Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters end up in. Everything else belongs to someone else and that's the way of it.

No Hiding This Time

Dressed in the clothes his family had picked out for him the night before, his godmother and James had better taste than him and he knew it, Teddy did his best not to act like an utter lunatic as he walked through Hogsmeade on his way to Wren's house the following evening. Wren's cottage was only a short distance from where he'd apparated to, but Teddy had deliberately chosen not to just appear on the Wren's doorstep, since he figured a few more minutes to put off making a complete arse of himself in front of Regulus could only be a good thing. Especially since he wanted this to go right so much, he was bound to fuck it up. Murphy's Law.

Because it was going to happen, Teddy acknowledged with no small amount of misery. There were friggin Hippogriffs flying around in his stomach at even just the thought of it. He'd have been nervous enough at the idea of going on a date with a gorgeous, sexy as hell man to begin with, much less one that he was already more than half in love with. Only it wasn't technically this Regulus he had those feelings for. Or was it? Ugh.

Either way he was probably fucked. Dammit.

No. No. Positive thinking, Teddy, he told himself sternly, looking around him as he reminded himself that just the night before he'd dreamed about another date that had gone pretty well considering the fact that they'd had to hide the fact that they were on a date to begin with. Or at least he hadn't made a complete arse of himself then, though past him had at least known that his Regulus was into him and hadn't had that to worry about. Currently he wasn't entirely sure whether this Regulus had agreed to go out with him because he was genuinely interested in him, or just to mess with Wren's head.

"Oi, Teddy! Wait up!"

Sighing with relief, at least James could distract Wren for him so that Teddy only made an ass of himself in front of Regulus, Teddy stopped and waited for his godbrother to catch up with him.

James, of course, was looking particularly handsome tonight, no surprise, and the picnic basket in the younger man's hand no doubt contained all sorts of goodies meant to bribe Wren with if sex appeal somehow failed to get James his way. Or at least Teddy assumed that James had sex appeal given what he'd heard about the other man's success in that area. Personally he didn't see it, but then James was basically his brother, so that just made sense.

"Looking good, Bro."

"Thanks." He appreciated the vote of confidence. "You too."

Falling into step together, with James doing most of the talking as per usual, the two of them got to Wren's place in no time since the hadn't been that far to begin with. And James marched right up to the door and rang it like he'd been doing it for years which, knowing his godbrother, Teddy wouldn't be at all surprised to find out was true. His brother was not the sort to give up easily, especially when he wanted something, or in this case someone, as much as James wanted Wren.

As it was the door was impatiently yanked open after James's second, even louder series of knocks, Wren giving James a narrow eyed 'I don't trust you as far as I can throw you' look, which was pretty standard for the two in Teddy's experience. The look Wren aimed in his direction was just as suspicious though, which was not something Teddy was used to being on the receiving end.

"You're early."

Ignoring the implied censor James just smiled. "How are you feeling, Wren?"

"I'm fine. You can go home, James." The stern look Wren aimed in James's direction would have intimidated most, though Teddy and probably Wren wasn't surprised when the redhead just grinned that much wider and stood his ground.

A voice came from somewhere inside the cottage, sending shivers down Teddy's spine.

"He's staying. Or else, Wren."

Regulus didn't say what 'or else' entailed, but judging from the slight paling of Wren's face his cousin wasn't making an idle threat the way most were when they said that. Which, Teddy figured made perfect sense if this Regulus was anything like Teddy's own ancestor. Regulus Black had not been someone you wanted to get on the bad side of. Regulus Prince was the same, it seemed, which made him happy even as Teddy silently acknowledged that that meant having to go head to head with a serious badarse on a regular basis if by some miracle he did end up dating the other man.

Thank Merlin he'd lived with his grandmother for eighteen years.

James, being James, got tired of them waiting on the stoop and started forward to basically herd Wren back into the cottage's front hallway so that the unusually tall Ravenclaw had no choice but to let them in, Teddy giving the man an apologetic look even as he followed after his godbrother.

And then, of course, as soon as Regulus came into view Teddy had eyes only for him. The other man had left his hair down, the dense black curtain making Teddy's fingers literally itch to dive in and feel those silky strands slide through them. And that face…Teddy wondered if he was seeing what Regulus Black would have looked like had he lived to reach his late twenties, been given that chance to mature a little. He didn't think so, the features weren't quite right to his discerning eyes, but still…either version of the man was gorgeous and alluring as hell.

Fuck but he was in so much trouble.

"Eyes to yourself, Lupin."

"And exactly how is he supposed to do that, Wren." James wanted to know. "Just look at me instead, Mate. Much less stressful and more pleasurable for you."

Ignoring the two of them, which wasn't hard since he had Regulus to concentrate on, Teddy smiled and hoped he didn't look like the nervous idiot he felt like as he greeted his date for the evening with a smile and soft hello. At least he successfully bit back all the stupid and gushing compliments that came to mind, so kudos to him for that.

"Hello, Teddy. And thank you for coming to watch over Wren, James." Regulus added, nodding in acknowledgement of the younger man's presence while reaching into his pocket to retrieve something. "Here is a list of instructions that Wren's healer gave me before I forget. He seems fine today aside from being overall tired, and the healers think it's just walnuts he needs to avoid from now on. But keep an eye on him, just in case." A small, knowing smirk. "I would imagine you won't see that as a chore."

"Regulus. Enough. And I am perfectly fine now, which is why I don't need a babysitter. As I've told you multiple times by now. I'm not a child." Wren glared at his cousin while James took the piece of parchment to start reading it over. "And for that matter I'll expect you home by-"

A threatening finger was pointed in Wren's direction. "Don't finish that sentence unless you want me to sic the rest of the family on you, Cousin."

Wren mouth opened and then closed in frustrated defeat.

"Good. Teddy, shall we go?"

Eager to get out from under Wren's judgemental gaze, the man was gold if he ever had kids whose future dates he needed to scare off, Teddy sent James a look that ordered his godbrother to behave, which was met with an eye roll James had perfected long ago. And knowing a lost cause when he saw one, Teddy switched to a hopefully trustworthy smile in Wren's direction that was greeted with a stony face and seething silence. Lovely.

Thankfully Regulus didn't take long to shrug on a long coat over his stylishly made and beautifully tailored clothes, so they were out of the cottage and in the cooling evening air before Wren decided that the family fussing was worth trying to sabotage this evening and called them back in.

"Don't take offense. If Wren didn't like you he'd be much worse." Regulus shook his head ruefully, though when he glanced back at Wren's front door there was a hint of affection in his voice. "As much as I miss him at times, I hate to think what would become of my social life were he around to monitor it to his heart's content. He is too protective of me. Always has been."

"I was surprised someone as gorgeous as you wasn't already taken. He to blame?" Damn. Had that come out okay? Had it sounded like a line? He'd meant it both as a joke and a genuine question, after all.

"Thank you. And as to why I very rarely date…I'm picky by nature. I think being so has served me well." A sidelong look as they started walking down the street, away from the cottage. "And you? From what Wren has told me in the past, I would think you would be quite popular as well."

"I'm a workaholic. And picky too."

"I understand being dedicated to one's work, which Wren tells me you are. I have a similar work ethic, I'm afraid. Though there are some who think that painting and other artistic endeavors aren't truly work."

"Then they don't know much about it, do they? I mean I'm happy when whatever I'm trying to draw looks similar enough to something that people know what it is. And that takes serious effort on my part. The amount of time, effort, and practice that goes into becoming someone good enough to live off of…it's a labor of love, hopefully, but still serious labor and anyone who says differently is an idiot. Oh, and I'm sure I'll be in awe of our talent when I get the chance to see some of your work." Teddy hurried to add. "Your grandfather was an amazing painter from what I've seen of his work."

That got Regulus's attention. "You have seen some of my grandfather's works? How? He did not paint when he moved to France, and I was not aware that he was in the habit of selling his work before then, when he lived here. I have never seen anything he has done, though I have been told I got my talent from him. My father is a painter as well, of course, but he prefers to work more from his imagination, than reality."

"I know one of his sisters, actually, through a mutual acquaintance, and she was kind enough to show me some of his work. And I own one of his paintings myself, actually, which is why I sought her out in the first place. To see more of his works. Thankfully I had an in and she was willing to oblige me."

"You own one of his paintings?" Surprise and serious interest now. "I would very much like to see it."

"I was planning to show it to you after dinner. I don't live far from the restaurant."

The pleased smile Regulus gave him made Teddy feel eight feet tall.

"What is the subject of the painting you have? I know little of his medium or subject preferences."

"The majority of his paintings that I've seen were a mix of portraits and landscapes…but personally I think his real genius showed through in his portraits the best. That's what I have, a portrait he did of an ancestor of mine. They were boys in school together. In Slytherin."

"Slytherin. Wren explained the houses and such to me back when he was sorted, and I never could understand why someone like my grandfather would be put in that house. I never met him, of course, but the man my father has described to me would have been better placed in one of the other houses." Regulus turned his head in the direction of Hogwarts, the school visible from where they were standing. "You were in Hufflepuff, I believe Wren said. He always said I, on the other hand, would have been quite at home in Slytherin."

"You're right. On both counts. My maternal grandmother's side actually has a long tradition of Slytherins, though, and I'm told I occasionally show my Black, otherwise known as my Slytherin side. Really I think Dumbledore was right, when he said that sorting students so young is rather stupid. Stereotyping, really."

A sound of agreement, but Regulus's eyes remained glued in the direction of the castle, something far off and distant in his gaze.

"You've been there, I assume. To Hogwarts?"

"Yes. A couple of times. It's…an impressive school." The slightest shake of his head and then Regulus was giving Teddy a smile that made it difficult for him to think about anything aside from how good looking the other man was. "But enough standing around here looking at it. Where are we headed to, exactly?"

)

Dinner went surprisingly well, though Teddy figured he had past Teddy to thank for a lot of the brownie points he managed to score since he actually knew something about art and the process of making it now due to his time inhabiting Prince's memories. Art was definitely a big part of Regulus's life and heart. That was obvious. And there was Wren and his bizarre relationship with James to talk about, as well as just updating Regulus about his relatives in England, who Regulus hardly knew about thanks to his grandmere's estrangement from them and Wren's disinterest.

But yeah, at this point Teddy was fairly sure that Regulus would get along fairly well with Sev and Alexei.

Aside from that they also seemed to have at least some common interests, hadn't bored each other, and they did seem to have chemistry, which Teddy was really hoping would weigh in his favor as they walked down the street to his home, the weather thankfully cooperating for the moment.

Still, the closer they got to Grimmauld Place the more stilted Regulus's steps got in sharp contrast of his earlier feline grace. And the way he was looking around him, wariness etching itself ever deeper on his beautiful face, prompted Teddy to speak up, asking him if something was wrong.

"I'm fine."

Given that they were almost there, Teddy decided to start airing out the dirty laundry, so to speak, since spooking Regulus badly would not end well for him. "Déjà vu?"

Regulus's head snapped back in his direction, those dark eyes narrowing as he asked what Teddy meant by that.

"I'm hoping this street looks familiar."

"Why should it?"

"It's complicated. But if it does seem familiar…it's about to get weirder. And I will explain everything, I promise. Just remember that Wren wouldn't have left you alone with me if I wasn't trustworthy. And I'm taking out my wand now. Just so you know." So don't jinx me into the next century, Teddy silently added as he removed his wand and pointed it in the direction of his home, which slowly came into view as it unfolded itself from the rest of the structure.

Beside him Regulus gasped but didn't say anything until 12 Grimmauld Place was in front of them, waiting for them to enter.

"How…I'm not going in there until you explain. Now."

"All right. Welcome to Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Once the home of several generations of the Black family. Technically I'm a quarter Black, so you can argue it's still in the family, but…the last Black family to live here were Orion and Walburga Black and their two sons Sirius and Regulus. Sirius was killed by his cousin Bellatrix without a heir, and Regulus…Regulus died while still a teenager. Upon Sirius's death the house passed to my godfather, who in turn passed it down to me when I came of age."

"Regulus. Was he…was he the one you mentioned before. Who was a student with my grandfather?"

"Yes."

A long silence, long enough that Teddy had to clench his hands into fists to keep himself from touching Regulus as he waited the other man out, holding his tongue for fearing of saying the wrong thing when Regulus was so obviously struggling with his thoughts and the possible implications of all this. Especially if Regulus really did recognize the place in some part of himself.

"My grandfather wanted Regulus to be my father's middle name. My grandmere refused. That's why my father gave me my name. To honor that wish since Grandmere was willing to tolerate it given that the alternative was naming me after my grandfather."

Taking a moment to be glad they hadn't been saddled with very similar names, Teddy quickly pushed that thought aside to focus on what Regulus said next.

"You were right. About the déjà vu. I get the same…impressions…at Hogwarts and Wren's little village. Like I've been there before. Like I've been here before." A searching look. "Why is that? You know, don't you?"

"Hoped." A moment's pause. "Do you believe in reincarnation?"

"I have…considered that possibility. But I am not my grandfather, for all that I have his artistic talent."

"It's not him I'm thinking of."

Silence, then Regulus moved closer so that they now stood nearly nose to nose. "You believe me to be the reincarnation of the boy my grandfather wished to name my father after. And you, who resemble my grandfather…were you born with déjà vu too? Even your name…"

"No. Or at least not that I remembered until the portrait, if that's it. I went by your grandfather's childhood home today. It's been turned into flats since then…but the outside. I knew I was in the right place as soon as I saw it."

"The portrait?"

"Come in and see it? You won't really understand until you do."

A searching look, and then Regulus nodded his head in agreement. "Yes. Show me."