She laughed and spun in a circle, turning to him and saying, "What's wrong? Why aren't you happy? Remus?"

Remus took her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead, saying gently, "Nothing's wrong anymore Mira Celaeno."

Tilting her face up, she frowned and said, "Remus, forget the past. Enjoy what we have, what you have, while it's here. For me Remus?"

Unable to refuse the soft, gentle face that he had so nearly lost, that he knew would slip away from him, he closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her. He pressed another kiss to her hair and inhaled deeply. Even now her presence was so ephemeral, so ethereal that death seemed only natural, only right, and with a certainty he had been long denied, he realized that she would never truly leave him, that pieces of her would remain forever and that, for her sake, he had to accept that death was not an eternal parting. And he did. In a way he had never expected to understand, he realized that death was only another place that they would all be together again, without the tribulations that made life horrific.

Fingers curling under her chin, he lifted her face, smiled, and said, "I understand now. I really think I understand now. And for you, anything. Always."

Guilt shot through James as he approached them. It was a sight he would have given anything to keep forever, and he took the picture subtly, knowing Remus would cherish it. His friend was happier, safer, than anything he or his fellow Marauders had ever been able to offer the young werewolf. Not so young anymore, James thought bitterly, thinking of the grey streaks in the nineteen year old's hair and the occasional strands he would pull out of his own. Age had nothing to with youth, he mused, as he thought of Gideon Prewett who, despite being six years older than them, still had the youth of childhood and adolescence. And as an auror too. Ironic, yet sadly sensible.

Wishing Lily could see this, see Remus so light and happy, James walked over to them and placed a gentle hand on Cela's shoulder, "Good morning Cela. I was looking for you, but Sirius said you had gone to find Remus. Do you like doing this to me, Mira Celaeno? Making me walk all this way to find you and my best friend?"

Her laughter jingled and the two men grinned as she shook head, "No! James, don't tease me like that! Where's Lily?"

Eyes misting at the thought of the vibrant and gorgeous redhead probably sitting on the couch as he spoke, James smiled foolishly, "She and Alice were sitting and chattering on about something when I left. She and Frank had some romantic dinner last night, apparently, and they're sitting there squealing over little things and picking apart every little detail." He shook his head, the chide said with utmost fondness for both women, before he became sombre. "Mira Celaeno! You're changing the topic! I'm supposed to bring you back to Frank, he wants to talk to you about something."

Mira Celaeno sighed and shook her head, "He's being redundant again. I already told him no. He wants me to join some organization against Voldemort, with Dumbledore and others. I've told him at least a thousand times, no, I refuse to have anything to do with it. My fight against Voldemort is done, and I want no part in any order."

James and Remus exchanged hidden glances, secretly relieved that she would not be joining in on the danger. She turned away slightly, muttering, almost to herself, "My time left is limited, I don't want to mar it with more war and death than is here already."

Hand falling on her shoulder, Remus asked, "Cela? Are you okay?"

She waved her hands in a frantic motion but said nothing. Standing there, immobile, she looked at the two men for a long moment before sighing, "Fine, Remus. Until later." She looked at where James moved to follow her and, holding up her hand, stopped him quickly. "No, James, I can go find Frank myself. I'll say bye to Sirius and be on my way."

Filled with an innate grace that was purely feminine, Mira Celaeno turned on her heel and fled. James winced and looked at Remus. Shrugging, the werewolf buried his hands in his pockets and offered, "At least she said bye to us."

Raising an eyebrow, James looked at Remus for a long minute before Remus whistled out a long, slow whistle and said in resignation, "Alright, fine. That was odd. She was never as acutely aware of that summer as she is now. I'm worried about her. She's been spending a lot more time with Sirius lately, and they haven't been laughing and joking all the time like they used to. And she's trying so hard to convince me that nothing unusual's going to happen. I think she's scared, Prongs. She doesn't want to die."

It was out. For the first time, the words had been spoken, acceptance in them. Mira Celaeno was dying. James winced, but nodded dutifully. "She'd be a fool not to be scared, really. She's been trying, that much's obvious. But you don't seem fazed Moony, not so much."

He shrugged, hands deep in his pockets as he and James began to walk. "We knew what was happening all along, that it would kill her. But after so long to live with that, it's like pushing an old wound, it stops hurting that much."

James nodded, knowing there was nothing he could say to that, and looked sideways at Remus. They had all expected, especially Sirius, for Remus and Cela to end up together, but time had turned traitor on them all and the love between the two blossomed into a friendship. A friendship so deep and powerful that it often made James and Sirius twinge with unwanted jealousy. As the messy-haired man walked beside his childhood friend, he realized how much Remus loved the woman and felt his jaw tighten. For a moment he wondered if Remus would be as deeply hurt if he were to die, and then scolded himself for being so childish. And as he nudged the werewolf and grinned, he had no idea that he would do exactly that – die.

– 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 –

He stepped in, grinning, and he frowned as Cela stood up quickly, blinking rapidly to hide the tears that had been forming in her eyes. This was why Sirius had asked him to come over. "You alright, Cela?"

"I'm fine Remus. It's been a few days since you came over. I missed you. You look pale, come on. Let me get you some tea."

Tea. That was Mira Celaeno's foolproof way to deal with any problem. She rarely talked about things, less with him than with the others, but her tea was a comfort zone as well as a way to avoid confrontation. He often wondered how they were so close, when they talked about their problems so little. Perhaps that was why, because their problems were mutually understood and accepted without conversation. "Sirius said it was a hard month."

That was the most direct course of action Celaeno ever took when it came to Remus' lycanthropy. It had been a hard month, one of the worst in a long time. "I've had worse."

"Sit, drink, it'll make you feel better."

He obeyed, watching her look at him carefully. In some ways he wished he had fallen in love with the beautiful woman, the large brown eyes that would look at him fondly, the features that made her worthy of being named after one of the Pleiades. She blinked again, her long lashes drawing attention to her chocolate eyes as she continued to look at him carefully. "So did you come see me because you wanted to or because Sirius asked you to?"

"How'd you –?"

"I've lived with Sirius for over two years, plus all of Hogwarts. I think I know how he thinks well enough by now."

"He was pretty worried about you."

"He's always worried about me. I tell him about a thousand times a day, that he should either do something about it himself or find a better object to worry about."

Remus smiled. That was Mira Celaeno, alright, fiercely independent till the end. "I'm glad he asked me to come over though. I've been wanting to for a while, but I kept on making up excuses for other stuff I had to do."

"So menial chores are more important to you than I am?"

Laughing, he drank the tea. Though he knew it was her presence that cheered him, he always marvelled at the magic properties of her tea. He might have actually taken Divination if it had been able to do the same thing as Cela's odd remedies. She had something for every little malady he could think up. "Why didn't you go with him to James's? Lily's there, and I was there. Peter and Alice are supposed to come by later, it would have been a party."

"I wasn't feeling well yesterday."

Yes, Sirius and Lily had both mentioned that. Her fits were slowly starting to become worse, and more frequent. And it was James worrying this time. "James suggested you and Sirius get married so that you can get VIP service at St. Mungo's."

Her laughter rang through the air. "Oh, he would! The little imp! Well, he doesn't need to worry. Sirius is a god, remember? I don't need St. Mungo's."

It was joke rather than denial, though he sensed her anticipation beneath her joviality. "Come back with me, Cela. I told James I'd come back, and it would make everyone happy to see you come too."

Sighing, she took the empty teacup from him. When she reached the sink she turned back and looked at him carefully. He stood, his tall form even more intimidating beside her small, slender figure. Remus jumped as she flung her arms around him, hanging on his neck and nodding into his shoulder. "I really missed you."

She needed a hug, a good, tight embrace, and he was more than willing to give it to her. Breathing deeply, he held her and waited for her to step away. When she did she was smiling again, her face slightly paler than it had been before, but she winked at him and grabbed her cloak, apparating away. With a pop he appeared just outside the door. While Mira Celaeno, as James' cousin, could enter the house immediately, he didn't have the luxury of family bonds. Flinging the door open just as he reached it, she beamed at him and pulled him inside. "Guess what I caught?" he called, laughing as James and Lily looked out of the living room.

With a happy yelp, James ran forward and swung Celaeno into a hug, Lily laughing as Celaeno made a face at him. She had not seen her cousin or best friend in nearly two weeks, the longest since they had left Hogwarts. "Hello to you too James. Could you put me down though, maybe?"

James laughed, hugging her tightly and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Why haven't you been coming by? I've missed my little cousin."

"It's been a busy couple of weeks at work. Plus I haven't been feeling well, so if I was home I was trying to sleep."

"Oh, you should have let me know! I'd have brought you some soup, or come and given you some company at the very least!"

Smiling at Lily, Cela shook her head. "Honestly, Lily, I was happier sitting by myself. And if it makes you feel better, Sirius was as attentive as any fussy mother."

"What about me?"

Cela's laughter turned into a fond small as Sirius poked his head into the room. Their gazes locked for a moment, and she knew they would be doing some serious talking later that night, but for now she just laughed. "Only that you're a very good mother, Sirius."

"See how amazing I am Prongs? I'm even good at being a girl!"

"That isn't something most men would be proud of, Padfoot," James pointed out casually, guiding Cela into the living room.

– 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 –

"So, what was it that Moony said that I hadn't been able to pull off?"

"Do you really want to know? Or will you just get bitter about it and wonder why you didn't think of it first?"

Though he had started to respond, Sirius froze. She was right, again. He hated it when she was right. Not really, but he said he did at times like this when her correctness served only to frustrate him. "Is it wrong that I'm worried about you?"

"No. It's wrong that you're trying to shelter me. What's going to happen is going to happen. We've done what we could. Trying to hide me from the world because it makes you feel better isn't going to help anything. Is it wrong that I want to live my life without worrying about your reaction?"

Kneeling before her, he cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing the line of her cheekbone gently. "You and James are the closest thing to family I have left. I can't take care of James, the whole Marauder thing. But you need me, and I need to know that I can serve some purpose in someone's life. I want you to live your life, but I would rather you live the longest sheltered life possible than risk losing you because of a few weeks of fun. You are my family. I've lost a family once, I don't want to lose it again."

Her eyes closed. She had always been comforted by his touch, but now she wanted to wallow in his arms. Wondering when exactly she had changed so much, she gulped and struggled not to open her eyes. She couldn't trust herself if she looked into his dark eyes. After all, his eyes saw parts of her that she wasn't ready to see herself. His hand on her cheek was enough to sustain her for now. For all of his insight into the depths of her soul, she wondered why he couldn't see what she felt was painfully obvious.

Taking her closed eyes as sorrow and discomfort rather than the anguished joy it was, he sighed and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "Would you look at me?"

Almost instantly her eyes opened, and she was unable to keep the light from entering her chocolate gaze. He was beautiful enough to draw her gaze from Adonis himself, and his proximity filled her to the brim. They had talked often, more often of late, but it had been a long time since he had ventured so close to her. She spoke before she thought of what she was saying, and she winced once she finished. "If you're so afraid of losing me, then why are you staying away? We live together and I rarely see you. I've had nurses spend more time with me than you have. You were supposed to be my friend, not my doctor. I have the doctors at St. Mungo's to take care of me. I want to come home to a friend. Maybe that's what Remus had that you didn't. Maybe it was because he cares enough about me to know that I would rather live a little less with my friends than live forever without them."

Wondering why she was the one wincing, Sirius shook his head. Did she not realize what she did to him? All it took was the deep gaze from her chocolate eyes, the way the light flickered over her breathtaking features, and he was gone. Had she not wondered why there hadn't been any other women in so long? Why there never would be another woman? Horrified that she took his denial as distance, he shook his head again, more vigorously, and held her tightly. "No, no. Mira, if there's anything you know it's that I want you to be happy. You're as much a fr –" he cut himself off. He couldn't call her a friend, not when she was so much more than that. "You mean as much to me, if not more, than James and Remus and Lily and Peter and anyone else. I –"

"Stop talking Sirius."

She needed to be held. He recognized that now. And he obliged, holding her tightly and inhaling her scent with pleasure. He could feel the tension in her shoulders, and he wished he had thought to hold her sooner. Without loosening his grip on her, he massaged the tightness in her away, feeling her body relax against his. "Go get changed, meet me in my room. We have a lot to talk about."

He changed quickly and wished for a moment that it was more than friendship between them. He may have only wished it for a moment, but the ache remained in him permanently. His breath caught in his throat as she came in, her sleeping gown brushing over her thighs and lace collar exposing her pale chest. She was beautiful. Making room for her on his large bed, he managed to breathe hoarsely, "Mira."

"You're still wearing the pyjamas I got you."

"They're comfortable. Aren't you going to get sick?"

"It's summer, Sirius, I think I'll be fine. Where were you last Friday? You usually leave a note or something when you go out."

Friday night? Oh! Sirius grinned, "I was out with James and Remus, getting your birthday present. It's coming up, if you remember."

"Ooh! What is it?"

Laughing, he tweaked her nose, "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, silly!"

Pouting, she crossed her arms over her chest. He swallowed as the line of her breasts rose, her little figure barely covered and her legs bare across his bed. "But Siri!"

"Don't 'but Siri' me. How many times have I told you not to call me 'Siri'?"

She laughed, beaming at him. Merlin, he had missed this. Though she wouldn't admit it now, she had missed it as well. Without thinking, she leaned over and kissed him. Though it was certainly not the sisterly kisses she had given before, surprise kept Sirius from comprehending exactly what kind of kiss it was. "I don't count."

"Mira –" Sirius shook his head, stopping. He couldn't focus on her face; his eyes kept returning to her lips. She yawned, hand flying up to cover her mouth. "You're tired!"

"It's late."

"You should sleep. Exhausting yourself isn't a good idea, especially with how heavy things are for you at work."

He was not so blind as to miss the hurt that crept into her eyes. "Alright, I'll go."

Grabbing her arm, he grinned at her. "Who said anything about going? I just said sleep. You're already here, aren't you? Besides, it's a lot more comfortable to sleep with a pillow. And I don't like the idea of you sleeping in that. You might catch cold."

"And it'll be so different if I sleep here?"

"At least there'll be body heat."

He winked roguishly and she laughed. Yawning again, she nestled into his arms and closed her eyes. "This is nice. I've missed you."

Ruffling her hair gently, he blew at her ear lightly. "I've missed you too."

"G'night Sirius."

Looking down at her crafted features, he smiled and rested his head atop hers. "Good night Mira Celaeno."

– 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 –

"What do you think happens when you die?"

Sirius looked up sharply, surprise crossing his features as he set the Daily Prophet down. "I dunno. Why?"

"I've been thinking about it a lot. If there's really a heaven and a hell, and where I'll end up. What it's going to be like, what it'll feel like, especially without you all there."

"You say it like you know you'll die first. James is an Auror, he could well die before you."

"But he wouldn't. He has too much a reason to live, now that Lily's finally agreed to marry him, once she's finished her healer training. He just wouldn't. You know that. And she won't die because he'll protect her. You're safe, and Remus is too well hidden to be in danger. I don't expect to die, I'm just wondering what happens."

"You'll end up in heaven. It couldn't be a good place if you're not there."

Mira Celaeno smiled, her chocolate eyes melting as she watched him carefully. "Then you'll have to end up in heaven. All of you. Because I couldn't stay there without you all."

Laughing, he reached over the table and patted her hand. "You're funny, Mira. The Marauders, in heaven? You'll have to learn to live without us, because heaven wouldn't do without you."

Her eyes shone in her face, her gaze locked on him as she shook her head. "Don't say that, Sirius. You're good, all of you. If anyone belongs in heaven, it's the people who put others before themselves. You've done that too many times to be refused a place in heaven. Besides, I can't even live without you now, what would I possibly do for all eternity without you?"

"Find someone else to cook?"

He had come up with the witty reply as an impulse, grinning at her. Yet his grin froze over his face as he caught her gaze, serious and dark as she watched him. Reaching out, he patted her cheek gently, "Don't worry. We'll be together, Mira, all of us. I'm just worried it'll hurt."

For a moment she froze, looking at him, and then she began to wonder. She knew she would die before them, long before them, and the reality of that scared her infinitely. She was not afraid of death, she was afraid of being without her root. They were what kept her sane, what held her down, and without them even heaven could never be more than average. Would that then be her purgatory? It wasn't death that she feared the pain of; it was the possibility of spending years without the people who made life worth living.

He frowned as he watched the change come over her face. It was rare to see the woman's shining features take on such a melancholy tone, and it always unnerved him. Too long had he been taking care of her to tolerate such anguish. "What is it now?"

The words came out before she could stop herself. "I'm scared."

She clapped her hands over her mouth, looking up at him apprehensively and mentally kicking herself as he stiffened. Reaching out, he drew her into his arms and held her tightly, kissing her hair and shaking his head. "Don't be scared. There are too many good things in this world for you to waste your time with fear."

"It's not this world that scares me."

He hated it when she brought up death. It was a cruel reminder that she would leave them, and it drove him mad. "Mira!" Shaking her roughly, he looked at her and grated, "Don't talk like that! I don't want to hear you talk like that! You're young, you have plenty of time left."

"What if I don't?"

Wincing, he stroked her cheek, "That isn't an option. And whenever you do go, you can look forward to an eternity of the Marauders and Lily to keep you company."

Smiling weakly as she closed her eyes, she wished she could believe him. Had he held her, had he kissed her, she may have. Recognizing the distance in her stance, he did just that. Brushing his lips gently over hers, he squeezed her tightly and asked, "Do you want me to get Moony? Or Prongs? They might be able to do a better job of cheering you up."

"I don't want to be cheered up," Mira Celaeno said softly, squeezing Sirius's hand. "I want to be spoken to, like I may actually have a point. Even if you don't agree with me, you give me that much."

Grinning, Sirius brushed her hair out of her face gently, "Hey, isn't that what brothers are for? Even if we want to tease you, we'll listen when we should."

Forgetting that she wanted more than sibling fondness from him, Celaeno smiled and leaned forward, laying her forehead on his shoulder. "Thank you."

"No more opinions of death and the afterlife then?"

"Not yet. I'll let you know when I have more, though."

– 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 –

Eyes fastened on her sculpted features, he half-wished she had nightmares more often. She was so beautiful, so perfect, and he wanted more than anything to know she was his. His chest swelled until it seemed fit to burst and he realized with a crash that he was in love with her. He had fallen in love. Helplessly and unalterably in love. And he had fallen in love with Mira Celaeno, the one woman he had sworn he would never hurt. Shaking his head, he sighed heavily. He couldn't be in love with her. She was like his sister. He was in love with the idea, he had to be. Who wouldn't be, after all? The prospect of the beautiful goddess waiting when he got home, in his bed, in his life, was a dream. He wasn't in love with Celaeno Venatici. He was attracted to her, certainly; he had been attracted to her since he was sixteen years old. But that wasn't love. It would be any man's dream to make a beautiful romantic like Celaeno fall in love with him, it was only reasonable that he would want the same thing. But even that, even that plus his attraction for her, could not equal love.

He continued in such a manner, convincing himself that the deep ache within him, the fervent desire to hold her close and shield her from the world, was not love. He knew he loved her, he had known that for years, but she was like a sister to him. Right? He was mixing his love for her with lust, and this idea that he could be in love with her would pass. All foolishness did, eventually. But for now…

She turned within the grasp of his arms, her face tilted up toward his and her fair features illuminated in the moonlight. He could watch her forever. Food, air, water, those were extra. This was what he needed to sustain himself. Forgetting that he wasn't in love with her, he watched her. "Sirius?"

She looked up at her, her chocolate eyes shining with a half-awake haze. He was beautiful, able to outshine the gods themselves as his strong, handsome features turned to look down at her. Toned muscles rippling against her, she wished that they would hold her the way she had seen them hold the women he cared about. Not like her, she was family to him. She had long since realized that she was in love with the heartbreaking Sirius Black. Not that he would ever know. She knew him too well, and she knew that if he ever found out about her love he would tie himself down just to protect her. Him and his foolish notion that she needed protection. It was never his protection she was after; it was the feel of his arms coming around her, of his body heaving with the fierce need to hold her. She loved him too much to ever tie him down, especially out of brotherly affection rather than actual desire. It was a secret fantasy of hers, for him to actually be in love with her. He loved her, she knew that, but it was brotherly, and she knew he would have to believe it was sisterly love being reciprocated by her. She would rather see him with another woman than see him bound to her by his sense of loyalty and duty.

He had been watching her sleep, she knew that. He did that often, especially after she had nightmares. Touched by his selfless goodness, yet again, she reached up to kiss him gently. The fond gesture was characteristic of them now, and nobody ever thought anything of the chaste kisses between the two. Even the deeper kisses, which to an outsider may have appeared too long or heated to be idle, were still chaste. Through the years, through the attraction, she had never felt him actually kiss her. Nor had she kissed him. No, she remembered as her lips touched his. Only three weeks earlier, when they had reconciled their differences, she had kissed him. Of course, his surprise allowed him to register the kiss as different, but he had never figured out what kind of different. And this time, she felt shock overwhelm her as his hands grasped her arms, tightly, his lips responding in a way she had long dreamed of.

Without even thinking about it her arms wrapped around his neck, her cheeks flushed as she looked at him. She knew he was attracted to her, but the lust in his eyes surprised her as he swept back over her. It was a deeper kiss now, her hands in his hair as his hands roamed, fisting into her hair, playing at her shoulders, fingering her waist, running along her hips. She let him set her down, helping him find his place above her, arching her body into his as his lips touched her neck. She gasped, her hands digging into his shoulders as his hands slid up her thighs to where her shorts marked an obstacle.

She was responding like a dream. He wanted to pinch himself, to make sure he wasn't dreaming, but as he felt her fingers curl into his back he knew it was real. She had never liked her legs, he remembered that, but now, beneath his hands, they were the legs of a goddess and he loved them. Her lips, her hands, her legs, her pert body, they were driving him crazy. He could take her then and there and still want more. And he wondered how she knew his body so well as she arched into him, her sigh swallowing his groan of pleasure. His hands slid up her legs, over the silk that covered her waist, and when he touched her bare waist he realized what he was doing. This was Mira Celaeno. Breaking away, he sat back and looked at her.

Her chocolate eyes were dark with satisfaction, her pale features flushed as she looked at him with a smile on her swollen lips. Itching to reach for her, he shook his head and tried to figure out what to say. Awkwardness overwhelmed him and he felt a wave of relief as she leaned forward and kissed him deeply, breaking away and nestling herself into his arms. It hadn't been her usual sisterly kiss, he could recognize the difference between the two already, but her scuffle into his grip relaxed him. She wasn't going to try to deal with the issue. Fine then, he wouldn't either. It would just exist.

– 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 – 08 –

"So nobody's coming tonight?"

"Nope, it's just us."

She looked up at him and smiled. Four months now they had been sneaking around. Not only did she want to keep it a secret, he was terrified of letting them know. Well, he was really terrified of James and Remus's reactions if they were to find out. Tonight would be another one of those nights, lips moving, bodies touching, and never a word being said. They could talk for hours, days, months on end, but nights like these they seemed afraid to speak. Talking about things would bring them back to reality – a place that they both believed would make whatever it was they had impossible. He looked at her carefully, wondering what sort of mood she would be in tonight. She looked stunning, her red dress robes framing her form and her face lightly made up from her formal luncheon earlier that day. He watched as her hair fell over her shoulders, falling from its elegant braided bun – he never knew what to call those things she placed on the top of her head – and he wondered why she was settling for this.

Any man would have been willing to give up everything for a chance to be with her. And he had it. And what was he doing to show it? Lusty snogging sessions at night when nobody could walk in? He had been more daring at Hogwarts. Disgusted with himself for treating the woman he loved so foolhardily, he forced a smile in reply. Then he froze. There he went saying love again. He was not in love with her! He was just enjoying being with her, physically and emotionally. His ever-deepening attachment was a combination of brotherly affection and lust, how many times did he have to repeat himself? "Sirius? Are you okay?"

She looked worried about him. Dammit. Here he was, arguing with himself about being in love with her, and she was sitting there like an angel. "Sorry, love. I'm fine. I'm just trying to decide what we're going to do tonight."

Amused, she leaned back in her chair. "Oh really? Just as long as it doesn't involve anything from any books James bought you."

He laughed. She was priceless, a real gem. And he was proving it to her by kissing her? The idea came to him like a revelation and he suddenly understood the muggle cartoon images of a light bulb flashing on over someone's head. "Move aside!"

With a swift movement he grabbed her by the waist and hauled her out of the chair, a wave of his wand transforming the table into a romantic table Français for two. Grinning, he grabbed two of wine glasses she had insisted on buying ages ago. He was glad she had talked him into them now, and he placed them on the table, taking out the old bottle of wine Elizabeth Potter had given him on his eighteenth birthday. "What are you doing?"

"I'm making a romantic dinner, Mira. You see, I figure that four months is a big deal to most people. So instead of lamenting the first three months of no sappy anniversaries for you, Alice, and Lily to gush over or me, Remus, and James to groan about I think the spontaneity of the fourth one should make up for it. Mira? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"What do you plan on cooking?"

He froze, his mouth hanging open. He hadn't thought that far yet. He stood there, staring at her, and she laughed, leaning forward to kiss him deeply. "You're so sweet. You don't have to do this you know. I never asked for it."

"That's the first problem," Sirius said firmly, his voice suddenly found. "Four months in a relationship. There, I said it. We're in a relationship. We have been. And not once have you asked me to take you out or dote on you or anything. Lily demands it of James all the time, and you laugh when I try to make you dinner."

Mira Celaeno smiled, watching him carefully. "We're snogging behind our friends' backs and you call it a relationship? I don't want you to dote on me or take me out or treat me like a princess. I have Daddy, and James, and Remus, to do that for me. I enjoy spending time with you, Sirius. This is extra for me."

"I don't believe you. How long have I lived with you? I know you better than that Mira. It is a relationship. Just because we haven't talked about it doesn't make it any less than what it is. Let me do this."

Taking in the intensity of his dark eyes, she smiled again. She really did love him, so much, and even this little gesture from him overwhelmed her. That was why she hadn't asked for anything, really, because even the smallest action filled her so much she was afraid she would fling herself at his feet and profess her love for him. She wanted to, so badly, but instead she reached out and laced her fingers in his, "The wine and candlelight is okay. But not in the kitchen, and let's skip dinner to make our lives easier."

She was making this too easy for him. Let's stick to the romantic part, minimize the conversation, and let us get to what we both know we want. He groaned, grabbing the two glasses and the wine bottle and going into the other room. When he came back in he saw her, gazing out the window with misty eyes. He froze and looked at her, wondering what it was that was bringing water and nostalgia to her eyes. Stepping up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek gently. Cheek resting on her head, he asked softly, "What is it?"

"Just thinking," her voice was soft as she turned into his arms and laid her head against his chest. He was so strong, so steady, and the height he had over her was no inconvenience at moments like these. "You're so sweet tonight."

"You deserve it."

The words came out before he could think about them and he cursed himself. She wasn't supposed to figure out that this was more than a physical satisfaction for him. She was supposed to think that this was merely years of attraction catching up to them. So much for that. But he stopped thinking when she looked at him, kissing him slowly and gently and deepening the kiss steadily as he crashed into her. "Come on, you said you had wine for me."

He had dimmed the lights, lit the candles, arranged the chairs, and set up the music. Everything seemed perfect and she half expected to see a bed covered in rose petals. Thankful that he hadn't done that much, she knew she would have been unable to stop him if he had.

The candlelit wine lasted about twenty minutes, the half-finished wine bottles abandoned, the lights and music gone, and it was the bed they used now. She wondered why she let him talk her into getting ready for bed. From the moment she slid into her sleeping gown, all she remembered was kissing him. His hands slid down her body, caressing her chest, sliding up her legs, roving over her body. She gasped and he kissed her, his lips slowly trailing over her cheeks and down her neck. "Shh. Kiss me."

She didn't have the will or the desire to fight him. His pace increased, his touch harder and his lips ravaging hers. Gasping, she readied herself and let him swallow her. He kissed her again, deeply, his mouth moving over her cheekbone. By the dark lust in his eyes, it was impossible to tell that she had only done this with two men before him. Forgetting to feel ignorant or awkward, she watched him come toward her again, kissing her and murmuring something incoherent.

He kissed her again, the length and ardour of his kiss as though he had forgotten about oxygen. She gasped, breaking away and looking at him in shock. He saw the extra flush in her cheeks and paused. He had not intended to exhaust her, not in her state. Running a hand over her hips, he kissed her gently, lingeringly. Waiting for the exhaustion to set into her eyes, but he felt a wave of lazy satisfaction as she kissed him deeply. He had never before been so satisfied by so little action, he would have never been able to believe that merely kissing her would sustain him so easily. Smiling, he let himself feel fatigue and he drew her to him. Closing his eyes, he squeezed her waist and slurred gently, "Good night."

As she closed her eyes, nestling into him, she didn't notice his eyes snap open or stare at her as she murmured gently, "Night, love."

Love. Why did that stupid four-letter word always have to come into the mix? He looked at her, at the lines of her face and the curves of her body, and he thought of that night. He hadn't meant for it to end like this, another lusty snogging session in the dark. So much for his attempts at romance. But this, this was the last straw for him. He could not deny it any more, not without denying everything that made him whole and human and sane. He was in love with her. He always had been. He was in love with Mira Celaeno. And he was happy.