A/N: See you back on January 18th.

Marlene:

Life was very quiet now. It had been two weeks since she'd watched Sirius carried away by Remus' Griffin. Two weeks since she wrote a novel of a letter to her father because she needed some sort of distraction. Two weeks of waiting for news on Sirius and word from her family.

The two weeks weren't without news entirely. Frank let them know that he spoke with Sheriff MacDonald and found out the record of the attack stated that Lily was merely a look-alike, and an old friend of the Longbottom's, who had been unfortunately targeted. As far as Enid was concerned, there was no princess in their city.

That had helped Marlene breathe a bit easier.

Still, it was quiet, calm even, and Marlene didn't know how to handle it. She'd spent the last two months on edge, seeing things behind trees and around corners that might jump out and attack. And while she still took her responsibility as Lily's guardian seriously, she started to feel the way she had back when they first moved into Privet's palace together. Like her role was more to scare off the thought of attacking Lily, and not actually having to defend her person on an hourly basis.

"Marlene," Alice's voice was sing-song as she entered the kitchen where Marlene had been cleaning, "there's a message carrier outside for you."

Marlene didn't bother to try and look composed. She bolted for her purse and then the door.

She paid for the message and package that came with it before retreating to the bedroom she shared with Lily.

"What is it?" Lily looked up from her stitching.

"A message from Privet," Marlene couldn't help but feel giddy. She hadn't heard from her parents and sister since they left.

"Well, get on with it!" Lily cried with a laugh.

Marlene opened the letter and began to read.

"Our darling daughters,

We're pleased to know you're safe and well. These weeks without word from you have been distressing.

We are safe. There are several members of the royal court who are friends and they've managed to keep us from any unfair treatment from our Queen and King.

We won't be coming to join you right away. Together with the other magic users, we have come up with a plan. We assume the King and Queen are unaware of how infertile our homeland's soil is. Many magic users make their professions adding nutrients to the soil by wand work and other magical methods. As magic is no longer allowed in the kingdom, the soil will not be capable of growing crops come spring. And while our monarchy may be ignorant of this, our population is not. It is not the magic users who are screaming at the palace gates, but the non-magical folks. We're going to remain and do our best to support and help those around us as we force Queen Petunia's hand.

The package contains our help to assist you in finding a place to stay until you can find work to sustain yourselves.

We love you and will write again soon.

Your loving parents."

Marlene opened the box and found several old buttons. She smiled at her mother's old trick. A touch of her wand and a whispered spell later and the box was full to brimming with coins.

"What now," Lily frowned.

"I suppose we find a way to make an honest living," Marlene grinned at her. "No more living off the charity of others...or their taxes."

Lily sighed, "I'm not poor at sewing. I suppose we could go into the seamstress business."

Lily's frown had been stuck on her face since James betrayal, and none of Marlene's lightheartedness could pull a smile from her.

Marlene reached for Lily. "It'll stop hurting with time."

Lily shook her head, "I just wish it had happened differently. I probably wouldn't have run if I'd been able to meet James first."

"He said he loved you. He said it when he left - in front of me, even."

Marlene hadn't been sure what Lily had heard on the other side of the door and Lily had already shut this conversation down a couple of dozen times. Marlene figured she'd better run with Lily's sudden willingness to talk.

Lily wrung her hands in her lap. "I heard him."

"Do you love him back?"

"I thought I did, but after all of this, I'm not sure." Lily sighed and picked up her stitching. "You don't seem as upset as I am."

Marlene chuckled, "James wasn't trying to woo me."

Lily rolled her eyes, "But Sirius lied to you as well."

Marlene nodded, "He did, and I'm choosing to believe it was at James' royal command."

"And that excuses it?" Lily's voice went shrill.

"No," Marlene sighed, "Lily, there was a lot that happened between Sirius and me as guardians. We gained a level of trust that I don't think he would have been willing to give if he hadn't been genuine."

"You're supposed to be mad with me," Lily pouted.

"Oh I'm livid with James," Marlene smiled at her. "But," she sighed and looked out their small window, willing her tears to remain unshed, "Sirius might not even be alive right now, Lils. It seems pointless to be mad at him for following his sovereign's command."

Lily was quiet and Marlene chose to focus all her attention on the coins in the box, attempting to estimate exactly how much her parents had sent them.

"Do you love him?"

Lily's question threatened to be her undoing.

"That is of no consequence, your Highness." She picked up the box of coins and left to go see how much of it she could convince Alice to take as payment for their room and board.