Sirius took large, angry strides as he walked down the hall, barely caring that Cat had to all but run to keep up with him, not that she had a choice, her wrist was still firmly in his hand. He felt the large, hot tears run down his cheeks as he wondered what else she had lied to him about. Was she telling the truth when she finally said she loved him? Or was that simply a convenient turn of phrase, designed to keep he and perhaps Harry content for a little bit longer? A painful stab echoed through his heart as he thought of her and Snape together, perhaps that is what she really wanted, maybe she was just waiting for the ’right’ time to tell him. Well if she was, that time was most certainly now.

Spying an empty room, Sirius pulled Cat into it, finally releaser her wrist as he turned to lock the door. He paused as he leaned against the door, trying to collect his wits and quiet his fear, although his heart was in agony with thoughts of ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’.

Taking a deep breath, Sirius turned to look at Cat, expecting to see her anger or shame, but instead he saw only concern - concern for him. He half expected her to flinch as he walked up to her, but of course she didn’t, she simply stood there, waiting for him to make the first move. Placing his hands on either side of her face, he stared into her eyes as tears ran freely from his eyes. “When did you start lying to me Catrianna? When did you decide I didn’t matter?” he asked. Although he really wanted to ask her how could she lie to him like that. She was the woman he loved, the one, the ONLY one he was willing to spend the rest of his life with, to have a family with, if he couldn’t trust her, who could he trust.

“I didn’t lie to you.” Cat insisted “You asked if we were fine and we are. Couldn’t you tell I didn’t want to discuss it in front of everyone? The last thing I needed was to have everyone yelling at me again .” she responded as tears sprung into her own eyes. This was exactly what she had feared, the anger, the guilt, the pain. She didn’t have the strength for this, not now, not yet. “And I don’t want you to worry about us every time we’re separated from you”

“How can I not worry? I love you Cat, don’t you understand that yet? I have always loved you. And despite what you might think, I have NEVER, ever stopped loving you, not for a moment.” he swore as hugged her tightly. He attempted to kiss her as his tears once again took over. “You can’t do this anymore, Cat. I’m drawing the line.” he insisted as he gave up trying to kiss her and simply buried his face in her thick, soft hair. “Never again will you and Harry travel alone, I won’t allow it, I won’t have either of you harmed. I don’t know who did this, or how it happened, but I’m willing to bet Aunt Orpha already knows about it. And I know she’ll agree with me…”

Cat winced as she heard him choke back another sob. “Sirius, please….please, stop.” she whispered as her hands rubbed his over his back. She wanted to yell at him, she wanted to demand he tell her what he thought gave him the right to ‘allow’ her anything, he was getting as bad as Leumadair, but she couldn’t, not now, not seeing the look of hurt and worry on his face. She had realized a very long time ago that she could never bear to cause him pain, all it took was one look into his blue eyes, one gaze at those fountainheads of emotion, and that was the end of it. Tenderly she kissed his neck and cheek as she attempted to soothe him “Sirius, please, I hate to see you cry, it tears my heart out to see you hurting at all, let alone because of me.” Cat whispered, kissing his ear as she finished. His only reply was to squeeze her tighter, as if afraid to let go of her ever again. “Sirius….”

“Promise me, Catrianna. Promise me you will never risk your life again. It would kill me if anything happened to you or Harry.” He pulled himself just far enough from her so he could see her face. “The two of you are everything to me Cat, everything. If something happens to either of you they might as well call in the Dementors and do it right, because I’ll have lost both my heart and my soul if I lose you.” he sniffled.

The next few minutes happened so quickly, Sirius couldn’t even be sure they had been real. He had felt Cat’s hands combing through his hair, only to reach the back of his neck as she pulled him to her, kissing him deeply and fervently, awakening his senses and his passion. Within moments his hands had travelled over her curves, coming to rest on her hips which he was currently crushing up against himself. He felt as if he were in heaven as her softness and warmth invaded his frame, reminding him of how good it felt to be alive, to be free from the shadows of Azkaban, to be in love. He heard a low moan escape him as Cat pulled her lips away from his, he didn’t want this to end, he wanted to hold her in his arms forever, but the next words out of her lips more than made up for ending their kiss.

“How can you think you don’t matter to me, Sirius?” she whispered into his ear as she snuggled against neck. “I love you more than you can ever imagine. But you have to stop worrying so much about me and more about yourself. You’re still so thin, so frail, and all those scars…..There are nights I can‘t sleep because all I can think about was you suffering for all those years and I wasn’t there for you, …. I never even knew.” she sobbed softly as she nuzzled against him.

Sirius closed his eyes and wrapped her in his warm embrace, “Is that the only reason you didn’t tell me the whole truth?” he trembled with relief as he felt her nod her head.

“It’s also the reason I wouldn’t let you go with us today. Harry couldn’t stop telling Mac Lir and Leumadair all about you, I knew he would, he just can’t seem to stop himself.” she laughed sadly, “But if they saw you like this Sirius, if they saw how ravaged you’ve been, they may feel you aren’t strong enough to ……… I need them on my side, Sirius, if we have any chance at all of being together as a family, I need their support and so do you.” She looked up into his eyes to make sure he understood what she meant, only to sigh deeply “You haven’t slept at all while we’ve been gone, have you?”

“I could say the same for you, gra.” he countered, finally smiling as she rolled her eyes at him.

“No you couldn’t, I took a nap at Mac Lir’s, and one on Lough Reed I think? I’d have to check with Harry”

Now it was Sirius’s turn to sigh, “May I safely assume that was after whatever caused your skirt to be covered with blood?” Seeing the guilty look on her face, he nodded, “I thought so. Come on Miss MacLeod, time for another nap…….for both of us. And while we‘re at it, you can tell me what ‘really‘ happened to you.”

“Nap? Don’t you mean bedtime? It’s pretty late…”

Sirius laughed deeply, hugging her tightly as he did so. “Cat, think about it, I practically pulled you out of the room, away from you supper and your family. I’m honestly surprised they haven’t come looking for us already. I’m not even going to delude myself into thinking they are going to let us get a full night’s sleep.” then, becoming rather sombre, he added “Besides, I have a very bad feeling we’ll be up with Cash and Hamish most of the night again. I’m very worried about Roel.”……

As the dishes were cleared away, Harry tried to sneak off to find Cat and Sirius, but was stopped by Bruid appearing at the doorway, carrying, of all things, a sewing basket. “Siobhan, dearest. Is this what you wanted? Sara asked me to bring it down to you.”

Siobhan blushed slightly as Bruid handed her the basket, kissing her lightly on the lips as he did so. “Bruid, stop, the child….”

Bruid cast Harry a glance and a smirk, “I would hardly call him a child, dearest. And I am sure he’s seen his parents kiss many times…..many, many, many times.” he added, smiling as Siobhan swatted his broad chest. “So, what is it you intend to make now? Something for our little girl?” he asked, making it clear he had no intention of leaving any time soon.

“No, Bruid,” Duncan replied for her, “its for our Harry here. Its time he got himself a kilt. After all, he’s Kitty’s little boy…er… young man, he’ll need to be present, and proper, at the ceremonies and celebrations.”

“This is true, and more than past time, too.” Bruid nodded. Then without any more than a blink of his eyes, two tankards of stout appeared at the table in front of he and Duncan. “To rights of passage.” Bruid stated as he lifted his tankard.

“Slainte” responded Duncan as he too lifted his drink, clinking the tankards together as Siobhan huffed and shook her head. “Ahhh, lets not upset the seamstress, don’t want my nephew poked full of holes when she goes to set the hem.” Duncan teased as he walked over to Harry and Siobhan. “So, nephew, what shall it be? Hipster, or shall we go traditional?”

“What’s the difference?” Harry questioned as Siobhan had him hold his arms out to his side so she could take measurements.

“The ‘hipster’ as the boys call it, sits around your waist, like trousers do. But the traditional kilt actually goes up about two inches higher, right below the ribs. And don’t wince like that Harry, she’s got to pull the tape tight, if she measures it too loosely, you’ll be giving the girls quite a show.” Duncan winked, laughing softly as Harry blushed.

“I say he goes with the traditional, the boy hardly has any meat on him, there is no way his waist can hold up anything, ” Bruid commented “and he’ll need those extra two inches should worse come to worse. I just hope he has good reflexes.” He laughed deeply as Siobhan threw a spool of thread at him, “Ah yes, the famous MacLeod temper, …..have I told you lately how beautiful you are when you’re angry.”

“Oh for the love of…….don’t let him tease you so, Harry” Siobhan advised, “I know they’re your uncles, but they have no mercy on anyone. Now, take off your trousers, I need to measure your seat and the length from your hip to your knees.”

“Take them off?” Harry repeated, his voice wavering and full of uncertainly. He knew they were family, but still, Siobhan was a girl, a woman, he wasn’t exactly comfortable with the thought of standing there half naked in front of her. “Uncle Duncan?” he pleaded, only to hear Duncan‘s deep laughter fill the room.

“Go on Siobhan, I’ll take care of this part.” Duncan interrupted, “You go on and take care of measuring Sirius, hopefully he and Kitty have patched things up by now. Besides, my nephew and I need to talk anyway.” he added, grinning as he tussled Harry’s hair. “so, tell me about the men who want to make my sister their wife and you their son, I know Sirius isn‘t the only one. What can you tell me about this professor fellow?….”

Saralonde wrung out the cloth as she continued to wipe the droplets of blood off Cobryn’s fevered brow. “Poor thing, even in his sleep he battles demons” she sighed. Seeing it was going to be a long night, she attempted to get comfortable. Gently lifting his head, Saralonde cradled Cobryn as she shifted herself under him, carefully placing his head on her lap. Looking out of the tall windows, she smiled softly as she saw the comforting lights of the stars and the waxing moon, another few days and it would be whole again, and with any luck, so would the hunter. She heard him growl softly as she reached for one of the soft, warm blankets Fang had brought at Mohrg’s request.

And there was another puzzle. What was the nature of the relationship between Fang, the Garou Alpha, and Mohrg, Methuselah of Nosferatu. They were a most unlikely pairing in every sense of the word. She knew better than to broach the subject with Mohrg, but perhaps Fang would be willing to explain it to her, that is if he was even aware of it. After all, Nosferatu magic was second only to Clan Tzimisce and their signature, discipline of vicissitude, when it came to power and instilling fear amongst the Kindred.

Hearing yet another growl, Saralonde looked down at the tortured face of the hunter. “Poor Cobryn, you just can’t stop fighting, can you?” she whispered as she readjusted the blanket “Tell me hunter, is it the Tremere you still fight, or is it something else that disturbs your dreams now?” ……

Cobryn cringed as he felt Gustavas’s foul breath suffocating him, when would this battle end, when would the nightmare be over? Why couldn’t he simply break free and destroy this beast as he had so many others? How many Kindred had met their final death at his hands? Brujah and Tremere had always been his favourite prey, they had always seemed most deserving of the sentences passed by the Prince. So why was this Tremere different, and why did Cash’s words of warning keep ringing over and over in his mind. “You need to learn to work ‘with’ the clan, to move as one. As it stands right now, you are a liability. You’ll have us all dead, if you don’t managed to get yourself killed first.” Did the Gangrel Methuselah realize even then how true his words had been? Had he somehow known what would happen?

Not that it made a difference now, Roel was still dying and he himself might as well be. Cobryn heard his own voice whimper as the burning in his veins reached a new height in pain. How could he have let this happen? How could he have failed so miserably? This was just like the last time he fail, it had been the last thing he had done in his mortal life, and then, like now, everyone around him was paying the price for his arrogance.

Cobryn sunk deeper into his fever induced dream, watching as his mortal and immortal lives intertwined inside his mind in a way they never did in life. In his dreams, his love, his bride, Ljubov, was still alive, there was no blood on her wedding dress, no gapping wounds, no vampyre draining the last of her life’s blood from her still warm body. He knew in his mind that the vampyre that sired him, and Gustavas were not the same, but in his fever, they became one. Cobryn screamed out in despair as he saw Gustavas ravage his bride’s body, only to turn on him as Cobryn’s blade missed his heart.

He felt all too keenly the violence of his vampyric birth, the screaming, the pain, the blood. Cobryn felt his own life being sucked from his body as the vampyre fed from him, instinctively he struck out, only instead of the cold, hard flesh of his sire, he felt something soft, something feminine. His eyes flashed open as he heard the sound of a woman’s voice crying out as if in pain. Disoriented and barely coherent, Cobryn felt his heart leap as he saw his Ljubov staring down at him, her eyes full of shock and fear. Without hesitation, he quickly took her in his arms, whispering her name over and over as he swore he would never let anything happen to her ever again…..

Saralonde struggled as Cobryn’s arms closed around her, pulling her tightly against his chest as he cooed softly to her, reassuring her he would never let anything hurt her. She tried to manoeuvre herself away from him, but soon gave up when she heard him call her Ljubov, obviously he was delirious, more than likely due to the poison in his blood. And she had to admit it felt nice to be held like this, to offer and receive comfort with no worries of things going too far. She sighed softly as she nuzzled against his chest, allowing the normally stoic hunter to stroke her hair while he hummed a Russian sounding tune. What harm could it do, he was sure to fall asleep soon anyway,

Cobryn smiled softly as he stroked her hair and hummed the tune that was to be played at their marriage. Gently, he drifting off to sleep, only to see Roel’s sparkling brown eyes and wide smile as he sunk into another dream. But Roel kept saying the same thing over and over again, they were the last words Cobryn had ever heard from the Gangrel “Life is serious enough for me, I see no point in making it any more sombre than it already is. A little laughter goes a long way to making things better Cobryn. It seems that’s a lesson you have yet to learn, but I’d be more than happy to help teach you.” So, is this your lesson to me Roel? I thought you were going to teach me to laugh, but all I feel is pain and sadness…….

Siobhan laughed as she pulled Sirius up and out of Cat’s bed. “Don’t make me get Duncan you two, I know we wanted you both to get some sleep, but I think in your own beds may be a better idea.”

A groggy and decidedly un-amused Sirius stared at Siobhan as if she were some sort of hallucination. “Go away, I was having the best dream… I want to….to….hey, wait….Cat?!” he grinned widely “Yay me, it wasn’t a dream.” he added as he promptly curled up next to her once more.

Siobhan rolled her eyes as she stared at the two of them, “You know, I really have this issue with people sleeping in their clothes, but I’m willing to overlook that, all things considered.” she explained as she walked to the foot of the bed. “However, I MUST insist that shoes be taken off prior to getting into bed.” she quipped as she pointed her finger at Sirius’s boots which seemed to take on a life of their own, turning into writhing, slithering creatures which fought to remove themselves from him.

Sirius awoke with a loud start, as his boots slithered off of his feet and under Cat’s bed. “What the hell was that for?” he asked Siobhan as he jumped out of the bed and stared at her.

“That is for not taking a nap when we told you to, ruining supper, and not listening to me when I talk to you. Now take off your trousers and let me measure you.” she stated as she came towards Sirius with a sewing tape.

“Whoa… hold on there Siobhan, back off…. Exactly ‘what’ is it you think you’re measuring?” he asked, backing away from her as quickly as he could.

Before Siobhan could reply, Cat’s laughter was heard ringing through the room. “Oh Sirius, no……didn’t you know that there are certain…uhm…’requirements’ that need to be met before you’re allowed to….to” she burst into another fit of laughter as Siobhan threw the tape at her.

“Honestly, Kitty, you are worse than your brothers…… what am I measuring?” she mumbled as she turned back to Sirius, “You should be so lucky. Now, if you are both awake and can stop laughing, ……and cowering…. I would like to measure you for a kilt. Now get your sorry self over here and stop acting like a buffoon.”

An appropriately contrite Sirius hung his head as he walked to Siobhan’s side, mumbling something of an apology to her as she took the tape back from Cat, who for her part was enjoying the scene immensely. “Don’t forget, you have to drop your trousers so she can get the length right.” she teased, only to be swatted by Siobhan.

“Young lady, you are pushing your luck. Now behave yourself and help me.” she insisted as she handed paper and quill to Cat. “Write down the measurements I tell you, then I need you to tell me what he used to measure when he was healthier. I want to leave enough room for him to grow.……and so help me if the two of you don’t stop snickering at every comment I make.”

<, you know full well I didn’t mean it like that. Honestly, how long has it been for the two of you, you act like its been years or something. Seeing the look on Sirius’s face and the crimson blush appearing on Cat’s, Siobhan suddenly seemed to understand. “Hmmm, and you both still had your clothes on, you must have been more tired than I thought. Its not good for a man to be ’that’ tired, its just not healthy.’ > Cash sat still as a statue as he watched over his youngest childer, waiting for him to finally come to his senses and allow them to share their blood with him, to heal him. Leaning forward, Cash picked up Roel’s hand, even as vampyres went, his flesh was cold, too cold. “Roel, why are you doing this?” he sighed, “We could heal you if you let us, I don’t understand why you want to suffer like this.” Cash found himself tempted to force the blood on Roel, to make him drink from him, but he knew better. Never in his life had he forced the gift of the blood on anyone, mortal or kindred, to do so only bred resentment and hatred, it was an old lesson he had seen proven time and time again.

He sighed deeply as he released Roel’s hand and sat back in the chair. The night of Roel’s injuries played over and over in his mind, how could he have been so foolish, so confident. It had been his games that had led to this, he had allowed the Tremere to injure the Caitiff hunter, he had wanted to teach the spying stranger a ‘lesson’ in clan politics, and in doing so opened the doorway for the death of his own childer. When would he ever learn, when would he stop letting his emotions overtake his logic. He could only hope he had done a better job teaching Hamish than his own sire had done with him. ………..

Rick smiled as the scents of Fernglennis wrapped themselves around him, caressing him with love and warmth. Siobhan was cooking again and the smell of roasting meat was heavenly, as was the sound of the women chatting as they prepared food for their clan. He chuckled quietly as he heard Siobhan telling the others of her misadventures in Cat’s room and Harry’s first attempt at wearing a kilt. “Hello my dearest ones” Rick said softly, smiling as he saw the surprised and delighted looks on their faces. Siobhan had been the first to run to him, hugging him tightly and fussing over him as the others joined her. He loved coming home, it was the one place in all of creation he felt truly safe and loved, no matter what. Even when he had been battling the invaders, a few scant yards from where they stood at this very moment, he knew in his heart of hearts, even if he were to fall and never rise again, his heart and soul would rest easy here, in the bosom of his clan.

Wiping away his tears of joy, Rick smiled happily as he returned the hugs and kisses of his clanswomen. “I’ve missed you all so much” he sighed, “but I need to find Angel, does anyone know where she is?” Seeing Moira smiling like a cat who ate a canary, he quickly focused on her.

“Why do you want to see her?” Moira teased, knowing full well why he was here, she had dreamt about his return and the reasons behind it for the past few days. She grinned as he took her by the hand and pulled her out of the kitchen, “Rick, I know why you’re here, and I agree with Cash, she and Sirius belong together.” she explained softly as soon as they were out of earshot of the rest of the clan.

“And I’m not here to argue the point.” Rick insisted, “But its not fair to ANY of them if she isn’t told of all of her options. I saw the note she left, she thinks he doesn’t care for her, that he got his pleasure and that was the end of it. But nothing is further from the truth,” he explained, “I have watched him cry over her, I’ve seen the emptiness in his heart because she is not there. Moira, I know you like Sirius, so do I, and in my heart I agree that he is the best choice for her at this moment. But I also know Severus, he loves her every bit as much as Sirius does, its only right that she knows how deeply he loves her if she’s going to tear his heart out.”

“Rick” Moira scolded “she isn’t going to tear anyone’s heart out. You make it sound likes she’s doing this just to hurt him, and you know……”

Rick interrupted, “Of course I know she wouldn’t do that, at least not on purpose, but that is what the end result will be. Besides, if the love between Sirius and she is that strong, that ‘true’, then it won’t matter, will it?”

“What was that comment about true love?“ Moira smiled as she stood in the doorway watching Aunt Kitty and Sirius sitting next to one another on the sofa, looking over old pictures as they discussed Harry’s future. She squeezed Rick’s hand gently as she heard him sigh, “Are you sure you want to do this?”