Alexia, Mia, Adelaide, Emilie, Cassiopeia

In the end, it was another three months.

Or, it was three months to Alexia.

According to Antonin, for them, it had been eight. Sirius had hexed him for making her cry at her welcome home party.

"I just want to know how this happened," James told her quietly. They held hands and sat in the corner, trying to reforge the tight twin bond. "Dolohov wouldn't tell us anything."

"I made a promise I had to keep," she answered him quietly. "I had to keep one of my girls safe. She's a kid, Jamie."

"You're bloody fucking lucky Lily's not had the baby yet," he told her. "Because that witch has been cursing your name for eight months. Watch her wand when you're around her. She's bound to try to hex you at least twice."

Alexia looked ashamed. "I'm sorry. I wish I could've done more to help that day. And I'm sorry I ever put any of you in danger from Feliks. If I'd known it wasn't Antonin, I never would've-,"

"Lex, Feliks is a literal psychopath," he reminded her, nudging her with his shoulder. "Lily was pissed at the idea of you managing to miss the birth of both of her children."

Alexia found herself laughing a little. "It's not my fault I missed Harry."

"She doesn't see it that way."

They quieted for a moment, and her mind wandered away from James, from the present, and back toward the other universe she'd been stuck in.

"I'll give you guys a minute," James said, startling her. She looked at him in confusion for a mere moment before she felt Antonin's hand touch her back.

James left them and she leaned back against her husband tiredly. "All I want is to be home with you. But this…"

"I told them not to do it," he said, rubbing her arms gently. "Sirius Black is one of the most irritating people I have ever met."

"So this was his idea."

"Yes."

Alexia bit her lip and closed her eyes. "I- I need to talk to you about something."

Though he frowned, Antonin led her back to their bedroom, where they sat by the window. Alexia released his hand anxiously. "Dorogaya-,"

"I forgot myself entirely," she said, forcing herself to speak. "I was fourteen again. The first time. It took so long to release the memories of you. Of everything. He- Antonin, he kissed me. Just the once, because I knew I had someone that I just couldn't remember. But it happened, and I'm so sorry."

She watched him and frowned at the feeling she could feel through their bond - not anger, or sadness even, but rather a debilitating sense of fear. She knew the fear wasn't for himself, but for her.

"You should never have been put in such a precarious, dangerous place. Forgetting yourself, being forced to exist without your own mind, it puts you in danger. I am sorry I cursed you back then."

Alexia's brow furrowed as she tried to understand. "Antonin, I- it was my fault. It wasn't your curse."

"But it could have been. It may as well have been my curse that did that to you. I don't blame you for the kiss. How could I? You had no idea who you were."

"Oh," she breathed. Looking at him, she realized he wasn't done. He moved closer, grabbing her hand within his own again.

"You forget yourself over and over. You relive the horrible things I've done to you more than either of us are comfortable with. You still love me with your entire being. I could not describe a kinder or more selfless thing, milaya moya. I consider myself blessed for that fact."

Alexia stared at her husband with wide eyes. "I don't deserve you," she whispered. He pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it lightly.

"You deserve better than me," he disagreed, his other hand coming up to hold her face. "I love you, my Dorogaya. Thank you for coming home to me."

"Every time," she swore seriously. "I will always make it back to you."

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Lily had her baby that same day. She'd gone into labor an hour after their conversation. James and Alexia were allowed in the delivery room. Lily's wand had been confiscated when she did hex Alexia for nearly missing the baby's birth.

She was a beautiful baby girl which they named Jasmine Mary Potter. Her middle name had been a debate between Mary and Marlene, but Sirius had pointed out that Marlene would throw a fit if she knew she'd been demoted to middle name, so they chose Mary.

After leaving the hospital, Alexia took Antonin back to the DOM and sat down with her husband and their boss. "I need to go check on my girls. I have to make sure Hermione is good, and Mia is safe, plus Adelaide- I need to take more scans to see if we can find Regulus. Then… fuck. Cassie."

"You just got home," Antonin argued. She shot him a glare.

"I can't rest until I know they're okay," she insisted. "Thirty second scans, a hello, and then we can come home."

"You'll go with her, of course," Bertie told Antonin, who nodded immediately. "Well, then, feel free to leave whenever."

Alexia breathed out in relief. She didn't waste time. She pulled Antonin through to the room that held the machine. "Who first?"

"Adelaide," Antonin suggested. "We saw her recently. She… you will want to speak with her."

"Okay," she grimaced, setting the machine to Adelaide's universe. "Ready?"

"Yes."

The portal was fast. It dropped them out painfully onto the floor of the kitchen in Potter Manor. Alexia groaned and rolled onto her back, blinking up at the ceiling. "Ow."

"Lexi," Adelaide said, sighing as she ran over to help her up. She looked her over closely and nodded once. "You're okay, then."

"How long has it been for you?" Alexia asked her, her eyes focused purely on Adelaide. She looked okay as far as she could tell.

"Four months."

Alexia breathed out. "Three for me, eight for Antonin."

"What happened?" Adelaide questioned.

"I was trying to get Hermione healed. I did it, but I was stuck," she sighed. "I just got home last night. I wanted to make sure everyone is okay before I… rest. You're the first person I've visited."

"Well," Adelaide raised an eyebrow and stepped to the side. Alexia sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of Regulus watching them. There was a darkness in him that hadn't been there before. She felt deeply within her that it was her fault.

"I'm sorry," she breathed, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. She'd clearly done damage to her friend's life, not to mention her friend's husband. "I'm so sorry, Regulus. It wasn't meant to happen."

"It was called a no-space," he told her softly, unwilling to lighten the guilt she held. "I was alone. No one could see, hear, or feel me. My own wife forgot me. You can't imagine what that was like, Alexia."

She breathed out, letting the guilt fill her up. "You're right. I can't."

He seemed to struggle a little before speaking again, this time glancing at Adelaide for a moment before looking back to Alexia. "Fix it. Fix the damned multiverse and we're even."

"I will," she swore, ignoring the sharp look Antonin shot her. "I'm so glad you're back, Regulus."

"No thanks to you."

"Reg," Adelaide sighed, rubbing her brow tiredly. "Now isn't really a great time, Lexi. I appreciate you checking on me. I'm okay. I'll see you some other time, okay?"

"Yeah," Alexia nodded quietly. She reached out for Antonin again, and he gripped her hand tightly within his own as she sent them away.

They landed roughly once more, this time by the lake at Hogwarts. She had to grab onto him tightly to keep him from rolling into the lake.

"Shit," someone said. Alexia rolled her head back, lying on her back as she grabbed her side in pain, and caught sight of the teen staring at them from under the tree.

"Hey, Emilie. How's it going?"

"Lexi, what the hell?" she asked sharply, looking back toward the castle. "What are you doing here?"

"Checking on you guys," Alexia said, grimacing at the pain in her side. "Adelaide wasn't happy to see me either."

"It's not- I'm glad you're okay, I've been worried, but- but you can't be here. Cass is about to be here and he can't- he shouldn't know about you."

"Cass?"

"Cassius Warrington," Emilie explained. "He's my boyfriend."

Alexia grimaced. "Cassius was a bloody nightmare. I hope he treats you well."

"Of course he does," Emilie snapped, gaining a stare. "I'm fucking sick of people asking me that. You, Theo, Avery, Charlie, even Thor. Just fucking leave it alone."

"Okay," Alexia put her hands up. "We'll go. If you need anything-,"

"The ring, I know."

Shaking her head and sighing, Alexia once more reached for her husband and took them away, this time to Mia's world. They landed in Hogwarts' Headmaster's office.

"Oh, hey, Lexi."

Alexia braced herself on the wall behind her to keep from falling for the third time. She smiled at Mia. "You're not gonna yell or snap at me for being here, right?"

"No?" Mia looked confused. "Have you been yelled at?"

"Addy and Emilie both," Alexia explained, waving at Avery and Regulus. "You two won't yell at me either?"

"You didn't erase me from existence, so no," Regulus told her. She grimaced.

"The only time I want to yell at you is when you put Sano in danger," Avery shrugged.

She nodded once, leaning against Antonin. "How're you doing, Mia?"

"Fine. But just so you know, your job fucking sucks. Don't ever die or disappear again, okay?"

Alexia let out a surprised laugh. "It's definitely a… special interest type of job."

"Who else are you visiting?" Mia wondered.

"Founders Hermione is next," she told her. "Just to make sure she's… okay."

The door opened, and they all looked at a stunned McGonagall. Alexia laughed and squeezed her husband's hand. "Well, I think that's our cue to leave. I'll see you soon, Mia."

"Stay safe, Lexi," Mia nodded. "Thanks for coming back."

"Obliviate her," Antonin ordered them, gaining a couple of nods.

When they appeared in the Founders' Hermione's universe, they were in Black Manor.

"Alexia!"

She barely had time to get her wits about her before Hermione slammed into her, hugging her tightly. She blinked, wrapping her arms around the younger girl. "Hey, Hermione. You seem… okay."

"I was so scared you were going to… something was going to happen. But you're okay?"

Alexia's mind flashed back to the time she spent building the machine, something she'd been trying to avoid. Her eyes darkened, and she felt concern shine in Antonin. She shook herself, pushing Hermione off of her gently. "I'm back," she said vaguely. "I wanted to check on you, make sure nothing's happened since then."

"He's furious," Hermione sighed. "Like the other version of him said, but he can't get to me. Not here. With the bond broken, I'm relatively safe."

"Good," Alexia breathed out in relief. "Good."

Hermione hesitated for a moment. "Was it… was it worth it?"

Alexia froze. Her immediate response was no, it sure as hell wasn't worth it. The events of the other universe, of building the machine with them flashed through her mind again. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear it from her mind. "You're safe. That's what matters to me, okay? And I'm back now."

"Good," Hermione nodded.

"We have one more person to visit, and then we have to get home to meet with Bertie," Alexia told her. "But if you need me, use the ring, okay?"

"Okay. And thank you, Alexia. I don't think I'd be here without you."

Alexia couldn't get out of there fast enough. She took in a deep breath and tapped the ring once more, sending them to the last universe she needed to visit.

One more person, one more friend, and then she could rest.

Once again, they were in Black Manor.

It was chaos.

There were people running about, blood on the floor and stunned siblings and close friends standing there.

It didn't take more than a moment to find Cassiopeia in the mess of people, screaming, blood, and accidental magic.

Cassiopeia lay on the floor between Snape, Sirius, and Regulus. She was injured beyond belief, but Alexia's blood went cold when she saw the deep gashes covering her. Maybe they'd have been manageable with so many people helping were it not for the one that cut Cassiopeia's throat open.

Cassiopeia was dead.

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"What happened?"

Antonin's head shot up. He held her hand within his own, rubbing the back of hers with his thumb. "You had uncontrolled elemental magic. It was wind, and I managed to control it before it hurt anyone. I stunned you and brought you home."

Alexia closed her eyes tightly. "I should've helped. I could've- what if I could've saved her?"

"Dorogaya, she was already gone," he told her softly, apologetically. "If she wasn't, they would have been moving. They would have done something."

She knew he was right. Sirius and Regulus would never have sat still while there was a chance of saving her.

"I wanted to save her," she whispered, letting the tears fall freely. "Cassie- Cassie was supposed to live, Antonin. I- I needed her to live. She deserved to live, to be happy. Fuck!"

Antonin moved onto the bed and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as she broke apart. He held her like that for longer than either of them could tell. No one bothered them as they stayed there while she cried, or spoke softly about the girl she'd tried to save. Eventually, after she'd shed all the tears she thought she had, they laid down entirely and fell asleep together.

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