Outside, Sirius sat slumped beneath a large tree, his knees drawn to his chest as silent tears streamed down his face. His hands trembled as he absentmindedly picked at the skin on his arm, the sting of pain grounding him in a way his overwhelming emotions couldn't. The world around him felt muted and distant, like he was watching it from behind a foggy window.
Orion and Walburga spotted him from afar, their steps quickening as they approached. The sight of Sirius's broken expression and bleeding arm sent a jolt of worry through them. Orion crouched down a few feet away, his tone calm but firm. "Sirius, talk to us. What's going on?"
Sirius looked up at them, his red-rimmed eyes filled with exhaustion and despair. "I can't do it," he choked out, his voice raw and barely audible. "I don't know how to do this. It's too much, and I feel like I'm failing him."
Walburga knelt beside her son, gently taking his hands to stop him from hurting himself further. "Oh, my love," she whispered, her own voice thick with emotion. "You're not failing. This is hard, harder than anything, and it's okay to feel like this. But you're not alone."
Orion moved closer, carefully helping Sirius to his feet. "Let's go inside," he said softly, his steady grip guiding Sirius. "We'll clean you up and talk about how we can help. You don't have to do this by yourself."
Sirius nodded weakly, allowing himself to be led back to the house. Shame and relief tangled within him as he leaned on his parents, their quiet presence offering a small, fragile sense of safety.
Back inside, Sirius paced the nursery, the cries of Arias piercing through his already frayed nerves. He rubbed his temples, trying to block out the sound, but it only grew louder in his mind. The tension in his chest swelled until he couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Make him stop!" Sirius shouted, his voice cracking. "I can't take the crying anymore!" He pressed his hands over his ears, sinking to the floor with his back against the wall. His body trembled uncontrollably as he tried to catch his breath, but the weight of his emotions was suffocating.
Orion and Walburga rushed into the room, their expressions filled with worry. Orion immediately knelt beside Sirius, his hand resting on his son's shaking shoulder. "Sirius," he said gently but firmly, "look at me. It's okay. You're not alone in this. We're here."
Walburga moved to Arias, her voice soft and soothing as she cradled the baby. "It's alright, little one," she murmured, swaying gently as Arias's cries began to subside under her touch.
Orion stayed with Sirius, his calm presence grounding. "Breathe, Sirius," he said, his voice steady. "You're overwhelmed, and that's okay. You're doing the best you can, but you don't have to carry all of this by yourself."
Tears streamed down Sirius's face as he looked up at his father, his voice breaking. "I don't know what's wrong with me," he whispered. "I feel like I'm failing him… like I'm failing everyone."
Orion's gaze softened, his own heart breaking for his son. "Sirius," he said gently, "what you're feeling is real and valid. Postpartum depression isn't just something mothers go through—it can happen to anyone. This doesn't mean you're failing. It means you need support, and that's okay."
Sirius blinked at him, a flicker of understanding breaking through the fog of his despair. "I didn't know…" he murmured, his voice trembling. "I didn't know it could happen to me."
Walburga, still holding Arias, knelt beside Sirius. "We'll get you through this," she said firmly. "We'll find help, whatever it takes. You don't have to face this alone."
Sirius let out a shaky sob, leaning into Orion's comforting embrace as Walburga reached out to place a gentle hand on his knee. For the first time in weeks, the weight on his chest felt just a little lighter. His parents' unwavering support began to chip away at the walls of guilt and shame he had built around himself.
As Arias's soft coos replaced his cries, Sirius glanced toward his son. "I love him so much," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I just feel so… lost."
Walburga placed a kiss on Sirius's forehead, her voice filled with reassurance. "You're not lost, Sirius. You're just finding your way. And we'll be right here with you every step of the way."
Orion nodded, his arm wrapped tightly around his son. "You're not failing, Sirius. You're doing your best, and that's more than enough."
In that moment, Sirius allowed himself to lean into their support, the love of his family providing the strength he needed to take the first steps toward healing.