Haven't had a new story in a while, and I've had this idea buzzing around in my head a long, long time. I hope everyone will enjoy this one. Be sure to leave lots of kind words in the reviews! Happy Reading!
~DuchessMoonMoon13
Nymphadora had to admit that post war, her life had become everything she dreamed it would someday be in the early days; when she was first falling madly in love with her now husband, falling asleep exhausted next to him at the long table in Grimmauld after being out all night on watch and having to give briefing the next meeting. He was always so kind as to lend her a shoulder back then, even when she was so tired he knew she would drool. So it was no surprise now that here, nearly two and a half years after the final downfall of Voldemort, she wanted everyone to have as happy an ending as she had managed to get herself.
First off, there was her older cousin, more of a brother-in-law really, given just how close that Remus and Sirius are, but Sirius had not done nearly as well after the war. He already had a habit of depravity that had long been laying dormant under a warrior's armor. He spent most of his nights out, on rare occasion with Remus in tote, but never going home alone. Dora couldn't help but wonder if he was lonely under that cocky, playboy facade that he wore so well, was he lonely? After all, Remus had a family, wife, son, and Dora could proudly say another one on the way. She could see it sometimes, behind his smile when he, Harry and Teddy were all laughing in a pile where Teddy had demanded to 'wrestle' in the floor.
It was on days like today that she truly worried about Sirius, the way he blew his parent's money just for kicks, and never seemed to bother learning his bedmate's name. Remus was eating breakfast calmly, sharing his over-sized bowl of oatmeal with a very excited Teddy, who clapped after each bite. "Meal!" He chortled as his father shoveled more into the boys' chubby cheeks. Tonks entered the room quietly, not wanting to disrupt the scene. She tripped however, and when she caught herself on the counter, a plate clattered loudly, causing Remus to chuckle.
"Mummy has joined us, it seems." He said, giving Teddy another bite. Teddy clapped again.
"Mummy!" He blurted over his mouth full. "Sisser!" This sound made Tonks' heart melt most of all. Little Teddy was very excited about the prospect of being an older brother.
"Feeling alright, darling?" Remus ask, sitting Teddy into his seat for the moment as Tonks sat down at the able. He moved the bowl and spoon out of the toddler's reach and moved over to the stove, dipping Tonks' out a hearty portion and adding extra cinnamon to her bowl before serving. Tonks hummed into her first bite of breakfast.
"Huge, actually."She said with a deep breath. "But good."
"Not so much longer, Dora." He seemed to be so excited, it only added to Tonks' joy. Fatherhood seemed to be Remus' true calling, even above teaching.
"Yes, while you and Teddy spend today with Uncle Harry trying to sober up Uncle Padfoot, Melody and I are going to shop for a few more clothes and things. Last minute touches." Remus nodded.
"That'll be good. Melody needs to get out. Is someone watching Ethan for her?" He ask his wife, hoping that they could have a ladies day. Both parties deserved it. "I a hoping to make a breakthrough with Sirius today." Remus added sadly. "He worries me. I don't know how to get through to him. I understand the depression in there, but drinking as he does- staying out all hours with strangers... I had more patience for it when we were in our twenties. Forty is hardly the age to be partying all night." Tonks couldn't help but laugh.
"Just don't turn him into a housewife like yourself." She said, kissing Remus' jaw. He rolled his eyes at his young wife.
"I am not a housewife, Dora. I have a job. I am a homemaker." His joke made her smile. She scrapped the last bit of oatmeal from her bowl and tossed the bowl and spoon into the sink.
"Give us kisses, boys. Mummy's off." She placed a kiss on Teddy's now bright orange hair, then caught Remus' lips for a quick moment.
"Take it easy, darling." Remus reminded her.
"Always." She called back to him as she went out the door of their home.
Sirius groaned when Remus jerked open the curtains to his bedroom and allowed the late-morning light to pour in. "Nooo." He said, curling away with a pillow over his face. Remus jumped up on the bed and took the pillow away, causing Harry, who was waiting to the side with Teddy in his arms.
"Up, Pads. Now." He said, taking the covers off the bed as he walked down the mattress and jumped into the floor.
"What the bloody hell for?" He groaned into the mattress. He was a mess, long black hair tossed and tangled, he hid his face in the bed and curled into a protective ball, rear in the air. He was clad only in pajama trousers, but this at least the other wizards were thankful for, as sometimes they were not so lucky when waking their friend.
"It's what, in the muggle world, is called an intervention." Harry said, sitting at the foot of the bed and letting Teddy down. Teddy all but ran up the mattress to his uncle, his feet unsure on the soft surface. He collapsed on Sirius and giggled.
"Unca Padfoot!" He squealed when Sirius grunted at the sudden contact that left him slightly winded.
"Hello, Teddy-Bear!" Sirius greeted, snaking one arm out of his protective ball and pulling the small boy to his chest for a hug before uncurling and sitting up. "An intervention? For what?" He looked down at the small boy in his lap and tickled him. "Did you set this up, Ted?" He ask over the fit of giggles.
"We're a bit afraid that you've gotten a bit dependent on the sauce, mate." Remus said calmly. Sirius snorted.
"Excuse me? I'm not a f-," he paused remembering that Teddy was in his lap, and refrained himself from cursing. "I'm not a bloody alcoholic."
"How much did you have last night, Sirius?" Harry ask, his voice stern. Sirius looked upward in thought.
"I split a couple bottles of Ogdin's with a broad in the pub. Shot or two more, maybe?" Neither Remus nor Harry seemed to believe this was the whole truth.
"That's quite a bit, mate." Remus said. "And your friend- what was her name?" Sirius squinted now.
"Bar... Al... Kar..." He thought outloud before shrugging.
"Hannah." Harry said finally. "Teddy didn't like her. Remus made her breakfast. She seemed to think you'd send an owl later this week. We'll let you handle that one on your own." Sirius was chuckling when Harry finished speaking.
"Yeah," He sat Teddy off his lap and laid back onto the bed. "That's not happening."
"That's disgusting." Remus said before he thought.
"That's that, Moony?" Sirius said, not moving from his new spot.
"Women shouldn't just be a passing fling like that, Sirius. You charm them all into thinking you give a damn and you don't. It's disgusting." Remus crossed his arms for a moment, then picked Teddy up when he toddled over and reached up. He'd morphed his hair to match Sirius' pale blue sheets.
"You've gotten incredibly soft in your old age, Moony." Sirius said, closing his eyes.
"No, Sirius. I have a wife. I'll have a daughter soon. I can't imagine anyone using them." He replied with a bit of a growl. "And all your girls, they're something to someone. Except to you." Sirius seemed to be offended by this statement, then bothered.
"I- I never considered that." Sirius said, rubbing his temples. "Can the rest of this lovely meeting continue after I sleep this off-"
"No." Harry said loudly. "We're cleaning out the house." He handed Sirius a glass of water. "Now."
"Cleaning?" He ask, confused.
"You have stashes everywhere. They're all going to go." Harry explained. "It's for your own good. Whatever it is your running from, drinking to be away from, Remus and I are here to help. We may not be much, but we're your family, Sirius. Let us help you. Because this life- it's not healthy. When I was with the Dursely's, they always said dad was a drunk, and I know now he was not perfect the way that I always wanted him to be in my mind. But it always broke my heart to hear, and now people say that about you. Please, Sirius." Harry offered a hand. "Let us help you."