lilies *James Potter*

Chapter 65

Remus tucks the two-year-old boy into the spare bed with a fond smile on his face. The past week has been eventful. Three mornings and early afternoons filled with workshop event stuff but it felt like the moment he stepped out of the building he was greeted by Grant and Romulus. Romulus has definitely grown attached to Remus, speaking a few more words than anything at all. Remus worries for the boy when he is due to leave, not wanting this new week-filled routine to cause a shipwreck on the boy.

"You can keep the book," Remus tells Grant passing the thick book with a carefully chosen bookmark from Romulus to stick inside for his saved page of Greek stories that he's seem to have taken a liking to.

Grant takes the book and tucks it into the diaper bag he was packing up the few toys Romulus had brought along with them. His sippy cup sticking out on the side of the cup holder pocket. "Thanks. He really likes you, Remus. Never seen him take a liking that fast to anyone before."

"He's a good kid." Remus simply shrugs in response.

Grant sighed setting the diaper bag by the door as Remus went ahead and got onto his bed sitting on top of the covers with his back rested on the headboard. He was already in his pyjama bottoms and a white tank top ready to settle in for the night like Romulus had done taking over the large bed by falling asleep centred on it and tucked under thick duvets nearly making his tiny body invisible.

Grant wasn't staying the night given it was Remus's last night and he needed an early morning to check out, but it was the only time they were able to be alone with a sleeping toddler. So after a long day of Grant showing Remus around the town with Romulus, it was their last few waking moments together until Grant and Romulus would leave.

Quietly slipping under the covers, Grant meets Remus's eyes with a sad smile showing off his white and slightly crooked teeth. "I'm going to miss you."

"Same. It's been nice." Remus tells him to pick up the remote for the television on the nightstand wedged between two beds. He flips through the channels, nothing interesting catching his eyes so he shuts it off with a sigh and tosses the remote on the bed.

He keeps looking straight at the black television feeling Grant's eyes on him.

"Hey, Remus?"

"Hmm?" He hums in response finally looking to Grant not expecting him to be so close.

The tips of their noses were touching just barely. There was nothing else to look at but his green eyes. Without a word said, Grant reaches up and touches the scruff on his cheek with a sad smile still on his face. "I really missed you. It pained me when you left like that."

"I had to."

He nods allowing their foreheads to touch.

"I know."

Their breaths mixed. Grant rubs his cheek with his thumb simply feeling.

"I'm glad you did. Maybe not then, but now, I am." Grant finally speaks after some time. "If you didn't... I'd never have Rome. He made me better. He made me rethink everything. You were only the start of that, but I still used it every time I attempted to go sober. Never lasting long for me."

"I'm happy to have been that push for you. Romo was the one who helped tripped you so you'd go off the edge."

Grant chuckles and with his free hand he swats at Remus's chest. "You fucker." Remus joins in with his laughter. Then the laughter dies down and they're back with a semi-tensed atmosphere.

"Can I..." Grant doesn't finish his sentence. His head drops onto Remus's shoulder and he rubs his forehead into the crook of his neck. "I shouldn't." He settles on from his place on Remus's body.