Cat heard someone calling her, the voice was soft and gentle, it made her feel safe and warm, almost as if the voice was wrapping itself around her, protecting her from harm. She wanted to know whom the voice belonged to, it sounded so familiar to her, so comforting. She willed her eyes to open but they would not respond, she felt herself slipping into another vision as the voice called her name again. Only this time she felt his lips on her skin, kissing her softly as he tried to pull her from the nightmare of her visions. Trying once again to open her eyes, Cat finally succeeded, only to realize she had merely gone from one vision to another...

Cat blinked her eyes several times, all she could see was Sirius towering over her, speaking to her softly, as concern spread across his face. But she knew it wasn’t really Sirius, it was Shinigami Bás, the seductive death, and the warrior’s death. She sighed as he began to kiss her again, *the kiss of death* she thought. Although his kisses were not at all what she had expected, they were sweet and passionate, she would be willing to join him if not for Harry, she was so tired of the pain and heartbreak the world had given her, death would be a relief. Cat sighed once more as she looked deeply into bás’s eyes; they were like Sirius’s as well, bluer than truth, deeper than the sea.. She reached to touch his face, wondering if he would allow her to actually touch him, he did and his skin was much warmer than she ever would have expected "Why Sirius, Bás, why him?" she questioned weakly. She saw the confusion pass across his eyes, he probably had no idea who Sirius was, after all, why would he...

So she thought he was the angel of death? Well why not, he had been living as if he were dead, hiding in the shadows, fearing every unknown noise, dreading the inevitable day the dementors would come for him. "Because I.... because you love each other" was his reply, he might as well play along, he had nothing to lose. He had lost everything he was, everything he had, family, friends, love, and possessions. But she had brought him back to life with a simple smile and a touch. How many days ago had that been? Only a few weeks at most, yet now holding her in his arms, he felt strong, he had hope again, it had returned to him the day he saw her.

Cat closed her eyes as her tears began to fall, "you’re wrong.... he hates me" she said pitifully "he started hating me in school and he still does" she told him as she remembered their confrontation from early that afternoon, "he loves another... not me"

Sirius gasped, he didn’t hate her, he never hated her, how could she even think such a thing, he loved her more than anything else in the world, she had been his world. "You’re wrong mo grá he loves you, you are everything to him" he told her as he kissed her lips again. Even though she was far from awake, her response was immediate. He felt her body press into his as she returned his kiss, her arms wrapped around him as she pulled him closer and deeper into their kiss. Sirius felt himself grow weak with desire for her, she always kissed with her whole body, her hands, eyes, even her breath, it had never been limited to her lips alone.........

Severus had finally given up trying to undo the spell that had been placed on Catri’s door. Glumly he headed back towards his chambers, he felt a horrible pulling in the pit of his stomach. If Lupin was not with Catri that really left only two options, either she was alone and miserable, or she was with Black....the mere thought caused him to cringe.

Sev leaned his back against the door to his rooms as he closed them against the world, his thoughts still preoccupied with Catri and what may be going on in her room at this very moment. "It is just not fair" he sighed as he removed his cloak "it should be me with you. I love you,..... not him, he betrayed you, spurned your love.... please, please... I know you need comfort and warmth, but please do *not* be with him." Severus sunk into the large highback armchair that stood near the roaring fire. Unbuttoning his high collared jacket he murmured "accio brandy" as a tray with a bottle and two glasses appeared on the table next to his chair. Looking at the two glasses he snorted disdainfully, he had expected to be sharing this with Catri, not drinking it alone. He wondered if he would ever be able to hold her in his arms again, or kiss her lips, or anything else for that matter.

Sev could feel the tears welling within him, why did his life always turn out like this? Just once he would like for things to go his way. He certainly didn’t think he was being greedy, all he wanted was to marry Catri and raise a family with her, it was only natural. He loved her, she certainly seemed to love him, or at the very least willing to give him a chance. Now she was locked in her room, more than likely with Black... Severus grit his teeth as he quickly drained the glass of brandy, the mere thought of Black seducing and abusing Catri, or worse... knowing he was helpless to stop him. He filled his glass again, as he planned his revenge on Black, as far as he was concerned even the dementor’s kiss was to kind a punishment for what he was doing now. If only Hogwarts didn’t have the shield up, he would be able to apparate directly into her bedroom, he could save her from Black and bring her back to his rooms, his bed, where she belonged........

Sirius pressed on as he heard Cat sigh contentedly. Allowing his lips to explore her, starting with her lips and moving down her neck, he bit her playfully, enjoying her response. He watched her carefully, expecting her to snap out of her trance at any moment, hoping she would be glad he was there with her. He felt his muscles tighten as Cat’s responses became more and more lively..

"Why like this, death isn’t supposed to behave like a lover?" Cat said as she gasped at his attentions to her. She was both alarmed and aroused at the way bás was treating her, his lips, his hands, she felt them everywhere.

"Because I don’t want you to die, my love; I want to fill you with life..." Sirius said hoarsely, his voice full of passion and desire, he kissed her deeply as he pressed himself against her, feeling her soft flesh yield to his touches.

He only succeeded in confusing her more with his remarks. "What... what do you mean...no.. wait.." she gasped as she felt his hands caressing her curves, nibbling playfully at her ears and neck. She felt his breath on her throat as he began kissing her again, moving further and further away from her lips.

Sirius knew he needed to pull her out of the trance, as much as he wanted her, he could never, *would* never take her without her consent. He knew there must be some way to snap her out of the trance; he just wasn’t sure how to do it. Taking a chance, he decided to make her fight in the physical world; it may just pull her out of the astral one. "I want you to live a ghrá mo chroí, I want you to fight me, fight death...." he said as he interlaced his fingers with hers. He pinned her hands down by her ears as he began to kiss her with a new intensity. He groaned as he felt her struggle beneath him, this was more than he had bargained for, his desire for her was becoming unyielding. She was stronger than he remembered, but the trance had made her uncoordinated, making it easy for him to hold her down "Try harder céadsearc" he encouraged as he kissed her bare shoulder, "I know you can defeat death.... Remember Harry, think of your son."

Apparently that was all the encouragement she needed, giving a loud yell, Cat pushed with all of her might, flipping Sirius onto his back as she landed on top of him. Sirius held his breath as he waited for Cat to wake up from her trance and realize what was happening. But the moment he looked into her eyes he knew she wasn’t coming out of this one anytime soon. He watched as she gazed down at him, her eyes full of emotion as she leaned over him, kissing him tenderly as her hair cascaded over them. "How can you be him, I thought you could only take the shape of the dead, Sirius is still alive" she asked softly as she rubbed her cheek against his.

Sirius hesitated for a moment before he closed his eyes and answered "His heart died a long time ago chuisle mo chroí. It died the day you left him, it had never been revived, not until he saw you again" he took a deep breath "He never stopped loving you, not once in all the passing years, you are the only one he truly loved."

Cat stared at him disbelievingly, "What about his wife and family.... surely he must love them?"

Sirius winced painfully, he almost broke down then and there "He has no wife, no family, no children..... he has no one save his godson." he choked.

Cat shook her head refusing to believe him "No, .... not Sirius, he was always surrounded by friends, especially women, they loved him, ...... it would kill him to be left alone in the world" she said meekly, it was to horrible to think of, her precious Sirius, abandoned to the harshness of the world "the marauders always stick together, they would have staid with him, they would......" Cat stopped as she saw Bàs’s face.

"Remus is the last marauder, James and Lily are dead, you left, and Peter betrayed them all" he told her mournfully, he had never really admitted it out loud. "Take his heart back Catrianna MacLeod, it doesn’t belong with me, it belongs with you." he watched as large tears rolled down her porcelain face.

"NO, this isn’t fair" she sobbed "someone should have told me. I would never had kissed either of them if I knew Sirius was still available.. Still willing" her tear splattered onto his cheeks as she wept pitifully "all I wanted was a family, I don’t want Harry to be an only child, its not right." she wailed softly as she fell against him, burying herself against his neck.

"Sirius wants the same things as you" he told her, he ran his fingers through her hair as he tried to comfort her, "he wants a family, he wants to marry you, he wants to be a father to your children" he confessed as he pulled her lips to his. They lingered over the kiss as they embraced each other. Sirius felt his passion returning as Cat pressed herself into his body, her warmth and softness bringing a new life to his flesh and soul. "I love you Catri MacLeod" he whispered into her ear as he regretfully pulled his lips away from hers.

Sirius could feel her weakening again, but this time there was no shivering, no spasms of pain, she simply slipped into a deep sleep. He lay there for a long time, enjoying the softness and warmth of her body on his, as he stroked her long soft hair. His mind vaguely wondered who she meant by either, he knew about Snape, but who else would she have kissed. ...... It just wasn’t important, not anymore, she still loved him, that was all that mattered. He turned to look out her window, the sun was just beginning to turn the sky a rosy pink over the skeletal frames of the oaks. He smiled as he thought over the past few hours, she was going to be fine, she had survived the night, they both had. He kissed her hair as he rested his cheek against it, his hands idly wandering over her soft fragrant skin, the silky camisole.. Finally he gently rolled her off of him, but he couldn’t bear to leave her, wrapping his arms around her, he once again rested her head on his chest as they both drifted off to a deep and restful sleep.......

As Sirius and Cat slept, two figures stood at the door to her bedroom. The first felt the door, curious as to how to open it "she has never had her door closed to me before" he whispered to the second figure who nodded as he place both of his palms against her door and spoke several strange phrases in a soft, deep voice. The door opened silently as the glowing eyes of the two figures peered into the dark room.

"It seems quite enough" he said softly "do you think she is alone?" the shorter figure asked as entered the room.

Pausing for a moment he listened intently "Not unless she has two sets of lungs my friend" he laughed as the light from the fire reflected off of his unnaturally white fangs "It seems Angel is well taken care of, let us simply hope it is by a friend of the clan." Raul added as they walked towards the bed.

"Perhaps it is Remus again" Mohrg guessed "Cash was very insistent with him last time."

"Perhaps" Raul agreed as he fingered the parchment they had found, he had wanted to leave it, but if Angel’s heart had changed its course from Sirius to Remus, he didn’t want to cause her any pain. Either of the men would be accepted by both clans as her husband. "Let’s just make sure it isn’t... him " Raul said icily.