Writer: Azure K Mello

Title: A Bond Never Dies

Part: 132 of 132 or part 47 of Part Three THE END

Words: 1120

"Bellatrix and Mundungus," James answered promptly, knowing that his son would have stopped at nothing to learn the names.

Harry nodded silently, there was nothing he could do. He didn't know Mundungus well. He felt nothing but cold and tired at the news. And he felt ashamed for his lack of sadness. "Poor man. Is everyone else alright enough?" James nodded but Harry saw that Sirius was just studying his father from where he sat on the floor. Harry knew things were right but he didn't want to push. "Thank you, everyone, for everything. We're off to bed then." He spoke easily but released Draco's hand to hug his father, Sirius, and Remus.

He received three identical whispered warnings of, "Don't have sex with him until you're sure you're in love." And he nodded each time before walking into his room with Draco close behind him. They stripped each other slowly and kissed happily.

They were both asleep within instances of falling into bed.

In the living room people were saying their goodbyes. The war was over, well and truly over. They were gone so quickly, too quickly for Sirius' tastes. He'd wished everyone would stay and they would have a celebration.

And as the last cleared out he felt James' eyes on him but didn't look up, couldn't bear to see him. It was well and truly over. The bond was broken, they'd survived. He should have been grateful that the spell hadn't killed them but he felt dead inside. And he heard Remus and Severus go into the kitchen for more coffee and James said, "I'll be back in a little while."

When Remus came back he saw James was gone and asked, "Where'd he disappear to?"

"I think he went to pull," said Sirius finally looking up. He saw how sad Remus looked and said, "The war is over it's time for celebration and getting laid. He never wanted to be tied to me. He made the best of a bad situation. And I can't complain it kept me sane through Azkaban. . . I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Remus. Severus," he nodded and stood.

In the bedroom he stripped down to his boxers and slid under the covers. Resting on his side he thought about his lover. He couldn't blame James for wanting something normal, non trapping. The man could say everything was fine when he was stuck but he was free now and that changed things.

James came into the darkened room two hours later. "You asleep?" he asked.

"No," was the simple reply and a torch lit itself by the bed, "Thought you'd gone to a bar to celebrate."

"What's a celebration without you?" asked James distractedly. "I went to Dumbledore, he wouldn't shut up. I just wanted the fucking rock and he kept asking about levels of commitment and said it wasn't a rock it was a stone of destiny. And eventually I lost it and said, 'I can't hear my boy in the back of my mind and I can't bear not knowing exactly how he feels every moment of my day' and he finally gave it to me." And he thought for a moment he'd been rambling and Sirius could see he was agitated, "Why would I be celebrating?"

"I don't know. I just thought. . . war's over. You're free."

Perceptive of his lover's emotions James said, "Free of you?" he laughed dryly, "Must have scared the shite out of you when I left. From the moment he cast that spell I felt like I'd been ripped in half. I was so scared, especially as my powers weren't going to protect us both." He played with the band of gold on his hand, "This ring means nothing if I can't feel you." Moving over to the bed he gave Sirius a pleading look and was rewarded with a searing kiss. It didn't feel right because they couldn't feel it from the other person's mind. "See?" asked James, "Post war victory sex wasn't going to be right without our connection. Like drunk sex, it's hot and great but it's just not as perfect a fit. Please marry me? I'll never be whole without this bond."

Seeing that one of James' fingers had been recently bitten and forced to bleed Sirius knew that his mate had already performed his half of the ceremony. He reached for the grey/blue stone and said, "I swear from this day forward to love only you. To feel allegiance to only you. To be only yours. From now until the day we die I belong to you." He bit his finger hard and rubbed a smear of blood on the stone. He felt the familiar rush as James swum into his head. And he smiled slowly. He had initiated this bond years ago and now James had done so, they were finally on even footing. They knew unequivocally where they stood with each other.

"Make love to me?" asked James softly. Sirius was instantly reaching to pull off his lover's robes.

Harry woke to the sent of a fry up. He pulled Draco into the kitchen with him saying, "I swear they don't bite." As they walked through the door Harry saw that half the contents of the larder seemed to be cooking on the stove. And he spoke to Sirius, "Is this your way of celebrating the end of the war without having an actual party?"

"I don't like most people well enough to invite them and I'm not letting my fourteen year old drink," said Sirius with a smile as he handed Harry a cup of tea and kissed his forehead. He studied Draco for a moment before laying a kiss on him as well and asking, "Coffee or tea?"

"Coffee please," responded Draco, shocked at the instant acceptance.

"Man after my own heart," said a bleary eyed Remus as he and Snape entered the room. "How'd you boys sleep?"

"Davy woke us up at two AM because he was sick of sitting at the end of the bed." Harry rubbed the sleep out of the corners of his eyes. Sirius smiled at the statement as Davy walked in and waved to him.

Snape looked at Sirius and asked, "Does James still have that stone?" Harry saw the way that, even while half asleep, Remus' eyes lit up at the implication.

His dad walked into the room and shied the stone at him. Severus caught it before it hit his head and gave James a withering look which would have been more effective if he hadn't sounded so pleased when he said, "Thanks."

And everyone smiled as they sat down to breakfast.

THE END

Thank you to everyone who's stayed with this story!