Story: Why Don't You & I

Author: theherbflower

May all of your prayers, to god, or to whomever, be for those who lost they're lives in both the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged japan. Take a moment and think of them, after all, its only a moment. Never the less, those moments mean something for you and for them. If a thousand people took one minute out of they're day to reflect on this, then there will be a thousand minutes gathered as one in such a horrific catastrophe. -thf

Note: Hello all! I am going to take a moment of time and direct you lovely readers to listen to Love of my life by Queen. It is one of my most favorite songs, and every time I hear it I cry. Because it's so beautiful. So take a listen, it's off of their 1976 album A Night at the Opera. Give it a listen; see if it invokes the emotions in you that it does within me. Cheerio and forward onto with chapter nine.

Playlist: Crystal ~ Stevie Nicks. The Only Hope for Me ~ Mcr. Sing~ MCR. Second Chance, The Crow and The Butterfly~ Shinedown. A Shot in the Dark ~ Ozzy Osborne. A Year without Rain~ Selena Gomez

Chapter Nine: Linger

There was a very loud incessant knock on the front door. I groaned into my steaming mug of coffee I had stuffed next to my face and sighed. Two minutes awake and already there was activity occurring. I took a deep drink from my coffee and set myself out to battle my way across the living room towards the front door. I made it there slowly as to make sure none of my coffee would slosh out of my mug. I slipped the chain on the door and unlocked the knobs before I flicked my wand and took the security wards off of the apartment. I opened the door to find a very nervous and worried looking Alastor 'Mad-eye' Moody. I took a couple steps back to let him into the room and moved to shut, lock, and replace the security wards onto the apartment as to keep us safe. I turned to Mad-eye who was eyeing the mess that littered our apartment with a look of dismay. He turned to me.

"Is Gwendolyn here?" he asked at me with a very pointed look on his face as if he were saying 'don't lie to me boy'. "She did not return home from her date with Black last night."

"I do not know sir." I shook my head before taking another deep drink from my black coffee. "I thought that I heard Sirius come in last night, it is possible that she's with him." I stopped abruptly after that realizing the mistake that I'd just made. Quickly I recovered and launched in defense. "But that's not really Gwen's m.o you know. So I really don't know. She might be over at Lily and James's last night."

"True." Mad-eye nodded swiveling his magical eye towards Padfoot's room and went red in the face. "She's here. Go in there and get them please."

"Uh." my face went an equally dark shade of red and I sat my coffee down before walking back across the room to Padfoot's bedroom door. I stood there for a few minutes but didn't hear anything, which probably means they've put up a silencing charm. Great! This is just my luck that I would be the one forced to walk in on one of my best mates and the girl I looked at as a sister. Perfect. I sighed and lifted my hand to the door and knocked a few times. "Padfoot, Gwen. Mad-eye's here."

Nothing happened for a few moments, but then sure enough the door swung open and a flustered and sleepy eyed Gwen stood in the door way. My face must have given me away because she just started to laugh at me.

"Don't look so damn shocked Remus. Merlin." she shook her head and shut the door before walking into the living area to see her uncle.

"Hey. Sorry I didn't come back home last night but I was rather drunk and wasn't too keen on finding you and Dorcas." she broke off beet red. "So I dragged Sirius back here and he knocked me out with a sobering potion on account that I was err rather drunk so I stayed the night here."

"Alright." Mad-eye amended her with a smile, odd for a situation like this. "I'll meet you back at the house or if not at Headquarters. Remember, constant vigilance!" then the kissed her on the forehead nodded to me and apparated away.

Gwen turned to me and smirked.

"So where's the coffee?" her cheeks were pink tinged.

"Kitchen." I pointed to my left where the kitchen was. "So that really the story?"

"Of course." she blushed walking up to the counter where the coffee pot was located. She pulled a mug down from a shelf and filled the mug up before turning to me and drinking. "Why would I lie to my uncle?"

"Gwen." I raised my eyebrows. "Are you forgetting the fact that with my extrasensory werewolf abilities I have a rather sensitive nose. So don't bother lying to me."

"Stupid extra fucking sensory werewolf abilities." she growled in a mumble. "So what! I still told the truth to my uncle. I just didn't tell him about this morning."

"That's really more information that I really just don't want to hear Gwen. I just have one question, and don't lie to me because I will know." I stopped and sighed at this. "He didn't rush you did he?"

"Of course not Remus. Give your best mate some credit." she said softly, with a light smile on her face. "Do you honestly think that I would let anyone rush me into something I wasn't ready for? And do you honestly believe that Sirius would ever do that to someone? Let alone me?"

"No." I grinned. "But I've got to make sure."

"Uh huh." she rolled her eyes. "Besides, how many girlfriends have you seen him have? I'm aware of three."

"True. But that's just because he was never particularly interested or into girls. I remember back in sixth year when he had the hugest crush on Sabrina Lockwood. Stuttered every time he tried to talk to her."

"See. He may drive me to crazy town at least twelve consecutive times a day, but he is a good guy."

"As long as you're sure that this is the path you want to take, I won't be forced to kill him."

"Aww look." she giggled pulling me into a hug. "Paternal Remus, such a great feat to witness."

"What's going on here Moony! Tiring to steal my girl from me?" I heard Padfoot chuckle walking into the kitchen with an obvious spring to his step. I shook my head and smiled. "Of course."

"Uh huh." Padfoot turned to us with a smile and fetching a cup of earl grey tea. "Sure you are."

"I am." I smiled at him mischievously. "See." I told him before scooping Gwen up off of the floor and hoisting her over my shoulder. "I'm taking her off to my cave." I told him before walking off towards my room.

"Remus put me down!" Gwen shrieked at me. "Right Merlin be damned now! Put me down."

"Alright." I amended setting her down on the floor. "Go see your smelly mutt."

.scene..change.

"I can't go in there Gwen. Your Uncle is going to murder me. I'm going to be fried by him and then I'm going to be eaten by him Gwen! Please. Don't make me go in there, it's not right!" he begged dropping to his knees and mock sobbed. "I just found the light! Don't forsake me now."

"Sirius. Get your arse up off of the floor. He isn't going to kill you, just calm the hell down." I told him pulling him up to stand. "We have two minutes. If we're late he'll have us skinned."

"But I don't want to face him right now." He crouched back down behind the file cabinet and mocked a sob. "I feel like the bad guy."

"Oh stop." I rolled my eyes. "Don't look at it that way you dweeb. Now man up, we've got death eaters to catch and convict." I opened the door to the Auror department.

The room was filled with Auror's going about their daily business. Alice Longbottom, pregnant and hazy looking was sitting at her desk flipping through a folder and taking notes on it. Marlene McKinnon was conversing with Auror Benjy Fenwick while my uncle and boss was standing in the center of the room barking out orders to people and picking up reports as they were handed to him. I turned back to find Sirius ducked behind a file cabinet and with a pleading look etched into his handsome face. I smirked and walked back to him.

"Please Gwendolyn, don't let him kill me." He whined looking forlorn. "Is it my fault I fell for his little pumpkin? Is it really my fault that you just had to steal the still beating heart right out of my chest?" he spoke filling his voice with mock terror. "I'm sorry Merlin! Don't make this my last day on earth? Why can't I die in battle with some stupid arse Death Eater? Why does it have to be at the hands of my beloved's uncle? Why Merlin? What did I do to deserve this?"

"What is that imbecile being dramatic about this early in the god damned morning for?" My Uncle barked as he walked up next to me. "Is there something the matter with his brain?"

Sirius who was previously being a dramatic git now sat there crouched behind the file cabinet with a look of sheer terror on his face at the appearance of my uncle. Quickly he stood up and wiped his terror stricken expression from his face and replaced it with a snarky grin. He ran a hand through his hair and stepped forward towards both myself and my uncle who was giving Sirius an unreadable look. I started to giggle at they're stare off, as that's exactly what they were doing.

"Moody." Sirius nodded his head finally at my uncle.

"Black." My uncle nodded back at him with a light look in his eyes.

"Uhh…" Sirius faltered going beet red. "Got anything for us to take care of?"

"As a matter of fact, I need both you and Ackles in my office right now. I've a mission for the two of you." He barked walking in the direction of his office. I smiled and skipped after him happily. There was nothing as wonderful as hunting death eaters first thing in the morning to brighten my day. If it were my way, I'd have each and every one of those bastards locked up in Azkaban with the dementors. All the pure blood racists wanted was domination of everything in this world that I loved, that I wanted to protect. If they had they're way, we who are all fighting for peace and justice would be dead. We entered my uncle's office after that, Sirius on my tail. "Shut the door."

Sirius shut the door and waved his wand probably creating a silencing charm to make sure we weren't overheard. If was almost astonishing how much both Sirius and my uncle were alike. But well, I think that's what I've always liked about Sirius, his no nonsense attitude when it came to important matters and situations. "So what are we doing?"

"Well first there is a matter that I wish to discuss." Uncle Al barked sitting down in the chair behind his large desk made of oak. "Did I not say I wanted my niece home before dawn? I do believe that you did not accomplish that Black."

"It's not his fault." I interjected dropping in the chair in front of my uncle's desk. "It was my fault. I got too drunk."

"Is this true Black?" My uncle raised an eyebrow at him questioningly. "Is it true that she got too drunk and as result, she did not come home at the proper time?"

"Yes Sir." Sirius said slowly his face draining of color. "She kept mumbling something about Miss Dorcas coming over and not wanting to be there. I tried to take her to Headquarters but she refused and floo'ed to my flat."

"Is this true Gwendolyn?"

"Yes Uncle Al, it's true. Me and tequila never did mix well." I blushed and looked down at the floor. "I shouldn't have gotten that drunk."

"Well." He sighed sitting back in his chair and putting his hands behind his head. "That settles that then. Now, I need both of you to do some detail work on Malfoy. Follow him, watching him, eat and breathe him for the next two days. I want daily reports due back to me by eleven am each day you are out on the field. There is reason to believe that he may be coercing the daily prophet to print anti muggle legislation. Watch him carefully; we all know how much of a spineless fish Lucius Malfoy can be when provoked. Remember to pack for the trip carefully, make sure to bring along medical supplies just in case, we don't want a repeat of the last time I sent you both out into the field. Wear warm clothing as its getting rainier by the moment and don't forget Constant Vigilance!"

"Yes Uncle Al. Anything else?" I asked standing up.

"Only one more thing; I myself remember what it feels like to experience budding love, don't let it distract you. I know things can get heated in the moment, but it's important for you to remember that there is always a time and place for everything. Don't let your emotions take the better of you, control them."

"Yes Sir."

..scene..change..

"Oh dear Gwendolyn my love, wakey wakey."

The warm rich tones of Sirius's voice pulled me out of being lost in a rather wonderful dream involving Everett Corgi, a can of ready whip whipped cream, and a rather feathery pink boa. With a slight growl I felt sleep fade away from me along with the rather fetching sight of Everett Corgi's bum. My eyes flipped open to the darkness of Sirius Blacks bedroom in the wee hours of the morning. It was then that I felt a sudden pang of guilt at the dream of Everett Corgi's backside, whipped cream, and feather boa. Here I loved Sirius, as odd and crazy as that was for me to comprehend. But I loved him, I can't imagine living life without him, and I honestly don't know how I lived life not loving him, not knowing what his touch felt like when we were lost to the world with only ourselves as we made such beautiful love. And the he stood in the moonlight; naked as the day he was born with such a wonderful smile on his face as he stood over me.

"Gwendolyn my love, were you having a nice dream?"

I felt my face color at this and moved to sit up.

"Yes. Now would you kindly tell me what it is you woke me up for?"

"What were you dreaming of?" he smirked. "Because I happen to recall you saying something about whipped cream and Everett Corgi."

"I can't help it; it's not my fault he's got a rather fetching bum."

"Quite understandable, I feel that way with Holly Clearwater." Again he smirked. I grinned at him and flipped the covers back and swung my legs over the side of the bed only to be met with a chill from the cold night's air. I stood up and stretched before turning to him. "Now would you kindly tell me what the reason is for you waking up at." I looked to my left at the small muggle alarm clock that Lily had bought him last Christmas. "Three o' four in the morning for? And might I add, after a very long day watching death eaters from the shadows and after a truly great bout of making love?"

"You know what I love Gwen?" he asked with a smirk before stepping closer to me and wrapping his arms around my waist only to pull me to him. He ran his hands up my shoulders and brushed some hair behind my ear. "Seeing you, completely naked, standing in the moonlight after a rather wonderful bout of love making as you said. It makes my heart sing."

"I really don't understand it Sirius." I told him with a smile as I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist. "I love you, and it's both wonderful and terrifying all in one great stroke. I am so glad that I get to feel this with you that I get to experience this with you."

"I am glad on that account too Gwen. It's like magic with you, like something I've never known, like something I'm not willing to let go."

"Now, what is it that you woke me up for?"

"Oh, nothing much, just the fact that Lily went into labor and we need to get to St. Mungo's so that we can see our little sprog being born."

"Lily's having the baby?" I asked dumbstruck. "Why the hell didn't you tell me that the second I met consciousness."

"Well, there was the distraction of you."

"You let me be a distraction to you the night Lily goes into labor?" I asked with a grin. "Well don't I feel special, now let's get ourselves dressed, wake Remus up, and get to the hospital."

"As it were, Remus was the one who woke me up, and he's already there."

"Well then we better make time then huh?" I asked pulling away from him and moving to get dressed. I quickly located a pair of old sweats Sirius had lying next to his wardrobe and pulled them on before picking up a shirt off of the floor and putting that on. I turned around to find him still standing there naked with a wicked gleam in his eyes. "What?" I asked picking up my shoes and shoving my feet into them.

"You look hot in my clothes." He stated before moving to dress himself in the clothes he wore the day before. "I am anticipating getting back here and pulling them back off of you."

"Well, the sooner you get dressed, we go see our godchild be born, the sooner we can get back here then huh?" I asked wickedly pulling open his bedroom door.

Two minutes later found him dressed and leading the way to the fire place so that we could floo over to St. Mungo's. We stepped into the fire together and with a whoosh and flash of green flames we were at St. Mungo's in the front waiting room. There was a short line up to the welcome witch that consisted of a child who had stolen his mother's wand and had given himself a quite spectacular pair of antlers; a wizard who looked a little worse for wear; and Fabian and Gideon Prewett looking nervous as hell.

"Fabian, Gideon!" I called as I patted Gideon on the back. "What brings you two here?" I asked with a smile.

"Alice." Fabian grinned at me. "Nice shirt, didn't know you were into Pink Floyd. That was always Sirius's cup of tea." He smirked patting me on the head as he was over a foot taller than I was. "I think she looks rather fetching in the shirt myself." Sirius grinned at me. "One of my personal favorite."

"Oh stop being a git Sirius. You two are here visiting Alice aren't you? I heard she went into Labor yesterday, what's the verdict?"

"It's a boy, they named him Neville." Gideon told us both with a handsome grin on his freckled face. "Our baby sister went and gave us a nephew." He mocked sobbed at me. "We're so happy. What are you two doing here? Lemme guess, Lily right?"

"As it were." I grinned.

"Still wager the gender being male?" Fabian asked as the line moved up slowly.

"We do." Sirius replied swinging an arm around my shoulder which caused Gideon to laugh happily.

"What?" I asked narrowing my eyes.

"The two of you. I never in a million years would I have thought that you'd both get your act together and get together. It's nice, we're all glad."

"Mate, I'm pretty glad myself." Sirius smiled at me. "No more crazy built up tension."

"I guess we can expect you two to end up here in both Alice and Frank, and James and Lily's places eh?" Fabian asked with a grin. "Bet your kid will be a hellion."

"Doubtful." I smiled. "I saw Lily go through pregnancy, was downright terrifying."

"I agree. Prongs looked half dead some days. With Lily sending him out at crazy hours of the night to fetch whatever she was craving."

"She looked like she was possessed, and I'm in no way excited to repeat those motions." I added. "Fucking crazy if you ask me, so don't speculate on that one just yet."

"Uh huh." Gideon smiled as the line moved up again making them next. "Well time will tell eh?"

"I guess." Sirius nodded fiddling with my hair.

"Give our love to Alice, Frank, and Neville. If we get time we'll come on by and say hello." I smiled as Gideon pulled Fabian up to the welcome witch.

"Can you imagine children Gwen?" Sirius asked looking down at me with a thoughtful look on his handsome pale face.

"No. Downright scares the shit out of me."

"Me too." He smiled almost with an air of relief. "I can't really imagine that, not that I don't love you enough to have kids with you, just that the idea kind of scares me."

"Glad we agree." I smirked as both Gideon and Fabian left to go and find Alice and her new bundle of joy. We moved up to the welcome witch who looked sleepy but at the sight of Sirius perked up and inwardly I was growling.

"Hello, my name is Meleody Kripkirck, how might I be helping you this fine evening?" asked the witch at the welcome desk. "Mr. Black, I remember you from six months ago when you came in with the Auror Squadron that were attacked near Azkaban. How are you?" she asked him with a wink and flirtatious flip of her hair.

"Quite fine Meleody. As it were out best mates are here to have a baby, and we, being the most obvious choice as godparents." He pulled me closer by the shoulder to him. "Are in search of the maternity ward."

"Left wing, fourth floor. Is that James and Lily Potter? I saw them come in earlier, about midnight. Congratulations on becoming Godparents." Meleody Kripkirck smiled too sweetly, almost made me want to gag. "Perhaps Mr. Black, you'd like to join me for a celebratory drink tomorrow evening?"

"No he wouldn't as he's already got prior engagements with his girlfriend." I smiled with disdain. "Now please have a good evening." I snapped before grabbing Sirius's hand and dragging in down the left wing towards the elevator so that we could go to the fourth floor.

"I love the color of jealousy on you Gwendolyn." Sirius smirked as we came to a stop next to the lift.

"She was hitting on you, in front of me, on the night Lily gives birth. She's lucky I didn't hex her three ways till Sunday."

"Like I said." He pulled me to him and kissed me on the lips. "Jealousy is a lovely color on you my dear." He kissed me again. "Sweet." Another kiss. "Gwendolyn."

"I love you." I smiled as the lift came down and opened up. "Now let's go and see our best mates yeah?" I winked pulling him by the hand into the lift where he pushed the button and the lift lifted us off to the fourth floor Maternity Ward. When the lift arrived we both made a dash down the corridor to the Maternity Ward where we had to go through another welcome witch who looked even more tired than the last and didn't perk up as we stepped forward. With an exchange of words she told us that the Potters were in room four eleven. After that we dashed off again down the corridor towards room four eleven and as fate would deem, was on the other side of the maternity ward. We came to a stop outside the room to the sound of infant cries. I turned and looked up at Sirius who had a wonderful look on his face caught somewhere between disbelief and amazement. I opened the door and pulled him inside with me.

Lily looked more than exhausted in the bed located next to a cradle and window where the moon was beaming through happily. James was standing with Remus next to her bed with the baby who resided in Remus's arms. Remus rocked him soothingly with a happy grin painted on his tired face. I grinned and dropped Sirius's hand and walked across the room to where Lily was. I reached down and kissed her cheek before pulling her into a hug and letting tears fall from my eyes.

"Oh Lily, I'm so proud of you."

"You haven't even met your godson yet and you're telling me you're proud?" she asked with a tired smile and chuckle. "But thank you."

"So Sirius and I were right, I knew the sprog would be a boy."

"It would seem you were." She smiled at me happily.

"So honest question, how do you feel?" I asked pulling back and kissing her on the cheek again.

"Honestly?" she grinned in spite of her tiredness.

"Honestly." I replied sitting down in the chair next to her.

"I fell very numb."

"Numb?" I asked nodding. "That's good."

"Now let me tell you about the birth."

"Was it bad?" I asked feeling my eye twitch.

"Well," she paused looking over at James, Remus, Sirius, and the baby. "It was the single most painful thing that I have ever in my life experienced. It was like cramps, really really bad cramps, times a billion."

"That bad?" My jaw fell open and my eye again twitched.

"That bad." She confirmed. "Planning on kids Gwen?" she smirked.

"Hell no." I replied looking over at the three grown men cooing over the baby. "What's his name?"

"Harry." She grinned at me. "Harry James Potter."

"Aww." I smiled happily. "Harry James, so poetic."

"Don't mock my son's name." James looked up and smirked happily at me. "Come on, get your arse over here Gwen, and hold him."

I smiled happily and stood up. I padded softly across the tiled floor to the men where Remus was still holding the baby and Sirius was gazing down goo goo eyed at little Harry. Then Remus handed me the baby and I cradled him in my arms. He was so tiny there, so precious. I almost didn't want to hold him in fear that I'd drop him, that I'd break him because he was as fragile as thin glass. Then Harry opened up his eyes and looked at me, and by god I realized, he looked just like James but with Lily's green eyes. It was then that I felt my own eyes start to tear up, and then big fat salty tears were rolling down my face.

"Crying?" James asked with a grin. "Did that myself earlier, most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

"He is." I nodded looking up at Sirius.

My breath caught in my chest at the look on Sirius's handsome face. And it was then that I knew that no matter what I wanted, one day we would both be in James and Lilly's shoes. He had this look in his eyes almost a kin to adoration but with a twinge of longing.

"Padfoot?" Remus asked noticing that he was lost in reverie. "Padfoot."

"Huh?" he asked tearing his gaze away from mine and looking up at Remus.

"You were lost there for a moment." Remus smiled knowingly at him. "By the way." He turned to me. "Nice shirt, Padfoot's right?" he smirked at me with the same knowing grin.

"It is, grabbed the first things I seen. Meeting this little bugger was more important than dressing up for the occasion." I rolled my eyes before turning to Sirius who was grinning at me now. "Want to hold him?"

"Yeah." He nodded sheepishly.

I carefully, minding to hold Harry's head, handed him over to Sirius.

And then it was my turn to ogle. Sirius rocked Harry lightly in his arms with a sweet tenderness.

"Gwen?" James called. I turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes dear Jimmy?"

"Come here." He said before pulling me into a bone crushing hug. "Now make me an honorary uncle come soon." He smirked pulling back. Then he laughed happily at me as a bright blush over took my face.

"Don't hold your breath there Jimmy boy," I laughed. "I really doubt that that is going to happen any time soon."

"Eh I dunno." Remus grinned wickedly at me. "You and Padfoot have a habit of forgetting your silencing charms."

"So." I narrowed my eyes at him. "What has that to do with anything, you sleep like a rock."

"I'm just saying, three times in a night is some type of record."

"Remus Lupin, you really want me to kill you don't you." I asked him with a raised eyebrow.

"Nope, just want that next nephew of mine." He grinned. "Or niece."

"I've got my bets on a niece." James smirked at me. "And then I shalt have a princess."

"It would be my princess and not yours Prongs." Sirius looked up from Harry and smirked at me. "What do you say?"

"Didn't we talk about this before we got in the lift?" I asked with a slight nervous edge to my voice. "I am at no point in the near future, going through the horrible ordeal that is pregnancy. You saw how Lily reacted."

"Hey!" Lily called out from behind me. "I wasn't that bad."

"Sorry Lilyflower." Remus smirked at her. "But you were."

"What if I don't mind?" Sirius asked and I swear I felt my stomach drop out of my body to the floor.

"Are you serious?"

"Quite, was born Sirius."

"Git." I slapped his arm.

"As long as I'm your git, I don't right care." He smirked. "Think about it, we can have a house full of kids." He grinned then. "Like the Weasley's."

"Your nuts." I told him before turning back to Remus and James who were both wearing smirks on they're faces.

"Shut up." I growled. "It's not going to happen. End of story."

"Sure." Remus smirked. "We shall see then wont we?"

"Git." I told him with a roll of my eyes. "I'm not having kids. Like ever. No way in hell."

"Uh huh." James smirked. "Three times in one night might differ with that opinion."

"I hate you, I hate both of you." I told both James and Remus with a glower. "Idiots."

…scene…end…

Authors Note: hahaha! That was awesome. Don't worry there loves, there will be a whole load more of our favorite werewolf in the second half of the story.

~cheers!

-thf