alone."

"Why can't you just come then?" Rory groused. "Why does Sirius have to be there?"

"There is no way Sirius would let me be alone with your father either, after everything that happened the last time," she said. "Even if I weren't pregnant." Rory muttered something under his breath. "What was that?"

"Nothing, forget it," Rory said. Catherine sighed and moved from the chair to the bed. She took Rory's hand in his and was a bit surprised when he allowed it.

"Rory, I love you," she said, her eyes tearing up. "I know that you want to know your father and I'm not trying to keep him from you I swear it. But I cannot allow anything to happen to you."

"I know Mum," Rory said quietly, looking down at his lap.

"Will you please work with me here?" Catherine asked. Rory nodded still looking at his lap. Catherine put a finger under his chin and raised his head so he met her gaze. His eyes were suspiciously bright. "Oh sweetheart," she said and gathered him into her arms. Rory hugged her fiercely and when he pulled away he had composed himself.

"So after the wedding then?" he asked.

"Yes, Rory, after the wedding," she agreed. He smiled and she couldn't help but return it, even as a part of her mind was screaming in protest.

They spoke for a few more minutes before Catherine left the room, closing the door behind her. She sighed and leaned against the wall, closing her eyes for a moment. She just wanted to crawl into bed and sleep for days but she needed to check on Ellie again. Before she could move down the hall, Miranda's door opened and Sirius stepped out. He took her hand and pulled her into their bedroom, wordlessly pulling her into his arms.

"How did it go?" he asked.

"Just as you're probably thinking it did," she replied. "Although I did manage to convince him to wait until after the wedding." Sirius kissed the top of her head. "How's Miranda?"

"Asleep," he said. "She wanted your mother to lay with her. Edward is downstairs in your mother's room. He insisted on staying in case we needed him." Catherine nodded and was just about to tell him that she was going to go and talk to Ellie when she heard a throat clear behind her. They both looked to the doorway to see Harry standing there.

"Everything all right?" Sirius asked.

"Erm, not exactly," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck like he always did when he was nervous. Sirius had told her once that James used to do the same thing.

"What is it Harry?" Catherine asked.

"Well, I just heard Ellie crying and so I knocked to see if she wanted to talk or something and erm," he trailed off looking as if he wasn't sure what to say next.

"What happened?" Catherine prodded.

"I dunno exactly," Harry said. "She told me to come in but then when I was talking to her she seemed sort of, off." Catherine tensed immediately.

"Off how?" she asked

"That's just it, I'm not sure exactly because she didn't really say anything, but," he rubbed the back of his neck again. "I dunno, just off." Catherine swore.

"Thank you Harry," she said and hurried from the room, leaving a very confused Sirius and Harry behind. Her mother was coming out of Miranda's room when Catherine past her door.

"What's happened?" she asked noticing Catherine's panicked expression.

"Ellie," Catherine said hurrying toward her daughter's room, her mother right behind. "I lost her for a few minutes after Daniel's phone call. She, reverted I guess, back to…then. Harry just said he tried to talk to her and she seemed off." The two women reached Ellie's door and knocked lightly. When there was no response, Catherine opened the door and looked inside.

Ellie was sitting on her bed and once again had pulled her legs up to her chest and had wrapped her arms tightly around them. She was rocking back and forth and quietly singing something. When she got closer, Catherine realized it was a song she had sung to her when Ellie was a little girl. Catherine sat down gingerly on the bed and reached out a hand. Ellie flinched back when she touched her.

"Ellie, it's Mum," Catherine said soothingly. "Talk to me sweetheart." Ellie rocked harder and sang a little louder but did not acknowledge her mother or her grandmother. Jane sat down on her other side.

"Ellie," she said and tried to put her hand on Ellie's arm. Ellie pulled away from her and kept rocking. Jane looked at Catherine helplessly.

"It's worse than earlier," Catherine said. "At least then she was talking. I knew she didn't seem right when I was in here before I talked to Rory. I should have stayed."

"Don't blame yourself," Jane replied. "There was more going on than you could handle." Catherine sighed and tried again.

"Ellie-bell," she said, hoping that using the hated nickname would pull her daughter from wherever she had retreated. Ellie didn't react. Both women continued to try and get Ellie's attention, but the girl just continued to rock and sing. Sirius had come in with Edward and they had both tried as well, to no avail. There were tears running down Catherine's cheeks and she had finally decided that they were probably going to have to make a trip to St. Mungo's when her mother spoke again.

"Sing with her," Jane instructed.

"What?" Catherine asked in confusion.

"The song," Jane said. "Sing it with her. Maybe she'll hear you."

"She hasn't heard me yet," Catherine pointed out. "Any of us."

"Just try," Jane said. "What can it hurt?" Catherine finally nodded and began to sing the song with Ellie. At first, there was no difference, but after a few moments, Ellie turned her head toward Catherine. Although Ellie wasn't really looking at her, she had at least turned in the direction of her mother's voice. Catherine sang a bit louder and put a hand on Ellie's foot as she had earlier. Her daughter tried to move away as she had before, but Catherine would not let go. As the song reached its end, Catherine opened her mouth to begin it again as Ellie had been repeating it over and over since they had entered the room. Instead, Ellie stopped.

"Mummy," she whispered in a very small voice, sounding very much like her six year-old self.

"Yes, baby, I'm here," Catherine managed.

"You came back," Ellie said. Catherine was crying openly now.

"I'll always come back," she said. "Always." She tentatively gathered her daughter in her arms and Ellie clung to her.

"He said you wouldn't come back," Ellie whispered. "He said you didn't love us anymore." Catherine hugged her daughter to her, her tears dripping into Ellie's hair.

"No, Ellie," Catherine said. "I love you more than you'll ever know. I'll never stop. Never." Ellie began to cry then, great wrenching sobs that tore Catherine's heart out. Ellie hadn't cried like this since the nightmares. Catherine simply held her as tightly as she could and whispered that she loved her over and over. She heard Sirius and Edward leave the room.

A few minutes later there was a noise in the doorway and when Catherine looked up she saw Rory standing there looking horrified. Jane, noticing her grandson as well, stood and hugged him to her, gently leading him from the room and closing the door behind her, leaving Catherine and Ellie alone.

Ellie eventually quieted, but she didn't loosen her grip on Catherine. They sat in silence for a few minutes longer.

"Mum?" Ellie finally said in confusion.

"Yes, El," Catherine replied, relieved that her daughter sounded like herself once again.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"You," Catherine paused unsure how to phrase it. "I lost you for a little bit."

"Lost me?" Ellie repeated, pulling back and looking up at her mother.

"You sort of pulled into yourself," Catherine said. "And we couldn't get you back." Ellie's brow furrowed.

"I wasn't asleep?" she asked. Catherine shook her head. "I thought I had a nightmare. About…back then."

"You weren't asleep," Catherine said quietly. "But you were trapped in your memories. It happened earlier today too, after the phone call, but it wasn't as bad. You were speaking to me and I got you back relatively easily." Ellie shuddered and Catherine hugged her again.

"Ellie, I think," Catherine trailed off again and took a deep breath, pulling back from her daughter so she could look her in the eye. "I think that you should talk to someone." Ellie looked down at the coverlet on her bed.

"You mean like a shrink," she said.

"I mean a mind-healer from St. Mungo's," Catherine replied. Ellie continued to look down. "I should have taken you to talk to someone a long time ago, but I wasn't back in the magical world then and I didn't want you to have to lie about parts of what happened. And then the nightmares finally went away and you seemed to be getting better and I just," Catherine trailed off and shook her head. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart."

"It's not your fault Mum," Ellie said. She took a breath and looked up at her mother. "I think," she paused and swallowed. "I think maybe I should talk to someone too." Catherine nodded and pulled Ellie back into her arms.

"I'm so tired," Ellie whispered. "But I'm afraid to sleep. I'm afraid of the nightmares." Catherine kissed the top of her head and pulled her wand, summoning her kit. She took out the vial of Dreamless Sleep and handed it wordlessly to her daughter. Ellie took it and drank it down gratefully. Then Catherine transfigured Ellie's clothes into pajamas.

"Sleep sweetheart," she said, rising and tucking her daughter under the covers.

"Mum," Ellie said, worrying her bottom lip. "Will you stay with me?"

"Of course," Catherine said. She lay down next to Ellie and wrapped her arms around her. Ellie snuggled into her and closed her eyes, falling asleep moments later. Catherine carded her fingers through Ellie's hair as she watched her sleep. She could leave, she knew. With the Dreamless Sleep, Ellie wouldn't stir until morning, but something kept her there.


Sirius came in a bit later and smiled at the two of them, waving his wand and changing Catherine's clothes to pajamas as well. He leaned down and kissed her.

"How is everyone?" she asked.

"Miranda stirred a bit, but I got her back to sleep," Sirius said quietly. "Jane is with her now."

"Rory?" Catherine asked.

"Jane and Edward talked to him and he seemed all right," Sirius said. "He's gone to bed. Harry too."

"Is Harry all right?" Catherine asked, feeling a bit guilty that they had mostly ignored him on their first night home.

"He's fine," Sirius replied. "He's worried about the girls, especially Ellie. He and I spoke a little bit ago. I explained everything to him. I hope you don't mind." Catherine shook her head.

"He's part of our family," she said. "He already heard part of it anyway. How did he take it?"

"Furious with what Daniel did of course," he said. "He's had more than his fair share of experience with attitudes like that. Torn on how he would feel in the same situation." Catherine gave him a puzzled look.

"He sees both sides," Sirius explained. "You know he'd give anything for a second chance with James and Lily. But then again, they never would have done the things that Daniel did so it's a completely different situation. Still though, he sees Rory's point of view."

"I do too," Catherine said. "Honestly I do, but I cannot believe that he's been in contact with him for almost six months."

"I know love," Sirius said soothingly. "Let's not talk about it anymore tonight. Everyone just needs sleep and we'll start again tomorrow."

"You're right," Catherine said with a sigh. Sirius knelt beside the bed and put a hand on her stomach, rubbing it lightly. After a few seconds the baby kicked him and he smiled. He kissed Catherine again.

"I assume you're sleeping here tonight," he said. She nodded. "All right, if you need anything, just call for me."

"I love you," she said, putting a hand to his cheek.

"I love you too," he replied, kissing her once more before leaning over and kissing Ellie's forehead and then leaving the room. Catherine turned back to Ellie and snuggled down beside her again. She kissed Ellie's forehead as well and then closed her eyes, hoping that her own sleep would not be plagued by dreams of the past.