Jedi Queen 001: yay your my first reviewer! glad you like the story.
feelinfawkesy: I was going to put a little disclaimer regarding the timeframe but then I decided not to ruin the surprise. And thanks for the great compliment!

And squee! I am so happy to find out I am actually on someone's favorite story list. This makes me feel so happy.

Disclaimer: Yeah I think we all know I am not JK Rowling, if I was I'd be off spending my money and figuring out how to make Sirius Black appear out of thin are so I could shag him all day. AHEM - on to the story. I have actually written quite a few chapters, so I will update them as I can. Lyrics by Breaking Benjamin.

Just call my name you'll be okay

Your scream is burning through my veins

When Deacon, Clyde and Remus arrived at Grimmauld place, they found a slightly agitated Lily and an extremely well adjusted Sirius. She raised her hands at him when Remus entered, and he somehow knew that Sirius would be alright. He was already aggravating Lily. "Remus..thank god. He won't listen to me..refuses to let me explain. Said he wants my dad here, and won't talk to anyone until he sees him. Tell him Remus!" She stomped her foot, flopping down on the couch beside Sirius. Deacon and Clyde stood in the doorway; Deacon held a malicious grin on his lips and Clyde just looked out of place. But Sirius...he seemed right at home. Kreacher was on the stairs, peering down and muttering horrid things regarding Sirius, some of which might have made Hermione rethink rescuing the old wretch. Remus sat down, looking at his old friend. "Sirius..Padfoot. What did she tell you"
"She said that she is Harry's daughter..pfft and that they are dead. And I want to know what the hell is going on." He crossed his arms across his chest and heaved a disgruntled sigh. Remus dropped his head into his hands and spoke in that soft even voice of his. "She is telling the truth...Sirius, you have been gone for almost 20 years. Harry married Hermione and Lily was named after her grandmother. Look at her old man...you know you see them in her. They..they were killed a month ago." Deacon cringed visibly at this, and Clyde cleared his throat awkwardly. But Lily sat bac k up defiantly. "See? Now who is being a complete grub?" Sirius glared at her, his eyes tracing the lines of her face...seeing his godson and his best friend in her every expression. He slumped forward on the couch, cupping his face in his hands as well, and a small sob escaped his throat. "Dead..I was supposed to be here to protect him..and where was I? I couldn't even keep myself alive..Hermione was right..she always said I was living through Harry. Too careless, too brave...how..how did it happen..? Was it Voldemort"
Lily had grown silent..rehashing recent events had brought fresh tears to her eyes, and she wiped them away quickly. "No Sirius...Harry killed him. It was a death eater..Malfoy. They cornered him and he attacked..ambushed. Him and Lestrange got away again." Sirius growled at the mention of his cousin..she was the reason he had been torn from them so long ago. "Then why am I here?" Remus glanced at Deacon then Lily. "She brought you back. Sirius..she is an amazing witch. I haven't seen such brilliance since her mother." Remus trailed off, and Sirius muttered something about 'the brightest witch of her time' and Lily felt heat creep into her face, her cheeks red. She knew what they meant, her mother had once told her how they'd saved Sirius and what he had said to her that night. Hermione had been quite proud of that compliment. Lily got lost in the buzz in her head, feeling small and yet unable to hide. Sirius was looking at her curiously, and she saw Remus' lips moving, but did not hear anymore of what they said.
The night drew into morning, and still they all sat around trying to bring Sirius up to date on everyone. Clyde and Deacon were sitting on the floor in front of Lily, vying for the spot closest to her. But it seemed Sirius had that, she had fallen asleep an hour ago, and was now leaning against him as he talked at length with Remus about what had been happening at Hogwarts. Occasionally, he would glance at her, and feel a twinge of emotion stirring deep in his stomach. She was Harry's. His legacy, and she had brought him back to life. He owed her more than she knew. The boys on the floor had dozed off too as the sun hit the sky and Remus fell silent. "I am glad to have you back my friend. And..." he glanced at the boys and then Lily, before speaking in a hushed tone to Sirius," I think..I think Lily needed you. You were..are...all she has left of her family. She could not bring them back, so she brought you instead. Be here for her..ok? We love her, but we cannot understand her pain like you can. Maybe you can help her. And maybe..maybe she can help you too Sirius." Remus looked at him, and rose from his chair. Pushing Deacon with the toe of his foot, he roused them each in turn. The boys stood, stretching, and Clyde started to wake Lily. Sirius stopped him, shrugging. " Let her sleep. If you knew what was on the other side of the veil, you'd let her rest too." He carefully stood, making sure not to wake her either, and walked them to the door. Curious as to why they were not simply apparating, he asked. Deacon laughed. "Lily has a protective spell over the house, no one has been able to come in or out except for the front door for months. I don't think she even knows how to break it. But it's ok. She is safer this way anyway." He grinned, looking like his father then. Except his smile held kindness in it too...Sirius only remembered Draco as a coldhearted little prat of a boy. But everyone changes it seemed. He let them out, then locked the door, giving Kreacher a start when he flicked the elf on the ear. "Have you been good while I was gone?" Kreacher muttered about the missus, and something about tea, and left. Sirius did not intend to drink anything that wretch brought him. Instead, he went back to where Lily slept, scooping her into his arms as he carried her upstairs. After three rooms, he found what he suspected to be her room, covering her up after placing her on the bed. He was tired, more than he realized, and sat down on a chair beside her bed to watch her sleep. She was beautiful. Had her fathers hair color but Hermione's wild curls. And she had Harry's eyes...rather Lily's eyes. But her smile...all Hermione. He always thought that kid had a gorgeous smile. He tried to figure how old she might be..and concluded this girl before him couldn't be much older than 19 or 20. He wasn't old enough to be her father, but he was definitely an old man to her..he was sure of that. Sitting back, he scratched thoughtfully at his scraggly beard before taking a sniff. Whoa..he smelled bad. He rose quickly, making his way out of her bedroom and into one he was now claiming as his own since it used to be his a lifetime ago. He would shower and..maybe shave. He needed a shave…and some new clothes.

The hot water hit his worn body and soothed some of the pain he felt inside and out. Eyes closed, he let it wash over him, just letting his mind shut down. One hand was against the shower wall, the other he ran through his messy stringy hair, thinking it might be time for a haircut as well. He imagined what he would look like now, if he had continued to live. He'd be Remus' age, old and probably not nearly as slick as he always had been. But he aged inside, he felt eons old from the darkness he'd endured these years. Maybe physical age was better, at least you could deal with that. He sighed and tried to turn his thoughts off again.
Suddenly a strange sensation overtook him. He felt like crying and screaming all at once. He opened his eyes, wide, and heard a real scream from Lily's bedroom. A stabbing pain went through his body, and he fell to his knees. The shock of the hard floor sent a shiver through him, and he pushed himself back up. Running from the bathroom, he managed to pull a towel around himself as he stormed her room with a look of madness in his eyes. She was sitting there, tears streaming down her cheeks, the sheet clenched in her hands. He swiveled, expecting someone to be behind him..but the room was empty. Kreacher chose that very moment to walk by and mutter something about ' wretched son, never did have his head on right' as he sulked off to the attic. Lily was breathing heavy, and Sirius glared at the elf. He must have done something. Forgetting he was barely covered in a towel, he ran to her side, dropping down to sit on the edge of her bed.
"What happened! I was in the shower..and I heard you scream. I.." He left out the part about the strange feeling he'd had just moments before..she seemed to have enough to deal with.
"Oh..well I must have had a bad dream. I...my mum she was dying, and I tried ...I tried to help her, but then...and then...!" Now she was sobbing again, holding her hands to her face. He felt overwhelming sorrow, and without realizing what he was doing, his arms were around her, holding her, comforting her as she continued to cry against his wet chest. After a time, he felt her boost her resolve and she pulled away from him. Dark green eyes were puffy and red, she rubbed them and made them worse. But she had that strong willed defiant look her mother got so often, and he smiled despite the moment. Thankfully she did not notice. What she did notice was his lack of clothing. Grinning suddenly, she looked up at him. "Sirius...were you aware you are wearing a towel?" He raised one brow, that infamous look that made so many women fall at his feet, and she giggled. "Ok, stupid question..let me rephrase. Why are you wearing only a towel?" "I was in the shower like I said. Weren't you paying attention?" He smiled though, that glimmer in his eyes showed he was not serious. Again he omitted the strange feeling; looking back it was probably unrelated. She blushed, and rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah...forgot." Her eyes traveled down over his body, he was so very thin but that old charm was still there, you could feel it in his very being. Something was different though..what was it...OH! "Hey, you shaved." Without thinking, she reached up a hand and stroked one finger over his now smooth cheek. He'd shaved most of it, all that remained was a small patch of hair over his chin. Made him look younger that he was...or maybe that was just his silly grin. His good mood was contagious. "Yes, I thought I'd had that escaped prisoner look long enough. What do you think?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and cast a glance in her direction. "Oh I like it. Makes you look younger. Very nice." Patting his leg, she swiveled in the bed to sit on the side beside him now. Stretching her arms over her head, Sirius noticed a small mark on her shoulder, but it seemed to be hidden mostly beneath the sleeve of her shirt. Hmm. He did not inquire but merely sat there smiling at her. She reached up and mussed his still long and stringy hair. "Now you just need to do something with this and you're set."