It was one in the morning when Lily and James left the reception, but the party went until three when Melindi was sent up to break it up.
"Come on, honey," Sirius swayed, "you can give us all just one more round, cantcha?"
Remus laughed and Melindi smiled at him.
"I can't, actually," she said sweetly to Sirius. When she turned to Remus, she asked, "Would you like to go for coffee?"
"Coffee sounds fan-bloody-tastic," Sirius slurred, slinging an arm over Remus' shoulders. "Doesn't it sound good, Mooney?"
Remus wrapped his arm around Sirius' waist. "Yes, it sounds lovely, but you are very drunk and I don't think she was offering it to you."
"Well, she should've been," Sirius went on.
"You should go to bed," Remus pressed.
"With you, har har –"
"No, not with me. I'll take you to the room –"
"And I'll get out the lube –"
"And you can run a hot shower –"
"If you'll join me –"
"And get out of the tux –"
"Only with your help with the … zipper –"
"And then sleep."
"Or not."
Melindi rolled her eyes. "Is he always this difficult?"
Sirius fell into the chair behind him.
"I'll go and get you some coffee," Remus told him. "You wait here."
"But Mooney –"
"Stay," Remus ordered, and Sirius stopped protesting. He followed Melindi out where she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, that was uncomfortable."
Remus laughed. "He has a tendency to do that."
"I mean, all of those lewd comments – don't you ever wonder if he's serious?"
"He is Sirius."
"I mean not kidding around."
"That too," Remus replied. They had reached the vending machine that gave coffee and other hot drinks.
"Doesn't it make you uncomfortable?"
"Not at all," Remus said as he reached in his pocket for change.
"Oh."
"What are you having?"
"Nothing," she said quickly. "I'm not thirsty."
"All right, then."
"Would you like to give us a chance again?"
Remus looked at her. "Melindi –"
"I know it was a long time ago," she said quickly, "but I'm not with anyone, and if you're not with anyone –"
"I am with someone, though," Remus said quietly as he punched in his order. "I'm sorry."
"Oh, no, it's okay," she recovered, blushing. "Um, if you don't mind me asking, who?"
It was Remus' turn to blush. "Sirius."
Melindi's eyes grew wide. "Oh. Right. Okay then."
"I should have told you sooner."
"No, it's all right."
"Actually, no," Remus said softly, "I should have told you when we were sixteen."
Melindi turned away from him. "Oh."
"I'm sorry."
"It wasn't an act for the press?"
"Not at all."
"Right. Well, now I know."
"I really am sorry."
"Remus," she said, turning and smiling at him, "it's okay. Really. Thank you for telling me and being honest."
Remus could not help but smile back.
When they arrived back at the banquet hall, Sirius was passed out across the table.
"Keep the coffee," Remus told her as he handed her the cup. "I'll drag him upstairs."
Melindi smiled and nodded but said nothing as she left them. Remus bent down to Sirius' level.
"Padfoot, come on. We have to get to our room," he said, prodding the other man in the side.
"Only if we pretend we're on our honeymoon," Sirius slurred, letting Remus haul him up and out of the room.
They both slept soundly until noon the next day when they woke to find a pot of coffee already brewed for them.
I'm sorry that was short. I had to end the wedding, and I needed seperate chapters to make you all happy, and to THANK YOU for your patience. I know I'm quite the procrastinator. However, double post for you this week, and hopefully this writing streak will stick with me until I get to the end? Seriously?
Yes. I don't want to say this too early, but this story is winding down. I'm starting to drop hints concerning the ending of this story. Yes, I have the final scene written, however, there isn't anything between this and the end. So that still has to be written, but there won't be much more between now and then. Enjoy it while it lasts! And feel free to muse about the end. I love musing myself, and I'd love to see what you all THINK (not know, Carly) is going to happen.
So once again, thank you all so much for the reviews! They make my days brighter and my studying a little more bearable.