The mountain top of Brier Muldron was as Cassie had remembered it, cloaked in low clouds. She and Sirius apparated there since she knew where she was going. Sirius looked around and could see nothing but rocks, fog and trees. Cassie then traced a ruin in the fog and it parted to show them a path leading up the hill. She took his hand and started to walk.
"Cassie love, where are we going?"
"To the Manor of course." She just kept walking up the path going deeper into the clouds that closed in behind them hiding the little bit of the village below that they had been able to see.
"It isn't that I'm questioning you, but it has been over ten years since you were there and you told me you were only there the one time so."
Cassie turn to face Sirius then kissed him, "Close your eyes and reach out with you heart and magic." He started to protest and found her lips on his again. Shhhhh, now just do it, trues me."
Sirius took a couple of deep breaths and pushed away his doubts, then reached out with his inner core of magic. In a flash he felt himself being pulled up the hill to what looked to be a romances style manor. When he finally opened his eyes again he and Cassie were standing in front of the manor at the top of the hill. "But how, I did no spells, or incantation, and I know we didn't apparate."
Cassie was smiling and had a look like a young child on Christmas morning. "Magic calls to magic, and soul to soul."
Grabbing his hand again she led the way up the front path to the door. Just as she was about to put the key in the lock the door swung open.
"Welcome home Miss Cassie" said the house elf standing at the door, "And I see you have found and brought the Master with you. This is a grand day then."
"Thank you Tap, and where are the others?"
Magpie is in the kitchen fixing dinner of course, and Kettle is helping, Pint and Dipper are in the Masters bedchamber reading it for the night. So if there be anything special you and Our Lord would be needing just say the word and we'll be getting it quick as a flash.
Cassie whispered something into Sirius's ear. "Tomorrow after whatever is going to happen has happened we will be heading home. Besides the fact that this is your parent's manor and the manor they bought and made ready for us and everyone is our home."
Cassie nodded, "It just feels so right here. The manor is grand and all but, this feels like home." They had moved into a large but cozy room with an enormous fireplace.
From around them a voice came "Cassian. Do not override the girls own feeling with yours now release her or I will stay as I am." The voice sounded not unlike Sirius's own, just older.
As he watched his wife, her image split into two. Sirius was now feeling a bit off kilter. Cassie had explained about the fact that her soul had been the same soul as the first Cassian. The woman who had been the wife of the first Merlin and whom he had built this manor for. And now here she stood as solid as his own Cassie. The biggest difference being that Cassian's hair had flex of silver running through it and there were fine lines around her mouth and at the corners of her eyes.
Cassie shivered and rubbed her eyes then turned to her older doppelganger. "You promised me Cass that you would not do that."
"Oh child don't be such a stick in the mud, I was only having some harmless fun before I disappear completely."
"Cassie, love are you alright," Cassie nodded and smiled then said, Fine. "So would you please explain what just happened? You told me that the two of you have the same soul, so how is it she is here and you're here at the same time?"
Before Cassie could try to explain it, once again the voice sounded around them. "If my boy you would lend this old wizard some strength I will explain everything over dinner."
Sirius look at Cassie for some kind of reassurance and answer. "It will not hurt you in any way and it will make this much easier if Merlin explains everything."
Sirius's eyes widened and he mouthed (THEE MERLIN). Cassie just nodded again. "Well if taking some of my energy will help, then go ahead." Sirius looked as though he was bracing for it to hurt till Cassian came over and tapped him gentle on the forehead.
"Relax child it not painful."
He felt a tingle and as if he needed to eat and have some strong tea. Next to him the wall shimmered and out of it stepped a figure. At first he was as a ghost misty and transparent, but once his hand touched Sirius's shoulder he became solid just like Cassian.
His shoulders were wider than Sirius's and he seemed to stand a bit taller and like Cassian there was silver mixed with the black, and where Sirius had a goatee and mustache, Merlin had a full well trimmed beard. Other than that Sirius felt like he was looking in a mirror at the self he left behind when he fell into the vail.
"Tap, Magpie is all in readiness." Merlin yelled.
His answer came with two pops. "Yes Lord Merlin all is as you requested."
"Good then bring out the food."
Over dinner of rack of lamb Merlin explained how when he built this home he had infused part of his soul into it which was how he was able, with the right energy to manifest in full just as Cassian did once in the house. Though she had no hand in it building the house was hers and she loved it so much and was so happy here that part of her soul also had clung to it.
That the day Cassie came here with her parents Cassian gravitated to her linking with her, but that the piece of the soul that is Cassian could not fully join with Cassie until, He, Sirius was there to join with Merlin since they too shared a singular soul.
"You see the ceremony of fusing the souls that the two of you carry with the fragments that have been stuck here is easy, Cassian and I just had one request before we perform the ceremony and we promise that once everything is completed you will still be you. You will just gain some of our knowledge and power along with having your soul whole."
"So what is the little request that you would like first." Sirius had reached for Cassia's hand under the table.
Merlin looked from Sirius to Cassie then over at his wife. "Have you ever heard of a true soul bond, where two souls are destined to be together through all eternity?"
Sirius was now looking into Cassie's eyes, "Yes and it makes perfect sense because the first time I saw Cassie I knew, I knew there would never be anyone else for me."
"Then you will understand our request. You saw how Cassian was able to take control of Cassie's body and it did not harm her or you daughter. What we would ask is that before we become part of you forever and are no longer us, that we be allowed to use you bodies to have one last night together as husband and wife. Come morning you will be yourselves again and we will be part of you forever."
Sirius smiled and winked at Cassie, "The Answer is yes. Though if your love is a powerful as ours has been I feel sorry for the little town at the bottom of the hill." Sirius was now standing holding his Cassie in his arms.
"And why is that," Merlins hand rested on Sirius's shoulder and Cassian's on Cassie's.
"Because we managed to raise enough energy the last two days that we blacked out London." Sirius's lips found Cassie's and as they kissed they felt themselves submerge into the back of their minds. Both still able to see and hear but not control or interfere with what Merlin and Cassian were doing.
Merlin picked Cassian up and carried her into the master suite. The room was light by candle light and sitting on a dais was a large bed covered in furs and hung around with thick curtains. The Fireplace had been light and stacked with logs large enough to burn through the night.
It had been close to a millennium since Merlin and Cassian had been able to touch to feel and to be as husband and wife. Yes parts of both their spirits had been trapped within this home they both loved so much but without bodies or the energy to even take on corporeal forms all they had been able to do was talk.
Standing next to the large bed Merlin slowly removed Cassian's clothing till he reached the under garments. Well now this is something different. Cassian laughed at the look on his face.
"Here let me," she reached behind her back and unhooked the bra, sliding the straps down her arms and off she handed it to him.
"Is this some type of torcher device that women are made to wear?" He was looking over all the hooks and wires before tossing it to the side.
"If you were to ask Cassie she would say yes, but no husband it is meant to help support a woman's breasts."
Merlin laughed and reached forward cupping Cassian's breasts in his hands, "Now those are meant to help support a women's breasts not that cold metal filled garment. After laying Cassian upon the bed he went to remove his own clothing and found himself just as perplexed over Sirius's belt and trousers. "Why would anyone subject themselves to warring garments that take so long to get off when robes are so much less confining."
"You will have to ask that question of the children later after we have had our last time as husband and wife. Now come to bed, it has been far too long since I have felt my Husbands embrace."
As if in a dance the two moved as one no hurried or wasted movements. Theirs was a love that was practiced to the point of perfection and each know the others so well that all it took was a single touch to arouse and entice. Where Sirius and Cassie had been furry and fire, Merlin and Cassian were like warm rain and sunshine. Slower but in the end just as invitingly warm and compelling.
Gentle caresses and long compelling kisses that left a lingering desire, followed by slow deep thrusts and please for more. Then a change to a new position that brought with it a whole new set of intimate pleasures. Over and over just as Merlin would reach the point of climax he would stop cool down just enough then start over, bringing Cassian to the highs of orgasm over and over till she begged him to fill her. Only then did he finally relent and allow himself to climax triggering in Cassian an orgasm that sent a shock wave through the house and out to the field and farms around them.
"Sirius was not wrong when he told us of the magic energy these bodies can produce. The farmers will be praising their god for the bountiful harvests they will reap this year." Merlin rolled to his back and pulled his wife to him. "One last kiss my Beloved then it is time to meld into our Children and let them carry on the love we started."
Cassian kissed him and held him tight, "Let it be written upon the soul we share, that this love that has followed from one generation to the next shall ever be. Till time is but a fleeting memory and beyond. So Mote It Be.
The candles had nearly burned away and the fire was burning low when Sirius rose from the bed to tend it. Cassie softy moaned and rolled to her side. The memories of what had transpired earlier that night lingering like the warm glow that filled the room. "Come back to bed Love."
Sirius turned and smiled "Once I have the fire back to life." They had both been changed by the night events. In the front of Cassie's hair was a singular streak of silver and her skin had taken on a glow as if she had been dusted with moonlight, making her even more beautiful then she had been, if that were even possible. Sirius, he had gained an inch or two in height and a good twenty to thirty pounds of lean muscle that burdened his shoulders and chest and made his waist look somewhat smaller. Cassie would comment later that he had gained size in other ways as well but Sirius would dismiss those comments as joking. For now though outside of those physical changes he had a new scents of patients, and a feeling of confidence and control he had been working hard to find since his rebirth. It was nice, oh he was still Sirius Black, but now he was as Merlin had promised, so much more.
The fire was now back to it full blaze so as promised he returned to the large warm bed where his wife lay waiting and made love to her twice more before the sun pierced the drapes around the bed.
A pop was quickly followed up by Magpies voice. "Mistress Cassie, Master Sirius?"
Sirius poked his head out from between the drapes on the bed. "Good Morning Magpie, what do you need this fine morning."
The little house elf giggled, "One was wondering if you and the Mistress wished me to make breakfast before you head out this morning."
Sirius put up one figure to indicate he needed a minute, then popped his head back in the bed. Cassie was already awake. "Magpie would like to know if we would like her to make us breakfast."
Cassie used her figures to tell him a small one as she looked for a robe so she could head to the shower. Sirius now laying on his back yelled out Cassie's response then dragged Cassie back under the covers for another quick cuddle before they both headed into the shower.
A little passed nine Sirius and Cassie apparated into Maggie's shop. They had left the bike there when they took the tub into the city center three days earlier. As they came out from the back room Maggie tossed them a copy of the sun, The headline read
Stubby Boardman and the Hobgoblins to Appear before the Queen?
Below was a picture of Sirius, Cassie, Amy, Remus, and Frank outside the ministry. Sirius handed the paper to Cassie, who folded it and put it in her bag.
"Anything else, He asked as they rounded a corner to head out, just stopping long enough to grab some sweets for the children.
"Just this," she handed Sirius a small box. A note attached to the box read, Found this while cleaning up the row house was hidden in a compartment in the headboard. Sirius opened the box to find another inside made of inlaid wood and semi presses stones The box was the box that held the wedding bands they had gotten in Diagon Alley when they first got married, but it couldn't be.
There was a jarring of memories, Cassie leaving the day of their wedding and him hiding the rings, Cassie leaving when Harry was six months old and Lillie and James going into hiding. The multiple timelines were merging and becoming one. Cassie had told him that she could see his two selves slowly becoming one.
Cassie grabbed him. "Sirius are you alright?"
He was feeling a bit dizzy as if he had been pulled in two directions at once and then snapped back hard. He sat on the bike and grabbed Cassie by the shoulders. "What did you see?"
"What do you mean," her voice was shaky and he realized he was squeezing her shoulders tightly as if he were angry.
"I'm sorry, oh god Cassie. What just happened, baby please what did you see?"
She swallowed hard, then gentle removed his hands from her bruised shoulders. "I saw you, three of you then they all came together and you looked as if you would be sick."
Very gentle he reached for her and wrapped his hands around her waist pulling her to him, then burying his head in her chest he began to cry. Three timelines, in the first Cassie had never come to Britain she wasn't there to inspire him to grow up and become more than he was. In the second she had come over and they had fallen hard for each other and were married in less than a year, with her Mother signing the contract for her and his Grandfather signing for him, but something went wrong. Her Mother never arrived for the wedding and when they returned to the Row house afterwards Ambrose was there and said she had to come home now that her Mother was dying. She handed him her ring and told him to keep it safe and that she would be back. Then someone came up behind him and it was all gone, all his memories of their love, of their life together it was all just a blur of what might have been and he was mad and he wanted to die. So when James and Lillie died he went after Peter and he was the one in Azkaban. He wasn't there for Harry till he escaped and he was on the run. Then he died, but he wasn't dead he was the one trapped in the arch. The first two timelines had converged at James and Lilies deaths. And finally there was this time line this now were death had brought him back she had pulled him from the arch and told him that he was getting another chance to do it right this time. But there were other changes, before that. Cassie's Father had come and signed the contract of Marriage, he was there at the wedding along with her Mother. They had two full years together before he sent her to her parents for her safety. And again the timelines that had split now came together as one, this one.
He raised his head from her cloak to look into her eyes. She was crying too. "It going to be fine, I promise. For I shall always Love Thee,Thee,Thee."
He opened the box with the rings and inside his ring it read, I shall always LoveThee,Thee,Thee.
He took her hand and removed the plain gold band that had adorned it and slipped her true wedding band on to her figure. Then Cassie took his ring and placed it on his figure.
A promise made across life times that has bound us together. Do not forget Sirius Orion Black that I will always be here for you, no matter what it takes.
He wasn't sure how long they just sat there holding each other till he knew he could ride the bike safely. When they did get home lunch was on the table and everyone was busy with the school. They both took a little time to splash cold water on their faces. A lot had happened over the past couple days and they didn't need Harry seeing them looking as if they had been crying even if they had. Then they heard the sound of little feet marching down the hall to the dining room for lunch.
The children all waited to be put into their chairs. Cassie and Sirius watched from around the corner where they could not be seen. Each child was seated without a problem, till they got to Harry. He refused to be picked up, "Mamma do."
Max was perplexed, "But Harry Mamma isn't home yet."
"Mamma do," Harry sat where he was and started to cry. Like Sirius Harry had seen multiple timelines, most had him neglected and alone not understanding why his Aunt would not hold him like she did his cousin, him sitting on the floor in a dirty diaper with a small bowl of dry cereal as all he had to eat, him crying himself to sleep. Then there was this one timeline where he had Sirius and Cassie, where he had a Mamma and Daddy who loved him and took care of him and who he was missing very much and all he wanted was for his Mamma and Daddy to pick him up and make the world right again, make this not the dream of an orphaned child.
Cassie couldn't stay hidden any longer, her baby was crying and she needed to let him know everything was alright. She came around the corner and scooped him up in a hug and then Sirius enfolded them both in his arms. "It's alright Harry Daddy and Mamma are here now and everything is going to be fine from now on.
The rest of that day and the next and the one after that was spent in play and cuddling and being a family the way it should have been, the way it would now be. Cassie still had the clinic after all it was needed and Harry could come in when he needed to or when he just wanted to and be with his Momma. Sirius took a look at his life, he did not need to be an Auror, he was wealthy in more ways than one. So with that clear in his head he chose his family over work. What he did do with his time was work on modifying motor bikes and cars to work for magicals. It kept him busy during the day and out of Remus and Max's hair and gave him something that both he and Harry came to love.
As for what was to come. Well that would be dealt with in time, for now though they had Family things to do. Weddings to attend and three lifetimes of love to fit into one.