Writer: Azure K Mello

Title: A Bond Never Dies

Part: 50?

Words: 553

Warnings: Angst. Non-canon.

MRHG you're a sweet girl, you can have a Maria's pocket money because she's decided you're not friends anymore as she doesn't know that a top is. I swear I'll go to bed soon.

James stayed half awake throughout the night. He wanted to be able to soothe Harry if he had another nightmare. But he didn't, Sirius did. The man was shaking slightly and sweat was gathering on his upper lip. James reached out to wake him but as he touched his mate he got pulled into the dream. It seemed that the bond was working overtime to compensate for lost years. He used to always be aware of when Sirius was having a nasty dream but he'd never been brought into one before. Unsure of how to act he tried to be cautious. Looking around he saw that he was in Sirius' cell in Azkaban and that the man was cowering in the corner muttering. After slight hesitation he went to kneel by his lover.

"Hey, Sear, this is a nightmare. It's not real."

"Fucking specter," Sirius muttered as he looked up at James, "I had a dream. I had him again. And Harry, and Remus, and safety."

"I need you to wake up for me. I'm real, this isn't. If you wake up you'll see and I'll smile at you."

"If you're real," said Sirius clearly thinking he'd found a hole in James' logic, "You can shake me awake."

"I can't. I think the bond's gone into hyper drive or something. I'm stuck here with you until you wake up." James wrapped his arms around Sirius and said, "Please, don't believe this. It's all in your mind. Remember when you told me that the evil you in my head was my power and not really my mind? And I didn't believe you for the longest time? This is the same but. . . not. I'm real not in your head. Wake up and I'll give you the necking of a lifetime. WAKE UP!" As he shouted he felt himself being forced out of Sirius' mind and into his own body.

He was left gasping for breath and staring into Sirius' scared grey eyes. Leaning over his son James kissed the man so forcefully that he saw stars. The kiss tasted of salt from tears and sweat and Sirius' eyes were tightly shut as though he was afraid of looking at James. And as he pulled back James realized that Sirius was muttering something softly, "I'm so sorry. God, Christ. Sorry."

"For what, love?" asked James worriedly.

"I'm mad. And I brought it into your house and bed with your son." Sirius couldn't look at his mate as the stinging tears ran down his face. "I thought on the boat when we were leaving Azkaban that I was gonna be totally sane again."

"Sigh, you aren't crazy. You're scared and nervous. And you're not 'bringing it into my bed'. It's our bed and you're mine and you'll never be in anyone else's bed." He smiled a little as Sirius calmed down slightly, "Silly, beautiful boy." He pulled Sirius over closer to the centre of the bed so that he was closer to James and Harry. The boy was nestled between them and James rested his hand on Sirius' hip. "Go back to sleep and just remember that I'm right here." Sirius nodded silently and shut his eyes slowly. "My silly, beautiful boy," he whispered happily and Sirius smiled slightly as he fell back into sleep.