Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to the amazing JK Rowling

Remus woke up on his birthday to a completely empty dormitory. He was a little put out that not even Sirius was there to wish him happy birthday, but he got up and went to have a shower anyway, wondering what his friends were up to.

He came out of the bathroom to see Sirius waiting on his bed, grinning.

"You wanna skip class today?" Sirius asked. Remus moved around to the side of his bed.

"No."

"Aww, c'mon, Moony, it's your birthday," Sirius said.

"I know. Too obvious to skip today," Remus pointed out, "Anyway, it's Friday. I can celebrate tomorrow."

"Or tonight," Sirius said, smirking, "Fine. Don't skip today." He leaned over and pecked Remus on the lips, "Happy Birthday, anyway. Have fun in class today. I'll see you later." Sirius got off the bed.

"You're skipping today, anyway?" Remus asked as Sirius walked towards the door.

"Things to plan, Moony," Sirius called over his shoulder as he left the dormitory.

"What things?" Remus called after him. Sirius stopped and walked back into the dormitory.

"Just things. Don't worry your pretty little head about it," Sirius said, grinning, walking out of the dormitory again and disappearing. Remus stared at the door for a few seconds before he started to put the textbooks and parchment he needed for the day in his bag, and he walked down to the Common Room.

Lily was waiting for him. He could tell by the way she was sitting, watching the boys staircase intently, and then jumping up and walking towards him when he appeared. James and Sirius had gotten Lily in on it.

"Happy Birthday, Remus!" Lily exclaimed, hugging him.

"Thanks, Lily. What are they planning?" Remus asked.

"What is who planning?" Lily asked, blinking.

"James and Sirius, of course. I'm not stupid Lily. I know they're planning something," Remus said. Lily shrugged.

"I honestly don't know. I know they're planning something and James asked me to distract you today," Lily said, "I also wasn't supposed to tell you that." Remus grinned.

"You have much to learn about being a Marauder," Remus said.

"I'm not a Marauder," Lily said immediately. Remus just smirked, "I'm not a Marauder."

"You're dating one which is just as bad," Remus said, sighing, "I guess Peter is following James and Sirius too. We can pine for our boyfriends together."

"I will not pine for James," Lily scoffed, "And if you can't survive a day of class without Sirius that's not a very healthy relationship."

"Of course I'm not going to pine after Sirius. I'll be a little irritated that he's not spending my birthday with me, but that's all," Remus said, "Also a little irritated that Sirius told me not to 'worry my pretty little head about it'." Lily laughed.

"He thinks you're pretty," Lily said, "Isn't that sweet." Remus sighed.

"Yeah, great," he said, "We should go have breakfast before the first class."

Lily agreed, and the two headed down to the Great Hall.

They didn't see Sirius, James, or Peter, until they walked into the Great Hall for dinner. Remus had sat down, and was about to start eating, when Sirius was next to him.

"Don't eat yet," Sirius muttered. Remus turned to him, confused.

"Don't… what?" Remus asked.

"Come with me," Sirius replied, smiling. Remus turned to Lily, who just smiled.

"Go on, enjoy your night," Lily whispered.

"You knew the whole time exactly what was going on," Remus accused. Lily nodded, grinning.

"And you told me I needed to learn how to be a Marauder," Lily said, "Do I still need to?"

"I think you're passable," Remus muttered, before he let Sirius drag him away from the table. He followed Sirius as they walked up several flights of stairs, and realised where they were heading when they reached the Seventh Floor. Just next to the tapestry, Sirius stopped and turned to Remus.

"Remus, I know it's your first birthday without your parents, so if you don't want to celebrate or anything, then you don't have to," Sirius said, and Remus looked at the ground.

"To be honest, I was trying to forget," Remus muttered. Sirius stepped closer and pulled Remus into a hug.

"Sorry, Moony. I wasn't trying to… sorry," Sirius said. Remus shook his head.

"It's fine," Remus said, "So, can I finally know where you lot have been all day?" Sirius nodded, and walked past the Room of Requirement three times before a door appeared. He opened the door, and gestured for Remus to walk in.

He did so, and took in what the room had become. It was fairly small, with a couple of couches, and a table full of food. It was decorated in Gryffindor colours, and there was another table that had gifts on it.

"We got the house-elves to make some food specially," James said, "We were thinking about just having a party with Firewhiskey, but Padfoot told us it was a bad idea for you. So it's just the four of us."

"Until I kick them out and it's just the two of us," Sirius added, smirking.

"Who said I want to be alone with you?" Remus asked, shaking his head, "You told them I wouldn't want a huge alcoholic party?"

"Not this year," Sirius said. Remus smiled at him, before kissing him.

"Thank you. I didn't really want to be surrounded by everyone," Remus said, swallowing. Sirius stroked his thumb across Remus' cheek.

"Ahem," James coughed, "Let's eat, shall we?"

"No, I want to give Moony his present!" Sirius said, bouncing on his feet.

"I'm hungry, can we eat first?" Remus asked. Sirius pouted.

"Fine…"

The four of them went over to the food table and started to eat. It was mostly finger food.

"So, you didn't invite Lily?" Remus asked.

"We did, she thought it would be best if she wasn't here," James said, "She was 'already spending the day with you', and she wouldn't want to 'get in the middle of your friendship'."

"Let's just forget the fact that we've practically already adopted her as a Marauder despite the fact she and James have been together a week ," Sirius said, smirking as he took a chicken drumstick.

"We already know they're going to get married and have babies. Let's hope they don't look too much like Prongs, poor things, already have him as a father," Remus said.

"Please stop that," James said, "And Lily and I haven't been together long, we can't… we can't talk about that stuff."

"You got her in on this plan," Remus said, "Would you have done that with anyone else? No. You know Lily is part of your future." James went red, and shook his head.

"Don't be ridiculous," he mumbled, "I may hope for it, but I don't know it." Remus just smiled before Sirius decided to change the topic.

"Okay, present time!" Sirius exclaimed after they had all had enough to eat, "James, you go first!"

"Why me? You're the one who is so desperate to get to the presents," James said.

"James, you first," Sirius said again, and James rolled his eyes before taking his present and handing it to Remus. Remus opened it to find Honeydukes chocolate.

"Thanks, James," Remus said as Peter handed him his gift. This was more Honeydukes sweets. Remus thanked Peter before he looked at Sirius, who was chewing on his bottom lip. He picked up the last present, and handed it to Remus. It was quite heavy. Remus opened it and stared at what he held in his hands… complete Jane Austen collection.

"Sirius?" Remus asked, looking up.

"I know… you said that one Lily gave James was one of your Mum's favourite books, and I thought that it probably would've been destroyed… I asked Lily about it, and she suggested the whole collection, she helped me order it… you do like it, don't you?" Sirius asked, looking extremely nervous. Remus tore his eyes away from Sirius and looked back down.

"I… my mother loved Jane Austen… it was destroyed… Sirius…"

"Remus, are you-" Sirius was cut off by Remus pressing his lips against his. The books had been placed on the table and Remus wrapped his arms around Sirius' neck.

"I think that's our cue to leave," James muttered to Peter, who nodded, and the two of them left the Room of Requirement. Remus tightened his grip on Sirius, and Sirius put his arms around Remus, responding enthusiastically.

Remus broke away from Sirius, and Sirius could see the tears that were in his eyes. Sirius reached up and wiped them away.

"Sirius," Remus said in a hoarse voice, "I… I've just missed my parents so much and now you give me this. Even though it's not my mother's copies, it's still a connection to her. Thank you so much."

"You've been hurting more than you're letting on, and I know that," Sirius said, "I didn't know what I could do…"

"You done everything," Remus interrupted him, "You've been amazing. I don't deserve you."

"Of course you deserve me," Sirius said, knowing why Remus thought that, and hating it. He hated that Remus thought he was a monster because of this, he hated that he had been made to feel that he didn't deserve his friends, or love, "You deserve so much more." Remus sniffed.

"You're too good to me," Remus said.

"That's not possible. I love you, Remus, remember? I love you so much. I could never be too good to you," Sirius said.

"You shouldn't love me," Remus muttered.

"Stop it, Remus. Stop the self-pity. Just because you turn into a dangerous creature once a month doesn't make you less of a person, and doesn't mean you should be treated as less of a person. I. Love. You. Okay?" Sirius said.

"Okay. I love you too," Remus said, and he smiled at Sirius, "When did you become so sensitive?" Sirius snorted.

"I'm not. Only with you," Sirius said.

"You gave me the most amazing present, Sirius. And even if you did have Lily's help, you still… it was still your idea. I really… I really needed this," Remus said.

"I know you needed it. What do you want to do now? If you just want to read your book, then I'll be with you, and hold you," Sirius said. Remus shook his head.

"I have a better idea," Remus said, "I want you."

"Are you sure? Remus, I don't want you to-"

"Just shut up, Sirius. I'm ready for this," Remus said, "Aren't you?"

"I am, but I want you to be completely sure…"

"I'm sure," Remus said, and kissed Sirius.

AN~ I really hate that I'm posting the chapter about Remus' birthday on the anniversary of his death, but that's the next chapter written so that's the next chapter posted.

At least he has some happiness at the moment.