Chapter 53 - It Was Worth the Wait

OoO

"Oh, are we going to the three broomsticks?" She asked once they reached Hogsmeade.

"Nope." He squeezed the hand that was looped through his arm. "Hold on." And with that, he apparated away. It was a bit chilly when they landed, a cold with gushed through the trees. She shivered as she glanced around her, they were surrounded by trees. "Step in." He guided her to a blanket on the ground. Once her foot stepped on the blanket, a warming spell flittered over her body, and she breathed out a relieved sigh.

"Remus... are we – are we in Hildegard's Forest?" She asked as she finally took in her surroundings.

"Yes, I wanted us to have a few hours like it was before. The sad part is, is that our treehouse is gone." He pointed up to the large tree in front of us. "Someone broke it down."

"I don't think it would've held us now anyway." She laughed. "Gods, it's been years since I've been here."

"Me too." He said quietly as they sat on the blanket, their backs against an old oak tree. She looked at him with a slight tilt in her head. "After you moved, it wasn't the same. I never came here without you besides the one time. It felt like a part was missing. I miss my girl next door."

"You know we spent over nine months together at school, right?" She chuckled but leaned into him as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "And soon, we'll be just two doors away. Oh, that reminds me." She pulled out a pen and notebook from her bag.

"What are you doing?"

"Just writing down that I need to place permanent silencing charms on the rooms. I don't want to hear my friends going at it. And I'm guessing Sirius don't want to hear you shagging his little brother." She gave him a toothy grin and Remus flushed crimson.

"So, you are definitely moving in?"

"What's the point of living away from the people I love. Besides you will need my company when Reggie is back in school."

"Don't remind me. I try not to think about not seeing him for almost a year." He groaned.

"What are you talking about? He'll come home during Christmas and Easter break. Then you have the Hogsmeade trips. And you, James and Sirius know enough ways to sneak in the castle or sneak Reggie out to meet you. We'll make a schedule this summer, but I will need some one on one time with my husband." Remus scrunched up his nose at this. "You are always taking the mickey out of Sirius, but you're nearly as bad." She snickered, poking his side.

Remus gasped, clutching his heart. "How dare you!" He started tickling her side and she squirmed away, but Remus with his too damn long arms, grabbed her and continued his attack. Her laughter filled the silent forest.

OoO

"Are you happy?" He asked. She was lying with her head on his lap and his hand caressed her hair softly. The skirt of her dress almost completely covered the blanket.

"Extremely so. You?"

"Ditto." He smiled, he leaned his head against the oak tree and closed his eyes. "Who would've thought we would have such great loves."

"I know you would have it, sooner or later. But I never thought I would get one."

"Why would you think that? Why would you think a werewolf had more of a chance to a happy ever after then you?"

"I love you, and I love Barty. But we were never in love. I thought I was too damaged to be lucky enough to be loved, to feel love. But then -"

"Sirius decided to meddle into our friendship. Into your life." He offered with a smirk.

"Well, yeah." She chuckled. "But still, I don't think anyone saw this coming."

"I sure didn't. Did you know, I gave Sirius the big brother speech?"

"What?! No! When?" She glanced up at him with a beaming smile.

OoO

The sun was setting as Remus twirled her around, re-enacting the way they used to dance when they were younger, when she needed to practice for another ball her father threw. She landed softly against his chest, and he kissed her temple tenderly.

"I love you."

"I love you, Remus." She answered before he twirled her out of his arms again. But now he let go of her hand, and she landed in Sirius's arms. Surprised and a little shocked to be standing in his arms, she glanced over her shoulder and saw that Remus and the blanket were gone.

She turned back to Sirius and said the sentence that always made his eyes sparkle. "Can I help you?"

And there was the sparkle again combined with a lopsided and goofy smile. "Happy birthday, love. I've missed you." He said softly, playing with a strand of her hair.

"Care to show me how much." She challenged, and bit her lower lip. Sirius eyes were fixed on her lips for a few long seconds before he leaned down. Her arms curled around his neck when their lips met. She sighed happily against his lips as she leaned further into him. "I missed you too."

"Missed this-" He tapped his lips. "Or missed me?"

"Both, they are a package deal, you know." She smiled up at him, their faces were still so close.

"I remember a time you wouldn't think about kissing these."

"I think if we had kissed then, this wouldn't be like it is now. And I kind of like the way how it is."

"Me too." He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him. "Ready for the final surprise, love?"

"I've been ready since this morning. But before we go... kiss me?"

"You never have to ask." He breathed out and leaned down for a passionate kiss, that lasted Merlin knows how long. She could just register the bark of the tree against her back.

OoO

Sirius apparated her in front of the white house with the bright red door. He curled his arms around her waist as he stood behind her.

"Why are we at the house?" She asked tilting her head so she could see him. He had a smile on his face but seemed slightly nervous. "Did you already get the keys?"

"I did. I have a surprise for you."

"Did you decorate our room without me?" She pouted.

Sirius shivered a little when she said our room. She was really going to move in with him, not just him but you know. "I wouldn't dare." He smiled as he kissed her temple. He intertwined their fingers together and took her inside the house. "You look beautiful by the way, like you stepped out of a fairy-tale." He whispered in her ear, making her shiver.

The house was still empty, but it did seem like it had a fresh coat of paint. Without waiting, he guided her upstairs.

"What are you planning to do with me?" She purred when he stopped in front of their room.

Sirius eyes were dark as she pressed her chest against his. "I'm planning to do all sorts of things to you in there, but not tonight. We're not doing that on a cold floor of an empty room." He chuckled when she pouted again. "Don't look so disappointed, love." He kissed the tip of her nose. "We have all the time in the world."

"Fine." She stuck out her tongue. "What's your plan then?"

"Let's go." He pushed the door open with his free hand and stepped towards the window. "Ladies first."

"Thank you." She kissed his cheek before she climbed the spiral staircase. Sirius heard her little gasp when her eyes skimmed the rooftop. She stilled on the last step, just looking over the display he put together before she stepped onto the roof. "Sirius." She whispered.

Sirius wrapped his arms around her again, nestling his chin in the crook of her neck as their eyes scanned the roof. The roof was decorated with lit candles and twinkle lights. It had a small round table with two chairs on the side, filled with food. On the left was a burgundy large plaid on the floor filled with soft pillows, perfect for stargazing.

"You like it?" He asked softly.

She turned in his arms, her hands curling around his neck, his hair between her fingers. "I love it." She stood on her toes, so their faces were just a few centimetres away. "I love you." She whispered her lips grazing over his. She leaned further in until their lips were firmly against each other. Sirius arms around her tightened and he deepened the kiss. She loved how Sirius' hair felt between her fingers, how long and soft it was. Much to her dismay, Sirius pulled back with a heavy breath.

"How much I love this and believe me I love doing this more than anything. But there is another surprise."

"Another?" She looked around her. "This was more than enough, Sirius." She chuckled.

"But without this part, all of this -" He gestured around them. "Wouldn't be possible."

"Alright, what is it?" She beamed.

He chuckled at her enthusiasm and led her to the blanket that was filled with plush pillows. Instead of sitting down, she laid down, facing him. He smiled and laid down next to her, playing with a strand of her hair with a trembling hand.

"Sirius, are you okay?" She asked softly tucking his hair behind his ear.

"Yeah, I'm just -" He looked down. "A bit nervous for your reaction."

"You can tell me anything." Her soft voice guided his head up again, she gave him a soft smile when their eyes met.

"I love you. I love you more than I ever did anyone. I love the mornings when I wake up next to you, your hair all over my face." He chuckled as she slapped his chest playfully. "I love that you're going to move in the house with us, with me. That I won't ever miss a morning with you. I never really thought about the future, about my time after Hogwarts. Not until you came around. Izzie, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Don't worry -" He grinned as she looked frightened for a moment. "I'm not proposing, not yet." He winked. "I will marry you someday, I want to have little rugrats of ours running around in our house. In this house, the house you love so much. Iz, -" He took in a deep breath. "We didn't lease the house, I bought it. For us, for our future. Because you are my future."

"Sirius." She breathed, tears forming in her eyes. "I -" She didn't know what to say, she felt so overwhelmed but in a good way. She knew he felt strongly about her, but that he really thought about what future they would have together, made her heart burst with love. Sirius was starting to look nervous from her lack of answer. So, she answered him, the only way she was capable of at the moment. She grabbed his shirt in her hands and kissed him passionately. She straddled his lap and deepened the kiss. Sirius didn't know where to put his hands, they went from her hips to curling around her hair and back down again. Her huge skirt nearly swallowed Sirius whole.

"What about dinner?" He breathed out as she kissed his neck.

"Don't want dinner." She said between kisses. "I want you." Her eyes were dark and before Sirius could answer, she had ripped his shirt open. She began to leave open mouthed kisses over his chest. Following the trail of tattoos and scars. "Merlin, you're gorgeous."

"No." Sirius shook his head, his was toying with the cords of the corset on her back. "You are gorgeous. Fuck, you are beautiful." He cupped her cheek and kissed her like she was his entire world. He groaned when suddenly the heavy weight of her dress was gone, her dress was neatly hanging over the back of the chair. Izzie was straddling him with nothing but a white lace corset and nickers. "Fuck me." He breathed at the sight.

"I'm planning to." She purred, tugging on his belt.

Sirius grabbed her hips and rolled them over, so he was the one hovering over her. "It's my time to explore you." He said with a raspy voice. Then he looked at her with tender in his eyes. "Is this okay? Do you feel safe?"

"I always feel safe with you, Sirius." She cupped his cheek with a soft smile.

Sirius heart was pounding fast in his chest as he looked down at the woman he loved. Her hair was sprawled around her like a halo, her eyes were large and dark, and her lips were full and red. Her breasts were heaving up and down in her corset. "C-can I?" He asked with a tremble in his voice, gesturing to her corset.

"Gods, yes."

He didn't need to be told twice, he leaned down and started kissing the bare parts of her chest as he slowly started to undo the corset. But when the corset fell away, he stilled on top of her, she covered her chest and looked away from him.

"Izzie-"

"Please don't look at me with pity."

"I'm not." He guided her face back to him. "You're beautiful. Why didn't I see them in the igloo or any other time?" He thought the scars she got from her time with her father and uncle last year had all healed and disappeared as he never saw them. But here they were, still scattered over her skin.

"I put on a concealment charm. The scars, they're ugly and won't ever go away. I understand if you don't -"

"Don't." He kissed her. "I don't care if you grow bold or grow an extra limb. I love you, Izzie. Nothing will change that, especially scars that tell me how strong you are, how courageous and protective you are. The scars, even though you don't like them, belong to you. And I love -" Kissed the scar on her abdomen. "Every -" kissed the one on her wrist. "Part -" He kissed her collarbone. "Of you."

"I don't deserve you."

"You deserve so much more." He kissed her deeply, his hands going to her breasts. His fingers played with her hardened nipples, making her moan in his mouth.

"And I'm -" He leaned down and sucked on her nipple, then switched to the other. "Going to show you -" He kissed his way down her stomach. "How much." Her panties disappeared with a wave of his hand. Other times he would have a cocky grin in place, but not now. Now his eyes were just filled with so much love, it made it hard for her to breath. "You deserve." He said, before his mouth found her centre.

OoO

Sirius pulled her closer to his chest as they gazed at the stars, their naked bodies only covered by a thin blanket. They were both still breathing heavily, and Sirius had the largest and most goofy smile on his face, he ever had. She kissed his chest lightly, he still shivered from her touch. He tucked her hair behind her ear, his eyes full of love as he looked down at her.

"That was – Godric, that was better than I ever thought was possible."

She leaned on his chest and looked up to him with a little smile. "So, it was worth the wait?"

"So worth it." He leaned forwards and kissed her lazily. "You're not mad then? That I bought the house?"

Her index finger grazed over his bottom lip before she looked up at him. "How can I be mad when the man I love wants to build a future with me? This has been the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me."

"I'm a pretty romantic guy." He smiled under her finger.

"That took me by surprise, to be honest." She chuckled.

"Me too, I guess you bring it out in me." He said with a lopsided grin. She dropped her head on his chest, laughing.

"You're pretty corny too." She said between her laughter. Sirius just beamed at her, playing with her hair. He had everything he wanted right now. The girl he loved in his arms, her laughter like a melody in his ears. That she wanted to live with him now, and after the others moved out. That she was his future. What more could a guy want?