Never Letting Go [A Marauder's Story]

Long Enough

"Good Afternoon sleepy head" Sirius muttered playfully when Remus finally awoke, his dark brown eyes observing his surroundings lazily.

"What...how long have I..."

"About 9 hours"

"What?!" Remus asked, his eyes snapping open as he tried to sit up but it caused him to wince in pain. He'd been laying in the same position, causing his muscles and tendons to stiffen awkwardly.

"Sssh" Sirius said with a slight chuckle as he helped Remus back down "It's alright. It's only as long as you'd stay in the hospital wing back at Hogwarts"

"Yeah but...we're in a forest...and...the others...wait...where's Peter?" Remus asked, suddenly realising that the small blonde boy was nowhere to be found.

"Hurried off after an hour, insisting he had to go back to the tent for some reason or other" Sirius said shrugging. "Pretty sure he was exhausted"

"Peter's always exhausted" Remus murmured, hearing the birds tweeting above him, the view of the trees stretching out above him calming his pounding heart.

"Did sleeping help?" Sirius asked slowly and Remus turned his head, glancing at him.

"The pain has definitely subsided. Now I just think I'm a little stiff from sleeping on the ground"

"Well there was no stopping you. As soon as James left to see Grant you dropped right off. I almost woke you up a few times but....you looked so peaceful sleeping" Sirius commented with a grin.

"Wow, watching me in my sleep? Should I be worried?" Remus joked, his humour returning, which was a good sign.

"Not my fault you're gorgeous" Sirius retaliated which made Remus' stomach erupt with butterflies.

"Flirting with me whilst recovering? Very smart" Remus said, his eyes darting back to the bright blue sky.

"Why? Is it working?" Sirius challenged with a twinkle in his eye.

Remus huffed out a laugh "It always works"

He felt a small thud as Sirius laid down next to him, gazing up at the sky.

"You know...even though we're in hiding..." Sirius started, his voice getting more serious "I'm glad we're...well....okay" he said, clearly not knowing what words to use.

"What do you mean?" Remus questioned, looking beside him at the mop of black hair and the beautiful face that it surrounded.

"Well...if none of this had happened...if we hadn't had been sent into hiding...would you even be talking to me?" Sirius asked with a curious stare.

Remus suddenly felt caught off guard and his emotions threatened to show up on his face. He did his best to push it own and shrugged, acting nonchalant.

"Don't know....probably would've talked to you eventually I suppose" was his answer and then he quickly tried to change the subject. "We should get back to the others"

"Okay:" Sirius said, accepting that that was the only answer he'd get out of Remus for now. Usually Sirius would pester until he got Remus' real answer but after a moon he didn't like to push him.

"You okay to apparate?" Sirius checked, Remus responding with a slight nod, going to sit up.

They both stood, still under the blue sky and on instinct, reached for each-other and apparated together

.......................

"Finally! Took you long enough!" Came the echo of Grant's voice as both Remus and Sirius found themselves once agin on the forest boundaries near Grimmauld Place. Remus could hear the teasing in Grant's voice and just rolled his eyes.