Disclaimer - I don't own Harry Potter. Written for the Valentine's Day Bingo Challenge as well as Froday amnesty for the month of February 2023 going with the Little Special for January 2017 where one tries to write something in 60 minutes or less. This took me 22 1/2 minutes. Prompt: Character: Sirius Black
Sirius for Marlene
He arrived at the home—that of his brother, trying to put a smile on his face. There was a definite problem with everything, a strange thing he couldn't put his finger on simply because he—
"To hell with it," Sirius said, still trying to put on a fake smile on his face as he entered the home of his younger brother and unexpected sister-in-law. "If we hadn't found him alive, she now wouldn't be alive because she'd have been with them, her family, the rest of the…."
And he let out a sigh before stepping through the door. His eyes blinked upon seeing his younger brother on the floor, studying books for some kind of Muggle subject. At the same time, Sirius found himself still floored that his younger brother was actively choosing to act like a Muggle and not have anything to do with the magical world, or at least practically.
And there she was, as beautiful as ever, holding his new-born niece, with no idea where Regulus' wife, who Sirius wasn't even sure his younger brother was legally married to, and suddenly, out of the blue, out of his mouth burst the words, "Marlene, when you're ready, marry me?"
Regulus' head shot up, an amused look on his face before he shook his head but then paused, looking at his older brother upon realizing that something was definitely wrong— something was off.
And Sirius—Sirius stood there watching Marlene McKinnon look up at him, frowning, looking up from adoring her niece. "Sirius, you know I'm ready. I mean, I've talked to you about having one of our own. Remember?"
"Nice," Regulus said, nodding his head. And then he said, "But what's wrong?"
Sirius' eyes closed, a hand going to his forehead. "Oh." He took a deep breath. "This was definitely not how I wanted to—this is not how I wanted to propose. It was just," and then came a sigh. "A slip of the tongue."
"A slip of the tongue?" She clicked her tongue, showing off the temper she was famous for.
"Because it was completely inappropriate of me to ask when," Sirius shook his head.
"Siri, what's wrong?" Regulus said, slowly turning from where he sat, lifting his left arm from the table to his lab as it was quicker. "What's wrong?"
"Sirius?
"Marlene, your family," Sirius said. He then said. "I don't want to lose you."
He then watched Regulus turn to look at Marlene and say, "Condolences."
"Regulus!" Sirius covered his eyes. "You idiot! That's not! I haven't even said it! And that! Really?"
Marlene's mouth formed a thin line, looking down at Regulus' daughter, who she already considered her niece. "Let's get married."
Sirius stared.
"It's probably the worst time to let you know I'm pregnant," Marlene said, obviously trying not to cry.
"Congratulations?" Regulus murmured, then looked at his brother.
"Regulus. Really," Sirius shook his head.
"It's okay," Marlene said, wiping a tear away. "I know your brother well enough to know he means no offense by what he says."
"Marlene," Sirius said. And then, "But when? We've not had time."
"The night we had celebratory sex because you found out You-Know-Who here is alive."
Which Regulus raised an eyebrow, clearing his throat as his cheeks flushed slightly before turning back to his studies. And then the tips of his ears started turning red. Sirius lifted an eyebrow. "Pervert."
"Your brother's not a pervert."
"Yes, well, he's not one to lecture me about premarital sex, is he?"
"Sirius, you're the one not to lecture him about premarital sex. Not the other way around," Marlene said. "You knew full well he didn't know what he was getting into when he did, whereas you and I've always been aware of this risk."
"Don't the two of you know how to use a condom?"
"Wha—did you just use a full sentence?" Sirius said, his facial features paling. "Why the bloody Merlin? Did that have to be the first full sentence I hear from you?"
"I can speak," Regulus started, shaking his head. "Words aren't easy anymore. I do remember getting lectured about not using one."
Sirius threw his hands up into the air.
"Regulus, do you know where we can find the local magistrate?"
"Magistrate?"
"The person who married you, I guess?"
Sirius watched his brother look at the ceiling, pondering it. He shook his head at his brother before turning to Marlene. "Hey. Are you sure? I mean, I just brought you the news that…."
He couldn't say it. Marlene smiled.
And then, Regulus started getting up. "Let's do this."
"You remembered?" Sirius asked.
"I'll just ask maman," Regulus said, referring to his adoptive Muggle mother and his wife's mother.
"Uh," Sirius said. "Okay. Looks like we're doing this." He rubbed the back of his neck, looking at her, knowing the moment he heard the news, thinking at first that he'd lost her before remembering she was watching his niece. He'd thought he'd lost another person. "Yeah. Definitely not losing someone else I care for."