Late that evening as the fire was dying, Arabella was lying in Sirius' arms with her head against his shoulder.

"Mmm. Nice." she whispered. "How'd you live?"

"It wasn't the killing curse. Actually, it wasn't a curse at all, but a gun. It got me through the lung, which is why you thought you saw me die. But one of the kid-Healers was right nearby, and healed me, and I spent the rest of the battle as Padfoot protecting Katy with Sean." Sirius' eyes were mostly shut as he leaned back, reveling in the feel of Arabella in his arms, where he didn't have to hide anymore.

"I'm glad. Never leave me again, Siri." she smiled gently, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder. "I should be getting to bed; it's late."

Sirius pulled her back down. "Don't go, 'Bella," he whispered in her ear, breath tickling her neck.

"Accio blanket," she muttered, pulling said blanket over them and falling asleep on Sirius.

They would worry about the future when it came. Until then, she was content to just lie next to him, held secure in his arms.

AN- That explain it? I might do the wedding sooner than I had planned, but it's still nebulous. Okay, pounding headache, annoying parent, going now.