"We -won’t- be" Cash said firmly "I refuse to lose anymore family... In fact I’m doing everything I can to encourage *more* family.... and Angel is as good a place as any to start."

"I think she’s already started" Tris sighed "do you know who took care of her tonight?"

"Remus?" Cash guessed "I know he has been fostered by Clan Gangrel... but don’t go getting any ideas...I have someone else in mind for her." he smiled.

"Well I hope it’s a teacher here, because that’s who was with her" Tris said dryly as she looked up at Cash who suddenly seemed very angry.

"WHAT TEACHER?!?" Cash asked angrily "The ONLY teacher who should be anywhere near her besides Minerva is Remus Lupin or Albus Dumbledore!"

Tris cringed at Cash’s reaction, he was practically snarling "Cash... is there something I should know about?"

Cash took a deep breath before he said anything "No.. I just don’t want a particular Slytherin Professor anywhere near her." He growled "One of his little brats nearly killed Angel a few weeks ago. The only thing that kept either of them alive was Sirius asking me NOT to kill them."

"That wouldn’t happen to be the Professor we saw earlier today in Albus’s office.... would it?" Tris asked meekly.

"Why yes my dearest grand niece, it would be...... WHY?" Cash asked as he stared Tris in her emerald eyes. "And PLEASE do not tell me *that* is who was with my little girl tonight...not when she was so vulnerable." Cash’s eyes were flashing with anger as he waited for Tristessa’s reply.

Tris answered hesitantly "Okay.. I won’t tell you then." Tris lunged at Cash, trying to pull him down as he took off towards the school. He had a murderous look in his eyes that was frightening Tris terribly. "Cash... CASH.. Stop it... CASH..!!!!"

Not knowing what else to do, Tris summoned the rest of the Clan to assist in calming Cash down before he did anything to drastic. Raul was the first one to show up, followed quickly by the rest of the clan. Tris sighed deeply, it would probably take the entire clan to hold him down long enough to talk sense into him. "Men" she sighed ......

Sirius yawned as Magda finally finished all of her questions, she had definitely given he and Dimitri the nth degree. She seemed satisfied with the answers she had gotten regarding Albus and Hogwarts, and it was apparent she appreciated the honesty regarding the MOM. But she still seemed hesitant about the Kindred, she had wanted to go on questioning Dimitri, but Fallon had reminded her mother about the sun.

Sirius rubbed his eyes and blinked as he watched the horizon blush pink. It felt so wonderful to be able to stand outside without the fear of being seen, he missed watching the sun rise and set. He also missed Harry and Cat, it had been less than a week, but already he felt a large empty spot in his heart......

"Thinking about them again?" Dimitri asked, smiling warmly at the expression of joy on Sirius’s face.

"That obvious" Sirius grinned "I miss them terribly, and I’m worried about them. I know Cash and the Gangrel will do everything and anything to protect them, but I should be there." he sighed. "And poor Remus.. .. I hate to leave him alone at a time like this" Sirius added as he noted the nearly full moon setting over the crest of pine trees.

Dimitri smiled widened even more "That is what impressed Fallon most you know. The fact that you care so much about your friends. That and the trust you show for the sake of your clan." Dimitri hugged Sirius for a brief moment. "I didn’t realize it until Fallon said it. You didn’t know me, you had no idea if you could trust me or not, but you trusted Cash because he is Clan to you. For that reason alone, you risked your life, I could have killed you at any time."

"But you didn’t and you wouldn’t" Sirius responded as he clasped Dimitri’s shoulder "and to be perfectly honest, Cash is not Clan to me. Although I wish he were."

"What?!" Dimitri almost fell over "but he called you kine, told me to treat you as if..."

"I know" Sirius smiled "that’s because of Cat. He’s kinda banking on Cat and I ending up together again. That would make me his Clan, and believe me, he’s not exactly shy about letting his feelings on the matter be known." Sirius chuckled softly as he recalled some of Cash’s more outlandish brotherly displays.

"You're very lucky, I wish he considered me kine like he does you." Dimitri said softly.

"Believe me Dimitri, in his own way he does. He never would have sent you with me if he had any doubts about you." Sirius confided "And speaking of Cash, ... he gave me strict instructions regarding you." Sirius winked as he wagged his finger at the Ventrue childer "How long has it been since you fed? Cash warned me about making sure you fed daily, and we are pretty far from any other people."

Dimitri was touched by Sirius’s concern "Don’t worry my friend. There are a great many rabbits in the forest." he said as he made a face "not my favourite thing in the world, but it will do."

Sirius and Dimitri walked towards the caravan, hurrying to get Dimitri inside before the sun truly rose. Sirius shut the door just as the first rays of the sun had begun to hit Dimitri, who had dove inside the caravan and wrapped himself up in a heavy blanket.

"Dimitri?.... Are you alright?" Sirius asked softly "Can I do anything to help you?"

Dimitri shook his head no, under the blanket. Slowly he peeked out as he noticed the room going dim. He watched as Sirius cast a spell blocking the sun from penetrating the windows and cracks of the caravan. Removing the cover, Dimitri smiled gratefully at Sirius. "You know, I really don’t miss the sun as much as I thought I would. I guess I was always enchanted by the night, I loved to lay awake at night and listen to all the sounds. The crickets chirping, the clicking and scurrying of the mice when a large owl would swoop down, as the wolves howled sadly at the moon." Dimitri sighed, his senses were much more acute now, but it was the sounds of his childhood that he remembered clearly.

"That sounds very beautiful" Fallon said softly as she entered the caravan "I know those sounds well. I fell asleep many a night listening to the same things as you"

Sirius and Dimitri both stood up as Fallon entered "Good morning Fallon, what brings you here? I thought you would be asleep by now, it was a long night." Sirius asked politely

"Yes it was" Fallon replied as she noticed the overt politeness in Sirius’s voice, he apparently hadn’t forgotten about their conversation earlier last evening "I’m sorry about last night. But we needed to make sure...."

"You could have simply asked, you didn’t have to pretend to be a friend so you mother could lurk in the shadows and ..." Sirius began

"Sirius, its enough." Dimitri said softly "let it be, she had no choice."

Sirius gave Dimitri a quizzical look "We all have choices."

"Not when your mother is queen, and you are expected to obey ... or else." Dimitri replied as he looked into Sirius’s eyes.

Sirius was going to argue, until he saw the look in Dimitri’s eyes. They seemed almost dead, except for the terrible sadness and pain lurking just beneath the surface, he would have sworn Dimitri had been in Azkaban, it was that sort of look. "What are you saying my friend?" Sirius asked as he gently guided Dimitri to sit down and talk.

"The Roma" Dimitri sighed as he shuddered slightly "their rules are strict and unforgiving. The punishments are swift and harsh. If she refused or wavered in any way, she would have paid for her *disloyalty* to her family and her queen."

Sirius watched as Dimitri seemed to shrink from the very thought of it. <the poor kid, I can’t even imagine what he’s been through, he can’t even be 25 yet> Sirius thought "Alright Dimitri, you I trust." he said as he squeezed the Ventrue’s shoulder. Turning to Fallon "I apologize, I have other things on my mind, I’m afraid I’m not the best company right now."

Dimitri looked up and smiled weakly at Sirius, "Other things.... same things" his smile widened as he saw *the look* on Sirius’s face "it’s them again, Harry and Cat. You’re still worried about them aren’t you?"

"Yes, something is happening, .... I can feel it" he motioned to mid-section "in the pit of my stomach, I can tell something is wrong, I just hope Cash can keep them safe. Of course knowing him and his protective tendencies, I really don’t know why I’m so worried."

"Ahhhh,, its because you love them soooo much" Dimitri teased as Sirius gave him a look of mock anger, which caused Dimitri to burst into laughter "I’m sorry, but I adore the way you look when you talk about them. I can see it in your eyes, and hear it in your voice and it is very sweet to know how deeply you care for them. I only hope they care for you even half so much."

Sirius smiled warmly back at Dimitri "They do, that’s why I want to get back to them. I miss them." he sighed as he remembered kissing Cat just before he left, he would give almost anything to be with her right now. <They were starting to resemble quite the little family> Sirius thought happily "Besides, how am I ever going to marry her if I’m never around?" he grinned madly as Dimitri tried to stifle another laugh.

"Your laughing.... think about it Dimitri. It’s like living with a female Cash. Loyal, sweet, kind...

"And beautiful.." Dimitri quipped as Sirius grinned even wider and winked at him.

"... and beautiful, and very, very possessive of the ones she loves. She doesn’t exactly like to share. If you think Cash has a bad temper, stay away from Cat. I can truly say, with all honesty, I feel nothing but pity for anyone stupid enough to harm Harry. As kind and gentle as she can be.... if anyone tries to hurt him, she will kill them, no argument, no discussion, no hesitation. Boom! Dead."

"That does sound like Cash" Dimitri agreed "Is her entire Clan like that?"

"Yeh.... pretty much." Sirius replied "They bring a whole new meaning to the term loyalty. Think Clan Gangrel times ten." Dimitri whistled as he pictured it.

"Sirius?" Fallon asked "You said she doesn’t like to share? I thought that was the purpose of a clan, to share among themselves, to give of themselves..."

"Yes, and they do. They are very giving, they still abide by the laws of hospitality. And expect others to do the same." Sirius explained "When I said she doesn’t like to share, I was referring to her romantic side. She is very much a one man woman, and she expects the same from her man. As I learned the hard way" he clenched his jaw, looking haunted for just a moment, then brightened considerably "but she is also very forgiving. And if she loves you,......" he simply smiled.

Fallon smiled as well, she could practically feel the warmth pouring out of Sirius as he spoke of Bean Uasal de MacLeod, his *Cat*. And the joy on his face when the topic switched to their son was a wonder to behold. Fallon sighed as she listened to Dimitri and Sirius talk about their family and clans "I wish it were more like that here. But we have lived in fear for so long...."

Dimitri took her hand and smiled kindly at her. "If you join with us, if your people agree to ally themselves with our clans...."

"My people? Dimitri they are your people as well.... you are Roma" Fallon reminded him.

"No longer." he said firmly "They abandoned me, they turned their backs to me when I needed them most." he flinched as he remembered his past. They had seen what had happened to him, they could have helped him, .... they could have saved him, but instead they stared at him with loathing and disgust.... they turned their backs and walked away, turning a deaf ear to his pleas for help.

"Don’t dwell on the past my friend" Sirius counselled "it doesn’t do anyone any good. You’re one of us now, we don’t abandon our own, not ever."

"You only say that because she has enslaved you with her love." Dimitri teased, he didn’t want to think about his past anymore, it was too painful "I on the other hand have no such problems."

"Problems... you think that’s a problem." Sirius grinned "Not from where I’m standing. You on the other hand ... now there’s a problem." Sirius picked up one of the pillows from his bed and threw it at Dimitri, hitting him in the face "problem child who can’t catch...." he said as he winked at Fallon.

Dimitri grinned wickedly as he grabbed hold of the pillow "Think fast" he said as he winged the pillow back at Sirius, catching him in the stomach. "Problem child who *can* throw..." he said as he waited to see what Sirius would do next.

Fallon jumped in before either of them could do anything "that’s enough... please" she pleaded "it’s a small caravan, and you are big boys. Besides, I don’t want my mother to find me here." she added softly. "She doesn’t know I’m speaking to you, she insists on being present when you are involved."

"You shouldn’t be here then" Dimitri said, suddenly serious "if she becomes angry..."

"I don’t think she would challenge Sirius. At least not now, knowing his relationship to Bean Uas... Cat.... she wouldn’t chance it." Fallon explained, "I know you want to go back to your family Sirius, but you can’t leave my people here defenceless. I want to join with Clan MacLeod, as do many others here, but we are afraid to stand against Magda." Fallon said as she dipped her head, she was ashamed to admit she was frightened by her own mother.

Dimitri was the first to speak "I know you can’t stand against your mother Fallon, she is...."

"She is stubborn and foolish" ranted Fallon "and she will see us all dead just because she doesn’t want things to change, she doesn’t want us to mingle with *others*. She is frightened and she refuses to admit it."

Sirius and Dimitri exchanged glances, "Let me talk to her" Sirius sighed "Cash wasn’t really expecting anyone to come until after Candlemas anyway...... Maybe I can use that as a leverage point." he said as he quickly left the caravan and headed towards Magda’s. He wanted to get this over with, he felt a desperate need to get back to Harry and Cat. He was going to leave today either way….