Dark Beauty /Sirius Black/ [2]

Dark Beauty - 37.

Chapter 37

The month of May welcomed warmer weather for the Hopkin's-Black family, and Adria was simply basking in it. With little good news to grace them over the few months the year had brought them, anything with little pleasure was bound to lift her spirits and feeling the warmth of the sunrays on her back as she played outside with Jude and Mila was tugging the smile on her lips brighter than it had in weeks.

She hummed a sigh when she felt lips brush her bare shoulder. She had decided to wear something a little more revealing to soak up all the sun offered, and she laughed in the morning light when Sirius started to thank Merlin when he caught sight of her and she shut him up with a kiss.

"Have I ever mentioned," Sirius whispered into her skin, wrapping his arms tightly around her, "that you are simply gorgeous."

"Hmmm," she giggled softly, her eyes closing at the feeling of his lips still attached to her, "I think you've mentioned it once or twice in our time together."

"I'll put it on my list to tell you every day," he mumbled, tightening his grip, "I love you."

"I love you, too." Her laughter continued as she turned around to capture his lips and the beauty of his eyes and he smiled into her, his hand cupping her cheek and the other tightly gripping her waist, "I love you more than anything."

"You promise that?"

"Of course I do, Sirius." She couldn't help but frown at the look on his face, "...what is it?"

He took a deep breath, "you're so happy today," he said with a broken voice and heart, "I didn't...I didn't want to ruin that."

"What's happened?" she tensed ever so slightly but his fingers soothed her when he ran them over her back with the sole purpose of keeping her stress level down, "is everyone alright?!"

"Yes - well, our friends and family are. Muggleborn's...aren't." His frown deepened, and she soon noticed the letter clutched in his hand.

Her voice was quiet when she whispered, "another village?" and her hand slid to her heart when he silently nodded.

"When do we leave?"

"That's just it," he said, letting her go and kissing her one last time, "you don't go."

"What?!" she couldn't help but screech, eyes wide, "what are you talking about, Sirius?!"

"The mission," he trailed off, "they think I'll be out on it for over a week."

"A week?!" she squeaked out, soon shaking her head furiously, "Sirius...no - that's...it's too dangerous!"

"I'll be with James and Lily, and Remus too-"

"Oh, so you're all leaving me?!" she screeched. She didn't mean that, and he knew she didn't - anything they could do to protect muggleborn's and their safety was always one of Adria's top priorities, but she was just...scared.

"We can't leave Jude and Mila with the order for a week - or with anyone for a week." She couldn't help but agree with that, spending a few hours away from her babies was hard enough never mind a full week.

"I don't want to go," he said, putting that out there just so she knew how reluctant he had been reading the letter, "and believe me the thought of leaving you here on your own is killing me, but - but it's the order."

"I know, Sirius." She frowned, turning to the two toddlers giggling wildly, "they're going to miss you. Not as much as I will, of course, but-"

She stopped mid-sentence when he pulled her into him. His arms were tight around her and his head buried deep into her neck. She knew what it was for, it was fear mixed with high emotions that made them wish they never had to endure such a fight before. All Adria wished for every night was to wake up in the morning and receive news that the war was over - that she was safe to play with her brother and niece in the park instead of their back garden.