![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
quartetship.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
small_giftsTitle: Let the Tree do the Talking
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
quartetship
Written for:sleeper6
Rating: G
Prompt:
1. Pillow talk between the boys
2. R/S trying to express "I love you" without saying the actual words
3. Any moment during winter
Summary: "His family just doesn't do that sort of thing..."
Any other notes, warnings, etc.: Beta'd by the lovelytravelin_pants! sleeper6, I hope this is something similar to what you wanted! I tried to use all three prompts - hope you like it! Happy Holidays!
---
“Please remind me why we’re doing this?”
Remus laughed at the sound of heavy sighs trailing behind him. Mostly because, for once in his life, they weren’t being made by a fellow Marauder.
“I told you – he’s never had a Christmas tree of his own.” Remus said. “His family just doesn’t do that sort of thing.”
Lily Evans huffed shortly. “If you can call that mess a family.” Remus turned back to her and laughed.
“Was that compassion I heard in your voice? Honestly, Lily, you’re slipping…”
She tugged the heavy basket that she carried more securely into her arms and rolled her eyes.
“Well you seem awfully fond of him, so I guess I’m just trying to be a good friend.” She winked, brushing snow from her hair and face.
He turned away, hiding the blush adding to his already frost-bitten cheeks. “Yeah” he laughed quietly. “Fond.”
They walked in relative silence the rest of the way, trekking from Hogsmeade back to the castle through chilly wind and flying snow.
~*~
They returned to the common room, melting snow still clinging to their skin. Remus helped Lily hide their supplies, then peeked cautiously into the dormitory. The complete and total lack of Marauderly presence was startling – the only sign of previous activity was a crumpled note laid on his neatly made bed.
Moony,
Gone to manage some mischief without you, seeing as you’ve disappeared. Might have been nice to have known where you were flying off to…
See you later tonight.
-Padfoot
Remus looked at the note. Something had been written and erased, right above Sirius’s signature. He sighed and folded the note into his robe pocket. He knew Sirius wasn’t pleased; but if he’d have only seen himself, wrapped warmly in his blankets, breathing softly and smiling in his dreams – Remus couldn’t help but smile at the thought – then he would have understood.
He swallowed – there was that tightness again; that same feeling that had been pulling at his chest for weeks now when he thought of Sirius – and fought to keep his thoughts clear. He moved down the winding staircase to find Lily waiting impatiently in the common room. She raised a questioning eyebrow upon seeing him return.
“All clear” he breathed, moving past her to where they’d hid the decorations.
“Took you a while…” she ventured, eyeing him even as she helped gather tinsel and wire.
“Sorry.” He offered. ‘Just – thinking.” Whatever she may have been wondering, she simply shrugged and accepted his reply. “Let’s get this stuff upstairs” he said quickly, hoping to change the subject. She nodded and followed, and he felt relief breeze over him like the chilly December wind.
~*~
“I think it will look best here.” Lily supplied, setting the small tree in a barren nook there in the dormitory.
Remus followed her voice and nodded when he saw the tree. “That’s perfect. It’s right across from his bed.” He smiled and began unpacking the boxes Lily had carried in.
Lily looked out the window. “Look how late it’s getting…” she pointed outside – the early winter evening was fast approaching – and frowned. “How on earth do you propose we get all of this attached before they get back?” She looked over the decorations; several dozen ornaments and a few strings of tinsel and garland glimmered back up at her, all in glistening shades of red and gold.
“Easy.” Remus said simply. “I’m more concerned about finishing some of these ornaments.” He picked up several and handed them to her. They were picture frame ornaments, with a sad lack of pictures. She smiled up at him.
“I can handle these, if you can work on getting the rest of it together.” He reached under his bed and slid out a shoebox, scooting it gingerly across the floor to her.
“They’re all in there.” He said quietly. She removed the lid and flipped through the pictures, smiling and even laughing aloud at some of the scenes she found. When her face softened and returned to his, he felt his face surge with heat.
“This one’s my favorite” she said softly, holding the picture up. It was a shot of him and Sirius, only weeks before, Sirius kissing his cheek, and both of them grinning madly. He felt the nagging tightness return as he looked at it.
“Yeah…” was all he could manage. He returned to sorting through the ornaments and heard Lily laugh softly, knowingly.
~*~
When Lily had finished framing all the pictures she found in their new decorative homes, she moved to sit next to Remus beside the small tree.
“You haven’t kept your end of the bargain, Mr. Lupin!” she teased, looking at the bare branches. “I thought we were going to decorate this thing…”
“We are” he smiled. He drew out his wand and proudly pronounced an incantation he’s learned years before, and decorations went flying across the room. Lily shrieked and ducked, peeking back at him when the sounds of chaos had stopped. Beside him stood a perfectly trimmed tree.
“How did you do that?” she gasped, impressed. She looked at it; every inch was intricately decorated, and as far as she knew, it had only taken a moment.
“Spell my mum always used.” He laughed at her stunned face. “Always got that reaction from my dad, too!”
“Well, it’s very impressive.” She breathed, handling an ornament gently. “My husband will have to know how to do that.” She winked and Remus grinned in response.
“I’m sure I can teach James how to--”
“Don’t even kid like that!” she laughed, shoving him down. They spent several more minutes teasing each other before settling on Remus’s bed to admire their work.
“He’ll really appreciate it, you know.” Lily said finally.
Remus sighed. “I hope so. I don’t think he’s too thrilled with me right now, skipping out on him today.”
“Well you know he won’t say anything in front of James and Peter, so that at least buys you that much time.”
He sighed. He never really complained about James and Peter’s obliviousness; it made things easier. But sometimes, when he was talking to Lily, and basking in the feeling of a friend who knew, it saddened him. “Yeah” he said finally. “That’s true.”
Lily patted his shoulder gently. “Besides, no matter how he feels now, when he sees this” – she pointed to the tree – “he’ll forget all about it. It really shows how much you care, Remus, how much you--”
“Yeah” he said again, very loudly this time. She knit her eyebrows together in confusion, but he simply trailed off. He didn’t want to hear that word, to deal with it. He realized as he sat there, eyeing Sirius’s impending surprise, that he was still frightened of it. It was that fear, he reason, that tightened his chest, quickened his breathing, and dizzied his thoughts whenever Sirius was near.
“Speaking of Sirius” – Remus said suddenly, realizing what time it was – “I need to get this hidden.” He motioned to the tree and Lily turned with a jerk, a bewildered look on her face.
“How in the name of Merlin are you going to hide a Christmas tree?” She looked at him with more confusion than he’d ever seen her show and he couldn’t help but laugh.
“Let me worry about that.” He said, patting her on the shoulder as they go to their feet. “You just worry about looking innocent and nonchalant the rest of the evening.”
She hesitated for a moment, then turned to leave. “I’ll never understand you, Remus.” He caught her by her wrist and turned her around, hugging her tightly before she left.
“Maybe not” he laughed. “But thank you, just the same.”
She smiled brightly, kissed him on the cheek and wished him good luck before gathering what few pieces of incriminating evidence they’d left and leaving quietly.
Remus watched her go with a sigh before moving to the drawer where James kept the invisibility cloak tucked away. He wondered at the fact that they’d departed without it as the nearly-liquid fabric poured over his hands, then finally over the tree.
He stood back and inspected it.
He saw nothing.
Nothing at all.
Perfect.
~*~
It was nearly another hour before the others got back. Remus was curled up in his bed, flipping through the remnants of the box when he heard them thundering up the dormitory steps. When they entered, James spotted him immediately, dashed across the room and flopped down onto his bed with him. Remus was thrown in the air and landed back on James with a tremendous “oof!”
“Barking at me, Moony?” James laughed, nudging him in the arm. Remus huffed and sat back up, straightening his now disaster-stricken clothes.
“We’re gonna swing by the kitchens” Peter said tentatively. “You in?”
Remus moved from his bed, tucking the box away as he did. “Well, I…” he hesitated as his eyes met Sirius’s. The other boy stood in the doorway, not nearly as enthusiastic as the others, a strange expression moving across his features. Remus frowned.
“Well, Moony? Are you coming?” Remus hadn’t noticed James move, but he was already at the door.
“It is the least you could do, after avoiding us all bloody day…” Peter was joking, but the words cut into Remus. He sighed and nodded, following them out the door. Sirius didn’t move for a moment, prompting a quick, quizzical glance from both James and Peter. When Remus reached the door he finally moved, walking beside Remus silently. Remus caught his glance – complex and unreadable – and had to pull his eyes away. The tight feeling in his chest and the heat in his face were too much.
They walked to the kitchens quietly, James and Peter still blissfully existing in the world they’d undoubtedly been in all day. Remus felt awful – he knew he was the reason Sirius had been pulled out of that world, and he wished he could return them both without having to actually talk about it. But he knew the talking would come. Thankfully they had dinner and the other Marauders’ presences to preoccupy them.
~*~
Over dinner they regaled him with stories of their day – sneaking through the school’s secret passage ways, too burdened by coats and scarves to even bring the cloak, mapping new places and things for the map. He smiled genuinely; he was glad to hear they had fun. Every story involved Sirius, though he rarely spoke himself. Halfway through their meal, he excused himself, muttering something about not feeling well, and disappeared. James and Peter continued their stories excitedly, but Remus didn’t hear another word.
After they’d consumed all but the crumbs the house elves liked to keep for themselves, the boys made their leaved and James piped up with another idea.
“I’m going to use that new passage we found today and put these” – he held up an impressive bag of dungbombs – “in the hall outside the Slytherin common room. Anyone in?”
Peter stifled his laughter and shook his head, and Remus nearly did the same, more out of habit than anything, until he remembered Sirius’s solemn face from earlier.
“I think I’ll sit this one out, lads. I’m, er, not feeling well either. Best go back to the dormitory.”
James clapped him gently on the back. “Sorry to hear that Moony. You’ll be missing a lot of fun…”
“Eh, let him go.” Peter chided. “He must have caught whatever’s bothering Padfoot.”
“Must have.” Remus sighed under his breath. And with that they made their goodbyes, and Remus headed back to the dormitory.
~*~
When he returned he found nothing changed, save for a sizeable lump in his bed. Before he could inquire, the lump shifted and spoke.
“Where were you all day?”
Remus felt strange. Normally he would have quipped back that he was out trying to avoid being expelled, unlike Sirius himself. This time though, there was a strange sadness in Sirius’s voice that caught him off guard.
“With Lily” he said honestly. He moved toward his bed, sitting on the corner. Sirius pulled the blankets over himself more tightly.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving? Or where you were going?” Sirius was speaking quietly, but it may as well have been screaming. “I had no idea where you were, all day. I woke up and you were gone.”
Remus fumbled with his words, twiddling his thumbs uselessly as he tried to speak. “I… didn’t want to wake you.”
Sirius went completely still for a moment. “That’s fine Moony.” He sighed finally, real resignation in his voice. “It’s just – it’s three days til Christmas you know?”
Remus nodded. He wasn’t sure what that had to do with anything, but he couldn’t help but see any logic Sirius put in front of him.
“And James and Peter and Evans and everyone… they’re going home soon. They’ll get to spend time with the people they…” – he hesitated – “love.”
His voice was faltering, his throat tight and uncomfortable. “Uh-huh” was all Remus could manage as he listened.
“And I guess, I’m upset because… I don’t get that later.”
Remus’s heart ached for Sirius. He was constantly reminded that the other boy had no real family to speak of, and always worried about him at the holidays.
“So I felt like I… missed a chance today.” The last part of the sentence was almost silent, barely spoken, and after he said it Sirius hid his face in the pillow beneath him.
They sat, still and quiet for several long minutes. Remus felt tears building behind his eyes, but couldn’t bring himself to speak. Finally, Sirius sat up, face speckled with red, and Remus knew he’d been crying too.
“I probably don’t make any sense, do I? he sniffed. Remus smiled softly in return.
“Maybe not to everyone.” He whispered. “But you do to me. I thought we’d established that.”
Sirius smiled, just for a moment, then returned to his spot lying in the bed. “I’m not mad Moony. I just…” he paused, looking for the right words. “I don’t know how to say it.” Sirius said finally.
“I think I do.” Remus smiled, remembering his surprise. He moved off the bed, Sirius’s eyes on him the whole time. He moved to the corner to stoop in front of the invisible tree, lifting its camouflage. As the tree appeared, so did a smile on Sirius’s tired face.
“Is that – did you?” He stammered. Remus nodded. Sirius moved to his feet, crossing to the tree in a matter of seconds. He looked over each ornament, all shining examples of Gryffindor pride, eyeing each one affectionately. He stopped when he reached one that was an intricate golden frame, with the word “love” inscribed simply across it. Inside was the picture of the two of them, kissing and grinned like fools. Sirius face moved to match the picture, and he beamed up at Remus.
“You… this is… for me?” Tears began sliding down his face, reflecting the tree’s soft, magical glow.
Remus smiled. “Lily helped. That’s why I couldn’t--”
He didn’t finish his sentence. Sirius’s mouth covered his, tear-covered cheeks meeting with his own burning pink ones. He smiled into the kiss, sighing as Sirius clung to him. The tightness in his chest burst, and something amazingly like relief washed over him.
“This is wonderful, Remus! The colors, the decorations, I can’t believe someone would do this for me!” He paused again, looking down at the tree, then back at Remus. “I’ve been… I don’t know how to… I--”
It was Remus that interrupted this time. He kissed Sirius on the side of the mouth, pulling him into a hug and smiling.
“Me too, Padfoot. Me too.”
---
Author:
quartetshipWritten for:
sleeper6Rating: G
Prompt:
1. Pillow talk between the boys
2. R/S trying to express "I love you" without saying the actual words
3. Any moment during winter
Summary: "His family just doesn't do that sort of thing..."
Any other notes, warnings, etc.: Beta'd by the lovely
travelin_pants! sleeper6, I hope this is something similar to what you wanted! I tried to use all three prompts - hope you like it! Happy Holidays!---
“Please remind me why we’re doing this?”
Remus laughed at the sound of heavy sighs trailing behind him. Mostly because, for once in his life, they weren’t being made by a fellow Marauder.
“I told you – he’s never had a Christmas tree of his own.” Remus said. “His family just doesn’t do that sort of thing.”
Lily Evans huffed shortly. “If you can call that mess a family.” Remus turned back to her and laughed.
“Was that compassion I heard in your voice? Honestly, Lily, you’re slipping…”
She tugged the heavy basket that she carried more securely into her arms and rolled her eyes.
“Well you seem awfully fond of him, so I guess I’m just trying to be a good friend.” She winked, brushing snow from her hair and face.
He turned away, hiding the blush adding to his already frost-bitten cheeks. “Yeah” he laughed quietly. “Fond.”
They walked in relative silence the rest of the way, trekking from Hogsmeade back to the castle through chilly wind and flying snow.
~*~
They returned to the common room, melting snow still clinging to their skin. Remus helped Lily hide their supplies, then peeked cautiously into the dormitory. The complete and total lack of Marauderly presence was startling – the only sign of previous activity was a crumpled note laid on his neatly made bed.
Moony,
Gone to manage some mischief without you, seeing as you’ve disappeared. Might have been nice to have known where you were flying off to…
See you later tonight.
-Padfoot
Remus looked at the note. Something had been written and erased, right above Sirius’s signature. He sighed and folded the note into his robe pocket. He knew Sirius wasn’t pleased; but if he’d have only seen himself, wrapped warmly in his blankets, breathing softly and smiling in his dreams – Remus couldn’t help but smile at the thought – then he would have understood.
He swallowed – there was that tightness again; that same feeling that had been pulling at his chest for weeks now when he thought of Sirius – and fought to keep his thoughts clear. He moved down the winding staircase to find Lily waiting impatiently in the common room. She raised a questioning eyebrow upon seeing him return.
“All clear” he breathed, moving past her to where they’d hid the decorations.
“Took you a while…” she ventured, eyeing him even as she helped gather tinsel and wire.
“Sorry.” He offered. ‘Just – thinking.” Whatever she may have been wondering, she simply shrugged and accepted his reply. “Let’s get this stuff upstairs” he said quickly, hoping to change the subject. She nodded and followed, and he felt relief breeze over him like the chilly December wind.
~*~
“I think it will look best here.” Lily supplied, setting the small tree in a barren nook there in the dormitory.
Remus followed her voice and nodded when he saw the tree. “That’s perfect. It’s right across from his bed.” He smiled and began unpacking the boxes Lily had carried in.
Lily looked out the window. “Look how late it’s getting…” she pointed outside – the early winter evening was fast approaching – and frowned. “How on earth do you propose we get all of this attached before they get back?” She looked over the decorations; several dozen ornaments and a few strings of tinsel and garland glimmered back up at her, all in glistening shades of red and gold.
“Easy.” Remus said simply. “I’m more concerned about finishing some of these ornaments.” He picked up several and handed them to her. They were picture frame ornaments, with a sad lack of pictures. She smiled up at him.
“I can handle these, if you can work on getting the rest of it together.” He reached under his bed and slid out a shoebox, scooting it gingerly across the floor to her.
“They’re all in there.” He said quietly. She removed the lid and flipped through the pictures, smiling and even laughing aloud at some of the scenes she found. When her face softened and returned to his, he felt his face surge with heat.
“This one’s my favorite” she said softly, holding the picture up. It was a shot of him and Sirius, only weeks before, Sirius kissing his cheek, and both of them grinning madly. He felt the nagging tightness return as he looked at it.
“Yeah…” was all he could manage. He returned to sorting through the ornaments and heard Lily laugh softly, knowingly.
~*~
When Lily had finished framing all the pictures she found in their new decorative homes, she moved to sit next to Remus beside the small tree.
“You haven’t kept your end of the bargain, Mr. Lupin!” she teased, looking at the bare branches. “I thought we were going to decorate this thing…”
“We are” he smiled. He drew out his wand and proudly pronounced an incantation he’s learned years before, and decorations went flying across the room. Lily shrieked and ducked, peeking back at him when the sounds of chaos had stopped. Beside him stood a perfectly trimmed tree.
“How did you do that?” she gasped, impressed. She looked at it; every inch was intricately decorated, and as far as she knew, it had only taken a moment.
“Spell my mum always used.” He laughed at her stunned face. “Always got that reaction from my dad, too!”
“Well, it’s very impressive.” She breathed, handling an ornament gently. “My husband will have to know how to do that.” She winked and Remus grinned in response.
“I’m sure I can teach James how to--”
“Don’t even kid like that!” she laughed, shoving him down. They spent several more minutes teasing each other before settling on Remus’s bed to admire their work.
“He’ll really appreciate it, you know.” Lily said finally.
Remus sighed. “I hope so. I don’t think he’s too thrilled with me right now, skipping out on him today.”
“Well you know he won’t say anything in front of James and Peter, so that at least buys you that much time.”
He sighed. He never really complained about James and Peter’s obliviousness; it made things easier. But sometimes, when he was talking to Lily, and basking in the feeling of a friend who knew, it saddened him. “Yeah” he said finally. “That’s true.”
Lily patted his shoulder gently. “Besides, no matter how he feels now, when he sees this” – she pointed to the tree – “he’ll forget all about it. It really shows how much you care, Remus, how much you--”
“Yeah” he said again, very loudly this time. She knit her eyebrows together in confusion, but he simply trailed off. He didn’t want to hear that word, to deal with it. He realized as he sat there, eyeing Sirius’s impending surprise, that he was still frightened of it. It was that fear, he reason, that tightened his chest, quickened his breathing, and dizzied his thoughts whenever Sirius was near.
“Speaking of Sirius” – Remus said suddenly, realizing what time it was – “I need to get this hidden.” He motioned to the tree and Lily turned with a jerk, a bewildered look on her face.
“How in the name of Merlin are you going to hide a Christmas tree?” She looked at him with more confusion than he’d ever seen her show and he couldn’t help but laugh.
“Let me worry about that.” He said, patting her on the shoulder as they go to their feet. “You just worry about looking innocent and nonchalant the rest of the evening.”
She hesitated for a moment, then turned to leave. “I’ll never understand you, Remus.” He caught her by her wrist and turned her around, hugging her tightly before she left.
“Maybe not” he laughed. “But thank you, just the same.”
She smiled brightly, kissed him on the cheek and wished him good luck before gathering what few pieces of incriminating evidence they’d left and leaving quietly.
Remus watched her go with a sigh before moving to the drawer where James kept the invisibility cloak tucked away. He wondered at the fact that they’d departed without it as the nearly-liquid fabric poured over his hands, then finally over the tree.
He stood back and inspected it.
He saw nothing.
Nothing at all.
Perfect.
~*~
It was nearly another hour before the others got back. Remus was curled up in his bed, flipping through the remnants of the box when he heard them thundering up the dormitory steps. When they entered, James spotted him immediately, dashed across the room and flopped down onto his bed with him. Remus was thrown in the air and landed back on James with a tremendous “oof!”
“Barking at me, Moony?” James laughed, nudging him in the arm. Remus huffed and sat back up, straightening his now disaster-stricken clothes.
“We’re gonna swing by the kitchens” Peter said tentatively. “You in?”
Remus moved from his bed, tucking the box away as he did. “Well, I…” he hesitated as his eyes met Sirius’s. The other boy stood in the doorway, not nearly as enthusiastic as the others, a strange expression moving across his features. Remus frowned.
“Well, Moony? Are you coming?” Remus hadn’t noticed James move, but he was already at the door.
“It is the least you could do, after avoiding us all bloody day…” Peter was joking, but the words cut into Remus. He sighed and nodded, following them out the door. Sirius didn’t move for a moment, prompting a quick, quizzical glance from both James and Peter. When Remus reached the door he finally moved, walking beside Remus silently. Remus caught his glance – complex and unreadable – and had to pull his eyes away. The tight feeling in his chest and the heat in his face were too much.
They walked to the kitchens quietly, James and Peter still blissfully existing in the world they’d undoubtedly been in all day. Remus felt awful – he knew he was the reason Sirius had been pulled out of that world, and he wished he could return them both without having to actually talk about it. But he knew the talking would come. Thankfully they had dinner and the other Marauders’ presences to preoccupy them.
~*~
Over dinner they regaled him with stories of their day – sneaking through the school’s secret passage ways, too burdened by coats and scarves to even bring the cloak, mapping new places and things for the map. He smiled genuinely; he was glad to hear they had fun. Every story involved Sirius, though he rarely spoke himself. Halfway through their meal, he excused himself, muttering something about not feeling well, and disappeared. James and Peter continued their stories excitedly, but Remus didn’t hear another word.
After they’d consumed all but the crumbs the house elves liked to keep for themselves, the boys made their leaved and James piped up with another idea.
“I’m going to use that new passage we found today and put these” – he held up an impressive bag of dungbombs – “in the hall outside the Slytherin common room. Anyone in?”
Peter stifled his laughter and shook his head, and Remus nearly did the same, more out of habit than anything, until he remembered Sirius’s solemn face from earlier.
“I think I’ll sit this one out, lads. I’m, er, not feeling well either. Best go back to the dormitory.”
James clapped him gently on the back. “Sorry to hear that Moony. You’ll be missing a lot of fun…”
“Eh, let him go.” Peter chided. “He must have caught whatever’s bothering Padfoot.”
“Must have.” Remus sighed under his breath. And with that they made their goodbyes, and Remus headed back to the dormitory.
~*~
When he returned he found nothing changed, save for a sizeable lump in his bed. Before he could inquire, the lump shifted and spoke.
“Where were you all day?”
Remus felt strange. Normally he would have quipped back that he was out trying to avoid being expelled, unlike Sirius himself. This time though, there was a strange sadness in Sirius’s voice that caught him off guard.
“With Lily” he said honestly. He moved toward his bed, sitting on the corner. Sirius pulled the blankets over himself more tightly.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving? Or where you were going?” Sirius was speaking quietly, but it may as well have been screaming. “I had no idea where you were, all day. I woke up and you were gone.”
Remus fumbled with his words, twiddling his thumbs uselessly as he tried to speak. “I… didn’t want to wake you.”
Sirius went completely still for a moment. “That’s fine Moony.” He sighed finally, real resignation in his voice. “It’s just – it’s three days til Christmas you know?”
Remus nodded. He wasn’t sure what that had to do with anything, but he couldn’t help but see any logic Sirius put in front of him.
“And James and Peter and Evans and everyone… they’re going home soon. They’ll get to spend time with the people they…” – he hesitated – “love.”
His voice was faltering, his throat tight and uncomfortable. “Uh-huh” was all Remus could manage as he listened.
“And I guess, I’m upset because… I don’t get that later.”
Remus’s heart ached for Sirius. He was constantly reminded that the other boy had no real family to speak of, and always worried about him at the holidays.
“So I felt like I… missed a chance today.” The last part of the sentence was almost silent, barely spoken, and after he said it Sirius hid his face in the pillow beneath him.
They sat, still and quiet for several long minutes. Remus felt tears building behind his eyes, but couldn’t bring himself to speak. Finally, Sirius sat up, face speckled with red, and Remus knew he’d been crying too.
“I probably don’t make any sense, do I? he sniffed. Remus smiled softly in return.
“Maybe not to everyone.” He whispered. “But you do to me. I thought we’d established that.”
Sirius smiled, just for a moment, then returned to his spot lying in the bed. “I’m not mad Moony. I just…” he paused, looking for the right words. “I don’t know how to say it.” Sirius said finally.
“I think I do.” Remus smiled, remembering his surprise. He moved off the bed, Sirius’s eyes on him the whole time. He moved to the corner to stoop in front of the invisible tree, lifting its camouflage. As the tree appeared, so did a smile on Sirius’s tired face.
“Is that – did you?” He stammered. Remus nodded. Sirius moved to his feet, crossing to the tree in a matter of seconds. He looked over each ornament, all shining examples of Gryffindor pride, eyeing each one affectionately. He stopped when he reached one that was an intricate golden frame, with the word “love” inscribed simply across it. Inside was the picture of the two of them, kissing and grinned like fools. Sirius face moved to match the picture, and he beamed up at Remus.
“You… this is… for me?” Tears began sliding down his face, reflecting the tree’s soft, magical glow.
Remus smiled. “Lily helped. That’s why I couldn’t--”
He didn’t finish his sentence. Sirius’s mouth covered his, tear-covered cheeks meeting with his own burning pink ones. He smiled into the kiss, sighing as Sirius clung to him. The tightness in his chest burst, and something amazingly like relief washed over him.
“This is wonderful, Remus! The colors, the decorations, I can’t believe someone would do this for me!” He paused again, looking down at the tree, then back at Remus. “I’ve been… I don’t know how to… I--”
It was Remus that interrupted this time. He kissed Sirius on the side of the mouth, pulling him into a hug and smiling.
“Me too, Padfoot. Me too.”
---
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 10:18 am (UTC)Very very lovely story! :D
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 04:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 10:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 04:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 04:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 04:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 04:38 pm (UTC)I really liked this bit: They walked to the kitchens quietly, James and Peter still blissfully existing in the world they’d undoubtedly been in all day. Remus felt awful – he knew he was the reason Sirius had been pulled out of that world, and he wished he could return them both without having to actually talk about it. But he knew the talking would come.
Very sweet! And you did such a nice job with Remus' worry/hesitation at the beginning!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 04:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 05:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 05:38 pm (UTC)I really loved Remus and Lily's relationship here too!
xxx
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 05:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 05:39 pm (UTC)I love an insecure Sirius so much, and this one was just perfect.
I liked the Remus/Lily interaction, too.
Lovely fic.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 05:54 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading and commenting, and I'm super-glad you liked :)
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 07:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 07:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 08:43 pm (UTC)“I probably don’t make any sense, do I?"
“Maybe not to everyone.” He whispered. “But you do to me. I thought we’d established that.” Yes! I like that they know each other that well. *melts*
Thank you again! Happy holidays! *saves to memories*
no subject
Date: 2008-12-21 09:42 pm (UTC)I tried to incorporate all the things you asked for - dunno how I did with that, but I'm really glad you liked it either way! :)And memories? Yay!
Happy Holidays in return, and thanks for the lovely comment! :)
no subject
Date: 2008-12-22 12:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-22 06:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-22 05:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-22 06:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-22 11:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-23 02:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-24 07:08 pm (UTC)Thanks so much for reading and for the lovely comment -really brightens my day!
you're ever so welcome for the card - I'm glad to hear it made it to you! :)
Lots of holiday love in return! <3
no subject
Date: 2008-12-24 11:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-25 03:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-29 07:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-29 08:32 pm (UTC)