Bellatrix looked a little uncomfortable as Sirius approached the bed, his usual rosy face pale and confusion in his black eyes. "What baby?" Sirius asked again looking at his cousins for an explanation. Narcissa looked at her sister and nodded slightly. Bella took a deep breath and looked up at Sirius almost apologetically.

"Sirius, do you remember the night of the Halloween ball?" Sirius paused for a moment and nodded slowly although still unsure as to why she was asking him this.

"Yes Bella I remember it. Why?"

"Well after the game of truth and dare I thought I'd performed a contraceptive charm on myself but I'm afraid it didn't work as well as it should have." Bella said biting her bottom lip nervously waiting for his reaction to the news. Sirius stood silent for a moment contemplating this revelation.

"You mean."

"Yes Sirius it's your baby; well mine as well obviously." Bella said tears welling in her eyes as she studied his face searching wildly for any hint of how he felt.

"Bella why don't I leave you and Sirius for now. I'll be back later." Narcissa said bestowing a gentle kiss upon her sister's forehead. Bella nodded softly but didn't take her gaze off Sirius. Once Narcissa had departed Bella let her little façade end and her lips trembled whilst salty tears rolled down her cheeks. "S…say something then! Please Sirius. Tell me…yo…you're angry anything. Just pleas…please speak to me." Sirius ran to the side of the bed and took her hand in his giving it a soft squeeze.

"Oh Bella. Why…why didn't you say anything before?"

"I…I was scared. Oh Sirius what are we going to do. My mother and father know of the child but not yet who the father is. They're going to kill me."

"They won't Bella I promise you." Sirius said wiping one of Bella's tears away with the sleeve of his robe.

"I'm sorry Sirius." Bella said after a moment of silence.

"Whatever for? It's not your fault is it. I'm just as responsible for this as you are." Sirius said gallantly. Bella smiled softly as Sirius watched the small mass above the bed. "So that…that's our baby!" He said captivated by the tiny infant form.

"Aha. Madame Pomfrey says it's fine and healthy."

"Oh Bella you've been dealing with this all on your own why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I foolishly thought it would go away if I didn't think about it or discuss it with anyone."

"Interesting theory there." Sirius said cheekily causing Bella to giggle.

"I don't expect you to marry me or anything." Bella said suddenly out of the blue.

"Well I wasn't going to propose or anything." Sirius said smiling at his cousin, even though she'd been crying she still looked thoroughly beautiful and the idea that she was carrying his child made Sirius love her even more than he thought possible. Without a second thought of any possible repercussions of his actions he leant forward and placed a passion filled kiss on the full red lips of his pretty cousin. Bella melted in the kiss, shocked at first but not pulling back. After a moment his lips parted from hers and he looked at the shocked expression on Bella's face.

"Sirius what was that?"

"A kiss."

"I'm well aware of that but why? Why did you kiss me?" Bella asked her dark eyes darting frantically around.

"Because I love you, Bella." Sirius mumbled. Bella pondered the fact for a moment. Sirius Orion Black, her cousin said he loved her. Love was a rare thing to find in the Black family, sure it masqueraded in many other ways; fierce loyalty, passionate exchanges, affectionate whispers but never proper love and even in the rare occasions that it did reveal itself; those moments were seldom and fleeting. Her own parents were the embodiment of Black love. An arranged marriage between two people who could just about manage to abide each other, and produce some pure-blooded children. Of course divorce in pure-blood society was scandalous so affairs were common-practise. Bellatrix looked up at Sirius and shook her head softly, ebony curls flying about.

"You don't love me Sirius. You think you do at this moment but its irrational thoughts. Please Sirius; I implore you not to say things you don't mean."

"But I do mean it."

"No you don't. You can never love me Sirius not properly even if you think you might. I don't want you to feel trapped and have you resent me and our child."

"I wouldn't though." Sirius argued becoming somewhat exasperated with her. Why couldn't she see he was deadly serious about his feelings.

"Sirius just leave me alone for a while. Think things through please."

"I have." Sirius protested but Bella simply glared at him and turned over so she was staring out of the window. She felt angry with him for confusing her so and angry at herself for not been able to believe, still she kept turned away not even turning back as she heard footsteps wander away from the bedside and a soft voice whisper goodbye. Bella cursed herself inwardly for been so hot-headed but she was certain she was doing the right thing. Yes she wanted to keep the baby and if Sirius wanted to be with her and the child she would be over-the-moon but she needed to be sure of his feelings before opening her heart to him.