A/N - This is the final chapter of this story. Thanks ever so very much to the people who've read it this far, and thanks to everyone who's enjoyed it. And so it ends.

"Let's go on a picnic."

Stretching over the couch, his feet on her lap, he smiled lazily, "Alright. I'll pop by James and Lily tomorrow and we can have a grand picnic on Saturday."

"No, not Saturday. Right now. Just us."

Raising an eyebrow, he said carefully, "It's after nine. And you want to go on a picnic?"

"Why not? We haven't done anything impulsive in ages. And I thought you could never fall into a monotonous routine."

"I have not fallen into monotony!"

"Oh yeah? I think you, Sirius Black, have become a dry old man. We've become one of those boring couples that just sit and read at night. Let's be impulsive, please. That way, even if everyone else thinks we're boring, we'll know better!"

Sirius laughed. There was a good reason he loved her, and he shook his head. Struggling to stand, he pulled her to her feet with a single movement, "Alright then, you. Where's the picnic basket? And the biggest bloody jacket in England, because it's freezing outside, being January and all."

"You get the jackets, darling, I'll pack us something."

"Ooh, what?"

He looked like a child, eyes alight as he looked at her eagerly. Ruffling his hair, she giggled, "You'll see when we get there."

They moved quickly, enjoying the feeling of being secretive and impulsive. Grabbing Sirius by the hand, her red gloves bright in the moonlight, she laughed. He looked at her, her hair cascading beneath her cap, her jacket puffing around her small frame, and he inched closer to her. Cupping her face in one hand, pressing her against him with the other, his voice was low and steady, "Where are you taking me, Mira?"

"I'll be leaving you here to take a cold shower if you don't let me go, silly. You can try that when we get back."

Laughing, Sirius allowed Mira to yank him away, stopping in a large field. "Here," she said triumphantly, sitting down. "This is perfect."

"You know what?"

"What?"

"I don't really want anything to eat. Let's just sit here."

She smiled, throwing herself onto the ground and shaking her hair into the snow. Tilting her head to the side so she could see him, she beamed and patted the ground beside her. "Come on, love, lay beside me. Let's look at the stars."

He did lie down beside her, looking up at the sky, watching the constellations he had studied for so long. "We haven't done this in ages."

"You haven't. I can't go very long without my stars."

Mira Celaeno wasn't very good at avoiding the night sky. That much was true, and Sirius chuckled. They lay there together, hands entwined as they looked up at the stars. Pointing out constellations, telling each other the stories behind every image, they laughed. "There you are, Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. The dog star."

"I'm good like that. And somewhere in there's you. Along with a bunch of other pretty ladies."

"That's my middle name. Mira should be somewhere around there."

She drew a circle around a cluster of stars, looking at Sirius and smiling. Their eyes locked and he squeezed her hand. "No more stories?"

"I think we've said all of them. What time is it?" She answered her own question, looking at her watch and laughing. "We left at quarter after nine. It's already eleven."

"You're kidding."

"Nope, look."

He laughed as she shoved her wrist into his face, indicating that they had, in fact, spent over an hour and a half lying in the snow. "That's brilliant. We should do this more often."

"I like night picnics. We should do this twice a month. At least."

Grinning, he poked her cheek, "And no planning it in advance. It'll be completely random, like tonight. What else can we do?"

"I dunno. We'll figure it out as we go. We should have random midnight swimming sessions too, in the summer."

"And snowball fights in the winter?"

"Oooh, that would be so much fun!"

She sounded like a child, and he grinned as his hand crashed onto her face. Grinding the snow into her face, he laughed as she sputtered. "Sirius Black! That was bloody freezing!"

"It's snow, what'd you expect?"

He yelped as she threw chunks of snow at him, laughing as he spat out snow. Making a rough snowball, he rubbed it into her hair and screeched as she dumped snow down his front. "Bloody hell Mira! Shit!"

Leaning back, rocking on her bum as she wrapped her arms around her knees, she laughed helplessly. "You look so silly, Sirius."

"Oh yeah?"

His eyes narrowed and she jumped as snowballs began flying toward her at a surprising rate. Licking the snow, making a face, she began to retaliate, laughing at the snowball fight that had been even more impromptu than their 'night picnic'. Twenty minutes later they were both shivering, Mira reaching forward to rub a last clump of snow into Sirius's dark hair. "Thank you Mira. Merlin, I'm freezing."

"It's snow, what did you expect?"

Laughing at her mockery of his earlier comment, he wrapped an arm around her, picking up the basket that they had abandoned early on. Picking snow out of her dark locks, brushing the white dust off her shoulders, he smiled down at her. "You're so cute, all covered in snow."

Wrinkling her nose, she giggled and stood on tiptoe to brush snow out of his hair, "And you look like a little kid. One who just came out worse in a snowball fight."

"You know you always beat me at snow. Especially at night. You've got sneakiness down to an art."

"It's because I'm short."

He roared with laughter, throwing his head back and shaking as he swept her into a quickstep. She laughed, following his lead and watching his form glitter in the moonlight. Happiness looked good on him, amazingly so, and it made her happy to see it. Reaching the door, she kept one hand on the knob and leaned flush against the door. Looking up at him, she smiled blithely. Pinning his hands on either side of the her, Sirius leaned down and asked softly, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Standing at the door."

Sirius chuckled and stepped closer to her. He watched her eyes widen, her slender frame tensing in apprehension as her gaze locked on his. "What're you doing?"

"Getting closer to the door."

"I'm in the way."

"That's why I'm doing it."

A soft smile flickered over her face and she let her other hand fall onto his chest. Wrapping his hand around hers, he slid her glove off, bringing her fingers to his lips and kissing each finger gently. "Open the door, love, you'll catch your death of cold."

Her movements had softened, and he knew she was touched by his actions, though her words were light and airy, "You sound like an old fashioned mum. We're both too well wrapped up to worry about that."

Still, she opened the door and let herself be pushed in. He undressed quickly, hanging the large coats, and he helped her out of hers. "That was fun. We should do it more often."

"Yes, we should. But it's midnight, you'll be exhausted tomorrow."

She was right. He had to be up early, again. Rolling his eyes, he kissed her lightly, "I'd have been exhausted anyway. You know I'm not a morning person."

"I know love," her lips brushed over his and she pushed him toward their room. "Go get ready for bed. I'll put everything else up and be there soon."

He stood in the doorway, watching her disappear into the kitchen with a smile. He loved this about their relationship, and he was sliding into his pyjamas when he felt her wrap her arms around him from behind. She was already in her gown, and he wondered how he hadn't noticed her come in. Taking her hands from his waist, he rubbed them and felt her cheek rest against his back. "Your hands are freezing."

"And you're warm."

"Silly Mira. You ready for bed?"

"Let me brush my teeth. I'll be there in a minute, love."

She slid away from him and he lay down, eyes open as he watched her slide into bed beside him. Resting her head against his shoulder, she smiled as his arms came around her. "Goodnight love."

He returned the gesture, closing his eyes. And as he felt her fidget, small figure rubbing against him unwittingly, he smiled. So his little ruse at the door had worked. Rolling on top of her, he pressed kisses over her collarbone, over her cheek, and smiled, "You wanted this?"

She looked up at him lazily, knowing that he had wanted it from the beginning, and she grinned. "No, you did."

"Well, I'm going to be tired tomorrow anyway. May as well get the most out of it."

Shrugging, she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her lips to the hollow between his neck and chest. "Then make it worthwhile, love."

"Always, Mira."

She smiled, knowing he was right. At least he would sleep well, even if it wasn't for very long…

They looked at each other, dark gazes locking. There was an unspoken acceptance between them, that this would be one of the last few times that they were together like this. Her last fit had left her weak, so dejected and incapable that even the best of potions had been unable to restore her strength. The terror that had gripped him hadn't yet subsided and he moved toward her, sitting before her and grasping her arms gently. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, smiling weakly and taking his hand. "For now. Don't look so worried, it's unnerving."

"What did Dai say?"

"Soon. Sooner than I'd like."

His eyes closed on agony and he wallowed in the feel of her hand coming to his cheek. "Oh, don't! Sirius, love, please. Don't do this. It'll be okay."

"I don't want anything to happen to you. I need you to be here. I need to grow old with you, to laugh about back when you still had colour in your hair. How can I do that if you go now?"

"You think I want to die?"

His eyes snapped open and he stared into her turbulent eyes. "No. I know that. I'm just scared. I don't know what I'll do without you."

She trembled, looking at him sorrowfully, "You'll move on. You have to. For my sake. I could never forgive myself it you don't move on. I want you to be happy above all else, you know that. Will you give me that?"

"I'll try. But know that I can't promise, because just the thought of losing you is killing me."

"Sirius! Please."

Resting his forehead against hers, he nodded, sighing heavily as the panic retreated from her features. "Alright, I'll stop. I love you, Mira."

"I love you too. I'm going to wait for you. I'll stay watching you forever if I have to, but I won't go anywhere without you. Can you live knowing that?"

"I can try harder. Merlin, this is hell."

"I'm still here. For now."

Leaning back, Sirius looked at her. Yes, she was pale, thin, and visibly drawn, but she was still beautiful and her features still were hers. Trademark eyes glittering, she watched him, and he inhaled sharply. Sickness did nothing to diminish her beauty and even in her pallid state she was the most beautiful thing he could have beheld. He smiled, stroking her cheek and nodding, "You are. We won't talk about this anymore, not ever again. I'm going to take advantage of every second I have with you. My Mira, what would I do without you?"

"Rely on James?"

Sirius laughed, kissing her gently. "You must be exhausted. It's late."

"And I've been working all day. Plus a trip to St. Mungo's is never relaxing."

He laughed again. And Mira smiled at him, tilting her head back as he moved behind her, lifting her into his arms and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Then sleep. We haven't done this in ages. Sleep on the couch. So close your eyes, love, and sleep. I've got you. And I'm never letting go."

She turned, curling into his chest and feeling his legs wrap around hers. There was something about being in his arms that made all the fear, all the anxiety, all the sadness disappear into nothing. The safety and comfort of his arms enveloped her and she felt the trepid terror ease out of his body as he relaxed beneath her. It was purely innocent as she lay in his arms, and she let her eyes fall shut as she revelled in the knowledge that regardless of what occurred after death, she would eventually be with the man she loved.

He kissed her, watching her too-thin body tremble as she broke away from him and dove toward the sink. He followed her, running his fingers through her hair as she struggled for water, hands shaking as he asked gently, "Do you need any help?"

"I'm fine, love," she said, leaning against the counter as she sipped at water. "Oh, okay," she sighed in resignation as he lifted her onto the counter, letting her head rest against his chest. "I love you."

Smiling, he pressed his lips to her forehead. "I love you too, Mira. James and Lily are worried about you. Lily was complaining today that you never stay around for long."

"That won't be a problem anymore."

"So –"

"I can't lose the time I have left with them. I need to spend as much time with them as I can. It's not fair to them, and I need it so much."

"Do I not make you feel loved enough?"

She smiled at the tease in his voice and kissed him deeply. "Well, there are times that you are a little lacking. It might be old age, getting to your libido. So I shouldn't really be complaining."

"There is nothing wrong with my libido, woman," he growled playfully. "I just have bigger things on my mind now, like you."

Mira's lips quirked upward in satisfaction and she kissed him again. "You'd think women and sex would be along the same lines."

He groaned, deepening the kiss and gasping, "Now they are. And you're a bloody idiot sometimes, Mira. You'll exhaust yourself."

"Let me worry about that."

Stepping back, he shook his head. "No. It's one of the few things I have left to worry about without going absolutely mad. So let me do this properly."

She knew what he was implying and she giggled. "How do you propose to do that?"

He swept her into his arms, kissing her gently, lingeringly as her legs wrapped around his waist. "Slowly, gently, in bed. Making sure that you can never forget how much I love you. In every single way. And knowing that you love me as much. Not so much sex as woman."

She rested her head against his shoulder and pressed her lips to the line of his jaw and neck as she smiled. She did love him. And there was enough in her to give him that much at least this once. While she didn't know it, as she reached up and kissed him, she took the last opportunity that she would ever have. And that night, entwined in each other's arms, it wasn't an innocent embrace, but it was the embrace of lovers. For a night that would have to sustain them both for all eternity.

She stood and crossed the room, sliding into her coat as she smiled at them. "I have to go. Good night."

Remus looked beseechingly at her and asked, "Why, Cela? It's still quite early. Sit down, talk, you haven't sat with us for weeks."

Lily nodded, placing her hand on James' arm as though it would make the woman stay longer. Mira Celaeno smiled and shook her head, saying softly, "I wish I could stay. But I have to leave. I'll stop by tomorrow, if I can. Good night."

"Mira Celaeno," Sirius said softly, standing. Extending a hand out to the woman, he led her into the next room, his voice just soft enough to keep the others from hearing him, "Please. You won't be by tomorrow, you know that. One night, Mira, for us. For Lily and James, for Remus, for me, for Peter and Alice and Frank even though they're not here tonight. In the name of Merlin, Mira, there won't be another chance like this."

He brought her back into the room, pushing her gently beside Remus and smiling at the soon-to-be-pregnant Lily Potter. "She's decided to grace us with her divine presence a little longer."

Glancing up at the handsome young man, Cela smiled. "James, your best friend is a bit of an idiot sometimes. Remind me why we even bother with him?"

James laughed and motioned idly toward Remus, "You say that about my best friend? Look at yours, Mira Celaeno."

Laughing, the woman relaxed, her eyes twinkling as the five joked and talked for hours. And it really was hours when, a stroke of genius coming upon him, Sirius grabbed a camera, shoving Cela into Remus and saying, "Smile! I'm taking a picture!"

Mira Celaeno was laughing as she leaned against Remus and let him wrap an arm around her shoulder. And she laughed as Lily took the camera, exclaiming happily, "Oh, me next. Cela, take a picture with Sirius. You have so many with me and James and Remus already. I don't think I've seen more than one with just you and Sirius."

Sirius roared with laughter, wrapping an arm around the girl and bending to press a kiss to her cheek, barking with laughter as she flushed scarlet and looked away. She stood again, saying softly, "I really do have to go now. I'm exhausted. Good night."

Reaching up, Remus kissed her quickly and grinned as Sirius jumped to his feet, saying, "Come on, I'll get your coat for you."

He grabbed her hand, dashing off with her. The other three exchanged looks and Lily asked curiously, "Is everything alright with Sirius, James? He's been moody lately. Either really happy or really upset. He won't talk to me about it."

James frowned, "Have you noticed it too? I don't know. I haven't asked about it."

Remus began to venture an opinion when Sirius came back in, looking decidedly upset as he sank into a chair. He looked up at James, dark eyes shadowed as he said, "Remember back in sixth year? When I would tease you about liking Lily and you said I would end up falling for the most perfect woman? That I would fall for the one girl I could never get? I hate you when you're right, Prongs."

Frowning again, James stared as Remus gawked at Sirius, breathing in amazement, "Mira Celaeno? Padfoot, she's –"

"Way out of my league?" Sirius said bitterly. "Gorgeous? Was like a sister to me for eight years? Was the one girl I shoved at you for four of them? Is going to die in less than a week, at best? Take your pick, any way you look at it, it ends the same way."

"Less than a week?" asked Lily, her green eyes going wide.

Looking up at her, Sirius asked quickly, "Couldn't you tell? It's only been this week she's been letting us talk her into staying later, longer. She's been withdrawn for weeks and now she's suddenly a reflection of cheerful little Mira Celaeno from before seventh year. She knows it's almost over. And dammit, I know too."

More preoccupied with his best friend's plight, James leaned forward and asked, his year-plus suspicions coming true, "How long? Don't tell me eight years, Padfoot. How long have you been in love with her?"

"Three years? About. When she realized she was dying. Really dying. Not just what she knew would eventually happen. When she started talking to me, the way she talks to you and Moony, Prongs. Not just jokes, but the heavy stuff. Dammit, I picked my time well, didn't I Prongs? Fall for the woman I've been wide open to for eight years when she decides it's time to die! Dammit!"

The bitterness in his voice was palpable as he stood roughly, his dark eyes turbulent in his handsome face. James stood, laying a hand on his arm and asking gently, "Does she know?"

Sirius nodded, his voice more anguished than bitter, "That's the worst part, Prongs. She knows, and it's not one-sided. It never was."

Remus stood sharply, amazement etched into his features. "Are you serious?"

"That's my name," Sirius lashed out harshly, before wincing and turning to Remus. "I didn't mean it like that, mate. It's just –."

"I understand," Remus said, cutting the man off smoothly. He began to pace, his voice soft, "But why wouldn't she have said anything? She's the hopeless romantic, you've said so yourself. Why wouldn't she have jumped on the chance to be with you, even for just a few weeks or a few days?"

"She did. We just never told you about it."

Remus and James froze, stunned that Sirius could have kept a secret like that from them, especially for so long. Frowning, Remus looked at his old friend carefully, "Why then – Mira Celaeno!"

The woman ran into his arms, looking more like a child than a woman as she buried her face in his shoulder, saying softly, "I'm scared, Remus."

He held her tightly, stroking her hair as he glanced at the other three quickly. And he nodded his approval at Sirius as the man stepped forward and said weakly, "Mira?"

She turned toward him, breaking as he wrapped his arms around her. Clinging like a child, like she had years ago when this had all been new, she buried herself in his embrace. Jaw clenched, he asked softly, "It's tonight, isn't it? Your last night?"

Remus' eyes closed in silent agony as she nodded, a weak cry the reaction from a white Lily. Releasing her, Sirius murmured gently, "Say goodbye, Mira Celaeno. There's nothing more we can do."

Many people wish they could have said goodbye to a person before they died, but at that moment Lily and James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black realized that saying goodbye did no good. What can be said to someone you love when you know you will never see them again? Tears in her emerald eyes, Lily hugged her friend tightly, her voice soft, "I'll miss you. Now you'll never get to play godmother."

Mira Celaeno laughed despite the tears in her eyes and returned the hug full force. "Sirius will be both for me. Oh, Lily, be careful."

Lily nodded as James swung her around, kissing her square on the lips as he said, "I'll watch her for you, no worries, Cela. Just wait for us, will you? And watch us. Laugh at all the stupid things we do."

It seemed oddly fitting as Cela teased the great prankster of her youth, "Oh, James. I'd never stop laughing, Jem, my Jem. You're foolish quirks are endless."

Kissing her quickly, James handed her to Remus, "Good. My point exactly."

He held her tightly, the arms of a friend as he whispered, "I won't let go, Cela."

Her arms wrapped tightly around him as she shook her head, "Don't reminisce, please. Live with what you have, be grateful you have that. For me and for you. If you won't live for yourself, live for my sake. I love you Remus, werewolf and all."

Smiling, Remus nodded into her hair. "I know, Cela. I love you too."

He forced himself to release her, to let her go knowing he would never be able to see her again. She looked at them, letting Sirius take her hand. "I'll wait for you, love. But don't hurry, please, I can't be a good guide if I haven't been there long enough."

James smiled, knowing the hidden meanings behind her words, cryptic as they so often were. And he, his friend, and his wife watched as Sirius led her to the door. He held her in a lover's embrace, his eyes closing on tears as he buried his face in her hair. "I want to come with you. I don't want you to be alone."

"Sirius, don't," she begged softly, looking up at him. "Please, Sirius."

"Why not?" he demanded roughly, the jagged-edged boy of old evident again as he looked at her with pleading eyes. "I love you, Mira Celaeno. I don't want to leave you while you're still here."

Shaking her head, she no longer had the will to keep her tears from falling as she placed a gentle hand on his cheek. "You've seen death before, Sirius. You'll see it again. With Voldemort, everyone will see more death than they should. I can't add to it."

"Mira, I love you. What part of that means I shouldn't be there? Dear Merlin, Mira."

Trembling, she looked up into his anguished eyes and whispered, "I love you too, Sirius. More than life itself. You know that. And I have to leave you, leave everyone, because of the man you all are risking your lives to defeat. Did you think I didn't catch on, Sirius? Please, Sirius, I don't want you to see him win. How long did we try to keep this from happening? He's won this time, don't let him win again, Sirius. I have one more battle, I should face it alone."

"Let me come with you, Mira. Let me hold you. For Merlin's sake, Mira Celaeno, let me be with the woman I love for the last time!"

She shattered, falling against him as she nodded weakly, shaking with tears as her fingers curled into his robes. He held her, wiping tears from her eyes as he pressed gentle kisses to her cheeks, his voice soft, "Don't cry. Please, Mira, don't cry. Hush, I'm here. I won't leave you."

Her face still in his hands, her tears smudged from where he had furiously attempted to wipe them away, he kissed her. Not the gallant kisses of the Casanova his friends knew, but the kiss of a man in love, of an eternal romantic. Brushing her cheek gently, Sirius opened the door and said softly, "Let's go."

Looking up at him with innocent admiration, she whispered softly, "I love you so much, Sirius."

A smile lighting his anguished features, Sirius pressed a kiss to her hair and nodded, "I love you too, Mira Celaeno."

She died that night, in the arms of the man who loved her, in the arms of the man she loved. But she died, leaving those she loved alone to suffer through the dark days that were to come.

- Fin -