Author's Note~

Thanks for reviewing! I know it has been for ever, but school is very evil and I have no time. No, this will not be a Sirius, Malfoy, and Sarah triangle. But I can assure you all that there will be more "intimate" scenes, but, trust me, it will all make sense in the end. I will try to make them less "sappy" for you all, but they are key to the ending of the story.

I would like to thank padfoot, prongs, and Embers for this ch! Thanks for letting me use your idea of Steve that duck!!

*on with the story*

Ch10: Dinner Disaster

"Lights, dinner, conversation, and mood," Sarah said,

"These are the main factors of a dinner."

"Yes, yes, I know, c'mon," Sirius impatiently squirmed.

"Sirius, if I'm going to help you get along with Lucius at the dinner tonight, you had better stop complaining!" she cried.

"Sorry," was his only response.

"Ok then," she continued. They proceeded Sirius' "lessons" for the rest of the afternoon, Sirius learning how to get along with Lucius, and Sarah learning patience.

At exactly eight o'clock the Malfoys arrived. Sarah peered out the window and was surprised to see all three of them standing outside her door. As she answered the door, she said,

"Why Narcissa, I didn't expect you too but you are welcome anyways!" No sound came from the other woman except a faint sound of a mumble, which sounded something like, "rat's nest."

Lucius looked sternly at his wife, and she responded,

"No thanks, I really would rather not."

"Suit yourself," and with that Sarah lead her two guests into the house, leaving behind the third to let herself out. And Narcissa prided herself as she slammed the door, making a huge bang that echoed throughout the hallway.

Sirius, who had remained in the shadows, decided that it was about time to make his appearance known by saying,

"Hey Malfoy, ol', buddy, ol' pal!"

Lucius slowly turned around to face his opponent,

"Well, I didn't know you were here. Are we early, or are we feeding the dog tonight!" A this insult, Sirius was ready to fight, but Sarah intervened,

"Now, boys, come now. What kind of example are you setting for you son, Lucius?" She looked for Sirius to Lucius, and when she saw the look on their faces, she knew that she had won.

"Fine, we'll be nice," they said at once, regretting every word.

"Good, 'cause I slaved all day over this meal, and your gonna enjoy it!" she commanded, and the two men cringed, refusing to look at one another. As they sat down, while Sarah went to get the meal, Sirius said,

"You know, this is all you fault!"

"No, it's yours," Lucius sneered.

"How is it my fault?" Sirius exclaimed.

"Now, you tow just stop it! You two are grown men, act like it!" Sarah interrupted them.

"Fine," they said in unison.

They ate in silence until Sirius shifted his leg under the table.

"What the hell was that for?" Lucius cried, who had been kicked as Sirius had moved his leg.

"Sorry, but I guess you disserved it!" Sirius responded.

"Oh, you little-"

"Lucius, you still have your son, Now calm down, both of you!" she commanded, fully regretting that she had even asked Lucius over. She had wanted to spend a nice evening with an old friend, not play babysitter.

"Let's talk about the good ol' days at Hogwarts," she shifted the conversation.

"Well I would exactly call them good!" Sirius responded.

"Why?" Sarah asked, hoping to get into a good conversation to get their minds off each other.

"Well, for one, he was in it," Sirius pointed towards Lucius,

"He and that squeaking mouse of his!"

"Squeaky?" Lucius fumbled around in his pockets as if in search of something,

"Wait, you stole him!"

"Well, you stole Bob!" he responded.

"Who?" Lucius asked. No one heard the groan that came from Sarah.

So much for a grown-up conversation.

"My lamb, he stole my lamb!! But that is ok! I have a new duck named Steve, and you won't ever find him!" yelled Sirius.

"Anyways," Sarah exclaimed, loosing her patients,

"Can we just eat and have a nice night?"

"Fine!"

"Fine!"

They ate the rest of the meal in silence, Sirius and Lucius never even so much as looking at one another. When it was time for coffee in the living room, they all moved and Sarah spoke,

"You guys may talk now, but be careful what you say!" she warned.

Sirius walked over to her, kissed her and said,

"I'm sorry honey, you prepared a great meal, and we ruined it."

Seeing the look on Lucius' face was what Sirius had wanted.

You may have had her, he thought, but she's mine now!

"You two are a couple again? I thought you broke things off with this looser!" Lucius exclaimed, his face twisting in disgust.

"Looser! You want to take this outside!?" Sirius cried, looking just as ready as he looked.

As they headed out the door Sarah yelled,

"Stop! No one is going anywhere! Sirius, sit there! Lucius, we need to talk!" and with that the two men did what they were told. Sirius sat down, and Lucius followed Sarah into the bedroom.

Sarah shut the door, as he sat down on the bed where little Draco slept.

"You needed to talk to me?" he asked, whispering.

"Yes, I do," she whispered, matching his tone,

"You need to realize that thing are over between us!"

"Yes, I know but-"

"No, no buts," she interrupted him,

"We are over. You-you have a wife, and a child. You can't keep on acting like you are protecting me." Yes, this was the way she wanted things.

A the mention of his child, Lucius looked over at him,

"That doesn't mean I have to stop loving you."

"I know," she took his hands in hers,

"But we have to move on. I can't love someone… Well who does what you do, and no Sirius doesn't know, I wont' tell him. What I wanted to say was that there will always be a place for you in my heart, but I'm in love with Sirius, and he is in love with me." she finished. Am I stuttering? she wondered.

"Well, then that pretty much settles it then," he said stiffly.

"Don't, don't be that way, thing might have been different if you weren't married." she responded.

"So, you want us to be just friends?" and when she nodded, he cried,

"Damn it! I don't want to be just friends, I love you!"

"And I will always love you, but that doesn't change the fact that you're married and have a son, We need to get on with our lives, and right now you need to be nice to Sirius," she commanded.

"I'll try," he smiled as they walked out of the bedroom.

And before either man could utter an apology Sarah yelled,

"If either of you two ever fight, argue, or whatever again in front of me, I will personally see that you will regret it for the rest of you lives!" And seeing that she was dead serious, both men swallowed hard. They both had the same thought on their minds: This going to be one hell of a long night.