Chapter 59 – Marked

OoO

Sirius was leaning on one arm as he looked at the sleeping woman next to him. She was lying on her back, her chest bare, except for the necklace he got her for Christmas. It was a simple silver chain with her birthstone, a diamond pendant. It represents courage and eternal love, perfect fit for Izzie. He was happy for James and Lily, but when he saw the proposal go down, he was jealous. He knew he wanted to marry Izzie, but he thought she would think it was too soon. He had stood in the jewellery shop for almost two hours debating what to do. He chose the necklace because he was afraid she would say no. But one day, he will ask her, one day she'll become his wife. The necklace rose and fell on her chest with each breath. His finger grazed the silver lining of the diamond before turning it around. On the back was a date engraved on it. That was a hard decision to make too. He was conflicted at the know what date to choose from. The day they met? The day he chose to really get to know her? The day he knew he was in love with her? The day they kissed? All of those days were important to both of them, to him. Eventually, he chose for the day she made him feel utter bliss, the day she told him she loved him, they day she came back to him. He placed the necklace back on her chest, his fingers lingering on her skin, her skin rough where the scars were.

"You're being creepy again." She murmured suddenly, her eyes were still closed but a soft smile was on her lips. She had caught him more than once as he just stared at her while she was sleeping. It was like she always felt it when he did that.

"I can't help it." He said and leaned down to capture her lips with his. "You're beautiful."

"You're such a sap."

"I'm your sap." His lips curled up as she opened her eyes with a playful glare. "I just – I just feel so lucky to have you, that you still want to be with me."

Izzie lifted her hand and curled her fingers in his hair. "I will never not want to be with you, Sirius." Her other hand trailed over his tattoo's. She was always so intrigued by his tattoo's. "I love you."

Before he could say it back, she flipped them over and she was straddling him. Seeing her on top of him, still makes his head dizzy, like it was the first time it happened. Two years ago, he never knew this love was possible, that he would ever feel this way for anyone. He never knew love was like this. But maybe it wasn't. Maybe it's different for everyone, but this – this was a feeling he never wants to lose, and he will never let go of it again.

"Happy Valentine, love." She whispered as she started to leave kisses on his chest, making her way down. It wasn't long before Sirius returned the favour, oh how he loved the sounds she made.

OoO

"Aren't you supposed to plan your wedding with your future husband? And not my girlfriend." Sirius grumbled, his arms over his chest as he scowled.

"Don't be a baby, Black." Lily tutted. "James is on assignment and Izzie is my maid of honour, so she volunteered to take his place. You can come if you want. We'll picking out the flowers." Sirius looked horrified which made Lily laugh. "That's what I thought. You'll get her back at the end of the day." She winked. She looked over her shoulder, but Izzie was busy tugging on her boots. She leaned closer to Sirius who was sitting on the barstool at the kitchen counter. "Her birthday is coming up. Maybe you should think about making an honest woman out of her."

Sirius looked at his girlfriend, who was tying up her boots. The boots Sirius got her, that matched his. She looked beautifully rugged, especially when she puts on her leather jacket. "First of all, I'm not stealing your and James's spotlight."

Lily huffed. "We don't care about that." She waved him off. "So, you thought about it?"

"It's all I think about." He admitted softly and Lily beamed. "But I can't. It's too soon, Lils. I couldn't bare it if she said no."

Lily's smile fell. "She won't say no, Sirius."

"You don't know that. And after the whole marriage thing with Reggie." He shook his head. "I can't risk losing her- Hey!" He smiled suddenly but his eyes were sad. Izzie appeared next to them, wearing the leather jacket. It gave Sirius the actual chills. "Fuck, Iz." He groaned. "I just want to pick you up and carry you back to the bedroom."

"Later." She smiled and kissed him slowly. "I promise. Now, get dressed."

"What, why? It's my day off." He whined.

"James just send me a message." She looked at Lily. "Lily, it's a surprise for the wedding, so..." She waved her hands. Lily stuck out her tongue like any adult would do and went to wait at the front door. "He asked if you could pick up the rings and then go with Remus to look at the venue. See if it is muggle worthy enough." She leaned in closer and whispered in his ear, making him shiver all over. "If you do a good job, I'll be in the bedroom tonight with only the boots and the jacket on."

She knew just how to motivate him or rile him up. "I'll be the best, best man there is. The rings will be polished, and I'll throw in a matching necklace. And the venue will be so muggle proof, you will think magic doesn't exist."

Izzie laughed, that sound was like music to his ears. He wanted to bottle it up, just like her singing voice, so he could play it on repeat. "You do that." She kissed him again. "I'll see you in a few hours."

"Can't wait."

"I'll bet." She grinned over her shoulder before she and Lily walked out of the house.

And he did. Sirius definitely did earn his price that night. And it was a memory he will never, but he meant absolutely never forget. Even when he's in his nineties, he will remember.

OoO

Remus and Izzie were walking in a street in muggle Londen. Remus was a bit nervous as she guided him through the crowd. They stopped in front of a shop, looking at their reflections. Izzie was beaming with excitement and Remus looked nervous.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. You're my best and oldest friend, Remus. Of course, I want you to be my first, again." She turned to smirk at him and saw his lips twitch up.

"Don't let Sirius hear that."

"If I recall correctly, you told him in the face you've seen me naked before, just a few months ago."

"I - well -" He shook his head with a chuckle. "Sometimes it is just too easy to rile him up. Now, let's go inside before I change my mind." He tugged on her arm, and they stepped into the tattoo shop. It was something simple and small, so they were out of the shop within an hour. Both sporting matching tattoos on the inside of their right arm, just below the elbow pit. Izzie had the outline of the moon while Remus had the outline of the sun. The moon was obvious as to why, but the sun. Remus said it was because, she had been his sun for over twelve years now. She always brought the light in his life, even on the hard days. Izzie chose to place in on the left side of her arm, so she had space to put other small tattoo's there for her friends. The next one was with Lily.

"I think this is a cause for celebration." Remus smiled, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

"Thank you for doing this with me, Remus. You took it like a champ, you didn't even flinch."

"Perks of being a werewolf." He said quietly.

"Think you got the taste for it?"

"No, one is enough. It means something special. Maybe one day if Reg wants it, but otherwise only for you, Iz." He kissed the top of her head. "But first food, I'm starving."

Izzie laughed because Remus's appetite never changed. "This way, Moony." She laughed again as Remus pursed his lips at her. She almost never calls him that, she left that name for Sirius and James. "How's Regulus doing with the process?" She asked once their food had arrived at a small bistro.

"Good, he's waiting for the next lighting storm." He had a soft smile on his lips. "I still can't believe he is doing that for me."

"I can." She squeezed his hand on top of the table. "Anyone of us would do that for you, Remus. I wonder what he'll turn into."

"Me too. I just can't picture what animal would suit him the best."

"Because he's so layered like an onion." She nodded with a sly grin. Regulus was such a complex character, it was hard to get to know him, to unravel all that is inside of him. He was quiet and studious, but he was also an athlete and quite popular in the Slytherin house. He had a dry sense of humour and had a hard time opening up to someone. But once you get to know him, he could be loud and unexpecting. He got that from Barty and Evan for sure. "I can't wait to see him."

"Me neither." He sighed a little sad.

"Only two more months and he's home. For good."

"Yeah." A happy smile crept up his face. "I love James and Lily." He suddenly said with a frown. "But I'm so jealous that they are getting married."

"You want to marry Reg."

"I do." He nodded, looking down at his plate. His shoulders shook a little and she wrapped his arms around him. "It's just not fair. I love him so much and I can't - I can't even marry him!"

"I know." She whispered. The wheels were already turning in her head, trying to find a solution for them to get married. Maybe there was another way they could show their love for each other. "I know, I'm so sorry." She whispered, stroking his hair softly.

OoO

Sirius and Lily came back from the grocery store, their arms loaded with bags. James was outside refreshing the spells on the house and garden. They talked about Lily's studies as her exams were coming up as they unpacked the groceries. He was just putting a few cans away when James swept into the kitchen and curled his arms around Lily from the back, placing a soft kiss on her neck.

"Here is my lovely fiancé."

"I missed you too, sweetheart." Sirius smiled and gave James a wet kiss on the cheek.

"You're his boyfriend, I'm his fiancé." Lily smirked as she turned around in James's arms. "And I'm going to snog my future husband into oblivion, so if you want to watch -"

"I'll pass." Sirius scrunched his nose before darting out of the room.

He was making his way to his bedroom to change into something more comfortable, but he halted when he passed Remus's room. The door was ajar, he didn't hear anything, but something told him to push it open. Remus was lying in his bed, Izzie curled up against him, her knees tucked up high. She was wearing a sweater from Remus, too large for her. Remus was caressing her hair softly, and he knew, even before Remus locked eyes with him, she was having a bad day. Sirius walked in quietly. Remus stopped stroking her hair when Sirius lifted his hand. Remus and Sirius locked eyes with each other and nodded, they didn't need to speak, they knew.

He sat down on Izzie's other side, still stroking her hair. "Izzie, love."

She hummed in her sleep, her body moved a little until she touched him. She let out a trembling breath. It's been a while since he saw her that upset, since she had a bad day. He didn't know what had triggered it, but he was happy Remus was there for her when he couldn't be. He shuffled lower until he was lying down.

"You're okay. You're with me." Sirius whispered. Izzie turned until her head was lying on his chest. He wrapped his arm around her back, tracing circles on it. When she was settled, Remus slipped out of the room unnoticed. "I love you."

She clutched his shirt in her hands. Her eyes opened slowly, and she blinked up at him. His stomach clenched fiercely together as he noticed she had been crying.

"You're my happy place." She whispered before she closed her eyes again. His heart was thumping hard in his chest, and he knew she must feel it against her cheek. Her voice was barely audible as she whispered. "You're my true love, Sirius. My one." She fell quiet and he thought for a second, she fell asleep, then she said. "And only."

They lay together for the rest of the night. Sirius was breathing heavily, gazing down at her. Marry me! Marry me! Marry! He screamed inside his head. Only Remus came in with some light dinner and tea before leaving them alone. The next morning, a worried Regulus barged into the room, wrapping her in his arms and didn't let go for an hour or two.