A/N: This is a story written by me, RoS and Moony. RoS is posting it under the title of Come What May.

Disclaimer: I own nothing outside of my own perverted mind.

Regulus sighed as he wandered the nearly empty halls of Hogwarts. Once again, he was being forced to stay there by his family while they went gallivanting the world. Most students were home spending the holidays with their loved ones because it was a rare chance and they never did know when they'd get to see their loved ones again in these troubled times. Absently, he touched the sore spot on his left arm. Soon, he'd be the one hurting them. He didn't want to think about that, though. The thought made him ill.

"Whatcha doin'?" A voice called from somewhere behind him.

Regulus turned around to see James, Sirius, and Remus walking up to him. James was the one who spoke.

"Trying to think," Regulus shrugged, not wanting to argue right now. It was too close to Christmas to argue.

"Don't try too hard," Sirius laughed.

James smacked him in the stomach.

"It's nearly Christmas. Play nice children," Remus glared at his boyfriend.

Regulus chose to ignore them and continue his wandering. They were not, he knew, going to leave him alone. They never left him alone. He was Sirius's second favorite target, next to Snape of course, and any opportunity he had to take Regulus off guard was to big a one for him to pass up. "Leave me alone, dog breath," he shot at his seventeen-year-old brother, "I'm not in the mood."

James sighed. "Wait. Why don't we make a pact to call peace just through the holidays?"

Remus nodded and elbowed Sirius in the ribs.

Sirius took a breath and finally said, "Okay. Just through the holidays."

Regulus muttered something that sounded like fine, and stuck his hands in his pockets. James's unusual behavior, why slightly disconcerting, was not his biggest problem. His biggest problem was going to be keeping himself entertained throughout the holidays. Slytherin common room was, to put it mildly, devoid of life. The children of the Death Eaters had been called home to spend what could be their last holiday with their families, and those who weren't Death Eater children had gone home not to be alone. Regulus, it seemed, was the only one who had been ordered to stay put.

"Where's the last one of your group?" He asked, suddenly realizing that Peter was not present.

"Visiting his mother," Remus said, smiling slightly.

"He's a total momma's boy," James winked. "Where are your friends?"

Sirius put his hands in his pockets, unconsciously imitating his brother's stance. He didn't think that this truce was a good idea. Being friendly with Slytherins, even if they were your brothers, was always a bad idea.

Remus took hold of Sirius's hand, knowing instinctively that his boyfriend was uncomfortable with the casual talk.

"Home," was Regulus's response. He couldn't bring himself to look Sirius in the eye. Sirius would know, of course, how badly he wished he were home too. Sirius always knew too much about that. Sirius, in Regulus's opinion, knew too much about everything. He looked at James, and had to admit he was confused. Why was James being so nice to him? Normally, he was right with Sirius on making his life a living hell.

"That stinks. Anyone left to keep you company in Slytherin?" James smiled, trying desperately to make this truce work. He wasn't sure why he wanted it too so bad, but he knew that it would be important to the Slytherin to spend at least one peaceful Christmas with his brother. Sirius and Regulus spent too much time fighting, and it was time to end that. It was time to start growing up, before the war tore them apart forever. Maybe, if they mended things now, then the brother's relationship could be salvaged. Maybe Regulus wouldn't go down the road that it seemed so likely that he would follow.

"No," he answered before he could stop himself. He winced. Bugger it, now they're going to feel sorry for me. He scowled, trying to come up with a way to pass it off like it was no big deal without picking a fight. "It's kind of nice. I mean, no one to try and copy my homework."

Regulus smiled at the thought. It was true that he was renown throughout Slytherin for being very intelligent and that some of them did try and copy his work. He was, after all, one of Slughorn's favorite students and therefore next to godliness.

James smiled, "You're more like Sirius than either of you like to admit."

Remus coughed, a cough that sounded suspiciously like he was hiding laughter.

"We're nothing alike. Gryffindor, noble, loyal…Slytherin, selfish, stupid," Sirius growled, smacking James across the back of the head.

Remus glared, "No starting fights, Sirius. We have a pact."

"Nobel," Regulus said in an icy way, "seems to be a point of view. Leaving your family behind to rot doesn't seem very noble to me." He wished, as soon as he said that that he hadn't, but there was no escaping it now. He looked evenly at Sirius, blue gaze almost challenging him.

Sirius took step forward, not sure whether he was going to hit Regulus, or just grab him by the robes and scream in his face. Whatever he was going to do didn't matter, however, because both Remus and James grabbed him and pulled him back.

"We have a pact boys…it's nearly Christmas. Can't we just get along until after holiday?" Remus shook his head, disappointed in both boys.

"There were reasons behind what Sirius did," James whispered, looking into Regulus's eyes. "Maybe someday you'll be able to forgive him enough to ask what they were."

"Maybe," Regulus said, eyes flashing now, "Someday he'll realize that he HAD a family and didn't need YOU." Turning abruptly on his heel he started heading for the library. "I'm beyond done with this. See you around."

James closed his eyes for a second, wishing that he could control his temper better. Oh well…nothing for it but to try again. James let go of Sirius and ran after Regulus.

"I'm sorry," James, murmured when he finally caught up to the boy. "It isn't easy to just drop everything for a while. But I'd like to try. I…I know that you feel like I stole Sirius from you and your family, but…" James sighed, not sure how to put what he wanted to say into words. "I didn't mean…Sirius has always been like a brother to me. But I could never replace you to him. I never wanted to."

Unsure what else to say, Regulus ended up spitting out exactly what he was thinking. "I don't understand him. I tried everything to get him to stay, but I was never good enough. You were always better." The last sentence was said with such venom that Regulus was sure he was going to get hit for it.

"No, I wasn't," James shook his head. "We fought a lot, too. Just never around anyone else. We had to be there for each other, because we understood what the other felt. Sirius never felt like you weren't enough. He felt like you were so much more than he was. You were everything he was supposed to be. I think he resented you for that. Because you could be the son that your parents always wanted him to be."

Regulus ran his left hand through his hair. "Yeah, well, it doesn't matter. They still love him better. Even now. Besides, there's nothing I can do to get my brother back. He's all yours. All Remus's. Not mine. Never was."

"Yes, he is yours. He wants to be your big brother so bad," James looked over at Regulus. "That's part of the reason he always torments you. That's what big brothers do. He just takes it too far, because he's hurting. He wants to be the brother you want him to be; he wants you to be his brother. But he doesn't believe that you'll ever forgive him. So he gets hurt and mad and tries to make you feel like he does."

"Well, he does a good job if that's what he's after," Regulus snapped back. Why was he telling this to James? He didn't know. Probably, he told himself, because he'd had enough of Sirius and the emotional games they played. Without Andromeda to talk to- Andromeda had always been his confidant in these matters- he'd bottled them inside. Now he felt like he was going to explode if he didn't let some of it out. "Just once…I want to spend time with him. Real time. No parents or relatives telling us to be better. No expectations. Like when we were kids, and would just spend hours sprawled on the roof looking at stars. I want that again, but it's hopeless."

James smiled sadly. They both wanted the same things, but neither was willing to try.

"Try. Spend Christmas with us. If you don't try for what you want, then you'll never get it."

"How?" Regulus asked, looking at James for the first time. "I mean, I'm a Slytherin, and you guys are way up in your tower." Regulus smiled to himself as the words evoked images from fairy tales long ago. "Besides, Sirius wouldn't like it. I'm 'selfish and stupid' remember?"

"Who cares?" James winked, "It'll be good for him, and he'll blame me if anything goes wrong. Me and my stupid ideas. Pete is home, so we have an extra bed in our dormitory. Why don't you stay with us there? Dumbledore will let you, he let's the Marauders get away with just about anything."

"Dumbledore wasn't the one I was worried about. I was worried about how McGonagall would take to the idea. But," Regulus hesitated for a second before nodding, "if you can convince them…I'll do it."

James smiled widely, "McGonagall is a piece of cake. I happen to know she fancies me."

Despite himself, despite everything, Regulus actually laughed at that. "Oh, really? I thought you were after that girl. What's her name…Evans? Well, Slughorn's favorite, anyway. The red head."

James shrugged, "What can I say…the girls love me, some guys too. And I do fancy Evans a bit, but she's not the only fish in the sea. Plus, she can't stand me."

James smiled, then reached over and messed up Regulus's hair. "You're not so bad, Kid. We shoulda' done this a while ago."

Regulus offered James a weak smile. "I'll talk to Professor Slughorn. He should be happy about it. He's always trying to get me to convince you and Sirius you want to be in the Slug Club. Seems to think you would do well there."

James made a disgusted face, "Yuck. I refuse to join a club that has absolutely nothing to do with Quidditch. It would ruin my reputation. I'll talk to McGonagall about it…what do you say that we surprise your brother and his boyfriend?" James wiggled his eyebrows at Regulus, hoping to make the boy laugh again. It was something of an accomplishment to make such a dignified boy laugh, especially without using any spells or pranks. Just to make him laugh by being himself.

Regulus grinned again, though he struggled not to. James Potter was certainly more interesting than he thought. Even Sirius had never managed to make him laugh or smile against his will. "From what I've heard from Evans, surprising those two usually results in mental scars."

James laughed, "Don't worry, Little One, I'll protect you."

Regulus wasn't sure why this pleased him so much, so he covered it by groaning good-naturedly. "Why does everyone call me that? Even the Sorting hat called me that!"

"What?" James asked, smiling and resisting the urge to wrap an arm around the younger boy's shoulder. He didn't think it would be a good idea to push their newfound friendship just yet.

"Tell me," Regulus said, stopping at the point where they would have to part ways, "am I really that little. Be honest. I know I'm not tall like Sirius is, or broad. That's why I'm a seeker, not a beater, but I can't be that little. Can I?"

James laughed, "You're not that little…the name just…suits you. I guess it's a personality thing. You're nowhere near as tough as you pretend to be. Inside, you're just like any little kid, wanting to be loved and accepted." James leaned over and messed up Regulus's hair again, "Find out if you can stay with us, Little One, and meet me here after dinner?"

"You got it, Potter." Regulus wished he could come up with something better to call James, but he didn't really know him. He was still hoping desperately that this wasn't a joke, and the fact that James could read him so easily made him a bit uncomfortable. Waving over his shoulder, he sauntered off to talk to Professor Slughorn, leaving both McGonagall and Dumbledore to James and his 'charms'.

James walked into the Great Hall for dinner, Remus and Sirius beside him. The bespectacled boy immediately looked toward the Slytherin table, when he caught Regulus's eyes he winked and nodded. Dumbledore and McGonagall had agreed to allow the younger Black to stay in Gryffindor tower over the holidays. McGonagall had even given James 10 points for being so considerate to a student in a younger year…and a Slytherin at that!

Regulus grinned and shot him a thumbs-up from where he was sitting, all alone, at the Slytherin table. On the plus side, all the food was rather conveniently in reach. Still, having that big table all to himself was a bit lonely. He found that he missed…well they weren't really his friends…his normal cohorts more than he liked.

James sat down at the Gryffindor table, purposely facing the Slytherin.

"So, what'd you and my brother have to say after you ran after him?" Sirius asked, sounding slightly bitter.

"Nothing much." James shrugged.

"You were gone a long time for nothing," Sirius muttered. He tried to tell him he wasn't mad at James for being the brother he couldn't be to Regulus at that moment, but he was lying and he knew it.

James shrugged, "We were talking. Trying to keep the pact going. He misses you."

James knew that he shouldn't be saying this to Sirius, knew that he should let Regulus and Sirius work things out for themselves. But it was impossible not to interfere at this point.

Sirius just snorted into his beef stew. Remus looked over at Regulus, how was soaking his roll in the broth.

"He does look lonely," Remus admitted, giving Sirius's hand a gentle squeeze under the table.

James tried again, "Maybe we should invite him to eat over here?"

"That's a brilliant idea James!" Remus said, cutting off Sirius's retort. "Don't you think so, Sirius? Of course you do. Why don't you invite him over?"

"That's a brilliant idea James!" Remus said, cutting off Sirius's retort. "Don't you think so, Sirius? Of course you do. Why don't you invite him over?"

"Yes!" Regulus blurted. Realizing his error, he tried to seem nonchalant. "I mean…yeah. Okay. If you want."

James smiled, "I want."

Regulus blushed, though he couldn't give himself a logical reason why. Picking up his food he, to the amazement of the teachers at the High table, moved over to sit by James at the Gryffindor table. The few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws left began to whisper to those at their table.

James smiled and wrapped an arm around Regulus's shoulder. "Welcome to the best table of them all."

Remus laughed and squeezed Sirius's hand, trying to coax his boyfriend into saying something nice to his brother.

Regulus said nothing, instead sticking his spoon in his mouth. It was nice of James to invite him over, and he didn't want to spoil it by bringing up house rivalries.

James pulled his arm away and began to eat, "So…looking forward to Christmas? What should I get you?"

Sirius choked, sense when were James and Regulus close enough to get each other Christmas presents?

Regulus grinned, hating himself for enjoying the look on Sirius's face but enjoying it all the same. "Oh, I don't know. I need some new seeker gloves. Mine are wearing through."

"Not something you need. Something you want. Christmas is for things you want that are completely pointless for everyday life," James smiled, shaking his head at the young Slytherin. "But I'll get you some seeker gloves, too."

"Oh," Regulus said. It had never occurred to him to ask for something he wanted. Christmas was something that happened every year because it had to. He didn't even know what it was he wanted. "Well…um…I don't know, Potter. What do you think you should get me?"

James shook his head, "It doesn't work like that. You say what you want…I get ideas from your list and get you a marvelous present. You open it and get all happy and dance for joy. That's how Christmas works. So…what do you want?"

Remus put a hand on Sirius' leg to keep him from getting up and storming out of the room. It was evident to Remus that his boyfriend was not very happy about James' and Regulus' sudden bond. "It's true Regulus, and then everyone laughs and I have to get a picture." Remus said smiling and he gave Sirius's had a squeeze again to keep his temper in check.

"Well…I…" What did he want? Well, what did he want that James could actually get him was probably the better question. Suddenly, he blurted out, "A book. Get me a book on broomsticks."

James laughed, "A book? You obviously have a lot in common with Remus too." He liked having Regulus there, more than he was willing to admit even to himself. But he wished that Sirius would say something. This would be a lot less awkward if Sirius would accept it.

Remus smiled. "I'm flattered James. Honestly, I love books, however, I'm not fond of broomsticks." Remus admitted. He looked at Sirius, who looked torn. He had his lips pursed, obviously trying to obey orders and stay nice to his brother. If this continued, it wouldn't make much of a difference if the older black brother did let something pass because the tension in the air hung like anything Sirius could say.

Regulus looked at Sirius for the first time. "I love to fly. I want a book on broomsticks but…it doesn't serve a purpose." He tried to smile, to tell Sirius it was okay. Get him to do…something.

"I love flying too, and Quidditch. You and Sirius are both awesome players…but nothing compared to me," James smiled and looked over at Sirius, mentally begging him to say something. Something nice. Or at lease civil.

"You and you ego Mr. Potter. I'd keep your mouth and your pets mouths shut before I loose my temper." Sirius snapped. Remus suppressed a groan and shook his head at his boyfriend; obvious disappointment was etched in his features. Sirius almost looked apologetic, but instead he looked at the far wall.

Regulus looked for a minute like he wanted to shoot something back at him, but changed his mind halfway through. Instead he dropped his spoon and dove under the table to get it.

James growled, "Sirius, if you can't make this pact work, then just…stuff your head in a toilet and wash out your brain. You're not even trying!"

James shook his head and crawled under the table with Regulus, "Sorry, Little One."

Sirius snorted. "That was lame." He managed to murmur. His face was red with a mixture of anger and shame. He didn't know why he always wanted to make Regulus upset and angry, but it was something that he couldn't let go. That's because he won't let me go Sirius thought haughtily.

Regulus listened to Sirius before continuing to look for his spoon. It seemed to have disappeared. "It's okay. Really. It's no big deal. He does it all the time. I knew he would."

"That doesn't excuse it," James sighed, then did something on complete impulse. He hugged Regulus, right there under the table. "I really am sorry," he whispered, still holding onto the shocked Slytherin, " Things will get better. I promise."

Caught off guard, and never had any training for this kind of social situation, Regulus allowed himself to be hugged. He confessed to himself, and only himself, that he actually liked it. He never got hugs. Sirius hadn't hugged him since before Hogwarts, and his parents had never hugged him that he could remember. "I hope so. I want to be his brother, but I can't if he keeps doing this to me."

"I know," James pulled back only enough to look at Regulus, "I'll talk to him. I don't know what I can do, but I'll try. I want this to work for both of you. You both deserve better than what you have now, and you both need your brother."

James shook his head; he didn't want to let Regulus out of his arms. Regulus was cute, and soft, and needed someone to look out for him. And Regulus felt very good wrapped in James's arms, though James wasn't sure that he wanted to follow that train of thought just yet.

Regulus smiled. "We probably should get back up now. By the way, have you seen my spoon? It seems to have disapperated."

James laughed, moving his foot to reveal the spoon, "Didn't want you leaving until I had talked to you." Reluctantly, he let the younger boy go and climbed back into his seat, noticing the funny looks he was getting from everyone in the Great Hall.

Blushing slightly, Regulus got up. He looked at Sirius and said meekly, "I found it."

Sirius looked from Regulus's blush, to James's grin, and something clicked into place. He suddenly stood, "I…I've got to take a walk. I'll see you around later." He didn't mean to be rude; he just had to think over what was happening.

At the door, he turned and looked back at the table, giving Regulus a small smile before leaving.

Regulus, confused by Sirius's smile, did nothing but stare after him as Remus got up.

"I'm going to follow him. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." Remus sprinted across the Great Hall. "Hey! Sirius! Wait up!"

James sighed, turning back to Regulus, "Looks like it's just you and me again, Cub."

Regulus turned back to James, raising one delicate eyebrow. "Cub?"

James laughed, blushing, "The Regulus star is in Leo isn't it? But you're not exactly a lion…more like a lion cub. It's cute, like you."

Regulus felt his face get very hot, and almost wished he could go for a walk to. This was a bit…much. Not really a bad much, but much nonetheless. "Thanks. So…when do you want me to come up, since we got permission to follow the plan. You do still think it's a good plan, right?"

"Yes, I do," James, thought for a moment, "I need time to talk to Sirius, so how about you come up just before curfew tonight?"

"Great. Sounds like a…plan." He had been going to say date, but stopped for some reason. It just felt to awkward to say date around James.

Meanwhile, Remus had caught up to Sirius. "Hey, what was that all about?" He asked, panting slightly from his brisk run and sliding his hand into Sirius's.

Sirius brought Remus's hand to his lips and kissed it gently, "Do you think…could James fancy Regulus?"

"What?" Remus was a bit shocked by the question. "James? Well…we hardly know him. Regulus, I mean, not James. He's usually right there with you tor… I mean teasing him. I don't think…could he? I mean, he's liked Evans forever!"

"Yeah, and Evans never liked him back," Sirius shook his head, trying to get his thoughts in order. "It's just, Prongs was so smiley last night, when he got back from talking to Regulus. And yelling at me at the table? And following Regulus under the table? And James came up grinning and Regulus blushing? I just…that's how we used to act." Sirius smiled and kissed Remus's cheek.

Is "it?" Remus said, blushing a bit at the kiss in spite of himself. "But, like I said, he hardly knows Regulus. None of really does, except you. Can you fall in love with someone in two days? It took us almost five years…"

"In love?" Sirius bit his bottom lip, not really knowing how that made him feel. He didn't want to lose James, or lose Regulus to James. James had always been his brother, but what would he do if James started dating his brother?

Remus shook his head, pretending not to see Sirius's disturbed look. "There's no way you could fall in love with someone after just two days. It's not possible. Prongs just thinks that Regulus needs…needs someone to look after him." He had decided that saying 'needs a brother' was not the best way to broach this subject. It would only get Sirius defensive.

Sirius shook his head, "It's more than that. I know Prongs better than I've ever known anyone, even you." Sirius sighed, "I fell in love with you the first time we had a real conversation. I just didn't realize what that meant, until I was older. I didn't know boys could love boys. But Prongs…he knows. So if he saw something in Regulus that attracted him, he'd fall in love before he even thought about it."

Not at all sure how he was supposed to take that, Remus decided the best tactic was to get Sirius's mind to focus on the impossibilities and thereby disturb him less. "Well, they hardly ever see each other. Even if Prongs did fall in love, he could only see him at meal times. Eventually it would pass. Like a…a…phase or something. I mean, I'm being in Slytherin has to effect it. I know our relationship would be a lot harder if we didn't share a dorm room."

Sirius sighed, "I love my brother. I want him happy. But…I just…I'm just selfish."

Finding himself still on unstable ground, and not at all happy about it, Remus realized he could not tell whether by his brother he meant his actual brother or Prongs. Leaning his head against his lover's shoulder, he said the only thing he could think of, "We'll just have to play it by ear, I suppose. Whatever happens, happens."

Sirius nodded. Then smiled his most mischievous smile, "Speaking of sharing a dorm…ours is currently empty. Why don't we take advantage of that?"

Remus laughed and allowed himself to be dragged off toward the tower. Few and far between were the moments they could spend just the two of them, and Remus relished them. Within moments of their arrival in the privacy of their dorm room, love lives and brothers were objects long forgotten by the two boys completely in love with each other.