A/N- This chapter has been reloaded, some parts edited and changed. My computer's being annoying however and is messing up the formatting, so I can't guarantee anything.
"Jacy!" He mimicked her and watched as she blushed.
She blinked and composed herself. "What the bloody hell are you doing in MY bed?"
"Certainly not what I want to do. However, I have some news." Sirius stood and Jacy wrapped her towel more firmly around herself.
"What kind of news?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Depends how you look at it." He motioned to the bed. "Sit down."
"I think I'll stand."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Please?"
"Fine."
"Thank you. Now, I guess the only thing I can do is. just watch okay?"
Jacy crossed her arms under her breasts. "You gonna do a striptease?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
Sirius growled. Jacy jumped. In the space of a few seconds, mist swirled around him, and a loud popping noise sounded. The mist cleared and sitting in a pile of clothes, more specifically Sirius' sat Snuffles.
Jacy gasped. She closed her eyes and started to count to 10 but when she got to 7, she heard the popping sound again and her eyes flew open.
He stood before her, nude. She heard a gasp and then a smacking noise to her left.
She turned to face it. There stood Legolas Greenleaf stood before her with a hand firmlyover Rûdhedhelwen's eyes. Rûdhedhelwen, lecherous, corruptive elf that she was, was trying to struggle free. "Lady Quinn, I fear we have come at a bad time. We shall leave and return at a time when you are less... occupied." Legolas turned and Rûdhedhelwen broke free.
"Uh uhn!" She protested. "We're staying! This is payback for the..." Legolas covered her mouth again.
Sirius bent over and grabbed his pants, holding them in front of himself. "Care to introduce me Jacy?"
"Actually, I'd prefer to. I don't know. But I'm very annoyed with both you and my uncle. Get your tight...err... sexy... get your ass in the bathroom and get it dressed! NOW!" Jacy sank down onto the side of her bed and put her head in her hands.
"That was NOT what it looked like!" She spoke vehemently.
"Hmm. let's see, Jacy-towel. Hunky dude- Nude. Of course it wasn't!" Rûdhedhelwen giggles and Leggy just kind of stood there looking pretty damn pretty.
"Rûdhedhelwen. What'd you do to Legolas?" Jacy grimaced. She shouldn't have asked that...she did NOT want to know. Oh well. Too late now.
"I took away his cactus. I got sick of a prickly prick."
Eww. okay. she was NOT going to ask anything like that ever again.
Sirius strode back into the room, shirtless and looking to darn sexy for her own good. Err. his. "Miss, since Jacy is so rude as not to introduce us, I'll do the honors. I'm Sirius Black. And you are?" He tool Rûdhedhelwen's hand and kissed it.
Jacy's eyes turned emerald and she blinked. She wanted to claw the little tart's eyes out!
"Sirius? Uh. I'm Rûdhedhelwen, and this is my fiancé, Legolas." Rûdhedhelwen backpedaled at the name and Jacy's eyes returned to normal. Only Rûdhedhelwen, Rachele, and Moonbay knew about her rather brief relationship with Sirius. Since only Moonbay was a witch, and not to mention a much younger American, they wouldn't have known otherwise.
Sirius shot Jacy a look. She looked away. "Well guys." She clapped her hands together. "I'll show the THREE of you to your quarters and then I'll be back."
Jacy got Rûdhedhelwen and Legolas into the hall and Sirius laid a hand on her shoulder. "We need to talk." With that, he transformed. Snuffles trotted behind the three people as they made their way to the guest wing of Hogwarts. (Leaving his pants on the floor.)
*****
Harry Potter knocked on Remus Lupin's door, needing to talk with someone. Sure, he'd "loaned" Snuffles to Prof. Quinn. But that was Sirius' choice. He didn't get much say in it.
The door opened and Remus smiled when he saw Harry. "Hey there Harry. Can I help you with something?"
"Uh. I guess. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions about Prof. Quinn." Harry fidgeted and looked up and down the empty corridor.
Remus' smile diminished slightly. "Oh? Well, I suppose you'd better come in then." He stepped back and waved Harry into the room. Studying the rather tense boy. Err.. Not boy. He kept forgetting the boy would be 16 in July.
Remus shut the door and walked to his wet bar. "Have a seat Harry. This might take a bit. You look rather serious."
Harry jumped. "I look like Sirius?"
Moony chuckled. "No. You look serious in temperament. May I offer you a soda?"
"Do you have any butterbeer?"
"Heaven forbid you turn 21 any time soon." Remus rolled his eyes and pulled 2 bottles from under the bar.
"About Prof. Quinn." Harry leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees.
For a second, in Remus' eyes, he saw James. He blinked and there was Harry. "To quote a common muggle phrase, shoot." He handed Harry a butterbeer and opened his own.
"On the train. On the way here. She said she knew my parents. That she went to school here."
"She did. From third year to sixth." Remus sat in the chair opposite Harry.
"But she's not in any of the yearbooks. I've been through them. I was looking at my parents."
Remus sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Ah. she never did say why. She always used to say she was camera shy."
"She told me she was hiding from her father."
"In all likelihood, that's it. Jacy doesn't lie. Or if she does, it's for a mighty good reason."
Harry leaned back. "Well, why doesn't Sirius like her? Or better yet, why did he agree to help her anyway?"
Remus huffed. "Why do you ask the hard questions Harry? No. I think Sirius is a bit… Resentful. He and Jacy. I don't know exactly how far it went, but they were involved in her last year here. Jacy left on night, without even saying goodbye to any of us." He leaned back into his chair. "The next day, Admond Malfoy showed up. He's or was Draco's grandfather. He demanded Jacy. Dumbledore took him into his office. 5 minutes later, Malfoy came out looking pissed." He looked straight in the eye. "She's good people Harry. Dumbledore wouldn't have her here otherwise."
"You know I've been... goofing off in her class don't you?" Harry looked ashamed of himself.
"Yes. But she didn't say anything. Sirius did."
"How would Sirius know? He's not in her classes. I mean, I haven't seen "Snuffles" since Sirius agreed to this."
"Sirius tends to stay under her desk during classes."
"Oh."
***************
Jacy got back to her room, with Snuffles trailing close behind her. She began picking up his clothes, noticing the Scooby Doo boxers.
She heard a now familiar popping noise and turned. Holding up the boxers, Jacy quirked a brow. "I thought Scooby was a muggle show."
Sirius' neck turned red and he grabbed the boxers. "He is."
Standing here, ogling his body was making her forget how angry she was. "We need to talk."
"Yeah."
Jacy sat down in one of her chairs, Indian style. Sirius marveled at the maneuver.
"Sirius, I know you don't like me. Why would you agree to protect me? I mean I hurt you when I left. I hurt everybody."
Sirius pulled on the boxers and Jacy's eyes bugged when he bent over to retrieve his pants. Oh. he straightened and began putting them on.
Jacy mentally berated herself and checked to see if she was drooling.
"You did. But now I'm starting to think you might have a good reason for it." He turned to face her. "Will you explain?"
Jacy gulped." I don't want you to hate me."
"What could you possibly have done that would make me hate you?"
My father murdered two of your best friends, she thought bitterly.
Sirius saw her fiddling with something on a chain and slip it onto her thumb.
Walking over, he covered her hands with his and squatted down in front of her. "Jacy?"
"Hmm?" She glanced up, kind of startled.
'Where'd you go?"
"I didn't "go" anywhere." She wiggled her fingers and he released her hands. Immediately she put them behind her back and gave him an innocent look.
Using a scolding tone with a playful light in his eyes, Sirius reached for her hands. "What're you hiding?"
Jacy looked him straight in the eye. "Nothing."
"Bull." With that he began tickling her and wouldn't stop despite her gasped protests.
"Si…stop…Sir…ius! Da...You!" Her hands came out from behind her back and Sirius grabbed them.
"Gotcha!" Jacy closed her eyes as he examined the ring on her finger.
"You." It was a copy of Aragorn's ring, from The Lord of The Rings.
Where had she gone just a minute ago? Her 6th year. Christmas. Sirius had given her the ring at the same time he had given her her first kiss. The ring was a sign of his family, and Jacy cherished it. It was the only real thing she had to remember him by. She wore it on a simple silver chain over her heart.
Sirius rocked back on his heals in front of her. "You. you kept it?"
Jacy didn't know what to do so, she took off her sentimental I want snuggles with Sirius pants and put on attitude pants. "Well, aren't you smart! Did you come up with that all by yourself or did Remus help you?"
He blinked and his eyes darkened in anger. "You always did that!" He stood.
"Did what?" She stood up and brushed by him.
"That bitch thing. I have to ask. How many guys were there that year besides me? How many guys did you lead along on a leash huh?" He sneered. "God, I was an idiot!"
Jacy felt the pain rise and pushed it down. "Was? Try AM. You should say, 'God I AM such an idiot!'"
"What is it with you?" Sirius pushed his hands threw his long hair.
"I don't know! But I think I'm finally figuring out that I don't know you. I don't think I ever have." With that, Jacy turned and walked into her bathroom.
Sirius turned and waited for the door to slam, but all he heard was a devastatingly soft click.
He turned to pick up his shirt, and felt his foot bruise painfully as he stepped on something. Lifting his foot, he saw the ring, swirled in a delicate chain on the floor.
**********
Jacy stood, leaning over the sink, sobs building inside that she refused to let out. Lifting her head, she met her own eyes in the mirror. Staring hard, she smiled…And smashed her fist into it, welcoming the pain as it shattered. She closed her eyes, turning her face away as the shards of mirror flew.
Jacy felt arms close around her and a hand clamped over her mouth and nose. She almost thought it was Sirius until she felt her arm wrenched behind her back.
Struggling, she brought her head forward and backward in one quick motion. She felt a surge of satisfaction when she heard and felt the crunch of nasal cartilage as the guy's nose broke. She jumped and put her feet to the sink and pushed, sending herself and her attacker sprawling backwards.
Jacy heard Sirius screaming and pounding on the door. Tears threatened and she bit the attacker. He hollered and the hand over her face was removed. She screamed, but she never saw the second assailant come through the window though she certainly felt it when his fist crashed into the side of her face, rendering her unconscious.
*************
Sirius yelled Jacy's name and through himself against the door again, but some sort of magic was reinforcing it.
The door to the bedroom flew open and Dumbledore strode in, followed by Snape, Mcgonagal, and Remus.
His voice was practically gone, and it cracked when he spoke. "I can't get her. I." He looked at his hands, which were bloodied from his pounding.
Dumbledore spoke two words and the door flew open. Inside looked like a disaster area. Blood covered the sink and what was left of the mirror. Sirius saw the room and Remus thought he would lose it.
Instead, he stood taller, and his hands bunched into fists at his sides. His eyes flashed.
Remus shivered, the last time he'd seen that look, Sirius had been going after Wormtail, knowing his betrayal.
**********
Jacy awoke in her room at her father's house. Her entire body ached, mostly her face and shoulder. Grimacing, she stood. Straightening her clothes, she pulled her emotions together, and straightened her shoulders. "Party time."
She threw the doors open and strode confidently into the living room at the Riddle House. She switched into her cranky bitch pants along the way, and honestly, she felt sorry for any poor bastard that got in her way.
"I see you've awakened." Voldemort sat in the chair right in front of her, facing her. Wormtail stood behind her with two black eyes and a broken nose.
"Wormy, what'd you do? Piss off the wrong bitch?" Her gaze promised revenge and he blanched.
"He was merely demonstrating his loyalty to me." The dark lord sat still, unmoving. "Unlike my own offspring."
With vampire-like speed, he was at her side. "You shall pay for being the traitor that you are." Obviously, the dark lord had never heard of pick pocketing. In the time it took to blink, she had his wand tucked into the sleeve of her shirt.
Voldemort smiled at her, showing off some rather snake like teeth. Jacy might actually be afraid if she didn't know the old fart wore dentures. He smacked her across the face. She didn't even blink. She just smiled and quirked a brow at him. Then she slugged him.
He hissed and spun away, facing towards the fire. "Oh really? Well, fine. I'll just settle for another traitor!"
Two guards lead in a crying Severus Snape. Jacy smiled. "Oh really? Then why'd Snape tell me he was planning a surprise birthday party for you?" She lied glibly. If that pansy-assed crybaby was Sev, then she was Justin Timberlake's' love slave.
The Dark Lord spun away form torturing the poor person. "What?"
"Whoops. Wasn't supposed to say that!" She walked over and smiled up at her father.
"Wormtail. Kill her!" The Dark Lord turned and began to smack at the sobbing look-alike.
Wormtail rubbed his nose. "Gladly." He raised his wand and yelled, "Avada Kedavra!" Jacy sidestepped the curse and watched it his one of the guards.
The sound of running footsteps echoed through the room and Death Eaters filled the room. Jacy raised an eyebrow. "Nice try Wormy, but you missed!"
Womtail raised his wand at the same time the guard behind her did. "Avada Kedavra!" They shouted.
Jacy dropped to the floor and rolled over to the fake Snape as both Wormtail and the guard collapsed to the floor, dead.
"Dude, hold onto me, okay?" She grabbed the fake Snape around the waist and he grabbed her as tightly as he could.
The Death Eaters were about to pounce when they disappeared.
*******
They appeared in the outskirts of the Hogwarts' portion of The Forbidden Forest.
Jacy helped the man stand and saw that he no longer looked like Snape. It was a muggle man, and he was going into shock. "Whoa there cowboy. It's okay. Let's get moving. They'll be here any second... If we can move just as far as that really big tree over there, We might be getting some help from some friends okay?" The guy was gone...like a zombie. She doubted he even heard her. But he started shuffling in the general direction of the tree.
Jacy guessed her father was apparating around the perimeter of Hogwarts, Trying to locate her. Well, she'd chosen this place for a reason. It was the last place he expected her to go.
They were a few steps away from the boundary of the Hogwarts' grounds when she heard twigs and leaves being crunch under many feet. She pushed the muggle ahead of her, running the last few steps.
**********
Sirius stared intently at The Marauders' Map, searching for the tiny name of Jacy Quinn. He blinked when he saw something move in the portion that was The Forbidden Forest. Leaning forward, he saw Jacy's name and jumped up from his seat, grabbing the map. "Dumbledore! She's on the grounds!"
The Headmaster grabbed the map and yelled for Snape, Remus, and Mcgonagal when he saw it was true. They poured into the room, eager for the news. He had explained her past, and though they had been shocked, they understood.
Together, they ran through the castle, out the doors, and to the broom shed. They each grabbed a broom and flew into the forest.
***************
Jacy watched as Death Eaters surrounded them. Some parted, and she watched her father step forward.
"Surely you didn't expect to escape that easily." He sneered.
Jacy heard air whoosh around her. Something was flying towards them. "No. I didn't." Mcgonagal, Remus, Dumbledore, Snape, and Sirius set down next to her and Jacy's eyes flashed. "Thank you."
Voldemort looked shocked until he realized they'd crossed onto Hogwarts' grounds. Then he let out a rather wimpy war cry and reached for his wand. Death Eaters swarmed around them, and Jacy found herself grabbed before she could think. Sirius saw and his jaw tightened.Raising his wand, he grabbed one and smashed his face into his knee. He shouted the leg locker curse and pulled Jacy to his side. Remembering her father's wand, she pulled it from her sleeve and held it up triumphantly.
Voldemort saw it and began yelling obscenities at her. Looking around, he saw his Death Eaters fleeing into the woods.
The Hogwarts' staff gathered around behind Jacy and the muggle, showing her support. "Father." She spoke softly, but it got his attention. "Happy early birthday." She raised the wand and spoke strongly. "Erasara Memoraba."
Shock appeared across the Dark Lord's face as the curse hit him. A split second later, he fell to the ground as he forgot how to stand.
************************
Sirius watched anxiously as Madame Pomfrey examined the huge bruise on Jacy's face. They were in Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore was in the next room talking with Fudge about the happenings of that night.
Finally happy, the nurse nodded her head. "You'll be fine dear."
"I could have told you that." Jacy huffed and crossed her arms under her breasts.
"Well, I'm following the Headmaster's orders." She looked at her pointedly over her glasses, "Your uncle." She left the room, leaving Sirius and herself very alone.
Yawning, she looked at the clock on her uncle's desk. It was 12:37. She'd been explaining for hours what had happened and now it was well past midnight.
"Sorry." She whispered, speaking for the first time to Sirius since they'd gotten back.
"Don't be. You've been through a lot."
"I'm not sorry for yawning. I'm sorry I'm related to the man who destroyed your life." She pulled her knees up and hugged them to her chest, burying her face in them.
Understanding filled his voice. "That's what you meant. When you said you didn't want me to hate you." He stood and squatted in front of her, a position similar to the one he'd taken before their argument.
"Maybe." She mumbled.
He rolled his eyes. "Dumbledore told us everything." He smoothed her hair back from her forehead. "Jacy, do you trust me?"
She didn't even think. "Yes."
He pulled her into his arms and stood, holding her to him. "Then listen. I'm sorry for what I said in anger earlier. I didn't mean any of it. I love you. You aren't your father. You didn't do any of it."
Jacy looked into his eyes and saw the meaning there. "I have his blood running through my veins."
"I don't care! JACY! Listen." She laid a finger over his lips.
"But," She continued, "I can do something he wasn't taught. I can love, and I meant what I said 15 years ago."
He moved her hand and his eyes flashed with need. "Say it."
"I love you."
Sirius covered her mouth with his, his lips molding, shaping, coaxing, seducing hers with an expertise that flattened any defenses she might have had as efficiently as an atom bomb.
Incoherently Jacy whispered his name. Her lips, her mouth, her senses, unused to so much sensual stimulation, were defying reason and caution and everything else that Jacy's bemused brain was trying to tell her. Her frozen shock melted beneath the heat of the pleasure Sirius' hungry passionate expertise was showing her and her lips softened and trembled into an un-guarded, uninhibited response.
Without being aware of what she was doing Jacy strained to get closer to Sirius, standing on tiptoe so that she could cling ardently to the delicious pleasure of his kiss.
Her hands on his arms registered the sheer size and inflexibility of the muscles beneath them whilst her heart pounded in awed inexperienced shock at the intensity of what she was feeling. She could smell Sirius. His heat. his passion. his maleness... and shockingly something in her, something she hadn't known existed, was responding to it just as her lips were responding to him, urging him to draw her close, to let her feel the rest of his strength.
Dizzily Jacy opened the eyes she had closed at the first touch of his mouth to hers, shivering as she saw the sparks of raw sensuality darting like lightning from his eyes as she stared down at her it was like hanging way above the earth she could feel the danger and yet at the same time know somehow she would be safe.
"You love like an innocent. a virgin." Sirius told her huskily, and as he did so the sparks glittering in his eyes intensified, as though he found that thought very satisfying.
Helplessly Jacy stared back at him. Her heart was thudding frantically fast and her body was filled with an unfamiliar ache that was a physical need to have him touch her, to have his hand run slowly over her skin and reach right through it to that place where her unfamiliar ache began, so that he could surround it and soothe it. Somehow just thinking about him doing such a thing increased the ache to a pounding throb, a wild, primitive beat that made her moan and sway even closer to him.
"You like that. You want me." As he spoke to her she could hear and feel the urgency in his voice, could feel his arousal.
Eagerly she pressed against him, only to freeze as she heard her uncle re-enter the room.
"Oh…my! That's Sirius Black! Gu." Dumbledore's hand cut off his cry for help.
The two broke apart looking like guilty teenagers, but their obvious arousal seemed to amuse Dumbledore. "I assumed since this was my office, I could enter without knocking." Fudge pushed his hand off his mouth.
"Albus, aren't you shocked to see your niece behaving so with Sirius Black, a known fugitive?"
"No. Actually, I'm relieved. I thought I'd have to resort to more... Desperate measures." Dumbledore walked calmly over to his desk and sat in his comfy muggle rolly chair.
"Sirius Black, as the minister of magic I hereby place you." He stopped as Dumbledore held up a hand.
"Sirius is innocent." Jacy stepped in front of Sirius and poked Fudge in the chest. "You'd realize that if you had even half a brain cell!"
"Do you know who I am young lady?!" Fudge bristled. "I'm the…"
"I don't care if you're Godric bloody Gryffindor! Really! Now I've taken the liberty of having Severus brew some of the Veritaserum." Sirius looked shocked.
Fudge pointed. "Look! He's afraid to take it! He knows it'll prove him guilty!"
"I'm shocked by Jacy's defense," Sirius snagged her around the waist and buzzed her lips with his.
She flushed and looked away as Severus entered.
Snape sat the person on the desk and turned to Sirius. "Black you know the effects of the Versaitium potion. However, there's some nausea and dizziness after it wears off. Which should be about an hour after you take it."
He turned to leave. "Snape."
The sound of Sirius' voice stopped him. "What?"
"You're welcome to stay. Also, I thank you."
Severus did a cocky little bow. "I think I shall. And you're welcome."
Sirius gave Jacy another quick kiss and grabbed the potion. Jacy watched as his throat work. He lowered the goblet and made a face.
Fudge immediately began firing questions. "Who are you?"
"Sirius Black."
"Did you give up Lily and James Potter to Voldemort?"
"No."
"How did you escape Azkaban?"
"I'm an animagi."
Fudge's eyes widened. "Into what do you transform?"
"A large black dog."
"Um. Who am I?"
"A self-absorbed, pompous, incompetent waste of space and time. You're an annoying, useless pain in the ass. A Hemorrhoid. You are Cornelius Fudge."
Fudge blinked and whimpered.
Jacy stepped up. "Sir," she gagged. "Are you done?"
Fudge gave up. It was obvious Sirius was innocent. "I hereby declare Sirius Black innocent of all and any charges."
Jacy was pulled into Sirius' arms. "I love you."
"I love you too." Dumbledore laughed as Severus tried to hide the smile that was threatening to actually show itself.
Jacy and Sirius just kissed... and kissed... and kissed...
**************
3 Weeks later, (Christmas Eve)
Jacy was correcting papers in her office when a memory of the night before interrupted her work. She'd been happier than she'd ever been before. Sirius scarcely left her side, and they were to be married on New Years. Her mind wandered to the night before.
She'd just left her friends, having spent the majority of the evening going over wedding details. "Hey Sirius." He was sitting on the couch, reading.
He looked up at her and smiled. "Hey yourself." He pulled her down next to him. "Get anything done?"
Jacy sighed and leaned into him. "Mm… not really I guess. We couldn't pick a dress they all agreed on."
Sirius smiled. "You'll figure it out."
She gave him a look. "The wedding is a week away."
He kissed her gently. "I know."
A knock sounded on the door and Jacy sighed. "I'll get it."
Remus carried a smoking goblet, as he glanced at Sirius. "Good evening."
"Hey Remus, you want to come in?" She moved so he could as Sirius stood.
Remus shook his head, "No, thank you though. I need to be heading to my rooms shortly." He lifted the goblet slightly as if they would understand what he meant.
"Would you like some company, my friend?" Sirius slid an arm around his confused fiancé's waist.
"Company for what?" She peered at them both curiously.
Remus gave her a look. "For the change."
Sirius gave her an odd look. "Surely you remember?"
Jacy shook her head slowly. "Not ringing any bells."
"I'm a werewolf Jacy." Remus looked at her as if he expected her to run screaming away from him.
"Oh." Both men looked at her oddly. "What?" She rubbed her face as if she thought something was on it.
Remus wasn't going to push his luck. "Nothing…. Goodnight." He turned and left quietly.
Jacy looked up at Sirius. "Well… that was abrupt. Is he okay?"
Sirius smiled, brushing his lips over hers. "Yes. I think he's actually a bit better than he's been for a while now."
*************
She was brought out of her Memory by a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Harry stepped into the room looking nervous.
"Can I help you Harry?"
"I uh. I wanted to apologize." He squared his shoulders. "I acted like a 12 year old." She smiled. "No problem. I understand where you were coming from."
"Oh. And I wanted to thank you."
"For what?"
"For having the strength to do what you did to Voldemort."
"Oh." She blushed. "Then I should thank you as well. For what you did to Voldemort." She glanced at her watch. "Now Harry, I have a favor to ask of you."
He looked startled. "What could I do for you?"
"I have a promise to keep. I told a little girl I'd get her Momma a pretty dress... And I promised her father magic."
******************
On Christmas morning, Sera Jane Crissinger woke up early, remembering the pretty elf lady from the mall: her father woke up ready to face a broken hearted little girl.
He slipped into his worn robe and kissed his wife awake. Together, they made their way to the living room and stopped, stunned.
Sera Jane sat in the middle of the floor, staring at a giant Christmas tree that was made out of $100 bills. Sera was holding a beautiful doll. And to her right was a dress mannequin; wearing the most beautiful dress he'd ever seen. There was a card around its neck saying, "For Sera Jane's Mommy."
And, when Joe flipped the card over, he saw one word.
"Believe."
And from that day on, he did.
~The End~
But…. PLEASE READ THE SEQUEL!
This story is dedicated to one of the strongest women I have ever known. She suffered through breast cancer. after a year. and no sign of the disease; she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She didn't smoke. It metastasized from her breast. She was strong, and she fought to the end. I know I get a part of my strength from her. and I know she'll always be with me. This story is dedicated to Valnetta Jane Crissinger. My Inspiration..
"Jacy!" He mimicked her and watched as she blushed.
She blinked and composed herself. "What the bloody hell are you doing in MY bed?"
"Certainly not what I want to do. However, I have some news." Sirius stood and Jacy wrapped her towel more firmly around herself.
"What kind of news?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Depends how you look at it." He motioned to the bed. "Sit down."
"I think I'll stand."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Please?"
"Fine."
"Thank you. Now, I guess the only thing I can do is. just watch okay?"
Jacy crossed her arms under her breasts. "You gonna do a striptease?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
Sirius growled. Jacy jumped. In the space of a few seconds, mist swirled around him, and a loud popping noise sounded. The mist cleared and sitting in a pile of clothes, more specifically Sirius' sat Snuffles.
Jacy gasped. She closed her eyes and started to count to 10 but when she got to 7, she heard the popping sound again and her eyes flew open.
He stood before her, nude. She heard a gasp and then a smacking noise to her left.
She turned to face it. There stood Legolas Greenleaf stood before her with a hand firmlyover Rûdhedhelwen's eyes. Rûdhedhelwen, lecherous, corruptive elf that she was, was trying to struggle free. "Lady Quinn, I fear we have come at a bad time. We shall leave and return at a time when you are less... occupied." Legolas turned and Rûdhedhelwen broke free.
"Uh uhn!" She protested. "We're staying! This is payback for the..." Legolas covered her mouth again.
Sirius bent over and grabbed his pants, holding them in front of himself. "Care to introduce me Jacy?"
"Actually, I'd prefer to. I don't know. But I'm very annoyed with both you and my uncle. Get your tight...err... sexy... get your ass in the bathroom and get it dressed! NOW!" Jacy sank down onto the side of her bed and put her head in her hands.
"That was NOT what it looked like!" She spoke vehemently.
"Hmm. let's see, Jacy-towel. Hunky dude- Nude. Of course it wasn't!" Rûdhedhelwen giggles and Leggy just kind of stood there looking pretty damn pretty.
"Rûdhedhelwen. What'd you do to Legolas?" Jacy grimaced. She shouldn't have asked that...she did NOT want to know. Oh well. Too late now.
"I took away his cactus. I got sick of a prickly prick."
Eww. okay. she was NOT going to ask anything like that ever again.
Sirius strode back into the room, shirtless and looking to darn sexy for her own good. Err. his. "Miss, since Jacy is so rude as not to introduce us, I'll do the honors. I'm Sirius Black. And you are?" He tool Rûdhedhelwen's hand and kissed it.
Jacy's eyes turned emerald and she blinked. She wanted to claw the little tart's eyes out!
"Sirius? Uh. I'm Rûdhedhelwen, and this is my fiancé, Legolas." Rûdhedhelwen backpedaled at the name and Jacy's eyes returned to normal. Only Rûdhedhelwen, Rachele, and Moonbay knew about her rather brief relationship with Sirius. Since only Moonbay was a witch, and not to mention a much younger American, they wouldn't have known otherwise.
Sirius shot Jacy a look. She looked away. "Well guys." She clapped her hands together. "I'll show the THREE of you to your quarters and then I'll be back."
Jacy got Rûdhedhelwen and Legolas into the hall and Sirius laid a hand on her shoulder. "We need to talk." With that, he transformed. Snuffles trotted behind the three people as they made their way to the guest wing of Hogwarts. (Leaving his pants on the floor.)
*****
Harry Potter knocked on Remus Lupin's door, needing to talk with someone. Sure, he'd "loaned" Snuffles to Prof. Quinn. But that was Sirius' choice. He didn't get much say in it.
The door opened and Remus smiled when he saw Harry. "Hey there Harry. Can I help you with something?"
"Uh. I guess. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions about Prof. Quinn." Harry fidgeted and looked up and down the empty corridor.
Remus' smile diminished slightly. "Oh? Well, I suppose you'd better come in then." He stepped back and waved Harry into the room. Studying the rather tense boy. Err.. Not boy. He kept forgetting the boy would be 16 in July.
Remus shut the door and walked to his wet bar. "Have a seat Harry. This might take a bit. You look rather serious."
Harry jumped. "I look like Sirius?"
Moony chuckled. "No. You look serious in temperament. May I offer you a soda?"
"Do you have any butterbeer?"
"Heaven forbid you turn 21 any time soon." Remus rolled his eyes and pulled 2 bottles from under the bar.
"About Prof. Quinn." Harry leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees.
For a second, in Remus' eyes, he saw James. He blinked and there was Harry. "To quote a common muggle phrase, shoot." He handed Harry a butterbeer and opened his own.
"On the train. On the way here. She said she knew my parents. That she went to school here."
"She did. From third year to sixth." Remus sat in the chair opposite Harry.
"But she's not in any of the yearbooks. I've been through them. I was looking at my parents."
Remus sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Ah. she never did say why. She always used to say she was camera shy."
"She told me she was hiding from her father."
"In all likelihood, that's it. Jacy doesn't lie. Or if she does, it's for a mighty good reason."
Harry leaned back. "Well, why doesn't Sirius like her? Or better yet, why did he agree to help her anyway?"
Remus huffed. "Why do you ask the hard questions Harry? No. I think Sirius is a bit… Resentful. He and Jacy. I don't know exactly how far it went, but they were involved in her last year here. Jacy left on night, without even saying goodbye to any of us." He leaned back into his chair. "The next day, Admond Malfoy showed up. He's or was Draco's grandfather. He demanded Jacy. Dumbledore took him into his office. 5 minutes later, Malfoy came out looking pissed." He looked straight in the eye. "She's good people Harry. Dumbledore wouldn't have her here otherwise."
"You know I've been... goofing off in her class don't you?" Harry looked ashamed of himself.
"Yes. But she didn't say anything. Sirius did."
"How would Sirius know? He's not in her classes. I mean, I haven't seen "Snuffles" since Sirius agreed to this."
"Sirius tends to stay under her desk during classes."
"Oh."
***************
Jacy got back to her room, with Snuffles trailing close behind her. She began picking up his clothes, noticing the Scooby Doo boxers.
She heard a now familiar popping noise and turned. Holding up the boxers, Jacy quirked a brow. "I thought Scooby was a muggle show."
Sirius' neck turned red and he grabbed the boxers. "He is."
Standing here, ogling his body was making her forget how angry she was. "We need to talk."
"Yeah."
Jacy sat down in one of her chairs, Indian style. Sirius marveled at the maneuver.
"Sirius, I know you don't like me. Why would you agree to protect me? I mean I hurt you when I left. I hurt everybody."
Sirius pulled on the boxers and Jacy's eyes bugged when he bent over to retrieve his pants. Oh. he straightened and began putting them on.
Jacy mentally berated herself and checked to see if she was drooling.
"You did. But now I'm starting to think you might have a good reason for it." He turned to face her. "Will you explain?"
Jacy gulped." I don't want you to hate me."
"What could you possibly have done that would make me hate you?"
My father murdered two of your best friends, she thought bitterly.
Sirius saw her fiddling with something on a chain and slip it onto her thumb.
Walking over, he covered her hands with his and squatted down in front of her. "Jacy?"
"Hmm?" She glanced up, kind of startled.
'Where'd you go?"
"I didn't "go" anywhere." She wiggled her fingers and he released her hands. Immediately she put them behind her back and gave him an innocent look.
Using a scolding tone with a playful light in his eyes, Sirius reached for her hands. "What're you hiding?"
Jacy looked him straight in the eye. "Nothing."
"Bull." With that he began tickling her and wouldn't stop despite her gasped protests.
"Si…stop…Sir…ius! Da...You!" Her hands came out from behind her back and Sirius grabbed them.
"Gotcha!" Jacy closed her eyes as he examined the ring on her finger.
"You." It was a copy of Aragorn's ring, from The Lord of The Rings.
Where had she gone just a minute ago? Her 6th year. Christmas. Sirius had given her the ring at the same time he had given her her first kiss. The ring was a sign of his family, and Jacy cherished it. It was the only real thing she had to remember him by. She wore it on a simple silver chain over her heart.
Sirius rocked back on his heals in front of her. "You. you kept it?"
Jacy didn't know what to do so, she took off her sentimental I want snuggles with Sirius pants and put on attitude pants. "Well, aren't you smart! Did you come up with that all by yourself or did Remus help you?"
He blinked and his eyes darkened in anger. "You always did that!" He stood.
"Did what?" She stood up and brushed by him.
"That bitch thing. I have to ask. How many guys were there that year besides me? How many guys did you lead along on a leash huh?" He sneered. "God, I was an idiot!"
Jacy felt the pain rise and pushed it down. "Was? Try AM. You should say, 'God I AM such an idiot!'"
"What is it with you?" Sirius pushed his hands threw his long hair.
"I don't know! But I think I'm finally figuring out that I don't know you. I don't think I ever have." With that, Jacy turned and walked into her bathroom.
Sirius turned and waited for the door to slam, but all he heard was a devastatingly soft click.
He turned to pick up his shirt, and felt his foot bruise painfully as he stepped on something. Lifting his foot, he saw the ring, swirled in a delicate chain on the floor.
**********
Jacy stood, leaning over the sink, sobs building inside that she refused to let out. Lifting her head, she met her own eyes in the mirror. Staring hard, she smiled…And smashed her fist into it, welcoming the pain as it shattered. She closed her eyes, turning her face away as the shards of mirror flew.
Jacy felt arms close around her and a hand clamped over her mouth and nose. She almost thought it was Sirius until she felt her arm wrenched behind her back.
Struggling, she brought her head forward and backward in one quick motion. She felt a surge of satisfaction when she heard and felt the crunch of nasal cartilage as the guy's nose broke. She jumped and put her feet to the sink and pushed, sending herself and her attacker sprawling backwards.
Jacy heard Sirius screaming and pounding on the door. Tears threatened and she bit the attacker. He hollered and the hand over her face was removed. She screamed, but she never saw the second assailant come through the window though she certainly felt it when his fist crashed into the side of her face, rendering her unconscious.
*************
Sirius yelled Jacy's name and through himself against the door again, but some sort of magic was reinforcing it.
The door to the bedroom flew open and Dumbledore strode in, followed by Snape, Mcgonagal, and Remus.
His voice was practically gone, and it cracked when he spoke. "I can't get her. I." He looked at his hands, which were bloodied from his pounding.
Dumbledore spoke two words and the door flew open. Inside looked like a disaster area. Blood covered the sink and what was left of the mirror. Sirius saw the room and Remus thought he would lose it.
Instead, he stood taller, and his hands bunched into fists at his sides. His eyes flashed.
Remus shivered, the last time he'd seen that look, Sirius had been going after Wormtail, knowing his betrayal.
**********
Jacy awoke in her room at her father's house. Her entire body ached, mostly her face and shoulder. Grimacing, she stood. Straightening her clothes, she pulled her emotions together, and straightened her shoulders. "Party time."
She threw the doors open and strode confidently into the living room at the Riddle House. She switched into her cranky bitch pants along the way, and honestly, she felt sorry for any poor bastard that got in her way.
"I see you've awakened." Voldemort sat in the chair right in front of her, facing her. Wormtail stood behind her with two black eyes and a broken nose.
"Wormy, what'd you do? Piss off the wrong bitch?" Her gaze promised revenge and he blanched.
"He was merely demonstrating his loyalty to me." The dark lord sat still, unmoving. "Unlike my own offspring."
With vampire-like speed, he was at her side. "You shall pay for being the traitor that you are." Obviously, the dark lord had never heard of pick pocketing. In the time it took to blink, she had his wand tucked into the sleeve of her shirt.
Voldemort smiled at her, showing off some rather snake like teeth. Jacy might actually be afraid if she didn't know the old fart wore dentures. He smacked her across the face. She didn't even blink. She just smiled and quirked a brow at him. Then she slugged him.
He hissed and spun away, facing towards the fire. "Oh really? Well, fine. I'll just settle for another traitor!"
Two guards lead in a crying Severus Snape. Jacy smiled. "Oh really? Then why'd Snape tell me he was planning a surprise birthday party for you?" She lied glibly. If that pansy-assed crybaby was Sev, then she was Justin Timberlake's' love slave.
The Dark Lord spun away form torturing the poor person. "What?"
"Whoops. Wasn't supposed to say that!" She walked over and smiled up at her father.
"Wormtail. Kill her!" The Dark Lord turned and began to smack at the sobbing look-alike.
Wormtail rubbed his nose. "Gladly." He raised his wand and yelled, "Avada Kedavra!" Jacy sidestepped the curse and watched it his one of the guards.
The sound of running footsteps echoed through the room and Death Eaters filled the room. Jacy raised an eyebrow. "Nice try Wormy, but you missed!"
Womtail raised his wand at the same time the guard behind her did. "Avada Kedavra!" They shouted.
Jacy dropped to the floor and rolled over to the fake Snape as both Wormtail and the guard collapsed to the floor, dead.
"Dude, hold onto me, okay?" She grabbed the fake Snape around the waist and he grabbed her as tightly as he could.
The Death Eaters were about to pounce when they disappeared.
*******
They appeared in the outskirts of the Hogwarts' portion of The Forbidden Forest.
Jacy helped the man stand and saw that he no longer looked like Snape. It was a muggle man, and he was going into shock. "Whoa there cowboy. It's okay. Let's get moving. They'll be here any second... If we can move just as far as that really big tree over there, We might be getting some help from some friends okay?" The guy was gone...like a zombie. She doubted he even heard her. But he started shuffling in the general direction of the tree.
Jacy guessed her father was apparating around the perimeter of Hogwarts, Trying to locate her. Well, she'd chosen this place for a reason. It was the last place he expected her to go.
They were a few steps away from the boundary of the Hogwarts' grounds when she heard twigs and leaves being crunch under many feet. She pushed the muggle ahead of her, running the last few steps.
**********
Sirius stared intently at The Marauders' Map, searching for the tiny name of Jacy Quinn. He blinked when he saw something move in the portion that was The Forbidden Forest. Leaning forward, he saw Jacy's name and jumped up from his seat, grabbing the map. "Dumbledore! She's on the grounds!"
The Headmaster grabbed the map and yelled for Snape, Remus, and Mcgonagal when he saw it was true. They poured into the room, eager for the news. He had explained her past, and though they had been shocked, they understood.
Together, they ran through the castle, out the doors, and to the broom shed. They each grabbed a broom and flew into the forest.
***************
Jacy watched as Death Eaters surrounded them. Some parted, and she watched her father step forward.
"Surely you didn't expect to escape that easily." He sneered.
Jacy heard air whoosh around her. Something was flying towards them. "No. I didn't." Mcgonagal, Remus, Dumbledore, Snape, and Sirius set down next to her and Jacy's eyes flashed. "Thank you."
Voldemort looked shocked until he realized they'd crossed onto Hogwarts' grounds. Then he let out a rather wimpy war cry and reached for his wand. Death Eaters swarmed around them, and Jacy found herself grabbed before she could think. Sirius saw and his jaw tightened.Raising his wand, he grabbed one and smashed his face into his knee. He shouted the leg locker curse and pulled Jacy to his side. Remembering her father's wand, she pulled it from her sleeve and held it up triumphantly.
Voldemort saw it and began yelling obscenities at her. Looking around, he saw his Death Eaters fleeing into the woods.
The Hogwarts' staff gathered around behind Jacy and the muggle, showing her support. "Father." She spoke softly, but it got his attention. "Happy early birthday." She raised the wand and spoke strongly. "Erasara Memoraba."
Shock appeared across the Dark Lord's face as the curse hit him. A split second later, he fell to the ground as he forgot how to stand.
************************
Sirius watched anxiously as Madame Pomfrey examined the huge bruise on Jacy's face. They were in Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore was in the next room talking with Fudge about the happenings of that night.
Finally happy, the nurse nodded her head. "You'll be fine dear."
"I could have told you that." Jacy huffed and crossed her arms under her breasts.
"Well, I'm following the Headmaster's orders." She looked at her pointedly over her glasses, "Your uncle." She left the room, leaving Sirius and herself very alone.
Yawning, she looked at the clock on her uncle's desk. It was 12:37. She'd been explaining for hours what had happened and now it was well past midnight.
"Sorry." She whispered, speaking for the first time to Sirius since they'd gotten back.
"Don't be. You've been through a lot."
"I'm not sorry for yawning. I'm sorry I'm related to the man who destroyed your life." She pulled her knees up and hugged them to her chest, burying her face in them.
Understanding filled his voice. "That's what you meant. When you said you didn't want me to hate you." He stood and squatted in front of her, a position similar to the one he'd taken before their argument.
"Maybe." She mumbled.
He rolled his eyes. "Dumbledore told us everything." He smoothed her hair back from her forehead. "Jacy, do you trust me?"
She didn't even think. "Yes."
He pulled her into his arms and stood, holding her to him. "Then listen. I'm sorry for what I said in anger earlier. I didn't mean any of it. I love you. You aren't your father. You didn't do any of it."
Jacy looked into his eyes and saw the meaning there. "I have his blood running through my veins."
"I don't care! JACY! Listen." She laid a finger over his lips.
"But," She continued, "I can do something he wasn't taught. I can love, and I meant what I said 15 years ago."
He moved her hand and his eyes flashed with need. "Say it."
"I love you."
Sirius covered her mouth with his, his lips molding, shaping, coaxing, seducing hers with an expertise that flattened any defenses she might have had as efficiently as an atom bomb.
Incoherently Jacy whispered his name. Her lips, her mouth, her senses, unused to so much sensual stimulation, were defying reason and caution and everything else that Jacy's bemused brain was trying to tell her. Her frozen shock melted beneath the heat of the pleasure Sirius' hungry passionate expertise was showing her and her lips softened and trembled into an un-guarded, uninhibited response.
Without being aware of what she was doing Jacy strained to get closer to Sirius, standing on tiptoe so that she could cling ardently to the delicious pleasure of his kiss.
Her hands on his arms registered the sheer size and inflexibility of the muscles beneath them whilst her heart pounded in awed inexperienced shock at the intensity of what she was feeling. She could smell Sirius. His heat. his passion. his maleness... and shockingly something in her, something she hadn't known existed, was responding to it just as her lips were responding to him, urging him to draw her close, to let her feel the rest of his strength.
Dizzily Jacy opened the eyes she had closed at the first touch of his mouth to hers, shivering as she saw the sparks of raw sensuality darting like lightning from his eyes as she stared down at her it was like hanging way above the earth she could feel the danger and yet at the same time know somehow she would be safe.
"You love like an innocent. a virgin." Sirius told her huskily, and as he did so the sparks glittering in his eyes intensified, as though he found that thought very satisfying.
Helplessly Jacy stared back at him. Her heart was thudding frantically fast and her body was filled with an unfamiliar ache that was a physical need to have him touch her, to have his hand run slowly over her skin and reach right through it to that place where her unfamiliar ache began, so that he could surround it and soothe it. Somehow just thinking about him doing such a thing increased the ache to a pounding throb, a wild, primitive beat that made her moan and sway even closer to him.
"You like that. You want me." As he spoke to her she could hear and feel the urgency in his voice, could feel his arousal.
Eagerly she pressed against him, only to freeze as she heard her uncle re-enter the room.
"Oh…my! That's Sirius Black! Gu." Dumbledore's hand cut off his cry for help.
The two broke apart looking like guilty teenagers, but their obvious arousal seemed to amuse Dumbledore. "I assumed since this was my office, I could enter without knocking." Fudge pushed his hand off his mouth.
"Albus, aren't you shocked to see your niece behaving so with Sirius Black, a known fugitive?"
"No. Actually, I'm relieved. I thought I'd have to resort to more... Desperate measures." Dumbledore walked calmly over to his desk and sat in his comfy muggle rolly chair.
"Sirius Black, as the minister of magic I hereby place you." He stopped as Dumbledore held up a hand.
"Sirius is innocent." Jacy stepped in front of Sirius and poked Fudge in the chest. "You'd realize that if you had even half a brain cell!"
"Do you know who I am young lady?!" Fudge bristled. "I'm the…"
"I don't care if you're Godric bloody Gryffindor! Really! Now I've taken the liberty of having Severus brew some of the Veritaserum." Sirius looked shocked.
Fudge pointed. "Look! He's afraid to take it! He knows it'll prove him guilty!"
"I'm shocked by Jacy's defense," Sirius snagged her around the waist and buzzed her lips with his.
She flushed and looked away as Severus entered.
Snape sat the person on the desk and turned to Sirius. "Black you know the effects of the Versaitium potion. However, there's some nausea and dizziness after it wears off. Which should be about an hour after you take it."
He turned to leave. "Snape."
The sound of Sirius' voice stopped him. "What?"
"You're welcome to stay. Also, I thank you."
Severus did a cocky little bow. "I think I shall. And you're welcome."
Sirius gave Jacy another quick kiss and grabbed the potion. Jacy watched as his throat work. He lowered the goblet and made a face.
Fudge immediately began firing questions. "Who are you?"
"Sirius Black."
"Did you give up Lily and James Potter to Voldemort?"
"No."
"How did you escape Azkaban?"
"I'm an animagi."
Fudge's eyes widened. "Into what do you transform?"
"A large black dog."
"Um. Who am I?"
"A self-absorbed, pompous, incompetent waste of space and time. You're an annoying, useless pain in the ass. A Hemorrhoid. You are Cornelius Fudge."
Fudge blinked and whimpered.
Jacy stepped up. "Sir," she gagged. "Are you done?"
Fudge gave up. It was obvious Sirius was innocent. "I hereby declare Sirius Black innocent of all and any charges."
Jacy was pulled into Sirius' arms. "I love you."
"I love you too." Dumbledore laughed as Severus tried to hide the smile that was threatening to actually show itself.
Jacy and Sirius just kissed... and kissed... and kissed...
**************
3 Weeks later, (Christmas Eve)
Jacy was correcting papers in her office when a memory of the night before interrupted her work. She'd been happier than she'd ever been before. Sirius scarcely left her side, and they were to be married on New Years. Her mind wandered to the night before.
She'd just left her friends, having spent the majority of the evening going over wedding details. "Hey Sirius." He was sitting on the couch, reading.
He looked up at her and smiled. "Hey yourself." He pulled her down next to him. "Get anything done?"
Jacy sighed and leaned into him. "Mm… not really I guess. We couldn't pick a dress they all agreed on."
Sirius smiled. "You'll figure it out."
She gave him a look. "The wedding is a week away."
He kissed her gently. "I know."
A knock sounded on the door and Jacy sighed. "I'll get it."
Remus carried a smoking goblet, as he glanced at Sirius. "Good evening."
"Hey Remus, you want to come in?" She moved so he could as Sirius stood.
Remus shook his head, "No, thank you though. I need to be heading to my rooms shortly." He lifted the goblet slightly as if they would understand what he meant.
"Would you like some company, my friend?" Sirius slid an arm around his confused fiancé's waist.
"Company for what?" She peered at them both curiously.
Remus gave her a look. "For the change."
Sirius gave her an odd look. "Surely you remember?"
Jacy shook her head slowly. "Not ringing any bells."
"I'm a werewolf Jacy." Remus looked at her as if he expected her to run screaming away from him.
"Oh." Both men looked at her oddly. "What?" She rubbed her face as if she thought something was on it.
Remus wasn't going to push his luck. "Nothing…. Goodnight." He turned and left quietly.
Jacy looked up at Sirius. "Well… that was abrupt. Is he okay?"
Sirius smiled, brushing his lips over hers. "Yes. I think he's actually a bit better than he's been for a while now."
*************
She was brought out of her Memory by a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Harry stepped into the room looking nervous.
"Can I help you Harry?"
"I uh. I wanted to apologize." He squared his shoulders. "I acted like a 12 year old." She smiled. "No problem. I understand where you were coming from."
"Oh. And I wanted to thank you."
"For what?"
"For having the strength to do what you did to Voldemort."
"Oh." She blushed. "Then I should thank you as well. For what you did to Voldemort." She glanced at her watch. "Now Harry, I have a favor to ask of you."
He looked startled. "What could I do for you?"
"I have a promise to keep. I told a little girl I'd get her Momma a pretty dress... And I promised her father magic."
******************
On Christmas morning, Sera Jane Crissinger woke up early, remembering the pretty elf lady from the mall: her father woke up ready to face a broken hearted little girl.
He slipped into his worn robe and kissed his wife awake. Together, they made their way to the living room and stopped, stunned.
Sera Jane sat in the middle of the floor, staring at a giant Christmas tree that was made out of $100 bills. Sera was holding a beautiful doll. And to her right was a dress mannequin; wearing the most beautiful dress he'd ever seen. There was a card around its neck saying, "For Sera Jane's Mommy."
And, when Joe flipped the card over, he saw one word.
"Believe."
And from that day on, he did.
~The End~
But…. PLEASE READ THE SEQUEL!
This story is dedicated to one of the strongest women I have ever known. She suffered through breast cancer. after a year. and no sign of the disease; she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She didn't smoke. It metastasized from her breast. She was strong, and she fought to the end. I know I get a part of my strength from her. and I know she'll always be with me. This story is dedicated to Valnetta Jane Crissinger. My Inspiration..