Chapter 31: Summer Comes and Goes

I curled tight against Sirius as he was snoring and sleeping so peacefully, making me smile as I opened my eyes to another bright day. We stayed like that for hours, just relaxing and enjoying each others presence. That's when my stomach growled and Sirius seemed to awaken. "Phoebe, I'm sorry, let's get you some food. Forgive me." I giggled as he got up and tugged on some pants. "Oh no, we were both just totally wore out…that's a welcome I could get used to." I repeated his words and his eyes danced with desire and mischief. He went to climb back into the bed when his own stomach growled, making us both laugh.

"Guess we need to recharge ourselves first." I commented and wrapped myself in a robe, following him to the kitchen. "So you live here all alone?" he asked as we finished our toast and gathered the rest of breakfast and went to the patio outside. "Well, there's Livy, our house-elf, but she's free and I told her to go enjoy it and everything. She pops back in every once and a while. But she can keep a secret, she's been helping me keep up the ruse of my mother still being alive." I explained and his eyes darted around, but he relaxed as I ran my hand along his leg. "No need to worry Sirius. We are free here. No one will find you here."

He seemed to calm down and we ate and talked some more, finishing our food quickly. We were just taking in the nature of the beach when Sirius asked, "So when we were in the shack, you kind of lost it a bit at the mention of your father. Who is he? We never got a chance to talk about it." I coughed, choking on my drink as my body went ice cold. "Phoebe, are you alright?" Sirius helped me to catch my breath and I leaned back into him, wanting to enjoy his love while I could. Knowing he would reject me when he knew the truth. "Sirius, I really think it's better if he is forgotten, he is my past and I hate talking about him."

"I'm just asking, I mean, you really changed back then, it worried me. Maybe if I knew who he was, I could better protect you." "Just drop it, I refuse to talk about him any longer." "But Phoebe-" "Just fucking leave it alone Sirius. Damnit!" I climbed out of his lap and stormed off, feeling so tired of it always coming back to that damn man. I would never be rid of him, I would always be tied to him, never able to be free. I huffed out a breath, sitting on a cliff to rest and try to calm down. I didn't want to feel like I felt in the shack again, yeah I was strong and powerful, but I didn't want to be like my father, I wanted to be normal.

Sirius appeared beside me, sitting in silence and not touching me. "I'm sorry." he breathed out in a low voice and it made my heart hurt, I hurt him again. I took his hand and sighed, "Sirius, I'm sorry. It's difficult to talk about him because I feel strongly about him, in a bad way." I said and he lifted my chin, making me meet his eyes. "Then we will not talk about him anymore." I smiled and leaned against him, feeling my frustrations disappear. We sat like that for a while, then I heard a pop sound and we turned to see Livy holding a tray of food. She saw Sirius and dropped it, her eyes tearing up a bit as she took a step back.

"Livy, it's alright." I said getting up and going over to her, taking her shaking hands. "It's the man on the posters. He's wanted, Miss. I'll get help." I shook my head, tightening my grip slightly. "Livy, this is a childhood friend. Yes he is on the posters, but he was framed. He is a good man, he will not harm you or me. Do you understand?" I explained in slow soft tone, making sure she knew we weren't in danger. Her eyes bore into mine, begging me to let her go and get help. "Livy, please. He's special to me…I love him." I admitted to her and she whimpered, but nodded. "Okay, Miss Phoebe. I trust your judgment."

I thanked her and we gathered the mess up as Sirius stood and walked over, coming to help. Livy backed up, saying she would get some more food before popping away in a rush. "She'll take some time, they all will I'm sure." I said and he sighed, nodding. "I'm used to people running from me. But I believe you are the only one that I ever chased after." I smiled, remembering that time where we first showed that we cared for each other. Livy came back with more food, two plates and two cups, before disappearing again. "Hey, at least she brought two of each for us." I laughed as we ate our lunch.

We went for a swim and I showed Sirius all my favorite spots to look at the water creatures and plants for a while before we went back to the house. The sun was beginning to set as we changed and curled up together on the couch. "This has been the best day I've ever had in this house." I said and Sirius agreed, but it was his only day so it made me laugh instead of dwelling on the other days I had here. After dinner, we climbed into the bed and stared at the stars together, pointing our favorites out and talking about what we were going to do the next day. We fell asleep in each other's arms again.

**Two Months Later**

I was fixing breakfast as Sirius was writing a letter to Harry at the table on our last couple days together. Soon I was going to head back to Hogwarts and Sirius would have to remain behind. I sighed as I sat down the food, sitting down with a huff. Sirius just chuckled and rolled his letter up, he would be sending it off in a few minutes. "Phoebe, you needn't be so sad. It's a happy time, you get to go shape the minds of the youth." "And you are going to into hiding again, away from me." I shot back, feeling depressed. He kissed my forehead and went to send the letter while I started in on the food.

I was finishing up when he returned and his smile made me happy, but also reminded me that soon I wouldn't be able to see it anymore, I would be so far away, so far from him. I chewed my lip and watched him eat, trying to figure out a way for him to return with me. I had gotten used to being with him everyday, I didn't want it to change. "Oh, what if we-" "Phoebe…no." he had been hearing all kind of ideas from me for at least a week and always shot them down. "I can't risk it, my love. You will return to school and teach and be amazing as always. I will go into hiding again and it will be alright."

I pouted and said, "Well instead of going into hiding, why don't you just stay here. It's stupid to leave such a beautiful place to go somewhere dark and cold. Livy is trustworthy, she's raised me my life, she knows she can trust my choices. Just stay here, at least then I'll know where you are." he went to speak, to disagree, but I knew I had him, this was a good idea. He would be safe and free here. "Fine, if it'll make you happy, I'll remain here. I've been meaning to explore the jungle anyways." "Oh, actually it's best if you don't, there's quite a few unique animals in there, protected."

Excitement danced in his eyes and I shook my head, he was such a troublemaker. We enjoyed another day together, loving each moment we had left and making good use of it in the bedroom. I stretched after another love-making and curled some of his hair in my fingers as I kissed him deeply, moaning slightly. "Phoebe, not so quick, we just had a good run." I giggled and laid on his chest, hearing his heart racing. I went to say something, but Livy knocked, sliding a letter under the door. "Must be Harry." Sirius said, hopping up and grabbing it.

His face showed it wasn't Harry as he thrusted it into my hands. "Why is Remus writing to you?" he asked and sat beside me as I opened the letter. "He got fired because Snape outted him as a werewolf. I offered to pay him to keep me company over the summer. But then you showed up and I guess I forgot." he laughed and leaned back onto the bed as I opened the letter. "Pay him to spend time with you!? That's funny." I rolled my eyes, reading the letter and getting up quickly, making Sirius look at me. "What is it?" I grabbed a shirt and pulled it on, telling him, "Remus says he'll be here in an hour. Says he needs to speak with me about something important."

I slid into a pair of shorts and told Sirius it may be better to stay out of sight. "Why? He knows I'm innocent." I turned to him and ran my hands up his bare chest and sighed, "Yes, but no one knows about our involvement. I think it's better if it's between us until you are free again. I would hate to lose my job if word got out, then who would watch over Harry in school?" I reasoned and he seemed to understand, kissing me before going into the bathroom as I went to meet Remus outside. Maybe I could keep him outside and not have to worry about him seeing Sirius.

When he came, I was waiting at the patio for him, he smiled, but I could see the worn out look underneath. I hugged him and sat him down, pouring a glass of juice for him. "It's good to see you. I'm sorry I was so forgetful. I meant to write sooner and ask you to come visit. How have you been?" he explained about his housing being rejected because of his curse and I nodded, listening in silence. "I only came to see how you were. I hadn't heard from you and you were a bit different inside the shack that night. I wanted to talk about that if you didn't mind."

I sighed and nodded, knowing it was going to be a talk I wouldn't enjoy. "Yes, it was so unlike me I know." "Using an unforgivable curse is a lot Phoebe, your face almost seemed to change, something was truly terrifying about you that night. Was it because of Peter's comment about your father?" I nodded and he took my hand, brushing his rough fingers along my smooth knuckles. "Yes, because of him, I let my rage and anger get in my mind and I lost myself for a moment. I will not allow it to happen again." he nodded, smiling at me. "He is not you and you are not him. There is no need to dwell that him. You are you and that is a wonderful thing."

I smiled back and asked what was the important thing we needed to discuss. He removed his hand and leaned back. "I wish I could say that he is forgotten, but with new discoveries, I have found out that your father may be returning soon. Nothing concrete yet, but some shady people had been spreading word of him. It has me uneasy and I wanted to make sure you were alright. I was worried about you when I never heard from you." I leaned onto the table, propping my head up with my hand and looking over his shoulder at the sea behind him.

"No need to worry, I doubt he would come for me. I mean, I may be his daughter, but he's evil and I'm not…at least I hope I'm not." Remus took my free hand again, making me look at him, "Phoebe, you are not evil. I will help you anyway I can so you be yourself again. I feel sad knowing that you think for a moment you may be evil." I chuckled, shaking my head, he was such a sweet man, any woman would be happy to have him, yet he thinks it is impossible because of what he is. I stood up and held out my hand, "Come take a walk with me, some sunshine will do you good Remus." he took my hand and we walked out onto the beach, I would feel his stress melting off with each step he took.