Title: Baby Boom! 3/18

Author: Mariann

Rating: R

Pairing: Sirius/Remus

Category: Between Fluff, Fun and Fighting

Summary: Sirius and Remus grow up, find love, start a family and fight the Dark Lord

Disclaimer: Belongs to JKR - no money's made from my poor attempts at writing

A/N: AU - The Willow Incident does not happen in this story. Peter is loyal and a spy for Dumbledore. Remus and Sirius are destined to fight Voldemort - will they succeed? A fair amount of children are born in this story - to spite the Death Eaters of course! This part gets a bit graphic when our two boys get together

3. In love with his best friend?

Behind the closed door Sirius transformed to the dog for fun. He slumped down in front of Remus, who sat on the carpet with his legs spread apart. Remus dug his hands deep into the shaggy pelt of the dog and caressed him. He felt his heart pound and when he noticed that he was actually caressing Sirius, he blushed and let go. Sirius turned around and gave Remus a little shove with his big paw. Remus gripped it and said:

"You know, Sirius, you're a right Padfoot!"

James laughed and said:

"What a great nickname you've given Sirius, Moony!"

"Matches mine in its idiotic way..." said Remus, who had yet to get accustomed to the nickname with which his friends had tagged him after they had found out about his werewolf.

"Yours fits you perfectly, you're always mooning over something, Remus!" James insisted.

Sirius barked.

"So you would like to be called Padfoot?" Remus asked.

The dog nodded and dropped down again. He looked at Remus with a penetrating stare, whined a bit and barked happily when Remus' hands returned to dig in the thick fur.

"I don't think, anyone would be afraid of this Grim," he sniggered.

"I don't think so either. Padfoot can't hide his lovable character," James confirmed. "But come on back, Siri, how about some Exploding Snap?"

"Okay," Sirius said, transforming back swiftly. Remus pulled his hand away immediately, blushing again.

He knew he couldn't hide his crush on Sirius for much longer. If the blushing didn't give him away, then it would be how he looked at his friend and his love for Padfoot, the dog. It was true that seeing Padfoot for the first time had given his crush the last push. Remus liked to think of it as a crush, but deep down he knew that he was in love with Sirius. It made him afraid, because he didn't expect Sirius to return his feelings. He wasn't sure about Sirius' sexual orientation. It was the heydays of glitter rock and Sirius had grown quite fond of the Muggle music scenes, he loved everything between hard rock and glitter. He had bought a whole new wardrobe which expressed those tastes. Flared jeans, so tight he could hardly sit down, glittery outfits, t-shirts which barely reached the upper rim of the trousers, high heeled boots. At the end of the last school year, Lily and her friends had introduced him to make-up, which he loved and now he was rarely seen without polished nails, kohl around his eyes and glittery colours on the lids. He wasn't too fond of lipstick, but he did apply some gloss sometimes. His hair had grown out to reach his shoulder blades and the black mass looked very tempting to Remus, who would have loved to rake through that even more than through Padfoot's thick fur.

So Remus wasn't sure if this was just Sirius' fashion sense or if it was an expression of his sexuality. Of course, looking a bit effeminate made Sirius also look like a bit of a poof, but it wasn't really a hint, because so many boys around them acted the same way, even around their girlfriends. When Remus reminisced a bit about it, he remembered that Sirius didn't look particularly interested in girls. At school he would usually mostly ignore them, even though many of them were in awe about his good looks. He thought that many a girl would be ready to overlook his less pleasant character traits just to be the one to go with him.

But it wasn't that he had seen Sirius with boys, either.

"Why don't you get together with some of those girls who would love to date you at Hogwarts, Sirius?" he asked, out of the blue.

The next moment he thought he must be crazy and wanted to vanish into the tiniest hole he'd fit in. Sirius looked up from his cards and gasped a little. He stared at Remus and replied with all the coolness he could muster:

"Maybe I'm not interested in them..."

James looked up as well. He usually grinned about Sirius' antics in dressing up and playing the ponce, but he had thought it to be just that, acting. Now he wondered.

"What, are you gay?" he asked, not really expecting an answer.

"Think so. Just usually can't stand the girls when they get too close. And too girly... all giggly and excitable..."

Remus' heart pounded. If Sirius was gay... he smiled at his friend. Sirius noted the smile and he meant to feel a difference in this smile to Remus' usual smiles. While Remus was still fighting to accept his sexual orientation, Sirius had left that stage already behind even though he had never told his friends about it yet. Sirius carried a torch for his friend, had done so for about two years and for Sirius it had been a sign of fate that his Animagus form was a dog. One canine for another, yes? But how to tell your best friend you're in love with him? He didn't say so, but he loved the nickname Remus had just bestowed on him. For Sirius this nickname was like a very personal gift from his love interest. He loved Remus' hands in his fur and wished he could feel them on his skin instead of the fur. He hoped that one day Remus would notice that Padfoot came out often for Remus alone. He sometimes hated himself, because it felt like he was manipulating Remus. He knew Remus couldn't resist the dog and he would freely do to the dog what he probably wouldn't do to the human counterpart. He rubbed his fur, played with him and loved to tussle and mock-fight. Remus wouldn't mock-fight with the boy Sirius. He thought it was too childish. But he never hesitated to really play with the dog, no matter how silly the games became. Sirius knew it and took advantage of it. He loved to see Remus leaving his inhibitions behind when he wrestled and played with Padfoot.

A while later James asked if someone was willing to play chess with him. Remus was, so they brought the board out and set the game up on the carpet in front of the fireplace. Sirius transformed again and put his head in Remus' lap. Remus absentmindedly caressed the big doggy head and Padfoot sighed. James observed his two friends. Padfoot lay on his side, all four legs stretched out, with his head on Remus' lap. It looked so sweet and cosy, so James got up quickly. Before Remus noticed what was going on, James had snapped a few photos.

"You two are too cute for words!"

Remus groaned.

"I'm not cute!" he protested. "Not so sure about Padfoot here, though. Big as he is, he really looks cute with that shiny black nose and those pale eyes. And your tongue lolling out."

The dog panted slightly, to hide his sniffing for Remus' scent. He looked up and turned his head, so that he could lick Remus' hand.

"Hey! No licking here, Padfoot!"

Remus wiped his hands on his jeans. He looked at Sirius with a reproachful glance, but Sirius didn't seem to care much. In fact, Sirius was as happy as could be. He was close to his love and if that was all he would get he happily took it.

After a fairly intensive battle James won the game. It was too late to start another one, so Remus got up and said:

"I'm really tired, even though I slept a lot today. I think, I'm going to bed."

"Okay. You can have the bathroom first then..." James said and watched Remus leave the room, closing the door behind himself.

"Turn back, Sirius!" James told his friend.

Sirius reappeared. He shook his hair out and crossed his legs. James looked at him for a moment, then he said:

"I think you have a thing for Moony."

"You think? - I know..." Sirius said sadly.

"So why don't you do anything about it?" James asked. He was rather amused.

"Well, how do I tell him? I don't think he likes me back this way. He loves the dog, and I know he really likes me, but we're friends, aren't we? I don't think he swings that way either..."

James just grinned. He didn't know if Sirius really hadn't seen it, but he had noticed the blushes. He pointed out:

"I've seen Remus blush at least three times tonight. And only because of something you did or said. Maybe that was why he asked you about your disinterest in girls..."

"Do you think so? It did come a bit out of the blue, didn't it?"

"Absolutely. I was almost shocked that he asked. It's not usually like Remus to do something like that. It could well be a sign, couldn't it?"

"Don't know..."

Sirius was at a loss for words. He wasn't ready to believe that his dream could actually come true. James went on:

"And hey, he gave you a nickname! I haven't heard something like that from Moony ever before. He usually doesn't use nicknames at all. And not just any nickname, he's given you the best nickname I could imagine. A real dog's name."

Sirius smiled.

"It's true that, isn't it? I don't think he'd give me an answer if I asked him though..."

"Just give him more signs. Smile at him, things like that. Try to spend more time with him, like when he goes to the library at Hogwarts. I'm sure he'd love that."

"James Potter, the great prat, giving love advice! That must be the best joke in the world," Sirius grinned, feeling very self-conscious.

"Hey, I resent that!"

"Well, so far you haven't found a way into the heart of Miss Lily Evans yet, have you?"

"But I will. I'm going to change my tactics this year. If you're running after the wolf, I'll have time to behave a bit better. That will convince her of my sincerity over short or long. She'll fall for me yet, you'll see!" James said.

"Ever the self-confident James Potter... wish you the best of luck. If she'd loosen up a bit she'd be perfect for you."

Remus poked his head around the door.

"Bath is free!" he called.

"Thanks, Remus! - I'll go and brush my teeth quickly then," Sirius said and got up.

"I'm coming with you if you don't mind."

"Nah, I don't mind, that's okay."

A few minutes later Sirius turned the knob of his door and went inside. Remus had already undressed and wore only his shorts and a thin t-shirt. Sirius threw a quick glance at the tiny, but lovely round arse of his friend. He sighed a bit, then closed the door again and shed his clothes. Remus slipped into the bed and pulled up the comforter.

"Good night, Siri," he said.

"Night, Rem..." Sirius replied and climbed into his own bed.

There was a small fire burning in the fireplace, otherwise there was no light. Sirius turned around, so he could see the shock of brown hair on Remus' head. Remus had turned his back to the bigger bed and pulled the comforter up to his chin. Sirius smiled. It was the way Remus always slept.

After a few hours Sirius woke up, hearing strange sounds in the room. He realised it was Remus, thrashing around in the middle of a nightmare. He moaned and there were tears spilling from his tightly closed eyes. Sirius was up in an instant. He sat on the edge of Remus' bed and grabbed his shoulders.

"Remus! Rem! Come on, wake up, Moony! It's just a dream!"

Remus woke up and stared at Sirius. He slumped back on the bed and mumbled:

"Sorry for waking you..."

"No problem, Rem. Post transformation shite?"

"Yeah. The usual drivel, too. I just can't seem to wake myself up from those dreams. I really hate them..."

"It's okay, Moony, don't worry about waking me up. I'm glad if I can pull you out. Want to come over and cuddle?"

He nodded to the big bed. Remus shoved the comforter down and sat up. He followed Sirius and the two settled in the big bed, Remus in Sirius' arms. They were asleep within minutes and there were no more bad dreams.

Remus had a few bad dreams in the next nights. It was nothing new for Sirius and James, they were actually quite used to it, as Remus had lots of nightmares at Hogwarts, too, mostly only for a couple of nights after the full moon. So Sirius and Remus got lots of cuddling time, which both very secretly enjoyed on a whole different level, but both were insecure enough not to be fully honest about their motivation to enjoy the other's closeness.

In their interaction with the elder Potters neither showed anything other than exuberant teenage boys. James never got a moment to talk with Remus alone, but he was determined to give him a hint about Padfoot's feelings. It took two out of the three weeks until James got his opportunity. They had decided to go to Diagon Alley on the Friday before the last week of the break. The Alley was full of shoppers, lots of school mates who were out doing the same, but they enjoyed it. At some point Sirius left them to see his lawyers to retrieve his Gringotts key and get some money. James and Remus went ahead and bought the books they'd need for the coming school year. They had all done very well on their OWLS. All three had chosen the same NEWTS level subjects, they would be taking Transfiguration, Charms, Defence, Potions, Herbology and Ancient Runes. They didn't know yet what Peter intended to take, but they were quite sure he would drop Potions. Remus would have liked to drop that subject, too, but he knew that if he would want to become an Auror he had to take it. He had done well enough in his OWL to be eligible, which had astonished him. He never expected to have a mark as good as the E he got.

"Remus..." James started, while they went to Florean Fortescue's, where they were to meet up with Sirius again.

"Hmm?" Remus asked, already with his nose deep inside of the new Defence text book.

James smiled. Remus would always put his books first, his friends second and most else long after that.

"Say, when Sirius told us he's gay..."

Remus' ears perked up. He turned to James, who grinned.

"Thought, that'd fetch you from your book..."

"What?"

"I think he's got a thing for you. Would that shock you too much to even think about it?"

Remus' eyes became slits.

"You 'think' or you 'know'?"

"Well, more like 'know'..." James admitted.

"Did he ask you to talk to me?"

"No! He'd probably kill me if he knew... but if you return his feelings, then I think it would be awful to watch the two of you trying to give each other hints and at the same time trying your best not to see them. Don't you think?"

"Does he give me hints?" Remus asked, honestly astonished.

James rolled his eyes.

"Don't you see them? Could he be any more blatant short of saying it? Every time he's turning into Padfoot... he wants you to pet and tickle him, not anyone of us. 'Cause he loves you."

"Oh." Remus said.

"So - do you want the hints?"

Remus couldn't stop his smile. If it was true... then yes, he wanted those hints very much. But then he said:

"Yes, I think, I do. But what if he means something entirely different?"

"He doesn't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Asked him. He didn't deny it, on the contrary."

"Oh." Remus said again.

They had just reached Florean Fortescue's, when they spotted Sirius coming from the other side. He grinned and waved and waited for them. Together they looked for a table and went to order their ice creams. Then they sat in the sun. Remus passed a big bag over to Sirius and said:

"Here, your books, Siri."

"Thanks. How much?"

"Two Galleons, fourteen Sickles and three Knuts," Remus replied.

Sirius slurped some of the melting ice cream and reached for his purse, to pay Remus back. He didn't have enough Sickles, so he said:

"Here, take three Galleons. You can get me a couple of sugar quills at Hogsmeade next time..."

"Okay."

Remus took the coins and placed them in his own purse. He had already received his allowance for the term, which was quite comfortable. His parents had added the estimated amount he would need for the supplies. The three of them enjoyed their ice creams and talked to some of their school mates passing by. Sirius enjoyed it especially. He had never known freedom like this before, now he was almost overwhelmed. His mother had usually just pulled him through the shops and then taken him home again immediately. In the last summer she had even left him at home and bought his supplies alone. He thought of her and shivered. He would forever remember the harpy who screamed and raged, who mistreated him at the slightest misbehaviour. He could never be sure that he did behave either, because she would redefine misbehaviour every day. He would be in fear of his mother as long as she would be alive.

Remus noticed his faraway look. He nudged Sirius lightly and Sirius shook his head, looking at his friend questioningly.

"Come on, Siri! We're going. I need some stuff still..."

"Okay."

Sirius grabbed his bag and checked that his purse was in its proper place, then he walked out next to Remus.

"Where have you been just now, Siri? You looked so lost..."

Sirius sighed.

"Just thought about how my mother would never let me out alone. It's still incredible to be away from that place, Moony! I've never had this freedom."

Remus smiled. He looked up to Sirius, who was about half a head taller now that Remus had caught up a bit. He gave Sirius a hug.

"You've really deserved to find that freedom, Padfoot. In less than three months you're of age anyway and don't need to bother with them anymore."

"Yeah..."

They were bustled around in the mass of people who were out on this sunny August day. Someone gave Sirius a little push to move, but shoved him into Remus, who was startled. Sirius had to throw his arms around his friend to keep his balance. For a few seconds they stared into each others' eyes. Remus turned to Sirius in the embrace, looked up and their mouths were very close, their lips almost brushed against each other, when they heard James:

"Come on, where are you guys?"

An instant before James came around another group of people and saw them, they let each other go. Remus' heart was beating very fast. They had been so close! Did that mean that James was right?

He decided to test the grounds. When they went to bed that night, he waited for Sirius to come to the room and when Sirius was climbing into his bed, Remus walked to his with a little sway to his hips that made Sirius gasp. Remus threw a quick surreptitious glance behind himself and what he saw made him sing and dance inside. Sirius stood frozen next to his bed, staring at Remus, who stuck his arse out a bit more when he bent down to hold up the comforter and slip into the bed. Sirius let out a tiny grunt, turned around and came over to Remus. He pulled the smaller boy around, pulled him into his arms and asked in a whisper:

"Remus! What was that this afternoon? Were you about to kiss me?"

"I think so. Were you about to kiss me? Would you have if James hadn't interrupted?"

Sirius nodded. He bent down slowly and pressed his lips onto Remus'. For a moment they just explored the feelings of each other's lips touching very lightly, but Remus wrapped his arms around Sirius' waist and got closer. All he could think was: 'James was right, James was right...'

With a soft gasp he opened his lips a tiny bit and touched Sirius' with his tongue. Almost immediately he felt how Sirius let him inside, he met another tongue, warm, wet and that first touch sent a jolt of pleasure through his whole body. Sirius moaned. He pulled a bit and both of them moved over to his bed, but this time they slipped inside there fully aware of the other's feelings. Their lips locked again. Sirius wasn't the only one who moaned now. Remus responded in kind and he pressed himself against Sirius' body.

Both realised they were aroused at the same time. Both blushed, but the kissing was so good, so they just returned to more of it.

"Mm," Remus made.

Sirius smiled into the kiss. He had never kissed like this before. A few stolen kisses from girls, which meant nothing and had done even less for him, one kiss with a boy behind the broom shed at Hogwarts after a Quidditch practice, which had only left him more confused, because it didn't seem to work better than with the girls was the sum of his experiences. But now, this, it was like a bomb exploding inside of him. He felt a whole avalanche of feelings rush through him and he found that his cock was hard without even touching it. Then he realised he was pushing against Remus and Remus was just as hard. He could feel it easily through the thin fabric of two pairs of boxers. He drew another deep breath.

"Remus..." he sighed.

"Siri," came the quiet, almost shy reply.

"Remus, you're not just playing with me, are you?"

Remus shook his head.

"No!" he almost shouted.

"I've been in love with you for so long... so long," Sirius mumbled and kissed Remus again.

Each kiss sparked more fire. Each kiss burned longer and was felt deeper and more intimately. Remus clung to Sirius and was kissing with as much vigour as he felt it from Sirius.

"I love you, too, Siri," he said in a low voice, when they took time to catch some breath.

Sirius closed his eyes and said a quick thank you to whatever deity was out there listening to his mind. He started to caress Remus over the shoulders, his arms, his back, then he stuck his hands under Remus' shirt and heard the gasp Remus let out.

"Nnnng..." Remus made, then: "Just don't stop, this feels so good..."

And to show Sirius what he meant, he mirrored the action, pushing his hand underneath the t-shirt and groping for Sirius' nipples, which he pinched, then caressed with the palm of his hand. Sirius reacted promptly with another thrust of his hip toward Remus.

"Yes!" Sirius hissed.

The t-shirts were removed quickly. In the flickering light of the dying fire they looked at each other, discovering each other with their sense of touch more than their eyes. Remus burrowed his head in Sirius' chest and took deep breaths, inhaling Sirius' scent until he had it memorised forever. He smelled a bit differently than usually. Remus noticed that this was Sirius' scent when he was aroused.

Sirius turned on his back and pulled Remus along. Remus straddled him and placed himself so that their cocks were lying side by side. There was still the fabric of their boxers, but both could feel through the thin material. Remus pressed down a bit. Sirius moaned.

"Aw! Aw, Remus! Remus, yes!"

He pulled Remus close, held him tightly and thrust upwards, Remus pressed down and it didn't take more than a few minutes until both of them reached their orgasms. It was earth shattering for Remus. He had masturbated like everyone else, but rarely and only under extremely tight silencing charms. He had heard all of his dorm mates more than once. He had reached a number of quite nice orgasms, but nothing so far had even been remotely as good as this first shared climax. Even though no hands had been involved, no penetration had taken place, just the rubbing of their erections against each other through the fabric of their shorts had been enough.

"Gods, that was good..." Sirius sighed.

Remus squirmed. The sticky moistness in his shorts started to be disturbing. He shimmied out of his and wiped the remaining seed off his abdomen. Then he helped Sirius out of his. They looked at each other and both blushed again. It was the most intimate moment both had ever lived through.

"So, what are we now?" Remus asked.

"Lovers?" Sirius asked back. There was hope in his voice.

Remus smiled. He kissed Sirius again and feeling Remus' naked body along his own skin made Sirius gasp again. Slowly, Sirius let his hands run along Remus' side until he reached the hipbone, which he followed. He could feel the skin underneath his hand flutter. Remus hissed. Sirius reached the patch of brown curls above Remus' cock, dug his fingers inside and curled the still moist hair around them. It was enough to get Remus' cock up again. He could just feel it harden the moment he touched it. Remus buried his face in Sirius' shoulder.

"Mm."

Sirius grinned. He moved his hand very slowly, to get a first feel of that other cock. It gave him a jolt, too, to feel this hardening organ in his hand. It was still damp from the orgasm before, and probably still a bit tender to his touch.

"'S that okay?" he asked.

Remus just nodded into his shoulder. Sirius pulled his hand away and stroked Remus over the head. He dug Remus' face out and planted another kiss on his mouth.

"Love you..." he whispered.

Both were sated and thoroughly exhausted when they finally went to sleep. They overslept in the morning and were woken by James, who opened the door with a bang, only to freeze on the spot. He noticed fast enough that both occupants of Sirius' bed were stark naked and put his hands over his eyes. James grinned, but he cried out theatrically:

"Oh, woe to me, that I have to start my day seeing this!"

Both heads in the bed turned around. They both blushed and pulled up the comforter in one swift move.

"James! Get out!" Sirius shrieked.

James laughed out loud and retreated. He closed the door and ran down the stairs. When he came into the kitchen, he was so obviously in an excellent mood that his mother noticed.

"What's put you into such a good mood, James?" Martha asked.

"Oh, just something. - Mum, what do you think about two guys in love with each other? Or two girls for that matter?"

Martha looked at him sharply. Did her son prepare the terrain to tell her that he was gay? But what would have put him in such a beaming mood, then? Did he hook up with either of his friends?

"I know a gay couple, James. If they're discreet and don't hit on other men - or women - all the time then I don't mind them. Why do you ask?"

With a bit of trepidation she waited for him to come out, but he just said:

"Then be prepared. Siri and Remus are in love with each other. I think they hooked up last night..."

"Oh dear! Well, as long as they're happy..." Martha tried not to show that she was relieved.

James grinned.

"Thought it was me, eh? They might have a while to work things out and get together, but I think they're on the way to being very happy. I wish I could get there with Lily..."

"Still mooning over the lovely Miss Evans?" Martha teased.

"I'm not mooning! I love her, mum! If only she'd see it..."

"Why don't you try some flowers now and then? Ask her to study together, the way you describe her she seems to be pretty serious with schoolwork. Which couldn't harm you either, by the way."

"Hey! I did well on my OWLS," he protested.

"Granted. But with your good head they could be even better."

"Ow!" he made.

Martha laughed. She was quite happy with her son, but of course she knew that he tended to be a bit on the arrogant side, often encouraged by Sirius of course. But if Sirius and Remus were becoming a couple, who knows, maybe James would concentrate on his schoolwork a bit more.

She was still pondering this when Remus and Sirius arrived in the kitchen. Their behaviour showed not the slightest difference of the day before, but now that Martha knew she started to observe the boys and soon found that they were exchanging glances, winks, there were tiny touches and when she saw them in the large garden a few hours later they were kissing. She frowned a bit, but then turned her eyes away. They would come out of their closet when they were ready. In the meantime James would probably tell them that his mother didn't freak out at the thought of gay people.

Oliver wasn't as pleased when she told him. They were getting ready for bed and he frowned at the information.

"I don't like it very much, Martha."

"Why? You're not prejudiced against homosexuality, are you?"

"No, it's not that, I don't think. But while they're under our roof we're responsible for them."

"Yes, and? Do you think they will hurt each other?"

He blushed.

"No, why should they? But, you know... I'm not exactly comfortable with them carrying on here at my house."

"Oh, you're worried about them having sex? They didn't seem to be there yet. But I did see them kissing in the corner of the garden this afternoon. Remus looks very happy..."

"Well, who knows how hard it will be for him to find a partner. He has to tell them that he's a werewolf and I would bet that most of his possible partners would be up and gone after that information. Sirius already knows and is comfortable with it," Oliver admitted.

"Yes, I think that has an important part in Remus' affection for Sirius. Now we know why the two of them seemed to get along the best. Sirius and James is always like a barrel of explosives with a burning wick on it. You never know when they explode. Remus has a very good influence on Sirius. He's a pretty down to earth boy."

"I've had that impression, too, these past weeks. Oh well, there's not much we can do..."

"Or even should. In a few days they'll be off to Hogwarts and then they're beyond our control anyway."

"Should we tell Richard and Venetia?"

"No. Officially we know nothing of their relationship. It wouldn't be right to out them to the Lupins before they can do it themselves. I'm quite sure they will do so when they're ready. At least their relationship won't produce untimely or unwanted children."

Oliver nodded. They climbed into the bed and Martha extinguished the lights with her wand. She snuggled closer and felt the arms of her husband pulling her to his body.

Remus and Sirius went to bed and this time they didn't even bother leaving any clothes on. They jumped into the bed together and kissed each other for half an hour.