'TIS THE DAMN SEASON

8.

Sirius stops by to visit Regulus and Regulus is taken back by his brother's frantic demeanor. He paces across the hospital room, occasionally running a hand through his hair, occasionally sighing longingly. Regulus does not address it with Sirius, however. Not for a long time, but Sirius does not seem to calm down for twenty minutes and Regulus just can not ignore it for much longer.

"Why...why are you so frenzied right now?" Regulus asks slowly.

Sirius shakes his head. "Well, for starters, you're all banged up, aren't you? You're a nervous wreck and that makes me nervous, Reggie," He replies quickly. "I don't like seeing you like this, my little baby brother, decked out in a hospital gown with bags under his eyes, it makes me upset, actually,"

Regulus raises an eyebrow. "You can leave if you're too upset, you know?" He offers. He shrugs. "I've been in this hospital room for days, you're not exactly entertaining me, so you can go, Sirius, I won't mind," And he means it. He won't beg Sirius to stay with him.

"Reg," Sirius' voice is strained. "M'sorry, I'm not frantic with you, but I just don't know what to do," 

"Then what's the matter with you right now?" Regulus asks quietly, patting the side of his bed for Sirius to take refuge in. "C'mon, Sirius, tell me what's wrong," He mutters gently.

Sirius sighs, sitting next to Regulus, laying his head back on the mountain of pillows. "Remus has been really...really quiet lately," He mumbles.

"Oh?"

"Mmh," Sirius hums. "Too quiet," He adds. Sirius closes his eyes shut tightly. "I...I know this time of year is particularly hard for him, and I want to support him, but I just can't this time," He breathes. "He won't let me,"

Regulus sighs, resting his head on his older brother's shoulder. "Just give him some time," He says softly. "Maybe that's what Remus needs right now,"

"But he should need me," Sirius whispers. "I-I can help, can't I?"

"I'm sure you can," Regulus pauses. "But until Remus wants you to, you can't,"

Sirius nods. He sighs softly. "I'm sorry, I don't want to bog you down with my issues right now. How're you feeling?"

"You aren't bogging me down, Sirius," Regulus says firmly. "You could never do that," He adds gently. "I'm feeling okay, though," He offers. "I just...just miss my boys," He utters. "And I want to see my baby,"

"She's beautiful, you know?" Sirius says, opening his eyes, grinning at his younger brother. "Looks just like Prongs, though, I'm afraid," He mumbles softly, chuckling.

Regulus rolls his eyes. "Yeah?" He asks, his attention undivided for Sirius right now, yearning to hear about his daughter, to gather just enough information about her to picture her in his mind. "She's...she's really small, isn't she?"

Sirius just nods. "Very small," He confirms softly. "But you were small too," He says. "And you worked out pretty well, didn't you?"

"I suppose-"

"You worked out very well, Reggie. There is no supposing,"

Regulus smiles a little, a tired, worn smile. "I want to see her," He whispers. "And...and hold her,"

"You will," Sirius promises. "I promise, Reg, you'll get to,"

There is a soft knock on the door and James pops his head around the corner. "Hey," He greets softly. "How's everything in here?" He asks.

"Boring," Regulus responds and James chuckles.

"Yeah? Well, how would you like a change of scenery, darling?"