Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 951

Even The Little Moments Matter

It was the middle of the night, but Sirius couldn't sleep. His mind was working too fast and every attempt at turning it off was met with even more thoughts that he couldn't shake away. He slipped from the bed, smiling slightly when Remus protested in his sleep, cuddling deeper into the blankets when Sirius' warmth left the bed.

Sirius moved silently through the small flat they shared into the living room. Remus' paperwork still littered the coffee table, and Sirius' book was resting on the arm of the sofa, open to the page he'd left it at.

The sink held their mugs from just before they'd retired, the rings around the rim stained from the hot chocolate. Remus refused to go to bed without at least one mug full, and it had been cold enough that Sirius had joined him instead of sipping at a beer, like he preferred in the summer.

Sirius crossed to the window and looked out over the street. It was unnaturally still at night, the street lights casting shadows over the road. There wasn't even a cat out, inspecting the bins. Looking out into the peaceful stillness, it was hard to believe that a war was raging all around them.

It seemed almost impossible, really, that only three days earlier, Sirius and Remus had been fighting for their lives alongside their friends.

Almost, because when Sirius moved, he could still feel the ache in his ribs from a bludgeoning hex he hadn't quite been able to escape.

Thoughts of that battle, of James skimming a green light far too closely, of Regulus behind a mask that might as well have been invisible to Sirius' eyes, of Remus telling him quietly that Dumbledore thought Remus might be able to get somewhere with the Werewolves that were underground….

The thoughts jumbled up in his mind, and really, it was no surprised that Sirius couldn't sleep, when his waking hours were filled with so much uncertainty and fear.

It wasn't all bad, not at all, and he knew that he was also lucky, despite the war, and the pain.

There was Remus with a his warm eyes and his kind smiles and his gentle touches. They had their friends. They had days where things could be perfect, if they could only force reality away for a little while.

There was still laughter, and there was still love, and for that, Sirius would always be grateful. Even without the war, Sirius wouldn't have taken Remus for granted, but the world they were currently inhabiting just made that all the more important.

Even the little things mattered, when there were people willing and even hoping to tear you apart at the seams.

Sirius pondered making tea, but decided against it. Just the idea of it seemed like an effort, and now that he'd climbed out of bed, he was suddenly exhausted. He sunk down into the overstuffed armchair closest to the window and let his head fall back against the cushion, closing his eyes.

He knew, if he let himself, he could probably fall asleep here. Only knowing that Remus was waiting for him in the bedroom stopped Sirius from falling prey to the sandman. The few times Sirius had let himself sleep in the living room, Remus had worried for days afterwards, biting his bottom lip and watching Sirius so carefully, like he was made of porcelain.

It warmed Sirius' heart, to know that Remus loved him so much, but occasionally, he could find that love overwhelming. Probably because he'd never had it before, he knew.

"Sirius?"

Sirius blinked his eyes open and looked to the door, where Remus, sleep crumpled and adorable, swayed slightly against the frame.

He was so precious.

"You okay?"

Sirius nodded and smiled. "Just couldn't sleep," he murmured. "Why are you up?"

"I woke up and you weren't there," Remus admitted, his voice sleep rough and throaty. It sent a thrill through Sirius, the same way it always did, that he was permitted to have this, to have Remus when he was still half asleep and vulnerable.

The trust was still enough to make Sirius dizzy sometimes.

"Sorry, baby," he replied. "I didn't mean to wake you."

Remus nodded and stumbled forwards until he was in front of Sirius, and held out his hand. Sirius immediately placed his own into the calloused fingers, and tugged Remus down into his lap.

Remus blinked up at him, his lips tilting into a fond smile. "I was planning to pull you up, not end up down here."

"I like you here," Sirius said, wrapping his arms around Remus and hugging him tightly. "You fit so perfectly here, like you belong here."

"I do belong here," Remus stated, strong and undeniable, even in his sleep addled state. "Right here, with you."

Sirius nodded, pressing his lips to Remus' head to save himself from having to answer. He still struggled with it sometimes, the emotions that threatened to drown him whenever Remus did something or said something like that.

It made Sirius' heart ache, but in a good way.

"Sirius, come back to sleep," Remus murmured, after a long moment passed. He pushed himself to his feet and pulled the willing Sirius along with him, tugging him back towards their bedroom.

They climbed into bed, and Remus cuddled closer immediately, pressing his face into the hollow of Sirius' shoulder. Sirius wrapped his arms back around Remus and held him close, listening as Remus' breath evened out into sleep once more.

His own eyelids were heavier now, and his thoughts had slowed, zeroing in on the man in his arms.

Sirius fell asleep with a small smile on his face.

Written for:

Disney - C4. Iridessa - Write about someone on the 'light' side of the war.

Showtime - 44. Best of Wives, Best of Women: (time) middle of the night

Attic - 44. "[Name], come back to sleep."

Pop Figure - Foggy Nelson - 1. Sirius Black / 2. Paperwork

FunFair - Sponge Throwing - Liza, RemusSirius

Funfair - Hook a Pygmy Puff - Archibald - Action, Cuddling

365 - 148. Precious