“DON’T ENCOURAGE HIM!” Cat yelled as everyone laughed, “Sirius, you are so going to pay for this.” she promised, slapping his back as he carried her inside the house and right up to the kitchen table, finally setting her down next to the butter. “Don’t tell me you expect me to sit on the table all evening.”

“No, only until you say you forgive me…oh, and you have to tell me you love me again.” he added, smiling widely as the girls sighed and giggled behind them.

“And if I refuse?” she asked, her head held high and a challenging look in her eyes.

“Catrianna, do you really want me to answer that? After all, there are young ears… and eyes… all around us.” he whispered as his hands cupped her face, tilting it towards his own as he kissed her both deeply and tenderly.

“Well, it seems we arrived just in time” Orpha laughed as she and Lia walked in on the strange scene. “Kitty, mind the butter dear, I think you’re melting it.” Walking towards them as if there were nothing odd about the situation, Orpha shooed the children out of the kitchen as she hugged and kissed Remus, Tris, Sirius and Cat. “I’m glad you’ve finally made it back, I was beginning to think we’d have to start without you.”

“Start what?” Cat asked as she finally got Sirius to move far enough away that she could get down from the table.

“Actually Kitty, this one doesn’t concern you yet, but I do need Tris to be present. If you, Remus and Sirius don’t mind, I would appreciate it if you could mind the children for an hour or so. I’m afraid its one of ‘those’ meetings.” Orpha explained softly, giving Cat a knowing expression.

Cat looked immediately to Sirius, her arm encircling his waist protectively as she nodded her head, “Of course, we’d love to play with the babies.”

Remus shook his head and chuckled lightly. “I’ll tell you what Kitty. You and Sirius can take care of the babies, I feel more comfortable with the older ones, no soft spot or messy diapers.”

“Coward” Sirius called after Remus as he waved back at them. “All right Cat, I just hope I’m not in over my head. Its been a long time since I’ve had babysitting duty.”

“What are you talking about, we practically have to tear Edana out of your arms. I’ve seen you feed her, burp her, change her….”

“Speaking of the little darling” Sirius grinned as Paddy entered the room with his little girl. “How’s my little girl… or better yet, how’s her Daddy? Paddy, are you alright? You look like hell.” Sirius asked, his voice full of concern as he took Edana from Paddy and summoned a chair for his friend.

“I’ve had better days Sirius,” Paddy sighed, “would you believe that after all this time, her ‘mother’ has actually started to call out for her. Hmpft, as if she actually cares, she doesn’t even know if she’s alive, heaven knows she did her best to kill her.”

“Hush now Paddy, none of that in front of the baby” Orpha gently chided, “We’ll be discussing that as well, and you know Kitty and Sirius will protect her as if she were their own, so stop worrying.”

Sirius stared at Paddy, the kid looked like he’d been through the wringer, “Cat” Sirius said softly, motioning her to take Edana, which she gladly did. Sirius watched for a moment as Cat cuddled and cooed at the baby before turning his attention back to Paddy.

Kneeling next to the young warrior, Sirius cupped his face in his hand, “Paddy, tell me the truth, are you going to be alright? You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

Smiling weakly, Paddy smirked “And I feel it, I don’t know what I’m going to do Sirius. I won’t go back to her, not after what she tried to do to my Edana, and I’ll never let her near my child, not ever. She had the entire pregnancy to fall in love with her own child, but she didn’t want anything to do with her.” He swallowed loudly as he looked over to Cat and Edana. “Look at her Sirius, she’s been like that with Edana from the moment she laid eyes on her, even before I asked her to be godmother to her. You were the same way, its like you instantly fell in love with her….. So why couldn’t her mother? And why start caring now?”

“Shhhh” Sirius hushed as he enclosed Paddy in a brotherly embrace. “It’s probably just the holidays, I wouldn’t be loosing sleep over it. If she couldn’t find it in her heart to love her then, I doubt she’d want her now,” he grinned as he gently punched Paddy’s arm. “she’s a lot more work now. Feeding, diapering, bathing..”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Paddy stated, rolling his eyes dramatically. Hearing someone approach, Paddy grinned wickedly and turned to Sirius, “Hey, watch this.” clearing his throat Paddy said loudly, “Kitty, did you hear about our excitement last night? Guess who finally got the courage up to ask for a bride, and get her?”

Cat’s eyes grew large, “Duncan and Mandy?!!!”

Paddy sighed and rolled his eyes again. “Gheez woman, I said excitement, not a miracle.”……

Angus and Roel watched with pride and amazement as Brutus and Cash continued to hack away at the Tremere’s defences. As much as they itched to join in the battle, Cash had sent them to the very edge of the clearing, and they knew he would never do that without good reason.

“So Roel, do you think this is finally the end of that wretched beast? Do you think Cash will let Angel and the children return to the school now?”

Roel nodded, “I can’t imagine how he could survive this. The monster is already wounded, he can barely keep Cash or Brutus at bay, he certainly can’t bring up another one of those damnable spheres. Although I had no idea Cash could do that, did you?”

“I have a feeling there are a LOT of things Cash can do that we have no idea about.” Angus sighed, “Rather annoying that he keeps that sort of stuff from us, at least with Angel its more her ignorance of being special than any effort to conceal things from us. And as for Angel and Harry, I think that will have more to do with Orpha than it does Cash. Did you see the last letter she sent him? She wants to see Snape, she wants to ‘evaluate his worthiness’, I believe is how she phrased it.”

“Snape?!” Roel nearly shouted with surprise, “I thought Sirius was a done deal. Everyone seems so fond of him,. has something happened? Is he alright? Duncan didn’t do anything stupid did he?”

Shrugging his shoulders, Angus replied, “Not that I’m aware of, but apparently Maharet is dead set against Sirius, no reason why that I know of, but you know her and that ridiculous prophecy of hers.” leaning closer, he whispered conspiratorially, “And I hear Orpha may invoke the laws of Maeb because of it.”

Roel’s eyes all but dropped out of his head. “You have GOT to be making that up… really, go on, pull the other one.” Seeing the look on Angus’s face, Roel let out a soft, low whistle. “Brother, two husbands? THOSE two as husbands…. Yeah, that’ll work.” he smirked, “Better hope Cash and Brutus wipe the monster out, ’cause he’ll have to be in one hell of a great mood to go for something like that.”…..