Writer: Azure K Mello
Title: A Bond Never Dies
Part: 118 of ? or part 33 of Part Three
Words: 209
James studied the man, saw the tenseness in Sirius' reclining form and asked, "Are you happy in this life?"
Sirius looked at him, blinking, mouth open in a look of disgust. Finally he asked, "Aren't you?" He sat up as James shrugged and he said, "Well I can't speak for anyone else. But I like 'this life'. Do I hate that Harry is scared? That school upset him? That stupid Malfoy's stupid offspring hurt him? Yes, of course. Do I hate that Remus is constantly fighting against bigotry and against the wolf? Yes. That Severus can't be here with us? Yes. Do I hate your fears for everyone? Yes. But there's a lot that makes me happy. I like hearing Harry laugh, watching him study, fighting to stay in bed. I like seeing Remus get excited about his plants. I like it when Severus gets to come home and relax. I like it when you do sing, even if you can't carry a tune. When you bury yourself inside of me. When you actually enjoy something. Yes, things have changed, we aren't stupid teenagers. We don't pull unkind tricks on people or have sex in stairwells, or Moony's bed. But it's not bad. Is it? Are you so unhappy?"