Brothers ~ A Regulus Black Story

Loyalty

Everleigh
"...I love you." Regulus says.

I love you? I love you as in friends or more than friends..

"Reg-" I begin but he shakes his head no.

"Do not say anything and I won't explain it any further." Regulus says. "Just wanted to say it so that you know."

"Okay." I reply. "Same time tomorrow?" I ask him.

"See you tomorrow morning." Regulus replies, standing up and then offering his hands to help me up.

"See you tomorrow." I reply after he helps me up.

-

Not long after Regulus left, James and Sirius showed up for our daily meetings.

"How did you beat us here?" James asks. "We're always here first."

"Yeah well I've been here for a while." I reply.

"Did you talk to Regulus today?" Sirius asks me.

"He just left a little bit ago." I say.

"How did it go?" James asks, both guys sitting down beside me.

"He's okay... Lily yelled at me and him so we didn't talk much about him."

"Lily yelled at you too?" James asks. He sounds surprised and confused.

"Yeah.. I don't know what happened or what I did." I say to James.

"I think it's my fault." James admits. "She's mad at me and I think she's taking it out on you."

"That's what Regulus said too." I tell him.

"Did something happen though? Did he tell you anything?" Sirius asks me.

"No." I lie. "We didn't talk about him that much."

"Okay.. Same time tomorrow?" Sirius asks.

"I don't know." I reply.

"What?"

"He's okay for now... he doesn't want to talk about it and when or if he does, I shouldn't tell you. It would break the trust we have."

"She has a point." James says. "If he trusts her enough to open up to her, she shouldn't break that trust."

"Okay, yeah you two are right. Just tell me if there's something I should worry about." Sirius demands.

"I will Sirius."

"So about Lily, how do we fix that?" James asks me.

"I'm not sure, she was really mad." I say. "She yelled at me in front of Regulus."

"Fuck, I don't know what to do." James says. "I really like her and now I don't know what to do."

"You like Evans?" Sirius asks. "I guess that makes sense actually."

"But she doesn't like me anymore." James says.

"Just make it up to her and she'll probably give you another chance." I say. "She can't be mad at you forever."

"I guess she can't." James replies. "Same goes to you. She'll come around."

"I hope so."

I could have told the guys that Regulus told me that over the summer, his mother instructed the house elves to ignore him and his father wasn't home. I could have told the boys that he's scared and he wants to open up but he's scared of whatever his mother is using against him. I could have told the guys that he said I love you but I thought that maybe if I did tell them all of that and he found out, he'd never trust me again. I don't want him to stop trusting me. I know Sirius wants me to tell him everything but I can't do that to Regulus. I can't make him do this on his own and if I did tell them everything and he had found out, he'd be on his own. I could never do that to him because, even though I didn't say it back, I love him.

-

Sirius
"I can't believe she isn't going to tell us what he says anymore." I say to James after we left Everleigh. We were supposed to help him together and now she's not going to tell s anything.

"She's doing the right thing Sirius. He would be mad if she told us his personal things and you know it." James says.

"I guess." I reply. "It's just hard because I want to help him."

"I know Sirius. You just need to be patient. She said she'd let us know if something is really wrong."

"I hope he'll open up to her." I say. "At least then she can help him."

"I know." James replies.

The truth is, I haven't been the best brother lately and I should've been there for him. I should have protected him from our parents.

I don't blame him for not trusting me or not wanting my help.

"It'll be okay, Sirius." James speaks up after a long moment of silence. "He will be okay and I'm sure Regulus will open up to Everleigh."

"I'm just worried." I admit. "He's my little brother."

"Maybe try and talk to him again." James suggests. "Just let him know you meant what you said when you said you're there for him."

"Yeah you're right." I mumble.

I have to talk to him and let him see that I meant what I said when I said i'd be there for him. He probably doesn't believe me since I haven't been there for him.

"Do the same with Evans." I say. "She'll forgive you. I've seen the way you two act together. She likes you as much as you like her."

"Maybe but she was really mad."

"What did you do to piss her off anyway?" I laugh.

"I walked out on a date with her because Everleigh came and told me that you needed me."

Oh shit.

"That's not going to be an easy one to get out of." I reply.

"She wanted me to tell her why I left." James says. "But it's private."

"Just tell her something, anything." I tell him. "Just say I was having problems with my brother."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, just go get your girl back."

He smiles and nods. If there's one thing I know, it's that the two of them are in love. I don't even think they really know it yet but they're so in love. They're made for each other.