She was trying to hurry.
She was trying to respect and honor her promise to him.
She was trying so, so hard.
Even though it was killing her on the inside.
☽☽☽
"Fuck, fuck, fuck." Lyla muttered to herself again.
She was hurriedly shoving her things into the bag that had the enlargement charm on it.
Lyla quickly took one last glance around the place before she ran down the stairs, and opened the door to the manor.
The pouring rain hitting her skin like ice as soon as she stepped out.
Lyla didn't exactly know why, but she halted for a moment.
She turned back and looked at the place that had seemingly been her home, yet ironically anything but.
Every memory, every scent, flashing through her mind all at once.
"C'mon Lyra!" Capella shouted with a giggle as she dragged her younger sister.
Both of the sisters giggling and laughing as they ran through the halls.
Memories of her mom.
"Now, now my sweet little rose."
"You'll get it eventually." Emilia said to her daughter with a kind smile.
She watched as Lyla pouted as she couldn't tie the two flowers together.
"Don't pout, my love."
"But mom, what if I'll never be able to do it." Lyla muttered to her mother.
Emilia simply smiled as she pulled her daughter into her lap.
"You, my rose, can do anything you set your mind too." She whispered as she pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Even the good ones she had with her dad.
"I don't know if we can do this." Capella muttered softly at her father.
Aleksander sighed as he reached down and picked up his two daughters and set them on his lap.
"Now look at me girls." He said and they turned their heads to face him.
Aleksander smiled as he stroked their cheeks.
"You two can do this, you wanna know why?"
"Cause you're Vance's, and I know for a fact that my girls are the toughest girls in the world, and they can power through anything." Aleksander said.
"Remember girls. Your pain only makes you stronger." He said with a sad smile gracing his lips before he kissed the top of their foreheads.
"Now, run along and play."
Her sister, her mom, her dad.
They were all apart of who she was, as much as she didn't like to admit it.
In a weird, bittersweet way it felt like she was leaving it all behind.
And as much as she prayed and hoped that would happen, now that the moment finally came, she couldn't understand why she halted.
But with one final sigh, she turned her head and didn't look back.
She didn't look back.
☽☽☽
Lyla pounded on the door as it continued to rain down on her.
"Merlin fuck, who keeps knocking—"
"Hey James." Lyla whispered as he opened the door.
"Look, I'm sorry that I didn't give you a heads up but is it okay if I—"
James didn't say anything, he simply pulled her inside the house, and into his embrace.
"You can stay here as long as you need Ly." He whispered into her hair.
Lyla nodded as she relaxed and allowed herself to stay inside James' warm and comforting embrace.
"Ayo, Prongsie who was knocking at the—"
Sirius' voice faltered as he saw Lyla there, soaking wet, with a tear streamed face.
He quickly ran towards the two and pulled her into him.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry." Lyla sobbed into his chest and Sirius felt his heart shatter into pieces.
"Darling, what'd you need to be sorry for?" Sirius whispered soothingly as he looked up at James who had the same worried look as him.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to protect him." She whispered as she looked up into his eyes.
Sirius' eyes began to water as he shook his head and kissed her forehead.
"Shh, it's okay. It's okay."
"Lyla, you should get some rest." James suggested.
"I'll explain everything to my parents in the morning and you can tell us everything whenever you're ready." He whispered as he brushed a strand of hair from her face.
Lyla nodded as she let James and Sirius walk her to the room.
She sat on the bed and let them mutter some drying and warming spells on her as they handed her blankets.
"Okay, goodnight Ly." James said as he crawled into the space next to her.
She turned to look at Sirius, who was doing the exact same thing as James.
"What are you guys—"
"Shush Ly." James said.
"We just wanna make sure you get a good night's rest."
"I could have gotten one without you two in the bed."
"Bullshit." Sirius said.
Lyla rolled her eyes as she shook her head with a sigh.
"We know you Ly, you wouldn't have fallen asleep, but you would've lied and said you did in order to not let us worry about you." Sirius said.
"I wouldn't have—"
"Yes, you would have."
"Cause that's exactly what Sirius did when he first showed up to my house." James said.
Sirius shrugged and nodded his head as Lyla looked at him.
"After awhile James caught on to it, and he started sleeping in my bed. As weird as it sounds it actually helps."
Lyla sighed in reluctance as she laid down.
James and Sirius laid down next to her, and a peaceful silence washed over them.
Lyla would never admit this, or say it out loud, but she was grateful for the both of them that night, and the nights and days that had passed.
Because they were right.
She did get a good nights sleep with them next to her, she felt safe and protected.
Because as much as they argued, as much as they called each other names, Lyla Vance, Sirius Black, and James Potter truly did love each other.
Not romantically of course, but they loved her, just like she loved them.
Because James was Lyla's brother. He was always there to protect her, like no one else ever would. Just like she would do for him, because she was his sister.
And Sirius was Lyla's soulmate. It was definitely platonic, but he was the person who understood her best, out of everyone. Just like she was the same for him.
They argued, they yelled, they shouted, but they loved, and they protected.
And it was always going to be like that, until the end.
A/n: sorry for such a late update. I've been very, very busy with school and overall have major writers block, so I'm sorry for the inconsistency.
Also i felt like i needed to make a chapter that truly showed the love Sirius, Lyla, and James have for each other.
Cause, I know I brush over it a lot, and I know they argue a lot, but I think it is important to acknowledge that they really do love each other.
I really wanted to show the love and appreciation they have for each other, because that's always been an important part of the Marauders and their friendship.
So anyways, I'm jealous of an Oc that I wrote.
Love you all!
-acciomoony