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Remus gets comfortable on his seat next to the window in the kitchen. He’d put a pillow and blanket in the nook on the windowsill for the twice a week calls he would entertain from Lily since winter holidays began.
He wasn’t expecting the phone to ring tonight. Not that it would be abnormal for Lily to call at this hour, but it was Christmas Eve after all. Remus was expecting her family would want her to spend time with them. He knew Lily mentioned something about a late night church service of some sort that her family attended annually, but maybe she’d decided to skip out on it?
He picks up the phone with a smirk on his face, “So did you play sick, Lils or dead?”
He hears a relieved sigh on the other end and pauses before the other person replies, “Not Evans, Moons.”
Remus blinks in surprise, his heart stuttering in his chest as he whispers hopefully into the phone. “Padfoot?”
“Hi baby,” Sirius says back, soft as Remus was. His voice feels like a gentle caress across the wire and Remus sighs softly.
“How are you calling me?” Remus asks in disbelief. Sirius was notoriously bad at most things involving muggle technology. He once accidentally set Mary’s phone on fire when it started ringing because he thought someone hexed it.
She was less than pleased.
“You see Prongs was determined to call Lily to wish her a happy holiday, but the Potters don’t have a muggle phone, so I apparated us to London. Told me that through this I could hear your voice… Impressed us wizards haven’t invented something similar.”
“There is a floo.”
“True, but it’s not the same and you know it.”
Remus hums in acknowledgement. “It does have a certain charm I suppose…How’d you get my number?” Remus asks, a mix of impressed and surprised.
“James asked Lily. Surprised he got through to her. Thought she’d hang up the minute she heard his voice.”
“Told you she was warming up to him...So she did skip out after all. Doesn’t surprise me. She’s been having a rough holiday.”
“Well, I do hope James made it brighter.”
“I’m sure he did. He has that effect, you know.”
Sirius hums back in response before he takes a deep breath. “Moony?”
“Yes, baby?” Remus replies softly.
“I… I have something I want to tell you.”
Remus smiles as he doodles a star on the condensation on the glass window. He loved this side of Sirius. The soft, gentle and sweet part of Sirius that was for his eyes only. He used to be terrified when Sirius said things like that, but he’d started to become more comfortable with his affection in the past few months. If what his eyes told him when he looked at him was true, than Remus had nothing to worry about.
“Alright. What is it?”
Sirius takes another deep breath and Remus feels worry tug at his stomach.
“Baby are you alright?”
“I love you.”
Remus blinks in surprise before his face splits into a wide grin.
“I-I wanted to tell it to your face, but I really can’t keep it in anymore - and then Prongs came up with this idea and I thought-you don’t need to say it back and-”
“I love you too, baby,” Remus replies, feeling as if Sirius’s words had poked a hole in his heart and he was bleeding complete and utter adoration. “God, I love you so incredibly much.”
“You do?” Sirius asks, sounding almost surprised.
“Of course I do. I have for years, Sirius.”
He hears a small whine over the line and his heart clenches. “Sorry,” Sirius says softly and Remus hears a small sniffle over the other end. “I… I know that it’s reasonable to have expected you to say it back, but it’s different to hearing it.”
“Oh my love,” Remus says softly. “I wish I could hold you.”
“Don’t tempt me,” Sirius sniffles again. “I will apparate to Wales.”
“But then you’ll be abandoning James with no way to get home.”
“He can take the knight bus,” Sirius replies and Remus laughs softly.
“Baby…”
“I know, but let me dream okay. I miss my beautiful boyfriend.”
Remus blushes at that and chuckles softly, twirling the chord of the phone around his finger. “Flirt.”
“You love it.”
“I do,” Remus admits. “Love you too.”
He hears Sirius’s breath hitch. “Bloody hell, I’m not going to get used to you saying that, am I?”
“I’ll happily work on getting you adjusted,” Remus replies, circling his finger in the phone cord.
“And I’m the flirt?” Sirius asks and Remus laughs.
“Touché.” There’s quiet on the other end of the line before Remus breaks it again. “How’s your holiday been, my love?”
“Great, honestly. I… It’s a little strange I will admit. I feel like I’m being pampered or something, but I know that this is how other families treat each other and…” he sighs. “I’m still adjusting right now - and they’ve been so patient with me…”
“It’s alright, love. I’m sure they understand. You’ve been living with those people for years. It’s going to take time to work through all the stuff they put you through. It’s alright. You’re okay.”
“I miss you,” Sirius whispers and Remus feels another tug in his chest. “All this stuff feels easier when you’re there.”
“I miss you too, baby. But I’ll see you for New Years at the Potters, remember? I’ll hold you then.”
“I do… but that’s not for another week...”
“Impatient.”
“Have I ever been patient, love?” Sirius retorts and Remus smiles.
“Fair enough…” He sighs softly. “I hate to ask this, but I’m sure you’re freezing. Those London phone booths aren’t very isolated, are they?”
“No they’re not,” Sirius admits with a laugh.
“You should get home, Padfoot. As much as I want to talk to you forever, I don’t want my boyfriend to freeze into an icicle.”
“I know… promise you’ll write? I miss you so much.”
“I miss you too, baby - and I promise.”
“Alright…” Sirius whispers. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Sirius. Get home safe, alright?”
“I will. Goodnight, Remus.”
“Goodnight, Sirius. Love you.”
“Love you more.”
With that the line ends, cutting off the protests that Remus would make to that statement. He chuckles to himself as he hangs up the phone. God, how he did love him.
He slowly walks back into the living room where his mother is still wrapping presents.
“Need some help?” Remus asks, sitting down next to him. His mom shoos him off, but pauses looking up.
“Have a nice phone call?” She asks, a knowing sound in her voice. Remus shrugs, but smiles softly.
“Yeah…” He admits.
“I can tell. You’re glowing, cariad.”
Remus blushes and nods. “Sirius called tonight.” He takes a seat next to her and begins pulling at some tape.
“Oh?” She asks, sounding excited. “I thought he wasn’t good with normal people stuff.”
Remus laughs and nods. “He’s not. James helped him.”
“Ah,” she replies and Remus hears another rip of wrapping paper. Remus looks straight ahead as he hands her some more tape.
“He told me he loves me tonight.”
He hears her pause in her wrapping.
“Oh Remus, that’s wonderful.” She says it in a soft manner like she already knows what Remus is thinking. He closes his eyes, willing the tears not to fall.
“I… I never thought that… I mean we’ve been dating for months, but…”
“It’s different to hear it.” She puts a hand on his shoulder.
“I never thought… with the wolf that someone would ever… that they could ever…”
“Oh sweetie, come here.” She pulls him into her arms and Remus can’t help but let a few tears fall.
“He loves me…” Remus whispers softly, letting it sink in.
“I always thought he was a smart boy.”
Remus laughs at that. “Not always.”
She shakes her head with a small laugh. They stay there for a moment before she speaks. “I couldn’t ask for someone more wonderful to love my boy.”
This cracks him again and he starts to cry. “Damnit,” he mutters and his mother laughs. He smiles into her shoulder, knowing she’s absolutely right. He couldn’t ask for anyone to love him better than Sirius Black.
***
It’s late Christmas day when there’s a knock on the door of the Lupin cottage. Remus pokes his head up from the new muggle book his mother got him and checks the time. It was around ten at night.
His brows furrow in confusion, wondering who could be visiting this hour. All his extended family had left a few hours prior. He carefully pads his way to the front door and cracks it open. His eyes widen in surprise as he opens it all the way.
“Padfoot?” He asks, blinking his eyes, not believing the sight before him.
“Wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas in person.” Sirius grins, holding up a few presents.
“Oh baby…” Remus sighs, sure he looks as lovesick as he feels. “Come in, you must be freezing.”
“I’m fine,” Sirius protests. This is immediately undermined as he shivers a little. Remus shakes his head and pulls him inside.
“Sofa,” he demands and quickly rushes into the kitchen to get him some hot chocolate. When he comes out he sees Sirius sitting there, looking a bit petulant at being told to wait.
“Here.” Remus hands it to him. Sirius takes a sip and sighs softly.
“Thank you.” He leans his head against Remus’s shoulder, placing down the mug on the table. Remus grabs a blanket and pulls it over them both. He holds Sirius close, rubbing slow circles on his side.
Sirius hums with a small smile. “I’ve forgiven you for abandoning me.”
“Yeah?” Remus asks, amusement in his tone.
Sirius nods. “This is really nice.”
Remus hums in agreement and gently tilts Sirius’s face up to look at him.
“I love you,” Remus says softly. He watches Sirius’s eyes soften even further. They mist up slightly as Sirius smiles.
“I love you too, Remus.”
Sirius leans up to kiss him and Remus gently kisses back, sinking into the feeling of his boyfriend here, in his arms, telling him that he loves him.
Sirius rests their foreheads together when they pull away and sighs. “I’ve never… I’ve never felt like this before.”
Remus smiles, knowing they’re both blushing more than they’d like to admit. “I understand… I never thought…” Remus lets his voice trail off.
“Never thought what?” Sirius asks.
“Nothing.”
“Moony,” Sirius whines and he sighs, knowing he’ll get lectured for this.
He closes his eyes and braces himself before admitting softly, “I didn’t think I would ever be loved due to my lycanthropy. Not even starting on someone as utterly incredible as you. I wasn’t sure it would be possible for someone to love me in that way.”
“Oh Remus,” Sirius whispers, fingers lightly threading through his curls. “I love you so much sometimes I feel like I’m going to burst with all this affection bubbled up inside me.” Remus slowly opens his eyes and Sirius smiles. “I want to love you so much.” Sirius brings his hand down to cup one of his cheeks. “You’re so beautiful, Moons and you’re… well, you’re everything to me. You’re my world. I want to give you all of me, every day, for as long as you’ll tolerate it.”
“Oh baby, your love is never something I’ll only tolerate.” Remus kisses him again gently. “Your love should be cherished, and appreciated. I’ll take everything you give me, even though I’m not always so sure I deserve it.”
“I love you so much,” Sirius clings onto him tighter. “This holiday has been lovely, except for the part where I wasn’t sharing it with you. Nothing feels right if you’re not there. You’ve turned my world upside down, Remus, and now whenever you’re not in my presence something within me feels… almost unnatural.”
“It’s the same for me, baby,” Remus kisses his temple. “You’ve treated me so well. I can’t help but long for you to be here whenever you’re gone. All I find myself longing for is you and when I’ll see you again.” Remus nuzzles him. “And don’t get me started on the when can I touch you part, because I’m convinced I’m complete when you’re in my arms and I get to hold you like no one else does. I may not be the most deserving of it, but I will appreciate every drop of your love and affection.”
“Darling, there’s no one else on earth that I’d rather love than you. You’re what I want. You’re the only one I want.” Sirius clings onto him tighter. “Sometimes I feel border-line obsessed with you.”
“Oh love, you have no idea.” Remus lifts Sirius’s shirt up slightly and Sirius hums his consent. Remus runs one of his hands up and down Sirius’s back.
“How was your Christmas?” Sirius asks softly, snuggling closer.
“Nice.” Remus presses a soft kiss to Sirius’s forehead, receiving a small smile in response. “I may have been thinking about you the whole day.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah… Can you blame me? My boyfriend told me he loves me. That’s not something that leaves your mind.”
Sirius looks up at him, love in his eyes. “I love you so much.”
Remus feels his heart flutter in his chest. “I love you too.” Sirius leans forward and kisses him.
“How was Christmas with Effie and Monty,” Remus asks in between kisses.
“Fun. I got some new quidditch gear, my old ones were breaking a little. A few more healing spell books. Dad told me not to talk too much about that, since it is a bit more advanced than a typical seventh year’s curriculum, but he knows how much I care about you.”
“And how smart you are,” Remus reminds him.
Sirius blushes and presses another soft kiss to his lips. “I brought you something.”
“Yeah?”
“Mhmm.” Sirius slowly sits up and grabs one of them off the table. “I’m sure you can guess what most of them are, but…” Sirius passes him the smallest one. “I thought I’d start with this.”
Remus nods and slowly opens the present, neatly wrapped. “Oh Sirius… baby.” Remus pulls out a small gold star necklace and smiles to himself.
“I have a matching one…” Sirius digs underneath his shirt and pulls out a small necklace with a moon on it. Remus smiles so wide he swears the muscles in his face start to hurt. “You see, it’s supposed to fall on your chest over your heart so no matter how far we are…”
Remus pulls Sirius into his lap and kisses him hard. Sirius squeaks, before kissing back as intensely. Remus grabs his hips and Sirius gasps into his mouth.
“Stay tonight,” Remus whispers when they part. “Please.”
“Are you sure? I can go home and…”
“I want you to stay, baby.” Remus pulls him even closer. “Mum and Dad won’t mind. Stay with me.” Remus reaches out and cups his cheek with one hand. With his other, he puts his hand on his chest and looks up into his eyes. “I’ll keep you safe tonight. I promise.” He sees the exact moment Sirius’s reluctance shatters in his eyes. He puts his hand over Remus’s and nods.
“Alright.”
Remus takes Sirius’s hand and leads him up the stairs. Sirius squeezes his hand on the way up and pauses.
Remus looks over his shoulder at him. “Alright, baby?”
Sirius nods and smiles slowly. “I love you.” Remus smiles as well and turns around to face him.
“I love you too, Sirius.” He kisses his hand before gently guiding Sirius up the stairs, with the notion they were stepping into a new chapter of their lives.