Chapter Text
“You’re home.”
The words hung in the air, even after he’d whispered her name, and she couldn’t bring herself to look at him. They weren’t exactly what she’d wanted to say, but something was off with Sirius and it was making her nervous. So those were the words that had come out. Embarrassment had immediately filled her, realising that wasn’t a proper thing to say at all. Even if it was true.
She’d thought she was fine with the Red Army. She hadn’t lied; they showed affection in their own ways. It took a while to see it, but it was there. Her agreement to stay with them had stemmed from the discovery that they didn’t truly mean her harm. But that resolve had wavered when she’d seen the Black Army in the square.
They’d accepted her without question almost as soon as they’d met her. She’d been given a place to stay where she was a welcome guest. No, more than that. She was part of a family. There hadn’t been any hesitation on any of their parts and, even if her stay was temporary, they’d taken her in with open arms. She’d never had that before, had never felt so at ease with people she didn’t know. They’d slowly chipped away at her walls in the handful of days she’d been with them without her even realising it.
It had been impossible to miss the relief on their faces when they’d seen her in the square and her heart had made its decision. She couldn’t stay with the Red Army. She just couldn’t when the men who had grounded her from the beginning were right there, looking at her like she was the missing piece to their puzzle. There’d been no words spoken between them, but she knew that with any sign from her, they would have moved to reclaim her.
For those few brief moments, she had soaked in all of them, resolving herself to breaking the words she’d given the Red Army not an hour before. Then it had gone to chaos.
Celeste jumped when warm fingers tipped her chin up and she found herself looking into violet eyes. Sirius’ face was tight, but there was something fragile in his gaze. Something she had never seen before. “Do you mean it?” he asked lowly. “You’ll come back with me?”
He was watching her so intensely it stole her breath. All she could do was nod. He’d been giving her the strangest looks since the forest. No, since the square. She’d felt his gaze weighing the heaviest on her and she’d known why. His promise to keep her safe had echoed through her thoughts, wrapping around her until it was hard to think of anything else.
That something trembled in his gaze before he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. She was very aware of how the hand she had taken shifted, threading their fingers together. “Stay close,” he said softly. “They’ll be coming back soon.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
When his eyes opened, the something was gone but it had been replaced by a fierce determination that stole the rest of her breath. “I will keep you safe, Celeste,” he promised. “I’ll get us home.”
I already am. She couldn’t say those words, but she nodded, trying to show that she knew. She’d known from the moment he’d first said them to her, known that if he’d been with her that day, he would have fought with everything he had to keep Edgar from taking her.
His thumb rubbed against her chin in a slow stroke before his hand fell. “Let’s go, little lady.”
When the attack in the square had happened, a numbing coldness had spread through her. It had shut down what she was feeling and forced her to act, to do what she’d needed to. It had helped her get Lancelot out after he’d collapsed. But it hadn’t faded once she’d gotten them both away. If anything, the fear that had slipped through had sapped what little warmth she’d had left. She’d been freezing and unable to shake it.
But his touch scorched through her. It had happened when she’d taken his hand in the forest and it was happening again. Her skin felt tight in the wake of it, the contrast so great tears were pricking at her eyes. But she wanted more, she needed to feel again, wanted that numbness to leave her. She wanted him to keep touching her, to replace her cold with his heat. Anything to let her feel again.
Now wasn’t the time for that. She’d have to content herself with holding his hand for now.
Following him as he turned back to the stairs they’d used to come here, Celeste said a silent goodbye to the Red Army. She appreciated the insight she had on them now and knew they weren’t all the monsters she’d thought that first day. But she needed to go back to her family.
“You’re home.”
The words made her flush the more she thought of them and she couldn’t stop them from coming back. She knew she needed to focus, that they were running out of time to make a clean getaway. But she couldn’t stop thinking about what she had meant. In her heart, she knew, but it scared her. For so many reasons.
“Don’t do it, little love. Be better than me. Promise me.”
They paused as they reached the base of the stairs, both listening for any sign that they weren’t alone anymore. Sirius waited past what she would have thought acceptable, his hand squeezing hers slightly. He’d only taken a few steps before she bumped into him as he froze. “We need to hide,” he hissed.
Celeste blinked in surprise before she heard it, the murmur of voices further down the hallway. “This way,” she said, tugging on his hand to lead him away from them.
It was deeper into headquarters and away from where they’d left his horse, but he followed her without question. He kept close to her, his entire frame tense. He hadn’t been like this when they’d brought Lancelot through. Cautious, yes, but now he seemed like he was extremely high strung, that he was seeing enemies in every corner they passed. Was it because they didn’t have much time left?
“In here,” she said, pushing a door open.
He didn’t wait, pulling them both inside. She expected him to slam the door, but he carefully closed it, holding the handle so it didn’t even make a noise as it shut. He looked back at her for a moment before his gaze moved over the room.
She saw his brows draw together a little and his eyes flicked down to her. “Where are we?”
“Lancelot’s office,” she whispered.
He made a noise low in his throat, looking around again. “We shouldn’t stay here long. They might come here to look for him,” he said, starting across the room.
Her hand was still caught fast in his and she couldn’t do anything but follow him. Not that she wouldn’t have followed him anyways. Her heart lurched in her chest and her gaze dropped to her feet. No, no, no. Don’t.
Sirius went to the window, standing to the side of it as he looked down at the grounds. “It could work,” he mused quietly. “Would be quicker.”
Celeste blinked at him. He wasn’t thinking of going out the window was he? They were still two stories up! “Sirius, I-”
He turned to her, his free hand stroking over her hair and leaving heat in his wake. She shivered a little, praying he didn’t see it and knowing he must have. He cupped the back of her head, making her meet his gaze. “Trust me?”
“Yes,” she breathed without hesitation.
He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. His fingers ran through her hair for a moment before he was letting her go.
She watched, wide eyed, as he opened the window carefully. Both of her hands moved to cover her mouth to stem her squeak as he swung his body out of it.
His mouth quirked into a crooked smile as he hung onto the window sill. “This is nothing, little lady,” he murmured.
Disbelief filled her and she crept closer to the window to watch as he scaled down the side of the building. He took his time, carefully finding grips to support his weight and avoiding any pockets of light. How was he making it look so easy? Had he done this before?
Forget pounding, her heart was fluttering at the strength and control it took for him to do this. He didn’t expect her to follow him, did he? She’d considered using the window to escape on her first night here, but this had never crossed her mind. There was no way that she could possibly do that. How was she going to follow him now?
His grunt as he landed on the ground rolled up to her before he was suddenly ducking down into the bushes at the base of the building.
Celeste barely had time to react as she heard the voice coming around the corner, but she tugged the window mostly shut and hid herself in the curtain. She heard the conversation the soldiers were having but none of it made sense to her. Fear was coursing through her, terror that Sirius would be caught because she had chosen to go with him and he couldn’t leave as fast as he would if he was alone. Or that they’d spot her and make her stay when she’d decided to leave.
Oh, please, let him stay safe. She didn’t know what she would do if he got caught.
“Little lady.”
The soft call broke through her thoughts and she peeked out of the curtains. She could barely see Sirius standing among the bushes again from this angle. Reaching out a hand, she pushed the window open and leaned out just enough to see him.
It was too dark where he was standing to read his expression, but a sudden, strange feeling coiled through her gut. “Still trust me?”
Oh, why was he asking that? “Y-Yes?”
“Good. I need you to jump.”
Her stomach rioted, plummeting to her feet before shooting back up. He needed her to what?
“We don’t have a lot of time and you aren’t going to be able to climb down easily. Not in that skirt and I don’t want you to risk it. You have to jump.”
A broken sound-a laugh, a whimper?-left her. She hadn’t been able to do it before, how could she do it now?
“Little lady,” Sirius’ voice called, warm and strong, “trust me. I’m not going to let you get hurt.”
Squeezing her eyes shut, she tentatively sat on the window sill. Could she do this? Could she actually do this? Even with his reassurance, there was the chance that this would end poorly. She didn’t think she could do this. She could sneak out of headquarters somehow and meet him at the horse. She could-
“Celeste, I’ll always catch you.”
Her breath shivered out of her. Why did he have to say things like that? Looking down at him, she wished she could see his face. “On three?” she asked nervously.
“On three,” he agreed.
“Can you count? Please?”
“Of course. Ready?”
No. No, she wasn’t ready to throw herself out of this window even if it would end in his arms.
“One.”
Her lips parted on a silent cry. No! She stiffened when she heard a noise from behind her, her head whipping around to look back into the office. Was someone coming to check for Lancelot?!
“Focus on me, little lady.” He was quiet until she looked at him again. “Two.”
Her breaths were coming in short gasps and she shifted nervously on the sill. Someone was definitely coming down the hallway, she could hear the voices-Jonah and Edgar?
“Three.”
Shoving herself off the window, she squeezed her eyes shut as she fell through the air. The same panic flooded her as when she’d fallen into Cradle. The weightlessness, the rapidly approaching ground, the inability to do anything but fall. However, it was short lived this time and she found herself snugly held against a warm chest before she knew it. She didn’t open her eyes, blinding reaching to wrap her arms around him and turning her face into him.
“My brave girl,” he whispered.
A frisson of pleasure wound through her at the words and she inhaled deeply. She’d been surrounded by the sharp and crisp scents of the Red Army for so long, the woodsy smell rolling off him was like a breath of fresh air. His brave girl? There was a possessive tone to his voice she’d never heard before but…she liked it. Celeste, don’t.
“Who left the window open?”
The moment was shattered by a voice coming from above, reminding them that they weren’t out of this yet.
“Hold on,” Sirius hissed.
She hadn’t had plans to let go of him but she still clung tighter as he practically threw them into the bushes. A soft grunt left him as he cushioned her with his body, holding her close as he hid them. His arms slid fully around her, one hand cradling the back of her head to press her to him.
Holding her breath, she trembled against him. She could tell herself it was nerves, the fear of getting him caught, but the truth lingered on the edge of her thoughts. It had started in the square, circling around her as she had felt him watching her. Retreating when she’d tried to help Lancelot and surging back in when Sirius had found them. But she’d been warned-twice-and she knew better. She couldn’t put a name to it; if she did, she’d be damning herself the same way her mother had.
But she still turned her face into his neck, pulling in as much of him as she could in the moment. She lost track of time as they lay there before he was slowly rolling them, gently moving over her. She blinked up at him, but he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking through the bushes, scanning the area. Pressing her lips together, she stayed quiet and merely waited.
“Let’s go,” he said lowly, pushing off her and helping her to her feet.
He didn’t let go of her hand, his fingers winding through hers again as they moved around the building. It was slow going as they dodged windows and lights from inside. More than once, she found herself tucked between the wall and his chest as he kept them out of sight. His big body crowded hers, blocking her completely from view.
Trembling as they waited for the soldiers to pass the window above, Celeste leaned her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes. She was tired. Between everything that had happened in such a short time, she was running out of energy. How was she supposed to not slow him down when exhaustion was licking at her? Surely he would have been gone if she hadn’t wanted to go back with him. Did he-
A small sigh left her as he leaned back from her, looking around, before they were moving again. Had they really left his horse so far away? When they stopped again at a corner, she looked up at him when he squeezed her fingers.
There was just enough light from the nearby windows for her to see his face, but she almost wished she couldn’t. Oh, what was that look for now? “We need to run,” he said quietly.
Run?
Gloved fingers stroked her hair back from her face. “I know you’re tired, Celeste,” he murmured. “I know, but do this one last thing for me and I promise you can rest.”
She stared up at him and nodded slowly. How could she resist that gentle coaxing in his voice?
His brows drew together, his body swaying toward her a little. She didn’t move, blinking slowly up at him even as her heart thumped madly in her chest. He seemed to catch himself before anything happened and he pulled back. “Follow me. Stay close.”
Confusion flooded her. What had just happened? Her heart was still pounding but she tried to ignore it as he squeezed her fingers again. He didn’t need to say anything; she was watching him so as soon as he tensed, they both took off running.
The shadows were long across the training grounds, but they spooked her more than anything. They gave them cover in their mad dash, but what else was hiding in them? But Sirius didn’t slow and didn’t stop so neither did she.
Her chest ached as they raced across the grounds, but she didn’t let herself slow no matter how much it hurt. He was already shortening his stride for her, she knew he was. She wasn’t going to hold him back even more than she already was. It would kill her if he got caught because of her inability to keep up.
As soon as they made it through the nearest gate, Sirius spun her into his arms and leaned back against the wall. “Just breathe, little lady,” he whispered, his voice far more ragged than she would have expected. “Breathe.”
She sank into him and did as he said. But every breath brought his scent in and chipped away at her resolve. Without thinking, she leaned into him fully, winding her arms around his middle and burying her face in his chest. She thought she felt his hands tighten on her, trembling for a moment, before he was rubbing her back.
“I’ve got you,” he promised. “We’re almost out. Just a little more.”
“Running?” she asked, her voice muffled by his shirt.
“No. No more running. For either of us.”
He’d whispered the last so softly it was almost lost in her pants for air. But as the words registered, her heart kicked off again. What did he mean?
He slowly pulled away from her, gently taking her hands in his. The softly glowing lamps along the wall let her see the frown that tugged on his lips as he rubbed her hands. “Celeste, you’re still freezing. Why didn’t you say anything?”
She shrugged. What were they going to do about it when they were trying to escape? “Oh, no, Sirius, please no,” she said quickly when he let go of her to shrug out of his coat. “No, I’m fine.”
“You are not,” he said firmly, wrapping the jacket around her. “I promised I’d protect you and I’ll do it from you as well if you don’t take care of yourself.”
“It’s not my fault,” she protested, having no choice but to attempt to slide her arms into the sleeves as he swiftly did up the buttons in the front.
“You should have said something.”
I’m fine when you touch me. He was looking at her so intensely, as if he could hear her thoughts. She turned her head away, staring at a spot on the ground and curled her hands into fists in the sleeves. No, please. Please, I….
His hands brushed over her hair, his sigh washing over her skin. “I’m not mad, little lady. I just-” He stopped abruptly when they heard a noise from the other side of the wall. “We need to go,” he whispered.
No, she wanted to know what he was going to say! She flushed as he caught her hand through the sleeve and led her deeper into the shadows. A soft nicker had her jumping before she realised it was his horse. Had they actually made it?
Sirius let go of her and easily swung himself up into the saddle. “Come here, little lady.”
He was leaning over the horse, holding his arms out to her, but she hesitated. She knew they needed to go, that she was wasting time but…he’d held her so much in this short amount of time so why did this feel different? Was it because now she had the choice of whether to go to him or not? Before he’d been keeping her safe, hiding her, doing it before she had a chance to realise it was happening. But not this time. This time she would choose to go into his arms.
“Celeste?”
The sun was nearly gone and she couldn’t see him. She wanted to see him when he said her name like that. She wanted to see him. She wanted him. Her lower lip trembled as the thought slammed into her, slammed into that wall enough to crack it, and a quiet sound slipped out of her. No, she couldn’t let herself!
The horse shifted, nudged forward by him, and she shook when his fingers found her cheek. “Are you crying?” he whispered.
She didn’t know anymore but she reached for him.
Strong hands caught her around the waist and he effortlessly hauled her onto his horse, settling her in front of him. “I’m sorry,” Sirius breathed. “I know this was a lot for you.”
It was, but she knew it wasn’t that. Every kind word, every warm touch, weakened her, sent cracks and fissures through her defenses. Every moment with him broke her down a little more.
“Rest, Celeste,” he murmured, tucking her close to him even as the horse started off. “Rest. I’ve got you now. These old boys will get you home.”
She knew he’d said it to make her smile, to try to cheer her up, but it only made her choke up further. How much would he try to do for her? Her eyes closed and she could feel the tears slipping down her cheeks now. She’d been warned. She knew better. She couldn’t let this go any further. She had to be strong. She had to-
Waking as she was shifted, Celeste glanced around in confusion. “Where…?”
“Shh, go back to sleep.”
It was tempting. She was cradled in strong arms and surrounded by that earthy forest scent that was so soothing. Her limbs felt heavy from sleep and she was so wonderfully warm finally. Something tickled at her sleepy brain before it clicked. “Sirius?”
“Sleep, little lady,” he murmured. “You’re safe.”
She rubbed her cheek against his shirt and sighed deeply. She could feel him moving, carrying her? “Oh!” Celeste gasped, pulling away from him.
He easily kept a hold of her despite the sudden movement and stopped to look at her. “Little lady?”
“You can put me down,” she whispered, flushing.
“I’d rather not.”
What? She stared up at him but he started walking again and didn’t look at her. She’d been tired before but the nap had helped and she was perfectly capable of walking on her own. It was only a few stairs and a hallway or two.
But he seemed intent on carrying her and short of trying to squirm out of his grip there wasn’t much she could do about it.
Enjoy it. The thought had her shivering which only made him pull her closer.
“You’re still cold,” he muttered.
She really wasn’t but she didn’t want to explain why she was shivering.
He quickly carried her inside, slipping in a side entrance. He was almost as slow moving through the hallways as he had been getting out of Red Headquarters. What was he doing? Why was he sneaking? Weren’t they safe now?
The questions piled up, all of them unspoken as he carried her upstairs to her room. Sirius barely paused as he got the door open and strode in, pushing it closed with a solid click behind him. She was shifted slightly and light filled the room. Before she knew it, he was gently settling her on the bed, his arms sliding out from under her. She was slow to let him go, watching his face.
“Stay there,” he said quietly.
She didn’t completely listen, pushing up on her elbows to watch as he crossed the room to her bathroom. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she leaned down to start unlacing her boots. But her thoughts were on him. How could they not be?
How many times had he saved her tonight? Could she even count them all? Why? Was it only because he’d promised to keep her safe? Because the Black Army wanted her back?
“My brave girl.”
Celeste shivered, wrapping her arms around herself and realising she was still wearing his jacket. No. It wasn’t because the Black Army wanted her back. The way he had said that hadn’t been between friends or family. There’d been…a possessive pride in his voice. Would his promise make him feel like that? Was it his sense of duty driving him? No, why would he say that to her if that was it?
Standing, she carefully took his coat off, her thoughts whirling. When she’d told him she was coming with him, his dark eyes had been so intense, burning into her. He’d held her close so many times, using his own body as a shield for hers if need be. He’d praised her, encouraged her, comforted her every step of the way. And she’d soaked every word in, desperate for more.
The door clicked open and she twisted to look. He’d paused in the doorway when he saw her, his lips turning down a little that she wasn’t where he’d left her. But…he looked like a dream standing there, one she didn’t ever want to lose.
I can’t…can I? She trembled a little as he watched her and she broke the stare first, moving to drape his coat over the end of her couch. He was still watching her, her skin prickling with that heat again even without him touching her.
“You didn’t have to take it off,” he finally said.
“I’m fine,” she whispered. Was she? Her heart wouldn’t stop pounding and she couldn’t look at him.
Sirius sighed. “You’re not and you don’t have to keep saying you are. Not to me.”
She jumped a little as he gently caught her arm and led her back to the bed. When he gave her a small push, she sat on the edge of it and fidgeted nervously. What was he doing? She nearly jumped again when a warm cloth brushed over her cheek.
“Easy,” he murmured, catching her chin with his fingers to tilt her up to him and slowly washing her face.
His fingers were rough against her and caused an all new set of sparks to race through her. She’d grown used to the softness of his gloves but this was different. Not unpleasant, but different. Letting him turn her as he would, she bit her lip as he continued his task, watching him. She didn’t miss it when his eyes dipped down to her mouth before returning to the washcloth. His brow pinched slightly and his thumb shifted, rubbing against her for a moment then stilling.
Did he have any idea what he was doing to her? Did he know how close he was to breaking through her wall? Did he know how much he was scaring her with how easily he was doing it?
“Don’t fall in love, little love. It might seem like a good idea at the time, but it will only hurt you in the end. Listen to Mama and promise me you won’t.”
The words shivered through her, trying to reinforce the wall they’d originally built. But as his fingers brushed her cheek, it cracked further.
Sirius quietly pulled away, his eyes moving over her face before he smiled. “Tuck in, little lady,” he said, turning to walk back to the bathroom.
She watched him go, one hand lifting to touch her cheeks. Had she had something on her face the entire time and he hadn’t said anything? The thought made her want to dive under the covers and hide. She glanced down at her dress, frowning at the rips and tears across the hem, the dirt smudged across the skirt. No, she couldn’t get into bed like this. “Sirius?” she called nervously.
“Mm?”
“Could you…stay in there for a minute?”
There was a long pause before the door to the bathroom quietly clicked shut. Gratitude filled her that she didn’t have to explain and she quickly shucked her dress. She hurriedly pulled out a nightgown to change into, smoothing the fabric down as soon as it settled. One hand lifted to her hair before she shook her head. She didn’t want to deal with it right now. Tying it off at the base of her neck, she quickly slipped under the blankets. “Thank you,” she called.
The door opened and she watched him from above the hem of the blanket as he came back to the bed. He was smiling faintly as he leaned over and brushed a hand over her shoulder. “Get some sleep, Celeste,” he said quietly. “We’ll talk to the others tomorrow morning, alright? I’ll come get you so we can go down together.”
Her heart suddenly leapt into her throat. He was leaving? Reaching out, she caught his sleeve as he turned away. “Please. Stay.”
The words came without thought and she watched his expression tighten, his eyes darkening.
“I don’t…I don’t want to be alone,” she said in a small voice.
Sirius kept studying her, not giving her anything. Maybe this was too much to ask for. He’d already done so much for her. She was pushing too far. Even if she didn’t want to be alone, was scared this was all a dream and she’d wake up alone in her room in the Red Headquarters, she couldn’t ask this of him. He’d done enough. She needed to let him go.
“No,” she said, rolling away from him. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long night and I’m just tired. Good night, Sirius. Thank…Thank you.”
She could hear him breathing, evenly spaced. slow and not moving. He was watching her and she didn’t know what more she could do. Except wait.
Her own breathing became choppy the longer he didn’t move. Was he waiting for her to fall asleep? Because that wasn’t going to happen with him watching her like that! She tugged the blankets up and burrowed her burning face into the pillow. She’d said he could leave so why wasn’t he?
He finally sighed and she listened as he crossed the room. She heard the faint tap of fingers against the lamps to darken them and the solid click of the lock being flipped on the door. But it never opened and she couldn’t hear him moving anymore. What was he doing now?
Her eyes flew open when the bed dipped behind her and she rolled over to gape at him. There was just enough moonlight to highlight his face and she could see him watching her as he leaned back against the headboard. “Is this alright?” he asked when she kept staring.
He was going to stay? “Y-Yes.”
He smiled faintly, pulling his cap off to set it on the bedside table. “Try to get some sleep, Celeste,” he said quietly, settling against the head of the bed. “You need it.”
She watched him loosely cross his arms over his middle before she rolled back over. She’d completely twisted the blankets around herself but she didn’t try to fix them. It had been her idea, she had asked for this…so why was she so embarrassed? Because she’d never shared a bed with a man before? Even as innocently as this was? Or was it because it was Sirius? Was it because he was swiftly making a place for himself in her life without realising it?
She was so close to following in her mother’s footsteps, to breaking that promise she had made so many years ago and leading herself to ruin.
But…what if it wasn’t ruin that waited for her at the end of that path but him instead?
Her thoughts ran in circles as she lay there, listening to his breathing. The slow, steady pace of it was so pleasing to listen to and the thoughts gradually gave way to darkness.
“Mm.”
The soft sound had her opening her eyes, blinking against the sunlight filling the room. She blinked again as she finally focused on a broad chest. Her eyes flicked up and found Sirius’ sleeping face far closer than it had been last night.
She stared, her breath freezing in her lungs. He’d been sitting on the bed the last she’d seen but he’d slumped down on it at some point, stretching out beside her before curling his big frame to fit on the mattress. Had she rolled toward him sensing the warmth pouring off him? Because there was only a handspan between their bodies now.
The wall around her heart quivered, shaking at the very base. He’d stayed with her. Not until she’d fallen asleep, but through the entire night. Pressing her lips together, she hesitantly reached out to him. Her palm flattened on his chest and the steady thump of his heart filled her.
He’d said she could trust him and he’d followed through on every promise he’d made her. He’d kept her safe and brought her home. She trusted him enough to jump out of a window, to run from his enemy’s base with him, to sleep in his arms. Surely, she could trust him with more. Surely, she could trust him with her heart.
“Sirius,” she whispered, her fingers curling into his shirt a little. Oh, it was there in her voice. She could hear it now. Did he hear it when she said it?
But he stirred, his brow scrunching and his lashes fluttering open.
Celeste quickly closed her eyes and tried to school her breathing. She realised too late her hand was still on his chest as his larger one curled around it.
She didn’t move as he pressed her hand flat to him again, holding her there. “You’re here.”
The quiet whisper had her heart skipping a beat. There was so much in his voice! She wanted to look at him, but she kept her eyes shut. She couldn’t help turning into his touch when he let her go to brush her hair back.
“Wake up, little lady.”
She shivered at the husky demand and slowly opened her eyes. He was smiling faintly at her and she wondered if he knew she’d been awake the entire time. “Good morning,” she whispered.
“Good morning,” he said, pulling his hand away and rolling to the edge of the bed.
She immediately missed him. Staying where she was, she watched him sit up and run his hands through his hair. It was easy for him to smooth it back into place before he was grabbing his hat and standing.
“I’ll wait outside for you,” Sirius said, looking over his shoulder at her with a smile.
“Alright.” There really wasn’t anything else she could say, but she followed him with her gaze as he strode toward the door, scooping up his coat as he went.
When the door closed behind him, Celeste flopped onto her back and threw her arms over her eyes. What was she doing? What was she going to do? Everyone was focused on sending her home…but did she even want to do that?
She rolled out of bed and crossed to her wardrobe. Dressing swiftly, she hurried into the bathroom to deal with the rest of herself. He was waiting and he had more patience than she’d ever seen on anyone but he’d already done so much for her. She didn’t want to push this too far and she wanted to look better. Last night hadn’t been a shining moment for her and she wasn’t looking for a repeat.
But…he hadn’t once looked at her like the mess she’d surely been. There’d been warmth in his gaze, tenderness…affection?
Celeste set the brush down and pulled her hair over one shoulder. Was she simply imagining the last because she wanted to see it…or was that what she hadn’t been able to pin down in his gaze last night? Was it all the emotion in his voice she could hear?
“I’ll always catch you.”
“My brave girl.”
“No more running. For either of us.”
“You’re here.”
Her breath shivered out of her and she pressed her hand to her heart. Blanc had warned her that first day. Don’t fall in love. She’d never go home if she did. It was a different situation, but it was the same path her mother had walked. Fell in love and lost everything she’d had. She’d warned Celeste to not follow her down it, to be cautious, vigilant. Yet here she was, halfway down it without even realising.
But…Sirius wasn’t like her father. He was good and kind and caring and wouldn’t abandon someone who loved him. He was also waiting for her.
That thought had her rushing from her bathroom and hurrying across the room. Opening her door, she smiled at Sirius as she stepped into the hallway. “Thank you for waiting.” She paused before shaking her head. “No, thank you for everything, Sirius. Everything before and everything last night.”
He gave her a smile in return. “It’s my pleasure, little lady. Shall we?” he said, gesturing down the hallway. “Everyone should be up by now.”
Her nerves twanged but she nodded and walked with him down the hall. She could hear the sounds of people moving all around her, pleasant calls coming from outside. It was so different from the Red Army, so much more relaxed, and she hadn’t known she’d missed it until this moment.
Glancing at Sirius, she silently thanked him again for chasing after her and Lancelot. For making her realise where she truly belonged. She followed him down the stairs, smiling faintly at the few soldiers they passed who did double takes and then grinned at her.
They quickly came to the closed lounge door and she could hear the voices through it. She stiffened a little, her teeth catching her lip. Seth…Fenrir…. She could easily hear their bickering and she smiled despite herself. If those two were there, surely Ray and Luka would be too.
“Ready?”
A helpless laugh left her. “Count to three for me?” she murmured.
He chuckled. “You’re brave enough to face them without it this time,” he said, pushing the door open.
“Where the fuck did you go?”
The question came from across the room, silencing the other conversations, and she saw Sirius pause in the doorway as soon as it came. It was Ray’s voice and it was a far harder than usual. Which meant he hadn’t checked in at all and had spent the entire night with her. The thought had pleasure coiling through her and making her wonder what it would be like to have more of those nights.
“To finish what we started,” he said after a moment, stepping further into the lounge.
She stayed where she was, just out of sight and watching his profile.
“What do you mean?”
Sirius exhaled slowly before twisting to hold his hand out to her.
She couldn’t move, nerves eating at her suddenly. What if she had made a mistake? What if they didn’t really want her here? What if they only did want her to break the Red Army’s spells? What if-
He smiled softly at her, soothing her fears. No. This was where she was supposed to be, with them, with him. Reaching out, she put her hand in his and let him pull her into the room.
“Bringing Celeste home,” Sirius said, filling the stunned silence of the room.
She gave him a shy smile before glancing at the others. Heat filled her cheeks when she saw they were all staring-gaping-at her. “H-Hi. I’m…I’m back.”
None of them moved, seemingly frozen to the spot at the sight of her and worry fluttered through her for half a second. Fenrir and Seth snapped out of it first; both of their chairs knocking over as they scrambled out of them. She squeaked as they reached her at the same time, throwing their arms around her to hug her tightly. Her grip on Sirius broke, but she didn’t have a chance to miss him as they squeezed all thought out of her.
“Oh, we were so worried about you! You don’t know how worried we were!”
“You’re alright, aren’t you? Nothin’ bad happened?”
They didn’t expect her to answer when they were squeezing her like that, did they? Apparently not as the questions kept coming without a word from her. A soft touch on her hand had her glancing as much as she could to see Luka standing beside them.
“I’m glad you’re back,” he said softly, smiling at her.
Well, now she couldn’t breathe for an entirely different reason!
“Alright, that’s enough. Give her some space.”
They didn’t let her go; if anything, they all shifted closer.
“Guys.”
One more squeeze before they were stepping back from her.
It didn’t do her any good. They were looking at her with the biggest smiles that sent her heart to pounding. How could she have ever thought they wouldn’t want her back? They were family and had taken her in. Home. Family. Everything I want.
“Welcome back, Celeste.”
Her gaze turned to Ray, taking in his small smile edging toward a smirk but she could see the honest relief in his eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered. The words weren’t enough for everything they had done and did for her, but they were all she had.
“Oh, we gotta have a party now that she’s back! We have to celebrate!”
A helpless laugh left her as excited chatter started to fill the lounge. They didn’t change.
“You’re home, Celeste.”
Those were…her words. They sent a tremble through her, her breath catching as they sank into her. It was there in his voice, the affection. She wasn’t imagining it…he meant that. Her gaze slid to Sirius, taking in the soft smile and warmth in his eyes. For her. She could get lost in both of those so easily. Lost in him. I’m sorry, Mama. I can’t.
The last bit of wall gave way as she smiled back at him, love flooding her. She couldn’t resist this. She simply couldn’t resist him. Yes, she thought, you are my home.