The next morning I woke to Gabriel's soft lips pressing against the flesh of my shoulder. I smiled and bit my bottom lip as he tickled my senses with his soft kisses traveling across my back and neck. His fingers ran up and down my side, then moved down my back massaging gently. When his lips stopped kissing me, his chin rested on my shoulder, and his hand stopped moving I opened my eyes.

"Good morning," I whispered.

"Good morning," he replied. I rolled over onto my back, facing him, and forcing him to move back away from me. I looked up at his velvet purple eyes as I lay on my back. His hand immediately fell on my stomach where it rested lightly and rubbed my skin softly. He leaned in close to my ear, nuzzling his nose against my neck, and kissed me soft before whispering that he loved me. I turned to look at him and couldn't help but smile.

"I love you," I beamed. Gabriel smiled with joy and kissed me deeply as his arms pulled me tightly against him. His lips danced down my chin and to my neck. He was seducing me very easily that morning as I was wrapped in his muscular arms under the comforter on our bed. I pulled away from him slowly and he raised his eyebrows at me. His hands brushed through my hair trying to comfort a fear he did not yet understand.

"What is it?"

"Who can we ask to take Carrigan and the baby?" I whispered. "I've been thinking about it since last night, and I can't think of anyone who would be able to take them."

Gabriel frowned and leaned back on the bed. "I'm not sure," he said putting his hands behind his head while he lay on his back. His muscles flexed and caused tingles to run through my entire body as I looked him over. I rolled onto my side and leaned over him. I pressed my body against him as my hands rubbed his rippling six pack abs. My right hand traced up his side to the 'rhythm' tattoo he had on his rib cage on his side. I traced the word slowly with my index finger as if it were the pen inking his flesh. Gabriel's eyes flashed with desire as I did so; deep within I saw a fire burning so fiercely I shivered and desperately wished to feel that fire burning my skin. I kissed him deeply and ran my hands behind his head and took hold of his hands squeezing them tightly. Gabriel smiled against my lips, which encouraged me to kiss me more passionately with some tongue. This caused Gabriel to buck his hips and roll over on top of my body, pinning my arms over my head. We continued to kiss deeply until he pulled away abruptly, crawling off the bed.

"I have to get ready for work," I sighed loudly as I lay on the bed. I couldn't help but smile and cross my tingling legs with pleasure. Gabriel gave me a wise smile as he opened the bedroom door. He disappeared quickly, closing the door behind him, and left me lonely in the bed. I sat up and decided I might as well get up and start the day. I had the day off today, unlike Gabriel.

I dressed in a pair of sweat pants and one of Gabriel's long sleeve tee shirts then made my way downstairs. The smell of tea reached my nose as I reached the foyer, I was expecting to see Penelope in the kitchen, but instead I found Sirius Black. I was surprised to see him sitting at my kitchen table reading the newspaper and drinking a cup of tea. I crossed my arms over my chest as I sighed while entering the kitchen.

"Good morning," Sirius said after he took a sip of his tea. He folded his paper down and looked at me as I walked to the stove and poured myself a cup of tea. I then went to the fridge and pulled out some eggs to make breakfast. "Are you cooking?"

I sighed and nodded my head. "Yes."

"When did you learn to cook?"

I sighed, this time with annoyance, and placed the eggs down on the counter.

"I've always been able to cook, Sirius, just not very well," I retorted.

Sirius smirked and nodded his head, then lifted the newspaper back in front of his face to read. I put a pan on the stove top and turned on the burner. I waited for it to heat up before I started to make some scrambled eggs.

"I'm surprised your still here," I finally said once the eggs had started cooking.

"I took a walk to cool my head," Sirius said from behind the paper. I glanced at him over my shoulder and sighed slightly as the smell of eggs overwhelmed my system. Without warning my stomach turned and I moved away from the stove to lean over the sink to throw up. I coughed and choked as I vomited into the kitchen sink causing Sirius to stand up from the table and come over to me.

"Cadence?" he said my name with concern as he pulled my hair back.

I sighed and wiped my lips with the back of my hand as he turned on the faucet. I tilted my head to the side and drank some water straight from the tap; swishing it around my mouth to wash the vomit from between my teeth, then spit it into the sink. I stood up and Sirius stepped away from me. He sighed as he looked me over.

"Okay?"

"Yea," I nodded. "Thanks."

"You don't like eggs," he stated as he crossed his arms over his chest. "But the smell never made you throw up before." I frowned as I covered my nose and went back to the stove. Sirius came up next to me and took the pan from my hand. He reached for the wooden spoon and looked up at me. I met his midnight blue eyed stare and frowned deeply. I handed the spoon to him and moved away from the stove. Sirius stepped in and finished cooking the eggs for me as I retreated to the table with my tea.

"How far along are you?" Sirius asked as he finished the eggs. He put them on a plate as I stared at him with raised eyebrows.

"What?" I finally questioned bewildered.

"You're pregnant, aren't you?" he asked as he left the plate of eggs on the counter. "I'm assuming those are for Gabriel since the smell alone makes you hurl."

I nodded as he sat down. I was overwhelmed with Sirius' question, and how calm he seemed to be concerning it.

"I'm about eleven weeks," I whispered holding my mug of tea against my lips. Sirius nodded his head as he sat down. "How could you tell?"

"I haven't seen you in nearly four months," he whispered. "You've put on a little bit of weight…plus the morning sickness."

"Ha," I said shaking my head. "I didn't show any signs for about three months with Carrigan."

"You were that far along?" he whispered with surprise. He shook his head. "Cadence, if I had known—"

"But you didn't, Sirius," I interrupted with a weak smile. "Let's not dwell on what could have happened if you knew."

Sirius nodded his head slowly and finished off his mug of tea. "Does Gabriel know?" he asked.

"Yes," I whispered.

"He's happy?"

"Yes," I nodded as I studied Sirius. There was a sadness in his dark eyes that broke my heart a little. "Sirius," I said sitting up straight and putting down my tea. "I never wanted kids. Not even when we were together. This is just something that happened. Yes, I loved you. I love Carrigan. I love Gabriel and I will love this child, but I did not plan on ever having children. Our relationship wouldn't have worked out even if you hadn't gone to Azkaban because we wanted different things. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, but I didn't want to be married. I don't want to be married now. I did not want to have children. I'm sorry things didn't work out the way we both wanted them to, but I have a feeling if you had known about Carrigan things would have been worse. They would have hurt worse."

Sirius frowned deeply and nodded his head. "You always felt that way?"

"I went back and forth on the marriage issue," I said honestly. "But when the healers told me after my miscarriage that it was unlikely I would ever have children I was relieved. I didn't want to tell you that I didn't want children because I was afraid of losing you…I regret not being honest with you and I am sorry for that."

Sirius nodded again as he slid his hands through his messy dark hair.

"And Gabriel, he doesn't want children?" asked Sirius, still rather calm.

"It's never something we had to discuss," I whispered sadly. Sirius acknowledged my response with another nod of the head. He folded his hands together and placed them on his lap.

"What does he have that I don't?"

The question surprised me. How could I compare Sirius to Gabriel? It was like comparing apples and oranges…they were both fruits, but beyond that they had little in common; Sirius and Gabriel were both good men, but beyond that there was not an even comparison.

"He understands me," was all I could say with a shrug. "You did for sometime, Sirius. And you were a good boyfriend. But I changed over the years…things I experienced changed me and Gabriel understood those things. I know you tried to understand, you were there for me the best you could be, and I don't hold that against you."

"I know," he nodded. "I don't hold anything against you anymore either."

I frowned as he stared at me. "But you hold it against Gabriel."

Sirius shook his head as he sat back in his chair. My comment annoyed him; now he was thinking that Gabriel had no doubt told him about their discussion in the foyer last night. He probably didn't realize that I had eased drop on the conversation.

"No one is to blame," I continued when Sirius said nothing. "It just didn't work out."

"Someone has to be to blame," Sirius shook his head with a sad tone of voice. "My entire life has fallen to pieces and someone has to be to blame for it. We both are responsible for our relationship failing—between me being an ass and you falling out of love with me, we are responsible."

I nodded in agreement. "I suppose I accepted my responsibility for it."

"Did you?" Sirius questioned. "How did what happened hurt you? You still have everything you ever wanted, Cadence. You didn't suffer any consequences for what happened to us. You're happy. When our relationship ended I lost everything—I lost you, the love of my life to the man I hated most in this world next to your Father. A few weeks later Lily and James were killed and Dumbledore wouldn't let me take Harry; and then everything happened with Peter. I've lost everything. How have you taken responsibility for your part in ending our relationship? I know I've done my best in taken responsibility for my part. I've forgiven you; I've apologized for being an ass; and I'm happy for you and Gabriel. But how are you taking responsibility?"

"I think taking care of our daughter for the last twelve years is a lot of responsibility," I said harshly. It annoyed me that he would be wallowing in self pity. Of course I held myself responsible for what happened to our relationship. I fell out of love with Sirius. I fell in love with another man when I was still with Sirius. And I made the decision to remain with Sirius despite loving Gabriel. I had accepted that, apologized for it, and forgiven him for being an ass. What was he questioning here? Was he jealous that I seemed to have the perfect life he always wanted? I didn't want the same things as him—I wanted to be single, childless and happy for the rest of my life…and somehow I was in a committed relationship and expecting my second child. At least I was happy. Sirius just seemed to be a depressed pity-party.

"You left me, Sirius. And I don't blame you for that. I've forgiven you for leaving me because honestly I'm surprised you tolerated me for so long. I died the day you left me and up until I saw you again in June I was still in love with you. When I found out I was pregnant it was like fate slapping me in the face—I didn't ever want kids so of course I'd get knocked up with yours; at the time I thought you were a mass murderer responsible for our best friends' deaths. Not to mention that being pregnant puts Carrigan in danger because Gabriel and I are forbidden from being together because of his Guardianship. Every student since me has been removed from his path or has failed…there are a lot of if factors with this baby. I could lose everything with this baby and that terrifies me. Don't tell me I haven't hurt in what's happened to us. You know nothing of what I've been through. And I think I have taken up responsibility for my part of our destroyed relationship." I stood up from the table abruptly and moved towards the kitchen sink. I had no reason to get up though and began to pace back and forth between the table and the stove, glaring harshly at Sirius as I did so, with my hands on my hips.

"I want to see her," he said standing up.

"What?"

"I want to see Carrigan. I think we should go see her together," he said looking me dead in the eye as he approached me. "She has a Hogsmeade visit coming up, doesn't she? We can travel there, I'll go in my dog form and we'll meet somewhere private." I was looking at him like he was crazy, which made him glare at me as he leaned against the counter. "Look," he said crossly to my lack of response. "This is me taking responsibility for her. I want to see her to apologize for being such an ass. I want to make our relationship right. I need to see my daughter, Cadence."

I sighed and turned away from him as I pushed my brown curly hair out of my face. How could I say no to him and his midnight blue eyes? How could I say no to him when Carrigan's eyes were all I could see in his? I bit my bottom lip, gritted my teeth and balled my hands into fist as I turned back to Sirius.

"I won't ambush her," I said softly but with a stern tone. "I'll ask her if she wants to see you—if she doesn't then I won't force her."

"I suppose that is fair," Sirius said with a sigh.

"Good morning," said Gabriel coming into the kitchen. Sirius and I didn't say anything right away. Gabriel frowned slightly as he looked between us. "Shall I step out?"

"No," Sirius said. "Good morning, Gabriel."

Gabriel bowed his head. "If you're sure."

"We're fine," I said. I couldn't help but smile at him as my eyes fell on him. He was dressed in a black pin strip suit with a waistcoat and white button up shirt. He placed his suit coat on the back of the chair and approached me, heading for the dinning room no doubt where his work things were kept on the table. He kissed my cheek gently as he walked by then disappeared into the dinning room. I followed him with my eyes as I watched his perfectly built ass disappear into the room. Sirius coughed heavily, reminding me he was present, and causing me to look at him. I frowned slightly as hot sexy thoughts of Gabriel left my head. Sirius crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at me.

"Perhaps I should ask Carrigan if it's okay for me to see her," he said. I bit my bottom lip, but nodded.

"If you'd like," I whispered glancing down at the eggs that sat on the counter. "Gabriel, your eggs are getting cold."

"Alright, I'll be there in a moment," he responded from the dinning room.

"Well, I'll go do that now," Sirius said. "Don't need to see you melt over him."

I frowned slightly as Sirius left the room. I pushed my hair out of my face and leaned against the counter. What was I suppose to do? I couldn't censor my relationship with Gabriel around Sirius because seeing us together broke his heart. If he didn't want to see us together perhaps he shouldn't have come to my house.

"What's on your mind?" Gabriel asked.

I blinked and looked up at him with sad eyes. I hadn't heard him return to the kitchen let alone stop right next to me. His dark purple eyes looked at me with concern as he extended his hand to my cheek. "Cadence?" he whispered my name so tenderly when I didn't speak.

"I just didn't think it'd be this hard with Sirius here," I whispered looking into Gabriel's eyes. He smiled slightly.

"Did you expect it to be easy?"

"No," I shook my head. "I don't really know what I expected."

"Why did you ask him to stay?"

"I hoped that we could work everything out," I shrugged. "Besides I can't just turn him out on the streets. He's the Father of my child who I happen to care about."

Gabriel frowned but nodded. "I think resolving the many issues you two have is going to take longer then a night in the same house. Everything between you two is complicated—there isn't an easy answer for anything."

"Why can't there be an easy answer? Why can't we both just be adults and forgive each other and move on?"

"Have you forgiven him?" Gabriel asked.

"Yes!"

"Have you moved on?" he whispered close to my ear. I smiled slightly and leaned away from him.

"Yes," I said.

Gabriel beamed and stole a kiss from me. "Perhaps it won't be long for him to also move on."

I nodded my head as Gabriel pulled me into a tight embrace. His hands rubbed up and down my back as his chin rested on my head. "Did you make those eggs yourself?"

"Yes," I whispered against his chest. "The smell made me sick though and Sirius finished them."

"Should I be worried they're poisoned?" he joked.

"I was with him the entire time," I smiled as I pulled out of his arms. Gabriel nodded and snapped his fingers, making a fork appear. He began to eat the eggs slowly as he watched me move around the kitchen.

"You got sick?"

"The morning sickness isn't as bad as it was before, but eggs still make me gag," I said sticking out my tongue.

"So you were sick in front of Sirius?"

"He's not stupid," I whispered. "He knows. I'm surprised he figured it out so quickly considering he had no idea with Carrigan."

"Things were different with Carrigan, you didn't know until you were about twelve weeks in," he shrugged.

"You're right."

Gabriel grabbed me around the waist and pulled me tightly against him. "You're not coming into the office at all today?"

"I have no reason to," I replied as I traced the tattoos on his revealed arms with my fingertips.

"I think you should," he said.

"Why?" I asked with raised eyebrows.

Gabriel smirked. "I don't want to leave you alone with your ex."

I laughed and pulled back against his arms. He maintained his hold on me as I put my hands on his chest. There was a glowing smile spread across his lips. His eyes were dancing with happiness as he looked at me. That look alone made my entire world seem perfect. There was a rush of emotions through my system that caused me to bite my bottom lip as I smiled at him.

"Scrimgeour is having the meeting concerning the security at the tournament. You should be there as we are now partners again and Hogwarts is our assignment," he said knowing very well that I had gotten his joke, despite no response to it.

"Well I have today off," I replied still in his arms. "Seems silly for him to plan a meeting for the tournament security when I'm not there."

Gabriel frowned and released me. He turned and picked up his empty plate, then placed it gently in the sink. "What's the matter?" I asked.

He looked at me over his shoulder. "Nothing, I was just hoping you'd come into the office for this meeting. Scrimgeour is making me head of security at the tournament and I'd like my best Auror on the team at the first meeting."

"Wow," I said with surprise. Inside, my body was turning to ice. Part of me was not surprised that Gabriel was giving the position, but at the same time I felt burned. Scrimgeour hadn't told me he was considering me, but I had to assume he was. I had been with the Ministry for a long time; I was the youngest Auror ever to be admitted to the program and the only Auror to be instated underage without taking an Auror exam. Part of me wanted the position, perhaps for justification of everything I had ever done for the Ministry. Honestly, the longer I worked there the more I began to agree with Penelope and her thoughts about the agendas of organizations. Being given a position to head a security team for the tournament would have been enough justification for me. "I didn't realize he was considering you for the position."

Gabriel turned around completely to me. "Who else would he pick?"

"I don't know," I shrugged. I immediately put up my defensive walls because I knew within seconds Gabriel would try to penetrate my mind—which he did, just like I suspected. He frowned deeply as his eyes stayed locked with mine.

"You're blocking me—"

"—you're trying to invade my mind," I snipped roughly. "You could just ask what's bothering me."

"You'd lie," he responded just as aggressively. "Like you just did. Who else would they pick? Please, Cadence, you know very well they were considering you as well as a few others—"

"What made them pick you?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest. "The fact that you're not carrying a growing human in your body?"

"You know that's not it. The fact that I'm older and more experienced then half the department," Gabriel responded leaning against the counter. "I've been responsible for groups, organizing, and leading people."

"Well you're definitely older then most of the department," I hissed childishly. Gabriel rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"I didn't realize you'd be this upset about it."

"Like hell you didn't," I said. "You know me better then I know myself—you knew exactly what I wanted and how I would respond."

"I can't help that I'm better suited for the position, Cadence," Gabriel said with a shrug.

I put my hand on my hip and leaned my weight on it as I glared at Gabriel. I bit my bottom lip then spoke. "So, when you apply for a position, do you put down that you're a Guardian? Do you get extra points for being a mythical guide of young powerful witches and wizards? Because that sounds like a very prestigious position to hold—"

"Wherever you're going with that, you can stop. Not many people believe in Guardians and you know that, Cadence. That never goes on any application because most people will think I'm nuts for putting it down." His voice was growing more cross the more the conversation ran on.

"Well that's probably a smart move since by book standards you're a failure at the position!" I shouted. The walls of the kitchen shook and a cabinet over the stove slipped open. Dishes spilled from the cabinet, falling onto the floor and shattering across the wood. Gabriel rubbed his head, saying nothing as he looked at the mess I had just created. He waved his hand and the scene re-wound; the dishes replaced to the cabinet in solid usable form.

"I imagine that's your pregnant hormones out of control," he said sarcastically.

"No my pregnant hormones are in perfect check," I retorted. "It is because I'm pregnant—"

"Have you ever organized groups? Have you ever been responsible for co-workers? Have you ever led by example?" Gabriel interrupted with frustration. "No! You are an excellent Auror, Cadence. You are a strong independent clever witch and I won't deny that—but you are not cut out for a leadership job. I was given this position because not only am I qualified for it as an experienced Auror, but I haven't been in the field for over nine months now. I've been doing desk work, which is what this job will mostly entail. You'd go crazy with this job and Scrimgeour knows that because he knows how you work. You belong in the field."

"Ah!" I said with a sarcastic smile. "So, you got the position because you're losing your touch—I suppose I should be flattered!"

I turned on my heel and marched out of the kitchen.

"If I was losing my touch you wouldn't be knocked up!" Gabriel yelled after me. I ignored him and marched straight upstairs into the bedroom, slamming it loudly.

This discussion is not over, Gabriel said into my head. I crinkled my nose with aggravation. I had let down my mental defenses as soon as I left the kitchen. I was stupid for thinking I was safe in the bedroom, alone. I collapsed on the bed with a sigh as I held my head, pulling at my hair.

It was never a discussion. It was you gloating over your professional achievement. Congratulations, Gabriel. Congratulations. You've managed to squander my emotions and inform me that I didn't not earn a position I was hoping for. Good job. You'll make an excellent team leader.

The bedroom door opened sharply, causing me to sit up with shock as Gabriel stepped in, closing the door tightly behind him.

"Really? You're just going to drag the fight in here?" I said laying back down. "Aren't you going to be late for your first day as the big bad team leader?"

"I love you," he said from where he stood by the closed door. "But you are a childish, ignorant, intolerable woman."

"Thank you," I said in a low growl. I don't know what Gabriel was trying to do, apologize or upset me more.

"But you are a damn good witch," he continued as if I hadn't said anything. "You're smart, you think on your toes, you do well under pressure, and you never take crap—so I need you on my team. I need you as my partner—"

"How are we going to be partners if you're head of the tournament security team?" I questioned. "What was Scrimgeour thinking?"

"He was thinking that the two of us work so well together that we should be reassigned as partners, with one of us as lead on the security detail for the tournament!" Gabriel yelled. I sat up very slowly and studied him as he glared at me with angry purple eyes. My breath caught for a moment as I stared at him. I hadn't seen him this upset with me in a long time—I couldn't even remember the last time he was visibly angry with me. His expression softened after a few moments of us silently glaring at each other. My expression relaxed as well and when he spoke again I nearly fell to mushy pieces. "We work well together. I need your help with this."

I was glaring at him as he approached me on the bed. "I hate you," I said as he reached me. He stopped in front of me and cupped my cheeks in his hands.

"I know," he said before leaning down and kissing me full on the mouth. His weight pushed me back into the bed causing us to lay down, him on me, on the bed kissing deeply. I pulled away from him for a moment to stare up at his eyes.

"Don't think that you can just kiss me into forgiving you," I said.

"I'm kissing you because I love you," he responded with a smile. "Not because I need to persuade you to help me and accept this."

"You do provide some valid points," I said. "And I can't imagine it would have gone over well if Scrimgeour gave me the position considering my behavior over the last couple of months, especially when you were in the hospital and I was sabotaging every new partner he gave me."

Gabriel nodded. "I'm happy you agree with me now."

"Shut up," I said with a roll of my eyes.

"I'm going to kiss you again," he said leaning closer to me. "And it's not to seduce you, it's because I want to kiss your very sexy mouth."

I smiled as he leaned in and planted a tender kiss on my lips. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him gently in return as I remembered all the dirty erotic scenes I was imaging while we were in the kitchen. The soft tender kissing continued for a few moments; his fingers intertwined in my hair, tugging gently. His kisses sent shivers through my entire body, making me moan, squirm and grow warm. There was always a spark in Gabriel's kisses that made me feel sexually aroused, loved and lusted after. He managed to make me feel an infinite amount of things with a single kiss. He made me feel indescribable, which is something I always loved about him.

"I have to go to work," he whispered in my ear as his hand pushed up under the shirt I was wearing and tickled my stomach.

"I know," I whispered in reply as I looked up at his dark eyes. They were glimmering with hot erotic desire. Gabriel's hand touched my breast gently; squeezing it tenderly as he leaned down and kissed me again. He pulled away abruptly, stood up over me and took my hands, pulling me up to stand in front of him. He bent his head down and kissed me again quickly on the lips. "I'll see you later."

"Bye," I whispered as he pulled away from me. He pinched my elbow affectionately and then began to walk away. He closed the bedroom door tightly behind him. I sighed and sat back down on the bed as I brushed my hair out of my face. After a few moments of basking in the hot imaginary sexual escapades Gabriel and I could be sharing I stood up and decided it was time for a shower.

I ventured out into the hall and walked towards the only bathroom upstairs. The door was shut, as usual, and just as I raised my hand to knock on the door it was pulled open by someone. I stared in surprised shock as Sirius stood before me, in the doorframe of the bathroom, with my white towel wrapped around his waist. He smirked at me and leaned forward in the doorframe, his muscles flexing as he did so, and the steam from his hot shower rolling out behind him.

"Is there any hot water left?" I asked glaring at his smirk. I looked over his thin, yet muscular body, to see all of the tattoos that decorated his torso and arms. His tattoos were random, unlike Gabriel's which were organized on his arms as one piece of work. The only random tattoo Gabriel had was his most recent one. Sirius' tattoos ranged from the dove over his heart and the black widow spider on the left side of his rib cage (I had one to match just below my right hip) to the tribal tattoos he had on the center of his chest and arms.

"Possibly," he shrugged looking me over. "Penelope—sorry, Cassandra managed to get in here before me."

"Probably not then," I sighed. "You're using my towel—and where did you sleep last night?"

"On the couch in your study," Sirius replied. "Here's your towel." He unwound it from his body and held it up to me. I gave him an ugly look as I snatched the towel from his hand. "Perhaps a cold shower will do you some good."

I kept my eyes locked on his as I passed by him into the hot bathroom while ignoring his cold shower comment. I shut the door with my foot so not to turn around and see his naked body walking down the hall.

"Oh, good morning Sirius," said Penelope's voice from somewhere down the hall. Of course she wasn't the least bit embarrassed by Sirius' nakedness. How was it possible that I was such a prude? I sighed and shook my body, hoping to loosen up, then took off my clothes and got into the shower. Of course, there was no hot water left but a cold shower is exactly what I needed.