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“Please, Sirius. Don't make us go through this again.”
“You will survive, Prongs.”
“I actually think I might not. Why can't someone else do it? I heard Emmeline is decent.”
“They are abroad on my birthday.”
“I forgot. I could ask Lily, she would be happy to do it.”
“She wouldn't be happy hearing you suggest how the women should do all the baking.”
“I wasn't— Hell, I’ll do it if it comes down to it.”
“No, you are not.”
“So you are actually having Remus bake you your birthday cake?” Peter asks. “For all of your guests?”
“I couldn't say no.”
“Yes you could have!” James sighed. “Those cinnamon buns he made for us last time were disastrous!”
“Well … It was probably just a mistake”, Peter said. “He has been practicing. Hasn't he?”
“Yes.”
“So has he gotten better?”
Sirius grimaches. “Well …”
“Pads, you are not doing him any favors by lying!”
“Yeah, Padfoot. He’s Moony. He is not fragile.”
“What was I going to say then? Hey Moony, I know you love baking but— HI MOONS!”
“Oh, there you are!” Remus smiles at them where they are standing in the garden behind their house. “It's a bit chilly to sit outdoors, isn't it?”
“Uh, yeah we will be right in!” Sirius says and turns to the others with a sharp look. Not a word.
James sighed. “A marriage is built upon honesty.”
“And white lies”, Sirius adds.
“White like our corpses when your boyfriend has poisoned us.”
Peter snorts and Sirius smacks the back of James’ head. Then he enters the dining room where Remus is setting the table.
“Do you want me to have a look at the soup?” Remus asks.
“That’s alright love, it is already done. Thanks for setting the table.”
Remus shoves his hands in his pockets and smiles. He looks tired, exhausted, worn out, but happy. After five years of teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts he has been laid off because some parent on the school board found out about his furry little problem. Remus says it was bound to happen eventually, but Sirius has offered to seek out said parent and shove their prejudices where the sun doesn't shine.
Remus politely declined that offer.
And since, for the past few months, Remus had been unemployed, at home alone applying for jobs, while being targeted by bigoted idiots to the point that they had to protect their house from incoming owls because of the amount of howlers they were sent.
And so Sirius had encouraged him to take this free time he had at hand to try a new hobby, take his mind off things.
“I’m thirty seven.”
“So?”
“It’s too late to take on new hobbies.”
“That’s bollocks.”
“It’s pathetic. People will think I’m having a midlife crisis.”
“Only if you decide to suddenly travel India for six months, or change me out for a younger model—”
“Sirius—”
“And you and I both had our midlife crisis ten years ago so—”
“Thanks to you—”
“No one will judge you for trying a hand at knitting or baking or whatever.”
Today, they have invited their friends for dinner. No baking involved. Only a soup that is one of Sirius's specialties. Sirius is always in charge of the cooking. That has come naturally, since he loved to cook, and Remus is better at washing up afterwards. He is now glad that Remus had never tried to change their designated chores.
“This smells lovely, Padfoot”, Peter says, sitting down at the table.
“Yum, I could eat my weight in soup”, James says.
“There’s dessert too, if you’re still hungry after dinner”, Remus says.
“There is?” Sirius forces a smile.
“Yeah! I made chocolate chip cookies yesterday. Remember?”
Sirius nods. “Oh, right.”
How could he forget the brick-like, too bitter lumps that Remus had presented him just yesterday?
He can feel James’ eyes burn in his neck.
Baking.
Why hadn’t he said painting instead?
⭒☽🎂☾⭒
Two weeks later, Remus is standing in the kitchen with an apron on and his sleeves pushed up to his elbows.
It is Sirius’ birthday and they are expecting guests. Not many, which Sirius seemed a little relieved about. Under normal circumstances, their little family and friend group would be bigger, but Marlene and Dorcas are working, Harry is at school and Tonks, Emmeline and Teddy are abroad. Had it been Sirius’ fortieth birthday, he probably would have invited the Weasleys too, and Kingsley, and some other old friends from the war years. But this is only his thirty eight.
Remus pours the cream into a bowl and whistles while he waves his wand to make the whisk work it until it is fluffy. He cuts the layers of the sponge cake carefully with a knife, and then mumbles while he reads the recipe, following the rows of text with his index finger.
“Cream cheese … mix until smooth …” he searches the fridge for the package of cream cheese he knows he bought yesterday. Almost drops it on the floor and then opens the package and chunks it into the whipped cream to combine them into frosting. Then he squeezes some lemon juice into the bowl, and a little more, before waving his wand again to work the whisk.
Remus loves baking. It is soothing, and steals his full attention. While he bakes, his mind doesn't race to other things. Things like work, and his ruined teaching career, and reputation, and accidentally ending up in the middle of a debate about werewolves and their ability or inability to adapt to wizarding life…
Yeah, no. He is not thinking about that.
It will blow over, Sirius says.
Only it has been weeks and—
Baking. The only thing he needs to think about is baking.
He miscalculates how long it will take, and when the guests arrive he is still in the kitchen, flour up to his elbows and wearing his apron. He has made toffee biscuits, cinnamon buns and is almost done putting frosting on the cake.
Sirius greets the guest and leads them into the dining room. Remus waves at them from the kitchen doorway. It is Lily and James who arrive first.
“Hi Remus!” Lily hugs him tightly and kisses his cheek. “Alright?”
He gives her a half-hug back, with his hands hovering above her body.
“I’ll make a mess of your clothes.”
“James told me you’d be baking”, Lily says and smiles up at him.
“Yeah, I've been baking a lot lately.”
“I can’t wait to try it”, Lily pats his shoulder and walks into the dining room.
Soon after, the second couple arrives.
“Happy birthday Sirius!” Mary sings cheerfully from the livingroom where they have arrived with floo powder.
When their guests are seated, Remus brings out the birthday cake and a pink flowered serving tray with the cinnamon buns and the biscuits.
“This looks lovely, Remus!” Mary says as he sits down next to Sirius, who immediately reaches for his hand under the table. Remus brushes his thumb over the back of Sirius’ hand.
“Thanks”, Remus says and smiles at her.
“And thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday”, Sirius says and reaches for the cake.
“Oh, we’ve got to sing first!” James says.
So they all sing Happy Birthday while Sirius puts on a face like they don’t need to do that, but Remus knows he likes it.
Then it is finally time to eat, and Sirius reaches for the cake, Peter for the cinnamon rolls, and Remus reaches for the fruit bowl and grabs an apple.
When they all have filled their plate Mary looks at Remus.
“You're not having a bite, Remus?”
“No, I can't. Since I've stopped eating carbs and gluten I’ve found the recovery period after the transformation is much easier.”
“Wait, so you’re not even going to taste your own baking?” she asks and meets Sirius' eyes.
Remus can see Sirius shake his head.
“Uh, no, he never does…” Sirius says, still looking at Mary.
“It’s just not worth the decline in my health”, Remus says. “And I’ve felt so much better physically since I stopped eating desserts.”
“That’s great!” Lily smiles widely while biting down on a cinnamon bun.
“More cake for us”, James says and it sounds almost like a sigh.
Remus notices Sirius looking at his direction.
While Remus used to have a sweet tooth, weeks without baked goods, bread and pasta has made such an improvement on his health and werewolf transformations he feels more than content with fruits for his sweet cravings. The only thing he misses sometimes is chocolate, and he considers if he could start eating it again, just a few grams a week. He’s amazed he has lasted these last month of constant trials on his mental health without it.
He looks around the table. For now, he is content watching his friends indulge in his baking, and is happy to bring smiles upon their faces.
Peter gives him a tight lip smile. “Oh, Remus. This is, ah... This is … good”, he says and holds up the cinnamon roll. “Very filling, don’t know if I’ll be able to finish the whole thing.”
“You need to try the cake, Wormy”, James says and points at Peter with his dessert fork.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to.”
“You need to”, James insists.
They exchange a look and Remus bites back a proud smile.
“Mmm, these biscuits are … So yummy”, Mary says with her mouth full.
“They are, aren’t they?” Sirius nods and reaches for one even though he has one half eaten on his plate.
“So, um, how are you doing, Remus?” Lily asks. “With, well, everything.”
She gives Sirius a tentative look, which Remus finds a little annoying. He doesn’t need protection.
“I’m okay”, Remus answers. “Concidering the circumstances, I feel alright.”
The circumstances being that he doesn’t know if he will ever be able to get a job in the wizarding world again, despite the development of wolfsbane. He has been publicly outed as a werewolf, and anyone who follows the news knows who he is by now. The werewolf teacher who put innocent children at risk for five years.
It is really like they don’t know what wolfsbane does. He hasn’t been dangerous for years.
He has been applying for jobs, employment far below his skill level, at places where he could see himself working. Preferably as far away from other people as possible. He hasn’t gotten any answers yet.
So, yes, under the circumstances that his whole career and future life in the workfield has crumbled, he is doing fine.
At least he has baking to take his mind off things. He only feels sorry for Sirius who has to eat it all. Maybe he should try some other hobby too. One that doesn’t involve creating things he doesn’t consume himself.
“How does everyone like the cake? And does anyone want more tea?”
The guests all make humming noises, their mouth filled, plates stuffed.
“I’m really full already”, Peter says.
“You haven’t had a biscuit yet”, James says, pushing the plate towards him.
Peter gives him a tight lip smile and reaches for a biscuit.
“I’m full too, this was lovely”, Mary says, putting down her fork next to an abandoned half of her cake and some crumbles from a biscuit.
Sirius grabs Remus’ hand under the table again and squeezes it. Remus squeezes it back, happy to be surrounded by friends and putting a smile to their face. It really takes his mind off the stuff he doesn’t want to think about.
⭒☽🎂☾⭒
There is a swooping noise and a tumble from the living room. Sirius looks up in surprise.
All his guests are seated around the table, so…
“I’ll see who that is”, he says, but before he can stand up, the door has opened and he hears a familiar voice.
“Sirius?”
He stands up with a wide smile to greet his godson and his redhead girlfriend in the other room.
“Harry! Ginny! What a surprise”, he envelops the lanky teenager into a hug and ruffles his hair. “Aren’t you two supposed to be at school?”
“It’s Saturday.”
“Well yes, but still.”
“I just thought I would pop by to wish you a happy birthday.”
“You’re just here for the cake, huh?”
Harry gives him a fake innocent smile.
“Did you ask for permission to leave Hogwarts grounds?” James asks behind Sirius.
“Would it make you happier if we said no?” Ginny asks.
“Yes”, Sirius says at the same time as James says “No.”
“I asked Professor McGonagall", Harry said. “She gave us a few hours and permission to use her fireplace.”
“Tell her I said hi”, Sirius says, and steps aside to let James hug his son.
When James lets go, Harry makes a move to walk past him but Sirius grabs his arm.
“Just one thing…”
⭒☽🎂☾⭒
“Harry! Ginny!” Remus stands up to hug the teenagers who are both almost as tall as himself now.
“Hi Moony”, Harry sits down next to his mother. “Sirius told me you’ve done the baking?”
“I have”, Remus nods. “Sit, eat, and there’s enough for second rounds if anyone is still hungry.”
Harry cuts a slim piece of cake, a bit too slim for a teenager and Remus wonders if something is up. Maybe he’s doing some healthy eating for the upcoming quidditch game or something like that. Ginny cuts a similarly slim slice.
“How’s school?”
“Worse without you”, Ginny says.
“Oh, you don’t have to say that”, Remus shakes his head.
“No, our new defence against dark arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockheart, is a fraud.”
“Harry, don’t be mean”, James says.
“If you’d met him you’d understand”, Harry says. “You need to get your job back, Remus.”
“I have met him”, James says. “He was in our year.”
“Yeah, I remember him, he was such a twat.”
“Sirius”, James warns.
“Harry knows words far worse than that”, Sirius says.
Remus smiles and tries to hold back a laugh.
“He is a twat”, Harry agrees.
“Definitely”, Ginny nods.
Harry cuts a piece of the cake and brings the fork to his mouth. Remus watches his expression. Harry smiles and turns to him.
“Mm. Nice cake”, he says, and cuts another, even smaller, bite.
Yeah, this must be a quidditch thing. Only quidditch could motivate Harry to limit his intake of desserts. And Ginny is doing it too, and as far as Remus knows they are both still on the team.
“You can bring some back to your friends if you want”, Remus says.
“Oh, it’s Hogsmeade weekend. They are stuffing their pockets full of Honeydukes."
“Aw, you sacrificed a Hogsmeade weekend for your old godfather?” Sirius rustles Harry’s hair.
“Of course. I’ve been before. I've seen the sights.”
“Ron and Hermione are on a date”, Ginny whispers theatrically.
“Ah, I see”, Sirius says.
“Ron and Hermione?” Remus asks. “When did that happen?”
Harry points his fork to him. “I don't gossip with teachers.”
“I am not your teacher anymore.”
“Just last month”, Ginny says.
Remus takes another sip of his tea and leans back.
“So tell me what else I have missed at the castle?”
⭒☽🎂☾⭒
The afternoon is lovely, despite the baking. It is nice to be surrounded by the people he loves, coming to celebrate his birthday. And they are all upholding the lie, and Remus looks so very pleased. Sirius thinks he has gotten away with it. But all it takes to break a chain of lies is a weak link.
And said weak link walks into the room, just as Sirius thinks he has survived the party.
All their expected guests are there. All of them have behaved so well. Remus is beaming. And then…
“Dad!”
“Teddy!”
Teddy runs from the front door and wraps his arms around his dad. Tonks and Emmeline follow after, and they are both tanned and slightly sun burnt.
They weren't supposed to be back for another three days.
Sirius hasn't prepared for this.
“Sirius! Happy Birthday!” Teddy jumps at Sirius and hugs him tightly with his small but surprisingly strong arms.
“Hi Teds, didn't know you would be here?”
“Surprise!” Tonks says and hugs him too.
“Tired of palm trees and fancy drinks?”
“No. The plan was to come back today”, Tonks says with a smile.”We just lied to you.”
“Ah.”
Sirius meets James’ eyes and knows they are both thinking the same thing.
Their little charade is about to fall into pieces. Because how can Sirius deny Teddy cake? How can he prevent the eight year old boy currently dancing at his fathers feet telling him about their holiday from speaking the honest truth about what he is about to taste?
Sirius watches is happen like a quidditch accident he can't look away from.
Remus reaches into the cupboard for more plates. Tonks cuts a piece and places it on one of them before handing it to Teddy. Teddy lifts his fork and stabs through layers of too sour frosting and too salty sponge.
The boy is eight. He is old enough to tell a lie to make his father happy. He is old enough to understand sometimes a white lie is needed in order to not hurt feelings. Right? Right? Sirius has known Teddy for eight years and has heard him lie about brushing his teeth or how he definitely hadn't had pizza for dinner just yesterday and could definitely have pizza today.
But he has never seen Teddy eat something he doesn't like without making complaints. And has he ever heard Teddy lie to make someone else happy? Does he even understand the concept of a white lie?
Come on, Sirius thinks. Come on, one little lie.
“Dad”, Teddy says, licking frosting from his lips, contemplating. “This cake … it’s not my cup of tea.”
Remus breaks into a grin and Sirius can breathe again.
“Oh, that’s alright, dear. If you don't like it you don't have to finish it.”
James leans closer to Sirius and mumbles. “Oh, didn't know that—”
Sirius kicks him under the table.
“Oh.”
Sirius turns to see Tonks with a fork in her mouth and a grimace on her face. He searches for her eyes. Panicked. Wide-eyed. He hasn't had time to warn her, but she wouldn't want to hurt Remus' feelings? They are friends. Surprisingly good friends for two people who have gone through the ups and downs of casual hookup to accidental baby to co-parenting. She loves Remus and wouldn't want to hurt his feelings.
But Tonks is who she is, and she starts to giggle. “Oh, Remus, love. You made this?”
Remus looks surprised. “Yes?”
“Have you had a taste yourself?”
“No. You know I don't eat carbs and gluten anymore.”
Tonks shakes her head and puts her fork down with a fond smile, head tilted to the side. “Oh darling. It’s … horrible, actually.”
Sirius grimaches. His shoulders tense. His toes curl.
Remus gives a weak, uncertain laugh. “What?”
And Sirius rises, he just about flies through the room to where Remus is standing. Remus reaches for Tonks fork and cuts through the horrible cake, and brings a piece to his open mouth—
Sirius smacks the fork from his hand. The piece of cake flies and lands on Teddy's cheek.
The boy starts to laugh. Tonks is holding back her laughter.
Remus is starting at Sirius.
“Sirius.”
“Remus.”
“Why did you do that?”
“You don't eat carbs, you—”
“I need to taste the cake.”
“No you don't.”
“Why?”
“You shouldn't.”
Remus holds his gaze.
“Is the cake bad?”
Sirius can’t lie. He can't tell the truth either.
“Moony—”
Remus reaches for Teddy's plate and grabs a piece of cake with his hand. He shoves it in his mouth while Sirius flinches.
He watches as Remus’ face scrunches up. His nose wrinkles in a way that would be cute if Sirius wasn't sweating under his shirt. If Sirius didn't feel his stupid lie crumble and his legs lose ground and if he didn’t see Remus meeting his eyes again, now filled with hurt. His eyes scan across the room where their guests sit silent.
“Party is over”, Remus mumbles. “You don't have to pretend anymore.”
Then he turns, and Sirius reaches for his hand, chases him through the dining room, through the living room, and into their bedroom.
⭒☽🎂☾⭒
“Remus I am so—”
“You made them lie about the cake?”
Sirius nods. “I’m—”
“Are the buns and the biscuits horrible too?”
Sirius bites his lip. “I'm sorry.”
Remus exhales and closes his eyes.
“This is humiliating, Sirius.”
“Moony, love, I didn't mean to humiliate you. It all got out of hand, and I let it go too far—”
“Has my baking always been bad?”
Sirius swallows. He reaches out and runs his fingers through Remus’ hair. “You have other good qualities, love.”
“Sirius. Have you been lying to me about my baking for weeks!?”
“You never were that good at potions, Moons.”
Remus leans his forehead against the wall. “Shit, you're right. Why did I think I would be able to bake?”
“I am so, so sorry”, Sirius says, and tentatively wraps his arms around him from behind.
He kisses Remus’ temple and nussles behind his ear. It helps a little. But Remus still feels the shame creeping through every inch of his body.
“None of us wanted to hurt your feelings”, Sirius says. “You’ve had a shit time lately, and this new hobby got you all excited and kept you busy, and I didn’t want to ruin the mood. So when you first let me try what you had made, that was the day that article about werewolves’ inability to be good parents was published, and I wanted to make you happy, so I lied, and then I couldn't stop. And then there were guests, and I didn’t want them to spoil it for you either. But, yeah, truth be told, your baking is pretty terrible.”
“Pretty terrible. Is anything I’ve made for you actually edible?”
“It is edible. I’ve eaten it, right?”
“Oh god I am so sorry, you have been suffering—”
“It wasn't that bad.”
“You shouldn’t have done that. Weeks, Pads!”
“Because I really, really love you!”
Remus turns around and slumps against the wall.
“God I can't believe you let me bake for all of them. This is …” he shakes his head.
“Okay what you have been making may not be that good, but the smile on your face … it has been worth every lie, love.”
Remus shakes his head with a weak smile. “Not helping. I feel stupid.”
“I promise I won't lie anymore, and I will help you improve—”
“I don’t think I feel much like baking anymore”, Remus says, defeated.
He can't imagine it will be much fun after this.
“So we find you another hobby”, Sirius says, leaning closer and trailing kisses up his neck. “And I won't lie about your skills. And I will help you get better at whatever you choose.”
The kisses make Remus sigh with content and Sirius smiles.
“And maybe I can make it up to you in the meantime?”
“Pads…”
“What?”
“We have guests.”
“They can wait”, Sirius moves his kisses to Remus’ stubby jawline.
“Not for that long. And we are in our bedroom. That is a little suspicious. They will know.”
“Hm, a quick one then?” Sirius suggests and drags his hand on the outside of Remus’ trousers. “Put my lying mouth to good use…”
He drags his tongue across his lower lip, in their own signal for what Sirius suggests.
Remus half laughs half whimpers, and knows Sirius knows it means yes but not now, thanks, and Sirius moves his hand away.
“After, then.”
Remus clears his throat. “Actually. Um. Speaking of, hm, white lies about certain skills…”
Sirius straightens up immediately to meet his eyes.
“Remus.”
Remus gives him a guilty, painted smile.
“Remus John Lupin, don't tell me I am bad at giving—”
“No! No, no, no. It's just… this thing you do. With your tongue …”
He makes a movement with his tongue to demonstrate. Sirius’ eyes widen.
“I thought you liked it! You always make this little gasp— wait, it is not a ‘oh Merlin that's good’ gasp?”
“It’s a ‘ooh okay this thing again’-gasp.”
Sirius tilts his head down and buries his face in Remus' shoulder. “Moony, what the—”
“I'm sorry. Well, that’s revenge for not telling me about my terrible baking and then inviting everyone over to eat it.”
“That is not the same. This is not weeks of lies, it is ….” he raises his head and Remus can see that he is making a quick calculation. He waits. “Twenty years. Wait. It's been twenty years?”
“To the date”, Remus says with a nod. “If we don't count the years we were broken up—”
“Nah, that doesn't count.”
“I don't know. You dumping me because the thought of settling down scared you and then coming back to beg—”
“Doesn't count! I still loved you. I was just being stupid. Hey, compared to that, this little white lie—
“Weeks of lies—”
“Weeks of white lies are nothing.”
Remus looks at him contempling and smiles. “I suppose you're right. But you can't use that comparison to make everything seem less bad.”
Sirius gives him a teasing look and doesn't comment on that.
“So, today is not twenty years together, but it is—”
“Twenty years since we got together for the first time, yes”, Remus says. “And an anniversary—”
“For our first kiss.”
“Yeah.” Remus says, and for some reason he blushes, like he is eighteen again.
“You knew this?”
“Uh, Yeah.”
Sirius grimaches apologetically. “I didn't realize. Now I feel terrible.”
“It's okay. I was thinking we could celebrate later.”
“You have something prepared?”
“Well… I was planning on baking—”
Sirius laughs and shoves him fondly on the shoulder. “No. Now you're just trying to make me feel worse.”
Remus grins. “I am joking. No, not really. I was going to recreate those cupcakes we had. You know, the one we got from the kitchen—”
“Oh I remember”, Sirius says.
They look at each other and Remus remembers purple frosting on the corner of his mouth, Sirius reaching out to wipe it away … and the rest is history, so to say.
Sirius seems to think about the same thing as he smiles softly. He even lifts his hand to brush a thumb against the corner of Remus’ mouth. And, twenty years later, Remus still melts under the touch.
Remus clears his throat. “But I don't know what they were exactly so I haven't found a recipe.”
“Blueberry and banana.”
“No. Was it? I was thinking about raspberries and something else. Maybe vanilla.”
“It wasn't. But please don't recreate them.”
Remus smacks his arm and then slumps and rests his head on his shoulder.
“Oh god, I am mortified.”
“I am sorry, Moony.”
“Next time just tell me. That way I can improve.”
“Mhm, same. Twenty years… Merlin. But baking and not tasting it yourself is actually a bit mental.”
“Thanks.”
“Ready to go back out there?”
Remus sighs. “Yeah.”
He grabs Sirius’ hand and follows him back to the kitchen.
⭒☽🎂☾⭒
Their friends are still seated around the table.
“I am sorry, Remus”, Lily says, looking guilty.
“Yeah. We just wanted to make you happy”, Mary says.
“I blame Padfoot”, Peter says.
“Me too,” James agreed.
Sirius gave them a sharp look.
“I can't believe you all agreed to lie for Remus’ sake. You're all very sweet but mental”, Tonks says, shaking her head.
“Are you okay now?” Mary asks.
Sirius grins. “Well, we have cleared out some other things we have not been honest to each other about. So I think we're even.”
Remus squirms. “Pads—”
“Like what?” Peter asks.
“Um”, Sirius looks at Teddy briefly. “That is between adults.”
“Alright, so, this has been fun”, Harry says, standing up, but is immediately pulled down by Lily to sit again.
“Didn't I tell you, Pads?” James grins. “Honesty is important for a strong relationship.”
He turns to Lily and brushes her temple fondly, pulling a strand of red hair behind her ear. “It’s why we always speak the truth.”
“Uh”, Lily blinks. “We do?”
James frowns. “We don’t?”
“I mean of course we do”, Lily says and pats his shoulder.
“Lily.”
Lily makes an apologetic face. “Well, it's just… Your quidditch stories aren’t as funny as you think.”
“You always laugh!”
“Because I’m being nice.”
James stares at her with his mouth open.
“Harry likes them”, he says, turning to his son.
Harry bites his lip and makes a guilty face. “The first time you told them.”
Peter and Mary look at each other, seemingly having a silent conversation, looking equally guilty.
“Yeah, maybe we do that too”, Mary says thoughtfully.
“I don’t lie to Em”, Tonks says, looking at Emmeline. “Do you?”
Emmeline shrugs.“Nah. I know you can handle the truth.”
“So what we have learned here is that everyone lies to their partners, except those weirdos over there, and this wasn't so bad after all”, Sirius says.
Remus gives him a look and Sirius gives him an apologetic smile.
“What role models we have, huh?” Harry shakes his head and looks at Teddy.
“You shouldn't lie”, Teddy says and nods decisively.
Harry gives him a high five.
Tonks smiles and points at the cake. “So do we actually have a good cake or is this it?”
“I am afraid this is it”, Remus says and puts his hands on his pockets, shoulders slouched forwards. Sirius' heart breaks a little again, and he knows he will have to live with this feeling for a long time. He makes a promise to himself not to lie to this extent again, hoping he will be able to keep it.
“We have fruit”, Peter gestures to the fruit bowl.
Sirius shakes his head. “I'll get cake. There is a bakery in Diagonally, isn't there?”
“You don't have to, Sirius. This has been lovely”, Mary says. “With or without edible cake.”
“Yeah, birthday boy and baker, you both can sit down and we will clean up”, Lily says, standing up.
Harry stands up. “So this has been fun— mum, I’m joking! I am going to help.”
⭒☽🎂☾⭒
And so their guests usher them out to the living room while they help clean the dining table and the kitchen in a very inefficient way since there are too many people trying to handle the task.
Remus listens to them shuffle about and make snarky comments, and can't help but smile because he loves their messy little group so much. And it is sort of sweet and dumb that they thought they would get away with the lie.
“How long were you planning on lying about my baking skills?”
“For as long as I had to.”
“And for every birthday party we ever host?”
“Probably” Sirius smiles. “No, I didn't think this through actually. I just wanted you to be happy.”
“That is sweet of you. But I am already happy.”
“Remus.”
“I am! Yeah, things are … Well, not great right now. But I am happy.”
“Next you going to say something like ‘I am happy as long as I am with you.’”
“Well, it is true”, Remus says. “And we’ve got great friends and family—”
“Great family?”
“You know what I mean. And, well … I feel very grateful. Sorry for stealing so much attention on your birthday.”
“I do think that is my fault, really.”
“Thank you for, well, trying to make me feel better”, Remus says. “But you don’t have to lie next time.”
“I just feel sor—”
Remus eyes narrow.
“I wasn’t going to say I feel sorry for you—”
“I know you were.”
“No I —- You and I both know things suck for you right now.”
“They do”, Remus agrees. “They really do ”
“And I hate that.”
“I hate it too.”
They sit in silence for a few seconds.
Sirius's voice is soft when he speaks. “I do think it will blow over. We just have to give it some time.”
Remus sighs and leans back against the backrest of the sofa. “I don’t have time. I’ve been unemployed for months already.”
“You know that doesn’t matter, we get by—”
“And you know I don’t like being a burden.”
“You are not a burden.”
“I am if I don’t contribute to the household.”
“You are contributing”, Sirius says and then grins teasingly. “With baking.”
Remus huffs. “You are so mean.”
"I'm joking!"
Sirius leans forward and kisses his cheek. Then he looks over his shoulder and moves closer on the sofa.
“So, twenty years, huh?” Sirius runs his fingers through Remus' hair.
Remus feels a pleasant chill spread through his body. Still, just like twenty years ago. He smiles.
“What was your plan to celebrate this?” Sirius asks.
“No big plans. Just dinner. I was going to suggest the Three Broomsticks, for old times sake.”
“Ah, recreating our first date?” Sirius says, wiggling his eyebrows. “We’re going to snog on my bed and come in our pants too?”
Remus snorts. “Oh my god.”
“No, wait, I have a better suggestion”, Sirius says, and to Remus' surprise, slides off the sofa and onto his knees.
“We still have guests—”
“Get your mind out of the gutter”, Sirius says. “That’s not what I’m doing.”
“What are you doing then?”
“Proposing.”
“Proposing what?”
Sirius sighs. “Moony.”
“What?”
“Take a guess.”
Remus frowns, confused. “I don’t know, what?”
“Marriage, Moony.”
Sirius looks up at him and, oh, he is serious. He is not teasing him. He raises his eyebrows in question, and his gray eyes are sincere. But Remus' brain still doesn’t really catch up.
“What?”
"Marriage”, Sirius says again. “It’s been twenty years and we haven't gotten married? Scandal.”
“Well … Because gay marriage is illegal.”
“That makes it more fun.”
“So, uh”, Remus licks his lips. “What— How—”
“Unofficial marriage. No paperwork. We’ll just do a ceremony and shit.”
“And shit?”
“Okay I haven’t figured out the details.”
“Pads… You don’t have to—”
“Remus.” Sirius puts his hand on Remus’ cheek.
“Sirius.”
“I might be improvising but I am not saying this on a whim”, Sirius says. “And I’m almost forty and my knees are killing me down here so I would appreciate an answer.”
“You’re proposing?”
“Yes. Do you want to marry me?”
Remus looks down at the man kneeling before him. The man he has been in love with for twenty years. Well, to be honest, more than twenty years. Through so many ups and downs. Through a war and almost break-ups and actual break ups. And still, here he is. The most beautiful man to ever walk this earth, looking at him like he is something worth looking at. Like he is something that is hard to look away from.
He once again feels incredibly grateful. And lucky.
“I think you're supposed to be on one knee.”
Sirius sighs and puts one foot on the ground. “Better?”
Remus raises his hand and runs his fingers through Sirius’ hair. “No ring?”
“Greedy. I'll get you a ring later.”
Remus feels like dragging out his answer, teasing Sirius more, but he can’t hold back. “Yes of course, you idiot.”
Sirius puts his hands on Remus’ thighs and leans in for a kiss. Remus crosses his arms behind Sirius’ neck.
“Could you do something for me?” he mumbles against Sirius’ lips.
“Anything.”
“Can you please get our guests out of our house?” Remus whispers. “Like, right now.”
Sirius grins. “I’ll threaten them with more cake. That’ll get them out in a second.”