“Siobhan? Hello.” Sirius said brightly as Cat’s cousin smiled warmly at him.

“Hello dear.” Siobhan replied “I really hate to ask you for a favor, seeing as how we’ve just met, but I was wondering if you could help me for a little. I’m afraid I’ve run out of hands.”

“Of course, anything you need.” Sirius replied immediately, thrilled that she had thought to come to him.

“Wonderful” Siobhan grinned, “I hope you’re as good with children as Remus is, I’m afraid Edana can be quite a handful. But then again, it will give you practice.” she added, winking at Sirius as she took him by his hand and led him to another room.

“Who is Edana?” Sirius asked as he allowed Siobhan to lead him through the house. “And how much of a handful?”

“Now don’t go changing your mind on me” Siobhan teased “You said yes, and I’m going to make you stick to it. And she’s really not that bad, she’s just very small, and her mother, ….. Well, I’m taking care of her for the time being.” she added darkly.

Sirius heard Edana before he saw her, she was whimpering softly in her cradle in the dimly lit room. He immediately felt his heart melt when Siobhan lifted the tiny baby girl and placed her in his arms. “Oh Siobhan, she’s so tiny” he said softly as he gently brushed his finger across the baby’s cheek, “it’s been forever since I held a baby.”

“Well you’re doing fine” Siobhan responded, smiling approvingly as Sirius immediately began to rock the tiny bundle and coo softly. “I’ve got things to tend to in the kitchen, if you need me, or anything at all, just yell out.” she explained “I’ll be able to hear you no matter what. And as soon as Kitty is done talking to Luke, I’ll ask her to check in on the two of you.”

“Luke? Doesn’t she have a brother named Luke?” Sirius asked, suddenly feeling much better about everything.

“The very same” Siobhan replied as she smiled, “hmmm, for some reason you suddenly seem much happier than you did a minute ago.” she teased as she walked out of the room. “Remember, just yell if you need anything” she called back behind her…..

“So, did he take the bait?” Orpha asked as Siobhan entered the kitchen.

“Take it? I’m surprised he didn’t start singing to her.” she laughed as she remembered the look on Sirius’s face when she placed the baby in his arms. “If Paddy doesn’t find a wife, I’m pretty sure Harry just got himself a baby sister. Its going to be near impossible to make him give that baby up, I can see it now.”

Orpha nodded approvingly, “So, he loves our little girl, he’s obviously fond of children…. By the way, did you see the way he was looking at her when she was holding Eisine’s great-grand son in her arms.”

“Did I, talk about a look of longing.” Siobhan smirked. “So explain to me why they aren’t ‘together’ I just don’t understand it.”

“I’m not entirely sure I do either, but its coming together quickly.” Orpha replied, “Just give me an hour or two to talk to Remus and Harry, and I think I’ll have all the answers I need.”……..

Cat shook her head as she walked away from Luke, “Cash, when I get my hands on you, you are going to wish Gustavas finished you off” she growled as she went to find Remus and Sirius, she needed to get a few things straightened out before her family went too far. Going back to the room where she last saw Remus, Cat stopped in the doorway and smiled from ear to ear.

There propped up next to the sofa was Remus Lupin, her sweet Lupy, sound asleep with several children curled up on and around him. He had one in his arms, another across his legs and one on the sofa, her arms draped across his head as he snored softly. “Oh Lupy” she sighed softly as she summoned a camera to her hands. As she was taking pictures, she heard a familiar chuckle coming from behind her. She turned to see Harry laughing into his hand at the sight of Remus and the children.

“I‘m sorry mum, it’s just,” Harry stifled another laugh “I never really pictured Remus like this.”

“Well I have the feeling there are a lot of things about Lupy you don’t know” Cat grinned as she winked at Harry, then continued to snap photos. “Just wait until I get these developed and put in the album, I’ll get him married off yet.”…..

Sirius sat down on the large overstuffed couch and simply smiled at Edana for the first few minutes. He had forgotten how wonderful it felt to hold a baby, a new life full of hope and promise, a life completely dependant on him, devoid of any prejudice, hate, evil. Nothing but purity, innocence and love, he would never be able to understand how someone could simply walk away from a child, especially their own flesh and blood. Then again, maybe that was because he feared he would never have any of his own.

He imagined how much different his life would have turned out if Cat had been with child back in school. He could almost hear the sound of their children playing throughout the house as he looked at Edana, never noticing the shadowy form of Merlin who smiled on approvingly at Sirius’s reaction to the baby.

Sirius gazed lovingly at the infant as she half dosed in his arms, smacking her lips as she tried to maneuver her fingers into her mouth. Sirius laughed softly, causing the baby to look up at him, startled by the sudden noise. “Hello there sweetheart” he cooed, “how’s my pretty girl? Look at you, yes, look at you” he said in a sing-song voice as the baby gurgled and laughed at him. “Are you laughing at Uncle Sirius, yes, you are aren’t you…” he continued as he took her little hand in his, encouraging her to grasp his finger. “Oh I wish Cat and I had one of you” he sighed as the baby took hold of his finger in her tiny hand. “I want us to be a family so badly, and I know Harry would just love being a big brother.”

Sirius blinked away a tear as he embraced Edana, her baby blue eyes staring up at him as if he was the only thing in the world. He wished Cat was here with him, she loved children every bit as much as he did, and little Edana reminded him so much of Harry when he was a baby. Sirius rubbed his nose against hers, laughing as the baby tried to grab his nose in her chubby little fist. “Now who taught you that trick already?” he teased, “I have another one for you.” Sirius held Edana in front of him, supporting her with his lap and hands, he maneuvered her so she could clearly see his face, and then proceeded to stick his tongue out at her.

At first all she did was laugh, but soon, she was mimicking him perfectly. Sirius chuckled as he shook his head “Why do babies pick that up so fast?” he asked “Harry did the same thing, I thought Lily was going to skin me alive for teaching him.” he told the baby, “let’s just hope Siobhan doesn’t feel the same.” Sirius cradled Edana as she began to whimper, rocking her back and forth as he marveled at how tiny she was, but she must be healthy, judging by her chubby cheeks and hands. Trying to make her laugh again, Sirius took her fingers between his lips and pretended to eat them, making numm, numm sounds as he did. The baby stopped whimpering and stared at him with her wide eyes and then giggled loudly, causing Sirius to smile proudly…..

“Kitty dear, there you are” Aunt Orpha chimed “and this must be our dear Harry. Hello my child, welcome to the clan” she said as she wrapped her arms around him. “Just look at you, your mother’s eyes, your father’s hair,…. You are going to break a lot of hearts, I can see it now.” she added, smiling as Harry blushed under her gaze.

“Aunt Orpha, please” Cat sighed “I don’t even want to think about him dating, not yet, …..”

Orpha disregarded her comment with a wave of her hand “Don’t pay any attention to her Harry, your Aunt Orpha knows best and Kitty knows that.” she winked “Speaking of knowing best.” Orpha added “Kitty, would you please check on Edana? Siobhan asked one of the boys to watch her while she was busy in the kitchen, and you know how careless they can be. Don’t worry about Harry, he and I can talk while you’re gone.” she added quickly when she saw Cat reaching for Harry’s hand….

“I don’t know Aunt Orpha, you have far too many tales to tell about my youth to trust you alone with him.” Cat teased as Orpha rolled her eyes.

“Well then you had best hurry back before I’m tempted to tell him what a horrible child you were” Orpha teased back, smiling as she heard Harry laughing. “He has a sense of humor and a good head on his shoulder, he’ll be just fine.” she added as she waved good bye to Cat.

Cat sighed and shook her head as she walked off to find Edana, she was very glad Harry was fitting in so well, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was up. Her family was acting even stranger than usual, and most of her brothers hadn’t even arrived yet. “This promises to be an interesting year” she said to herself “I just hope Frank and Duncan behave themselves, I don’t want Harry getting into mischief on his first visit.”

Cat’s ears pricked up as she approached the room Edana was kept in, she could swear she heard someone singing softly, and it sounded like a lullaby. She knit her brow as she quickened her pace, she knew most of the children shied away from Edana because of what the poor thing’s mother had tried to do to her. Cat cringed as she thought of the way that wretched woman had tried everything in her power to miscarry Edana when Paddy confessed to her that he wasn’t human. She had starved herself, drank heavily, anything she could think of, and she almost succeeded, but luckily the baby was more MacLeod than it was human.

The child had instinctively called out to her father for protection, and protect her he did. Poor Paddy had gotten so desperate that he had finally resorted to tying the woman down and force feeding her, all the while begging and pleading with her to accept him and their child, all to no avail. Poor little Edana hadn’t even been one hour out of the womb when the woman left, simply turned her back on her own child and walked away. Part of Cat was surprised that Orpha and Eisine, who had mid-wifed, didn’t stop her, but then again, you can’t force someone to be a mother if there was no love in their heart.

Paddy had been in tears for weeks before and after the birth, he wanted to keep the baby of course, he was her father and he loved her dearly. But a child that young, that underdeveloped needed a mother’s touch, and constant, vigilant care. It had been nearly three months since her birth, and only now was Siobhan willing to let the child out of her sight for a few precious hours of sleep, and even then, Sara had kept a watchful eye on the baby in Siobhan’s absence.

Cat practically tip toed to the door way, who ever was singing had the sweetest tenor voice she had heard in many, many years. It almost reminded her of Sirius, he had the most gorgeous voice, clear, true and so very passionate. She sighed deeply as the bittersweet memories came rushing back to the surface of her mind, she had spent so many years ignoring them, refusing to acknowledge that they even existed, and now…. Well with Sirius in the same house, she could hardly avoid having to face them and him.

Cat’s eyes grew wide when she saw who the voice belonged to, it was Sirius, she quickly darted back behind the doorway as she tried to catch her breath. She felt as if her heart was trying to pound its way through her chest, all she could hear was its thunder-like beating and she was sure everyone else could hear it as well. “Come on girl, deep breaths, deep breathes” she gasped as she tried to compose herself. Bringing a hand to her cheeks, she realized immediately how red she must be, she hung her head as she became conscious of how hopeless she was.

Pressing herself against the wall, Cat simply listened to Sirius cooing and singing to Edana. Apparently he was still the sweet and gentle boy she remembered so fondly from school. Becoming brave, she quietly peered around the door so she could get a good look at him. She felt her eyes tear up as she watched him rock the baby gently, his arms wrapped protectively around her as he sang softly. He had the sweetest look on his face and she noticed how he constantly kissed Edana’s head, as if he instinctively knew how much she needed to feel loved.

“Oh Sirius, you would make such a wonderful father” Cat sighed to herself as she watched the two of them. “Its no wonder Harry loves you so much. I wish things could have been different between us. I wish, I wish……..” She shook her head, it was pointless to wish the past changed, it was over and done with and no one could change it now. She was about to walk away when she heard the baby begin to fuss, she paused, listening to Sirius as he tried to calm her, but this time Edana was having none of it.

Cat grinned widely, she knew that sound, Edana was hungry and nothing but food would quiet her down now. Her heart went out to Sirius as she saw the panicked look on his face as he tried to reposition her, bouncing, singing, rocking, anything he could think of, and all of it failing miserably. She laughed as he turned towards the door, a look of relief spreading across his face the moment he caught sight of her. “Need help?” she asked as she entered the room.

“I don’t know what happened, she was fine just a minute ago, honest.” Sirius insisted. “She was laughing and everything…”

“Relax Sirius, she’s just hungry” Cat assured him as she conjured a warm bottle of milk for the baby. “Here, sit down on the sofa” she instructed “do you know how to feed a baby?”

Sirius gave her a lop-sided grin “It’s been a while, but I used to feed Harry when he was a baby. I don’t imagine its changed much in that time.” he said as he sat down, trying to still the squirming baby so he could get the bottle into her mouth. He looked to Cat for some direction as the baby’s cries got louder and more frantic.

“Shhhhh” Cat whispered as she gently stroked Edana’s hair, kissing the child’s head repeatedly. Cat looked up at Sirius and nodded the moment the baby had calmed down enough to latch onto the bottle. She couldn’t help but smile as she watched the look on Sirius’s face, he was so entranced by the baby, it was positively heart warming.

Sirius looked away from Edana for a moment, only to see Cat looking up at him, a beautiful smile on her face. He returned the smile and then quickly kissed her on her forehead “Thank you” he said softly “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come along.” Sirius wondered if she would realize he didn’t just mean this particular moment. Judging from the blush creeping across her face, she understood perfectly. Trying to break the uncomfortable silence, Sirius looked back down at Edana as she greedily drank from the bottle. “I seem to remember talking about having a family once. I think we decided on a Quidditch team, seven was always my lucky number.”