Within 45 minutes of Eileen's arrival the 6 of them were in the foyer preparing to grab to port key that would take them to Las Vegas, they could have left sooner but Severus and Lily had to help Lucius and Narcissa with their choice of clothing. They knew little of the muggle world and had to change clothes 3 times before they were in suitable clothing; not to mention trying to explain the muggle money Severus and Lily kept in the Manor as 'just in case' money. Eileen reassured the two mothers that the babes would be fine and to have fun.

They finally grabbed the port key and upon arriving in Las Vegas they took in everything Sin City had to offer. They drank, attempted to gamble, watched shows they didn't quite understand and visited everything they could in the town that never slept. It was an amazing place even to wizards and witches.

"Wow! Muggles do know how to party!" Sirius slurred in amazement while stumbling down the strip.

Lily laughed, she knew more about the place than anyone else being muggle born, "You know a lot of American's come here to get married." She said nudging Remus.

Remus rolled his eyes, "Lils, like we could ever get married the muggle way. Not to mention we've never even really discussed it."

Sirius straightened up, "So, you think you're too good to marry a Black then?"

"Merlin Sirius, that's not what I meant. Muggles don't allow gay people to marry and we have never even talked about it." Remus said in a huff.

Lily still hinting, "You might not could get married the muggle way, but money is power in the muggle world. I'm sure we could rent a chapel for 30 minutes or so." Finishing with a suggestive giggle.

Severus smiled and whispered to Lily, "Love have you decided someone needs to get married here?"

Lily looked up innocently, "I have no clue what you're talking about."

Severus chuckled and shook his head. They continued to walk the strip when the two women squealed and with a pleading look asked if the could go into the infamous Tiffany's. The guys already knew they were defeated and said yes. The women were quickly lost in the crowd so the guys found somewhere to sit and talk. Sirius announced he had to go to the bathroom and disappeared as well. Lucius, Severus and Remus sat and talked about what was left to see before they had to return home.

Sirius who had told a little white lie finally found Lily and Narcissa. "Do you think he would marry me if I asked?" Sirius blurted out at the two women who were dazzled by all the sparkling diamonds in a case.

"What?" Lily asked confused.

"I asked a question…. Do you think he would tell me no?" Sirius asked again.

Lily smiled, "I was only teasing but if you are truly in love like I think you are then if you asked properly, I honestly think he would accept."

"I do love him and I hope you're right because I just bought rings with all the muggle money I won a few hours ago." Sirius said with a laugh.

"Sirius! Do you realize how much money that was? Didn't you win almost five thousand dollars?" Lily asked shocked.

"I really don't know how much it was but if he says yes then it's worth it. I am going to need some help though. I think it only fitting Snape performs the vow and I need you and Narcissa to find a fitting place while Lucius and I keep him busy. I know this is risky but please!" Sirius begged.

Narcissa and Lily smiled, "You have to ask first love." They said in unison.

"Shit, I forgot about planning that part." Sirius admitted.

Narcissa patted Sirius's shoulder, "We pasted a lovely park a few blocks ago, and I think I saw a small pond. We could happen back by there."

Sirius laughed thinking back to their first night together, "A pond would be perfect but I need to slip out of here and get there first. Tell them you seen me stagger out of here and I'll beat you there. One of you send him to the pond alone."

The girls smiled and nodded, "Ok, you sure about this?" Lily asked.

"As sure as you were the night you married Snape." Sirius replied with an arched eyebrow.

With a knowing nod the two women left to go lead the guys back to the park; all the men were clueless thinking they were chasing a drunken Sirius in a foreign town. They found the park and looked around frantically, then Lily saw a large black dog by the small pond in the distance. "Remus, go check by that pond, you know the crazy thing loves water." Lily said with a giggle.

Remus stalked off toward the pond mumbling about how stupid Sirius could be sometimes while Lily and Narcissa quietly whispered to Snape and Lucius what was about to happen.

Remus spotted the dog knowing it was Sirius, "Think you're funny, do you? I should throw your mutt ass in there!" Remus bellowed aggravated.

The black dog stood, walked over to Remus and placed his head under Remus's hand. Remus giving up being mad just laughed and patted the dog's head, "What am I gonna do with you?"

The dog nudged Remus's hand and dropped a black velvet box in it. Remus knitted his eyebrows and opened the box. Inside was matching black bands with a silver moon and a paw print engraved on both of them. He was so taken aback by the rings he never noticed Sirius return to his human form and was on one knee in front of him.

"Well you could make an honest man out of me and marry me." Sirius said as a question.

Remus looked up shocked, "You aren't kidding are you?"

Sirius smiled, "Nope, totally serious!" laughing at his name pun. "So is that a yes or a no?" Sirius asked the still shocked Remus.

"I can't imagine putting up with anyone else for the rest of my life. Of course I'll marry your crazy ass. I love you." Remus managed to say without crying.

Sirius stood, "I wouldn't want to annoy anyone else for the rest of my life. I love you." The two embraced in a kiss that fairytales are wrote about.

They never noticed that the other four people had slowly made their way closer to them. When they broke their kiss, Snape cleared his throat, "That sounded a lot like vows. I think all you need now is someone to seal them. I would be glad to return the favor."

"It would be an honor." Remus said with a smile.

Narcissa and Lucius stood hand in hand watching Snape seal Remus and Sirius's vows while Lily who had taken a page from Shelby's book before they departed snapped pictures like she had done all night.

"There's only one way to celebrate a wedding! We need to find a liquor store! It's tradition!" Snape said after Sirius and Remus broke their marriage kiss.

"Who's taking whose last name?" Lily asked with a giggle.

"Ummmm…. I'm sure he doesn't want to be known as a Lupin." Remus said with a soft laugh.

"What!? I only married you to get rid of the Black name!" Sirius shrieked.

Everyone laughed and they made their way back to the strip to find a liquor store to find several bottles of whiskey to finish this almost perfect New Years.

Back in Prince Manor, no sooner than the six of them disappeared by port key did Eileen call for Dumbledore.

He arrived promptly. "Eileen, what's happened?" He asked shocked at being called back to the Manor.

"Do not play coy with me, I want to know what is going on with my son. I know by his behavior, something is amiss." Eileen said flatly.

Dumbledore stood silent not knowing if he should break Severus's trust, upon thinking on it he remembered Severus had only said not to tell Lily or Narcissa, he never said anything about keeping the secret from his mother. "Eileen, I will make this short and sweet. Severus and Lucius had to commit crimes in the muggle world for Voldermort and there has been a large bounty placed on them. I tried reasoning with Severus to let me help him and he refused. He plans to turn himself into the Ministry tomorrow."

"Like hell he will!" Eileen shouted.

"I have tried many times in many ways to convince him otherwise and he is fairly set in his decision." Dumbledore said quietly trying to calm the livid woman.

"Have you not talked to the Minister about this?" Eileen charged.

"Yes, I have. I worked out a deal for Lucius, he is to go unnoticed until after Voldermort's downfall then he will have to go to trail for his crimes but his service for the Order will take a great deal of time off any sentence he may or may not receive. I offered the same thing for Severus but he refuses to allow me to help. The Minister already knows he defected long before Lucius and how vastly he has helped and the lives he has saved." Dumbledore defended himself.

"So he plans to just walk into the Ministry and let them take him straight to Azkaban then?" Eileen questioned in disbelief.

"He simply said he was going to turn him self in after New Years. That is why I gave him the port key. He asked for one more night of freedom. I felt it was the least I could do for him." Dumbledore said sadly.

"Well if he thinks I'm going to just sit back and do nothing he has lost his mind." Eileen bit.

"If you have a plan, I'd love to hear it." Dumbledore said flatly.

Eileen eyes were dancing with Slytherin evil, "Sometimes it's who you know that's important, then again sometimes it's what you know that makes things happen or not happen in this case. I happen to know a few things Minister Bagnold wouldn't want the public to find out. I'll be in her office first thing in the morning, you keep him out of the Ministry."

Dumbledore nodded, "I will do all I can."

Dumbledore departed and Eileen went and laid down on Lily's side of the bed next to the bassinet little Justin was fast asleep in, she intended to stay awake all night but found herself awakened by Lily.

"What time is it? Where is Severus?" Eileen said in a panic.

Lily smiled, "It's about 8. We got home around 3 a.m. our time. We had an amazing night. Sev is in the guest room we slept in. I came in here to shower. I thought you might have things to do today."

"Oh good, yes I do. Thank you dear. I must go quickly." Eileen said in a rush. Eileen rushed to the closest fireplace and flooed into the Ministry to demand a meeting with Minister Bagnold.

Dumbledore strode up and down the street around the Ministry looking for Severus, hoping he wouldn't floo inside. He had walked what seemed like a thousand paces when he noticed a little red fox sitting next to a bench directly across the street from the Ministry. He chuckled knowing it was Severus and slowly made his way across the busy street and sat on the bench. To anyone else he looked like a crazy old man talking to himself but he knew the little fox could hear and understand everything he said. He made pleas to Severus about Lily, Justin, Eileen and the Order. He talked about the torment that Azkaban would be. He was saying anything he could think of the change his mind about going into that building. The little fox sat stoic and rigid just like Severus would if he were in human form. Dumbledore continued to talk of anything he could to change Severus's mind. Dumbledore had one card left to play, it was a cruel card but he would play it if need be, "I suppose you think it best for Justin and Lily to live and grow up without a father and husband. I do guess it's better than what you know of a father and husband though. Your father was a vile man from my understanding. I suppose maybe that's why you're so eager to go to Azkaban. You're afraid you'll be just like him. Then again, Lily could always remarry and end up with someone far worse than you could ever dare be. Then again Justin's mother could heal completely in the next week or so and I will have to go rip Justin from Lily and poor Lily will be so deep in despair who knows what she will do, losing her husband and child in the same week. Won't matter to you though, you'll be in Azkaban trying to fight off the dementors. You'll be too tormented to worry about the wife and child you abandoned."

The fox was now bearing its teeth at Dumbledore who chuckled, "Ah, hit a nerve didn't I, my dear boy sometimes the truth hurts."

"Who in Merlin's name are you talking to Albus?" Eileen questioned.

Dumbledore looked at the fox and arched an eyebrow, "Myself, I suppose. What did the Minister say?"

"Severus has the same deal as Lucius, aurors are to be notified that he isn't to be killed or brought in. As long as he stays fairly hidden he will be unbothered until after Voldermort's fall. He and Lily must return Justin if his mother recovers but according to the Minister she is still unconscious, so we don't have to worry about that now. Then after I reminded her of a few embarrassing facts she assured me Severus nor Lucius would 'probably serve no time'." Eileen said in triumph.

"Well how do you plan on telling your son this? He was determined to walk in there today." Dumbledore asked.

"He has a wife and child to take care of! He needs to get over his…. Whatever it is and get his shit together and finish what he started." Eileen said sharply.

"Very well. Shall we depart?" Dumbledore asked holding out his hand for Eileen.

"Yes we may." Eileen said with a smile.

Dumbledore turned to look at the little fox but he was gone.

After Eileen left in such a hurry Lily checked on Justin who was still sound asleep, she returned to the guest room her and Severus stayed in last night. She thought she would find her husband still in bed but the bed had been made and a piece of parchment and a box lay on the pillow she had slept on. Lily quickly unfolded the parchment and sat on the bed to read it.

Lily, Once again I must ask for your forgiveness. I am breaking a

promise. I have hid from you the fact that there has been a large

bounty placed on Lucius and I for our part in Justin's kidnapping.

I have signed everything over to you. Dumbledore has all the papers,

including divorce papers should you wish to file those after the Dark Lord falls.

I'm so sorry love. I must do this, please forgive me and then forget me.

I have asked Dumbledore to Obliviate you but I know he won't, he fought

me on the subject for too long. Love, I have left you with everything you

could ever want or need. Take the money and adopt a houseful of kids

you, Remus and Sirius can turn the Manor into an Orphanage. Just be

happy love. I am so sorry our happily ever after wasn't forever. I beg of

you Lily, please forget me. I know in time the dementors will take away

every good memory I have and you're in every one of them.

You have truly made my life worth living. I owe you for every single

happy memory I have. You loved me when no one else did. I know this

will be hell losing each of these memories day by day. Please

don't live through that torment. Please let Dumbledore do as I asked.

I'll love you Always.

Severus

Lily sat in shock with tears streaming down her face. How could he just leave like this again. He promised he would never leave me again she whispered to herself. Lily opened the box that was sitting in lap she removed from it a silver chain than had a charm on it with the word 'Always' engraved in Severus's handwriting. Her silent tears turned into loud sobs as it hit her that her husband was probably in Azkaban by now.

Narcissa heard Lily down the hall and came to check on her, finding her in a mess clutching a piece of parchment and a necklace. Lily acknowledged Narcissa by handing her the parchment through sobs, Narcissa read it and now cried along with Lily. The two women who loved wanted men held on to each other and cried, they understood each others pain, they might not be sisters by blood but they were sisters by circumstance and this kind of circumstance is when they would lean on each other the most.