Disclaimer: Aurora Clementine Badeau, Annalisa Dairine Black, Conri Carmine Black, Rupert Severus Badeau (Lupin-Snape), Aberto Adriano Badeau, Alicia Doireann Badeau (nee Riddle), Timothy Durante Badeau, Alfred Cillain Badeau, Holly Caoimhe Badeau, Nicola Sorcha Badeau, Italia Isla Badeau, Thekla Sophia Badeau (nee Metaxas), Maximus Eligio Badeau, Alexander Fidel Badeau, Massimo Cillian Badeau, Dolores Maria Badeau (nee DaSilva), Nikita Gorbachova, Rosaline Amherst, and Delilah Abernathy are all (C) to me :)

Pippa Lupin (C) Ashley :)

The other Lupins that are (C) to no one really. I don't claim to own them and they are not mentioned in any of the HP books. You may do as you wish with them.

All other characters are (C) Jo Rowling.

The Order held the funeral for the Hale's, Farnham's, and McKinnon's all on August 31st, 1981. The Muggles were a bit curious to see why there was such a large crowd; some were whispering about some Muggle celebrities being put to rest. Dumbledore was able to shoo them away though and once they were out of sight, he very carefully put Muggle Wards around the spot everyone was crowded in. It was a dreary day; no sun but no rain. There was a huge dinner after the funeral but Aurora, Sirius, Pippa, Lily, James, Molly, Arthur, Alice, Frank, and some other parents decided to head back to their little ones.

Aurora knew that Alfred had come to watch the funerals; she couldn't see him but she could feel him and he was alone. But for some reason, she didn't have the heart to rat him out. He was grieving now too. Aurora had known Marlene because of her relationship with Alfred when they were at Hogwarts; they had dated from their third year at Hogwarts till about two years afterwards. He had ended it pretty abruptly and Aurora later found out that it was because Marlene had been hinting about marriage and family. He had panicked and bolted. Why? She had a feeling she would never know. After all, he had said that he was jealous of Tim for what he had. So why would Alfred bail on a chance to have a family?

The next day, Aurora and Sirius saw Holly and Nicola off to school; Pippa had stayed home with Italia to watch after the babies. The children leaving for Hogwarts seemed more solemn and melancholy that day and Aurora realized that they had lost two of their fellow students; Marlene's younger brothers, Phillip, 14, and Alexander, 12. Both had been 'sons' of Gryffindor.

Aurora had to get used to a house with three babies, a young child, and another PMSing woman; as well as an absent husband. Sirius was constantly out working during the day and battling Death Eaters at night; he'd usually creep into bed around 2 am each morning and be gone for work by 6 am. Pippa was proving to be an extraordinary mother to her son but Aurora could see the sadness in her eyes every time she looked at Rupert.

And one day, in late September, Pippa left in the morning on a Sunday before anyone was awake; she left a note on the island counter in the kitchen.

Dear Aurora and Sirius,

I'm so sorry, but I have to leave. Not forever; I'll be back in a few weeks…maybe a few months, but nothing longer than a year. I just can't look at him anymore without seeing Severus. I need to get away, clear my head and refocus. I'll see you when I see you.

Simply,

Pippa

Aurora stared at the paper blankly, her eyes blinking rapidly. "I knew we couldn't trust her to stay…Now what do you tell everyone? What are you going to tell Remus?"

"Me? What about 'we'? We're in this together, Sirius, if you don't recall," Aurora snapped irritably. Their relationship had been strained since the funeral; the fact that he was never home didn't help either, nor did the fact that he would make snide comments about her not helping the Order and not having a job. She was getting frustrated and angry with him.

"This was all your idea!" he yelled and Aurora glanced over at Italia, who stood next to the back of the sofa; she was watching them with wide, timid eyes. Aurora directed her attention back to Sirius, her eyes narrowed.

"It wasn't mine; it was Pippa's. You aren't being very sympathetic towards her, Sirius."

"She left, Aurora! What sympathy does she deserve?"

"Can you imagine raising a child on your own, knowing the father but not being able to tell him that he fathered a son? Can you, Sirius? It's got to be hell…" Aurora felt a surge of protectiveness for Pippa.

"She needs to put it behind her and just raise the damn thing!"

"Thing? Thing? Sirius…you're heartless." She sounded disgusted. Sirius glared back at her.

"I'm not. It's her kid, damn it! She needs to raise him, not us."

"I understand that he's her son, Sirius; but he's also our friend's nephew and my friend's son!"

"Which friend?" he asked snidely.

"What are you getting after?" He just glared at her and she continued. "You've gotten meaner and meaner lately, Sirius. You're always gone, either at work or fighting for the Order---"

"Both of which you don't do."

Aurora flushed and walked away, her back to him. "I can't."

"You can too."

"No, I can't. You can't take care of yourself, let alone four children; I can't help the Order and I can't work," she defended.

"You could always leave the kids with Lily and James; hell, leave them with Peter."

"Peter?" Aurora scoffed. The little man of whom they spoke was not on the top of her trust list.

"Yes, Peter. He'll watch the kids."

"He doesn't have kids; he wouldn't know what to do with ours," she responded coldly.

"Why don't you trust him?" Sirius asked angrily, moving around the counter to stand in front of her. She looked up at him stubbornly.

"Why don't you trust Remus?" she shot back and they stood there, quiet, just glaring at one another.

"Both of you stop it." Both turned to look down at Italia. She looked a bit nervous but defiant at the same time. "Stop arguing and fighting; I don't trust Peter either, Sirius. He's…he's strange." She spoke quietly and Sirius frowned.

"Fine," he snapped and walked out of the kitchen and into the hallway. He jerked the coat closet door open and grabbed his black drench coat.

"Where are you going?" Aurora asked as she followed him.

"I'm going to go do something useful for the Order," he replied harshly, walking to the door.

"Oh, go right ahead then! Do what you do best, Sirius Black! Walk away!" She yelled after him, glaring at his retreating back angrily. She huffed and crossed her arms after slamming the front door shut behind him.

"Sissy?" Italia slowly walked to her older sister, tears in her eyes. "Sissy…are you and Sirius going to get a divorce?" Aurora started, her eyes widening. She hadn't realized their fighting was really affecting her. She knelt down to her little sister and beckoned her into a hug. She squeezed her gently in a loving embrace and kissed her cheek.

"A divorce? Where have you heard of that?"

"I overheard you talking to Aunty Dromeda," Italia sniffled and Aurora paled. She had heard them talking about their marriages. Aurora pulled away from Italia slightly, placing her hands on Italia's shoulders.

With a gentle squeeze, Aurora spoke. "No, Sirius and I won't get a divorce," she tried to reassure the six year old but the look that Italia gave her told her that she really didn't believe Aurora; and Aurora really didn't believe herself.

Aurora stayed up for the rest of the night, unable to sleep. Italia had been quiet for the rest of the day and the babies were asleep most of the time. It was a very quiet house and Aurora suddenly felt very, very alone. She looked up at the clock above the telly; one in the morning already. She sighed heavily, her arms crossing as she sat on the sofa, listening to the quiet. Isis hooted feebly in the sun room next to the kitchen and Angel lay next to Aurora on the sofa, purring softly. Aurora's legs were crossed and one foot was waving in the air quickly; a nervous habit. Aurora got up and slowly shuffled into the kitchen, grabbing a glass and filling it with water. Finally, the front door opened and Sirius came in; he was soaked. She peeked around the corner and smiled slightly at him. He watched her, slowly removing his coat. She went back to the sink and took a sip of water as she gazed out into the raining world just outside.

She heard him walk into the kitchen, his shoes squeaking against the linoleum floor. She didn't turn and she knew he was staring at her back; she could see his reflection in the window in front of her. "Look…I know you're probably still mad…I'm sorry, ok? I love you…" He spoke finally and her eyes closed, the tension slowly leaving her.

"James told you to get your arse back here?"

"Yeah…" he looked sheepish as she turned to face him. He walked to her, his arms wrapping low around her waist. "But I wanted to come back too. I love you. And I am sorry." She nodded, understanding and then she frowned.

"You're very wet."

"Well…really? I hadn't noticed," he remarked sarcastically and she playfully slapped his chest.

"Behave yourself, Mr. Black," she whispered and then he was kissing her and soon, they were making their way upstairs, tripping and stumbling over each other and random objects in the hallway. Lucky them, Italia was fast asleep. They were on the bed soon; all of their clothes were in random piles upon the floor. She stopped the snogging and reached over for her wand. When she turned back to him, he was grinning and she blushed at the look he was giving her. "What?"

"You look amazing…two kids and all…" he told her and rubbed her thigh. She felt heat pool between her legs. He went to kiss her again but she stopped him.

"Protection," she told him when he gave her a quizzical look. She pointed the wand at her abdomen and said "Ortus Imperium." A thin, light pink substance, neither gas nor liquid, slid out of the tip of Aurora's holly wand and curled upon her naked abdomen. It slowly faded into her skin and disappeared.

"What was that?" Sirius asked in bemusement.

"It's something Madam Pomfrey taught all of us girls in our fifth year; it's a Birth Control that is 100 effective. So I won't be getting pregnant tonight."

Sirius pouted playfully at her. "I kind of like seeing you barefoot and pregnant…" he teased and Aurora flushed again. He grinned and then he resumed what they had started.

Ortus Imperium: Latin- Birth Control

I'm not sure how accurate this is; I used a Latin to English website that I've used before.

Thanks to Baby Seal and EmSyd for the reviews and add! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please review. Thanks. -Siriusgrl88

P.S. Sorry for the wait! With the holidays and all, I figured it would be better if I had waited to post this chapter. But don't worry, I'll update again in a week!