Barry Island, Wales
"Alright, Lily?" Remus approached the kiosk in the amusement arcade where Lily was sat checking a five pound note.
"Bear with me Rem. I'm working." Remus moved to the side of the kiosk and watched as Lily held the note up to the light. "As it goes, this one is fine." She said to the blonde haired woman stood waiting. "And you look tidy, so be on your way." She slid three small bags of ten pence coins along the counter to the woman before putting the five pound note in the cash register. "Alright Rem, what's occurrin'?"
"I need your advice, I do."
"Go for it."
"Shall I tell Sirius about the other engagements or should I just leave it? The thing is, things are going so lush. If I did tell him, it might just wreck everything. It's not that big of a deal, is it?" Lily shrugged.
"That depends. This reminds me of a very similar situation I was in with my second boyfriend Jackson. I was faced with a dilemma, whether to lie or not to lie. I chose to tell the truth."
"What happened?"
"He died. Firing squad. Terrible way to go Rem. I wouldn't like to see it happen to you." Remus sighed. "In answer to your question, I say no, don't tell him."
"Thanks Lil." Lily nodded. "Do you miss him?"
"Who?"
"Jackson."
"I do, yeah."
***
Essex, England
"I love you too. I do. Alright, I've got to go. Yeah. Love you." James made kissing noises down the phone before hanging up and putting his phone in his pocket.
"Wrong number?" Sirius grinned as he sat down and slid a pint across the table to James.
"It was Lucy." James looked down at the pint. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Have a try." The pair both took long sips of their drinks.
"Oh my god. Is it beer of the week?" Sirius nodded. "How many memories does that bring back? I'm getting another one." James stood up and Sirius grabbed his arm.
"Hang on a minute, I need to talk to you."
"I get you." James sat back down. "Is it Remus?" Sirius nodded.
"He dumped you-"
"We got engaged-" The pair said at the same time. James' eyes grew wide and Sirius frowned.
"You got engaged?"
"No he ain't dumped me-" They said at the same time again.
"What?" They said in unison.
"You're getting married?"
"Yeah."
"I'm so happy for you, Pads!" James jumped up and cheered before pulling Sirius into a bone-crushing hug.
"I told you here so you wouldn't cause a scene." Sirius sighed.
"I don't bloody care, my best friend is getting married!"
"Remus and his family are coming to stay, we're having a small party."
"So mum and dad know?"
"I told them first...you don't mind do you?"
"Of course not!"
***
Essex, England
"Morning!" Sirius said as he entered the living room, carrying a mug of tea.
"Stop where you are!" Euphemia called from where she was lay on the sofa with cucumber slices on her eyes. "Are you wearing shoes?" Sirius looked down at his bare feet.
"No, I just got up."
"There are no shoes to be worn anywhere in the house today. Do you understand?" Sirius sat down on the smaller sofa. Euphemia sat up and removed the cucumber from her eyes. "Are you nervous?"
"A little bit."
"I remember when I met all Monty's side. Shocking. I walked into the pantry to find James' aunt giving his uncle a-"
"One lemon roulade." Fleamont held the roulade out to Euphemia.
"Thanks love. Just leave it on the counter by the rest of the food."
"Alright." Fleamont smiled at Sirius before heading into the kitchen.
"I'll tell you later." Euphemia winked as she lay back down and placed the cucumber back on her eyes.
***
Essex, England
"They're here." Sirius said to Euphemia as he moved away from the window where he had been stood waiting. The pair headed to the front door which Euphemia opened.
"Hello!" She smiled. Remus entered the house first and hugged Sirius. "Welcome, welcome. Do come in." Lyall was next in, closely followed by Lily and then Poppy. "I'm Euphemia but everyone calls me Effie. This is my husband Monty." Euphemia gestured to her husband who had just emerged from the living room.
"It's lovely to meet you all." Fleamont smiled.
"You all know Sirius." The guests all mumbled hellos to Sirius who stood with his arm around Remus. "Unfortunately, my son James has been called out to work, but he should be back any minute now." Euphemia checked her watch before turning her attention back to her guests. "You must be Lily." Lily smiled and held out her hand for Euphemia to shake.
"Alright, Effie."
"That makes you Poppy." Poppy nodded and shook Euphemia's hand. "And you must be Lyall." Lyall kissed Euphemia on each cheek. The front door opened.
"Whoops. Sorry." James stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
"Here he is, the worker." Euphemia smiled at her son.
"It's lovely to meet you." Lyall and Poppy muttered.
"You too."
"How was everything at work?" Euphemia asked.
"It's fine now."
"I'm sure all our guests could do with a sit down." Fleamont said. "Why don't you all go through to the living room. Sirius and James, you grab everyone's bags. Effie and I will get the drinks."
Remus, Lyall, Lily and Poppy all sat silently in the living room.
"Rem, I tell you what, you could do a lot worse." Lily said as she looked around the large room. "No word of a lie, when they die, you'll be loaded."
"Lily!" Lyall sounded shocked.
"She's got a point, Lyall." Poppy shrugged. "I mean let's face it, when Hope died, god rest her soul, she left you a penniless widow." Poppy shook her head. "You don't want to see Remus go down that route, do you?" Lyall shook his head.
"I can't believe this. I'm not even married yet and already you're talking about my in-laws dying." Remus scolded his family.
"You've got to think about these things, love. I mean, had you ended up with Gilderoy, right, you'd be living on the breadline," Remus quickly looked around, "His family had nothing. Mulciber's lot weren't much better off. At least with Caradoc, you felt there was a bit put by."
"Poppy, we're not to mention the other engagements. Rem will tell Sirius when he's ready." Lyall said, patting his son on the shoulder.
"I just don't see the point in upsetting him."
"Yeah, you want to think of the inheritance." Lily got up and wandered around, picking up photos and looking at them before placing them carefully back in their places.
"Look, they're just ordinary people." Remus shrugged. "They're not mega rich nor nothing."
"Champagne!" Euphemia cheered as she entered the room, closely followed by her husband who was carrying a tray of drinks. James and Sirius soon joined them and Fleamont handed them both drinks.
"Here you go. Right, a toast. To the happy couple. Sirius and Remus!" Everyone raised their glasses and clinked them except Sirius and Remus who smiled at one another before sharing a kiss.
***
Essex, England
Remus stood before Lyall, Lily and Euphemia describing his dream wedding. Lyall frowned.
"What's the matter?" Remus asked.
"Nothing, love. Go on." Lyall nodded.
"No, what is it?"
"Come on Lyall, what's your beef?" Lily said.
"It all sounds so lovely, I don't want to put a dampener on anything." Lyall sighed. "But how are we going to afford all this?"
"Lyall, listen." Euphemia said.
"No, Effie. I know what you're going to say. We don't want charity."
"It's not charity. You are not a charity. I'm not offering you my hand-me-downs, Lyall. Listen, my husband has promised me a decent holiday for the last three years. Have I had one? No. It's payback time. Monty will pay for everything, end of." Remus gasped.
"Thank you, Effie!" Euphemia smiled as Remus hugged her. "That's so kind."
"Fair play." Lily nodded.
"That's very generous of you, but-"
"No buts, Lyall." Euphemia held out her hand. "Give me your hand Lyall, Remus. Lily join." The four stood in a circle holding hands. "We are going to have the best wedding day, since Prince Charles married the love of his life, Camilla Parker Bowles." Remus grinned at Lyall. "Hugs!" The group stood in the middle of the living room hugging.
***
Essex, England
Sirius and Remus sat squashed together in an armchair. James was dancing with his mum and Lyall was dancing with Lily. Poppy and Fleamont stood talking by the bar. Sirius and Remus got up and Sirius turned down the music.
"Right, everyone, first of all we've had a great night tonight." Sirius put his arm around Remus. "It's been blinding, but we thought we'd better tell you..."
"We've set a date." Remus finished. "We want to get married on the sixth of April, which is mum's birthday."
"Oh that's lovely that is, Remus. She'd be so proud." Lyall said as he hugged the couple.
"Is that the sixth of April next year, or the sixth of April as in only eight weeks from now?" Fleamont asked.
"As in eight weeks." Sirius grinned.
"Well, it's not ideal but it's doable. Now, Monty, you're going to have to call in a favour at the golf club, tomorrow. I'll ring up those lovely caterers that Ruth had for her mum's funeral." Euphemia turned to Sirius and Remus. "Now, for the church we-"
"Effie, we're getting married in Wales." Sirius said.
"What?"
"We're getting married in Barry." Remus smiled.
"I don't think so."
"We are Effie." Sirius sighed.
"No you're not. Monty, tell him."
"Look, let's talk about this tomorrow." Fleamont said.
"What's the matter with Barry?" Remus asked, the smile falling from his face.
"Barry Island. Oh, where are you going to have the wedding reception, on the log flumes?"
"We don't live on the actual island." Lyall pointed out.
"And what's on the menu for the wedding breakfast, hot dogs and candyfloss?"
"I beg your pardon?" Lyall raised an eyebrow.
"And don't worry about the honeymoon, we'll just go to Butlins!"
"Come on Effie, shush. If that's what they want, that's what we'll do." Fleamont said, placing a hand on his wife's shoulder.
"Fleamont, I am not traipsing my friends and family all the way down to Wales, to see one of my sons get married in some dirty fairground!"
"He's not even your son!" Lyall said.
"He's as good as!" Euphemia shot back.
"Well, I don't want my son, my only son, getting married in Essex. I mean, what's Lily, as the maid of honour, going to wear, a miniskirt and white stilettos?"
"Dad!" Remus scolded. "Don't be so rude!"
"Can everyone just calm down." Sirius said to the room.
"You just keep out of this," Euphemia said to Sirius, "You've caused enough trouble."
"LOOK AT YOURSELVES!" Poppy shouted. "WILL YOU JUST LOOK AT YOURSELVES!" The room went quiet. "We live in a cynical world. Tonight we have the chance to build a wonderful family that spreads across two nations. All that matters is that those two families are joined by these two young people." Poppy pointed at Sirius and Remus. "Who cares where they get married. What matters is they are getting married. The rest, golf clubs, the suits, the cars, the money, it don't mean diddly. All that matters is that on the sixth of April, Sirius and Remus commit the rest of their lives to each other. I for one will be proud to be there when they do. Wherever it is." Fleamont nodded.
"Me too."
"Me too." Lyall sighed.
"And me." Euphemia looked down at the floor then at Lyall. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me."
"It's fine. I'm sorry too."
"I think it's the menopause." Euphemia chuckled.
"I think it's the gin." Lyall and Euphemia grinned at each other.
"Group hug." Fleamont smiled. Everyone laughed and joined the hug. "Hang on." Fleamont pulled away slightly and scanned the room. "Where's James and Lily?
