Sirius hated, detested, the mark he bared.

He was a Death Eater now, something he swore to you up and down he would never become. In all fairness, he was only a Death Eater to get insider information to Dumbledore and The Order of The Phoenix and to protect Regulus.

Sirius loved his little brother.

Sirius wanted to make sure Reggie’s Mark was more decorative, that he stayed close to Mother.

Currently, Sirius was sitting in your family home- the base for The Order of The Phoenix, sitting in an armchair by the crackling fire in the drawing room.

The November cold was harsh, he enjoyed the warmth.

James and Lilly- the Newlyweds, Mary, Marlene, Dorcas, Peter, Remus, Frank and Alice- also Newlyweds.

These were his true people. His people were here, his friends. As he was technically a Death Eater, there wasn’t always a lot of time to spare.

But, as it was getting close to Christmas and the Dark Lord was secretly fond of the Holliday, work had been slowing down.

Then you, glorious you, came into the room with a tray of Hot Chocolate and a smile. Sirius surged forward and got out of his chair, taking the tray from your hands and setting it on the coffee table.

He swept you into his arms, nuzzling into your neck and rubbing his stubble against your skin.

You giggled and pushed his head away gently, kissing him sweetly.

Sirius always had his best days when he was coming home to you.

He was glad he was here, with you, but he knew he would have to leave before you woke again.

But he put on a smile, and touched the necklace. It was a silver piece, something he had nicked from his mother's jewelry box. It was a dainty silver chain with a singular black pearl; it had been given to his mother as a wedding gift.

You two weren't married or engaged- a ring that could be traced back to him might lead to one, if not both, of your deaths.

So, no ring, no proposal, no wedding cake, no wedding night, no wedding dress.