A/N: Ok, so I'm ridiculously sorry that it has taken me so horribly long to get this chapter out. I'm also sorry that this chapter is kind of crappy and sort of filler-ish. I've been going through some pretty rough times lately and just haven't had the time nor energy to write.

You see, my (future) mother in law got extremely ill and was in the hospital for awhile. She ended up being but on life support, but would never recover or wake up again. She was gone. We as a family took her off the ventilators and she passed away on her own nine hours later. The whole family is taking it hard, as she was only 38 with a 12 year old daughter and a 19 year old son (my fiancé). I've been with him every waking moment (and sleeping as well) since she was admitted into the hospital, and have only just had the will power to write, but only because I knew it would distract me.

After the funeral is over and things start to calm down a bit, I'm sure my inspiration will come back. Until then, I just ask that all my readers be patient and stick with me through this rough patch. Thanks to all my readers who have stuck with me thus far! I'm predicting one more chapter and an epilogue, and then this will be finished. As for a prequel, I plan to write one, but not immediately after. I'll let this one cool down a bit before embarking on a new journey. Thanks for your understanding!

WARNING: Ah, but there is a surprise in this long awaited, crappy chapter. You know how I said the last smut was a couple chapters back? I LIED! Smutty goodness to come in this chapter! Enjoy!

Ch 26.
Happy Birthday Moony

"MOONY!"

Remus sat bolt upright in bed, his forehead hitting the headboard as he became tangled in the sheets. 'Son of a – !"

Sirius tried to hold down his laughter as he crawled across the bed and untangled his husband from their blankets, placing a chaste kiss on the werewolf's forehead. "Sorry, love. I didn't think that would startle you so much."

Remus growled under his breath as he gave Sirius and almighty shove, smirking as he heard the thud and groan that meant the Animagus had met the floor.

"Argh! What the bloody hell was that for, eh?" Sirius grumbled as he stood up from the floor, rubbing his sore bum and looking all the part of a kicked puppy.

Remus snorted as he tossed a pillow at his lover. "You scream like Merlin himself was raping you and wake me from a dead sleep, only to have me realize it's my bloody birthday. Did you expect a better reaction than that?"

Sirius chuckled as he bounded onto the bed and straddled Remus' hips. "Fair point, Moony my love, but it's your birthday! Come on, it's supposed to be one of the happiest days of the year!" Sirius exclaimed, wriggling his hips a little to tease the werewolf.

Remus groaned and pushed Sirius off, curling his legs up to his chest as he frowned. "Bollocks, Padfoot. I'm old, and today just makes me older…happy my arse."

Sirius touched a hand to Remus' shoulder and smiled sympathetically. "You're not old, Remus. Now stop brooding so we can go down and bug Molly about that chocolate cake of yours, eh? Oh, I almost forgot!" Sirius reached over to his bedside table and lifted a small photo album. He beamed as he handed it over to Remus. "Happy birthday, Moony."

Remus leveled a heavy sigh as he took the album from Sirius and pulled the end of the ribbon tying it closed, watching it fall away from the small, silver book. He opened the front cover and felt his face break into a warm smile as he was greeted with a picture of their new family, taken on the day of their wedding. Remus and Sirius were wrapped around each other in a passionate kiss until the real Remus poked the picture and separated them. The photo Harry standing beside them rolled his eyes and waved lazily with a cheeky grin very reminiscent of his late father. As Remus flipped through the rest of the album, it became evident that it was filled with wedding pictures. Though they had their official wedding album, this was more personal, with pictures that the different guests had taken and made copies of for the happy couple.

In the very back was a picture clearly shot inconspicuously by a guest, who tried to hide their camera behind a centre piece on one of the tables. Severus was standing with his arms crossed over his chest, his usual expressionless face on as he observed the shenanigans from afar. Just then, Harry ran across the picture and grabbed Severus around the neck and held his camera out at arm's length, snapping a quick picture before running away once more. Remus couldn't help but chuckle heartily at the bemused look on photo-Severus' face. He turned the page and saw the picture that Harry must have snapped when he attacked Severus. It made Remus' smile widen even further. Harry was giggling raucously as Severus was pulled down towards him by the neck, looking scandalized at first, then smiling and chuckling along with Harry. Wizarding photos really were amazing.

"I took that one before. Harry was dared to do it by Ron. I thought it was amusing how Snape actually smiled instead of scowled. Maybe he is changing…"

"Thank you, Sirius. I love it," Remus said as he leaned over and kissed Sirius gently on the lips. He was glad for such a simple gift, weary of Sirius spending gobs of money on him for something he didn't need.

"Yes, well, it took me quite awhile to get all of those pictures from the various guests but I got it done in time for your birthday at least. Let's go down for breakfast so we can hurry back up and have birthday sex," Sirius teased as he stood up and stretched high above his head.

Remus rolled his eyes but smiled as he too stood up. However daunting it was to turn thirty-six, he was glad that Sirius wasn't making too big a deal out of it. "I like that, Sirius. You get sex on my birthday."

Sirius smirked as he walked around the bed and pulled the werewolf close, a glimmer of mischief in his grey eyes. "Ah, but that's all part of my evil scheme, you see; if you want birthday sex, you have to get it from me, so we both win."

Remus chuckled before kissing Sirius firmly on the lips and pulling away. "I guess Slytherin blood does run in your family, Padfoot," Remus said as he started to pull some trousers on.

"Oi! No need to insult me, Moony my love," Sirius quipped as he pulled on a black shirt and some grey slacks.

Remus just laughed and shook his head before both men headed out of their room and down to breakfast. Once inside the kitchen, Molly sat two plates before them and poured them some tea.

"Good morning, and happy birthday, Remus!" she chided as she sat the tea pot aside. "You've a few packages already. They're there on the counter," Molly said as she pointed to a small mountain of boxes on the kitchen counter.

Sirius was up and out of his seat in a flash, groping through the various packages to read who they were from. "Good haul this year, Moony. Ah, here's one from Harry," said Sirius as he handed a medium sized parcel to the werewolf.

Remus took the box and carefully unwrapped the garish paper glittered with snitches and Quaffles; very fitting for a gift from Harry. Remus opened the box and pulled out a picture frame, titanium and fairly heavy. There was a picture of Harry in his Quidditch robes, his hair mussed like he had just finished a game or practice, and his Firebolt was clutched in his hands. He smiled and waved up through the frame at Remus. At the bottom of the frame was the word 'Family' written in elaborate script.

"Wow, he looks exactly like James in that picture…" Sirius said as he leaned over Remus' shoulder to get a better look at the picture frame.

Remus smiled and rubbed a thumb along the edge of the frame. "Yes, he does…" He leaned over and kissed Sirius gently on the lips before standing and going to the rest of his gifts on the counter, opening each one and setting them aside.

"Who's this from? It's not marked; do you remember how it was delivered, Molly?" asked Remus as he held up a small, black package.

Molly looked over and smiled lightly as she nodded. "Oh yes, I remember. That was delivered by hand late last night, in fact. It's from Severus," she explained, trying not to sound too surprised about it herself.

Remus' eye brow shot up as he looked down at the small gift. Why on earth was Severus Snape giving him a birthday present? Had the man clearly lost his mind? "Figures, it's wrapped in black with no name on it. It screams Snape."

Sirius guffawed into his cup of tea, making a right mess of his shirt. With a flick of his wand, the mess was gone, and he was standing beside Remus, looking curiously down at the package. "What in Merlin's name could Snape possibly give you?"

Remus shrugged and shook his head. "No idea, but I guess we'll find out, eh?" he said as he unwrapped the gift. It was a small box, indicative of jewelry, which only served to confuse Remus more. He open the little box and saw that it was a necklace with a pentagram pendant.

"Does he think you worship Satan now, Moony?" Sirius asked, a bit bemused about the gift.

Remus shook his head slowly as he realized why Severus must have given him this particular symbol. "It's an ancient belief…The pentagram is supposed to represent the planetary positions in relation to the moon. When the planets form the shape of a pentagram in their separate orbits around the sun, it is said that the star Sirius is in between the moon and the rest of the planets. Very ancient…The guard dog of the world…" Remus had started to ramble there at the end as the knowledge swam easily through his mind. The significance of this little gift was a bit overwhelming, especially coming from someone like Severus Snape.

"You're babbling, Moony. I'm not sure I understand..." Sirius said as he lifted the small pendant to get a better look at it. He noticed that something was etched on the bottom. "Look, there's something written here," Sirius pointed out.

A closer look revealed a short saying written in miniscule letters on the circle around the five-point star. "'Forever Guarded by Sirius'…I don't understand why he would give me something like this. It's a very old belief held by ancient werewolves that the Canis Major constellation can protect us against the full moon. You were named after the brightest star in the constellation, Sirius. I had no idea Severus was knowledgeable to ancient werewolf beliefs." Remus turned to smile at Sirius, feeling very old indeed as he thought of the old memory. "That's why I've always said it was extremely ironic that someone with your namesake would be with me…Remember that one time in the hospital wing fourth year when you told me that you always felt like you needed to protect me, and I told you it was written in the stars? You'd thought I'd gone insane, but this is what I was talking about."

Sirius nodded as he recalled the memory of that particular night in the hospital wing. He finally understood it now, and with that came the realization of just how much that necklace must mean to Remus. He had a strong urge to hug Snape. "I remember. That just proves it then, Moony. We really were meant to be." He turned to look at Molly, who looked extremely close to tears. "Next time Snape shows up, can you ask him when exactly he grew a heart?" he said with a cheeky grin.

Remus chuckled and smacked Sirius playfully on the arm. "Be nice, Sirius. It's a very thoughtful gift."

Sirius scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "I was being nice! I recognized that he had a heart didn't I?"

Remus just laughed as he clasped the necklace around his neck and looked down at the small pentagram, smiling to himself. Things were changing quickly, but he'd never felt happier in his life.

RSRSRS

Sirius ducked under the covers and snuggled closer to Remus, who closed his book and set it aside on the bedside table. "So Moony, do you still hate your birthday?"

Remus smiled as he wrapped an arm around Sirius' waist and pulled him close. "Well, I hate the getting older part, but the gifts part is alright I suppose."

Sirius chuckled before kissing Remus gently on the temple. "You will forever be the awkward teenager I fell in love with so many years ago to me," he said with a cheeky grin.

Remus laughed and pushed Sirius playfully. "Oh thanks, that makes me feel so much better, Padfoot. Thank you for not making such a big deal out of my birthday, though. I appreciate it. I hate when people make a big fuss over me."

"You didn't seem to mind so much on our wedding day."

"Hey, I'm allowed to act like a pampered ponce on my wedding day, thank you very much. I may not seem it, but you know I'm as flaming as they come."

Sirius wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and bit his bottom lip. "Oh, I do know. Would you like to remind me how, Moony?"

Remus rolled his eyes, but smiled at his husband. "You're such a horn dog, Padfoot. Isn't it my job to instigate birthday sex on my birthday?"

"Does that mean yes?" Sirius asked as he straddled Remus' hips playfully.

Remus smirked and flipped their positions quickly, looming over Sirius predatorily. "Well, I guess it is. It's only two in the afternoon, you know."

"Yeah, so? Is it illegal to have sex during the day?" Sirius asked as he pushed his hips up teasingly against the werewolf.

Remus let out a soft moan and leaned down to kiss Sirius. "No, I don't suppose it – "

A muffled yell could be heard from somewhere downstairs. It sounded like a male voice, so they knew it couldn't be Molly.

Remus groaned and hung his head frustratedly before standing up once more. "I'll go check to see who it is. I bet it's just – "

"REMUS!"

Sirius jumped out of bed and walked to the door, opening it wide to hear whoever it was calling. "I think that's Harry's voice. Go check, I'll be right down," Sirius said as he tried to pull his clothes back on.

"Alright. Do you think something's wrong?"

"I dunno, do I?" Sirius said as he pulled on some pants over his boxers.

Remus shrugged as he left the bedroom, walking quickly down the stairs and towards the voice that he now recognized unmistakably as Harry's.

RSRSRS

Remus sat back in his chair, sipping slowly at his tea. Sirius was pacing behind him, muttering quietly to himself.

"Sirius, please. Sit down and calm yourself."

"How could he stop giving Harry Occlumency lessons? The man has always been a real piece of work, but really! This is a matter of Harry's safety! Isn't he under a Vow to keep Harry safe as an Order member? Harry mustn't let Voldemort into his mind again! I swear to Merlin, if Severus Snape doesn't pull his head out of his – !"

"Sirius! I'm just as worried about Harry as you are, but Severus is obviously just upset about Harry seeing that particular memory. Give him some time to cool off a bit. I'm sure he'll come to his senses and teach Harry once more," Remus said quietly, tugging on Sirius' arm to try to make him sit down.

Sirius sighed heavily as he sat down in the chair next to Remus, glaring at his tea cup as if it had done him a serious personal wrong. "He's got the wrong impression of James. That was the worst example of who his father was, and now he thinks he was every bit as arrogant as Snape tries to tell him. It's not fair to James for his son to think of him that way, it really isn't."

Remus shook his head, though he did agree for the most part. "Harry is mature enough to know that everyone makes mistakes, and who his father was cannot be based on a single memory. He knows so little about his parents, what did you expect him to think?" Remus asked as he rubbed Sirius' leg gently underneath the kitchen table.

Sirius shrugged as he frowned into his tea cup. "I dunno, but I don't like that Harry saw that memory. That's just not who James was."

"I know, but we'll have plenty of time to tell him all about who James really was this summer. James' memory will not be stained in Harry's mind after seeing one memory, I'm sure."

Sirius leaned over and kissed Remus gently on the lips. "I hope you're right."

Remus kissed him back and leaned his forehead against the Animagus'. "Of course I am, love. Now let's go finish what we started, eh?"

Sirius chuckled and stood up, leading Remus back upstairs by the hand. It had been a long day, and it was still only four in the afternoon. After all that, Sirius thought it was the perfect time to shag their brains out and sleep for as long as possible. Once they had reached the room, Sirius pulled Remus close and pressed his lips to his. One hand was carding through the werewolf's hair, while the other was groping his backside and pushing his hips closer to Sirius'.

"Mmm…bed, Padfoot," Remus moaned as he felt Sirius' growing erection pressing into his thigh. He began to pull his husband back towards their bed, trying to strip off his shirt and still kiss Sirius at the same time. He managed to pull the Animagus on top of him as he fell back onto the bed, his shirt pulled halfway off.

"You suck at undressing, Moony," Sirius said with smirk as he pulled away and removed his own shirt before attacking Remus' neck in kisses and nibbles.

Remus bit his lip as he tried to give Sirius better access to his neck. "You do it, then, if you're so much better at it than me."

Sirius quickly pulled Remus' shirt up over his head and tossed it to the side to lay with his own shirt. He moved back to the werewolf's neck, and then trailed wet, open mouthed kisses down his chest, then circling one pale pink nub with his tongue. He felt his cock twitch at the loud moan that escaped his lover's throat. He moved his mouth to the other nipple, letting his tongue lap at the hardening nub before biting it gently.

Remus gasped and pushed his hips up to grind against Sirius'. Sirius didn't usually pay this much attention to the smaller pleasures, but he knew he was in for a bit more than usual since it was his birthday, after all. "Please, Sirius…Suck me."

Sirius groaned slightly at Remus' pleading as he moved further down and began to unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. One swift tug later and the werewolf's pants and boxers both were being tossed to the floor. Remus' beautiful, very well proportioned cock was hard and red, the head glistening with precome. Sirius began to tug it slowly, and then lowered his mouth over the tip, swiping his tongue over the head and lapping up the leaking precome and savouring the salty taste.

"Oh fuck, Sirius. Don't stop," Remus panted as he wove a hand into Sirius' ebony locks. He pushed his hips up to meet his lover's mouth, moaning as Sirius fisted his burning cock.

Sirius took in Remus' cock until he felt it hitting the back of his throat. He ran his tongue up and down the length of flesh in his mouth, cupping Remus' balls as he began to move his mouth up and down. Remus' moaning was driving him crazy and it was all he could do to not spill his own load. He could feel Remus' climax building, so he pulled away and moved up to kiss Remus firmly on the lips, slipping his tongue in and sharing the taste of his cock.

Remus groaned in disappointment, but kissed Sirius back, biting down lightly on his lover's tongue. "I said not to stop, you arse."

Sirius chuckled as he straddled Remus. "I don't want you to come yet. I want to come together."

"Then why are your pants still on?" Remus said as he rolled over and pinned Sirius to the bed. He leaned down and bit at Sirius' neck playfully before tugging off his pants and boxers. He straddled Sirius' hips as he leaned down and kissed him gently on the lips. "I want to do it like this again," Remus said as he rubbed his hands up and down Sirius' chest.

Sirius bit his lip as he looked up at his beautiful husband. His amber eyes were a glistening gold and his hair was messy. He loved seeing Remus like this, so raw, so – imperfect, yet everything Sirius could wish for. "You can do whatever you want, Moony my love. It's your birthday fuck, after all."

Remus grinned predatorily, sending a shiver up Sirius' spine as his cock twitched between them. Remus was about to grab Sirius cock and lather it with lube when Sirius stopped him.

"Wait! I want to try something. I read about it, but I don't think we've ever tried it before. It's supposed to make it so that we don't have to use lube. Just…get on your hands and knees, I'll show you."

Remus chuckled and did as Sirius told him, wiggling his arse as he did so. "Mmm, this sounds mysteriously kinky – oh! Sweet Merlin!"

Sirius was behind Remus now, spreading the werewolf's arse cheeks and pressing his tongue against Remus' puckered entrance. He pulled away for a second to see if Remus was uncomfortable. "Do you like that?"

"Fuck yes! Do it again!" Remus said as he pushed back towards Sirius.

Sirius circled the little ring with his tongue before pressing it to his lover's entrance once more. Remus spasmed and gasped, pushing back against Sirius' tongue. Sirius' cock began to leak precome as he moved his tongue, lapping at the tight hole in long strokes as Remus moaned at the sheer euphoria of Sirius there.

"Oh God! Stop or it'll all be over now," Remus said as his whole body shuddered violently. They had never tried anything like that before, but he knew he certainly wanted to try it again! For now, all he wanted was Sirius deep inside him and to finally lose control.

"Can I fuck you now, Moony?" Sirius whispered as he leaned over his lover and nipped at his ear.

Remus smirked before quickly shoving Sirius onto his back and straddling his hips. "There's no need to ask, Pads. You have an all-access pass."

Sirius let out a bark like laugh as he ran his hands up and down Remus' smooth, yet scarred sides. He loved the feeling of the raised skin of the scar tissue underneath his slightly roughed fingertips. He bit his lip as Remus reached behind himself for Sirius cock, then positioned himself above it and lowered himself slowly onto the burning flesh. Sirius could taste blood by the time Remus was completely filled and he only just realized he was shaking.

"Relax, love, or this will be done far too soon," Remus whispered as he leaned down to kiss Sirius gently on the lips.

Through all the many countless times he and Remus had been together, the slow, intimate times were his favourite, though he never minded a quick hard fuck. The slow, lithe movements of the werewolf's taut body were like some form of art, and Sirius was constantly mystified by Remus' beauty. How the man had managed not to shag the male population while he was locked in Azkaban, Sirius would never know, but he was glad that Remus had shared this with nobody but him. That for as long as they lived, Remus was his and his alone. It felt wonderful, and Sirius would never be able to escape the drug that was Remus.

Remus began to move slowly up and down, throwing his head back in pleasure as Sirius hit that special ball of nerves. He sped up in time with Sirius' grunts and groans, letting himself lose all worry and fear completely. When he was with Sirius like this, nothing else in the world mattered. He leaned forward and kissed Sirius as he rocked back, feeling Sirius lift his hips for better access. He let out a groan as he could feel his climax growing, and he pushed himself down harder, feeling Sirius tense up. A few strokes later and the two lovers were coming simultaneously, crying out in a symphony of pleasure. Remus collapsed onto Sirius' chest as his lover's spent cock slid easily out of him.

"Happy birthday, Moony…I love you."

Remus sighed contently and curled himself more firmly around his husband as he closed his eyes. "Love you too, Sirius…and it was a very happy birthday."

A/N: Hope that was worth the wait, and I appreciate any and all reviews! Again, sorry for the long delay! Ciao!