“Yes, Sirius…… whatever are you doing to her now?” Luke asked, laughing as he saw the sight before him. “Didn’t she want to leave the cinema? You know, we used to have that problem with her when she was younger, although I thought she had outgrown it.” He added, opening the door to the house and ushering them into the kitchen.

“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. He fought against his own body, his manhood growing hard as she returned his mounting passion. If only they were alone, if only this were her home in Hogsmeade and they were teenagers again. The contents of the table would have been knocked to the floor as he took her were she was.

They had done it that way once or twice before, although he had the distinct impression he had frightened her the first time. They had been in a similar situation, she had been teasing him about Remus beating him in some competition or another, he had gotten irritated and had thrown her over his shoulder, spanking her as he marched towards the house. He had been intending to cut through the house and dump her in the pond out back, but she wiggled loose part way through, so he had set her down on the table to get a better grip on her.

The next thing he knew, her lips were all over him and she was still laughing, it was a innocent enough thing to do on her part, but for some reason it had both infuriated and inflamed him. His arousal had come so quickly even he had been amazed, one minute they were kissing, the next he was undoing her blouse and then, before he even realized it, his trousers were down around his ankles and her panties had been torn and thrown upon the floor. She had struggled, but only briefly, only until she felt him lifting her off the table with the force of his passion. Then she had melted into him, her arms locked around his neck and her legs encircling his waist.

How he longed to be with her like that once more, how often had he laid awake at night, imagining himself inside of her again, praying to be able to hear her soft moans right before she called out his name to the heavens.

“Well, it seems we arrived just in time” Orpha laughed as she and Lia walked in to the kitchen and spied the strange scene. “Kitty, mind the butter dear, I think you’re melting it.” Walking towards them as if there were nothing odd about Sirius kissing Kitty as she was perched on the table. Laughing softly, 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. 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.”…..

Merlin sighed as he walked through the house, he wanted to stand by Orpha‘s side during this impromptu meeting, but he realized this was something she needed to do alone, at least for now. He smiled as he watched Katie and Colin kissing on their way to answer Orpha’s call, the bright, sapphire engagement ring reflected on Katie finger, a physical representation of the love they held for one another. Ahh, yes, love. The most mysterious and powerful of all emotions, although he would have to admit, its opposing emotion, hate, did give it a run for the money, as did lust. Three very different emotions he was all too familiar with.

His lust for Morgana had nearly destroyed him, just as his love for Orpha had saved him, or more precisely, her love and faith in him. He laughed at his own foolishness as he remembered the way Morgana had tricked him, luring him into that accursed cave. But then again, it had been his own fault, he knew she couldn’t be trusted, that she had been after his knowledge and power her entire adult life, but she had such a nice figure that he did tend to forget her more unsavoury traits from time to time.

He grinned widely as Katie and Colin paused just outside the doors, giving each other one last heartfelt kiss before joining the others. It was so wonderfully sweet to see the besotted look on Colin’s face as he stared into Katie’s eyes, pledging his love to her over and over as she smiled back up at him, kissing him yet again if for no other reason than to silence him. Merlin smiled from ear to ear, it looked as though more children would be joining the clan within the next year if those two were any indication. He wondered if Sirius and Kitty would join the other couples this year, if they would be bringing new life into the world.

With nothing better to do, Merlin decided to find Sirius and see how he was faring. Heaven help the boy, he took after himself all too closely, including his fondness for women. As Merlin made his way towards the kitchen, he found himself recalling the escapades of his own misspent youth. He too was nothing short of a trial to his teachers, even to poor Cash, and that man had already seen it all by the time Merlin was born. Merlin smiled wickedly as he remembered the last time he had managed to surprise Cash. He had been an old man then, ancient, some might say, and Cash had been his companion, watching over and taking care of him. They had been sitting by a fountain, resting in the cool, deep shade of the forest, remarking on the beauty and wonder of nature, and that is when he had seen her.

She couldn’t have been more than nineteen, with long, flowing raven hair and amazingly bright blue eyes. Her form was both slender and curvy, the sort that told you straight away she was both sensual and fertile. She hadn’t realized that either he or Cash were there in the green shadows and was proceeding to strip off her clothes in order to bathe. Part of him had wanted to alert her, to warn her that she was not as alone as she had thought, but the moment she removed her top, revealing the full, round curves of her breasts, he knew his lips were sealed. He looked over at Cash, who was also watching her with an approving eye and smiling softly, as if remembering something from his own past. That is when it had happened.

He had felt the familiar tingling across his groin as the girl began to wash herself, rubbing her hands over her body, and of course, her large breasts. He clearly remembered thinking, ’oh to be young again’, only to see Cash staring at him, wide eyed and opened mouthed. Sure enough when he looked down, his once wizen and gnarled hand were growing smoother, fleshier. He looked back at Cash who was now sporting a wicked, yet knowing grin and encouraging him to take a closer look at the young woman.

Not needing much encouragement, Merlin quickly darted to the waters edge, surprised by his sudden energy and swiftness. He looked down once more and saw the form of his youth, his limbs were now strong and limber, his skin smooth and flawless, he was young again! He let out a loud gasp in his excitement, causing the woman to turn and look directly at him. Gods but she was a gorgeous creature, her raven hair billowed around her, long dark lashes framed her sapphire eyes, and if she was at all afraid of him, she certainly didn’t let it show. In fact, he was positive he saw a ‘come hither’ look in her eyes, and never being one to be rude, he accepted her invitation without delay.

She had been every bit as delightful to hold as she had been to look at, soft, warm and oh so very yielding in his arms. Even to this day he clearly recalled the scent of her porcelain skin, the musk of her hollows, the soft screams of pleasure as she allowed him to plunge into her over and over. Each release of their energy seemed to increase his strength, binding him to his younger body, making him feel as if he were part of the world again and no longer a spectator, too old and frail to participate anymore.

Ah yes, his lust had enabled him to regain his youth, and to start a new line of descendants as well. He felt a deep pang of regret and remorse as he remembered seeing the girl many months later, he had searched her out, he wanted to give her a present, and perhaps continued what they had started on that fateful day. But he had arrived in time to see her go into labour, he held her hand through the entire process, and kissed her lips as she died in his arms, delivering to him a son, one with her black hair and his blue eyes, it was the side of his descendants that he had kept hidden from Maharet for centuries, especially after realizing the girl was from one of the Sidhe‘s own lost tribes.

And speaking of his descendants, there was Sirius, cradling little Edana in his arms, fussing over her as if she were his own. It amazed Merlin to no end, after everything his poor boy had been through, and still to have so much love in his heart. He watched as his god daughter took notice of the same thing, a sweet and tender look on her face as her heart seemed to melt for the man she had once loved so dearly. “Go on Kitty, take him back into your heart, he never truly left after all.” he whispered softly, unsure as to whether she could hear him from this distance. Hoping to encourage them a bit more, Merlin moved closer, only to sigh contentedly when he realized no interference on his part was required.

His actually felt his own heart pounding in his chest as Sirius wrapped his arms around Kitty, confessing his love and longings to her as they shared a tender kiss. Merlin felt his form fill with warmth and life as the couple became lost in their embrace, at this rate, he would be firmly back amongst the living very soon. He found it especially endearing to see the way Kitty and Sirius had so eagerly accepted little Edana into their family, doing everything in their power to make up for what her mother had done to her.

Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible -- it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession ever could.