Remus found himself smiling the next morning as he made tea for Sirius and himself, thinking about everything he and Sirius had shared the night before. It was a little easier to breathe now. It was a little easier to cope now. He didn't know if it was all sorted, but he knew that a friendship with Sirius was definitely something he had. And clearly, if he hadn't messed it up completely by now, there was something going right. He must have been doing something right. Perhaps he should start singing that song from the Sound of Music?

Perhaps not.

Singing or no, he was almost happy. Stupid really, for such a total mood switch to happen, but it wasn't like his brain functioned great at the best of times. Let alone when he was worried about something. Let alone when there was someone who he cared for involved in it all. But he wasn't going to spend the day debating about whether or not he should be happy. And he couldn't say that last night with Sirius hadn't been lovely. He couldn't think of anything more perfect, if he was being honest. There was very little he could imagine going so well as that. So he wasn't going to overanalyse what this happiness meant, he wasn't going to overthink whether or not he had the right to be. He was going to grasp it and hold onto it as tightly as he possibly could.

Something that should be fairly easy, considering he and Lily were set for lunch in a couple of hours. He'd messaged her when Sirius had gone to change into more comfortable clothes, at something like half one, part of the message scolding her and half thanking her for her plan. She'd responded with at least four laughing gifs, and then suggested they meet so he could tell her what happened properly. With some reluctance, and a smile, Remus agreed and he was glad that he did. Mornings when he woke up happy were rare, and he was prepared to take full advantage of it.

Realistically it could be because he was overtired. It had been New Year's Eve last night, and he'd insisted that Sirius stay the night. He absolutely did not want Sirius riding on that motorbike in the middle of the night. So Sirius had stayed, and they'd both stayed awake for hours. Remus was sure that it has been at least a quarter to four by the time that they'd finally collapsed into Remus' bed. It was a wonder they both fit, really. Remus' bed was only a double, and he was quite tall. Thankfully, Sirius was shorter, and had no fear of being close to other people. Remus had suggested that he sleep on the couch and give Sirius the bed, but Sirius had told him not to be stupid. So Remus went along with it, not unhappily.

Tea made, he carefully carried the mugs back to his room. Passing one to Sirius, before setting his own on the bedside table and slipping back under the covers. Nevermind that it was a little weird to just be sitting in bed with Sirius, it was cold, and he was willing to be awkward for the sake of warmth. It was barely awkward though, the two of them chatting happily, sleepily.

—

Sirius had left not long after. Some breakfast, more tea, and some laughter had sent him on his way. Leaving Remus with a sense of peace, as he tidied his apartment before he left to meet Lily. What a lovely start to the New Year, he thought. How could things go better? First with Sirius, now with Lily. He'd send everyone else messages later. How much better could it get? Not much, was his guess. Not that he really wanted to think about what could go differently. So turning away from that subject and towards last night, he smiled to himself. Lily would be pleased her plan worked so well.

—

Twelve o'clock and Lily had just arrived at the cafe they were meeting at. Her hair tied back into a low ponytail, a beanie crammed on her head. And still she looked just as lovely as always. That was always something Remus wondered about, how on earth Lily always managed to look so put together. He suspected it was the universe's plot to make sure there was someone to counterbalance James' perpetual nest of hair. He didn't blame the universe for that. That's how he would've planned it too. So she came in, grinning, shrugging off her coat and hanging it on the back of her chair. Sitting down opposite Remus with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Remus, on the other hand just rolled his with a, "I've ordered your coffee."

"You're brilliant, as always."
"Just good at knowing things I've done for years now."

"No need to be a smart arse just yet, is there?"

"There's always need for that, Lils. You know this."

"True, I do," she said, laughing. Her eyes lighting up even more, and she almost knocked over a glass.

"No breaking things, alright?"

"Do you think I can use being pregnant as an excuse?" Lily asked, eyebrow arched.

"No, I don't. I think your lifetime of clumsiness proves otherwise."

"True. But surely, surely I could say that I stayed up late last night for New Years, right?"
"I mean, you could, if you looked even close to someone who had stayed up super late last night."
"Yeah, fair enough."

She grinned, taking a sip of her coffee. "So, Sirius?"

Remus blushed, though he wasn't really sure why. Or rather, he was exactly sure why, but didn't particularly want to discuss it.

"Come on, Rem. It was my idea, after all," Lily coaxed, biting her lip in an attempt to hide her smile.

"It's all sorted now, I think. He knows I'm ace. We had fun, actually. It was really lovely." He sighed, shaking his head at Lily's eager expression. "Will that do?"

"You told him?"

"Yeah, I did."
"I'm proud of you, Rem."

"Thanks?"

"So, how did he go with it?"
Remus grinned, thinking of Sirius' reaction last night. "Well, I think he called me an idiot in French."

Lily's reply came in the form of a scoff, rolling her eyes.

"What?"

"He's not wrong, you know that, don't you?" she asked, draining the rest of her coffee.

"Hey! Why am I an idiot?" Eyebrows scrunched together, he looked at Lily's curiously.

"Oh goodness gracious, it's worse than I thought." She paused. "Unless," a hesitation, "It's not? Did you two end up getting together last night?"

"What!" Remus exclaimed, furiously choking on water. "Why would you think that?"

"Good lord."

"Don't good lord me. Tell me what you mean."

And he can feel something, something he'd not quite sure of, rise up in his chest. Something threatening to explode, and he's not entirely certain why. But it's been edging on this since Lily started talking about Sirius. And of bloody course it's about Sirius. It's always about Sirius. It's been happening quickly. Too quickly. But it's always about Sirius. Things have calmed down with his friends, that wasn't this hard. But Sirius, Sirius is harder than he could have ever expected.

"Rem, love. I asked you before if you really thought what Sirius was, was just platonic—"
"It was that first Friday night, right?"

"Right." Lily nodded. "And you answered yes. Very defensively, I might add."
"It wasn't that defensive," Remus mumbled, frowning.
"Yeah, it was. Anyway, what do you think about that now?" Lily asked, her fingers tapping gently along the table — she'd always done that, ever since Remus had known her.

"Nothing, I don't think about it anymore."

"That's a lie."
Remus sighed. She was right, as usual. Fear curled inside him, she always was good at knowing when people were lying, and it wasn't like that was a particularly convincing lie anyway. There was no hope now. "Alright, fine. Maybe I do think about it."
"You think about everything, there's no way you wouldn't think about something, someone, like Sirius. Anyway, what do you think about it now?"
"I think I'm going to take whatever it is I can get. Honestly Lily, it barely matters what I think about it all."

He was exhausted of thinking about Sirius, he really was. There wasn't a day that had gone past since he had met the boy, that Remus hadn't thought of him. It was getting ridiculous, it really was. He didn't need his life taken over by another man. Platonically or romantically. He just couldn't let it happen. He was going to take whatever he could get, and if it did end up being romantic, great. But, he wasn't going to obsess over Sirius.

"It definitely matters what you think about it all. You're part of it, after all. You can't have a relationship with only one person."

"That's how imaginary friends work."

"Well, neither of you are imaginary. You're both very much real, and very much oblivious to each other," Lily replied, leaning back and resting her hands on top of her head.

"Yes, yes, I know that. Can we just leave this be though? It'll be fine. Last night really was lovely, and I really don't want to stuff that up. Not again, okay?"

"I'm not happy about it, but okay," Lily said, her voice stern, but kind.

She'd always been like this. She'd always been this caring, this strong. He knew why James had fallen for her, even if he didn't. She was an amazing woman, and most certainly the most responsible of them all. She looked solemn now, just as she did whenever any of them did something stupid. Maybe what he was doing was stupid, but he had to make sure he didn't wreck anything now. He couldn't do that to himself or to Sirius, so filled with indescribable love and gratitude for this flaming woman seated opposite him, he smiled softly, whispering, "thank you."

"I'll always be here for you. Even if you drive me insane. If I couldn't understand insanity I wouldn't be married to Prongs, would I?"

"You definitely would not," Remus laughed, and just like that, they were back to laughter and smiles.

"I wouldn't have survived a day."

"That is also true. But more importantly than that, he never would've fallen for you. He knows just how insane he is. If anything, other people underestimate him, not the other way round."

"That, is the truest thing I've heard."

—

After lunch with Lily, Remus had gone by the supermarket, wincing slightly at his lack of money, but buying the necessities anyway. There was no chance he was going to let Sirius — or anyone — catch him unaware again. Now with the certainty he'd always be prepared for guests, he began the walk home. It wasn't far, and as far as January days in London went, it certainly wasn't that cold. Sure, he probably looked like he was going to the North Pole, with the amount of layers he had on, but at least he wasn't freezing to death.

He had nothing planned for that afternoon, so turning on the heater and the kettle, he sent messages to everyone. Thanking them for a lovely 2018, telling them all how glad he was to have them to go into 2019 with. Sure, it was a bit sappy, and sure, it wasn't like anyone else really sent messages like this for New Year's — occasionally James — but he felt that it was important for people to know how much he appreciated them all. They were all so important to him, they needed to know that. Plus, it had been a tradition ever since he started going to school with James and Peter. Although he'd written letters then.

But now, with that done, and the kettle boiled he settled in front of the heater with a cup of tea and a book, and spent the next hour and a half wrapped up in the story, wrapped up in other people's thoughts, wrapped up in something that wasn't his own. It was one of his favourite things to do, become just another character in someone else's writing. He wondered how an author would write him, if he really was a character. Plain, he guessed. Boring, but hardworking, he supposed. But he wasn't going to think about that now. He was going to revel in the happiness, in the time, in the fact that maybe, maybe things could get sorted out after all.

—

Evening came quickly. After roughly an hour and a half, he'd gotten up and done some planning for the bakery. They'd all be back to work next Monday. But that was done quickly, and so he'd once again gotten lost in a book. Everyone replying with their own replies to the Happy New Year message soon after he'd sent it. Everyone but Sirius, and Peter. Peter, well, Remus wasn't expecting a reply from him, he got awkward when he didn't know how to reply, and Remus didn't blame him, so that was all good. He'd call later and they'd have a good chat. Sirius though, Remus was a little concerned about that.

However, an hour later, or thereabouts, sometime near 6:00. Remus was startled out of his reading by his phone ringing far, far too loudly. When had he ever set it up to be that loud? Such a bad idea on all accounts. On the other hand, in this very moment he was glad it was so loud, because if Sirius was calling, then surely something was wrong?

"Hello? Are you okay?"

"Hey, yeah, everything's good. Just wanted to say thank you for your lovely message."

"Oh, oh, no problem. Yeah, you're welcome."

"Wow, no need to be so enthusiastic, Remy."

"Remy? Really?"

"Absolutely."

"You and your need for nicknames and pet names, I swear."

"What do you swear, Remus Johnathan Lupin?"

"You're an idiot."

"Well, I do believe that Lily thinks so too, if her message this afternoon is anything to go by."

"A message? From Lily? What else did she say?"

"Happy New Year."

"That's it?"

"That's it. Should there have been more?"

"No, no, not at all."

"It sounds like you're avoiding something, Remus Johnathan Lupin."

"Alright, alright. Enough with my name. It's not even my name, you know."
"Well, John's short for Jonathan, isn't it?"

"I mean, yes."

"So therefore your name should be Remus Johnathan Lupin."
"Oh my goodness."

"ANYWAY. Andy has prompted me to get to the point so—"

"There's a point to this?"

"Was that a tinge of disappointment?"
"No, it was a shit ton of surprise."

"Ha. Ha. Ha. So funny. So, to the point."
"Because there is one."
"Shut it. And, would you like to come over for dinner?"

"It's 6:00."

"So?"

"Won't you guys want dinner before I can get there?"

"You need a bike."

"I certainly do not."

"I'll come pick you up?"

"Nah, don't worry, I just checked, it'll only take half an hour."

"You'll let me take you home?"
"We'll see."

"Sure."

"Okay, see you soon. Thanks for the invite."

"Bye!"

And with that, Sirius hung up and Remus sank into his pile of pillows and a blanket. A sigh and a tired hand through his hand had him closing his eyes for a second. Pushing up off the ground, he resolved to introduce Andromeda to the rest of his friends soon, they'd all like each other a lot. Really, it couldn't be only him that Sirius talked about, so surely Andy would want to meet the rest of them too. It was weird, it just being him. He was always so much a part of a group, it was odd being singled out like this. And not in a bad way too. Strange.

Walking to his room, rubbing his hands over his face, he groaned a little as his legs readjusted to standing. He must've been sitting for three hours at least. That was the issue of getting into a good book, he supposed. The only negative, really. Or maybe not the only negative, but pretty close. He tugged off the long sleeved t-shirt he was wearing and replaced it with a grey shirt. He wasn't going to go to someone's house for dinner in something he'd probably spilt tea on. Pulling a jumper over the shirt, and shrugging another jacket on over that, he wondered if he could possibly wear any more layers without being incredibly uncomfortable. In the end he decided that no, he could not. So it was a scarf, a beanie, his finally remembered lip ring and some gloves. Along with his phone and wallet, he made his way out of the apartment and to the bus stop.

It was bitterly cold, and rather windy as well. According to his weather app, it was 5 degrees. Growing up in Wales, he'd been surprised that London had very similar temperatures to his little town, though significantly less rain. Funny that, if you took into account just how often people complained about rain in London. They should all take a trip to Wales, then they'd know just how rainy it could get. However, right at the moment, he was thankful that it wasn't raining. He had absolutely no desire to come into Andromeda's house soaking wet.

The bus came on time — thankfully — and with a quick "thanks", he'd taken a seat. Careful to avoid anyone's gaze, he noticed just how dark the clouds were tonight. It was late, or at least, the sun had gone down long ago, but it was clear that there'd be a heavy downpour soon. Hopefully he could borrow an umbrella from Sirius for his trip home. He didn't fancy being on the bike in the rain. Much safer to be on a bus. Buses had a weird sort of atmosphere, Remus had always thought. There was something about them. That collective togetherness of everyone being on the way to somewhere, whether it be going home, going out, work, school, anything. Of course, you never talk to a stranger, or very rarely. But there's still something about it. Or maybe he was just overthinking it all, and it was really just another way to get from A to B. Which, to be fair, it was.

—

Even if he'd grown up with a lot more rain than London, that didn't mean he wasn't rather annoyed when he did in fact turn up to Andromeda's fairly rained on. Not as bad as he had dreaded, but he had been hoping that the rain could hold up for just a few more minutes as he walked from the bus stop to the house. But no, no apparently not. Hopefully it was only his jacket that got properly wet. He'd really prefer not to be sitting around in a wet shirt as well.

He grinned as Sirius opened the door with an eager Dora running after him. "Hello Sirius, and hello to you too enaid bach."

Stepping aside and waving Remus in, Sirius grinned back. "Hiya Rem." Two seconds later and Remus was being tugged down to Sirius' height for a hug. "How are you?"

"Good. Wet. But good. You?"

"Well, I was dry, but good." Sirius stepped back and smiled, before looking...well, shocked. "You wore it!"

Raising his eyebrows, aware of the confused onlooker — Dora — Remus asked, "What?"
"Don't you pretend now, Remy. You finally remembered the lip ring. It's amazing."

"Yeah, it took long enough, didn't it? So you like it then?"

"Like it?" Sirius practically shouted. "I love it!"

"So I guess it was Remus then?" Andy's voice came, from down the hall.

"Yeah!" Sirius called back, grabbing Dora's hand and setting off to the dining room.

Grinning, Remus followed the two. He could barely believe they'd invited him here, into this home, where everyone seemed to fit together so well. It was like the Potters. It was family. And sure, maybe Andy and Ted weren't liked Lily and James, and that scared him when he was here last, but walking in, standing here, maybe it didn't need to be the same. Because he could feel that even if things weren't okay for everyone here, they all still knew it was home.

"Come on Remus. We'll hang your coat and everything else upstairs. It's not a massive place," Sirius said, already bounding up the stairs.

"Alright, alright." Remus walked after him, not quite running, but far too casual for it to be considered speed walking. "You do know that most places in London aren't massive."

"Yes, yes, I know that. I just wanted to make sure you knew why we were going upstairs. We can't have you feeling awkward."

"So glad you're trying to make me not feel awkward. Unfortunately for you, that's near impossible." Remus grinned, knowing full well that he didn't, in fact, feel awkward.

"Always trying to help you, Remy darling."

"Okay, enough with the Remy."

"You love it."

"Don't you tell me what I love." But he was laughing. They both were. Two nights of laughing in a row? How was he going to cope with that?

They were downstairs and sitting around the table quickly enough. Remus helping Andy take everyone's plates out to the dining room, while Ted, Sirius, and Dora all set the table. More getting in the way of each other than helping, but they were doing their best. Or at least, that was their version of the story. Andromeda had just scoffed and rolled her eyes, shaking her head before telling everyone to just eat. Which they all did, more than happily.

After they'd all finished dinner, Sirius and Dora had — rather suspiciously — offered to pack everything into the dishwasher. Or at least, it became suspicious when Remus stood up to help them and they'd protested somewhat violently. Dora with a shrill "No, no, no!" and Sirius with a "Remus JOHNATHAN, sit back down."

Which Remus did, hands raised in surrender, eyebrows raised. "Should we trust you in the kitchen unsupervised?"

"You've seen me cook!" Sirius exclaimed, mock offended.

"True, but I was supervising then."

A scoff from Sirius and a burst of laughter from Dora had them both walking slowly into the kitchen, adorned with plates and dishes.

"So, how are you Remus?" Andy asked, smiling as they heard a crash from the kitchen.

"Not too bad. Sorry to keep Sirius from you on New Year's." He hadn't actually thought of the impact last night — that sounded strange — might have had on everyone else, until he'd gotten here tonight. "What about you two? How have you been?"

"Yeah, good," both Ted and Andromeda said in unison. Both grinning.

"And don't worry about last night, Remus. Did you both have a nice time?" Ted asked, smiling kindly.

"Yeah, it was really lovely of him to come over. I was certain that he'd want to do more exciting things on New Year's Eve, but definitely glad that he didn't," Remus laughed slightly, it was a whole lot more than lovely.

A few more moments of conversation followed. Andromeda telling Remus how they took Dora to see her first fireworks properly, and about just how busy it had been.

With a surprisingly small amount of yelps from the kitchen, Dora came out, grinning wider than Remus thought he'd even seen anyone grin.

"Everyone, close your eyes," came the order, "Don't open them!"

Nodding in assent, "everyone", closed their eyes. Remus wondered what the surprise could be, and whether or not he should be worried. How much of a mess were they all going to end up in? He had absolutely no idea, and he didn't really care. Though catching the bus in a mess would be uncomfortable.

Music began to play from a speaker somewhere and Remus could hear who he supposed were Sirius and Dora walking out from the kitchen. There were muffled whispers as something was set down on the table, someone walking around the table. Which was all followed by a shouted, "open your eyes!", handfuls of glitter thrown and two very excited grins. Previously, Remus hadn't thought that Dora and Sirius looked much alike, but in this very moment, they were practically siblings. Their grins reaching the end of the world, eyes lit up in excitement, waiting in anticipation for everyone's reaction.

And even while being distracted by their matching grins, Remus was very much impressed with the MASSIVE chocolate cake that now sat in the middle of the table, covered in what Remus hoped was edible glitter. How they had managed to hide it from Andy and Ted, Remus had no idea, but looking at Sirius and Dora now, he had absolutely no doubt that they could achieve absolutely anything they wanted to.

"That's incredible," Remus said, truly taken aback by the sheer size of it. "I knew you could bake, Sirius, but goodness it's usually hard to keep cakes that large straight."

"Holy shit!" Andy gasped at the same time as Remus, quickly covering her mouth with a muffled, "Sorry. Don't say that word Dora."

Ted just sat there, looking amazed and somewhat disconcerted by it all, but grinning nonetheless.

"It was incredibly hard to keep straight," Sirius replied in unison with Dora's, "It was kinda hard, but do you like it?"

Amd as was expected, everyone ignored Sirius' comment and went immediately to assuring Dora that they absolutely loved it.

Remus was amazed with everything about it all. The cake, yes. But also the fact that Sirius had invited him over for this. The fact that everything was so exciting to everyone. And it was. It was all exciting and amazing, and really, even as a bakery, Remus was surprised and impressed that Dora and Sirius had managed to create such a brilliant cake. Let it never be said that either of them were underachievers.

With cake and excitement, it quickly reached 9:00. Long past Dora's bedtime, and they could all tell. Remus couldn't remember how it felt to be tired at six, but he certainly knew how it felt to be tired, and he didn't want to contribute to a messed up sleep schedule for the poor girl. He knew enough about those already. You didn't want one. Six years old, or nineteen. Funny wasn't it? He was only thirteen years older than Dora. He could've almost been her brother. Sirius practically was her brother. Though of course, Sirius had his own brother too.

But if he wasn't going to mess up Dora's sleep anymore, then it was probably best for him to go.

"I suppose I should be on my way home now then. Thanks for inviting me." Remus grinned and added, "and for the cake of course. You two should absolutely come and work at my bakery."

"I appreciate the offer of a job, but you said you'd let me take you home."

"I said that we would see."

"And I said sure, which you knew meant absolutely."

Shaking his head, he wondered why Sirius was like this. "Anyway, thanks Andy, Ted. It was really lovely of you."

"Anytime, dear," Andromeda replied, smiling widely.

"Yeah, it was not a problem. You get home safely, alright?" Ted added, standing to walk Dora — who gave a little wave — upstairs to bed.

"Do you want me to grab your stuff?" Sirius asked, watching Remus curiously.

"No, it's alright. I can get it. You don't have to."

"Okay, cool. You really won't let me take you home on the bike?"

"Not tonight, Siri. Okay?"
"Okay."

"Be down in a minute," Remus said, softly smiling. He didn't quite know why he didn't want Sirius taking him home, but it just wasn't for tonight, and luckily it seemed as if Sirius understood that. So quietly, as to not disturb Dora and Ted, he crept up the stairs, pausing before pushing open the door to Sirius' room. Remus found it amusing that Sirius was the one taking over someone's spare room, rather than himself, but in a way, it was comforting. He wasn't so much of a mess that he was alone.

It didn't take long for him to put all his layers back on, probably looking like a half squashed marshmallow, but if he was going to be warm, then he couldn't afford to care. Heading downstairs, he paused on the landing. It sounded as if Sirius and Andromeda were deep in conversation and he very much didn't want to disturb that, but then again, he did need to go. But what did keep him on the landing, was hearing his name in Sirius' voice. There was something about the way he said it that had Remus frozen still. He couldn't possibly walk into that conversation. Not when Sirius' tone was like...that. Not when Andromeda sounded so achingly patient. He couldn't hear anything but a word here and there, but he didn't want to. Or rather, he did very much want to, but there was no way he was going to go interrupt when they were talking like that.

So he waited. He waited until the murmuring was raised to normal volumes of speaking, and it was only then that he slowly made his way down the rest of the stairs. "So, I guess I should be on my way home then," he began, walking into the room, eyes flicking between Andy and Sirius.

"I suppose you'd say no if I offered to drive you again?"
"Yes, the answer's still the same. I do know how to make my own way home, you know?"
"Yeah, I know."

"Well, thank you again. Goodnight? Don't mess up your sleeping anymore, Sirius. See you soon?"
"Definitely," came from Sirius, accompanied with a grin and a nod from Andromeda.

He didn't know how he could possibly have ended up with such amazing people in his life, but he was endlessly grateful for it .

—

The night had ended with a phone call to Peter, and then one to James and Lily. Both calls lovely. Both calls lifting the darkness that had settled around his apartment after he'd been out. It was always quick to settle. Like it was just waiting, waiting until he went to visit someone. Hanging just outside the door, quick to rush in once he was gone. It was like someone had left plastic wrap over everything, except it wasn't plastic and it certainly wasn't clear. It was dark and it was heavy. It weighed down the rooms, and made Remus shudder every so often.

The rain had picked up again, this time it was fiercer, and he was glad he left Andromeda's when he did. Quickly, he'd shut the windows he'd forgotten to close, and he'd wrapped himself up in a duvet. The heater had been turned on again, and while he winced, he assured himself that he could make it work. He would make it work. He was working hard. Everything for the bakery was planned, and he was supplementing his income with a transcripting online service, any extra pound was helpful. He could make it work, and he would, he would.