Till Forever Falls Apart

The Lupin-Blacks Take on New York

I love this chapter. And the fact that it's October. Enjoy loves! <3

June 26, 1993

It was a Saturday morning when Remus had gently pulled his daughter from bed, shaking her in his arms in an effort to wake the child from her slumber.

    "Val, dear. Wake up. We have a plane to catch."

    Lolling back to sleep on his shoulder, he chuckled, familiar with the routine any time the members of the household had to arrive somewhere early in the morning. Remus was always the first one up, which meant the duty fell upon his shoulders to wake everyone else as well.

    "If you wake up and get dressed, maybe we'll get doughnuts on the way."

    Val instantly opened her tired lids, shaking her head from side to side to supply her with energy. "Okay. I'm up."

    "I knew you would be," the father mentally patted himself on the shoulder for that trick. "Go get ready."

    Her suitcase had been taken down and laid near the door the previous night, which meant all Val had to do was shower and change into a fresh set of clothes, following by brushing her teeth. Her job was easy.

    Sirius, however, was falling apart.

    "I. Can't. Fit. All. Of. Them!" He sat on his carry-on bag, trying to squeeze all of his jackets in. "Moony, can you please help?"

    "You can't possibly bring all of this!" Remus said through gritted teeth as he pulled at the zipper. "You're going to be a sweaty mess!"

    "They're fashionable over there," Sirius groaned. "I've got to look the part. We've discussed this."

    Val couldn't help but roll her eyes as she patted herself dry with a towel. Her father was determined to look like anything but a tourist, wanting to prove he was the classic New Yorker he had seen in several films in preparation for their trip.

    "They'll know you're British because of that posh accent," Remus held back his grin. "You can't fool them. Americans will love hearing it."

    "You think so?" Sirius leaned against the doorframe, cocky with ease. "What are they going to think of that Welsh in your voice, eh?"

    "Oh, god," Remus thought for a moment, hoping no one would ask him to repeat himself.

    Sirius, taking a picture frame from the shelf, placed it with the rest of the toiletries that should have been packed last night. Remus looked at him reproachfully for what seemed like the hundredth time in that short morning he had been awake.

    "You don't need to take a picture of us three with you."

    "What if I want to make the hotel feel more like home?" He protested. "I need it in order to be comfortable."

    The other man did not have time to argue this point anymore, glancing down at his watch as he noticed another second ticking by. "We need to leave soon. Val? Are you almost done?"

    "Almost!" She responded as she gargled water. "I'll be there in a second!"

    Sirius started to bop as he hummed an old tune, dancing as he packed more unnecessary items he found comfort in. Remus knew that he was the only one completely finished with his business as he tied his shoes, patiently looking up as Val walked into their room.

    "Where's the sunscreen?" Black yelled from the bathroom adjoined with the bedroom he and his husband shared. "WHY CAN'T I FIND THE SUNSCREEN?!"