oh my goodness, kittens! it's been so long! i'm sorry, life kind of caught up with me there for a minute. I'm a little more stable in my situation now, so hopefully i'll be able to get the last few chapters up soon. I hope you like this one. leave me some love, as always~ kitten.


Hermione glanced behind her to make sure she wasn't being followed. She pulled her jacket around her body tightly and stepped into the store. She found the people she was looking for and pulled them aside.

"Oi, Mione! What can we do for you today?" Fred asked.

"Do you need to see the back room?" George asked, leaning in close. "Black not doing his job?"

"Sirius is more than satisfactory," Hermione said, blushing. "But he's why I'm here."

"Really?"

"Do tell."

"His birthday is Saturday," she said. "I've arranged for Harry and Draco to take him out. It's a surprise."

"Boys' night?" Fred asked, eyebrow raised.

"Lotta faith in your man, Mione," George added.

"I know him," she said with a smile. "I don't need faith. So you should be at Jezebel's Lounge at 9 on Saturday."

"You're having the party at a strip club?" Fred asked.

"You are the perfect woman, Mione," George said, awed.

"9 o'clock, boys," she said with a wink. "Don't be late."

The brothers exchanged a look as she sauntered out. "I hate Sirius Black."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Hermione had to be careful as she went about planning Sirius' birthday. He was the most naturally mischievous man she'd ever met, and trying to surprise him was difficult. Her plan was to send the boys to the strip club, then meet them at Sirius' favorite bar afterwards. Much of the Order and their coworkers at the Ministry were coming to the bar, but only Sirius' close friends were invited to the club.

His gifts were also giving her a bit of trouble. She'd gotten him tickets for a Hollyhead Harpies match as well as a beautiful pair of dragonskin boots. But she still felt like she needed something more personal. She thought about buying a new outfit for the bedroom, but decided against it. Sirius was fond of roleplaying and games in bed, so she'd dressed up as everything from a school girl to a Muggle police officer in the past three months. She knew he'd love whatever she gave him, but she wanted it to be perfect.

She returned to Hearth House late that day, having gone to Diagon to finalize the plans for Saturday. She Apparated home and let herself in. "Sirius?" she called. "Boys? Anyone home?" Draco met her in the kitchen, taking the groceries she'd picked up from her. He greeted her with a hesitant smile.

"What's wrong?" she asked with a frown. "Where's Sirius?"

"In the library," Draco said somberly. "Er, Spots? Did you two have a fight?"

"No. Why?"

"Because he's been drinking since he got home an hour ago," Draco said.

"He's ony been home an hour?" Hermione asked. "He left work early." Draco shrugged in answer. Still frowning, Hermione went into the library to find Sirius.

He was sitting in front of the fireplace with a tumbler full of amber firewhiskey. He didn't turn to greet her when she walked in focusing on the fire.

"Where have you been?" he asked. His voice was hoarse, like he'd been screaming for hours.

"I had a couple of errands to run," she said, approaching him slowly.

"Errands that took you to the twins' place?"

She frowned deeper, taken aback. He followed her? "I stopped by the shop to speak to the boys, yes."

"Stopped by that inn in Diagon, too." He took a drag from his glass. "If you wanted out, you should've said so."

"Out? Sirius, what are you talking about?" He stood, throwing his glass at the wall with a shout. Hermione stepped back, frightened at his sudden anger.

"If you weren't happy, you should have told me!" he yelled. "Don't run around behind my back!"

"What are you talking about?" She found it hard not to raise her voice as well.

"I'm talking about you!" he cried. "You've barely touched me in a week, and you keep 'running errands' all the bloody time! I saw you going into that shag-for-an-hour hotel today!"

"The hotel next to the bar you like?" she said. "The one that's owned by the same family? That hotel?"

"Yeah," he seethed. "So who were you meeting there?"

"You think I'm cheating on you?" she asked. She wanted to cry. "You… don't you trust me?"

"What am I supposed to think?" he asked. "We haven't had sex in days-"

"You know I don't want to have sex during my monthly time!"

"And you keep taking off to run errands-"

"I've had things to take care of-"

"The twins are still all over you all the time-"

"They've always been like that. And what about Matilda Townkirk?"

"What about her? She's no one-"

"She's always flirting with you-"

"She looks like a Blast-Ended Skwert-"

"You never tell her you're with someone-"

"I don't see you telling the twins to back off."

"Lovely. That's mature, Sirius."

"Just tell me what you been doing!" he exploded.

"I've been planning your bloody birthday party!"she screamed. She burst into angry, betrayed tears. "Are you happy? You've ruined everything!"

"Mione-"She ran out of the room crying. Sirius called after her again but didn't chase her. He sank down into his chair and let himself cry.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

"Sirius?" Harry and Draco entered the library slowly. Harry touched his godfather's shoulder. "Sirius, what happened? Hermione's locked us out of her room."

"I'm an idiot," he said. "I- she- I thought-"

"You thought what?" Harry asked.

"I saw her… Followed her. She went to a hotel. And she's been so distant-"

"Sirius, she's been planning your birthday party," Harry said. "She went to the hotel to talk about renting the bar next door."

"I know," Sirius said, dropping his head into his hands. "Gods, I fucked up."

"Yeah, mate, you did," Harry said.

"Let her cool off a bit, get yourself sobered up, and go apologize," Draco said. "Spots'll calm down. Everything will be fine."

"What if she-"

Harry shook his head. "It'll work out, Sirius. Go take a shower and calm down."

"Then get on your knees and beg." Draco grinned. Sirius scowled at him and stood on weak legs. He made his way to his bathroom and took a long shower. By the time he'd finished and gone downstairs to fetch her some dinner, he had completely planned out his apology speech. He'd been stupid and jealous, and he needed to tell her he turested her and loved her. She needed to know that before she decided he wasn't worth it.

Sirius knocked lightly on the door. "Mione? Mione, love, it's me."

"Go away," she called. "I'm still angry, Sirius."

"I know," he sighed. "I'm sorry baby."

"Sirius…" He heard her sigh.

"I brought you some dinner," he said.

"Just leave it," she said. He set the plate on the floor in front of the door and sat down next to it.

"I'm sorry, love," he said through the door. "I screwed up, I know."

"Yes, Sirius, you did." Her voice was much closer this time. He heard the dull thump of her sitting down on the other side.

"I'm scared," he said quietly.

"Of what?"

"That you'll get tired of me," he said. "That you'll find someone else. Somebody smarter, kinder, less reckless. The bad-boy Marauder is good for raunchy sex, but I'm scared you'll get tired of that."

Hermione opened the door, standing and offering a hand to him. He stood and took her hand with a shaky smile. Her eyes were red-rimmed and bloodshot, and her makeup had been washed off. He pulled her to him, hugging her tightly.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm a stupid, jealous idiot."

"'Idiot' implies 'stupid'," she mumbled against his chest. He chuckled as she led him to sit on her bed.

"I'm very, very sorry," he said again.

"I know," she said. "I'm just… I'm hurt that you didn't trust me, Sirius. You didn't ask me about what I was doing. You just jumped to the conclusion that I must be cheating on you."

"I know, and I'm sorry," he said. "I just- Have I said that I'm an idiot?"

"We need to talk about this, Sirius," she said. "I can't- I can't be with someone who doesn't trust me. I can't be with someone who doesn't talk to me or treats me like an object."

"I don't do that, do I?" Sirius asked with a frown.

"Not usually, no," she said. "But when I come home and you're demanding to know where I've been like you're my master-"

"I'm sorry for that," he said. "I know I keep saying that. But I don't know what to do here. You're the first person I've ever loved. I never stuck around long enough to fight with anyone. I don't know how to do this the right way."

"You need to talk to me," she said. "I would have told you what I was up to if you'd told me you were worried. But you can't just accuse me of running around behind your back." She cast a little scowl in his direction. "And I didn't appreciate that sex comment. I'm not some blow-up doll for your pleasure. I don't assume that you always want me-"

"I do, though," he said, leaning in close to her. He kissed the side of her neck softly. "I always want you. But I'm sorry that I assumed you always want me."

"I do," she said. "But wanting you is not the same as wanting sex. I mean, is that all we are to each other? Sex? Yes, it's always good-"

"More than good-"

"But what happens later? When sex isn't enough to keep us together? Would you still want to be with me if I wasn't forever dressing up for you?"

"Yes," he said. "Because while I love your body, I love your mind more." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I love you more, Hermione. I love how sweet and kind you are. I love how driven you are. You make everyone around you better for being there. Even if I could never make love to you again, I'd still love you."

She nodded, tearing up again. "Thank you."

"That's why I get so scared," he said. "I'm scared that you won't want me once you get your fill. What is there to me other than the tattooed guy with a motorcycle that makes you scream every night? How can you want to stay with me when you're off saving the world and I'm telling Fred and George about new ideas for the joke shop?"

"Sirius Orion Black," she said sternly, gripping his lower lip with her thumb and forefinger. "Do you think I'd ever want to be with someone who was constantly stern and bookish and over-focused?"

"I think you want someone smart and serious," he said.

"Yes, and the one man in thirty years who scored as high as me on his N.E.W.T.s isn't smart," she said. "The man who told me he wants a family with me, the man who spends his days hunting Dark Wizards isn't serious." She straddled his lap, cupping his chin in her hands. "If I didn't want to be with you, I'd already be gone. Face it, Black. You're stuck with me. I'm in this."

"So you don't mind that I'm immature and can't ever be serious or concentrate on anything not mischief-related?"

She kissed his mouth softly. "You make me laugh. You make me happy."

"I'm sorry I overreacted," he said with another kiss. "And I'm sorry about the sex thing."

"You're forgiven," she said. "You're not getting any tonight, but you're forgiven. I still don't feel completely well.

"Fair enough," he said. "Don't ever feel obligated to have sex with me."

"She smiled and kissed him. "I love you."

"I love you too, Mione." He gave her a Marauder grin. "So now that it's not a surprise, can you tell me about my party?"

She nipped at his lips. "No."