"Hey James." Sirius asked as they stood against the wall, watching Crosby supporting himself on the table and Harry trying to coax him to walk to him.

"Yeah Sir?" He answered.

"What's it like to be a dad?"

"You should know by now Sirius, it's been a year already." He smirked and walked to the kitchen, Sirius following.

"No, but I mean actually being her when they cry or need something. Actually doing something to help take care of them." He said and James shrugged.

"It's a little bit hard at first, but worth it." He said and saw how glum Sirius was looking. "Hey, cheer up. You're not regretting what happened, are you?" He asked and Sirius shook his head.

"No, I know I did the wrong thing by hurting him like that."

"It's better you hurt him like that than later, besides, if you hadn't done that and I had caught you in the act, you would have received more than just a broken nose." James said uneasily.

"So, I take you and Lily enjoyed your week alone?" He said and James's anger turned to a lopsided grin.

"Do you even need to ask?"

"How'd you like another one?" He asked. "And this time you can dump the kids on Remus for a night, since he has to work, again." and James's grin widened even more. Suddenly Peter came out of breath into the kitchen.

"James! Sirius! Come quick." He said and the two of them rushed out the room to find everyone around the floor, all very delighted as they watched Crosby unsteadily walk from Remus's arms towards Harry.

As soon as he got there he flopped down into his mother's arms and the room was over come with clapping and cheering. Sirius just watched with a smile on his face and a pang in his heart, thinking that maybe, just maybe, had he not been such a prick, they wouldn't be a secret and he could have been sharing that special moment with them rather than just watching.

That evening after everyone went home, Sirius stayed and was busy playing with Crosby after finally being able to tear him away from Harry. He looked up as Lily came past and started clearing away more plates

"So, Lil, did James ask you?" Sirius said and Lily frowned.

"Ask what?" She said and James came into the room. "Ask me what James?" She said.

"How'd you like another private week in the coming Easter holidays?" Sirius asked. "Provided you are smart enough to dump the kids on Moony for a night." Sirius said as Crosby started poking him for his attention.

"Daddy!" He squealed and Sirius, out the corner of his eye, saw the look Lily gave James, and knew they would get Harry and him would get their private time.

Because they were looking at each other, Lily and James missed the looks that Harry and Sirius gave each other and yet another (and possibly the last) chance to stop it before the real problem (or should Isay, problems) came…

"Sirius?" Harry asked as he lay on Sirius's chest late one afternoon during the Holiday.

"Hmm?" Sirius grunted in reply.

"How long are we going to stay a secret?" He asked and Sirius didn't answer. "Cause I want to tell." This got Sirius wide-awake.

"What? Harry? Have you lost your mind?" Sirius said, getting up and knocking Harry to the floor.

"I'm tired of keeping it a secret, it's been over a year." Harry said angrily and Sirius blew up.

"Your parents would kill both of us! How can you be stupid enough to even think of telling at a time like this! You know what they would say!" He ranted. "And what about Remus, what would he say?" Harry stood up.

"That's the reason you don't want to tell, as long as you still have Remus to fuck when I'm not around, you're happy!" Harry yelled and ran out the room.

"Arggh!" Sirius said and fell down onto the bed in anger. He lay there for about an hour before he started to feel bad about what he had said and Harry's words started to sink in. He got up and went looking round the villa for Harry and was about to give up when he saw someone sitting on the piazza in front.

"Harry?" He asked as he came outside and sat next to him. "I'm sorry about what I said Harry, you know I didn't mean, I was just a bit shocked."

Sirius didn't get a reply and Harry just stared straight ahead of him. "If it makes you happy Harry, I'm willing to negotiate with you." Sirius said and Harry turned to him to show he was listening. "We can tell after your 18th birthday, then if they are against it, thee's nothingthey can do because you'll legally be an adult. So how about it, can you wait just a little longer?" He said and Harry smiled and nodded.

"Now, what do you suppose we do to resolve this argument?" Harry asked Sirius.

"Go inside and get drunk on fire whiskey before having a few mind-blowing shags?" Sirius said and Harry smirked, shrugged and got up.

Giving birth had widened his hips slightly and Harry, as always, used this to his advantage as he went inside, going purposely slow, swaying his hips as he walked.

"You coming?" He asked as he stopped in the doorway, winking at Sirius, who scrambled up and followed him inside.