A/N: Yes. A double update. Aren't you all ecstatic beyond words? I know I am. Please make me even more ecstatic and R&R.

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Chapter 2

'Where there is love there is life'-Mahatma Gandhi

Sirius told her the whole story. Aurora was completely enraptured and gasped during all the appropriate parts.

"So Buckbeak is with Remus and I'm here with you," Sirius finished.

Aurora was silent for a few minutes as she tried to soak up all this new information. It was a lot to absorb in a short amount of time.

"So, let me get this straight…Remus is innocent and it was Peter who screwed everyone over?"

"Yep."

"That evil little rat!" Aurora slammed her glass on the table and sent scotch splashing everywhere.

"I had him right there! I would have killed him, Rory. I'd have done it. I'm not a murderer but I swear I would have killed him if Harry hadn't stepped in," Sirius clenched his fists.

"I know," she said softly. "So, tell me more about Harry."

"He's such a great kid. Lily and James would have been proud. Seeing him made me regret not having kids of my own," he admitted dejectedly.

Aurora coughed and sprayed alcohol all over Sirius. He gave her an odd look and she jumped to her feet.

"Sorry, I'm not being much of a hostess. Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?" Aurora searched her bare cupboards. "We don't actually have any tea bags or coffee handy. Sorry. What about a drink of water? I know we have some of that," she opened the fridge.

"We? Does someone else live here with you?"

"Did I say we? It's only me here. Just me. No one else. Oh, look, left over spaghetti. If I recall correctly you used to love my spaghetti," Aurora pulled the lid off a plastic container and sniffed the contents. "Well, I don't know how long it's been there but chances are it won't kill you."

"I'm fine really. What's up with you? You're all flustered and you only get like that when something's wrong. What is it?"

"Nothing," she shoved the container back in the fridge and slammed the door.

"Nothing? Aurora…"

"Curiousity killed the cat and the same fate awaits you if you don't stop prying," she said tersely.

"Fine," Sirius threw his hands up in surrender, "have your little secret then. So…what have you been up to?"

"Nothing much," Aurora said airily as she sat back down.

"Nothing much?"

"Yep."

"For twelve years?"

"Yep," she drank the rest of her scotch in a gulp.

"Whatever, Rory. I can't make you tell me. Another topic of conversation perhaps? Hmm…this is a nice place," Sirius looked around the small and extremely cramped kitchen.

"It's a bloody hole and you know it."

"It's certainly…modest. So what's with the nametag? You haven't changed your name, have you?"

Aurora looked down and groaned, "I work at a Muggle pub down the road. My boss doesn't like Aurora so my name is now Amy."

"What's wrong with Aurora?" Sirius asked.

"Stupid loser reckons it sounds like a porn star name," she rolled her eyes as she unpinned the tag and threw it on the table.

"Well, the guy obviously hasn't watched a lot of porn lately," he flashed his endearingly cheeky grin.

Aurora arched an eyebrow. "And you have?"

"Sadly, no. The Dementors wouldn't grant me the pleasure. So this bloke wants you to look like a porn star but not sound like one?"

"I look like a porn star?" she gasped.

"Just a bit."

"Oh God, I'm going to get changed right now!" she snatched up her tag.

"Rory, I was only kidding. You look great, beautiful even, please don't change."

Aurora stopped and stared at him. She recognised the look on his face immediately. "Nice try, Black, but I'm getting out of these clothes. I'll be back in a minute."

"Worth a try," he shrugged.

"You're still the same," she sighed and walked away whilst trying in vain to pull her skirt down to make it seem longer.

While she was gone, Sirius took the opportunity to look around. It was obvious that someone else lived in the flat. There were two breakfast bowls in the sink and Sirius even found two toothbrushes in the bathroom.

He was looking out the kitchen window when Aurora returned.

"Did you pay extra for the scenic view?" he laughed as he looked at the block of flats next door. In the flat directly parallel he could see an over weight man lounging in an armchair wearing only his underwear and scratching himself crudely.

"Would you keep away from the bloody windows?" Aurora whipped the curtain across. "The last thing I need is for my neighbours to discover I'm harbouring a wanted criminal."

"What about your flat-mate?" Sirius took his seat again.

Aurora was wearing a pair of blue track pants and a red tank top. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and sat back across from him. "I told you before, I live alone."

"I'm not stupid. Not entirely, anyway. Look, I can see two bowls in the sink."

"I was feeling particularly hungry this morning."

"Why not use the same bowl then?" Sirius smirked, knowing he'd caught her out.

Aurora flushed, "because…well…oh, shut up."

"And there are two toothbrushes in the bathroom."

"I have really bad breath," she said lamely.

"Look, it's perfectly all right. I didn't expect someone like you to wait for me. You've moved on and I know I can't do anything about it. I'd just like to know about what's been happening while I've been gone."

Aurora narrowed her eyes. "That is none of your business! My life has nothing to do with you anymore, you forfeited that privilege when you never returned!"

"I had no control over that! Even you know I'm innocent!"

"Don't you dare yell at me after all I went through because of you!" Aurora slammed her hands on the table and rose.

"I went through hell, too! Azkaban isn't exactly a holiday resort! You weren't the only one who suffered, you know!" he paused and lowered his voice. "This was obviously a huge mistake. I'm leaving. Thanks for the warm welcome," Sirius pushed his chair back swiftly and strode from the room.

Aurora's knees suddenly felt weak. He was leaving. Again. Her chest constricted and she struggled to draw breath. Not again. Not while she could stop him.

She ran from the kitchen, knocking over a chair in her haste. She caught Sirius in her bedroom where he was pulling on his cloak.

"Don't go," she whispered.

He ignored her and continued to do up the buttons. His fingers slipped and fumbled constantly because he was shaking so much.

"Sirius, don't go. Please."

"At least I can say good bye this time."

"No!" Aurora cried.

Sirius was shocked by the forcefulness in her voice. She even surprised herself. On the verge of tears she crossed the room to stand in front of him. He avoided her eyes and moved to fasten the last button.

"Don't," she grabbed his hands.

"Aurora, let me go."

"I can't. Not again. If you walk out of my life again…I…don't think I'll survive. I can't handle another broken heart. Especially when I'm still recovering from the first. I'm sorry for everything. Please don't leave," she brought his hand up and brushed her lips over his knuckles.

Sirius stared down at her. Aurora had always needed a little coaxing before she shared her feelings. Now she was pouring her heart out to him. Truthfully, he hadn't thought she had been affected so deeply and harshly by it all.

Aurora had always been the tough one who built walls around herself. She grew up with her father when her mother died shortly after giving birth. When she was twelve her father died of a stroke. During the summer holidays she stayed with her ailing grandfather until he died when she was fifteen. After that she alternated between Lily and Faith's houses during the break.

Aurora had suffered so much loss in her life that Sirius thought she was impenetrable. She'd had a difficult life but she never cried or complained and Sirius had always admired her resolve.

Now, she stood in front of him as a completely different woman. Her eyes were brimming with unshed tears and her lower lip quivered. She looked so small and fragile and the pain that was evident in her eyes made Sirius wince.

Aurora looked up at Sirius through wet lashes with the same blue eyes that had mesmerised him and captivated him for so many years. She still took his breath away. After nearly thirteen years she still caused his stomach to jolt and his heart to skip

She looked so frightened and vulnerable that it would be impossible to walk away now. Sirius simply couldn't do it to her. Not again anyway.

"All right," he said softly and began to undo his buttons again.

Aurora tried to thank him but all that came out was a whimper. As he took off his cloak she began to relax and a wave of relief hit her. Tears began to flow and her knees wobbled.

"Maybe you should sit down," Sirius suggested.

She nodded and moved to her bed. She sat cross-legged and tried to take deep, slow breaths. Sirius stood in front of her with his hands on his hips, waiting for her to calm down.

Aurora felt extremely foolish. She hated crying. It was a sign of weakness and it never achieved anything.

Stupid, stupid. Now Sirius is going to think you're some sort of unstable nutter, she rubbed her eyes furiously, as if trying to push the tears back in.

Sirius picked up on her obvious discomfort but he didn't say anything. He didn't even know what to say. He'd only seen her cry once or twice. He had tried to comfort her those times but she ended up punching him in the arm. Aurora's punches hurt and he wasn't quite back to his normal strength yet.

She managed to collect herself finally. She looked up at him and said in a low husky voice, "you want to know whom I live with, don't you?"

"If you don't mind of course."

"The first thing you have to know is that I never meant to hurt you. I-I just thought it was for the best…"

Sirius was beginning to get worried. "Just tell me."

Before Aurora could open her mouth there was a noise at the front door. A noise like someone unlocking it.

"Oh no," Aurora gasped.

Sirius stared at her as if she'd gone mad. Perhaps she had. She cursed bad timing. She cursed crying. She cursed her crappy, screwed up life. She even cursed Sirius.

And of course, she cursed the whole damn world.

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A/N: Sorry about the teeny little cliffhanger. I suck at suspense. I don't know how much better that chapter was. At least it was a slight improvement.

Should I even bother continuing with this? Please review and give me your opinion.