"Sorry about that, Lily. I do get distracted by the City, especially when my old friends need help. Besides, James needed time to catch you up and just... he didn't like to show it, but it was hard for him, not having you here. Now that you're back, I knew we'd have time."

Excuses excuses.

"Are you settling in to the house? It'll be good for Ruka, having you around, even if she and Remus are moving." There's a quietness there, a careful neutrality under Sirius's tone, before he covered it back up with warm fondness. "Remus has taken to fatherhood like a duck to water, but you benefit from a certain perspective when it comes to the life and times of a young girl."