A/N: And now…um…we're back to the plot. Or, well, what's kind of the plot.

Regulus sat with his knees pulled up to his chest, his chin resting on his knees, and his arms wrapped around his legs. It was a vulnerable position, but it was also what he was most comfortable with when thinking.

He couldn't roam to try and sort everything out, which annoyed him. Madam Pomphrey had decreed he couldn't be sent back down to those "dank and cold dungeons"- about which she apparently intended to confront Dumbledore- until he had made a complete recovery.

It was now two days since he'd come, and everyone that had been there when he'd woken up had come to visit him off and on. Everyone that is, except James.

It was about this development that Regulus was currently thinking. Four days ago the older boy had confessed his undying love, and now he couldn't even look at him. He'd asked Sirius about it when he'd come to visit last time, which was still a bit awkward for both of them, but Sirius had blown him off.

Regulus sighed, burying his head in his knees. Merlin, why was this so difficult. He liked James. He was willing to risk everything for him, and he couldn't even find the time to come visit? Hadn't even looked at Regulus since the moment he'd gone to get Madam Pomphrey. What had happened?

Regulus heard the door open, and sighed inwardly. "I'm not an excuse to miss classes, Severus. Just go to your stupid Care of Magical Creatures class already."

In a completely uncharacteristic action, Severus didn't respond. In fact, Regulus would have thought he'd imagined the sound of the door open if it were for the echo of footsteps approaching his bed tentatively.

Rolling his eyes, Regulus lifted his head. "How many times do I…" he trailed off as his eyes caught up with his mouth. It wasn't Severus who was standing there, but in fact the very object of his musings. "Oh."

James shifted his weight uncomfortably from foot to foot. He honestly looked like he wished he was anywhere else, and Regulus couldn't blame him. Having the floor open up and swallowing him didn't sound like to bad an idea at the moment.

"Hi," James offered weakly.

"Hi," Regulus responded, taking himself back by the distinct lack of…well anything in his voice. It was completely flat for a reason he could not explain.

"Um…can I sit down?"

"If you want."

James pulled up a chair and plopped down in it. The silence stretched between them, becoming almost physically heavy. Regulus wished he could break it, but found he didn't know what to say.

Luckily, it seemed James did.

"Look…um…"

"You've changed your mind, haven't you," Regulus blurted. With the silence gone, it seemed as though all his barriers were as well. Now here he was, blurting out his secret fears like a six-year-old. "That's why you wouldn't come see me. You saw how weak I was and changed your mind."

"What?" James looked honestly stunned. "No! No…Regulus, that's not it at all."

"What is it then?"

That silence again. Was it really so hard for him? Couldn't he just say that he'd decided to love Evans after all and that he was sorry but this couldn't work?

"I couldn't…I can't…"

Regulus said nothing at all, looking at his feet under the blanket.

"I can't be with you."

A pause, and the James asked very quietly. "Why not?"

"That's what you're trying to say."

"No, it isn't."

"Of course it is. You found someone else or…or something…and you don't want…"

Quidditch worn hands grabbed his shoulders, giving him a bit of a shake and forcing him to look up. "Is that what you think? You think I could so easily leave you? That in two days I could just drop all this and leave you?"

"Then why didn't you come see me?" His voice was thick with emotion, and he hated it, but he had to ask. He had to know the complete truth, no matter how painful it was. "You wouldn't even look at me. You stood up for me but you didn't…look at me."

James released him, letting him fall back slightly onto the pillows. "I'm sorry, Cub. I really am."

Regulus blinked, a bit startled. "Cub?"

James looked taken back. That was, apparently, something he hadn't meant to say. "Regulus I…"

"I like it." He turned away again, resting his chin on his knees once more. "It's for my star, isn't it? The heart of the lion?"

Another pause, this one less tense then before. "Yeah."

"I like it," he said again.

"I'm sorry…" James sat down on the edge of the bed, and gently took Regulus's hand in both his own. Regulus let his eyes travel down his own arm, across those hands, and eventually up into the other boy's face. His eyes locked onto gentle hazel irises that were pleading his understanding. "I'm to obvious. I was afraid that you didn't feel the same, and that my coming was just putting you in unnecessary danger."

Regulus stared at him, taking a moment to weigh what he wanted to say. "I thought Severus told you what I felt."

"I needed, no I need,to hear it from you."

'If this isn't an awkward situation, I don't know what is.' Regulus thought to himself, closing his eyes against the stinging there. He'd never said this before. Never once in his life told anyone he loved them. There was a mutual understanding between himself and his parents that he was necessary, but never loved. How were you supposed to say it? How was he supposed to put everything he was feeling into words?

James let go of his hand, and Regulus felt him turn away. "I understand. I thought that maybe…but if you can't, that's okay too."

Regulus opened his eyes. He couldn't lose this chance. "No, it's not that. I just…I don't know how to say it. I've never…I don't have a word…I just…" His eyes found James's again, and he felt suddenly calm. He could do this. He had to do this. "I like you. I like you more than I should. More than anyone else. I don't know if its love yet, but I'm willing to risk everything for the chance to be with you. To find out what that word really means. I can't promise it will work out. I can't promise that I'll ever actually be able to say it but…I can promise that I will try. If you want to. You have my heart, for better or worse, to do with as you please."