Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and all the situations said characters find themselves in. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy.

Their First Date

Generally Wren was the unruffable sort. Emotional was not a word one usually used to describe him. And if you managed to penetrate his thick hide enough to get a real reaction out of him, well you quickly wished you hadn't since that meant you'd really pissed him off, and he was not the sort of man any sane person wanted angry at them. So it was more than a little strange to see Wren go all over protective big brother where Regulus was concerned, especially when his suspicious looks and questions were aimed in Teddy's direction. In Fred or James's direction, most people would agree that that would make perfect sense given their personalities and Weasley blood, but Teddy…well he didn't quite know what to think, since most of his life he'd been viewed as being about as threatening as a Pygmypuff.

Under other circumstances, he might have been flattered.

"My apologies. He tends to be very overprotective of me. Even though of the two of us, I'm the more dangerous one."

Puffing up in his chair, Wren tilted his head back to try without success to glare in his cousin's direction. "Says who?"

"Says anyone who knows the both of us." Was Regulus's tart response. "Now say good night to your friends so that I can take you home and get you to bed. We'll both need our rest, particularly me. I'll need all my strength to deal with you given how childish you get when ill."

Grumbling, Wren muttered something about how he hadn't asked Regulus to come take care of him. And he was not childish when ill. Which he wasn't anyway so Regulus could just go back to France already.

"Well if you'd like me to hand you over to your boy, here, that would be fine with me. I'm sure that Mr. Lupin would be willing to put me up for the night if need be, given how late it is now. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, of course, Teddy."

The look in those dark eyes made it clear that he was doing it just to rile Wren up, but still…Teddy could feel his cheeks heating up in reaction to what the man was implying to mess with his cousin's head. Because he could oh too easily imagine taking the other man home with him. And the many enjoyable hours they could spend in his bed. Not sleeping.

"You are most certainly coming home with me! You've only just met him! Wait…have you been going home with strange men while I've been over here in England? Regulus Theodore Prince!"

While the majority of the group snickered or tried to choke back laughter at Wren acting like an outraged and overprotective mother now, Regulus just shook his head and reminded his cousin that who he did and didn't sleep with was no one's business but his own. Now was he going to say good bye to the others or had he forgotten his manners completely.

"We're so discussing this when we get home. And goodbye, everyone." Wren tacked on grudgingly. "Thank you for your concern."

"Bye, then." Obviously feeling a little daring, James darted forward to press a quick kiss to Wren's cheek before moving nimbly out of arm's reach. Just in case. "And Regulus, I can come watch him for you, while you're on your date with Teddy. Just in case."

Ignoring his cousin's protests that he didn't need a babysitter, Regulus thanked James for the offer. And then Regulus was looking in Teddy's direction again, as he asked what time worked for him.

Glancing over at James, who not all that subtly held up six fingers to indicate what time worked best for him, Teddy rolled his eyes at the redhead before turning his gaze back to Regulus, who gave him a look that indicated he hadn't missed the gesture either.

"Ah, say six? I can come pick you up; I know where Wren's place is."

"I'll see you then."

"I'm looking toward to it."

Turning his attention to the others, Regulus added his thanks for their concern and then off he went with Wren, the older man complaining the whole length of the hallway they were in that he didn't need a babysitter. A sentiment Regulus seemed to have no problem ignoring or shooting down with familiar ease.

Waiting until the two were out of sight, and thus proving that he had a pretty decent head on his shoulders despite still being a teenager, Albus whistled low and long. "Bloody hell. Who knew Wren could be so…such a dad. Not to mention so protective. You'd think James asked him out, not you."

"Oi! What's that supposed to mean?!"

"It means that on average, excluding Wren, you go through men the way Lil goes through potions labs."

"HEY!" Both Lily and James glared at him now.

"The truth hurts." Waving away their protests, Albus turned the conversation towards the really interesting part of all this. "And more importantly, what the bloody friggin hell? Can we say weird reverse reincarnation here? Or something utterly unbelievable like that. His name is Regulus, he's related to Teddy's painter guy, is a painter himself, and seriously, he's a Black from bloody head to toe. He's more a Black than Teddy is."

"Hey." A moment's consideration. "Alright, that's fair."

Wearing a serious expression for once, Lily crossed her arms pensively. "But isn't the timing odd? Not to mention suspect. I mean Teddy gets the painting and now this?"

Harry agreed that she did have an excellent point there.

"I'd agree, but what would be the point? It would be cruel, as a practical joke, and really, who could Teddy have possibly made that angry and vindictive? James or Fred, yeah, especially with their love of practical jokes, but not Teddy."

"Oi? What's with all this brother bashing?" James punched his younger brother in the shoulder. And didn't pull it.

Which of course meant Albus punched him right back, both boys about to engage in what most likely would have been an amusing display of brotherly 'love' if Ginny hadn't threaten to box both their ears. And publish an embarrassing picture of them in the Prophet for good measure, which was no idle threat. She'd done it before.

"Well aside from the joke possibility, Teddy doesn't have a fortune to marry him for." Shooting his boys a warning look, just in case they were tempted to test their mother, Harry got the conversation back on track. "And it's not like his house is prime real-estate, or his job providing him with opportunities that could be exploited by someone."

"People might think he has money coming to him, him being part Black and all." Albus suggested. "And his Gran and Scorpius's are on speaking terms now, sorta. Maybe someone figures Narcissa would share the wealth once she kicks it?"

Ginny shook her head. "Can't see Lucius Malfoy going along with that."

"Pretty sure she wears the trousers in their house these days." Harry smirked as he said it.

"Makes sense, really." James wore an even bigger smirk. "I mean look what happened when he was in charge."

"And we're getting off topic again." Ginny reminded them, right before she fixed Teddy with her patent 'Mum' stare. Which was not to be taken lightly. "Right now we don't know enough to guess what's going on here, but one thing I do know for sure, Teddy. And that's that honesty is going to be your best policy here. Tell him about the portrait and the dreams tomorrow. Do NOT keep that from him on the slight chance this really is history trying to correct itself somehow and you don't want to mess things up. If you need courage to tell him, think about what your grandmother would do to a man if she found out he'd been keeping things from her, and was dating her because she looked like a figure in a painting he'd been dreaming about."

Paling at the idea of what his grandmother would do in that situation, Teddy agreed that honesty was indeed the best policy.

"And you might want to see your grandmother tomorrow, Mate." James pointed out, a thoughtful look on his face now. "I mean if you're taken him out, odds are someone will notice how much he looks like the original Regulus Black. Don't want word getting back to her before you've got the chance to tell her yourself."

"Right. Thanks."

"Always got your back, Bro."

Fist bumping, the two grinned at each other.

)

After that, as previously planned, they all headed back to Teddy's place to see the now infamous portrait for themselves. That of course meant that a good twenty minutes was spent dissecting the looks of Regulus Black, the portrait of Regulus Black, and Regulus Prince. That there were marked similarities between all three was obvious, even though the others all thought that the sight of Regulus Black looking soft and possibly in love was hard to wrap their minds around, especially since every other picture they'd ever seen of the late Slytherin featured him with either a cool stare or an 'I'm superior to you in every possible way' sort of look. As for Regulus Prince, well he seemed alright, thus far. Or at least in possession of a sense of humor, as well as a willingness to show outward care for someone.

Since he was helping him where Wren was concerned James was predisposed to like him, and Albus and Lily were in agreement that thus far he seemed good enough to at least warrant a first date.

Harry and Ginny, of course, weren't nearly so convinced that the Frenchman was worthy of their godson, particularly when there was so much to be suspicious of given the portrait and such, but they were willing to accept the idea of Teddy getting to know Regulus better for the moment. In a crowded space with not only a lot of people, but people who knew Teddy and would therefore come to his aid if needed.

And just to be on the safe side Teddy firmly informed all of them that no, they were not allowed to 'accidentally' drop in at the restaurant at the same time as his date.

This of course led the Potter siblings to bring up instances where they felt their parents had in some way sabotaged them date wise.

"Do you want me to start listing all the times you children got in the way of your father and I having some quality time together?"

Four heads whipped back and forth in the negative, the younger generation risking whiplash to assure Ginny that no, they most definitely did not want to go there. Not ever.

"Good. Now James and I are going to find you something to wear for tomorrow, Teddy. Lily, Albus, find something to entertain yourselves with that doesn't involve potions or property damage. I would imagine that you have some questions still to ask." Ginny added, looking in her husband's direction knowingly.

Lips curved in amusement, Harry nodded.

While Lily insisted on coming along to help pick out an outfit for Teddy, even though her own mother advised against it, Albus took a seat in the corner after picking out a book from the shelf to occupy himself with while not so subtly eavesdropping on his father and godbrother's conversation. Which both of the older men were aware of, but didn't have a problem with. Secret keeping never went well in their family, anyway.

"Right, then. Let's get to it."

Taking a seat behind Teddy's desk, Harry availed himself of ink, quill, and paper, and so began their attempt to create a list that would prove or disapprove whether the dreams Teddy had been having were based on actual history, or were just the product or either his mind or someone tampering with it.

Only problem was, they quickly realized, was that the majority of Teddy's dreams had only included the painter and Regulus, or the other people present were Slytherins, and ones that were either dead, in Azkaban, or not likely to be interested in talking to either of them.

"Bout the only one where there's people we could talk to is the dream involving the prefects' meeting. And even then, that's asking a lot of their memories. Not to mention I doubt it was the first time the other me held said meeting with charcoal on his face."

"Which would, if one was being suspicious, make one question whether these dreams weren't designed that way. So that they couldn't be disproven."

"I'm not going to argue that this is…unbelievable. Believe me. I'm even more shocked about this than you are. And I see how it's suspicious that now of all times I'd meet Wren's cousin, and that he's never mentioned him before, but the very fact that he is Wren's cousin is what makes me question all this less. Because Wren would never be part of some sort of plot to hurt or use me. He wouldn't do that to James, above and beyond his own personal code of ethics."

"He and James have one seriously barmy relationship though."

Harry and Teddy both sent Albus looks that said he wasn't helping.

"What? You were thinking it. Though I agree with Teddy that this Regulus's connection to Wren makes him more trustworthy in my books. And don't forget that our half French cousins apparently know him somehow too. I figure that while Teddy is talking to his gran about all this we could go and pay a visit to Aunt Fleur, ask her about him. Uncle Bill might know him as well."

"That's an excellent idea, Albus."

"Thanks, Dad."

Both shook their head over Albus rolling his eyes in true teenage fashion.

"TEDDY! Come try on these clothes so that we can make sure they still fit!"

Now Teddy, Harry, and Albus rolled their eyes in near perfect unison, but all three knowing better than to make Lily or Ginny wait.

And, in Teddy's case, he knew that the sooner they had his clothes picked up and such, the sooner his family would leave and he could turn in early for the night. Much as he loved them all, he was also anxious to try and will himself to dream of a memory that involved people other than his possible previous self and Regulus.

Couldn't hurt to try, anyway.

)

Later That Night

Standing off to the side in the dream, and waving off the various groups and friends who called out for him to join them, Teddy called over his explanation that he was waiting for someone to satisfy most of their curiosities. Those who wanted to know who he was waiting for, or who jumped to the conclusion that he was waiting for a girl, well Teddy was feeling brave enough to inform the teasers that he wouldn't want to be them if Black heard that they were calling him a girl. Much less suggesting that they were going on a date when he arrived.

Which they actually were, not that he could say so.

And as he expected, the mere mention of Regulus had the majority of them beating a hasty retreat for fear that Regulus would pop up behind them if they didn't leave fast enough. Even his fellow Slytherins made quick getaways thanks to their housemate's very Black moods recently. Regulus might have decided to admit that he had feelings for Teddy too, but the younger teen was being very bitter about that, and had taken to taking his bad moods out on anyone stupid enough to cross his path.

Except for Teddy, oddly enough. Not that he was complaining.

And there was a silver lining to Regulus being a complete and total prat to all their peers, which was that it provided them with the perfect cover for this date. Not that Regulus was allowing him to refer to it as a date, even when they were alone, but that was exactly what this was since Regulus was basically stuck with him in Hogsmeade for the whole afternoon, and he'd promised to buy him a Butterbeer at the very least.

Of course to the outside world he was punishing Regulus for mentally scarring their fellow classmates by forcing him, in his capacity of Head Boy to Regulus's prefect, to accompany him around the tiny village insuring that everyone's visit was pleasant and not marred by house rivalries or possible recruiters for the Dark Lord, scouting out the students who would be graduating that year.

Hence Regulus's presence being rather key, since Teddy wasn't mad enough to think that any lurking Death Eaters would listen to him if he told them to stay the hell away from his classmates.

Regulus, naturally, would be an entirely different matter.

"I still cannot believe you're making me do this."

Whirling around with an automatic grin on his face, he couldn't help it, Teddy raised a hand in greeting. "Wotcher, Black."

"Remembering to call me Black doesn't excuse that stupid look you've been getting on your face recently when you see me." Regulus hissed back in response, scowling at him darkly. "Do you have no self-preservation instincts at all?"

"What do I have to worry about, with you here to protect me?"

"That sure I'll protect you, Prince? You sure that's wise given what a pain in my arse you are?"

Teddy spoke without thinking. "I haven't been a pain in your arse yet, Black. And I'd rather you be one in mine."

Realization hit as the words hung in the air, Teddy feeling all the blood drain from his face even as…as Regulus's face flooded with color!

"Holy Hogwarts. You're blushing!"

"I am not!"

"Are too."

"I most certainly am not, and if you suggest otherwise again I'll make it so that you can't string together a coherent sentence for the rest of the term." And to emphasis the fact that he was dead serious about that a still blushing Regulus pulled his wand out of his expensive coat pocket and jabbed the tip of it against Teddy's Adam's apple once in warning.

"Right. My mistake. It's cold out today, isn't it?"

Making a sound of annoyed disgust, Regulus returned his wand to his pocket and then started stomping off in the direction of the village, leaving Teddy to scramble to chase after him.

No easy task since his knees were still a little weak from the look Regulus had given him moments before.

Fuck but he was so sexy when he was angry.