The halls of twelve, Grimmauld Place grew colder as the night closed in. There was no heating save the fireplaces to keep the rooms warm. Sirius stood leaning against the door frame looking fondly at Remus who was hunched over the table, several feet worth of parchment scattered across it as he marked students' work. A pair of glasses – Sirius' – were pushed up his forehead as he rubbed the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger.

Sirius walked into the room, putting his hands on Remus' shoulders, rubbing away the tension that sat there.

He brought his chin to rest on his shoulder and wrapped his arms around Remus.

"Come to bed, love," he murmured, nuzzling into the greying hair at his temple. Remus sighed.

"I need to finish marking this first," he said, bringing the glasses back in front of his eyes. "I'm nearly done. Promise."

Sirius grunted his disapproval. Unwrapping himself, he went to the kitchen and fixed them both a cup of tea – two sugars for Remus, an abomination – and settled himself in the chair opposite, resting his chin on crossed arms, watching Remus work.

In the corner of the room was a Christmas tree, cheerily decked out in crimsons and golds. It would have killed his mother to see it. Far too gaudy. It made Sirius smile.

Lost in thought, he didn't notice that Remus had got up from his chair leaving the glasses folded on top of the papers, now neatly stacked. Remus perched on the edge of the table next to Sirius.

"Pads," he said and Sirius startled, his eyes flicking from the twinkling lights of the tree to Remus. "Merry Christmas."

The clock had just ticked over to midnight. Sirius grinned.

"Merry Christmas, Moony."

Remus smiled, his arms crossed over his chest. He raised an eyebrow and nodded his head up. Sirius followed the gesture. Above them, a sprig of mistletoe hung in mid air.

Sirius' smile softened as Remus leaned in closer. Softly, their lips met, one of Sirius' hands cupping Remus' cheek, drawing him in.

"Marry me," he sighed through parted lips.

Remus drew back, his expression startled.

"No!" he said, aghast.

Sirius' brow crinkled. He couldn't hide the hurt on his face. "No..?"

"No, wait. That's not -" Flustered, colour washed over Remus' cheeks. "I was going to ask you! I had a plan, with stars and flowers and a ring. I bought a ring!"

Sirius blinked. He blinked again.

"Oh, it doesn't matter." A grin spread across Remus' face. "Yes. Of course, yes. I want to marry you." He leaned forward again to capture Sirius' lips in another kiss but Sirius leaned back.

"No," he said, frowning now. His lower lip was thrown out stubbornly.

"No? But you said-"

"No. I want that. I take it back. I didn't propose. I want what you just said. The flowers. The stars."

A chuckle fell from Remus' lips. He rolled his eyes but the grin wouldn't fade. He slid onto Sirius' lap and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Alright," he agreed and Sirius could see the fairy lights reflected in Remus' eyes. "For you, I will get the moon and the stars."