Hermione and Harry made dinner while Tonks was at the hospital. They had thought about going but decided there were already too many people there.
"Let me go and get Sirius and I need to check on Emma" Hermione told Harry as he was seeting the table. Hermione climbed the stairs and was shocked as she opened the door to Emma's room. Sirius was sitting on the floor playing with the baby. Emma was giggling as Sirius tickled her. Hermione sighed happily. This feels so right, she thought.
Sirius looked up and quickly blushed a little, "Sorry" he mumbled. "I know she should be napping but..." Sirius trailed off. Hermione shook her head.
"It's ok" Hermione assured him. "She was having fun. She likes you. They say children are the best judge of character."
Sirius got to his feet and put Emma in her crib, talking the time to smooth the blankets and tuck the little girl in. "Dinner is ready" Hermione told him. "We made dinner"
Sirius brushed past Hermione in the doorway and before she could stop herself, she grabbed his arm. Sirius looked down at Hermione, his eyes clouded over with emotion. "Hermione, don't" Sirius whispered. "We would never work out. You know this"
"I know" Hermione answered tearfully. "It's just…I love you. I can't make my heart understand that we are wrong for each other. There is a part of me that feels that we can build something substansial and that we are missing out. I am tired of missing out on things. I would hate to let ba chance at happiness slip by me"
Sirius leaned back against the wall, "I can't give you anything" Sirius told her. "I have a bad temper, I am impulsive and…I am old enough to be you're father." In his head, Sirius heard everything Remus had said about his relationship with Tonks. Suddenly, all of his excuses seemed pathetic. He leaned close to Hermione, his forehead touching hers. "Wow, all of that sounded…"
"Silly" Hermione finished for him. "I don't know where this will lead us but I think were heading in the right direction"
Sirius slipped his arms around Hermione's waist and kissed her forcefully. Hermione gasped into his mouth but soon melted into the kiss. Sirius pressed Hermione's back to the wall, letting his tongue slipup across her lips. She parted her mouth, granting him entrance. Both were lost in their own world.
"Hi, love birds" Harry called form the hallway. "Some of us would like to eat. Now, if you two need to be alone" Harry paused and shuddered at his own innuendo, "Then I can just eat without you."
Sirius picked Hermioen up, she giggled and he carried out intot he hallway.
"Go away kid" Sirius growled playfully. "Go eat or play Quidditch, just go the hell away". Sirius carried Hermione into her bedroom and slammed the door. Harry shook his head and laughed, not too sure if he should be happy or disgusted. He decided happy was better, much better.
A few hours later Harry was holding Remus and Tonks son, Brian, feeling little overwhelmed. In a few months he himself would be married and possibly preparing to have his own kids.
"Where is Sirius and Hermione?" a sleepy Tonks asked.
"They are…" Harry started. "Well, they are working out their differences"
"Gross" Remus mumbled as he took the baby back from Harry. "So, are they together now?"
"I have no idea" Harry answered.
"Yes, we are" Hermione replied coming into the room.
"Good for you" Lily told the youn girl. "Although, I think we should sit down and talk. I have some tips on how to deal with guys like Sirius. He can be difficult."
"Lily, piss off" Sirius grumbled as he came into the room." Don't scare her off"
"It would take a lot more than her to scare me away" Hermione replied as she kissed his cheek. Sirius slipped an arm around her shoulder and tuned to look at the baby. "Thank God, it looks like you Tonks, I was really scared it would look like Moony"
"What fangs and yellow eyes?" James asked earning ina poke in the ribs from his wife.
"Funny" Remus said, "You come from back the dead and suddenly you are comedian"
Hermione laughed as the Marauders made jokes and teased one another. She leaned her head on Sirius's shoulder and for once , since the war, everything felt right and she felt at peace.
Later that evening Hermione was in bed and she heard Emma crying. Quickly she grabbed a bathrobe and headed for the baby's room.
"Emma, baby what's wrong?" she heard Sirius ask. Hermione couldn't believe that Sirius was so attached to Emma.
"Sirius" Hermione announced her presence. He looked at her and smiled.
"Go back to bed" Sirius ordered. 'She is ok, I have everything under control."
"Join Me," Hermione requested, holding her hand out to him. "Please?"
Sirius seemed to be thinking this over. He put the baby back in the crib, taking time to tuck her in as he always did and then took his girlfriends hand. "I was thinking" Sirius started as they ducked into Hermione's room. "We should really get our own place"
"Our?" Hermione asked slipping out of the bathrobe and into bed. "You mean live together"
"Why not?' Sirius asked. He climbed into bed after her.
Hermione tired to think of logical reasons but not one came ot mind. "Ok," she replied, "We will start looking tomorrow" Hermione switched the light off and laid down.
Sirius pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her small frame. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too" Hermione replied, snuggling close and feeling safe as she fell asleep.
