𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀.

eight.

   "Jo! Jovie, wake up!"

   The blonde woke with a start, her eyes shooting open, "what? Where am I?"

   She looked around, seeing she was back in her apartment bedroom and everything was just as she'd left it. Beside her bed was Harry and Sirius, both boys looking frantic.

   "Jovie listen, I have to go, they're after me-"

   "Again?" Jovie's heart fell, "why do you keep leaving me?"

   "I promise we'll sort everything out once-"

   "Mummy! You were in my dream-" Cassie barged into the bedroom, freezing upon the sigh in front of her.

   Her eyes flickered from her mom, to Sirius, then to Harry, whom she mainly knew as a sibling and as Ginny's crush.

   "Mum? Is..." she trailed off, her eyes locked with her father's.

   Sirius had gone speechless, something that didn't happen very often.

   The one thing he had yearned for most, they were both right within his grasp.

   Cassie's eyes flitted to her mother's, making sure everything she was thinking right now was correct. This was her dad. The man she got her looks from.

   Sirius' eyes trailed over the little girl. She was perfect. She had his features and dark hair but her mom's bright eyes and smile.

   She was perfect.

   And he didn't even know her name.

   Cassie took a step forward, "a-are you my dad?"

   Harry looked between the two. It had never occurred to him the similarity of he and Cassie's situations. Both had never met their fathers and had a history shrouded in mystery.

   Sirius' eyes softened, "w-what's your name?"

   Cassie smiled, sweet but unsure, "Cassie, Casanova Black."

   Sirius felt his heart swell.

   She was named after a star.

   He looked at Jovie, the blonde smiling, her eyes glazed over. This was finally it. They could finally be a family.

   "Could I... give you a hug?"

   A tear rolled down the man's cheek, "please."

   The little girl crashed into her father's arms, tears pooling in her eyes though she didn't quite know why. She had never met this man. She was always perfectly fine with her mother and Remus.

   But...

   She had missed him so much.

   The two pulled apart, Sirius' face wet with tears, "I'm so sorry. I have to go."

   Cassie took a seat on the man's knee, "what? Why?"

   Sirius set a hand on his wife's, beckoning Harry over. He sat, taking in his family. This was all he'd ever wanted.

   "I promise... I promise we'll all be together soon," Sirius smiled, "for now, can you wait for me?"