Barry Island, Wales
The group entered the pub and managed to get a table in the corner.
"I told you not to worry Poppy." Euphemia laughed as she held up a bag full of Christmas puddings.
"Here we go!" Fleamont placed a tray of drinks down on the table.
"Cheers everyone!" Everyone clinked their glasses before drinking.
"It shows how long it is since we last drove down here," Fleamont said. "I mean, it's the first time we haven't had to pay the toll to cross the bridge!"
"I sort of missed it really." Euphemia sighed. "I used to like throwing the coins in the basket."
"I tell you what, it's a cracking motorway the M4." Poppy said.
"Yeah, you're right there. I tell you the services, you're spoilt for choice."
"Oh, phenomenal."
"Not Heston mind."
"No, not Heston, obviously."
"Only a fool would stop at Heston."
"Chieveley you like."
"Sensational."
"I'm a Leigh Delamere man."
"First class."
"What was the name of that services that we were at on the M6, near Stoke, when we went to Richard's sixtieth?" Fleamont asked his wife.
"I can't remember the name but I remember the sandwich. Egg and cress. Fresh as the day it was born. I can still taste it now."
"Knutsford!" Fleamont said suddenly. "That was it! Knutsford!"
"I like Membury." Poppy said.
"That is good."
"I love Membury."***
Barry Island, Wales
"I can't believe Lil is still living with you Poppy!"
"Yep and Harry."
"They were only supposed to move in for three weeks. That was nine years ago!" Lyall laughed.
"Now, now, Lyall. I'm fine with it. As I say to everyone, I don't know how it works, but it does."
"I don't believe it, look who's here." Everyone turned as Regulus made his way through the crowd.
"Hi everyone."
"Hi love!" Euphemia smiled at him.
"Tell us Reggie," Fleamont asked, "What services do you stop at?"
"Er, well Heston." Everyone groaned as Regulus sat down. "Only to fill up! I then stop at Membury." Everyone cheered.
"Have you got a pen dad?" Remus asked Lyall.
"I also have these because Effie text and told me to pick some up." Regulus held up a bag of Christmas puddings.
"We've already been to Morrisons." Poppy laughed.
Remus scribbled on a beer mat and handed it to Sirius before grabbing his coat and heading outside. Sirius turned it over and read: Meet me on the island xSirius made his way to the island where he found Remus stood near Marco's Café.
"Babe? You alright? What's going on?"
"Where am I stood right now?"
"What?"
"Where am I stood?"
"Easy. This is where I first told you I loved you."
"Yes it is, and I said, 'If you say it first, I'll say it back', and then you said-"
"Right, how come you always re-write this? It was the other way around, I said-"
"Look, either way, it's a special place, right? What I'm trying to say is every inch of this town is full of our stuff, our memories, you know? Like, um, up there." Remus pointed across the way. "By the bingo hall - when you and me had split up, that's where I was when you phoned me, I ran out into the rain. Did you know that?"
"Was it? I think I was at a foam party at the time." Remus pointed in the other direction.
"And just there, by the wall, that's where Teddy took his first steps."
"Oh yeah. He looked like an old drunk." Sirius laughed.
"And on top of the hill, by the recycling bins..."
"That's where I had to sit down because we just had the phone call to say that Hannah was pregnant with Hope."
"And when I used to work at Marco's, that's where you used to snog me through the window."
"Yeah, he'd get annoyed because we'd smudge the glass."
"Oh yeah!" Remus laughed. Sirius walked over to the wall along the beachfront and pointed.
"We had sex on them rocks once."
"And by the lifeguard hut."
"Am I even allowed to mention the ghost train?" Sirius smirked.
"Oh my god." Remus shook his head. "You never told anyone did you?"
"'Course not!" Sirius sat down on the wall and Remus sighed. "What's all this in aid of?"
"I got you a present, alright?"
"Man, look, I knew this would happen." Sirius shook his head. "I thought we were going for the cupboards?"
"Yeah, no, no, I want the cupboards. I hate our kitchen - it's a great idea. Look, I...I got you this." Remus handed over a tiny present and sat down on the wall next to Sirius. Sirius unwrapped the gift and looked down at the matches.
"What's this?"
"It's the matches I took from the hotel the first night we met."
"You held on to them all this time?"
"Yeah." Remus nodded. "I wanted something to remember you by and...well...I didn't know if I'd see you again."
"Oh, Rem." Sirius smirked. "What a night!"
"Yeah."
"Hang on a minute." Sirius stood up and took his phone out of his pocket. He smiled as a song started to play. "Remember this?"[Slow down, lie down
Remember it's just you and me]Remus stood up. "That's the song that was playing-"
"When we went to bed together, yeah."[Don't sell out, bow out
Remember how this used to be]"See, we've got all these memories and they're amazing. I just get scared we won't make any new ones."
"What d'you mean? Couse we will."
"I don't want us to drift Sirius. I've seen it happen to loads of other couples."[I just want you closer, is that alright?
Baby let's get closer, tonight]"Baby, we're not like-"
"'Cos like we're parents, and oh god, I wouldn't change that for the world. I just don't want us to stop being 'Remus' and 'Sirius'. I want us to stay us, you know?"
"Yeah, I get it."
"And that's why I want you...I want you to hold on to those." Remus nodded at the matches in Sirius' hand. "As a reminder. We've got to keep the fire burning, haven't we?" Sirius smiled. "Oh my god, is that really cheesy?" Sirius raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"If you say it first, I'll say it back."
"I love you."
"I love you too." Sirius pulled Remus closer and kissed him.[Grant my last request and just let me hold you
Don't shrug your shoulders, lay down beside me
Sure I can accept that we're going nowhere
But one last time let's go there, lay down beside me, oh]***
Barry Island, Wales
"Hang on everyone." Lyall said. "Can I just say? Seven year to the day, I think it was around this time we found out, wasn't it Poppy?" Poppy checked her watch and nodded. "We got the phone call we'd all been dreading, to say that our dear friend and neighbour had passed away. We raised a glass then and and we'll raise a glass now. To Minerva."
Everyone raised their glasses. "To Minerva!"
"Not raising a glass Lily?" Euphemia asked.
"No. By rights, Minerva should've left that house to me, not Sirius and Remus."
"Not this again." Poppy rolled her eyes.
"She's got a point." James said.
"Anyway, I've said my piece. Poppy, let's do this." Poppy and Lily got up and made their way to the stage. Sirius smiled at Remus and took his hand before kissing him.
"Oi oi, what's going on here?" James laughed. "Another trip on the ghost train?"
"Shut up!" Sirius hissed.
"Sirius!" Remus laughed.
Poppy's voice echoed around the pub and everyone went silent.
"Well now, everyone, as a bi-annual tradition, Lil and I are going to sing you a Christmas song." Everyone cheered. "And I'll thank you all to join in." The music started up.
"'Twas Christmas Eve, babe. In the drunk tank." Lily sang. "An old man said to me, won't see another one. And then he sang a song, a rare old Mountain Dew. I turned my face away and dreamed about you. Got on a lucky one, came in eighteen to one. I've got a feeling, this year's for me and you. So happy Christmas, I love you, baby. I can see a better time, when all our dreams come true..." The music sped up and everyone cheered. People got up and started to dance as Poppy began to sing.
"They've got cars big as bars, they've got rivers of gold, but the wind blows right through you it's no place for the old. When you first took my hand on a cold Christmas Eve, you promised me Broadway was waiting for me."
Sirius held out his hand and Remus took it allowing himself to be led to the dancefloor.
"You were handsome."
"You were pretty. Queen of New York City."
"When the band finished playing, they howled out for more. Sinatra was swinging, all the drunks, they were singing, we kissed on the corner then danced through the night."
Everyone around the pub joined in.
"THE BOYS OF THE NYPD CHOIR WERE SINGING GALWAY BAY AND THE BELLS WERE RINGING OUT FOR CHRISTMAS DAY!"