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Chapter 6

"Are you alright?" HIs breathing is laboured as he stares down at me.

I can feel myself flush under his gaze as I nod my head. Moving to my side he pulls me towards him. He kisses my shoulder blades while he waits for my words. "It's been a really long time." I whisper. I turn around so that I'm facing him. "But it felt like... like I'd never been gone." My hands are tracing the contours of his face.

"Promise me that you'll never leave again Mi."

My heartbeat is picking up and I can't help but start to cry. "Are you ever going to forgive me? Because I'm not sure that I can forgive myself you know."

His thumbs wipe my tears away. "I forgave you the moment I saw you in the bar that day. You were standing there with your curls springing free and that anxious expression... you looked just like you did when I picked you up from Harry's first Quidditch match, the first time we got together. I knew that I was in love with you then and I knew that day in the Leaky Cauldron that I was still in love with you. How could I not forgive you? You're the love of my life."

"Did you know that I had been in love with you for years before I got the guts to finally put the moves on you that night. Merlin I'd been hearing it from everyone 'Hermione just tell him already!' But I was terrified of the look on your face. So instead I decided to get rip roaring drunk and just try to seduce you." We were both laughing now as the memories were coming flooding back. "Do you remember how I fell over outside Grimmauld." I say shaking my head. "Yeah seduction wasn't really my thing. It wasn't until that uncomfortable moment when you picked me up from that game two days later that I could look you in the eye."

"Yeah well let's just say that if I hadn't been so sober myself I probably wouldn't have been the gentlemen I was. But God was that kiss worth the wait. I never should have waited that long to show you how I felt."

We're smiling at each other when a yell comes from down the hall. We're both up and out of the bed before we know it. Sirius is already moving towards the door. "No Sirius wait." I rush out swinging on my bathrobe. "She's probably had a nightmare. It'll frighten her if you go. She wouldn't be expecting it."

Understanding floods his face. "Of course. Go."

"Lyra baby what is it? Mama's here." I take her into my arms as she nuzzles into my shoulder.

"Mama there was a big monster with wings... you weren't listening when I was yelling. You were gone Mama like Daddy was." She hiccups.

"Baby I'm never going anywhere. It was just a dream. I promise. How about I sing to you until you fall back to sleep alright?"

Tucking her back under the covers I sweep her hair off her face and run my hand along our beautiful daughter's cheek. My soft words have her snoring in less than a minute but I can't stop myself from savouring this picture of her. A voice startles me from behind.

"Is she sleeping now?" Sirius baritone rings from the doorway.

Kissing her on the forehead I move towards him. "Why are you dressed?"

"I thought it would be better if I went home now... that way she won't get a shock in the morning. Better to take it slow right?" He says with a smile.

"Will you be back in the morning? Come for breakfast. I'll make pancakes."

"Nothing could stop me." He whispers before kissing me softly on the lips and heading towards the door. Just as he turns to go I call out softly.

"I love you Sirius." He grins at me again before heading out.

I love him...

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

"What the hell do you mean you slept with him?" Martha practically shouts at me across the breakfast table. Her face is twisted in that expression between shock and yuck...

I sigh before putting the bowl of batter down. "Martha keep your voice down. Lyra might hear you."

"More like she might hear the two of you. Sheesh... I mean one minute you're all how am I ever going to look at him again and the next minute you're jumping in the sack!"

"It wasn't like that. I mean last night he came over and we were talking... and I was upset... and he... he told me that he still loved me. He explained about what happened that night I left. Martha it was all a mistake. He... look he explained and I forgave him alright?"

She just continues to stare at me.

"I'm an adult Martha. I don't need anyone's permission." I huff out before returning to the stove. There is silence for around another minute but Martha never was very good at holding her tongue.

"So was the sex good?" I whip around to see her swinging on the back legs of her chair. "Oh come on Mi you have to share at least that with me. I mean the guy is a hottie... no doubt there!"

I can feel the blush rising up my chest. "It was... good."

Her eyebrows are up in an instant and the two front legs of the chair come down. "Good? Ok then... what was the problem?"

"Problem? I just said it was good?"

"Look no one has sex with a man that attractive, after being celibate for that long I might add, without it being a little more than good, unless there is a problem."

I know that there is no eluding from this. I may as well give her what she wants to hear. "It had just been a while... and I was a little freaked out. But Sirius was more than equipped to deal with that." I say with a cheeky grin "Happy now?"

"Merlin I wish I was having sex! Just throw me down right here and I-"

"Crass too? Who would have thought?" a voice interrupts from the kitchen doorway. Harry is standing just inside the frame. Uh Oh!

Martha is up and out of her chair before you can say surprise. "WHAT is your damage Potter? You don't just sneak up on people like that! That was a private conversation." She all but yells.

"Oh I got that... but just for the record, the guy throwing you down isn't gonna be me!"

And there's that look again. Shock or yuck? I can never tell. "In. Your. Dreams." With that said she turns around and comes to take over from me at the stove.

"Hi Harry." I say giving him a hug. "So how much did you hear?" I question closer to his ear.

"Enough to wonder why Sirius isn't eating pancakes with us in his boxers right now." he replies with a grin.

"That would be because I sleep in the nude Harry." God does nobody knock anymore? My face lights up as Sirius moves further into my tiny kitchen. But before I can get to him there is a small blur in front of me and Lyra is in his arms, hair absolutely everywhere and eyes bright.

"Well don't you look just like your Mama does in the morning!" He says with a laugh, tugging gently at her curls. She's all giggles as he progresses to throw her over his shoulder and levitate her with his wand over the table.

She can hardly get her words out she's laughing so hard. "Higher higher!"

My heart on the other hand is pumping a million miles an hour out of fear. She could fall. I tell myself. He wouldn't let that happen. I argue back. But before I can get the order out to put her down Sirius' eyes connect with mine and he's speaking. "I think we're freaking your Mama out a bit Cub. Let's get you seated." Then levitating her into one of the chairs at the table he gives her a kiss on the forehead and comes to hug me. I relax into his arms immediately. His chest was always the warmest place on earth. "I missed you."

"It's only been a few hours." I say looking up at him.

"A few hours too long. Remind me again why I didn't just stay?"

"Because we want our daughter to be well adjusted." I reply with a smile.

"Ahhh yes that... then he's pulling me out of the kitchen and into the hall. His lips are on mine in an instant and before long we're trying to catch our breath. "I waited the past seven hours to do that." He says resting his forehead against mine.

"I told Martha."

"I gathered you would... didn't figure on Harry finding out yet but that's a bonus. Just means that we won't have to make any announcements. He'll tell someone who'll let it slip to someone and next thing you know... everyone knows. No hassle!"

"At some point between now and when everyone knows I'm going to have to have a talk to Lyra." He just nods his head. " It's always been just her and me. As much as I know that she needs you in her life it's going to be strange for her at first." I'm trying to be careful with my words... gauge his reaction.

"Mi we can go as slow or fast as you want. I'm not going anywhere. I trust you to know what is best for Lyra at the moment... but I want to be able to have my say too." he says, obviously trying to gauge my reaction judging by his tone.

"OK then." I say slowly. "As slow or fast as I want... and yes you get your say. After all she's your daughter too." Then I kiss him gently on the cheek before returning to the kitchen. Thank Merlin I returned when I did too. Something had obviously gone down in the little time I had been gone. Lyra oblivious to everything except the pancakes in front of her has not noticed the bright red of her Aunt Marty's face. She is livid and I can see her hand reaching for her back pocket where her wand is sticking out. Harry like Lyra is oblivious, just standing there against the counter looking smug. What did you say to her Harry Potter? "Marty!" I practically yell to get her attention.

She spins around to face me, her face red with rage. Then turning white she walks briskly from the room, Harry standing dumbstruck behind her.

"Martha wait! What happened?" I ask catching up to her before she reaches the front door.

"I've gotta go." She can't make eye contact with me. "I'll call you tomorrow." And with that she's out my front door and apparated before I can get another word in.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~