Author Notes: So, I'm going to do a double post here. Unfortunately, FFN wasn't letting me save Chapters all night so I had enough time to write 2 =) Enjoy.

Sirius was up in the morning bright and early. It had been that way since waking up in that horrible room that gave him the creeps. The whispering and the curtain with an odd degree of understanding he knew he didn't have before. His mind felt expanded as if he had obtained the secrets to life in a different language but still understood them to a degree. How does one explain that? Sirius was still trying to find the words for it himself.

He knew, despite his idiocies and problems, that he wasn't a moron. No, he didn't mind that others did. He thought he was at one point, but for the most part, he was pretty intelligent. Well, look at the ridiculous idea of becoming animagi, his idea, by the way. However, this last week really gave him moments to scratch his head at where his intelligence came from. This new standard of what was it? Awareness?

Sirius turned over on his mattress and puffed. It was lonely but needed. After Hermione fell asleep, Sirius knew he couldn't stay. He wanted more than she was able to give, and it wouldn't serve either of them justice. Burying the side of his face in his pillow, he thought about Remus and James for different reasons.

Remus would have been the logic and told him that the trauma that she suffered from being a difficult hurdle. Her self-destruction would only exasperate it. Yeah, yeah, but it was worth the struggle. Remus was so intelligent about internal wounds but not so great at the acceptance of his own.

James would have looked at his wife then back at him. 'You're a dunderhead if you don't try, Padfoot,' he would say. Sirius knew that, but he also knew it was undeserving. He wasn't one to grow attached, and somehow in a week's time, this witch had dug down, peeled away from his defenses, and made him her dog. His budding loyalty and familiarity only would grow. It was so difficult!

Sirius groaned and scrubbed his face.

"Sirius, are you awake?" Hermione murmured, as a hiss of her hand was on the door.

"Yes, love," Sirius declared.

"Are you decent?"

Sirius arched an eyebrow and glanced down at his naked form in the sheets. "Well, I'm covered if that's what you're wondering."

Hermione was silent a moment before the door opened. "Can I come in a moment? I had a bad dream," she murmured with sleep still clinging to her face.

Sirius nodded, and Hermione walked over to the smaller mattress, resting across from him. "What happened?"

"I just," Hermione breathed and closed her eyes. "It was about you leaving. I know you'll eventually want to."

Had Sirius thought about leaving at all? Actually, he hadn't. Not once did he toy with the concept of leaving her flat, and the thought made him grimace. She was thinking about it, and it twisted in his chest. "What about me leaving, love?" He asked.

She pulled closer to him and embraced his torso. "I just have really enjoyed having you around. I know this isn't permanent, but it's been so nice. I feel like you don't judge me or expect more of me. You'll eventually want to get out there and enjoy the luster of life."

"I was under the impression that I didn't have to leave until I was ready. Harry gave me the vault back, so I wasn't going to be a leech, and I'm house trained," He teased and grinned against her forehead.

Hermione pulled away enough to scowl up at him. "I mean it, Sirius."

Sirius knew that tone so well. She had used it several times this week when they were having a heavy discussion, and he made light of it. Hermione wanted a genuine response. "Then how about we get a house together? Out in the countryside where we don't have to be anything but what we are," he suggested.

"We?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, we. You and I, me and you. Us. Away from the city and the business of man and mortals. Just us and maybe a shed for my tinkering when I build a new bike," Sirius smiled and yawned.

"We're not together," Hermione puffed.

"So? I was going to live with Moony until we died of old age or he got married. I didn't want to shag him, but at least we would have been happy. I just want to be happy, don't you? Why can't we figure the details out later and just be that?"

"You're saying that you don't want to leave then?" Hermione asked as she cast her vision down.

"I'm saying I don't want to live alone and leave you alone. I'd rather have you in my space than feel the need to run off and shag nameless women to feel a sliver of what I'm missing. I'm missing belonging, and you give it, love. You carry pieces of my friends and yourself that I need. I'm a dog at heart. I need more than drinks and tits."

Hermione beamed and moved her hand up his side, causing him to get the chills. When she touched his cheek, she moved her index finger to his nose. "I know what we're going to do this morning."

"What's that?" Sirius asked.

"We're going to go visit Teddy. I haven't seen him in a month," Hermione said before pulling from Sirius.

Sirius turned on his back and put an arm behind his head. "How's my dear cousin Andy doing?"

Hermione sat up on her hand with her elbow dug in the pillow. "She's great. This will be a nice surprise. I haven't told her your back because I wanted to wait until I knew you were ready."

"So, now I'm ready?" Sirius grinned.

Hermione nodded. "I think it's time that Teddy meets his uncle, and you get another piece of your life back through him. I was worried about you getting listless, but it appears you're just the opposite."

"I don't remember who I was that you met, love. I don't remember that man at all, and I'm sorry he was a right bugger. Azkaban must have done quite a bit of damage to my already wounded heart," Sirius sighed as he scratched at his chest.

Hermione's lips curled as she reached out and touched his bearded cheek. "That's alright, Sirius. It makes the person you are now so much better by comparison. I understand you," she voiced and ran her nails through his facial hair.

Sirius groaned and smirked at her. "Now, love, if you're going to give me those eyes and stroke my ego, you're going to have to rub this mutt's belly and more."

Hermione snorted and patted his cheek. "Maybe next time. I'm going to go get ready and owl Drom. She'll be in fits to see us."

Sirius took a chance. A single chance of a split second and pulled her close as he turned and barely touched her lips with his mouth. Hermione closed the minimal gap and returned it as she sighed. Sirius was barmy as a bat for this witch. He moaned and coaxed her on top of him while they kissed. It was fucking magic.

She was getting louder in her sighs as he raced his hands under her shirt, tracing the flesh and scars on her back. This electric current she produced, he just couldn't get enough. Her fingers were tugging away the barrier just as the fireplace went off, causing the pair to jolt.

"I swear to fuck. If it's Ron again, I'm going to toss a bludger at him," Sirius growled.

"Wake up call," Harry called out.

"Fuck," Hermione hissed and climbed off of Sirius.

"What's wrong?" Sirius whispered.

Hermione waved him off and mended her hair and clothing. "Just, don't tell him we kissed, alright?"

Sirius internally cringed. "Alright."

She grimaced and bent to the bed. "He's overprotective, and I don't need him to have an opinion."

"But what if we end up moving together?" Sirius grinned.

Hermione glared as she stood up. "Don't even start that, Sirius," she huffed and left his room.

Sirius yawned and went to snatch up his pajama pants and a t-shirt. Once he was situated and dressed, he left the room. Hermione was bouncing Albus in her arms with a smile while Harry was talking.

"So, yeah, I decided that's a good idea," Harry finished.

Hermione twitched her nose and glanced over at Sirius. "Harry said he wants to take you out to shop with the boys while I go with Gin to Molly's," Hermione said.

Her face said it all. She absolutely didn't want to do that. "Well, Hermione and I were going to Andromeda's, so I could finally meet Remus's son."

Harry blinked and glanced at the witch. "You were going to take him without me?"

Hermione's cheeks tinted, and she cleared her throat. "We just made the plan before you popped through."

Sirius walked up and slid his arm over Hermione's shoulders. "How about we skip the shop today, go visit my cousin and invite them to dinner tonight at the Burrow?" Sirius suggested.

Harry glanced between them and then at Albus before his eyes reached the adults again. Sirius didn't realize the symbolism until his godson subconsciously pointed it out. This looked oddly normal, and Hermione held the dark-haired infant who only perpetuated the scene. It was overwhelming and unusual.

"Harry? What do you say?" Hermione pressed at the awkward silence.

"Oh, I think that's great," Harry finally said. "I'll go tell Gin, and we'll get the boys ready," he voiced and took his son back from Hermione.

"That's settled then. We'll head over for breakfast?" Hermione questioned.

Harry hummed and rocked his head. "Come on through when you're ready, and we'll head over."

The conversation was ended with brief goodbyes, and Hermione stomped her foot when Harry left. "Shit!"

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "What's wrong?"

"He's going to ask you quite a few questions today, Sirius. Please don't get out of hand, alright?" Hermione asked as she exhaled.

"You think he thinks we're shagging, love?" Sirius questioned.

"Yes, I do, and if he does, then that means he thinks you talked me out of my knickers. Just don't get upset. I've told him not to be worried about my life, but he insists," Hermione puffed and waved her hand.

Sirius shrugged and began walking toward the hallway. "You were the one to make the first move, love. I've only complied since," he called back.

"That's unfair. I didn't know it was you!" She shouted.

Sirius stopped at his door and grinned back at her. "Oh, I know. That's what makes this so much fun."

He disappeared and heard her growl. Sirius breathed and leaned against the closed barrier. Had he ever thought about children before? No, not really. It was never a concern. Sirius touched the scar on his ribs, and his brow tightened. How could something so small bring back so much guilt?

Guilt. A core motivator of his, as Remus said many times. Always doing things to hide his feelings because they've been invasive to others' lives. His stern father. His hellish mother. Reggie… It always amounted to disrupting what Sirius was to his soul.

He never wanted to feel guilty for someone loving him. His marauders taught him how to love, but would that be enough. Children? Sirius couldn't even fathom the idea. How did the fleeting thought bud in his mind now? It was distracting, so he shelved the contemplation for a later date.