Chapter Eighty-eight;

Four days. It had been four days and still no word. To put it bluntly, Sirius was going out of his mind. The last week of his classes had been canceled because he couldn't find himself to go to them when Severus was out there possibly being hurt. Aiden had been staying nights with the other Professors and very confused as to why he hadn't seen Severus, which made him constantly ask Sirius where his papa was, which made Sirius almost breakdown.

Sirius lay in the bed staring at the stone wall, his eyes drug down with dark bags from no sleep, his skin paler than usual. He took a deep breath and let it out as a sigh when he didn't smell Severus' distinctive scent at all. He morphed into the grim and nuzzled into the bed, his nose directly under the pillows where he could just very vaguely smell him. His eyes closed and the dog began to whimper to himself, pawing at the blanket in a helpless manner.

"Sirius?" Remus called as he pushed the bedroom door open, frowning at the whimpering his friend was making. "Padfoot." Sirius lifted his head and glanced back at Remus before letting his head drop back into the blankets again. "Sirius, turn into your human form, there's a meeting. And I know, it isn't the best time, but you haven't left these rooms in days, and… Sirius, we're all worried about you." Remus explained as he waved his hand to turn the lights on. The dog in response just whimpered loudly. "Padfoot, come on… you need to get up. Aiden has been asking for you. He's almost in tears…"

The dog sighed before he turned back into a man though made no attempt to move. Remus' frown fell even more. He crossed the room and opened up the drawers, pulling out some new clothes for his friend and laying them on the bed. "Get these on. Actually… take a shower. You have thirty minutes then I'm coming in here, and if you don't do it, I'll force you into the tub myself." Remus threatened before walking out.

Sirius scowled and pushed off the bed, grabbing the clothes angrily and charging into the bathroom. He tossed the clothes on the floor and waved his hand to start the shower, shedding out of his own clothes. He stepped into the scolding hot shower, hissing at the contact but continuing on and grabbing the soap to clean himself with. He washed with a frown on his face, his tears falling in with the water. He closed his eyes tightly and leaned against the wall, sniffling. "Sev…" He whispered in despair.

'What?' Came Severus' baritone voice.

Sirius widened his eyes and shot to stand up. "S-sev?"

'… Sirius.'

"Oh fuck. I'm going crazy. Fuck, fuck, fuck…"

'You're not going crazy. That would detail that I am going crazy, which is not the case…'

"H-how? I mean…"

'Well, your voice is an echo coming from this bonding bracelet so I'm guessing it's that…'

"But… we could never do this before."

'I have no idea, Sirius. Please just… shut up and talk to me."

Sirius chuckled sadly, leaning against the wall and sliding down to sit. "I miss you."

'And I you.'

"Y-you're okay, right? Malfoy isn't hurting—"

'No. He isn't.' Severus stated.

"Where are you?"

'A dungeon, I've no idea where… he's been feeding me daily, and giving me potions for the pregnancy.'

"He wants the babies."

'I've figured that much out.'

"I lo—" Sirius began before the door open and revealed a frowning Remus.

"Who are you talking to?"

"Severus."

"Oh merlin… you're delusional… j-just hold on. I'll go get Pomfrey."

"No!" Sirius jumped up, calling his friend back in. "No. I-I'm really talking to Severus. The bonding bracelet, it has a charm on it or something."

Remus stepped back into the bathroom. "You're really speaking to him…?"

"I am."

"Get dressed, we should go see Albus."

"Got'cha." Sirius nodded, jumping out of the shower and quickly drying off to put on his given clothes.

The two headed out of the chambers, both towards the gargoyles whom Sirius waved and snarled at, the gargoyle understanding and quickly moving out of the way to reveal the stairs. Sirius took them two at a time until he came to the top and opened the door to reveal Albus and the other Professors. He hurried across the room, ignoring the looks he was receiving from the other professors probably at how sickly he looked. He held his hand out with the bonding bracelet on it to Albus.

"I was talking to Severus."

Albus' eyes twinkled madly. "Was you?"

"The bracelet… it must have a charm on it or something. He can hear me."

"Can you try it out now, please?" Albus asked.

"Of course. Severus?" Sirius called as he held up his arm with the bracelet on it.

Everyone stood or sat in silence for a few minutes, which made Sirius irritated and caused him to shake his wrist with the bracelet on it. "I swear, I spoke to him. Severus!" He called again. Albus frowned and opened his mouth to say something before the bracelet spoke.

'I was tempted to stay quiet so Albus and the others would put you in St. Mungo's…'

"Severus, my boy." Albus beamed. "How are you?"

'How am I? Oh, splendid. The scenery of the dungeon walls is to die for…'

Albus chuckled quietly. "You're not hurt then?"

'No. I'm not. Have you sent Aurors to look for me?'

"Of course we have, my boy. Do you know of your location?"

'No, just as I told the mutt. I do know he's expecting a portkey to ship us to France in which he owns a property to keep me in the dungeons there.'

"So he has no fled the country… I'll get Kingsley to speak to the Minister of Magic over in France and see if we can work something out to send some Aurors over there to patrol the manor."

'So, I suppose until then I just lie on this very uncomfortable bed and stare at the wall?'

"I'm afraid so, my boy. Unless the Aurors get a lead on where you are…"

'Splendid…' Severus said in a dull tone. 'Sirius, go somewhere alone, I need to speak with you.'

"May I, Albus?" Sirius asked as he glanced up at the man who was staring over his spectacles at him.

"Of course, my boy. I'll call if I find anything out and if Severus finds out anything—"

"Come to you immediately."

"Yes, go on, now." Albus waved him off.

Sirius turned on his heel and headed out in a rush of the Headmaster's office. "I'm going to our chambers, so hold on." Sirius said aloud not caring if he looked mental to anyone nearby who heard him talking to himself. He turned down the corridor and bolted into a run to get back to their chambers, quickly saying the password and stepping inside, letting it close on his own before claiming a seat in an armchair and tossing his legs up on the table, adjusting the bracelet. "Okay. I'm alone."

'You do know you don't need to speak out loud for me to hear, right?'

"I don't?" Sirius frowned. 'Oh.'

'Dunderhead…'

'You promise you're okay?'

'Of course I am. Lucius wouldn't risk losing the babies. I've even insulted him multiple times and told him he looked like a female.'

Sirius snorted. 'Don't anger him… I know you think he won't do anything, but Narcissa said he's unstable and shit…'

'I won't.'

'I love you.'

'I love you, too, Sirius.'

'Now, what did you want to talk to me about?'

'There is no guarantee France will let British Aurors come to their land—'

'Don't…'

'Sirius… You need to know this.'

'No, please…' Sirius whimpered.

'I never told you my vault password or anything. Everything is in a safe behind Salazar's portrait in Aiden's room.'

Sirius sobbed against the bracelet. 'Stop it… they're going to let them. We'll find you.'

Severus let out a sigh. 'Sirius. Stop crying…' He croaked and Sirius could tell from the hitch in his breath that he too was crying.

'I'm sorry, love.' Sirius apologized, sniffling and wiping the tears away. 'I'll be strong for you and Aiden…'

'You haven't told Aiden, have you?'

'N-no. He's too young to understand.'

'No, he isn't. Sirius, you need to let him know what's going on.'

'You want me to tell our son that you were kidnapped and are being held as a prisoner until his sisters are born in which after you will be killed along with one of those if we don't find you?'

'Sirius…'

'I-I can't do that…'

'Yes, lie to the boy, an then when worst comes—'

'Worst isn't coming!'

'Stop being a fucking Gryffindor!' Severus shouted. 'You lot always think things will work out for the best. That they'll end with a happy ending like in the fairtytales your mothers used to read when you were children. That isn't how things are in real-life. Lucius, while he may not look it, is extremely dangerous, moreso unstably. I could die at any given moment. The Aurors will maybe at best have a 70% chance of persuading the French Minister to allow them entry.' Severus continued on before the sobbing made it impossible for him to think straight.

'Sev…'

'I-I can't do this, Sirius…'

'Shh, love, you can. I promise… I'll find a way to get you. I swear…'

'I love you…'

'I love you, too, so much, Sev. So much.'

Severus sniffled and snuggled into the uncomfortable bed, the bracelet right next to his head. 'How are you? You've been sleeping and things, right?'

'I'm fine,' Sirius lied.

'You're not. I'm not stupid. Sirius get some sleep.'

'I'm not tired.'

'You're lying. We'll go to sleep together, okay? I'll be here when you wake up.'

'Promise?'

'Marauder-promise.' Severus said with a chuckle.

Sirius nodded and pushed off the couch, walking into their bedroom and climbing into the bed to snuggle in, the bracelet clutched with his free hand to his chest. 'Night, love.'

'Night, Sirius.' Severus said in a sleepy tone.

[Author's Notes: I was listening to Lullaby by Nickelback while writing the scene with the two just talking. ;-;]