Wow. Less than 24 hours, and I've already got 14 reviews. You people ROCK! I wasn't going to post this chapter until tomorrow or the next day, but… 14 reviews! It makes me giddy and dance around like an idiot. Cookies and ice cream for all of you!
Suzie: I'm updating, I'm updating!
The Unknown Marauder: Beginnings are easy. It's endings that are tricksy.
uknowho: And once again Voldemort is reading my fics. Hey… if I get you hooked on my fics, does that mean you'll turn away from the dark side?
Desanges: Is this soon enough? It's sooner than I intended, certainly.
sesshomaruhasafluffytail: I'm posting, I'm posting! Pleasedon'thurtme! And incidentally, his tail is fluffy, isn't it?
Schmigzer: As I already have several chapters written, continuing isn't going to be a problem.
Mindez: Slashiness is our friend.
nayla: I'll keep going with it, I promise. As I told Schmigzer, I've got a few chapters written, and I know exactly how it's going to end.
Mint E. Persimmon: Your wish is my command
thrills: In my opinion, well-written shonen-ai is always sweet. And listen to me bragging about my own writing.
phoenixtear19: Thank you! I shall! I'm glad! Thank you!
Reyna: The rest of it is coming, I promise. And it'll probably come faster the less you think pure thoughts. (evilgrins)
BookwormRose: Really? I think he's very emotional. And anything is poetic when the emotions in it come through. Thank you muchly for the compliment. I hope the rest will hold up as well.
Becky Silver Black: I have a fangirl! Huzzah!

Okay, now for the less-fun bits. Warning: This fic contains slash. If you don't like it, please feel free to flame me. Of course, you may expect to receive your flame back graded for grammar, spelling, and creativity. Also, the disclaimer: I don't own anything. Don't sue me.

While Sirius wrote in his diary, Remus lay in bed apparently asleep. Only apparently, though. He never slept very well in the twenty four hours after the full moon, but he was too weary to move, and simply lay bonelessly on the bed. 'He's doing it again. Watching me.'

The werewolf often felt eyes watching him on mornings like this, and he knew who they belonged to. Sirius's bed was just next to his—he was the only one who could watch so intently without having to move to an awkward and obvious position. But Remus knew he was being watched. Remus doubted even his best friends knew how keen his senses were, especially this close to the full moon. He could feel the changing air currents as his friend pulled out the diary, could smell the new-paper scent, could hear Sirius's changing heartbeat.

Why did Sirius watch him like this? It wasn't hostile watching. The part of him that was wolf would have felt the hostility. This was something indefinable, or at least too complex to determine even with his augmented senses. Whatever it was, it wasn't unpleasant. Quite the contrary, in fact—the knowledge that Sirius was watching over him made him feel safe and warm. Too warm in places. It was a good thing the sheets were rucked up around his waist concealingly. He smiled slightly, then faced the question that troubled him most.

'I wonder if he knows… about me.' Sirius would have said something if he knew, right? Or would he just act like nothing had changed? 'If he knows, he's sending the 'just friends' signal, which is better than I'd feared. But if he doesn't know… I can't tell him. I'd lose my best friend. But I want him for more than a friend. I want him so much…'

Remus took a deep breath, breaking the cycle of desire and despair before it got started. He knew from experience that he'd work himself into a blue funk of depression if he kept on that train of thought. And then Sirius would try to snap him out of it, which involved lots of teasing and spontaneous hugs on the animagus's part, and lots of discomfort and cold showers for his friend.

Speaking of showers… Remus needed one. He could smell the dust, blood, and dried sweat that was always his scent after the full moon. Not as much blood now as before his friends became animagi, though. The werewolf suspected that had been Sirius's idea. It was like the raven-haired boy to come up with plans that were kind and thoughtful while being dangerous and illegal at the same time.

Sirius wasn't looking at Remus when the werewolf opened his eyes. Remus hadn't expected him to be. Reluctantly he crawled out of bed, stretching away the kinks from his transformation. The animagus didn't seem to notice him until after he'd pulled on a robe, covering both his shirtlessness and a certain awkward problem lower down.

"Good morning, Moony," Sirius closed the journal casually, and Remus suppressed a desire to push away the obsidian lock of hair that fell into those silver-grey eyes. That action would inevitably lead to getting lost in those same eyes. And probably kissing the smiling lips. And then never having Sirius speak to him again.

"Morning, Padfoot." Remus paused for a jaw-cracking yawn. "I'm off to the showers. See you at breakfast."

'He can't possibly know. Thank Merlin.'

Poor Moony and Padfoot… Don't y'all feel sorry for them? Just wait 'til next chapter when James gets into the act.