ROCKSTAR ⇒ jegulus

TWENTY ONE

James makes a traditional Sunday roast, a pot of glazed gravy, some crisp, roasted potatoes, and an array of vegetables to add colour to the plates.

James had walked to his local grocery store that morning and purchased an abundance of taper candles in a light lavender colour and a soft rose colour. He had originally intended to just buy the pink ones, but the purple ones looked far too pretty to leave behind. Scented like lavender and roses respectfully, James had lit them all and displayed them along his kitchen table.

There is a knock on his door and James looks over his shoulder. "It's open, come in," He calls towards the direction of his front door.

Regulus appears with a bouquet of pink tulips in one hand, and a bottle of red wine in the other. A plastic bag is swung over his wrist and James smiles as he greets him. "Good afternoon," James smirks, folding his arms over his chest. "What have you brought with you? The kitchen sink?" He jokes. "And you didn't even bring something fun for the pregnant one to drink," James chuckles.

Regulus makes an amused face. He sets the plastic bag down onto the table, smirking smugly as he opens it. "Oh, don't feel so left out. I brought you non alcoholic prosecco," He unwraps both the fake prosecco and the wine and reaches for two of the glasses that James had set out, and pours.

James smiles as Regulus hands him his glass. He sips. "Ah," He chuckles. "Bursting out the good stuff, are we?" He smirks.

Regulus laughs softly. "Well, cheers to our daughter, James," He raises his glass.

Their glasses clink together softly, both smiling. James returns to cooking, idly stirring the saucepan of gravy, while Regulus leans against the countertop, sipping at his wine, his lips blushed slightly red due to the colour.

"Hello, hello," Remus' voice booms through the hallway as the front door opens.

"Don't people knock anymore?" James smirks, rolling his eyes as he turns to face Sirius, Peter and Remus as they enter the kitchen.

"Well, we sure don't," Peter shrugs, chuckling. "Hey, we all collectively brought pavlova,"

"It was a major group effort," Sirius adds persistently.

"Emphasis on major, because personally I wanted to get donuts," Remus pipes up, huffing a little in defeat.

Lily and Mary appear next, a muffin basket between them, tied with a green ribbon. "Hi!" Mary beams. "We've brought some muffins! Lils spent all morning picking them out at our local bakery, but if anybody else asks, she baked them from scratch,"

Lily rolls her eyes. "Okay, okay, I'm not as excellent a cook as James here is, sue me," She mocks. "Some of us have to suffer through the deliciousness of store bought treats,"

"Oh, but not you, Regulus Black," Mary smirks. "I'm sure that James will be baking you anything that your little heart desires,"

"Just to fatten him up a little bit," Sirius snorts. "Honestly, how do you work a desk job and remain so painfully frail?"

Regulus shrugs. "Lots of wine?"

Sirius shakes his head, grinning. "Your diet is like fifty percent cigarettes and fifty percent merlot,"

Regulus hums. "Actually, I gave up smoking," He corrects.

"You gave up smoking?" Remus' eyes widen.

Regulus nods, sipping at his wine. "Haven't touched a cigarette in about three months," He chirps, his voice shy.

Three months. Three whole months. James' mind can not stop itself from wandering towards the timeline of his pregnancy. Is it foolish to think that maybe, just maybe, Regulus has given up smoking for him? Is it too bold to allow that thought to cross through his mind?