A/N: While I really wanted to continue the scene with Severus and Lily, I really don't trust myself to write Sev and not mess up his character, and I didn't think that anybody would want to read two Lily chapters in a row. So…here is James! Again!

P.S. Sorry this chapter took so long…I had finals in college and they are EVIL! But now that they are over, the chapters should start coming more often again.

Title: Smile for Me

James smiled as he saw Regulus approaching. "Hi, Cub."

"Hi," Regulus walked up to James, but kept his eyes down.

James frowned. This was only the second time they'd met as a, well, whatever they were, but he had expected some kind of warm hello. "What's wrong?"

Regulus just shook his head. James lifted Regulus's chin up, and looked into blood-shot, teary eyes. With a sinking heart, James wrapped Regulus into loving arms. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Regulus shook his head again, leaning into James's embrace.

"Cub? Please, talk to me. I'm here for you. I…" James sighed. "I love you. I won't judge or get mad or anything. Just talk to me. Maybe I can help."

"I…I can't. Not right now. Just…distract me," Regulus whispered.

James nodded. He could understand that Regulus needed time before he told anybody. Pulling back a little, James smiled. "Alright. Let's get some food. Do you want to eat in the kitchens?"

Regulus gave a half-hearted smile, "I've never been in the kitchens before."

Taking Regulus's hands, James led the way to the kitchens. He didn't know what else to do for Regulus, and he hated that. He loved the Slytherin more than life itself and had always been able to read him fairly well, but right now Regulus was like a blank book. He knew that the boy was upset, but he couldn't even guess what he was upset about or how to help make it better. Now, when he was finally close to the one he loved, he was still helpless to save the Slytherin from his pain.

When they entered the kitchens, James glanced at Regulus again. The younger boy's mouth had turned up into a small smile, and just that tiny accomplishment made James's heart soar with happiness. They made their lunch requests and then sat down at a table almost hidden in the back of the room.

"What do you think?" James smiled, reaching across the table and playing with Regulus's fingers.

"It's interesting," Regulus was looking around, but James could see the light blush that lit his cheeks at such an innocent touch. It would never cease to amuse James that just the smallest of touches would make Regulus blush.

"Interesting, as in good?" James laughed, watching as the house-elves set their food down on the table. James thanked them and then turned back to the Slytherin, waiting patiently for him to speak again.

"Interesting, as in amazing and fun," again there was that small smile that didn't quite make it to the boy's eyes. Why couldn't James get that pain out of them? What had happened?

"I'm glad you like it," James squeezed Regulus's hand before pulling his own away and picked up his sandwich. He watched as Regulus started in on his soup, fascinated once again at how proper the boy was while eating. "I'm surprised that Snape let you out with me again, considering what happened on our last date."

There. For a moment, the pain was gone and amusement shone in the beautiful azure eyes.

"He didn't really have an option," Regulus admitted. "I was already on my way when I ran into him, and only told him about the date then." A wicked smile now, "Besides, he wouldn't have stopped me from leaving him alone with a beautiful red-head."

James choked. "What?"

Regulus just smiled innocently, and it took James a moment to comprehend what the Slytherin was suggesting.

"Does…" James wet his lips, "I know I always tease him about it, but does Snivellus really fancy Lils?"

Regulus glared, "His name is Severus, or Snape. Not Snivellus. Ever."

James panicked. He really hadn't meant to call Snape that again. He really did appreciate everything that the bloke was doing for them, but when he thought of the Slytherin with Lily, it had just come out. James may not have any romantic feelings for the girl, but she was still his friend and he still thought that she deserved better than a nearly-emotionless git.

James took a breath. That wasn't right; that was the old him talking, the one who let stupid house rivalries and his own black and white view of the world get in his way. Snape wasn't such a bad guy when push came to shove. He was actually more than decent, and a bigger man than James thought he could be if their positions had been reversed.

"I know. Sorry. I just…I really am starting to see that he's not the person we thought he was," he offered Regulus an apologetic, lopsided grin, "it's just a hard habit to break."

"Try," Regulus ordered, still glaring.

"I am," James set down his sandwich, wiped off his hands, and then reached over to take Regulus's hands again. He felt his panic calm a little when Regulus didn't pull away; he hadn't ruined everything. "I am sorry. I didn't mean that. It's just…It's hard to change the way you've been thinking for years. Especially when the only decent thing that I've still ever seen Snape do is everything he's done for us. And I know that he's done a lot for us, I just…I never get to be there to see it."

Regulus sighed, but nodded. "I'll give you that. He really is a great person, but I don't know that he will ever entirely let you see it."

James nodded, and then attempted to get back to the conversation that had made Regulus smile, "So, he fancies Lils? For real?"

"Yes, and don't you dare tease him about it," Regulus was smirking now, "That's my job."

James laughed. Snape and Lily? He wondered what the red-head felt for the Slytherin. He would have never thought it was possible for such a beautiful and friendly woman to fancy someone like the quiet and reserved Snape…but he would have never thought it was possible for Regulus to fancy him back either, so what did he know? He made a silent vow to find out; and to watch the Slytherin more closely and make sure that he didn't hurt her. James hated that he had hurt her, and that her pain had been the first stepping stones on the path that had led him here, but he would try to make sure that she found her happiness too. She deserved someone who would protect and cherish her, and if Snape was that person then James would just have to live with that. If Snape wasn't that person, however, James would make sure that the Slytherin didn't break her heart.

"You've got that same I've-got-to-protect-someone-who-is-perfectly-caple-of-taking-care-of-themselves expression that Severus gets whenever he knows I'm thinking about you," Regulus stated off-handedly.

Mock glaring, James growled, "Did you just compare me to Snape?"

"Wouldn't dream of it," Regulus grinned.

"Good, because it would frighten me if your boyfriend reminded you of your best friend," James winked.

"Boyfriend?" Regulus raised an eyebrow.

James bit his lip. He had hoped, and feared, that Regulus would notice that comment. "Aren't I?"

Regulus smiled, "Are you?"

"I want to be," James whispered, feeling his heart pound and fearing that it would explode long before Regulus deemed fit to answer the question.

"I'll tell you what," Regulus was blushing now, and not looking nearly as confident as he had a second ago. "You can be mine if I can be yours."

James was sure that his heart really did explode right then, but it was definitely a good feeling. "Deal."

Leaning across the table, James sealed it with a kiss.