Hi!

I'll keep my notes brief. This is actually the next - to - last chapter. Both are smallish.

I've already begun writing the sequel, 'Living Eternities'.

Hope you like it.

Disclaimer: There are so many ways to say it, but they all mean the same thing -- I don't own the characters, JK Rowling does.

Chapter 18: Freedom, Revisited

As Sirius Black flew over the vast ocean towards a safe haven, Albus Dumbledore paid his daughter a visit and informed her of the night's events.

He relayed what Sirius had told him about being an Animagus, about Peter's betrayal and the events of October 31st, 1981, as well as the night's events with Harry Potter and his friends. Kali listened stone – faced, determined not to give away what she'd known.

Dumbledore's visit was brief and long after he left, well beyond sunrise, she sat contemplating all that he'd told her – and all that he hadn't.

In a short time, Sirius had managed to give Dumbledore all the pertinent details of his innocence and actions over the last year, but never mentioned knowing about her. Kali tried not to let it get to her, and told herself it didn't mean anything, he was fighting for his life, but a tiny part of her wasn't convinced. That nagging feeling grew as she sat alone in the cottage at the end of the lane, feeling truly isolated from the life she'd once known.

She didn't want to waste her time in Hogsmeade any more, hiding from danger and sitting on her hands. No, that wasn't for her. She was a Del Fuego, for better or worse, and she was meant to do other things.

She decided she wouldn't let others dictate her life anymore, just as she'd allowed where she came from dictate her choices.

All of a sudden, the urge to run came over her.

She promptly packed up her trunk and magicked it to the post office, where she sent it back to London, then sent word to Mrs. Hurlbutt, Dumbledore and Remus that she was leaving for good.

She was going home, though she knew it was only for a short while.

As she prepared to Disapparate, her mind wandered to Remus and she wondered just how he felt at that moment, likely curled up in bed, body aching and mind reeling. She contemplated visiting him but couldn't bring herself to do it. She'd made up her mind to go and wouldn't risk him talking her out of it once he knew her intentions.

Despite their strained friendship, she felt closer to him than anyone. He was her friend, her only friend. Perhaps that's why she felt his disappointment in her so severely, and perhaps that's why she was determined to go back to London and end things with Malfoy once and for all.

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Two weeks later, Remus, newly unemployed, awoke to a tapping beak on the window of his childhood home. An impossibly large, rather colourful bird flew in, an envelope attached to its leg. Remus fed the bird a scrap of bread and laid a dish of water on the windowsill for it then tore the envelope open, eager to hear from his friend.

Dear Remus,

I hope this letter finds you well. I imagine after that night, you feel badly about Peter's escape.

Well, don't!

The blame for all that has transpired over the last twelve years, scratch that, almost thirteen (blimey!), falls squarely on Peter's shoulders. We were both fooled by a man we thought was a friend and a brother and the shame lies with him, not either of us. Still, I know I can't help feeling responsible for everything sometimes so I can imagine the flogging you've given yourself.

Do me a favour. Stop being the Moony I know and quit beating yourself up. There are things I wish I could change and do over but I can't and hell if I'll let that treacherous rat ruin my life anymore.

Take my advice, Moony. Take your mind off things, get yourself laid and for Merlin's sake, stop worrying! I will try to take my own advice.

(If you're wondering, the ladies are very lovely where I am.)

Take care,

Sirius

Remus smiled broadly and chuckled. He hadn't realized how much he missed his mate's letters. He knew Sirius was lying about moving on and had written it to make him feel better but appreciated the gesture just the same. It was the Sirius he'd known since he was a boy, the one that surprised him with his humanity every once in a while. Then of course, he would say or do something to make Remus cringe and roll his eyes.

That was Sirius – surprising and unpredictable.

Remus' eyes lingered over the words, "we were both fooled by a man we thought was a friend and a brother…" and his smiled faded. Pushing the bitter feelings associated with Peter away, he read on:

P.S. – Please forward this letter to my daughter. I don't know her name, just her eyes. Thanks, mate.

Remus pulled a small, folded bit of parchment from the envelope and stared at it for a long time, rereading the last two sentences. His mind began to race, trying to figure out how Sirius knew and was curious about what was written in the letter. He was tempted to read it but stopped himself. The contents were strictly between father and daughter.

Oh, Merlin, Sirius is a father!

He didn't know why it suddenly hit him; he'd known it for years. But as he mulled over it he realized, as he sat alone in the quiet cottage, that when the truth about Sirius came out, it was as if he had been resurrected from the dead; no longer a ghost that haunted his dreams but his mate.

Sirius had always been his mate.

For a brief moment, Remus reveled in the feeling of having a dear friend once again. He forgot about his situation, Sirius' predicament, Peter's unknown whereabouts. He pushed away the foreboding feeling that told him things were about to get worse. For that brief moment he didn't care.

Sirius Black was his mate, the dog to his wolf, his canine companion – his brother once again.

The last chapter is already up...go on & read it!

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