the_debt_of_time

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.. ." She started crying again, but James quickly wiped
the tears with his pyjama sleeves and kissed the top of her head.
"No, no. You don't get to apologise. It's my job. My job to keep you safe."
Mia let out a quiet sob and clung to her brother.
Something inside of Sirius felt like it came to life in a singular moment, empty and
wanting and lost all at once. "Our job," he whispered through the darkness
Mia sat up, looking at Sirius and Remus standing at the foot of her bed. She did not
look embarrassed to have them there. Instead, she let out a sigh of what sounded like relief.
Sirius walked to the other side of her bed and reached out, tucking a curl of her hair
behind her ear. "It's our job. Our job to keep you safe."
"Sirius?" she whispered.
"Hey, kitten. Scoot over will you?" He smiled and crawled into the bed beside her,
flopping his head on her lap like always.
She laughed through her remaining tears, smiling down at him and running her
fingers through his hair.
James narrowed his gaze at his friend. "We're supposed to be making her feel better,
Sirius."
"No." Mia smiled up at her brother. "This helps." She beamed down at Sirius who
was happily staring up at her.
"You boys should go back to sleep," she said, looking guilty.
"We're not leaving you alone," Remus stated firmly. "You going to make room for
me? Or do I have to sleep on the floor?"
Sirius chuckled and scooted closer to Mia, making room.