Well hello, my freaky darlings! I know, I have been awful about my updates Sigh, however, I am on holiday now! Hurrah! This means two weeks of really regular and close updates, followed by hopefully a lot more nice and regular updates as well.

Now, on to a very important debate; Sirius or Remus as "mummy"? So far, the votes are as such:

Warnings and disclaimer (Eeeevil…) in chapter one. You can also find the lyrics there for Def Leppard's "When Love and Hate Collide", from which I have taken the title and chapter titles.

When Love and Hate Collide.

Chapter Four, Treat Eachother Like an Act of War.

Remus woke up the next morning to James' soft voice gently trying to wake someone else up.

"Padfoot, Sirius... Wake up, I'm waking Remus up in a moment and I think it's probably better if you aren't here..." Huh? 'Why would it be better if Sirius isn't here when I wake up?' As sleepiness wore off, however, a very unwanted image floated to Remus' mind.

He could see Sirius telling Snape in his mind about the Shrieking Shack over and over again. He felt hot tears speed down his cheeks, and instantly felt warm arms surround him, comforting him and heating up his freezing body. However, as soon as the arms settled around him, he recognized that the scent was not that of his mate's. He growled low in his throat, only his mate was allowed to touch him!

James quickly unwrapped his arms from around Remus, recognizing the warning growl. He sighed softly. He hadn't meant to wake Remus until he'd gotten Sirius out of the room. However, he heard the sound of broken sobs within minutes of entering the room. He backed away slightly to let Remus know that he wasn't a threat. The morning after the full moon, Remus still retained some of the wolf in his words and actions. Sirius had been the only one allowed to touch him straight after the transformation for longer than he cared to remember.

Sirius had woken up that morning to the sound of James whispering in his ear. He vaguely understood that James wanted him to leave, and he knew that it was probably the best idea, but he couldn't just leave Remus like that. He was always the one to help Remus after the transformation, the wolf never allowed anyone else near him, and he couldn't leave Remus without helping. He heard Remus' sobs, and he recognized that James had gone to comfort him. He didn't even notice Remus' growl, he was too busy holding his own back, how dare James touch his mate? Sirius was the only one allowed to comfort him!

Sirius touched James' shoulder lightly, signaling to him to leave. James nodded, and left, but not before warning Sirius with his eyes to be gentle with the delicate boy. Seconds later, James was gone and there was just Remus and Sirius.

Sirius sighed quietly, sitting down beside the crying boy. Remus leaned into his embrace, still sobbing.

"Hush, Moonchild, it's alright, everything's alright." He soothed, rubbing Remus' back.

"No it's not. How... how could you do that to me Sirius? How could you tell Snape – Snape of all people! – where to find me?"

"You knew about that? I thought, last night, that you didn't. The wolf seemed okay with me, preoccupied, but not angry."

"Don't avoid the question." Remus knew that had come out as a growl, but Sirius had surprised him. By all rights, Moony should have attempted to rip Padfoot's head off for his betrayal, that's he would have done to James or Peter. He hated not remembering what went on during the nights of the full moon, he always felt slightly left out when Sirius, James and Peter laughed and joked about how fantastic the night had been, when all he could remember was pain.

"Truthfully? I was afraid and jealous, and Snape had been saying things in Potions... he kept saying how sexy you were all vulnerable... he was saying h... how he'd like to fuck you so hard you bled, tear away your innocent shield and pull you off your 'perfect' high horse... I was afraid and jealous. I hated the though of him touching you, wanting to touch you, and I was afraid you might, might want to... I've just always looked at you as mine, you know. Sirius and Remus, Padfoot and Moony, not Severus and Remus. I wanted to scare him off, and hell, if he got hurt, then it would be a bonus. The thought that you could do serious damage, turn him or kill him, didn't occur to me until after, when it was too late, and it was only then that I realized what could happen to you. I panicked, and did the only thing I could think of, which was go running to Dumbledore."

"It was James who pulled him back..."

" I know. I know everything, same as you. I just don't know how James knew."

"I told him. I overheard part of your conversation, enough to know what you did. I saw James seconds later, coming to help me get to the Shack, and I told him to stop Snape. What did Dumbledore say?"

"I got detentions. Lots and lots of detentions. Every night for a month, including weekends. Dumbledore said he understood why I'd done it, he suspected he would have been angry too at my age, however, I still needed to understand the severity of my actions. He said that, as it was so close to the OWLs, and I was running through high emotions and hadn't done it maliciously, he wouldn't expel me. I almost wish, knowing my punishment, that he would."

"What your punishment?"

"It's like... like and Azkaban thing, just with no Dementors. I have to see what would have happened. I have to... I have to watch that..." Suddenly Sirius was the one crying, and Remus was the one comforting him. "I have to watch the Mary Sheppard execution, starting from the first of next month."

Remus breathed out slowly, eyes wide. Sirius had been so, so upset by it. It had taken him two weeks to recover from seeing it once! Watching it every night for a whole month; it would be a wonder if Sirius ever recovered.

"Remus? I understand you are angry, and I understand that you feel hurt and betrayed, but I want you to know that I really didn't mean to hurt you, I was just acting on an impulse to protect what's mine. I'm begging you to, one day, forgive me for this. I'm not asking you to be my friend again, I know I'll probably never regain what we had, but I would at least like to know that I will be able to say hello, and sleep in the same dorm with you, and maybe begin to rebuild a friendship of sorts with you one day." Remus nodded slowly. He wasn't sure what to do with this.

"I think, one day, Sirius, we can be friends. But that day isn't today, and I don't think that day is tomorrow either. I love you, and I don't want to lose you forever. If it makes you feel better, I forgive you. I wouldn't wish your punishment on anyone, and I will be talking to Dumbledore about it, however, I... I can't look at you right now. I think we need a few weeks to sort ourselves out." He removed his necklace. It was a small pendant – pewter charmed to look like silver – in the shape of a crescent moon with a star joining the tips in an almost circular shape. Sirius had bought it for him on the day they found out what he was, and he gave it to him as a promise that he loved him and, no matter what, he would always be there for Remus. It was almost like a promise ring, except it was for friends instead of lovers. Sirius choked on his tears as Remus pressed it into his hands.

"Keep it. One day, I will be ready to wear it again." He leaned forwards, pressing the gentlest of kisses to Sirius' lips, before pulling away. Reluctantly, tearfully, Sirius left, skirting invisibly around Madame Pomfrey as she came to check on Remus.

A/N. Anybody need a tissue? Am I the only person crying? Heartless bitches!

Not much action, I know, but a lot of pain and heartfelt conversations, as well as jealous Sirius! (And don't we love him right now!) The next chapter will involve angsty Sirius, hurt Remus, and possibly bastardized Snape. Fun! Also, there may be a peek in from Lily! I promise, right here and now, that this will not turn into a het piece. If I do have Lily in here, she will be here in a friend capacity only. James and Lily's get – together will consist of James yelling "Lily agreed to go on a date with me!" only. I told you this was a slash from the start, and this will remain a slash!

Anyway, R&R! Love you all!