Sirius jumped to his feet and looked expectantly at Elizabeth Potter. "Sit down, Sirius," the pretty woman snapped. "She got here late last night. Really late."

"Why'd she come by late?"

Looking at Alice, Elizabeth Potter smiled sadly, "Her father came by her house, to make sure she was okay. Sneaky bastard. Andrew's tried to pin the thing on him, but it just isn't possible. They covered their tracks too damn well. Anyway, her mother popped in, just as Andrew and I were getting ready to go to bed. Andrew went and brought her over, just as James came down for a drink of water. I took her trunk up to the room, and by the time I came back Andrew said she and James had already headed upstairs. My guess would be around James' room, because I didn't see them on my way."

"Where is Mr. Potter?"

"At the Ministry. He might have gotten to Cela's parents, if he got off like he wanted to. There's definitely a lot to be done right now, so I don't know how that's going to work. You know what? I don't want those two to throw off their sleep schedules, so go on and find them. Bring them down here, I've got breakfast ready."

Remus and Sirius began salivating at the thought of Mrs. Potter's food and they kissed her happily, grabbing Alice and Lily and yanking them out of the kitchen. "James? He and Cela didn't get along."

"No kidding, Evans," Sirius said sarcastically. "We know they don't. At all. But if Prongs took her off last night, we find him and he'll tell us where Mira is. Still works."

Remus nodded, winking at Lily. "And they may not get along, but James would never hurt her. Especially not now."

"True," Lily mused, quieting as Sirius held a finger to his lips.

They opened the door slowly, and all four teenagers blinked in shock as they saw Mira Celaeno, curled up in James' arms as she slept deeply. Opening one eye wearily, James glared at them and slurred, "Go 'way. I sleeping."

Lily giggled, feeling her heart swell as James tightened his grip on Celaeno. "Oi, Prongs. Your mum sent us to wake you up. She doesn't want you being a lazy arse."

"Sirius!" Lily whispered in shock, unable to repress a grin as he winked at her in response.

Moving his lips to Celaeno's ear, James muttered groggily, "Cela, they want us to wake up."

"Bloody hell," she replied, blinking. "Don't want to. Make 'em go away, James."

Looking up at them smugly, James slurred, "You 'eard 'er. Go 'way."

Sitting on the bed, Sirius grinned even wider. "I thought you didn't like James, Mira."

"Better than you, stupid oaf. It's early."

She squinted up at him, unaccustomed to the bright daylight. "It's after eleven, Mira. And it can't be that early, if Remus and I are both up."

"Eleven?"

"Eleven twenty-four," Lily said, checking her watch.

Sitting upright with a jolt, Mira Celaeno poked James, "James, get up! Wake up, James."

Sirius laughed, watching her carefully. The four were waiting for the duo's animosity to resurface, and they were shocked as James grabbed her and pulled her back down beside him. "Don't want to. You're a good pillow. Sleep here more often."

"Didn't you hear your mum last night? I'm staying with you until we go back to Hogwarts."

Now it was James's turn to sit upright. "Really?"

Cela nodded and James whooped loudly, swinging her up and kissing her lightly, brushing a hand through her short hair. "That's perfect! You still look funny, though."

"Last night wasn't exactly easy."

It seemed James knew exactly what had happened, for his eyes darkened momentarily before he wrapped an arm around her waist, "Come on, let's get you downstairs. I heard something about breakfast. And Mum can get you a pepper-up potion or the like."

"I'm fine James. Nothing happened. I don't need –"

"But you'll get it anyway. Alright?"

Rolling her eyes, she reached out and grasped Lily's hand tightly. Though she hadn't spoken to them yet, they all understood the look in her eyes. She didn't want to talk about it. Not now, and possibly not ever again. She looked healed though, the burns gone, the cuts almost fully healed, but her hair was still boyishly short and her comfort zone was substantially larger than it had once been. "Sit," James said shortly, pushing her lightly into a chair and tossing himself into another one. "Morning Mum. What's for breakfast?"

"Good morning darling. Did you sleep well? Here, Cela darling, this'll make you feel better. You look a little under the weather."

James shot her a look that clearly said I told you so, and he laughed as she stuck her tongue out at him. Placing a large stack of pancakes, steaming and accompanied with warm syrup, Elizabeth Potter became subject to six salivating 'thank you's'. "Told you Mum would make something good today."

As Mira Celaeno stuck her tongue out again, Elizabeth Potter couldn't help but laugh as James reached out and grabbed it. Wagging his other hand at her disapprovingly, he said firmly, "Now, now, Celaeno. What have you been taught about sticking your tongue out? Especially at the breakfast table! What would your mother say? Now, say sorry and I'll give you your tongue back."

With an expression of childish innocence, Celaeno looked utterly distraught and James yelped in pain and surprise as she bit him soundly. "Ow! That hurt! Bloody hell Cela, that's my hand!"

"Language, James Potter," his mother warned with a cuff on the back of the head.

Alternating between rubbing his head and his hand, he glared at Cela as she smiled. "That's why you don't grab people's tongues, James. That's disgusting. How do you know where my tongue's been?"

"Ew, Cela, bad images. I'm trying to eat!"

Cela laughed, her laugh tinkling the way they had been waiting to hear. Winking at Remus, she watched James pretend to throw up over the edge of the chair. "My God, Potter! Can you never be serious?"

James looked up in shock, laughing as he realized that Lily was teasing him. And they all laughed as Sirius slung an arm around her shoulders, winking at her suggestively, "Now, now, Lily bird. I'm Sirius, remember. We all know you secretly want me, but Prongs does the best he can to emulate holiness."

Snorting into her drink, Celaeno sputtered and looked at him incredulously. "You? Holy? And come on now, Sirius. Lily may be pretty near-sighted sometimes, but she's not blind enough to want you."

They all laughed at this one, even Sirius. "Be nice to Padfoot," James warned as his laughter subsided.

"Oh, Sirius knows I love him," Cela said idly, reaching up toward Sirius. Grinning, he swept down and kissed her lightly, laughing as she looked at James pointedly. "See, he knows."

"Mira loves me. I'm her favourite, after all!"

"Just like a big brother," she purred, leaning onto Sirius's shoulder and sighing as he placed the goblet of pepper-up potion before her firmly. "Even when he's being bossy. Fine, just because you're making me."

Sirius smiled in relief, his frame more relaxed than it had been in over two weeks, and he watched with a smile as James shoved a plate of pancakes toward Mira Celaeno. Making a face at him, they ate, talking and laughing, and there were no questions as Elizabeth Potter picked up their plates and said, "Cela, sweetheart, will you and James help me with the dishes?"

Celaeno looked up and nodded, "Yes Aunt Eli. James, stop making faces at me."

Though James had looked disgusted at having to help, he agreed without difficulty. They all knew Miss Eli wanted to talk to them about the night before. Standing outside the door, they watched Elizabeth Potter move gracefully about the kitchen. "So where did you end up last night, Cela?"

"She was in my room, Mum."

"And where were you?"

"In my room."

Looking back at her son sharply, Eli dropped the plates in the sink with a crash. Cela winced, eyes widening, and Eli and James both turned to her quickly, breathing a sigh of relief as she smiled. "I'm okay. Go back to giving James a dirty look Aunt Eli."

Laughing as she reached out and hugged Celaeno tightly, she sent the girl to the sink, looking at James and hissing, "James Potter, I don't know what you think you're doing, but –"

"Mum! It wasn't anything like that! She's my cousin, dear Merlin!"

James' voice was low and shocked, staring at his mother in horror. She seemed unmoved, "Wouldn't be the first time it's happened in the wizarding world. And you two are no more related than she and Sirius."

"Mum, I'd never be able to do anything with someone who calls you 'aunt', no matter what."

"I'm not yelling at you about that," Elizabeth Potter sighed in exasperation. "Just that she's still weak, I don't want to see her get hurt, emotionally or physically, to satisfy some teenager's momentary urges."

"I think Sirius and Remus would kill anyone who attempted it, even if it was me."

"Not if Cela asked them not to. James, I trust you, you know that. But be careful, she isn't as strong as she once was. I know this taught you not to underestimate her, but don't overestimate her either."

Kissing his mother, James smiled, "Yes, Mum."

"Good. Cela, James'll do the rest of them, if you could just put these away, I'm going to go see if Tinsel's doing laundry."

James took the sponge from Celaeno, stopping as she looked up at him carefully. She really was beautiful, undeniably the most stunning woman he had ever seen. He swallowed as she tilted her face up to his and kissed him gently. "Don't tell Lily what Aunt Eli said. She might get jealous."

Laughing, James remembered why this girl was always going to be a cousin to him. Grabbing her by the waist, he kissed her deeply and tossed her back onto her feet, "The day Lily gets jealous of anyone because of me is the day I dance on the moon. I thought Mum was being stealthy about that."

"She was. I just figured she would be on you about that, and it's easy to figure out what's being said if you know what they're talking about."

James nodded, for that was certainly true. Leaning back against the counter, watching her close his refrigerator, he grinned. "So what do you plan on doing today?"

"Don't even try, James. I told you, I refuse to talk to you about it. If you want to know so badly, trick it out of Sirius. I'm saying nothing."

"It isn't good to hold it in, you know."

"A psychologist now, are we? I didn't know the Potters took on muggle professions. I'll talk to Sirius when the time's right. Not you. So back off."

Raising his eyebrows and pushing himself off the counter, he blew into her ear and laughed as she jerked away from him, "Yes, ma'am, sergeant! You done?"

"Um-hmm," she nodded and grinned at him, dancing out and grasping Sirius by the hands. "Come on, silly, it's a beautiful day!"

"Did she just say there was a beautiful day? In England? Good Merlin, we should be outside!"

Celaeno laughed, letting her fingers lace in Remus's and letting herself be pulled into the vast expanse of the Potter's yard.

– 06 – 06 – 06 – 06 – 06 – 06 –

"Where's Cela?"

"With Moony," Sirius said with a stretch, leaning back. "They're talking about something while Miss Eli checks her out. She needs nightly checks until she gets back to Hogwarts, just to make sure everything's okay."

James laughed, "She's fine. What're she and Moony talking about?"

Alice looked at Sirius archly, voice carrying a decidedly worried ring, "I thought Remus still cared about her."

"He does," Sirius assured, "but things changed. She doesn't need that kind of thing right now, and she's not a romantic object for him anymore. Too much between them for that, they'll agree there. Maybe in a few years, hopefully, they'll go back together."

Lily sighed, resting her head on the large side of her chair. "He deserves someone good."

"And Cela's just his type," James added with a grin.

"Wait a sec, Prongs," Sirius said, frowning slightly. "What happened last night?"

Sighing and shrugging as he looked at his best friend, James replied, "Not really too sure. Her dad showed up, you lot know that, and I know he pointed out that as her biological father and her mum's first husband he has every right to show up in that house with or without warning. There was big fight, and my uncle was taking a night shift last night so he wasn't there to get rid of Venatici. She wouldn't say, and she didn't talk about it after I asked, but I think he used the cruciatous on her. Just the sight of the bastard would've been enough to scare her; she looked more scared than anything when she got here. She's okay though, and that's what matters."

"How'd you two –? I mean, everyone knows you don't get along."

James ginned at Lily and winked. "Nobody can resist the Potter charm forever, Lils. Just kidding. Try spending days with someone and not being able to do anything but talk. You resolve a few differences. And she is my cousin. She looked scared, and I didn't want her staying by herself. I was going to come wake one of you up, but she started off toward her room. She wouldn't have me wake any of you, so I told her to stay with me. Glad I did, she all but cried herself to sleep."

Sirius's jaw was tight. James didn't deserve her devotion, though she deserved James's, and he softened as James shrugged helplessly. Mira Celaeno had been right in one thing, they were only teenage boys. Remus came in, sitting and grinning, laughing as Lily demanded, leaning over the edge of her chair, "What happened? What's going on with you and Cela?"

"Nothing," Remus said, complete honesty over his features. "Not now, and probably not ever. Would have been, if not for what happened. But it did happen and I couldn't do it to her and she wouldn't want it if I could."

"Is it because she was raped?"

"No!" Remus's face was shocked, horror glittering on his features as he stared. "Bloody hell, that's the farthest thing from my mind! She deserves better. And now she needs comfort, not a relationship. And I need to see her better, not as my girlfriend. It was mutual, so there's no difficulty Sirius, don't worry about her. Here she comes, she said she didn't want Miss Eli to worry about her."

Slamming the door shut, Celaeno heaved a sigh of relief. "I love Aunt Eli, but she's a tyrant. Even the nurses at St. Mungo's were more relaxed about things!"

"Come here, Cela," James purred, pulling her onto his lap and running his fingers through her short hair. "She's just worried about you. And she can be over the top."

"I missed your house. I've always loved it here."

"I know. You stayed longer than I ever wanted you to."

Laughing, Cela reached out for Sirius and shifted herself to his side. "Yes, doll. I did. Aunt Eli said she wants us all in bed early. We're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow, and she said if we're not in our rooms in ten minutes she's not feeding us anything."

"What?"

Remus laughed at Sirius' yelp, kissing Cela idly as he stood, "Then we'll listen to Miss Eli. Night Cela."

"Night Remus. Oh, Lily, you're such a darling! I've missed you!"

Lily's face shone as she hugged Cela, shooing Alice, Remus, and James off as she sat beside her friend. "I didn't know whether to be hurt or worried when you got rid of us."

"I know. I'm sorry, Lily. I really am. But not now, not yet, I'm not ready to talk about it. Really, though, I'm genuinely thrilled that you're here. Tell me though, how'd you not kill James?"

Smiling, Lily squeezed her best friend's hand, "I'll tell you all about it tomorrow night. Black wants to talk to you and he's ready to kill me if I don't leave. Night."

Blowing a loud kiss toward Lily, Cela giggled, "Kisses! G'night Lily!"

Lily's laughter echoed as the door closed and Celaeno sighed. "I really did miss her. We are so close, it's a shame that I haven't seen her in so long!"

"You look better."

"I am better," she reassured fondly. "Oh, Sirius, have you lot decided I'm never to be alone?"

Sirius grinned sheepishly. She knew him much too well. "Well Lily and I decided that you staying by yourself would be inexcusable. So, at least for tonight and tomorrow, you're stuck with us."

"Aunt Eli will –"

"Miss Eli knows, and she said it was okay as long as I was careful with you. She's seems paranoid that we boys can't handle your beauty. I told her you'd be throwing yourself at me if anything."

Celaeno laughed. Even paranoia couldn't keep Sirius' innate good humour from emerging. "Oh, Sirius, I love you!"

Leaning over and kissing her lightly, Sirius smiled, "Love you too, Mira. Moony asked me when I started kissing you. I told him always and that he'd only been a plaything to throw suspicion off of me and you."

Her laughter bubbled out and she shook her head, "You're awful! What did he say?"

"That it explained why I got so ticked about him kissing you. He's a smart-mouthed prat when he wants to be."

"He's a Marauder."

Sirius laughed, long and deep, his first real laugh since he had arrived at the Potter's with Mira Celaeno. Hugging her fiercely, he let his laughter die into chuckles, "Merlin, Mira, you're a gem. That he is, thank Merlin. Our pranks wouldn't be half as good if he wasn't!"

"You and your pranks," she said with a sigh, shaking her head.

"You say it like it's bad thing! Mira, my love, do you really think our pranks are less than fabulous?"

He looked at her with big puppy eyes, the dark gaze lit with humour and filled with pleading devotion. Unable to resist the pathetic energy of his stare, she flung her arms around him and giggled. "Oh, Sirius, I love you darling! This year is going be divine, isn't it? Everything's going to be wonderful." Her sentence mellowed into a slurred purr and she leaned against him, yawning softly, "I'm so tired, Sirius. It's been such a long two days."

Stroking her hair, he smiled blithely, "Then sleep. It's late anyway."

"Do stay, will you? I've wanted to stay with you, but I didn't want you to have to see me like that. I've missed you, Sirius. Won't you say that we never have to part again? I know it's childish, but I'm so used to you now. You and Remus and James, I need you as much Lily and Alice. You're my family now, I can't bear to be away from you."

Smiling at the innocent chatter of the sweet, half-asleep young woman, Sirius pressed a kiss to her hair, "I'm not going anywhere, Mira. I left that family for you. I don't plan on leaving you, or any of them, ever again."

"Good," she purred, turning into his body and resting her head against his shoulder as she drifted off into slumber. Nuzzling his shoulder as she floated away, she added gently, "Mmm, you're such a good brother Sirius. I missed you."

"I missed you too," he murmured in reply, stroking her hair again and smiling at Elizabeth Potter as the door opened slightly. One arm fast around Mira Celaeno's sleeping form, he whispered, "She's asleep, Miss Eli. I've got her."

Stepping forward and kissing Celaeno's forehead gently, Elizabeth pressed a kiss to Sirius' forehead as well, stroking his dark hair and smiling, "I know, darling. You sleep too. Good night."

– 06 – 06 – 06 – 06 – 06 – 06 –

A blithe smile graced his handsome features as she dashed over to him, dropping to his side and nuzzling into his arms. "Oh, Sirius, I couldn't bear to leave you by yourself over here. With Alice off visiting Frank and Lily spending the weekend with her parents, even James and Remus aren't the same. I do love them, dearly, but I could never leave you to sit by yourself. You won't come out with us, will you?"

"No, Mira. I'm not feeling up to that right now, so I'm happy just watching."

"Then I'll stay with you. You don't mind, do you? If you mind I'll go, I'd rather not bother you."

Chuckling, Sirius shook his head, "I don't mind. Stay, it's nice. My baby sister's been spending a lot of time away from me lately."

"You are my most favourite, you know. My very own darling. I'm positively devoted to you, you know. I love Remus desperately, he's very like Lily now, and I love James passionately, to make up for all the years lost, but you're different. I don't just love you. I'm like a little cocker spaniel. You couldn't do anything to keep me from being so absolutely stuck on you. What ever are you going to do when I fall in love with another man?"

She had returned to her childish ways, in part because she was safe and in part to hide her effort to move past earlier events. This sweet, ceaseless prattle had once aggravated him, and now it was only endearing. Pressing a kiss to her dark hair, hot after being beneath the sun, he smiled. "I can forgive Moony for taking you from my favour."

"Oh, silly Sirius," she said, shaking her head. "I won't fall for Remus again. I do love him, but the time for that has passed. I'm positively bursting with love for you, James, and Remus, and the man I love can't have already possessed such a fire within me. I would explode from the sheer magnitude of it. I'm using an awful lot of big words, aren't I?"

Nodding, Sirius laughed as she wrinkled her nose. "Do talk, Sirius. I feel so cumbersome doing all the talking, not that it's difficult for me. But talk Sirius, darling, I love it when you talk."

"What do you want me to talk about, Mira? We're sitting here, it's a gorgeous, sunny day, Prongs and Moony are playing quidditch, Alice and Lily are away, and we're sitting under the shade of one of the many big trees in James's yard. You must be starved for love though, with all your talk of how much you love us. It's an obsession with you now, I think, what with how fixated you've been on it the past few days. But you look well-rested, I'm glad. You got a good sleep last night, Prongs assured me of that much. I'm glad you didn't let him convince you to stay up late to talk."

"I wanted to, but I couldn't. My eyes wouldn't stay open last night, not even if I had been able to prop them up. And maybe it is an obsession of mine. It's so new to me though, loving you three so much. Lily and Alice have been there forever, it seems, but you're all so novel. Do you really think I'm starved for love though? I thought I was overflowing, knowing how much I'm cared for."

Sirius could do nothing but smile there, for she was right. "I think you need that love now. Maybe starved wasn't a good word. But hungry fits. Overflowing or not, you're certainly guilty of gluttony as far as love goes."

"I'm making up for you."

"What?!"

Her eyes had dropped the cheerful glint and Sirius knew they had treaded into serious conversation, no pun intended. "Physically I am almost well. Mentally I am willing to try to get better. I'm taking everything I can so that this," she motioned to herself, at the girl who had been cheerful and innocent only moments earlier, "so that this isn't an act. I don't want to be miserable, especially when I've so much to be grateful for. Knowing how much you, and James, and Remus, and Alice, and Lily, and Mum, and Aunt Eli, and Uncle Andrew, and Daddy care for me, that's what's giving me strength. I can get past this. I can forget that this ever happened. Well, maybe not forget, but I can discard all of the effects. I can move on as though it was only a game in my memory. Because I'm feeding on, I'm inhaling the love that I'm being given. You, Sirius, are as miserable as I'm trying not to be."

"I'm not miserable!" Sirius cried vehemently, sitting up straight. "You're the one who's waking up in the middle of the night sweaty and pale! You're the one who can hardly sleep alone because you're terrified of being alone after your nightmares! It's your face that's still white, your eyes that are still haunted, and your soul that's still being tortured. Pretend all you want Mira, I can see that you're sucking at us because you're afraid that if you stop we'll go away. It's you who can't trust us, or yourself, enough to realize that you're safe now and that it's okay to move on. If anything bothers me, it's that. It's that you, sweet, beautiful Mira, are haunted by something that will never happen again. I want to see you get better, is that so hard?"

Taking his face into her hands, her chocolate eyes probed his carved features and mahogany gaze. "I am afraid. I am not better yet. I am still recovering, and I will be probably for months yet. But it is not haunting me. It is not torturing me. And it is never going to keep me from trying to move on. I want to be happy again, and I will do everything I can to make sure it happens, gluttonous or not. You though, Sirius, you're trying to do the wrong thing. Don't worry about me, it won't do any good. You're trying to take my burden onto yourself, and that's torture for you, torture I don't want you to go through. It was your torture as much as mine this summer. My scars will be physical, a few emotional, but your scars are much harder to treat. I may be afraid after a nightmare, but you're the one beating yourself over the possibility of my fear. I will be well much faster if I don't have to worry about the man I love most. Especially when I know his anguish is for my sake."

Kissing her gently, he pressed his face into her neck. "You're a goddess, Mira. I really do love you. I'll try. For your sake, I'll try. I just want you to be well again. I just want to hear you laugh and to hear you mean it. I don't want it to be fake for you."

"It will be real as soon as your laughter is real."

"I thought brothers were supposed to look after their sisters, Mira. So why is it that you're looking after me?"

"You already had your turn. I'm just repaying the favour, brother."

Letting her rest her head on his shoulder, he smiled and ruffled her hair. His smile was genuine and he let his eyes roam toward where Remus and James flew happily over their heads. "You already have."

– 06 – 06 – 06 – 06 – 06 – 06 –

James stroked her hair, watching where she rested against his shoulder. "You're tired, Cela."

"Mm-hmm, but I don't want to go to bed yet."

"Silly Cela. Go to bed."

"Jem," she looked up at him, using the pet name she had derived for him as children, long before animosity had ever set in. "I like sitting here with you. It's comfortable."

He smiled at her. "I thought you said Sirius was comfortable. And our beds are comfortable too."

It was late, and late nights tended to weaken her resolve. Still, she curled into him and moaned softly, "Jem, don't. I don't want to go. I feel safe here."

She had said it. All it took to push James, Remus, and Sirius into overdrive was Celaeno's safety, and she had done it without ever realizing it. Gathering her into his arms, sitting her on his lap as he rocked her gently, James crooned like a father to a restless child, "Hush now, Cela. You're safe, I've got you. Just close your eyes, everything will be okay."

There was fatigue glittering in her chocolate eyes and Celaeno's voice was like cream, "But James, you're tired too. And this position can't be comfortable. Sleep, please."

Sighing, James wondered if she would ever stop being so utterly selfless. It irritated him, much as he had fallen in love with her. Not like Lily, but it was enough. She was his Mira Celaeno as much as she was Sirius', and he could even claim seniority against the depth of Sirius's bond to sweet Cela. Yawning as he laid down beside her, he wrapped her in his arms and let her head rest against his chest. She was right, again, and he was immensely more comfortable; comfortable enough that he began drifting off the moment he put his head down. "You're annoying when you're right."

Too tired to notice Lily and Sirius peering into the room, Celaeno giggled as his nose touched hers. Lily and Sirius hadn't heard James's whisper, though they had seen him speak and heard Celaeno's soft laughter. "Stoppit, James. G'night."

Rolling over slightly, pinning her beneath half of his long, lanky body, James slurred tiredly, his voice the last thing either of them heard before drifting away, "Night love."

Sirius grinned, knowing that James valued the girl immensely, and pulled Lily out. "I didn't think they were so tired. Oi, Evans, what's wrong?"

The pained expression on Lily's face pushed him into old habits. "He loves her an awful lot, doesn't he?"

"He's good at the family thing, what can I say?"

"She isn't his family. She's related to him through her step dad. That's called convenience."

Realization dawning on Sirius, he grinned impishly, "Oooh. Little Lily flower's got a crush on Jamesie-poo."

"Does he ever hear you call him that?"

"Only when he's drunk or too tired to jump me for it. And you know you didn't deny it," Sirius said cheerfully, watching Lily's face fall in realization of her mistake.

"I didn't want to!"

"He never wanted to fall for you either, Lily. He did, though, and the fact that he and Mira are acting like cousins again won't stop that."

Raising an eyebrow, Lily demanded carefully, "I've never been that comfortable with any of my cousins."

"It's Mira," Sirius said with a shrug. The girl had always revelled in good embraces. "And she needs that kind of closeness now. They still bicker, almost as bad as you two, you've heard them. Don't worry about Prongs, I swear. His thing for you isn't going to go away anytime soon!"

Lily swallowed and sat back, smiling at Remus as she and Sirius invaded his room. "Hey, Moony, guess what?" Sighing and knowing there was no way to get out of this one, Lily sat back and watched Sirius bounce onto the bed in glee. "Guess what?"

Eyes widening slightly, he looked at Lily and asked, "What did you feed him? Never give it to him again."

Laughing as Sirius pretended to be offended; Lily watched the handsome boy point to her. "Lily likes Prongs!"

"Funny, Sirius," Remus replied idly, sitting down and chuckling. "Did Cela and Prongs already go to bed? They looked exhausted."

"Yep," Sirius chirped happily. "And I'm not kidding! She didn't even deny it! And she was jealous."

Remus stopped, looked at Lily carefully. "Lily? Is he right?"

Shrugging helplessly, Lily avoided his severe gaze. "I don't know. Don't look at me like that! Don't tell him, please."

"Why not?" Sirius demanded roughly. "He's been waiting for this since fourth year! Why shouldn't we tell him?"

"Because it'll distract him. We need to help Cela. If he's really been waiting for so long, he can wait a little longer to help her. I'm more concerned about her than about my love life, Sirius, you should be too."

Sirius stopped, he hadn't thought of it that way. As usual, Lily was right, and he knew Celaeno needed all the attention she could get. Leaning forward, he kissed Lily's cheek gently and grinned, "Mira's lucky to have a friend like you."

Lily blushed, both because Sirius had kissed her and because his compliment was so genuine she didn't know what to say. "I'm lucky to have Mira."

Sirius nodded there, accepting her comment, but his gaze had softened toward her and Lily suddenly understood why Mira Celaeno felt so safe with him. Seeing her discomfort, he guided the conversation, taking it deliberately away from James and Celaeno, and when they left to go to bed, he linked his arm in hers and said, "I used to make fun of Prongs for liking you. Now I see why he would."

Smiling softly, Lily looked up at him and asked, "So you won't tell him? Not yet, at least. When Cela's better –"

"Of course not. Don't worry about it, for all he knows this is just a façade to help Mira. Well, he's smarter than that, but you know what I mean." She did, and she laughed as he continued, "Anyway, you look exhausted. So go to bed, and I'll see you tomorrow."

She stiffened in surprise for a moment as he hugged her, holding her tightly. So Sirius Black wasn't such a womanizer, Lily mused, for his grip reminded her of her father. Sighing, she reached up and kissed his cheek, laughing as he made a face at her, and as she opened the door she froze. In the darkness, a small figure stood, looking helpless and lost, and she moved like lightening. Following her, Sirius swore as Lily grasped Celaeno tightly, asking gently, "Cela, what happened? Why didn't you stay with James?"

"I don't want to!" she cried, looking quite childish as her eyes searched for Sirius. "He doesn't know. Oh, Lily."

The pretty young woman broke down, sobbing softly into her best friend's shoulder. Good at comfort, Lily stroked her hair gently and waited for the girl's tears to subside. Moving in, Sirius motioned for her to go to her room, the laughter gone from his handsome face, and he tilted Celaeno's face to meet his. "Are you okay?"

"I think so."

"Did you have a nightmare?"

Shuddering, she shrugged helplessly and he swore again, wrapping her in his arms and lifting her idly, "Come on, you'll stay with me tonight. It's okay, Mira, everything's okay."

Sighing, Lily closed her door, wishing there was more she could do. Both for her sake and for Cela's. Laying the petite girl on his bed, Sirius kissed her forehead and said gently, "Wait here, I need to get ready."

He watched as she curled up into the foetal position, a little ball on his bed. When he returned, complete with his plaid pyjamas, he stroked her hair and felt her turn into his arms. He hated seeing her like this, though he loved knowing she got comfort from his presence. Burrowing into his arms, she let her eyelids droop as his arms fastened tightly around her. In his presence, like this, she was safe. She always would be. She could feel the brotherly affection from him, his love that had rooted as deeply and as quickly as hers, and she revelled in it. Feeling his arms relax, his breath steady, and his dark eyes cloud with contentment, she knew he was drinking in her adoration as she had been drinking his. Smiling, she rested her head against his chest and felt true sleep envelop her. For the first time in weeks, her sleep was deep and peaceful, because the man who cared about her most was finally happy.

– 06 – 06 – 06 – 06 – 06 – 06 –

James woke up with a start, groping for the body that had been beside him when he had fallen asleep. Sitting up, he looked groggily around his room and frowned as he saw Celaeno's slippers still on the side of his bed. If she had woken up early, she wouldn't have left them there. Worry swamping him, he stood and ran across the hall, knocking on Lily's door and going in. Blinking, she looked up at him and sat up. Swallowing as she reached up to smooth her tousled red hair, James brushed back the feeling in his gut and asked, "Have you seen Cela?"

"Morning to you too," Lily yawned, nodding as she covered her mouth. "Last night when Sirius and I were heading to bed. She had a nightmare or something, and Sirius took her. They're probably still asleep."

Breathing a sigh of relief, James forgot that he was supposed to act like a friend to Lily. Reaching down, he kissed her lightly and beamed, "Thanks Lily flower. Get dressed and I'll be back."

Blushing as she watched him leave, she threw on her robe and followed him into Sirius' room. She smiled as she saw Sirius, wrapped around Celaeno, his long limbs draped over the curled up figure. Looking groggily at James, the boy winked, poking Cela and nudging her. James laughed as Mira Celaeno made a small noise, turning into Sirius' chest. Tilting his head back, Sirius looked at where her face disappeared into his chest, and laughed. "Morning sunshine."

A mildly incoherent mutter came forth from his pyjamas and he laughed again, ruffling her hair. Hand going up to smooth her hair and swat his hand, she slurred, "Sirius. Leave me alone."

Laughing again, Sirius moved to get out of bed and leave her alone. Chuckling as she grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him back down, he asked gently, "I thought you said to leave you alone."

"Mmm," she replied, nestling into his arms.

"I thought you were a morning person Mira," he teased, brushing her hair out of her face.

"You're a good pillow," Mira Celaeno said, wrapping her arms around his waist and turning to look at Lily. "Morning Lily. Jem, you're here too. Where's Remus? We can have a party."

"In my bed?"

She giggled, tilting her head up and kissing him lightly. She had aimed for his cheek, but as he laughed her lips hit his neck, sending a jolt through them both. Looking sharply at each other, they did something that would push them both back years. Laughing, Sirius began to tickle her, her laughter echoing in the room as he jumped out of the bed after her. Chasing her around, he ignored Lily and James's exasperated looks as he grabbed Celaeno and tickled her. The flash of attraction was gone, or at least pushed out of the way, and both Mira Celaeno and Sirius would forget it had ever existed.