Chapter Text
Regulus hated the sterile smell of hospital rooms. When he was a child and started visiting his father at St. Mungo's, the first impression he got was the smell. He didn't fixate on the spells going around his bed-ridden father or the weird colored potions next to his bed, no matter how interesting they seem. Although he loved potions way too much, the only thing he concentrated on was the smell.
He also remembered the day his father died when he was still at Hogwarts. The way Sirius held his hand while waiting for their Portkey to St. Mungos. The hospital room smelled like antiseptic, cleaning products, and too much alcohol. He supposed the sterile smell meant to give you a safe sensation of hygienics and feeling clean, but he only remembered the dizziness it caused him. The need to throw up. It was way too clean for a room hosting a dead body.
He got used to it, though. After all, when he started transitioning, he spent a lot of his time in St. Mungos. Still, he never shook the weird feeling the smell caused on him.
That was until now. St. Mungo’s room in the newborn ward smelled strongly of lavender and baby powder. Also, there weren't any white lights shining through the ceiling, just a carefully dimmed yellow lamp next to him. It was, so far, the best hospital room he had ever been in.
It didn't hurt as well that, resting on his chest, was the reason of this visit.
After a gruesome labor, baby Harry was deeply asleep, unbothered by the turmoil he caused with his arrival. He was covered in the thickest blanket Uncle Moony could find before James told everyone it was time to leave Regulus and Harry alone to let them rest.
Regulus didn't mind the company. Honestly? He was having a good time with his brother and please-Sirius-just-propose-already future brother-in-law. That was, of course, after Sirius kept himself together and stopped crying.
“HE'S SO PRECIOUS” Sirius sobbed, holding baby Harry against his chest protectively “Oh, Little sprong. Not one minute in, and you are already my favorite nephew. I love you so much”
“He's your only nephew” replied Regulus tiredly from his spot on the bed.
“That he is unless Peter decides to surprise us all with a secret relationship and a baby-on-the-way announcement” snickered James while organizing the pillows on the bed. He briefly stopped to give Regulus a small kiss on his temple, passing his hand through his curls in a comforting manner. “Are you tired, love?”
Tired was an understanding. Regulus still felt a strong ghost of pain going through his body. Even the toes in his feet were hurting, he was sure of it. Giving birth was, so far, one of the worst experiences of his life. If you asked him, the whole experience was very romanticized. The way his body painfully tensed and clenched and, as time passes, the little relief you get between contractions gets briefer and briefer until a big wave of pain crashes in you and stays with every push. And this goes on for hours and hours, even after the baby is born. Regulus was sure that he was never going to feel something as painful as childbirth in his life.
So yeah, Regulus was a little exhausted and wanted nothing more than to curl in the uncomfortable hospital bed and sleep for three days straight. But looking at how Sirius was cooing Harry, caressing his cheek gently and with eyes shining brighter than stars, Regulus felt like he wasn't ready to go to bed yet.
As soon as Harry got cleaned and bundled up, Regulus was adamant about getting his brother and Remus in his room and introducing them to the baby. It was very early in the morning or very late at night, Regulus wasn't sure. He remembered having brunch with Remus in a small new cafe in Diagon Alley and complaining about the changes in the new Hogwarts curriculum when he heard a quiet plosh-like sound. The next thing he knew his water broke, and a very panicked Remus was taking him to St. Mungos, no questions asked. It was almost a lifetime ago. But it didn't matter what time it was. The only thing Regulus was confident of was that Sirius and Remus were still waiting for them in the waiting room, so he made James go there and bring those two back for an introduction. And here they were now, with Sirius being an extremely doting uncle to his one-hour-old nephew, and Remus, as resourceful as ever, was probably making a mental to-do list and already crossing out several tasks.
“We can bring you some food later if you're not asleep,” Remus said, probing Regulus right. As if he didn't know him “I'll ask your nurse what are you allowed to eat and leave it here”
“Oh, Remus, thank you, thank you. I know we're best friends and all that but are you sure you don't want to step up already and replace Sirius with being my older brother?”
“Oi, you little shit. Stop asking Moony that already” answered Sirius instead, while Remus laughed under his breath “No way I'm relinquishing my rights as an uncle this soon”
“No bad words around my baby!” half yelled, half-whispered James.
Regulus was contented right now. He had everything he wanted and more. His brother was holding his baby, and his best friend was looking at them as if there was no better sight in the whole world. And he was being pampered by one James Potter, whose eyes were watery with unleashed tears under his glasses.
Gathering all the strength he could, Regulus sat up on his bed and tried to get closer to James, who quickly noticed him. He wrapped him in his arms, and Regulus allowed the weight of his body to fall against James' chest. Regulus closed his eyes, happy and James started softly rocking him, almost unconsciously.
“We can continue this joyful meeting later on, but both of my boys need a good night of sleep right now,” James said “How does a very late breakfast sound, if Regulus is up to it?”
“It'll probably be more of a very early dinner” Regulus pointed out, eyes on the verge of closing out “I'm thinking in sleeping twelve hours and after a shower, I might be amenable on guests”
Except if Remus comes through with his promise and brings food in a couple of hours. Then Regulus will have no problems waking up a little early. He was in dire need of some nourishment that wasn't awful hospital food. The green soup he had after just giving birth? Disgusting. Even Skele-Gro potion tastes better.
“It's a plan then” agreed on Sirius. He held Harry closer and after giving him a small kiss on the forehead, he put him back in Regulus' waiting arms. Then, very quietly, whispered “I didn't tell you yet kid, but I'm very proud of you. Little sprong might look like a Potter through and through, but he has a lot on Black in him as well”
“The good parts, I presume?”
“The best parts. After all, he's your son" Sirius said "He's going to be the best of us”
Regulus felt his throat tighten. During the whole day, he cried a lot. So many tears of pain and happiness, even anxiety-tears were spilled early on. He was completely sure he hadn't had any more tears remaining, but he was proven wrong.
“Goddamit Sirius, pass me a tissue” Regulus passed Harry onto James' arms and blew his nose in Sirius' tissue “Don't you have any manners? Very rude of you, making me cry like this”
Sirius just kissed his forehead, like he had done to Harry just a moment before, and hugged him, hiding his brother's head in the creek of his neck.
“I love you Reggie” he whispered “Thank you so much for bringing Harry into our lives”
A muffled love you too later, Regulus rested against his uncomfortable pillows and waited on Remus. He, at least, had the decency of not making him cry again. With the promise of food and more gifts for Harry, they both left them alone.
He was more than ready to call it a night and fall asleep, but he wanted to make sure Harry was alright. Under his tiny hat and wearing the cutest little onesie, Harry slept. His small patch of dark hair already told Regulus that baby Harry has the same unruly hair as James. Oh, thank Merlin. He was more than ready to style curls for the next couple of years, or as long as Harry let him.
“Such a good baby already, sleeping through the night as he should” both James and Regulus were looking down on Harry, who now was making little fists while sleeping.
“Well, let's see how long that lasts” Regulus felt like he might cry again, so he made a dry remark instead. “Right now, I'm going to take advantage of this”
James left a heartfelt laugh and took Harry back in his arms. After assuring himself that he was still sleeping, he decided it was safe enough to put him back in his bassinet.
“I'm going to ask the healers for your discharge,” James said “Then maybe we can sleep tonight at home. I hate to see you so uncomfortable in that bed, you deserve the best and the best only”
Regulus didn't have it in himself to fight him on that, so he silently agreed. He was already missing their big bed, with way too many pillows and those weighted blankets that made him feel as if he was resting on a cloud. Also, he was very much looking forward to bringing Harry home. To introduce them to his grandparents and their friends, to spend all those promised sleepless nights in his nursery, and to experience all of his newborn milestones.
“James?” Regulus quietly called.
“Yes, love? Do you need anything?”
“A kiss before you go?” He was allowed all the sappiness in the world. After all, his son was born today.
Feeling James' lips against his was a euphoric feeling Regulus was sure he was never going to be tired of. From the vibrant kisses that led to, well, Harry being here to those small pecks of reassurance, Regulus wanted nothing more than to savor each and every single one of them. To keep all of those kisses safe and sound at the bottom of his heart.
With all those pleasant sensations overwhelming all the previous pain, Regulus fell deeply asleep.