Epilogue

"… Happy Birthday Dear Sebastian, Happy Birthday to you." A horde of small children and adults finished their serenade for the now five year old Sebastian Severus Snape.

"Make a wish." Remus Lupin, Sebastian's godfather placed a cake with five candles in front of the birthday boy. He smiled at him and ruffled his unruly black hair.

Sebastian smiled back sadly and replied. "I wish daddy was here." The lone figure at the window flinched involuntarily and Sebastian pushed the cake away without blowing the candles.

"You know this isn't possible, pup." Remus took him in an embrace.

"I know." The boy pulled away and walked over to his father who was observing the snow storm outside. "Dad?"

Severus looked down at his son and smile. He placed an arm around him and looked back out the window.

"I'm sorry that I ruined you birthday, son."

"You didn't ruin it." Sebastian said and pulled on Severus' arm until the man kneeled down and was on eyelevel with his son. "I miss daddy." He slunk his arms around his father's neck and started to cry.

Severus couldn't see his son be so sad, especially on his birthday. 'Damn Harry, did you know what you put me through when you left us?' He missed his lover, too, but this was his son's fifth birthday and he had to do something to make him smile again. He squeezed his boy for a moment and whispered.

"I miss him too, baby."

That got the expected effect and Sebastian tried to pull away. After a short fight the boy was free and glared at his father. 'A perfect Snape glare' Severus smiled inwardly.

"Don't call me that." Sebastian's lips went up in a pout and the effect of the glare was null.

"Why not?" Severus asked innocently.

"I'm not a baby anymore." The boy crossed his arms and stuck his nose in the air.

"You will always be my baby." Severus countered.

"No I won't."

"Yes, you will."

"But I can't."

"Why ever not?" Severus inclined his head questioningly. He knew what would follow and he knew wouldn't come.

"Because of Samantha."

"What about her?"

"She will be the baby."

"But she isn't even born yet."

"Yes she is, yes she is." Sebastian laughed and pointed at his dad. "Got you."

Severus growled and pulled his son close and tickled him.

This had been their ritual for the last seven month to make Sebastian happy again. Originally it ended with "But she isn't even born yet." "But she will soon." And then the voice of reason would say.

"Are you fighting about the baby again?" He looked up and before he could say anything a flash of deep green robes rushed passed him.

"Daddy." Sebastian threw himself in his father's arms. Luckily Harry had had the foresight to give Samantha to Remus before he'd made his presence known. He held his son in his arms and swung him around.

"Oh, how I missed you, pup." He kissed his son on the head. "Happy Birthday."

"I missed you too daddy." Sebastian smiled at his daddy. He noticed his daddy looking passed him and wriggled until he on the floor and went to great his baby sister.

"Hello love." Harry greeted his husband with a smile. The only answer he got was a hand around his neck pulling him in for a kiss.

"Never again." Severus growled against his husbands lips. "Never again will I let you go somewhere on holiday without me."

"Thanks Merlin." Harry laughed as Severus raised him in the air and swung him around.

"Dad, look, she is all grown up." Severus and Harry turned around and laughed as they saw seven month old Samantha walking over to them, with Sebastian's help of course.

Severus held out his arms and captured his daughter in them. "I missed you baby."

"See, I told you I'm not the baby anymore."

Harry and Severus laughed as they pulled their son into a family embrace.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Fin

x x x x x x x x x x x x x

A/N – That's it. What do you think?