Hey guys! I made it safely and now here's your chapter! =] It's a day late, but I hope you like it anyway. Love you all! Comments are always appreciated.

~Ouaysis.

We got to the hotel late that night. Instead of renting another suite, everyone—and by that I mean Sally and Bret—decided that it would be best to just have Bret and Stan join Danielle and her mother. Emilia and I would have the other room. Originally the men were to have one room and the women another. Knowing that Danielle and Stan were sharing a room—and probably a bed—brought an unpleasant taste to my mouth. It angered me to see how much more accepted Stan was. If I had been in his place, Bret wouldn't even have allowed me on the trip, much less share a room. But then again, I'd lived with unfairness my entire life and I wouldn't let it get to me. I'd never cared before when someone didn't like me. Why should Bret be any different?

I sighed and sifted my weight. I looked out at the view of the city. Lights sparkled and the bustle of cars was a soft background. My mirror glinted in the light of moon and I glanced down at it. I'd been hoping James would be nearby, but he didn't seem to be anywhere close. I heard a small tap on the open doors behind me, expecting to see Emmy. When I saw Danielle in the doorway my heart all but stopped. She stepped out into the moonlight and took my breath away. Dani smiled nervously, her hands twitching towards the door.

"Emilia let me in." She explained.

I shook my head, though a smile came to my lips.

"She's supposed to be asleep."

Danielle smiled and extended her arms, gripping the banister a couple of feet in front of us. I set the two-way mirror down on the cushioned chaise, placing it so that the glass faced the material. A moment of silence passed with both Dani and I listening to the distant sounds of the city of Calais.

"You need to move on, Sirius."

Her abrupt statement startled me. I looked over at her, a frown twisting my features.

"How do you mean?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"I'm getting married in three months."

"I haven't noticed." I said sarcastically, avoiding her gaze.

Danielle sighed deeply beside me.

"Are you happy?" I asked her after another moment of silence. Dani pushed back and forth against the bar wordlessly a moment. Finally she nodded.

"Yes. I love him. He loves me, and he's not afraid to say it."

"Oh, come on, you're not still on about that are you? It was eight years ago, Dani. I was young and stupid."

Danielle just shrugged.

"I've changed." I told her. "We both have."

"I know. And that's the problem. You haven't seen me in years, so how can you know I'm the same?"

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does, Sirius. To me it does."

I scoffed. "That's easy for you to say. You seem to have no problem forgetting about me. How can you even stand him? He's a complete prick!"

"He's a nice guy, Sirius."

"And since when do you like 'nice guys'?"

"Since I realized they'd always be there for me."

Hurt stabbed at me. She thought I wouldn't have always been there for her? I would have died for her. I would still die for her. I would bet my entire family's fortune that the same couldn't be said for Stanley. One look at a wizard and he'd run away with his tail between his legs.

"What kind of an arse did you take me for?"

"We were young, Sirius. Teenagers. It was just hormones raging."

I shook my head and expressed my disgust in my features. "Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart."

"It's true!"

"Alright, it's true! And I'm sorry you feel that way."

"Don't be an asshole, Sirius."

"I'm not. But I don't know how you can stand there and say we have a daughter purely because of a chemical reaction in our brains. It was real to me, Dani. I know you felt it too."

"Well it doesn't matter, because you have to move on."

"I don't have to do anything. I'm an adult. I can do whatever I damn well please."

"You sound more like a pouting child to me."

I narrowed my eyes at her, crossing my arms over my chest. Danielle slowly folded her own arms, turning her body towards me. Her mocha-colored eyes met mine and I felt my demeanor change. My shoulders relaxed, my scowl softened. My breath caught in my chest and before I could stop myself I'd pulled her into my arms. After a moment she stepped back, turning her head away from me. I reached out and brushed my knuckles lightly over her cheek. Danielle looked up.

"I will never be able to stop loving you, Danielle. It's impossible. So please, don't ask me to."

She opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off by placing my index finger over her full lips. I stopped my hand from trembling and dropped it quickly.

"I'm not going to ask you to take me back. We're over. I get that. Just promise me that you're not marrying Stanley only because your father approves."

Danielle scowled at me and shook her head.

"Of course not."

Clenching my jaw, I gave a short nod.

"Then I'm happy."

Dani gave a small laugh and shook her head once more. "Don't lie, Sirius."

"I'm not," I told her, not breaking her gaze. "I'm happy if you are."

That may not have been entirely true, but I did want her to be happy. And I also knew that she hated disappointing her father. I had been the only one she'd ever dated who her father hadn't approved of. He still didn't approve of me, and obviously we never stood a chance of ever being together again. Danielle sucked in a deep breath and then let it out.

She gave a small nod. "Well, I'd better get back. I told the others I was saying goodnight to Emilia. I'll see you in the morning."

I nodded. "Night."

I heard the suit door click closed and dragged a hand down my face. Picking up my mirror, I closed the doors to the balcony. I stopped in the doorway of Emilia's room. She was curled around her stuffed animal, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. The sight brought a smile to my lips and reminded me why this was all worth it. If Emmy was happy, then I was happy. That, at least, was true. My daughter made everything worth it.

"I know what you're doing, boy, and it's not going to work." Bret growled from behind me, causing me to jump slightly. I turned with a scowl.

"I'm not doing anything except allowing my daughter to spend time with her mother."

I'd thought I was alone here at the bottom of the old French fort. Everyone was inside, enjoying the tour. I wasn't interested in hearing all about Muggle fortresses of old or watching Stan and Dani together. So I'd told everyone to go without me, while I stared out at the water and tried not to sulk. Bret crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes at me.

"You're using her to get to Danielle."

Anger coursed through me. I clenched my jaw tightly, my hands balled in fists at my sides.

"Look, Bret," I said. "I know what you think of me. And I honestly couldn't care less. But don't you dare suggest that I am using my daughter to win Danielle back. This isn't a competition. Danielle isn't just some prize that can be won, at any rate. I never asked to be dragged on this bloody trip. I didn't ask for any of this. So you can take your opinions and shove them up your rich, judgmental ar—"

Just then everyone else appeared at the entrance. Emilia was bounding toward me.

"Daddy!" She shouted, her face alighted with joy. A smile sprang to my lips of its own accord. I could never be angry when Emmy was around. I caught her as she threw herself into my arms and laughed.

"You had fun up there, I take it?"

She nodded vigorously. "Lots of fun, Daddy! I got to go to the very top! And the nice man gave me a candy for being so brave. I even walked on the wall!"

Looking up, my stomach nearly dropped to the ground. At the very top of the fortress I could see people milling around. It was at least a hundred foot drop. She'd climbed on the wall? What were they thinking? I forced a smile and a tight laugh.

"That's great, love. I'm glad you're having fun." I put her down and Emmy went over to Sally, who pointed out some ducks in the water.

"Danielle." I said, meeting her gaze and trying to keep my voice level. I jerked my head to the left and walked to a secluded spot a little ways away from our small group. Danielle twisted her engagement ring nervously as she looked up at me.

"You let her climb the wall?" I demanded angrily. "Are you completely mental? She could have fallen. She could have died!"

Danielle sighed. "I didn't let her, Sirius, she ran off before we could stop her. It wasn't even that bad. There was another floor right below us. It wasn't that dangerous."

I scoffed. "Sure it wasn't. She only could have broken her neck on the way down."

"You're over-reacting, Sirius." Danielle said.

"She's my daughter. It's my job to protect her. I think I have a right to be upset."

"She's my daughter too!" Danielle said indignantly. "And I nearly had a heart attack when she did it, but you don't see me throwing a fit about it."

"Giving birth to her can hardly count as making her yours. I've raised her single-handedly for seven years. I know her fears and her dreams. What do you know?"

Hurt shone in Danielle's eyes. Water filled the mocha orbs a moment, but she quickly pushed it away.

"That's hardly fair, Sirius."

"Life isn't fair, Danielle. The way I see it, Emilia is my daughter. I'd duel Voldemort to protect her—"

"—And I wouldn't?"

"You gave up every right to claim Emilia the day you left us."

Tears filled her eyes again, and I hated that I was the reason for them. But I wasn't going to apologize, and I sure as hell wasn't giving in.

"I did what I had to." She whispered.

"No," I said with a shake of my head. "You did what your father would have wanted you to. And don't even try and put this on me. You made your bed, Danielle. Now you have to lay in it. I'm allowing Emilia to be here because I want her to get to know you. This is for her and her alone. Don't forget that."

I stalked away, the anger slowly ebbing from my veins. I heaved a sigh and rubbed the back of my neck. From the corner of my eye I saw Stan approach me and I refrained the urge to scream.

"What did you tell her?" He demanded. I glared at him.

"Stay the hell out of it, Stanley."

"It wasn't her fault. Emilia ran off. None of us could have stopped her."

I whipped my wand out and pressed its tip to Stan's chest.

"I don't give a damn whether or not it was her fault. It still happened. And if you were smart you'd do as you're told and stay out of other people's business."

He nodded and swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. Turning, I tucked my wand back into my pocket and walked away. Blowing air out of my lips, I closed my eyes. I needed to clear my head. I was letting all the stress and emotions get to me. I felt like I was on a wild dragon as it dipped and spun and tried to buck me off of its back. Glancing over at Sally, I assured myself that Emilia was safe for the moment and walked over to a group of trees.

It had only been two days and it was already getting to be too much. Being around Danielle constantly was torture. She was an invariable reminder of what I could never have. I'd always hated emotions, ever since I was a child. It was easier to just live, not to get attached. You didn't get hurt that way. So much for that, I thought bitterly, shaking my head. I took a deep, calming breath of the crisp French air. Turning, I walked slowly back to the group. As I headed over to Emmy, I overheard Danielle talking to her father.

"This isn't his fault, Dad." She insisted. "I invited him. If you're not nice, he's going to leave."

"And that's a bad thing?" Bret asked. Danielle huffed.

"Dad. If Sirius leaves, then so does Emilia. Don't you want to get to know your granddaughter?"

Bret sighed. "If he doesn't keep his hands to himself—"

"Don't even start." Dani said in exasperation. "It was a simple hug. He didn't mean anything by it."

That's when I realized Bret had been watching us last night. He'd seen everything, and he was blaming it on me. I would admit that I let myself go a little too far. But a hug was harmless, and she'd hugged me as well. It wasn't one sided, so how was I the only one in the wrong? She was the one who was engaged. Anger coursed through my veins and I clenched my jaw as I walked over to Emilia.

"What's wrong, Daddy?" She asked, looking up at me with concern in her big brown eyes. I smiled and ruffled her hair.

"Nothing, love. I've just got a lot on my mind."

"Oh." She said thoughtfully. "Daddy, do you still love Mummy?"

I stared down at my daughter, once again astonished by her ability to understand things so far above her. I smiled and scoffed, shaking my head. I picked Emilia up and she wrapped her legs around my waist, while I circled my arms under her.

"Yes, I still love your mother. She gave me you, the best thing I could have ever asked for. But that's as far as it goes. We're only friends."

"Oh." That one syllable sounded so sad it made my heartache.

"Why?" I asked. Emmy shrugged, avoiding my gaze and picking at her jeans.

"Emilia," I said softly. She looked up at me. "Why do you want to know?"

"Well," she said slowly. "I just thought, if you still loved each other….why don't you get married?"

"Emmy," I said, putting her head to my chest and kissing her temple. She wrapped her arms around my shoulders. "I'm sorry, but things just aren't that easy."

Emilia sat up again and looked at me with sad brown eyes. "I wish they were."

I gave her a sad smile. "Me, too, love. Me, too."