DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters or the quotes.

Sirius walked into the living room of their house and yawned.

"What's for supper, love?" he asked loudly.

Marlene walked in to the room, a large smile plastered on a face, her eyes bright with excitement and hugged him tightly. When she pulled back, she whispered excitedly "I have something to tell you."

Sirius smiled and walked into the bedroom and shut the door. His muffled voice came from behind it.

"Please tell me it's about supper."

There was no reply, so he continued to change and then opened the door after a while. Marlene was standing in front of the door, her hand on her hip, a frown on her face and for a moment he thought she was upset, but her eyes gave her away.

"What?" he asked casually.

"I have this huge thing to tell you."

"You've said that thrice already."

She made a face at him but her smile did not disappear and he wondered what could make her so happy.

"Oh Merlin….Lily is right….this isn't easy."

"Marls?"

"Okay, Okay, calm down,"

"Marlene, are you okay?"

"I'm pregnant," she blurted out.

"I – what?"

"We're going to have baby, Sirius."

Sirius suddenly felt his throat become dry like he had swallowed sandpaper. He was at a loss for words.

"We're going to have baby, Sirius. Me and you. Parents. Who would have thought?" she exclaimed excitedly.

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply before laughing and twirling around.

"Us? Can you believe it? Us."

Sirius let out a breath and looked at her, his eyes not betraying any emotion. Marlene's smile visibly decreased and she looked at him concernedly.

"Are you not happy about this?"

"Wha- are you serious?"

"Sirius, we're really having a baby."

"But-"

"I know, trust me, I know. The war and everyone dying, not the best timing. But then I thought, maybe it is. Maybe its perfect timing. You know what we all need right now? A little happiness. A little joy. A little love. To help us win this thing."

Sirius nodded, tears streaming down his face as he placed his hand gently on her stomach.

"A baby."

"Yes," she whispered back.

"Is it a boy or a girl?"

"A girl."

"Oh damn."

"Why?"

"I'm going to have to beat up all the guys who break her heart," he said seriously.

Marlene giggled, and Sirius picked her up, spinning her around, planting kisses all over her face.

"We're having a baby!" he exclaimed.

She laughed at how happy he looked, for a moment, he almost looked like how he used to, before the war, before the problems. For a glimpse, she saw his handsome face again. But it was gone as soon as it came.

"You can't stay here," he told her.

"What?"

"You have to leave."

"Why?"

"Marles, trust me and go."

"Why? Where do I have to go?"

"Go to your parents. Stay there."

"Why? This is ridiculous."

"STOP ASKING SO MANY GOD DAMN QUESTIONS AND LEAVE!"

"I CAN SHOUT TOO! I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE UNTIL YOU TELL ME WHY."

Sirius' expression softened. He took her face in his hands.

"I wish I could tell you. I really do."

"So tell me."

" I can't."

"You don't trust me?"

"I do. More than anyone."

"So?"

"It's not my secret."

"This is about Lily and James right?"

Sirius' silence spoke for itself.

"I'm not stupid. I know something is going on. They're in hiding. I don't know why but I know it's important."

"Do you trust me?" asked Sirius.

"What a stupid question."

"Do you trust me?" he repeated.

She nodded.

"When they can't find them, they'll come looking for me. If they find you, they'll kill you. Please, just trust me, babe. Please."

Marlene looked at him for some time, taking in his words and the concern in his eyes and nodded. "Okay."

He kissed her lightly on her lips, tasting the cherry on it and whispered in her ear "Thank you."

"I'm going to fight. Like always."

"I know you are. But the farther away you are from me, the less danger."

"Will you visit?"

"Of course."

"How long?"

"As long as it takes."

"So…one year? Ten years? Twenty?"

"Marls, don't be like this. I know you can fight. I know you're strong. That's what I love about you. And I know you'll always fight. But these people, they won't give you the chance."

"Why are they after you?"

Sirius remained silent.

"Okay. I get it."

She hugged him tightly, trying to memorise the shape of his body, the smell of him and the way his hands felt around her waist. So that she could live her life with him, even without him. He hugged her back, wishing he never had to let go.

He watched her pack her things and leave, her skirt blowing against the wind as she walked down the cobbled street in her worn out heels, her blonde waves flying behind her. He watched as she turned around and smiled at him, before disappearing with a light pop.

Sirius sat in his armchair by the fire, staring at a photograph in front of him, his fingers gliding over his little godson's face. He smiled. In a few months, he would have one of his own, a little girl trotting all over the place to give Harry, company. His insides lit up at the thought and he vowed he would be a better father than Orion had ever been.

He fell asleep by the fire, dreaming of walking around the Hogwarts grounds holding Marlene's hand and jumping from pebble to pebble, rolling down the hill. For a moment, he was just a teenage boy, with not a worry in the world. He didn't know it but there was a tender smile on his face and the photograph slipped from his hand as dreamt on.

Twenty four days later, Marlene McKinnon and her family were killed by Death Eaters.

"And for a moment we'd won, we were innocent and young."

A/N: Reviewers get eternal love, a fish and maybe even a penguin! (I'm serious.)