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Stolen Smiles Across The Room

Then

Regulus

Waking up and having James still sitting next to me is a new event, and it caused some new feelings to come up. I don't think I've ever felt that safe while sleeping. Not unless Sirius was in my room, telling me a story like he used to do. Even then, it was a very different feeling having Sirius with me than it is with James.

James kisses the top of my head and whispers 'good morning' when he realises I'm awake.

"You stayed the whole time I was sleeping?" I ask him. I didn't think he'd still be here when I woke up because wouldn't that be too risky?

"I told you I'd stay. Did you think I wouldn't?" he asks me. I don't know how to tell him that I never had anyone who would stay before so I just shrug my shoulder.

"How long was I out?"

"Most of the night," he tells me. "Don't worry though. You didn't miss the sunrise. Actually, you woke up just in time to see it."

Most of the night? He stayed here all night just to be here when I woke up? Did he get any sleep?

"You want to watch the sunrise with me?" James asks me. He runs his hand through my hair softly as he kisses my cheek.

"Yeah, let's watch the sunrise." I say to him.

It might have been a small thing. A little moment, but I think it's my favourite. Waking up to him still sitting with me, him asking me to watch the sunrise and spend the morning together. It's small but it means so much.

We shuffle towards the opening in the tower so we have a better view. James pulls me so I'm leaning against his chest and his arms are around me. The sun is just beginning to rise, James was right. I woke up just in time for this.

The colours were a gorgeous mixture of pinks and oranges. So mesmerising and peaceful. With James' arms around me, holding me close to him, I felt completely at peace. I don't think I've ever felt this calm in my life.

"Pandora asked about you yesterday," I say to James out of no where. I feel him tense under me and worry that maybe I shouldn't have said that. Maybe he doesn't want people to know about us. I mean, I don't want people to know about us, but that's because I'm not ready to deal with the fallout from my mother and friends.

"Oh yeah? How does she even know about us?" James asks me, but he doesn't sound mad. He sounds... amused?

Maybe he thinks he caught me admitting that I told her about us, but I didn't.

"She doesn't know about us, technically. She noticed I haven't been hanging out with her and Barty as much lately. Pandora is very observant so I would not be surprised if she found out."

James lets out a breathe and I feel him tighten his grip around me a little.

"Would you want her to know about us?" James asks me.

"I trust her," I tell him.

"But would you want her to know?"

Would I want to tell her? I think that's what he's trying to ask me.

"Yes," I tell him honestly. "I would like to tell her because then I could brag about how perfect you are to her."

"Oh, I'm perfect? That's not good for my ego." James says jokingly.

"Shut up, would you? You're ruining the moment." I jokingly say to him and he laughs.

"What are you doing today?" James asks me. "Any plans for this lovely Saturday?"