"Remus!" a flash of red temporarily obscures Remus' vision and he stumbles back, trying not to fall over as Lily Evans practically throws herself on to him. "Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you? God, we were both so worried," she says as she releases him, her eyes moving over his frame as she searches for any traces of injury.

"I'm alright, Lily," his smile isn't entirely fake. He turns to James, who's handing a large bag to Sirius. "Thank you for coming, both of you. How is your mom, James?" Remus asks.

"Mom's doing fine, Re, thank you. And of course we came to see you. We were so scared when we heard." James gives him a big hug that warms Remus up from the inside out. James smells like herbs, like the shop. Like a life that slipped through Remus' fingers and left him stranded. The life he used to live.

"Where's Regulus?" Lily asks. "Baking cookies for you," Sirius grins, placing the bag on a plush recliner. "Sit down, please," he helps Lily out of her coat. "I'll be right out with tea." He places a hand on Remus' back as he passes him. It stays there for a second too long, and Remus suddenly can't feel his knees.

He stares after Sirius, his eyes simply refusing to look anywhere else. It's only when James gives him a small nudge with his elbow that Remus snaps back into  reality. He feels his cheeks heat up. Ducking his head to cover his face, he sits down on the sofa next to Marshbutton, who's happily spread her legs for the world to see as she bathes herself.

It's a disgrace to the very name of felines.

"Is it me," Lily starts, "or does Sirius seem a lot happier than usual?" 

James shakes his head. "You're seeing him after some time, aren't you? He's been doing a lot better since a couple weeks ago." James glances at Remus, who wants to crawl behind the sofa and dig himself a tunnel all the way to the opposite point on the surface of the Earth.

God, it's so embarrassing. And he's turning red- nothing new there.

"Oh, James, it's too cute to watch," Lily laughs. James joins in, casually swinging an arm around her shoulders.

"Stop it," Remus grumbles, giving Marshbutton's ear a scratch.

"Look how he's blushing," Lily teases, leaning into James. Remus turns to glare at her, but of course he only blushes even deeper.

They can't talk for much longer, as Sirius waltzes back in holding a tray of mugs and chocolate chip cookies. Regulus follows him, his face lit up in a way Remus hasn't quite seen before.

"Lily!" Excitement is something that doesn't appear in Regulus' voice very often, but when it does, it's beautiful. Remus watches Lily stand up and run to him, pulling him down into a hug.

In case it wasn't obvious, Lily Evans is a little fond of hugs. Just a little.

"I haven't seen you in so long," Lily grins, mussing Regulus' hair. "I know, I know. We've been so busy," Regulus smiles widely. Without really knowing it, Remus' eyes shift to Sirius. He's put the tray down and sat down on a recliner, one leg over the other, his arms casually resting on the armrests of his chair. His face is light, eyes sparkling as he watches his brother.

In an unexpected move, Sirius' face turns and his eyes land on Remus. Remus feels his breath hitch. He's been caught staring, but he can't be bothered to feel embarrassed. It's like the sudden darkness that falls when a cloud passes under the sun, casting its shadow on the ground. The entire room goes tense, like the very base of the house is raising itself on its tiptoes, waiting.

And Remus can tell that Sirius feels it too. He can tell from the way that little smile slowly fades from his lips, the way his eyes widen, the way his chest moves up in a forceful inhale.

But it's meant for only the two of them, a little secret of a moment that passed too soon.

Remus gives a soft yelp as he's forced out of it by the feeling of something coarse running along the back of his hand. "Ah, I got licked-" he gasps, jerking his hand away from Marshbutton.

"That's what she said," James cuts in. Of course he has to say that. Remus clamps a hand over his mouth, his shoulders shaking in silent laughter as Lily gives James a good, sound smack on the back of his head. Sirius, on the other hand, doesn't care to make his amusement hidden. Remus has to bite his lip not to join in, especially when he sees the way Sirius' head falls back, loud laughter rattling its way out of his body.

"You..." Lily huffs, "you rotten idiot!"

Sirius laughs even louder, clutching his stomach. He's practically howling by this point. Regulus catches Remus eye, and the pained look on his face makes Remus burst into laughter. Even James is laughing, still rubbing his head.

"Get-" Sirius wheezes, "Get a Mediwizard, please,"

Lily frowns at him. "For what? Your broken ribs?"

"No-" Sirius giggles, leaning forward to grip his knees. "I... do you not hear it, Lily?"

Lily stares at him, clearly not new to Sirius' humour. It's a level of blasé Remus whole-heartedly aspires to be. "No, but let me guess what it is," she says dryly, "the sound of James' heart breaking?"

Sirius starts laughing even harder. "Oh Merlin, I..." he wipes his reddened cheeks, "why can't I bloody stop?" He bursts into another fit of giggles, burying his face in his knees.

Regulus comes to sit beside Remus, looking completely and utterly done.

It's just Sirius laughing now, practically squirming in his seat as he tries to stop. "He's never going to stop now," Regulus shakes his head gravely, looking like he just watched his firstborn get struck by lightning.

"I can't-" Sirius groans, lifting his head. "All these years together, and you still can't call him anything worse than an idiot," he sighs heavily, having finally gathered himself.

"To be fair," James shrugs, "she also called me rotten."

"Isn't that the same thing she said when she first saw your dick?" Sirius starts giggling again. Remus chews down on his lip, praying to any and every god above to spare him the last bit of composure he has left.

But then he makes eye contact with Regulus, and there's no more holding back. Even Regulus lets out a snort.

"Ow, no-" Sirius gasps when Lily gives him a smack as well.

"How in Godric's name did you ever become friends with them?" Lily sighs as she sits down next to Regulus, but she can't hide the small smile tugging at her lips.

"Speak for yourself," Regulus rubs his temple. "One of them is your boyfriend."

"Unfortunately," Lily shakes her head.

"Oh?" James gasps. "So that's how it is?" He gives an exaggerated sigh and pulls Sirius up from his chair. "Don't worry, Prongsie. I'll never leave your side," Sirius says sweetly, pushing him down on the chair and plopping himself down on his lap. He wraps his arms around James' neck and gives him a big, sloppy kiss on the cheek.

Lily laughs at the two. "Just drink your tea before it goes cold," she says, "maybe it will warm up your sad, broken hearts."

***

Author's Note

Okay so this one was a filler. Something will happen soon, promise ♡
And oh my gods, guys, 8K reads!? Thank you so much xx