Sorry about the depressing turn things took there. I'd love to promise that will be the only one, but lies make baby jesus cry...
Or Buddah, Allah, Yaweh...hell just whoever you look upto. Me? I'm a Pagan...I worship the sun xD LOVE to Candy because she's awesome and it's nice to know theres at least one person who read this story and enjoys it.
Oh! and it was Sirius who blurted the question in the previous chapter... sorry if that was confusing xD

The silence was deafening. No one spoke, no one moved to turn the page. The crackle of the fire the only sound, the shadows it cast upon their faces adding to the tense atmosphere. Hermione feared she was breathing too loud and didn't dare make eye contact with either man.
The door creaked open and the three silent figures jumped at the inrtusion. The batty old house elf stood in the doorway eyeing them wearily.
"Bring us more whiskey" Sirius croaked then cleared his throat. He poured thre glasses rolling hs eyes when she politly refused and pressed it firmly into her hand with a warning glance.

"To the Prewetts." They raised their glasses and gulped back the burning liquid.

"They were two of the best wizards of their age..."

"Right. Well this night has just taken a decidedly morbid turn. Hermione, next picture please." Sirius poured another glass for himself.

"Remus you look terrible. Was this taken after your monthlies?" she asked horrified at how sickly he looked.

"You even have the kids calling my transformations my monthlies?"

"She's a girl. She gets it!"

"Not really"

"Not the same padfoot!"

"You say tomato I say potato."

"Please stop murdering muggle idioms."

"Anyway Hermione to aswer your question no, I was dying-"

"You had the sniffles!"

"Oh, I get it," she smiled fondly. "You had man flu"

"All set for your big date?" Sirius looked up from the sandwhich he was carefully constructing.

"No I'm dying"

"You look like shit mate." And he did. It was like post transformation Remus, minus the open wounds.

"Cheers."

"What? No witty comeback? No look of disdain? Merlin you really are dying. Would you prefare a buriel or cremation?"

"Fu-Atchew!.. Go to hell Black."

"Try a pepper up potion?" he suggested.

"I have."

"Muggle cough medicine?"

"I have" he vetoed once more.

"Hot whiskey?"

"Does that work?" Remus looked up hopefully.

"Does it matter? You'll be drunk and wont care."

"Not helpful."

"Do you even know who you're talking to?"

"Point taken."

"So, are you going to cancel?"

"Are you mad!"

"Well yes but-"

"I'm not going to cancel. Im going on this date even if I have to be imperiused"

"That could be fun" Sirius eyes lit up with al the posibilities.

"Don't even think about it."

Ten minutes later Remus was slumped beside the bath tub feeling clammy and worse than ever. Sirius leaned against the doorpost frowning. He'd have to call the mediwitch soon if this kept up. HE wasn't exatly sure what to doin this kind of situation. Sure he always visited and helped out after transforations but this was...well, sick!

"Owl her and cancel." he whispered after another bout of dry retching.

"Yea, of course... Or I could always polyjuice myself up and go as you"

"Not funny. I will puke on you."

"OK, ok...lets get you into bed."

He heaved Remus through to his bedroom and wrapped him up waiting til he drifted off before scribbling a quick note to Marlene and took the wireless into the bedroom so he could keep an eye on him. He had just tuned in to the new Hobgoblins tune when there was a light knock on the door. He gave Marlene a small appreciative smile and showed her inside.

"He's in the bedroom."

"Thanks Sirius."

He watched from the doorway as she woke him up gently.

"Hey, how you feeling?"

"Like death"

"I brought soup."

"You are an angel."

She spooned a few bites into his mouth and wiped a sweat soaked strand of hair from his forehead. Sirius made a hasty retreat feeling as if he was intruding on something private. For the first time in his life he could see the appeal of being tied down to one person for the remainder of his life.