"Wow…" Sirius breathed. "You own this place, too?"

Rose smiled to herself. "Yeah. We've had it since I was three." She let the overwhelming memories of her beloved parents wash over her and even then she could feel their love for her in the beautiful Victorian house on the edge of the pulsing sea.

"Rose?" Sirius said softly. She gazed into his dark, smoldering eyes so full of concern and understanding and knew that he cared… that somehow, he knew exactly what she had been thinking.

"Let's go in and have dinner. Then we can explore the beach," she said, leading the way. Only three more days…

xoxox

Lily sat in the little paradise that James had created for her. She reached over and plucked up a gorgeous pink-tipped rose in full blossom. Why am I so confused? What do I want? Why him?

"Lily?"

She started and glanced up. "James," she whispered. Instead of the panic and confusion she had felt early, she found herself calm and strangely glad. Safe even.

"Lily, I don't want to pressure you…" he said slowly and sank down onto the lush grass beside her. Lily marveled at the wonders of magic. "I understand if you need time… at least I think I understand." He grinned at her, his hazel eyes twinkling.

Lily laughed in spite of herself. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and frowned, puzzling over how to put into words the uncertainty in her heart. James reached out and gently touched her cheek. "It's okay, Lily. When you're ready…" He tucked a stray strand of ruby hair behind her ear and kissed her gently on the forehead. Oh, James… do you really care? Or am I just a fool drowning in denial?

xoxox

Melody stared at the stunned looks on her parents' faces. She had expected surprise, but in all the situations she had dreamed up, they had always been supportive and understanding. Now, in reality, she wasn't so sure.

Her father looked uneasily at her. "Melody, can we talk about this in private?" He practically choked out the last word. He avoided looking at Remus entirely. Melody knew what he was doing and anger flared up inside her.

"No," she replied coldly. She could sense Remus's resolve faltering. She took his hand and gripped it hard. "Anything you want to say, you say to both of us."

Her parents stared at her in strained silence. She felt Remus glance at her uncertainly. She refused to budge. Throughout her life, she had always been a good daughter. She'd listened to her parents and took their advice. Not this time.

"Melody, maybe it's best if I-" Remus said softly.

"No." Melody turned to him. She could see the discomfort in his eyes. She knew it was hard for him… how alone he felt. She knew it had been difficult for him almost all his life. Not anymore, Remus. You have me. She turned back to her parents. "This isn't your decision to make."

"Melody, think about what you're doing!" her father said angrily.

"I have."

Her mother gasped. "Melody, you can't throw away your life so rashly like this!"

Remus flinched. Melody could feel his pain, she shared it. Her parents might have forgotten that Remus was still a human… that she loved him, but she hadn't.

"Throw away my life? I'm not throwing away my life! I'm living it! And how dare you suggest otherwise!" she said menacingly. Her parents stared in shock. "I love him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. This is my life and this is exactly what I want!"

"Melody," Remus said weakly.

"No!" she shouted. "Merlin knows how much I love you both, Mum, Dad, but how can you be such hypocrites? How can you be so much like those stupid blood worshippers? You've encouraged me to accept every single kind of person on this earth all my life. How can you even say that I'm throwing away my life? He's not just a werewolf! He's a human being… and I love him!"

She breathed heavily, tears prickling her eyes. Remus gently slipped his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him, desperately holding back a sob. Remus kissed her hair softly.

Her father broke the silence. "Melody… sweetheart, we didn't mean it that way…"

"Then what did you mean by it?" she asked curtly.

"We… we just want the best for you," her mother replied tearfully.

"Mum, I'm almost of age. You have to let me decide what is best for me. Don't you want me to be happy?" she asked softly.

"Of course we do, love," her father said without hesitation.

"Then give us your blessings," Melody pleaded. "Remus makes me happy."

In the strained silence, her parents looked at each other and suddenly, her father's face broke out in a bittersweet smile. "We have to let her go someday, Maria," he said softly.

Her mother laughed weakly. "Strong willed."

"Just like you," her father said.

Maria turned to Melody. "If this is truly what you want, Melody, we stand behind you. You have our blessings."

Melody's heart soared. "Thank you, Mum. Thank you, Dad." She rushed forward and hugged them. Her father crushed her in his warm embrace.

Over her head, he said, "Take good care of my daughter, Remus."

"Thank you, sir," Remus replied.

"Welcome to the family, dear," Maria said, her voice trembling with emotion. Melody turned to Remus with a smile, her cheeks still wet with salty tears. He opened his arms and she stepped into the arms of her other half.