A/N: Finally back from overseas! Am somewhat rushing through this chapter…cause my plan of having a relaxed time as soon as I was back evaporated at finding my current one day/week job extinguished and changed into a full-time one. Great news for the pocket, but not for my fanfic writing time.

And I have to say a big thank you for all my dear reviewers! Reading your thoughts while I was overseas, being unable to update, made me really happy. c:

I do apologise for taking so long! *hides in corner*

THE STAR AND HIS MOON

Chapter 10

"There you are! We've been looking everywhere for you and Remus came back only to tell us that you'll be back soon. You didn't appear even after two hours and we were few minutes away from trying to find you again," James moved from his sitting position on his dorm bed to greet Sirius.

"Just needed some fresh air, Prongs. Sorry to bother you and Wormtail."

"That's alright. As long as you're okay," Peter replied with a relieved smile.

"It's dinner time now; do you want to come down with us to the Great Hall?" James knew that Sirius wouldn't feel like facing Remus and Jennings together being a couple at dinner time, but it didn't fail to make him keep trying. It was important that Sirius eat regularly despite his low mood.

But to his utter surprise, Sirius merely shrugged in agreement, "Yeah. Why not? I'm starving, anyway."

"G-Great! Let's go then!"

True to his prediction, the fourth Marauder was currently sitting next to his aforementioned boyfriend; eating their dinner together. But instead of seemingly happy and smiling like usual, the couple seemed somewhat quiet and grave.

Something is up.

If Sirius wasn't with them, James himself would choose to act oblivious and sit in front of the couple. But seeing as Sirius was with them, their usual Marauders' sitting spot would probably be the best choice.

"It's chocolate brownies tonight! That's Moo-"

A pause followed Sirius' unfiltered words,

"-ny's favourite."

The sentence was finished with a whisper, and Sirius spent the rest of the dinner time eating silently. There was a deep frown within his face, as though an internal war was carried out inside his mind, but James was unable to tell what it would be on. Aside from the obvious; that it had something to do with Remus.

Well that was such a great success in trying to stop myself from thinking about Moony, Sirius thought sarcastically in anger towards himself.

It had hardly been a few hours from his resolve before he managed to forget his resolve and turn to his old habit.

Stop thinking about Moony. He's not with you anymore. You were extremely lucky that he decided to even talk to you today.

He knew that something was wrong with the picture that Remus and Jennings painted as a happy couple during their dinner today. But he didn't want to be involved in whatever lovers' tiff that the two was up to. And the couple probably wouldn't be thankful with his meddling anyway.

It was better to stay silent, as per his initial plan.

If only the same could be said about his other closest friend.

He groaned at finding a lump at the foot of his bed, being woken up by the unmistakable feeling of being watched.

"What do you want, Prongs?" His voice came out muffled from being squashed against his pillow.

"Stop hiding," James chided.

"Well, can't you just leave a bloke to sleep peacefully at least for a night?"

"So you admit to not being able to sleep peacefully these past few days?"

"These past few months, you mean," Sirius grumbled quietly.

"What? That bad? Merlin, you've got it bad."

"Well, it'll probably have the same result on you if Lily was involved, wouldn't it?"

James cringed at the words.

"Point made." Sirius stated.

"You evil evil friend," James sulked without heat.

"But you love me anyway. Shows how much of a masochist you really are, right?"

James spluttered in a half-attempt at anger. "You-!"

But he paused when he was centimeters away from playfully punching Sirius' arm.

Sirius' smile fades off from his face.

"You can treat me the way you always do, you know. I'm not a glass, I won't break."

His face was serious, his tone calm. James realised with a jolt that Sirius really did believe his own words. He didn't know just how fragile he could be; how fragile he looked with a broken-heart. Having to deal with emotional blow after emotional blow since he was a small child, it was no wonder he seem to think of himself as invincible.

"I know. But a bloke can look after his brother, right?"

Sirius smiled at this.

"Yeah, alright, alright. Whatever makes you happy, I suppose."

"So ungrateful, you are. Why did I take you as my brother again?"

"Because I'm just that irresistible."

James snorted in disbelief.

"Hey! No need to burst a guy's perfectly placed ego!"

"Oh, you need much more than that to even bruise it, with the massive size of it."

"Well, with this looks and personality, I have more than enough reason, right?"

"As i-"

The curtain was drawn open almost silently to reveal Remus' exhausted face.

"Hey. Sorry to bother you at such a late hour, Sirius, but can I talk to you?"

Sirius blinked in disbelief.

"Wha-"

Remus turned and seemed to realise James' presence for the first time that night; showing him that whatever it is that he wanted to talk to Sirius about, it must be important.

"Oh. Sorry. Were you two just talking? Then I'll just-"

James decided that now would be the chance he'd been looking for, "No, its fine! It wasn't anything important. I'm sure Sirius wouldn't mind! I'll be off, then! Good night, you two!"

A rather awkward silence followed James' retreat.

"Umm, Sirius? Is – Is it okay?"

Remus' unsure words snapped Sirius out of his stupor.

"Oh! Yes, of course! Come sit!" He patted the spot on the bed next to him enthusiastically.

"Thanks," Remus smiled in relief.

"Anytime. So, umm, what is it that you want to talk about?"

Remus stayed silent, face blank.

"Remus?" Sirius asked worriedly.

Remus blinked and he shook his head as if clearing it of unwanted thoughts. He turned and Sirius found himself in the receiving end of a sharp, clear gaze. This was a gaze of someone who was determined. Who knew what he wanted.

Sirius shivered. But his friend seemed to be able to tell even the little movement.

"Oh, I'm sorry! You must be feeling cold. Here," Remus lifted up the blanket that had fallen onto his waist and wrapped it up all around him. His warm hands felt like a hot brand, burning onto his skin even through the thick blanket.

"Thank you," Sirius replied quietly; not having the heart to tell his friend that his shiver has got nothing to do with being cold.

"I do apologise for acting so weirdly tonight. It's just-"

Sirius watched him take a deep breath, seemingly steeling himself.

"I broke up with Tim."

Sirius' eyes widened as soon as he registered the meaning of the other boy's words. His heart leapt at hearing something so unexpected.

"What-" He swallowed before continuing his question, "But why?"

Remus ran a hand through his tussled hair. It must've been the hundredth time that he'd done that gesture tonight; if the state of his hair was of any indication.

"We were just- not working out. I tried, really I did, but I just can't-"

Sirius had scooted a little closer to him during his little speech, being unable to hear the rapidly decreasing volume of his voice. Now Remus felt like he had lost his ability to speak upon finding that loved face so close to his. So so close compared to the distance that had separated them these past few weeks. He could even see the different shades of grey inside those beautiful pair of eyes.

"Re-Remus?" Sirius whispered questioningly. His heart was beating a million a minute, Remus' face was getting closer, he leaned his face backwards in response, he didn't understand what's going on, and Remus' face is still getting closer!

"I just can't bring myself to feel about him the way I do about you," Remus whispered. Sirius jolted at hearing the confession coming from those lips he'd dreamed about for years. But this wouldn't do. Remus' words could mean something other than what he'd thought of. It might simply be him getting ahead of himself.

He had to stop that adored face from getting closer and cracking through his guard!

"Moo-Moony!" He raised his hands to form a barrier between them, dearly hoping to get a reaction if he used the other boy's nickname that he hasn't uttered in such a long time. He was rewarded for his words finally registered through Remus' mind.

Seeming to realise just what it was that he'd been trying to do, the brown-haired boy turned red in embarrassment.

"I-I'm sorry, Sirius! I- I didn't mean-"

Sirius' heart broke just that little bit more at hearing those words.

Remus lifted his eyes to meet the grey pairs in front of him. Realising this, Sirius quickly put on a smile.

"That's okay. It's fine. You don't have to apologise."

But those golden eyes have always been sharper than most at studying Sirius. Finding pain within those grey orbs was a job that he'd trained his eyes to do ever since they were just in their first year.

"Sirius..."

Well, that was just stupid of you. You could've showed your true feelings towards him, and you blew your chance, Remus inner voice mocked. He didn't have the heart to argue because those words are very much the truth.

Well? What are you waiting for? A 'come and get me' sign on top of his head? Because that disappointed eyes should've told you everything.

"Sirius," Remus called the other boy who'd resorted to staring at his bed's drapes around them. With a soft grip around Sirius' right wrist, he turned the other boy's face towards him and calling onto all of his Gryffindor bravery, he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss onto those pink lips.

Sirius' eyes widened in shock before fluttering shut against his better judgment. He couldn't help it. The boy he'd always dreamed about was kissing him; his body moved automatically and he found himself reciprocating the sweet kiss.

Remus is kissing me...I'm kissing Remus. I'm really kissing Moony! Merlin!

This thought was promptly followed by the realisation that Remus had just broken up with his boyfriend. A boyfriend that he cared about, which meant that they really shouldn't be doing this.

Fast as lightning, he moved himself away from the kiss even if it was the last thing he'd wanted to do. Feeling unable to completely separate himself from the other boy, his hands placed themselves against the warm chest of the body in front of his. It would look like an attempt to push the other boy away from him, if it was seen by any other person, but the lack of pressure showed his real feelings. Stupid body decided to betray him at the most bleeding inconvenient time.

He licked his lips and felt his face further redden when he realised that the other boy was watching.

"Rem, I'm sorry but I just-"

He looked up at the boy he'd always hoped for; the first person he'd ever loved unlike anyone else. The person that he knew could break him like no other through the answer that he might give.

A particular muggle writer's words that Remus had read to him once upon a time came to him suddenly.

If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were.

He decided to do a leap of faith. Irrevocable trust was the one last precious thing that he could possibly give to the other boy.

"I love you and I don't want to simply be a rebound for you, Moony."

TBC

Okay...it's done. One key event to the puppies' union was finally typed up. This chapter was rather difficult to write, dunno why.

Tell me what you think? Because comments make me feel energised to write quicker. It's like a Red Bull to my specifically fanfic-writing capabilities. (=