For relationship to work it does take a lot of effort from both parties, that is the lesson Sirius learned in courting one Severus Snape.

He knows how hard for someone like Severus to open up to someone like him his former tormentor, the one that hurt him the most. Sirius vowed on his magic and life he will never ever hurt Severus again and will not let anyone to ever hurt him again.

Although they now can sit down for a civil conversation, Severus will immediately backed off if he tries to be more intimate with him or looking at him affectionately.

Sirius tend to look forward the precious moments when Severus unconsciously let his guard down around him, that one time when Severus fall asleep next to him as they were watching some Muggle show on the one they called TV. Severus face looked so soft without all the tense lines with his silky hair falling on his face, Sirius held himself from brushing through it with his hands. The one time Severus laughed out loud when Sirius was being chased by the lovestruck Yeti when he helped Severus to collect potion materials. When Severus humming under his breath as his favorite song came up on the radio without noticing Sirius was there. The time Severus woke up in the morning after working late at night with his mussed up hair that made Sirius drop his cup many time.

The one time he accidentally saw Severus half naked because the man forgot to lock the bathroom door, he could feel his pants tighten at the show of milky skin before the door slammed on his face harshly, he had to nurse his broken nose and down below as well. Severus did not talk to him for a week and keep avoiding him with beautiful blush on his face.

Sirius knew he already fallen deep head over heels but he does not know how to take the next step, afraid Severus will disappear on him again.

The perfect moment came when Harry had his first born Nathaniel. Both he and Severus were invited to the blessing ceremony; Severus was loss for words when Harry named him as the godfather of his firstborn, looking helplessly at Voldemort and Sirius.

"We trust you like Lily trust you after all this time," Voldemort affirmed.

Severus did not cry, but Sirius can see how Severus hold the baby as if he is the most precious thing in the world and no harm would come to him as long as Severus still alive. At the moment, Sirius imagined how Severus will also love and be protective of his own child, their own child… with him. Severus overcome with indescribable feeling and looked away when the others looked at him questioningly

When they returned to their shared house, Sirius lost in his own thoughts went to his room immediately. Severus found this odd as Sirius usually spent as much time to follow Severus around like a lost puppy. He just let Sirius be and proceed to finish brewing his potion in the spare room.

When it was around dinner time, Severus again wondering as he came out of his potion room to cook dinner he did not hear anything from upstairs. After he finish plating his beef stew on the table, Severus feeling suspicious when the man is still not in sight as Sirius usually came down at the smell of food or already hovering by the door or by the table watching Severus cook.

Severus went up the stairs and stood in front of Sirius's bedroom. Raising his hand hesitantly to knock, and after a few seconds decided to knock anyway. "Sirius? Are you waiting for me to serve you in bedroom now? I am not a house elf."

No reply, not even a sound from within. "Sirius?"

Severus tried the door, it was unlocked hence he open it to find the bedroom empty with no sign of Sirius around.

Severus huffed and stormed downstairs angrily. He sat back in his chair in the kitchen, "Fine, I will not wait for him." But as he started to lift his spoon, he could feel his appetite dwindling.

"Damn mutt!" Severus put his spoon down and put a spell on the stew to keep it warm. He retreated to the living room with his book but unable to concentrate. He finally went into his room to retired for the night. Though it was after couple hours of tossing and turns that Severus finally succumb to sleep.

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Severus's eyes opened blearily as he heard rackets came from the kitchen, he stumbled towards the kitchen surprised to see Sirius Black humming happily while brewing some tea, the stew last night were reheated and placed along with some fresh bread buns on the table.

"Ahh good morning Sev! Come have a sit, I will make your tea."

Severus frowned but sits on his usual seat, a cup of tea with his usual splash of milk and two cubes of sugar placed in front of him.

He raised his eyebrow at the man now sitting across him still humming under his breath to an unknown song. "You seem cheerful…" Severus commented warily.

"Am I?" Sirius asked back with amused glint in his eyes.

Severus refrained from asking further decided to eat his stew instead. They ate in silence only after Severus finish his then Sirius spoke up.

"Severus, I wish for you to join me today… if you have time to spare?" Sirius asked not quite his confident self, tense as if he preparing himself for Severus to reject his invitation.

Severus lips curled up in amusement, "Well… I may have finished brewing all my potions yesterday and looking forward to stretch my legs today."

As Severus expected, Sirius perked up like a dog, he could see imaginary tail wagging behind him. "You'll go?"

"It's better my worth my time."

The glint returned on Sirius's eyes, "Oh I promise you won't regret it."

An hour later, both of them side-apparated in front of large clearing surrounded by forest that Severus guessed they were in the middle of the Caledonian forest in Scotland. Though nothing in sight, he could feel heavily warded magic around the area.

Severus move to retract his hand from Sirius's grip but the other man hold on. "Wait-"

He brought Severus's palm up facing the clearing and murmured under his breath. A gasp of breath left Severus when slowly a manor rivaling the Malfoy Manor itself materialized in front of them.

"Whose manor is this?" Severus asked, but the family crest found on the gate answered his questions. This is the original Black Manor where the Black family used to reside before moving to their London townhouse permanently.

"Come, I'll give you a tour." Still not letting go of Severus's hand he brought him along inside. The place does not look that abandoned, Severus thought.

After couple of hours showing Severus all the rooms, kitchen as well as the dungeon, Severus was entranced with the vast library the Black family has. His hands itched to take a book and read. Speaking of which, his hand still a prisoner of Sirius's steady grip.

"Why do you showing me all of this? Are you going to move out?"

Sirius held his gaze, "No, Severus. We are going to move in and live here together and start to build our own family."

Sirius kneeled on one knee kissing the back of Severus's hand looking up to him as if Severus hold the whole universe in his hand. "Severus Tobias Snape, would you do the honor to marry me, Sirius Orion Black to be my partner, husband and father to our child?" Showing his other hand where a velvet box containing two rings.

Severus never felt this breathless on which the proposal really caught him off guard. He could feel his voice quivering, "Are you really sure …despite everything we went through?"

Sirius immediately cupped his cheek gently, "No, not despite, because of everything that we went through, I want- no I need to be with you. I love you, Severus."

Severus eyes widen comically before his face reddens at the honest declaration, his hand grip Sirius's tight when he said, "I… I love you too, Sirius."

Sirius could feel his heart stop hearing the word that he thought he could never heard passing through the lips, the lips that keep haunting his mind. And so he kissed him, he kissed his beloved Severus and the other man responded shyly for the first time.

Although he wished they do not have to stop, but eventually both of them need air. Plenty of time for that later, Sirius thought and he was presented by Severus's flushed face and swollen lips making his knees grow weak all over again.

"You're so adorable, "he breathed.

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Sirius woke up in his bed from his very pleasant dream of his memories before his marriage to Severus. Thinking of Severus, make him stumbled out of the bed, looking for his spouse. He found him in their garden tower where Severus tends to his plants.

"Sirius?" Severus asked when he felt arms wrapped around his waist tightly before being spun around and planted a kiss on his lips.

"I love you" Sirius said breathlessly. Severus recovered from his surprise, chuckled, "I don't know what came over you but I love you too, you mutt."

"More kiss?"

"Why husband, I thought you never ask…" Severus rolled his eyes affectionately.

"Well, because I cannot resist you every time, you adorable wizard…" Both of them gazed into each other eyes, silently reminiscing down the memory lanes.

"Close your eyes Magnus, our parents are going to kiss again." Orion's voice breaks through their bubble.

"I want to see!" Magnus, their youngest son protested and trying to peer over his brother's hand.

"Orion Prince Black, I taught you better" Severus reprimands his eldest, turning around but not moving away from his husband.

"I was going to knock but Magnus was eager to see you." Their seventeen year old son said sheepishly.

Magnus finally managed to wriggle away from his brother's hold and ran to Severus who picked his five year old up. Orion following closely behind with frustrated looks at his brother, Sirius patted his shoulders he knows how Orion can be such a mother hen like Severus. The age gap between Orion and Magnus did not deter the two brothers from sharing a very close bond.

"So why are you so eager to see us, Magnus?" Sirius asked his youngest.

"Because its breakfast time!" Magnus said proudly.

"Sure is pup. Now let's see what we have for breakfast, shall we?" Sirius picked Magnus up from Severus. "Maybe we will have a stew for breakfast," Sirius said thoughtfully sending a wink at Severus before disappearing down the stairs with Magnus.

Severus huffed and turned his attention to his eldest who have been fidgeting and shuffling his feet unconsciously. "Now my Orion, what seems to bother you this morning?"

"I… umm…" Orion bite his lips, he knew his Ma will know sooner or later, he has a knack of finding information. He let out a long breath slowly, "Mischa sent me an owl, asking to see me."

"Hmmm I thought he was still visiting his family, then why are you in doubt?" Severus sat in one of the garden's wooden bench, patting the seat next to him. Orion sighed and sat next to him.

"Before he went home to visit his family, we... he kissed me and I sort of hex him and ran off." Orion's face reddens at the memory.

Severus laughed out loud, "I always wonder if you are going to end up with either of the twins, thank Merlin for that."

"Maaa I'm serious. What should I do now? "

"I apologise, you know… I punched your father three times every time he kissed me before we got together."

Orion gasped, "You didn't?"

"I did, and every time it happened he never backed down, and if your man is like your father, you will be one lucky man."

"May I ask one last question?"

"You may," Severus said amused.

"How do you know you love Pa?"

"That was a very difficult question, 10 points to Slytherin. There was never a word for it. You just know you love him when you realize you cannot bear to live without him, he who accepts who you are, seeing your ugly side as beautiful. He who want to build a family with you..." Severus stared into the space, reminisce those memories that still bring flutter to his heart.

Orion smiled, despite not usually showing his emotions he knew his Ma deeply cares and loves his Pa. "I will go and see Mischa, thanks Ma. " Orion hugged and kissed him on the cheek before wandered off down the stairs without doubt looking forward to write a reply to Mischa.

Severus huffed, "I know you are there, Sirius."

"You caught me again" Sirius stepped out of the shadow near the door. He took the seat vacated by Orion. "Magnus was asking why you and Orion took a long time to come."

"He is tenacious just like you," Severus commented. "Let's not make him wait any longer," Severus makes a move to stand up but Sirius was quick to pull by his arm that Severus landed on his lap.

"I think you owe your dear husband a kiss hmm?" Sirius leaned in to capture those lips when Magnus's voice carries over to them looking for them. Sirius groaned in frustration but a hand cupped his cheek and he felt the soft pair of lips met his.

"I love you, Sirius."

"And I love you too, Severus."

THE END