(A/N: You have no idea how relieved I am to be over the depressing torture and stuff ... sighs. Anyways, this chapter is going to be happy (nearly) all the way. Enjoy.)


Chapter 29 – Safety

After a long while, Sirius whispered, "Jamie?"

James took a deep, unsteady breath and muttered back, "Are you OK? I mean, I know you're not, but ..."

"Jim ... thanks for coming for us ..."

James felt tears pricking at his eyes. "I'd follow you into hell to drag you out if I had to."

Sirius murmured, "I want to get out of here, Prongs."

"I know, Padfoot. Dumbledore'll come back in a minute, then we can go."

Remus whimpered something into Sirius' chest. Sirius nodded in reply. James ignored it; he was used to his two best friends talking like that by now. He hissed, "I've been so worried about you."

Sirius sobbed. Two pairs of arms tightened around him, almost crushing him in the intense embrace. He nuzzled into Remus' hair, and arched his back to curve into James' body. James whispered, "Sirius, it's over. It's OK. Everything's going to be OK."

Sirius' breath caught and he slumped, all energy leaving him. Remus tensed. Quietly he called Sirius' name. The animagus whimpered. James leant up on one elbow and looked at Remus. Sirius whispered, "I want to go home."

James released him, stood and took off his robes. He'd be cold without them, but Remus' clothes had been ripped apart in the transformation and so he needed them more. He passed them to Remus. "Here. Look after him. I'm getting Dumbledore."

He ran out of the room. Sirius, his ear pressed against the cold marble floor, heard every thud his feet made. It was oddly comforting, almost like a heartbeat. He stared at nothing, starting to shiver as he remembered the feeling of his heart stopping as green fire clogged every artery and vein. Remus pulled James' robes over himself and held Sirius tight, snuggling his body into his own and trying to bring comfort.

A minute or so later, James returned with Dumbledore and Andromeda. Dumbledore walked over to Sirius and Remus and knelt down. "Sirius?"

The animagus looked up at him. Dumbledore rested his fingertips on Sirius' forehead. He murmured, "Sleep."

Sirius' eyes closed and he drifted into blissful, dreamless sleep.


When Sirius awoke, he recognised nothing around him. Everything was white, and smelt of antiseptic and magic. Hospital. St Mungo's. He closed his eyes again, not moving because that would probably tell people he was awake. Silently, he called to Remus. Immediately he got a response. He whimpered. /Why am I here, love? I want to go home./

/I know. We can't go home yet; you're not well. You're body's weak after what happened – /

/I can work up my strength better at home./

/Try telling them that,/ Remus replied, laughter in his voice. Sirius could feel him coming closer, and allowed a smile to flicker across his lips. He heard the door open, and a burst of noise flooded the room; clamouring voices shouting endless questions. He opened his eyes and looked around to see Remus shutting the door again on a solid wall of reporters.

Remus turned and looked at him. Sirius felt a single tear roll down his cheek. Remus crossed the room in a couple of strides and sat on the bedside. He leant down and enveloped Sirius in a warm, comforting hug. Sirius shut his eyes and gripped the back of Remus' jumper in a death grip. Remus slid his arms around Sirius' back, feeling the diminished scars from his lashing but ignoring them. He felt Sirius bury his head in his shoulder and responded by sliding one had up to tangle in his hair.

Eventually Sirius whined, "I thought we'd never get out of there."

Remus suddenly realised his mate was crying. He held Sirius tighter, crushing air from his lungs. Sirius didn't care. They were free; Voldemort was dead; the Potters were safe; they were safe. Sirius' arms suddenly felt heavy. He loosened his grip on Remus and sobbed. Remus swung his legs up onto the bed and lay down next to Sirius, cuddling him close. Sirius let out a shaky breath and was unable to hold back tears for another minute. He sobbed into Remus' chest for a long time, relief washing over him in waves. He wasn't going to be tortured again, and nor was Remus.

Remus stroked his hair gently until he was calm again and then tilted his head back to look into his eyes. He kissed him gently on the forehead, then the cheek and finally their lips met. Sirius relaxed completely and closed his eyes again. He murmured sleepily. "I'm tired, Remmie."

"That's OK; you sleep. We can talk later. We've got all the time in the world. Sleep now."

Sirius snuggled into Remus' body, holding him tightly, and fell asleep in the comforting embrace of his lover.

::A week later::

Sirius opened his eyes and sighed deeply, absently running his fingertips over the three long scars Moony had left on his chest. He didn't care that the werewolf had scarred him; the scars marked him as property of Remus and Moony, and he didn't care who knew that.

He sighed again, snuggling back into the bed. He had missed home more than anything, and had only been allowed home the night before. It was so good to be home, away from the fussing St Mungo's staff, away from Ministry of Magic officials, away from newspaper reporters screaming for him to answer questions – particularly Rita Skeeter, the most annoying and nosy woman alive who could twist even the simplest statement – and away from people constantly asking him how he felt, if he wanted anything, telling him what a horrible time he had had.

The trials had been concluded the day before, and Peter, along with all the Death Eaters, except a few who had either been 'under the Imperius curse' – is too influential to be locked away, like Lucius Malfoy – or had done the things Voldemort had ordered while truly terrified for their lives. Regulus was one of the latter. While Sirius had been in St Mungo's he had been taken to see him, and had begged his brother to help him stay out of Azkaban, swearing that he hadn't ever killed anyone and that he had barely done anything. Sirius believed him; Regulus had always been easily led, and had been forced into Voldemort's service by their parents in the first place. When the Ministry officials had questioned him, Sirius had replied that Regulus had been under the Imperius curse. He knew that he was too weak to do any real damage in the future; he was hardly likely to stir up the Death Eaters again.

Now, however, he finally had time to be alone with Remus.

He rolled over to face the werewolf, thinking he was still asleep. However, he jumped as he saw that Remus had been watching him sleep. Remus leant over and kissed him hard. When he pulled back, he muttered, "Good morning."

Sirius leant in for another long kiss, snuggling up to Remus until their bodies were pressed together. Remus whimpered into his mouth, sliding his arms around Sirius' slender waist. Sirius pulled back suddenly and looked up into Remus' amber-gold eyes. "I love you."

"I know. I love you too."

Sirius nestled into Remus' body, forcing his head under his chin and closing his eyes. Remus cuddled him close. Sirius murmured, "I've just decided something."

"What's that?"

"You're wearing far too much," he whispered, nuzzling into Remus' chest. Remus smiled as the animagus began to slowly unbutton his pyjama top and slide feather-light fingers over the skin he revealed when he pushed the cloth back. Remus licked his lips as Sirius wriggled lower, undoing the last button and pushing back the top. Remus squirmed out of it, while Sirius trailed butterfly kisses down his stomach.

Sirius pushed Remus' pyjama bottoms down and almost immediately took Remus' fast-growing erection into his mouth. The werewolf moaned, gripping Sirius' hair and trying not to thrust forwards. He desperately wanted to throw back his head and howl as Sirius sucked him further into his mouth, but forced himself to watch as Sirius slowly swallowed his length. Sirius' teeth grazed his cock and he gasped, accidentally giving his lover's hair a sharp tug. Sirius growled, his tongue rubbing against the underside of his erection, making the werewolf desperate to push further into the wet heat around his cock.

After a long moment, Sirius pulled back and looked up at Remus. The werewolf's eyes were dark, his pupils dilated so that only a sliver of burning bronze outlined them. They stared at one another for a long moment, then Remus dragged Sirius back up his body until they were eye to eye. Sirius swallowed hard, licking his lips. Sirius murmured, his eyes closing, "It's been far too long ..."

Remus frowned as he looked down at Sirius body, his eyes lingering over the recent scars. Although the healers at St Mungo's could heal his more recent wounds so they didn't leave a mark, they could only make older scars less livid. Sirius opened his eyes again as Remus kissed along his scratchy jaw. Remus lowered his lips onto the scar above his collarbone, sucking and nipping at the spot until it was bruised.

Sirius rolled onto his back as he did so, leaning back against the pillows and closing his eyes. Remus kissed down his chest and pulled Sirius' boxers off. He then licked up another scar before shifting so he was lying on top of Sirius. His cock rubbed Sirius' and they both groaned. Remus shifted his hips and thrust down onto Sirius' thigh. Heat flooded Sirius' body as his erection was crushed under Remus' thigh. He met each of Remus' thrusts with one of his own, his hands fluttering down Remus' slick body to his hips to grind them together.

Sirius growled softly, "Remus, I want you inside me. Now."

The werewolf pulled back just long enough to allow Sirius to change position for him, then lay back on top of him. He stopped for a moment, his heart thudding into his chest as he whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too. Take me, Remmie ..."

The werewolf thrust forwards and felt his cock slide into Sirius' body. His lover squirmed under him, his skin burning under Remus' hands. Remus started to thrust further into Sirius, watching little flickers of expressions cross his features. Suddenly, Sirius gasped as Remus became rougher, lowering his forehead to rest against Sirius. Their faces were millimetres apart, amber eyes burning into midnight blue ones as they came closer to completion.

Remus growled fiercely, "You're perfect."

Sirius gasped back, "I'm a part of you; of course I'm perfect."

Remus smiled. Sirius cupped Remus' face in his hands and pulled him into a fierce kiss. Remus moaned into his mouth, his thrusts becoming faster. Sirius whimpered and squirmed, trying to rub every inch of his body against Remus'. The werewolf pulled back, gasping, as Sirius' muscles tightened around him.

Remus thrust forwards again and Sirius keened as heat shot up his spine, arching his back. Remus rubbed the tip of his cock hard against Sirius' prostate, groaning and whimpering as pleasure threatened to swamp him. Sirius numbly realised his fingers were tangled in Remus' hair. He looked up and saw the expression of desire on Remus' face. He whispered, "I love you, Remus."

Remus gasped, his thrusts becoming erratic, losing all rhythm he had had as he came so close to completion. He whimpered, his eyes closing as the world shrank around him and all sensation centred on the places he and Sirius were touching. Sirius murmured, "I love you so much ..."

Remus let out a strangled cry of Sirius' name that turned into a scream as he came. Sirius came too, gasping Remus' name. Remus slumped on top of Sirius, panting, and wrapped his arms around him. He managed to gasp, "I love you more than anything, mate ..."

Sirius smiled, rolling them onto their sides. Remus snuggled into his body, forcing his head under Sirius' chin. The animagus could feel sleep clouding his mind. He leant back and tilted Remus' chin up. He pressed his lips gently to Remus' in a long kiss. They parted again and curled into each other, falling asleep almost immediately.


Sirius sighed deeply and nuzzled into Remus' neck. The werewolf tightened his arms around him, muttering something unintelligible. Sirius smiled and kissed Remus' collarbone gently. They were both still half-asleep. After a while, Sirius decided he wanted Remus awake. He murmured, "Remmie?"

Remus opened his eyes blearily and looked down at Sirius. "What's matter?"

"Nothing. I just want to tell you something ..."

"Mm?"

"I love you."

"Ng ... you wake me up to tell me that?" Remus complained, closing his eyes again, an annoyed frown creasing his forehead. Sirius smiled. "Well, yeah. And to do this ..."

He leant over and captured Remus' lips in a long, languid kiss. The werewolf moaned into his mouth, and Sirius could tell he didn't mind being woken up quite so much any more. Remus' arms tightened around Sirius' waist and then the werewolf rolled them over so that he was on top. Sirius broke the kiss and nuzzled into Remus' neck, sighing deeply. Remus whispered, "I love you too."

Sirius smiled and slid his hands down onto Remus' waist. The werewolf frowned as Sirius shifted his hips, pulling him closer. Remus bent and kissed Sirius, flickering his tongue at his lips until they opened. Sirius pushed his tongue against Remus', still coaxing the werewolf to move. Remus pulled back after a long moment, gasping. Sirius could feel the werewolf's hardness growing inside him. Remus thrust forwards suddenly. Sirius yelped as he hit his prostate. He gasped as Remus bit down on his shoulder.

He groaned, "Harder, Moony ... I need more ..."

Remus thrust harder into Sirius' body, growling. Sirius closed his eyes and linked his arms around Remus' neck. Remus himself propped himself up on his elbows, still pushing into Sirius' body, and looked down at his mate's closed eyelids. "Siri ..."

The animagus smiled, opening his eyes again. They simply looked at each other for a long moment, eyes locked together. Then Remus made a small noise at the back of his throat, and thrust forwards again. Sirius' eyes flickered closed again and he whined softly. Remus gasped. "Ah! Sirius, I'm –"

Sirius pulled him down into a kiss before he could finish his sentence. Remus came, leaving Sirius whimpering and still painfully hard. He slid a hand down Sirius body quickly and started to stroke. Sirius gasped, grabbing Remus' hair in one hand and the pillow behind his head with the other. He keened softly as Remus squeezed, sending him closer to release. He suddenly realised he was muttering Remus' name over and over as he ran his fingers over his cock. "Remmie ... oh – oh, God!"

Sirius climaxed, shaking and panting, unable to do anything but whimper. Remus smiled and wrapped his arms around him. "I love you."

"Love you too," Sirius managed, snuggling into Remus' chest. "Love you so much. Love you forever."

Remus smiled and stroked his hair. "I know. I'll love you forever too."


(A/N: Sappy, I know, but I love happiness, I really do ... especially when it's everyone's two favourite canines being happy ... Anyways, just a warning that the next two chapters contain more than their fair share of fluffiness. Not that I see that as a bad thing! On a technical note – we are half-way through August. Sorry if it isn't clear or there's bad continuity! Review, please? Please?)