Disclaimer: We all know how these work, I acknowledge that J.K. Rowlings, Warner Bros. and Scholastic own Harry Potter and all other characters and settings from cannon, and I get to write whatever I please and even add in characters of my own as long as I don't get any money. The no money sucks but there you go, at least I don't get lawyers knocking on my door.

A/N: This note is to skippy agogo $2500 is a ridiculous amount for a dress to normal everyday people, but to the rich, famous, politically powerful that's not that outrageous a sum. For example 10 K wedding gowns, some beauty pageant gowns are 3-4 K so I don't think it's a outrageous amount for the dress I envision . A fair number of the gowns stars wear on the red carpet would have this kind of price tag. Don't believe me check out Nieman-Marcus's website, apparel for her, evening shop, formal events. Also to all my readers it will be a few days before I post again. I'm working out some of the kinks in this story and I'm going to try to rebuild my next lost chapter of Speaker.

Sirius' Savior

Chapter 16 falling in love part 2

Sirius woke to the feel of Beth's hand stroking his chest. "Good morning."

Her lips quirked up. "Good morning."

"This is a sight I could get used to waking up to." She smiled again. Sirius suddenly remembered Harry. "Shit I forgot about Harry. I need to..." he trailed off as Beth chuckled.

"You haven't put it together yet?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I figured it out when you thanked me for last night's dinner following the second time. I didn't arrange last night, Harry did. I think he was trying to get us together."

"That little marauder! I don't know if I should spank him or thank him." Sirius quieted as Beth started kissing him.

"Thank him, later."

"Much later.." he trailed off.

It was lunchtime by the time they emerged from Beth's room. Harry radiated smug satisfaction when they found him despite the fact his fib of the previous night of not feeling well had become a truth. Sirius wrestled him into a headlock and ruffled Harry's hair. It took Harry a mere minute to escape the hold and knock Sirius over. They all took that day easy, spending most of it in the suite.

The next day, marked the beginning of the last week of Beth's vacation. From that point on the three of them spent almost all of their time together.

Five days before Beth was supposed to leave Sirius left Harry trying to teach Beth the fine art of surfing because he had a mission. He visited a jewelry store after which he went to the resort's concierge desk and asked for help in arranging for a private romantic picnic. They helped him arrange a picnic in four days time on a nearby island that had a beach near a waterfall, tide pools and very few residents almost guaranteeing privacy and a catamaran to get there. Sirius made a point to arrange for lessons on how to sail a catamaran for that afternoon and the next day.

The day of the picnic Sirius pulled Harry aside to tell him the plans he made while Beth showered.

"Kiddo, can I talk to you for a second. I told you and Beth we were going sailing today, but I didn't tell you everything. I want to ask you first, did you mean what you said when you said you wouldn't mind having Beth as a mum?"

Harry's head bobbed up and down enthusiastically.

"Well then I'm going to ask her today, make sure you take your camera and plenty of film."

"Did you get a ring already? Can I see it?"

Sirius pulled the small jewelry bag from his zippered shorts pocket and showed Harry the ring.

"It's gorgeous."

Sirius quickly put it away when he heard the shower stop."Not a word."

Harry quickly made a zipping motion across his mouth and left to pack his gear for the day . He grabbed his martial arts weapons, his guitar case and his camera case after checking it to make sure he had plenty of film. "Merde, Sirius I need to run to the photo shop here at the resort. I don't have quite enough film."

"Have you got money?" Seeing Harry shake his head no. Sirius pulled a two twenties from his wallet. "Here, hurry meet us down by the beach."

"My stuff!"

"Take your camera case, and your weapon case. I'll bring your beach bag and ask Beth to grab the guitar. Now hustle."

"Going."

Beth came out dressed in a figure hugging white one piece swimsuit carrying sunscreen and her beach bag. "Where Harry going?"

"He's almost out of film, and he wants pictures of today. Need some help?"

Beth nodded and gave Sirius the tube of sunscreen. She was going to miss them so much. But she promised herself that she would accept what this vacation romance had to offer. Although part of her longed for more. After she was well coated with sunscreen she pulled her protective shirt on and tied her green smoke pareau around her hips. Plopping her sunhat on her head she headed to the door.

"Beth would you mind grabbing Harry's guitar. He wanted it along, and I can't manage it."

"Sure. Ready?"

"Yeah."

Harry entered the photo shack at the resort, he didn't like to come here the film and development services were overpriced. But he hadn't planned on shooting as much film as he had the last few days. Crap they were out of the film he wanted in the bin. "Excuse me," he asked an employee "do you have more of this film?"

"Sorry we're out until this afternoon. I could check if the main gift shop has any."

"That would be great."

The employee got on the phone. A second later he looked at Harry and nodded. Harry smiled his thanks and bolted towards the gift shop. On the way it occurred to him Beth probably would want to look special if he was taking pictures of her and Sirius for her engagement maybe he should get her a flower lei or something. He entered the gift shop on he way to the film he saw a turquoise blue pareau with blue butterflies and flowers on it that had small iridescent sequins on it. Perfect it matched her eyes. He snagged it on his way back from grabbing the film. He then went to the flower cooler to see what was there. He saw a deep pink hibiscus with a hair clip, and a white and pink orchid lei and bracelets and anklet combination. He pulled them from the shelf. He went to the counter to pay only to realize he had left his wallet in the room and all he had was the money Sirius had handed him, which wasn't enough.

"Can I charge this to my room please?"

The clerk did it without so much as a blink because everyone at the resort had gossiped about how the boy was courting the American woman as much as his father. She was about to bag them up when Harry stopped her he took the pareau folded it into a large square he place the box with the orchid lei in the center and pulled the corners up and tied them loosely. Then he asked, "Have you got any tissue paper?"

"We have white or purple."

"Purple. White ribbon?" The clerk handed it to him Harry set it in the pareau and it's contents in the center of the paper and pulled the edges up around the bundle. He tied the ribbon around the collected paper then clipped the hibiscus flower to the ribbon. His engagement present to Beth was complete. Now he merely had to hide it until she said yes. He let the clerk bag it now and after thanking her he started back towards the beach. When it was possible he ran. He got to the catamaran and just had time to stow his gift and his cases when the person form the hotel's catering department showed up with the cooler of food for the day. Harry helped stow it in it's spot then he spotted Beth and Sirius. Racing over he took his guitar case from her and the beach bags from both her and Sirius which he quickly stowed. Beth just giggled at his helpfulness.

Two hours later they sailed into the lagoon where they expected to spend the day. Harry helped them set up a blanket and umbrella on the beach then wandered away to give Sirius the opportunity to speak.

Sirius looked at Beth. He wasn't sure of what words would sway her. He knew he couldn't offer her everything she deserved but she meant everything to him. Taking the plunge he started speaking.

"Beth have you enjoyed your vacation?"

"More than I ever what have dreamed I would."

"What did you enjoy most?"

"Getting to know you and Harry."

"Would you like for this vacation to last for the rest of your life?"

"What? Are you serious? What are you asking me?"

"I'm always Sirius." he grinned when she groaned. "But joking and bad puns aside, I was hoping you would do me the honor and privilege of marrying me. I can't offer you everything you deserve but you mean everything to me and I promise I will always do my best to see that you have everything you need. I know that we don't know each other's past, and there are definitely things that we need to tell each other. That said I feel, Harry and I feel, that you are the person who fits. I don't know much about your past but I know the person you are, and you're the only person I've ever met that I felt this way about and I don't want to give that up."

Beth was surprised. She felt as if God had taken her hopes and dreams and handed them to her on a platter. The part of her that was the controlled and slightly repressed person she had been before this vacation was afraid. For so long she had been what her family had told her she should be, this vacation had been liberating in so many ways because for the first time in her life it was about what made her happy what she wanted. The last week had been more than she had believed would ever happen to her and now Sirius was asking did she want it to continue. "Yes, yes I'll marry you, Yes!"

Harry's triumphant "Yes!" was heard in the background.

Sirius and Beth smiled then leaned forward to kiss.

The rest of the day was as happy as that moment. Harry left the lovebirds as he called them alone and went looking for the perfect place to take formal engagement shots. An hour later he was back, after the three of them had lunch he pulled out his present to Beth and presented his idea. Touched by his forethought Beth delightedly put her flowers on and her new pareau. Sirius pulled out his wand. He transfigured his clothing to something more appropriate for the pictures Harry had in mind. Then as they got to the spot Harry had picked for photos. Sirius pulled the ring out. Winking at Harry so he'd have his camera ready Sirius said, "Here's one more thing for you to put on." Beth's reaction to the ring Sirius picked, was everything he had wanted.

She found herself feeling overwhelmed. The ring was tangible proof that this was not a dream. The center stone was a two carat round cut dark blue aquamarine, that matched her eyes, set in a platinum bezel setting. There was a narrow row of diamonds on one side of the center stone. On the other side there were two rows of diamonds that seemed almost like a wave and where the wave crested over the center stone it became a spill of diamonds rather than rows, all the diamonds were also bezel set. It was an exquisite ring.

Harry thought he got the pictures he wanted. He tried to stay in the background and even used his guitar to entertain them he served the meals from the cooler and allowed the two of them to talk. Beth talked about her past what she had discovered about herself while on this trip and what she hoped for in the future. That evening after they tucked Harry in. She hesitantly mentioned children. "How do you feel about children?"

"I want some. Raising Harry has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I will be delighted to welcome and care for any children that you and I produce. You may give me as many or as few as you and God see fit to grace me with." Sirius felt rewarded when Beth smiled.

"I'm already thirty two. I don't want a long engagement and I don't want to put off kids long. My next question is when will you and Harry come to the States to meet my family?"

"I can't go to the States Beth."

"What do you mean?"

"I can not go to the United States without risking my life and Harry's well being, because of extradition treaties between the U.S. and the U.K. In both the magical and muggle worlds. I am wanted in those and many other countries as well. Palau is pushing it as a U.N. Trust. But it doesn't have a magical population per se and I'm less well know in the muggle world."

"What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything. Except be born into the most famous "dark" family in England. Have my best friend, cousin, brother of my heart killed while hiding under the Fidelius charm, while everyone assumed I was the secret keeper. Have the most famous powerful and influential "Light" wizard want to have control over my godson, never mind his plans contradict James and Lily's wills. Harry is the only person to ever survive the Killing curse. The night James and Lily died, was also the night the last civil war in England ended. Harry is famous in England for something he doesn't even remember. He's famous for having "killed" Voldemort. Even without his family's high social position, he's a powerful piece on the chess board of British Magical Politics. Dumbledore wants to control him. I wasn't convinced when I left that I wouldn't be tried in the court of public opinion and get lynched just so Dumbledore could control Harry. The day before he died James had a premonition and he made me promise to take Harry and run if something happened to him and Lily. Technically in addition for accessory to murder of my best friends, I'm wanted for kidnapping in the U.K."

Sirius shuddered and drew in a deep breath. "The kidnapping charge is arguable. I know I'm first on the list as Harry's guardian in James and Lily's wills. However Dumbledore used his position as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot to seal the wills before they could be read and named himself guardian. I've been tried in absentia with 80 % or more of the evidence being hearsay not fact. The true secret keeper has undoubtably been blackening my already Black name while I've been gone. I recently made contact with someone trustworthy in a position to help me clear my name in England. Harry's pen pal is her niece. But it's still to risky for me to go to the States."

"Wow, if it weren't for the fact I've heard dad swear about Dumbledore and the isolationistic practices of Britain's magical society I would be shocked...It just sounds so... Wow."

"If hearing all of this has made you change your mind I'll understand."

Beth heard the misery in Sirius' voice. She considered for a moment. She shook herself, Sirius said he was innocent. He adored Harry and was a fantastic father. "I believe you and I believe in you. You're not getting out of marrying me that easily. Are you willing to have the U.S. try you? I have enough connections I could probably get you a trial."

"I'd be willing to try. My biggest concern is Harry. I would need guarantees Albus Dumbledore would not ever be able to get control of him that he would be protected, that James and Lily's wills would be unsealed and enacted not just Harry being put into Albus' hands because he's the Defeater of Grindelwald. Supreme Mugwump, Chief Warlock and all that crap."

"Well I'll go home and get the ball rolling. I'll contact you when I get it set up."

"I have a better idea you go home and get the ball rolling. Be prepared for a rough road, any security squad worth it's salt will be very unhappy with the mention of my name. I, my precious treasure, will call you everyday, and if things go to hell on your end know that you always are welcome in Harry' and my corner of paradise. In fact I like the idea of introducing you to Sri and Liana and their family. They're the closest thing to family I have now and I know they will want to meet you. Bali is beautiful and I think you would like it there."

"I'm sure I would but I still need to get back because of my job."

"I hate your job because it takes you away from me. But you like it, so I'll live; especially since I'm between jobs at the moment and managing my money can be done from anywhere."

Beth smiled at him. Then snuggled into his side to sleep. The next morning was spent packing Beth took all the petals from the roses that Sirius had given her and put them in a bag. Sirius shrank her dress until it looked like it would fit a doll Beth carefully wrapped it and the vase and placed them in her case using all her other clothes as padding.

All of them were downcast when they got to the airport for Beth's flight home. "Harry, I'll miss you but Sirius promised you both will be calling everyday and hopefully I'll see you soon. And promise as soon as those engagement photos are done you'll express mail them. I can't wait to show them to Mom."

"I promise I'll do them as soon as we get home and I can get into my darkroom. I'm gonna miss you." His lower lip trembled. Beth gave him a last kiss on the cheek and a hug.

"Safe journey Beth. I don't care what time it is call as soon as you're home okay." Sirius demanded.

Beth nodded and then planted a very passionate kiss on him letting him go only when they announced final boarding for her flight.