A/N: This chapter was amazingly difficult to write without putting Remus/Sirius hints in it…but I think that I accomplished it. This is not a Remus/Sirius fic, so I hope I accomplished it.

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Remus placed a hand on Peter's shoulder, "Why didn't you tell us?" He hated thinking that Peter was going through that sort of pain, and none of them had noticed.

Peter shrugged, "There was a lot about it that I had to accept before I told anyone."

"Pete," Sirius looked up at him, and Remus was relieved to note that the boy's eyes were no longer blank.

"Don't worry about me," Peter smiled sadly, "I'm okay for now. You need to know though. Blaming yourself doesn't solve anything. It only makes it worse."

Remus was torn. He knew that they needed to talk to Peter about everything that he was feeling, but now wasn't the time. Right now, they needed to say something to keep Sirius with them, and maybe to patch the relationship between the brothers. If anything was going to work out with James and Regulus, then they needed Sirius to accept it. Besides that, Sirius just needed his brother back.

"He's right, Siri," Remus sat down beside his friend. "Blaming yourself doesn't help. If you really feel bad, then do something about it. Get to know him again."

"I don't know if he'll let me," Sirius sighed, "I don't even know how to start."

"You start," James smiled, "by talking to him. Not fighting, just talking. Then you go from there. Follow your heart."

"Just be yourself," Remus continued, silently thanking James for speaking up. He knew that James still felt a little victimized for the way Sirius treated him after James admitted to loving Regulus. He was just glad that James was a big enough person to put that aside when his friend needed him.

"What if I can't," Sirius whispered, looking at his hands. "He hates me. Myself isn't good enough."

"He doesn't hate you," James sighed, "he is just…I think he misses you; the way you used to be with each other."

"He said…Snape is his brother now. Said that if he died tomorrow, I wouldn't care. I would be happy that all my problems were solved. I think he was right."

Remus's jaw dropped. He had always known that things were bad between the two Blacks, but he had never thought that they were that bad. Sirius was so loyal and caring, Remus always imagined that Sirius cared for his brother deep down. What Sirius was saying, didn't fit his image of his friend at all.

James sat down on the carpet in front of the fire, and Remus worried about the bespectacled boy's reaction to Sirius's last words.

"He was right," Peter whispered, "That doesn't mean he still is. The way you see him has changed, and you've changed. Maybe there's still a chance, if you try."

"He did tell you to go back to him when you knew him," Remus nodded. Sirius needed to believe that there was hope, because he wouldn't try if he thought it was useless. "Maybe that's his way of saying that he wants you to know him."

James sighed, "I love you Padfoot, but you are a git."

"James!" Remus turned sharply to his friend. That was the last thing that Sirius needed right now.

"Well, do you honestly think it will help to sit here molly-coddling him?" James glared at them all. "The fact is that he messed up. Regardless of what Regulus wants or doesn't want, you," James poked Sirius in the chest, and Remus saw Sirius flinch, "need to apologize. It's your move. You can sit here and talk about how you don't know what he wants or if it's too late, but that doesn't matter. All you are doing is looking for pity and I won't give it to you. Apologize and take your chances or lose him forever."

"I…" Sirius looked at the ground. "I don't know if I can."

"Then you don't deserve him," James glared. "Maybe Snape should have been his brother. Snape at least accepts him."

Sirius's head snapped up to look, shocked, at James. Remus sighed, not knowing whether or not to break this up. James's words were right, but they were harsh and Remus was afraid that they would be the last straw that would break Sirius. Remus stayed silent, they had to chance it.

"Snape hates me more than anyone," James shook his head, "but he still told Regulus to be with me; because he cares about Regulus, and doesn't want to see him hurting. He even came to me and gave me ground rules to dating Regulus. He did everything a brother should do. You just sit here pitying yourself."

Remus looked at Peter, then back to Sirius. He had seen a little of the Severus behind the mask, and even he was shocked to hear how far Snape had gone for Regulus. He couldn't imagine what Peter and Sirius had to be thinking.

"He…" Sirius seemed to wilt right in front of them, "Regulus deserves that. He deserves better than me."

James stood up, "Yes, he does. But you are his brother, and you need each other. I'm going to lunch. Either do something about this, or sit here. I'm sick of listening to you, though."

"James," Sirius whispered, head falling in his hands when James didn't stop. "I'm sorry." Sirius yelled as James closed the portrait hole behind him.

"Then do something about it," Peter said quietly.

Remus wondered how much effort it took Peter to say that. Peter wasn't the type to pick sides, but he had always seemed closer to James than to any of the rest of them.

Sirius stood up, nodding. "Will you…come with me?"

"To the end of the earth and back," Remus smiled. It was something that they used to say before pranks when they were first years. If one got in trouble, the others would follow. Friends forever, and through everything. Right now, they needed reminding of that vow.

Sirius smiled and stood. "I don't think I could do this on my own."

"You don't have to," Peter smiled.

"You'll always have us," Remus said, leading the way to the portrait hole.

The three boys headed out, stopping in their tracks right outside the entrance. James was leaning against the wall, smiling.

"Didn't think I'd really leave, did you?" James winked, "Though I thought about it, you kept me waiting long enough."

Remus laughed. They really would be alright. James slung an arm around Sirius's shoulder, and started down the hall with them.

"You guys are the only brothers I've ever had," James smiled, "and I would be a hypocrite if I left you now."

Yes, they were brothers. Now they just had to go and see about adding a couple of Slytherins to their family.