A/N: This is the next bit, after this if the review count stays low you can count on a bit of a wait for more.

It had taken three days and more useless promises than he'd ever made before in his life but his mother had agreed, at last, to let him go to Lily's party. He'd been trying not to laugh for the last fifteen minutes at her lecture about behaving himself among all those girls. If she only knew. But it did remind him of another problem, what costume to wear to the party. Though he knew Sirius had only been joking about coming in drag he didn't doubt he'd find some way to match whatever costume Remus chose. He smiled at the thought. Perhaps Sirius had an idea, after all he had made that cryptic comment about muggle books.

He smiled wider remembering Easter break. The others had gone home and they'd been blessedly alone, a condition his mother's social climbing would be sure to duplicate next month. They'd spent long hours in bed but they'd also spent time out on the grounds curled up together in the fine weather reading. But then nothing they'd read together offered any costume ideas.

"I'm serious Remus, stop smirking like that, I don't want to receive any letters about how you've behaved ungentlemanly," His mother warns him bringing him back to the present.

"Mother, I have no intention of misbehaving, I swear to you, I'm just contemplating my costume. And wondering what my friends will wear," Remus explains.

"Yes, about that, I'm busy all this week dear, you'll have to go to Diagon Alley yourself. I'll give you some money after dinner," She says starting toward the front door where her guests are arriving.

"Yes Mother," He called after her more out of course than any belief that she'd hear him. He made his way into the study still pondering a costume. He penned a brief note to Lily saying he'd come to the party and then he took a blank sheet of parchment upstairs to write to Sirius.

"Dear Siri,

Mum's agreed to let me go to the party at last but I have no idea what costume to wear. Any ideas Love? I got the feeling you had something in mind on the train but I simply can't guess what it is. I miss you terribly. The bed's too cold at night without you. And if I have to meet the eligible young niece of one more of mother's friends I'm going to tell her something she's not ready to hear. If only she'd listen to grandmother that it's 'too soon' for all that. But then Mum's never listened to anyone, least of all me. Promise you won't let her chase you off, Please Siri?

Love you and see you soon,

Remus"

It didn't say half what he wanted too but if Sirius' father read it there was already more than enough in it to ensure he canceled Sirius visit next month.

Sirius chuckles as he reads Remus' letter and Declan looks at him curiously, "What is it Mac?"

"Remus is complaining that his Mum is making him meet ever girl that's even remotely related to one of her friends, and he's gotten a bit colorful about how much he appreciates it," Sirius explains.

"She always did seem like more than a bit of a pain," Declan says making a face. "But he's your friend you shouldn't laugh at his troubles."

"I'm not laughing at his problem with his mum, just the way he's worded his displeasure Da. Believe me I'd never think that something that upsets Remus this much is funny," Sirius tells him honestly. "Now when he's embarrassed and turns the most adorable shade of red that is downright hilarious but it's not the same thing, is it?"

Declan looks at him oddly, since when does his son use words like adorable to describe anything, "What ever you say mac."

"Everything alright Da? You're looking at me oddly. Is there something you wanted to tell me?" Sirius asks curiously.

"No mac, but is there something you want to tell me?" Declan returns cautiously.

"Like what?" Sirius evades the question, he's definitely hiding something.

"Anything at all. Surely there must be something that's happened since August that you haven't written to me about," Declan suggests to see what his son will come up with. "Perhaps the reason you're so eager to go to this party?"

"Because how often do you get to go to a muggle costume party, honestly? And I love Lils like the sister I never had. And the more chances to see my friends the merrier I always say," Sirius gives him a roguish grin as he says this.

"And that's all?" Declan says seriously doubting that's the whole reason.

"That's not enough reason?" Sirius seems confused by that.

"It's enough reason to want to go but you're positively bouncing off the walls about it," Declan explains calmly.

"I'm always bouncing off the walls Da," Sirius says laughing.

"Keep your secrets Sirius, but I will find out eventually you know," Declan warns. "And as I already have my suspicions maybe it's best if you tell me now."

Sirius suddenly looks nervous, "Look I know it's a bit of a surprise and all. I wouldn't change it if I could but it's not something I was looking for either..."

"It might help if you told me what it is Sirius," Declan pushes gently though he's fairly sure he knows.

"I'm trying Da," Sirius complains nervously. "I probably should have told you last summer when you asked if there was a special girl in my life but I didn't know how to say it..."

"Breath mac," Declan reminds gently.

Sirius takes a deep breath and runs a hand through his hair. "What I mean to say is there is a special someone in my life- there was long before I knew what any of it meant- but you said at the time 'girl,'" He pauses as if expecting an outburst. When one doesn't come he continues cautiously, "I've been seeing Remus for a little over a year and a half. This party is going to be our first truly public date though no one will actually know it's us."

"A year and a half?" Declan says in disbelief. "You've never kept a secret from me for more than three weeks before unless you were at school."

"I've only ever had one I thought might upset you enough to make you hate me..." Sirius almost whispers.

Declan looks at him with a worried expression on his face, "What have I always told you mac?"

"That you'll always love me, no matter what I do," Sirius recites hopefully.

"Who you chose to date will never change how much I care about you. But I do want to talk to you about this," Declan tells him pouring them each another cup of tea. "Does his mother know?"

"No, no one knows. But his mum is the reason we're scared to tell people. He knows her opinion on the matter and it's not encouraging..." Sirius explains softly.

"But she's protective of him?" Declan asks.

"Very," Sirius assures, leaving out the fact that this is mostly in theory.

"And you promise me you'll behave yourself?" Declan tilts his head to the left a bit as he always does when something is important.

"Yes, I promise we'll behave," Sirius feels bad though it's the truth because he knows Declan means to include no fooling around in 'behaving' but he has no such intention.

"Then you can still stay with him as planned," Declan says with a soft sigh that suggests he knows his love of his son is out weighing his better judgment. "So you say he's special?"

"He's the one Da. When I kiss him it's like the whole world could end at that very moment and it would be okay because I'm right where I belong," He smiles, "and when I get lost in his eyes I never want to find my way back again."

Declan chuckles, "Then I suppose I should be grateful you tore yourself away long enough to come home, eh mac?"

"I'll always come home Da, I promise you that. I just hope I won't always have to come home alone. I'd miss the way the banshee scares the muggles up the hill. And you know you make the best apple and barley pudding around, but most of all Da you know I love you, I couldn't stay away, not even for Remus. Not that he'd ever ask it of me."

"And he's always welcome here Sirius, don't you worry about that," Declan tells him with a smile. "Now go up to your room and write back to him already. "

Sirius gets up and hugs him before leaving the room, "Thanks for understanding Dad."

"No thanks required," Declan tells him as he leaves the room.

Sirius hurries up to his room with Remus' letter in hand. He pulls some parchment and ink from his desk, collects a quill from the drawer and drops down on his bed.

"Dear Remus,

I'm glad you're coming to the party Love, it wouldn't be nearly so much fun without you. Though I am sorry to hear she's trying to pawn you off on every girl for miles. It's enough to turn a boy territorial. I miss you too, more than I can say. And no one could ever 'chase me off' where you're concerned Remus. I told you I could never keep a secret from Da, and it turns out that this is no different. He knew there was a special reason I was so excited about this party and asked me what was going on. I told him and he took it well. He hasn't even canceled our plans next month. It's one obstacle down at least. As for the party, yes I did have an idea about our costumes. Frankly I'm hurt that you don't remember ceadsearc. But then perhaps you discounted it because I didn't like Malory's telling. Or because they're historical figures. I was thinking we might go to the party as Arthur and Lancelot, after all swearing my life, and my sword, to you sounds like a most agreeable situation to me. What do you say?

With all my heart,

Siri"

He brings the letter downstairs to Alexis, the family owl and slowly enters the kitchen, an unasked question still at the forefront of his mind. "Da, can I ask you something?"

"You know you can mac," Declan reminds him smiling.

"What would Mama think of this- of me?" His voice shakes and the use of the word mama betrays how important this question is to him.

"Come here," Declan instructs softly, cursing the world which can make his bright cheerful son this frightened that it's not all right to be who he is. "You were the light in your mathair's life, that's why she named you after a star," He strokes his son's hair as he would when he had nightmares as a child. "She never hated anyone or anything and there is no way she'd make an exception for you on that. There's never anything wrong with being who you are mac. And don't let anyone tell you anything different."

"Thank you Athair, I needed that," His word choice was once again a sign of how heavily his mother was weighing on his mind.

Quick Glossary of Gaelic terms

mac- son

ceadsearc- sweetheart

mathair- mother

athair- father