Family

Sirius sat on a chair on the porch, watching his two young boys play in the yard, having pretend battles against pretend demons, making the noises of weapons clashing and defeated opponents fly through the air and die as they were struck. He couldn't help but smile as he watched them, their minds hard at work, creating a new world entirely separate from the one they truly lived in. Sirius had a vague recollection of time long ago when, in his own childhood, he had played similar games. Back then though there had been more children out in the streets to play with. Some of them played the role of the villain, fighting back against the ranks of them, the good guys, and eventually being vanquished. Usually just in time for dinner.

Intermittently, the sounds of the children's laughter filled the dimming air of the evening sky. They would have to be called back inside soon to eat and clean up for bed. But Sirius wanted to make sure they had as much time outside as they possibly could. It was because of their laughter, well timed as it was, that Sirius did not hear the door opening and closing softly behind him. Suddenly there were two arms wrapped around his neck, squeezing tightly, not choking him but hugging.

Sirius reached up and grabbed his wife's face, pulling it down so he could see her. "Julia!" he nearly shouted, though playfully. "Why must you always sneak up on me?"

Julia grinned at her husband, his face appearing upside down from this angle. "Where's the fun in letting you know what's going to happen next?" she asked.

Sirius sighed and rolled his eyes, though a smile still tickled the edge of his lips. He let her head go, and she his neck, and she moved around to sit beside him. They sat in silence for a long moment, as they watched their kids play.

"You remember playing like that when you were their age?" Sirius asked after a while.

Julia didn't turn to look at him, just continuing to watch her children. "Yeah," she said. "Of course, the games I played weren't usually quite as violent as what the boys played. Me and the other girls, we'd play house more frequently, or other such games."

"But always more kids."

Julia nodded silently. Another long moment passed as they continued to watch. Another burst of laughter split the air, filling the two parents with a happiness they had not felt in quite some time.

"You ever wonder if we're doing it right?" Julia was the one asking this time.

Sirius smiled to himself, though it wasn't a full smile. He knew exactly what kind of question she was asking. "Everyday," he replied, more quietly than he realized.

"I just... Things are so different now than they were when we were that age, you know?"

"I know."

"And our parents, they always seemed to have all the answers. They always seemed to know what they were doing. I mean, I know better than that now, but at the time..."

Sirius nodded without a word. It wasn't the first time they had had this discussion.

"And I just worry that maybe they'll look at us, and they won't see the strong pillars that we saw at that age. That maybe they'll realize we don't have enough money, or that we barely got out of school, much less had the answers to all the questions, and that someday soon they'll have a question we won't even begin to comprehend so how on earth are we going to be able to help them, and..."

Sirius put his hand on his wife's arm as she ran out of breath. Her face had a panicked look to it, so Sirius put a hand on her cheek and forced her to look at him. "I don't know what we'll do if that happens, honey," he said quietly. Her mouth clamped shut and she gave him a small nod. "Maybe that stuff will happen. Maybe we won't be as good of parents as our own were.But what's the point in worrying about it now? We just have to keep going one day at a time. Just like we always have."

Julia nodded, trying to reassure herself, and they slowly drifted back into their chairs and back to watching the kids play. The sun would be down soon. They shouldn't leave them outside much longer.

"How are you always so calm about these things?" Julia asked.

Sirius smiled. "I'm not," he responded. Julia turned to look at him, confused. "I'm just as terrified as you are about what's going to come. Just as terrified that I can't be a good parent to our kids. But I try to put on a strong face, because someone needs to."

Julia leaned over and kissed his lips, softly. Sirius put a hand on the back of her head and held her there for a long moment. When she finally pulled away, her eyes still closed, she whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Kids! It's time to come in!"