This is the end! Just a short little chapter. I really hope that you all enjoyed this one as much as I writing it! Thank you for reading.
Warning: This story does include violence, allusions to sexual assault, abuse, miscarriage, and some major character deaths.
I own none of it. I just like to play with the characters.
Chapter 15 – Guy's Night Out
May 2012
"Vodka?" Sirius looked up into the questioning eyes of his best friend.
"Yeah, I think tonight is a good night for vodka."
"A bit nervous Padfoot?"
"Of course not." Sirius looked away from Remus. "Fine, I'm bloody fucking terrified. Happy? Now, get out my way, I need a shot glass and to down at least three of these before the Weasleys get here."
"You know that all of them are expecting this, right?" Remus asked, amused at the strong stench of anxiety coming off the Animagus.
"But what if I'm making a mistake?"
Remus stiffened. "You think that Hermione is a mistake?"
"What? No! Of course she's not, she's brilliant." Sirius ran a hand shakily through his hair. "What if I'm the mistake for her? What if I mess her and Rosie's life up?"
"You aren't going to. You've been amazing with them. And this is the greatest idea you've ever had." Remus smiled, clapping him on the back.
"What's the greatest idea?" Bill laughed as Sirius let out a squeak of surprise at the quiet entry of the two oldest Weasley sons.
Charlie grabbed a drink before sitting at the table. "So, what's going on?"
"Er – nothing new. Nothing happening. Well I mean something's happening. There's always something happening isn't there? Not always good -" Sirius stopped talking as Remus wrapped a hand around his mouth.
"Why is Sirius rambling now? What have you done?" Harry asked as he entered the kitchen with the twins.
"Er – haven't done it yet. Plan to tomorrow. Maybe. Might not. Might be killed tonight instead – never really know how these things work themselves out. And -"
They laughed as Remus silenced Sirius with a wave of his wand. "Maybe you should show them instead? Otherwise you'll ramble us all to boredom."
"I don't know,"
"He's quite entertaining."
Sirius flicked off the twins before reaching into his front pocket of his jeans. The loud laughing instantly stopped as he produced a small, velvet box. He quickly opened it before setting it onto the table facing away from him. Inside sat a simple single diamond ring, perfect for someone like Hermione.
"You're proposing?" Harry gaped at him. Sirius nodded, biting his lip. "And you're worried that we wouldn't be ok with it?" Sirius nodded again. "You're a fucking idiot."
"Took you long enough, dammit I had Christmas," Charlie groaned. "Which one of you tossers had May?"
"I had Valentine's," George whined. "You bastard, I could have gained two hundred galleons."
"I think mum was closest," Bill said with a thoughtful smirk. "She seems to win all the bets concerning you two."
"Welcome to the family," Fred said, hand squeezing his shoulder. "It'll be pretty fucking awesome saying that my brother-in-law is a real Marauder." Sirius grinned at him. "And if you're worried, Hermione is definitely going to say yes."
oOoOoOoOo
October 2012
"What's wrong now?"
Sirius's eyes jumped to Remus. "What do you mean? Nothing's wrong with me, I'm fabulous. Always have been, always will be. I don't think anyone could be as amazing as I am really -"
"You're rambling. And you keep messing with your hair. And you're drinking straight vodka. You only drink vodka when something is bothering you." Remus grinned as Sirius flicked him off before taking another shot.
Sirius warily glanced around the table and for the third time in his life he was extremely aware of the amount of over-protective Weasley men were consistently in his life. "Rosie, ahh, Rosie asked me a question the other day about the wedding. And I, ahh, wanted to discuss it with you all before I made a decision. I mean, I know what I want to say, and I think I know what 'Mione wants me to say or would want me to say but I haven't actually asked her yet. It's another one of those which is better or would hurt less or am I completely fucking this up or -"
"Rambling again." Remus cut him off, the Weasleys and Harry laughing loudly.
"Yeah, thanks Moony." Sirius' eyes flicked around the room, not knowing how to address this with them.
"Rose asked you...?" Bill started, curious at what could cause this reaction in the older man. The last time he had been this nervous he had been telling them he was proposing to Hermione.
"She, ahh, she wants to call me, ahh, dad." Sirius looked down at the table so he wouldn't have to see the looks of anger or disappointment. He really hoped they knew that he wasn't trying to replace Ron.
"And what do you want?" Harry asked gently.
"I'd, well, I'd – fuck – I'd love for her to do it." Sirius finally admitted, picking at his glass. "I already see her as my own. I love that little girl so much and the thought of her seeing me as important enough as her dad – well fuck, it's the most amazing feeling I've ever felt."
"You thought we wouldn't approve?" Charlie questioned, an eyebrow raised in amusement.
"I don't want anyone to think that I'm trying to take Ron's -"
"None of us think that you're replacing Ron," Fred said with a soft laugh.
"Yeah, and all of us can see how you feel about Rosie." George added with a wide grin.
"Sirius, look at us." Sirius raised his head slowly to look at Harry. "Rose will always be told of her father. We won't let Ron be forgotten. But, come on Sirius, you raised that little girl. You brought her mother back to us. You may not be her biological father but you are her dad."
"Do you think that Hermione will-"
"Hermione would love for Rosie to call you dad." Harry smiled at him before raising his drink in toast. "Welcome the best club in the world – fatherhood."
oOoOoOoOo
April 2012
"Pads. Padfoot. SIRIUS!"
"W-what? What happened? Who's hurt?" Sirius' head jerked from the table, the Animagus blinking slowly. The other men sitting around the large table at 12 Grimmauld Place began to laugh.
"Not getting much sleep, Sirius?" Sirius shrugged as Harry refilled his glass of firewhiskey.
"This is what the muggles call deja vu, isn't it?" Charlie gave him a fond smile, thinking back on a similar conversation they had, had many years before with his youngest brother. "You're supposed to be tired after the baby gets here."
Sirius grinned widely, raising his glass in a toast to the Weasley brothers, Remus, and Harry. "Ron wasn't lying. She's insatiable. And I'm the luckiest fucking man alive."