Author's Note: This fic is now officially AU as I just realized Sirius should have been in Azkaban and instead...he wasn't. So here's the deal. After James and Lily are killed, Harry still needs to be taken to his Aunt and Uncle's house because his family's blood and the such and Sirius goes after Peter, but doesn't find him, therefore no blowing up of the street occurs. Then one fine day five years later (When Harry is...six and Willow is seven) he *does* finally see Peter and that's when the blowing up happens and Sirius is sent to Azkaban 'cos they think it's him. Harry never ended up being told about Sirius 'cos no one wanted the poor boy to know that his godfather was in Azkaban and that's when the Ministry decided, "well, he tried to kill peter, he tried to kill the Potters as well! Throw him into jail! Yeah!" and so they do and the books happen and...wha-lah. Here we are now.

Additional Disclaimer: Lyrics from the song "Synaesthesia" by The Thrillseekers

//When there are words in between like so...that's the song part 'cos italics won't work for me today...at least not on everything.//

In A Dream - Chapter 2 - Rediscover the Past

Sirius was still trying to understand what was happening. The music from the club was pulsing through his head.

//I need to know the reasons why
Can you forsake what you've been given?
You took no time to justify
All the lies that you are living//

 "Willow?" he asked softly.

//I need to know
If I give emotion, will you show devotion?
Or will you fly and fly away? //

Buffy gave Sirius a warning glance as if daring him to move and then put a hand on Willow's arm. "Are you sure this is the serious guy?"

Xander tilted his head. "He looks more bewildered than serious, to tell ya the truth."

"No, that's his name." Willow murmured as she stared at the man in shock.

//If I give emotion, will you show devotion?
Or will you fly and fly away?
Fly away.. //

That seemed to confuse Xander. "What's his name? Serious?"

Buffy swatted the boy on the arm. "Yes, his name is Sirius!"

Sirius ignored the other two and just studied the red head in front of him. Memories rushed back at him from every direction of his mind. Willow seemed rather faint and was biting her lip now as she remembered clearly what had happened all those years ago. This man had been her father, but how much did he change?

//You seem to run, you seem to hide
So are you scared of how you're feelin?
The time has come to live your life
So come with me and do some dreamin'//

She hesitated for a moment. Then, without much thought she promptly threw herself at Sirius and hugged him fiercely burying her face in his shoulder. Sirius's expression was one of pure alarm. This girl, who he knew for a fact was his daughter, was suddenly clinging to him and soaking through his shirt. Nine years and erased memories sure changed people. Sirius was sure that he should know what to do in this situation but his mind was unreservedly blank. So he did what instinct taught him and the last couple of years with Harry. He simply hugged her back and mumbled a couple of comforting words.

//If I give emotion, will you show devotion?
Or will you fly and fly away? //

Buffy and Xander stood still not sure quite how to react.

//If I give emotion, will you show devotion?
Or will you fly and fly, and fly.. //

Willow finally pulled away with a tear-streaked face. "I'm sorry. I don't even know if you're Sirius. You remind me of him but I have the worst luck with things like these. Besides, I haven't seen him for nine years and I just remembered right now what he looks like," she threw her hands into the air. "And now I'm babbling and I-"

//Fly away... //

"No, Willow. It's me." Sirius assured her with a smile.

//Fly away... //

Xander hated to interrupt but coughed to get everyone attention. "Erm...hey. How do we know each other, again?"

Willow once again started to ferociously hug Sirius and mumbled into his shoulder. "He's my Dad!"

"What?" Xander asked carefully. He had accepted a long time ago that his hearing sometimes was a bit off.

Willow's face reappeared and she sniffled once and looked up at Sirius with wide eyes. "Why didn't you ever try and come after me?"

//If I give emotion, will you show devotion?
Or will you fly and fly away? //

"I didn't know." Sirius replied.

Buffy stepped between them abruptly. "I'm sorry, Willow, but what exactly is going on?"

"You guys, this is Sirius. He's...he's my Dad. Sirius, this is Buffy, and Xander. They're my best buddies." Willow introduced with an uncertainty clear in her voice.

Xander squinted at the red head. "You never told me you were adopted."

Willow smiled slightly. "I forgot."

//If I give emotion, will you show devotion?
Or will you fly and fly away? //

"Right, but you remembered suddenly?" Buffy looked uncertain. "Okay, I guess we're not doing the Bronze tonight, then."

Willow frowned at the Slayer. "I'm sorry, Buffy. We still can if you'd like."

Buffy laughed. "No, you hang with your Dad. I think I'll go and see what Giles is up to. Maybe we've got some new demo- I mean, demo...computer games in town?"

"You guys know Rupert?" Sirius suddenly understood exactly who Buffy was. "He's your watcher."

"Whoa!" Xander looked a bit more suspicious. "How do you know this stuff?!"

"He's a wizard." Willow explained. "Sirius is a wizard."

Before Buffy and Xander could say anything else Sirius muttered something to the red head and disappeared into the shadows of a warehouse. Willow didn't seem to disturbed by that and half-heartedly waved in the general direction. Her two best friends rounded on her.

"What was that?" Buffy demanded looking askance.

"He said to meet at Giles' place in half an hour. That's where he's staying for the night. Apparently they're buds." Willow said wiping away the lingering tears that hadn't quite dried off her face yet.

Xander squinted after Sirius. "So he's a good guy?"

"Yeah."

"You keep calling him Sirius. Most kids go with 'Dad,'" Xander joked.

Willow started walking in the direction of Giles' condo. "He always told me to call him Sirius 'cos 'Dad' made him feel old."

"So we're headed to Giles' and that's where we're going to figure out what's up and everything, right?"

Willow nodded. "I hope so."

//Fly away... //

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Thank you to all the reviewers!