Disclaimer: Still not mine.

Warning: Still slash

Dedication: To Illiterate, for following the series!

Author's Note: Just in from work. Tired, Spellchecked this and now I'm sticking it up. Enjoy!

Compromising Circumstances

Chapter Seven

Remus was coming. Remus was going to be there. Sirius was half dreading it. Remus. For some reason, ever since Remus' polite rejection, Sirius had been thinking about him more and more. //I guess it's true what they say. You always want what you can't have.// He sighed, scrubbing at the spilled sauce on the countertop with a ferocity not needed. No matter what he did, or what he told himself, this was going to be awkward. At least cleaning was somewhat taking his mind off of the fact that in about half an hour or less, Remus would be in the apartment.

//As long as he doesn't talk about *him*, I'll be fine.// Sirius tried to tell himself. Harry was in his room, doing whatever it was Harry did in his spare time. Besides look at dirty magazines. He continued scrubbing at the counter top until he looked down and realized he was beginning to wear a smooth spot in the surface of the counter.

//Damn it!// He put the cloth away, and ran a hand through his hair. He had done everything, twice, to get the apartment ready for Remus' arrival. Including making sure the couch really *was* a pullout like he had claimed.

At the knock on the door, Sirius nearly jumped a mile. He hated the fact that he was so jumpy. He took a deep breath, and opened the apartment door, making sure he had a wide smile on his face. He as going to do this right.

"Remmie!" he said, eyes traveling up and down the slender form of Remus Lupin. //Damn. He looks good.// Remus was looking good. His tawny hair-though streaked with white-was neatly trimmed below his ears, and fell in loose waves. His golden eyes had a hint of sparkle to them, and his weathered face was tanned. His plain grey robes were of a moderate cut, and hung off of his lean body nicely.

"Sirius." Remus smiled warmly, and moved to embrace his friend. Sirius kissed him chastely on the cheek, wanting to do much, much more.

"Come on in." He said, pulling away. "Harry! Remus is here!" He raised his voice, to make sure Harry heard him. Having Harry out would definitely help him to restrain himself.

"How is Harry?" Remus asked, setting down his small suitcase.

"He's doing really good." Sirius said, glad of a nice, safe topic. "He's settled in good. He's adjusted and all of that."

"I'm glad to hear it. and how are you adjusting to it all?"

"Oh, we've had a couple of bumps, but I'm doing okay." He smiled sheepishly. "Got a couple of funny stories...hey Harry!" He trailed off as his godson came out of the his bedroom.

"Professor Lupin!" Harry exclaimed, flinging himself across teh room and into Remus arms. Sirius smiled, watching on as teh two embraced. Maybe everything was going to be okay, after all.

"You look very well Harry." Remus said, holding the younger man at arms length. "You've grown up quite a bit."

Sirius had to admit Remus was right. He hadn't really looked at Harry. He was tall and slim, and his tight red T-shirt displayed lean muscles that had been lacking in earlier years. His jeans clung to tight curves and angles, and Sirius decided Harry had grown up. And nicely.

"Thanks. You look really good too." Harry smiled up at his old professor, and Sirius couldn't help but wonder if his godson had a bit of a crush on the werewolf. That would be cute. and who knew...//Hey, Harry's old enough. And I'd much rather see Remmie with him then...// A plan-a very bad plan-began forming in Sirius' mind.

"So, why don't we all go into the living room and catch up?" Sirius said, beaming. //Wait...this is a stupid idea. You want Remmie with *you*, not someone else.// Sirius was a mess. He knew he needed to calm down, or else he was going to do something stupid. He stopped thinking properly when he started to panic.

"Sounds a very good idea." Remus said, putting an arm casually around Harry's shoulders. Sirius felt a small surge of jealousy, and pushed it down. //This is ridiculous. You're just acting like this out of spite. Stop it.// He took a calming breath, and led the way into the living room. He sat down immediately on teh couch, and Harry scurried up to sit beside him. Remus took the chair.

"You know, it's really not fair that Professor Lupin should have to sleep on the couch." Harry said. //He can always sleep in my room...// Sirius added, mentally.

"No, that's fine." Remus said, shaking his head. "Trust me, I've slept on far worse."

"And we don't have a spare room. Not yet, anyway." Sirius reminded Harry.

"He could always sleep in my room, and I could double up with you. I mean, if that's okay..." Harry trailed off, turning wide green eyes onto Sirius.

"Uh...I don't see a problem with it." Sirius said, thinking. //Harry's little. Well, sort of. And I've got a big bed.//

"Oh Harry, I wouldn't want to put you out of your bed." Remus said. "And please, call me Remus. I'm not your professor at the moment."

"It's okay." Harry responded brightly. "I feel bad, you having to sleep on the couch. My bed's pretty comfy. And I've been in Sirius' room, he can stand to have me in there for a few days."

"It's fine, Remmie." Sirius said. "It's a good idea, actually."

"All right then." Remus nodded. "Now...tell me how you two have been getting on."

The next few hours were spent in lighthearted conversation. Sirius decided he was completely be smitten with Remus. He kept watching his hands, remembering what those hands were capable of. Harry and Remus were taking and laughing like old friends, but Sirius could hardly follow the thread of conversation. He excused himself to make dinner, and began chopping vegetables with an angry determination.

"what's wrong?"

he hadn't even heard Remus come into the kitchen. He turned, and found himself meeting a pair of soft golden eyes.

"nothing." he said, forcing himself to smile. //it's not fair. It's not right.//

"You can't lie to me, Sirius." Remus said, softly. He approached Sirius, eyes concerned and partially hurt. "It's because of Severus, isn't it?"

"Don't be stupid." But Sirius looked away, and turned back to the vegetables. //So I was right. God damn it! Fucking hell!// The knife he was using smacked down harder now.

"Sirius..." Remus placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Please. I don't want things to be difficult between us."

"Then stop seeing Snape." Sirius regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth, as well as the bitter tone with which he had spoken. "Sorry." he said, setting down the knife. "But you know how I feel about him."

"Yes. I do know." Remus nodded. "But I feel about him as well. In a much different manner, but still...he was not exactly eager to enter into in agreement with me. I am going to try to make this work. I've been attracted to him for a while now, and I think we make a good match."

"Good for you." Sirius said, wanting to pout or throw a fit.

"You..." Remus took a deep breath. "You need someone younger. Mentally, you're still only twenty or so. You have fifteen years of life experience missing. This is what I meant when I said we were different people now."

"Whatever." Sirius was hurting, and nothing Remus could say was going to make him stop hurting. //Snape. He wants Snape over me. Because I've got mental problems?// Sirius gritted his teeth. //That's not what he meant, and you know it. He's got a point. You *do* need someone younger. You've got to get this ideal f Remmie out of your head. Come on...if he's wasting himself on Snape, he can't be that great a lover.//

"Please, Sirius...I'm very fond of Severus."

"He was going to turn you over to the Dementors!"

"Only because he thought I was dangerous. He was doing what was, in his mind, the right thing."

"you're going to defend him no matter what I say, aren't you?" Sirius shook his head, amazed.

"Most likely, yes." Remus nodded. "I don't have much in my life anymore, Sirius. Severus makes me happy. I would very much like to be happy."

"Yeah, yeah yeah. You deserve to be happy." Sirius grumbled. //Why does my life suck so badly?//

"You will find someone, I swear to you." Remus said. "You deserve to be happy also."

"Then why the hell can't we be happy together?" Sirius whirled on Remus. "Look, I know what your answer is. But I'm still pissed. I want you, and I can't just turn that off. You've just got to let me deal with the fact that you'd rather be with Snape then me."

"Then deal with it please, so we can enjoy our time together." Remus squeezed Sirius' arm again. "Now let's just enjoy dinner..."

***

Sirius nearly collapsed into bed, feeling exhausted and still upset. He heard a loud squeak from underneath him, and rolled off of the large lump he had lain down on. It was Harry, already in bed.

"Sorry!" Sirius said, rolling over and giving a sheepish grin.

"No problem." Harry sat up, and Sirius gave a small hiss. Harry was shirtless. //Shit. Harry *did* grow up!// Sirius felt himself thinking thoughts he shouldn't be having. //Seventeen year old godson...not just legal sex kitten.// But Sirius couldn't stop his mouth from watering at the sight of Harry's sleek, bare chest. //Stop it...stop it...and I have to sleep next to him? Great. Knowing my luck, I'll wake up humping his leg.// Sirius just nodded in Harry's direction.

"Well...good night." He said, turning over and looking at the wall.

"So...did you talk to Remus about whatever it was you were going to talk to him about?"

"Yup. It's all good. Good night." Sirius really wanted to go to sleep. But then Harry snuggled up close to him, throwing one arm around Sirius' waist. //Oh...this is gonna be great. He's bringing whatever happens onto himself...// Fifteen years with nothing, and now he had a half naked young man in his bed. It was going to be a long, long night. //This isn't gonna be good.//

And those were Sirius' last coherent thoughts of the night.

~~~~~~

Hmmm....things start to heat up!