Very, very sorry anyone who is reading this fic about the long delay between updates (and for the short length of this one. I hope it's okay S) Anyway, I've had (and still have) loads of coursework to do, January exams and then my computer died on me and had to be fixed! I'm not sure on this chapter anyway.

I don't own the Marauders sadly, or anything else you recognise from JK's books.

Sunlight

A strong scent of loamy soil filled Sirius' nostrils as he crawled slowly through the passageway under the Whomping Willow. The tunnel was cramped and damp, creating brown stains on the knees of his trousers. His robes snagged on roots as he moved swiftly over them but the animagus didn't notice, his mind too deeply absorbed with thoughts of the werewolf he was about to meet.

Argh, this is ridiculous!

Sirius swept a lock of hair out of his face with a muddy hand.

I've known Remus for years, I shouldn't be this damn nervous about it.

A rapid succession of images leapt through his mind, of the two of them embracing, of Remus professing his love for him.

But what if it's not like that? What if Remus is disgusted by me when I tell him? I'm going on the advice of bloody Prongs! And has he got Evans to go out with him yet? Pffft!

Sirius stopped momentarily in the tunnel, took a deep breath to help still his nerve and slowly lifted his hand to push against the trap door. The ancient wooden panel creaked on its rusted hinges and flipped over, hitting the floor of the shack with a dull thud. Sirius grasped the edges of the hole with his hands and hauled himself up. A tearing sound rent the air and the animagus flopped unceremoniously to the ground.

Aww Merlin now I've ripped my robes! McGonagall'll slaughter me. Shut it Sirius, now isn't the time to be thinking about Minnie…but that tartan dressing gown is so fetching…oh Merlin's beard what kind of a perv am I!?

Minute particles of dust hung in the air in Shrieking Shack, only visible where they were illuminated in a shaft of brilliant sunlight which had found its way through a gap in the board on the windows.

Finally, a chance to talk to Rem alone in the daytime. He likes the daylight more, it'll make it easier to talk about...stuff.

'Ahhhhh!'

Sirius train of thought was interrupted by a cry from the room above.

Remus!

Sirius used the sleeve of his t-shirt to wipe the sweat from his brow, took off his robes and, bundling them up in his arms, took the stairs two, sometimes three, at a time to the first floor of the Shrieking Shack.

What he saw as he bounded through the doorway at the top of the stairs made him wince. Remus lay on the four poster bed, its sheets stained with a worrying amount of blood. How much of it was from last night Sirius could only guess at. Since the Marauders had successfully become animagi Remus was much less affected by the transformations. His memory of the events of the full moon was clearer and the wolf caused less damage to itself. But now the werewolf was sprawled on his back, legs akimbo and topless. With one swift glance Sirius took in the fresh cuts that littered his friend's chest causing livid, scarlet lines across his pale skin. Remus' arm hung down off the mattress at an unnatural angle and the animagus had to choke back tears that threatened to spring from his eyes for the suffering of the boy he loved.

Two large strides brought Sirius to Remus' bedside and he knelt down to inspect the boy's wounds.

Broken arm, more injuries than usual, I knew Rem was agitated. I wish I didn't have to leave before he transforms back.

A few quick spells helped the healing of the slashes across Remus' torso but, to Sirius' great distress; there was little he could do for the broken arm.

'Ferula.' muttered the dark haired boy as he popped Remus' shoulder back into its socket. Stark, white bandages wound themselves around the broken arm and a wooden splint to keep it steady.

A barely audible sob escaped Sirius' throat and once more tears pricked at his eyes. He couldn't bear to see Remus suffer like this. The animagus cupped the young werewolf's cheek in his hand, feeling the soft, warm skin of Remus' face. Then he bent over the four-poster and, sweeping back a fringe of sandy hair, planted a tender kiss on the younger boy's forehead.

Oh Remus, I wish I could help you more. I wish I could take the pain for you.

'Rem I… well, I don't even know if you can here me but,' Sirius whispered, his lips close to the boy's ear, 'the thing is, I can't stand not telling you any longer and… well, Prongs thought I should too so here I am.'

Just say it Sirius, Remmie can't even hear you probably.

'Basically Rem, I…I love you.'

Sirius' voice cracked and this time the tears that had threatened to come to his eyes came splashing down, hitting Remus' cheek in a slow rhythm.

The still muddy hand cupping the werewolf's cheek wiped the tears away gently, trembling only slightly as it did so. Whilst Sirius looked on lovingly, Remus' eyelids fluttered. A movement so small it was only just noticeable in the dim light of the shack. He groaned and tried to lift his arm to rub his eyes finding it bound tightly in white gauze and impossible to move up to his face.

He's awake! Merlin, I wonder if he heard me? At least he's awake though, that's a good sign, right?

'Remus! Oh gods Rem I was so worried. I haven't seen you this bad since before me, 'Tail and Prongsie could spend the full moons with you. Here, lemme help you to the hospital wing.'

'I'm fine Siri, really. I don't need your help; I'll just wait for Madam Pomfrey.' Came Remus' hoarse reply.

Grrr, that's Moony alright. Stubborn as ever and always refusing help even when he obviously needs it. I guess he just doesn't want to feel more vulnerable than the rest of us Marauders.

'Right, of course you don't Moony…'

'Pads, I don't!' Remus tried to exclaim but his voice cracked as he spoke and he let put a hacking cough, belying his words.

Sirius looked at him sadly, shrugged his now torn robes back on, and told his friend that he would go and fetch Madam Pomfrey anyway; just to make sure he was okay. After all, she was better at mending broken bones than any witch he'd ever come across. He turned swiftly to head for the door, trying to hide his face from Remus so that the streaks in the dirt caused by the tears would not be seen. A loose floor board creaked underfoot and Sirius grasped the door frame so tight that the skin was pulled taught across his knuckles, the blood drained from them making them almost white. He glanced back at Remus, calculating in his head the amount of time he would be alone in the shack if he went across to the hospital wing to fetch Madam Pomfrey. Just as he decided it was worth it to get the broken arm seen to more quickly, Remus' low-pitched voice broke the silence.

'Sirius!' he tried to shout. 'Siri, wait I…'

The animagus whipped his head around to look at his friend, waiting for him to get his breath back and finish his sentence. But Sirius didn't find out what Remus wanted to say as the boy sank back into unconsciousness, lying spread-eagled on the four poster bed once more. There was one last flurry of movement as the injured boy attempted to get comfortable and he murmered,

'Siri I...I'

Then the need for sleep overwhelmed him and he lay still again.

'Siri, wait I…' what was he going to say? I…love you? Only like you as a mate? What!?

'Mobilicorpus.' Sirius muttered and walked down the stairs, through the tunnel and across the Hogwarts grounds with Remus hovering in front of him like a puppet. His mind was preoccupied and he stumbled over grassy hillocks or caught his foot in a rabbit warren more than once. Each time he stumbled the pale, unconscious body of the werewolf he was transporting almost hit the ground but somehow Sirius averted disaster.

As he was about half way across the field, the hem of his robes dragging along the sodden earth, Madam Pomfrey appeared. The bright orb of the sun was low in the sky and cast long shadows of the three figures across the dew covered grass. Sirius barely noticed when Madam Pomfrey took Remus off him and manhandled him onto a stretcher which she levitated towards the castle. The morning hadn't gone quite as he had expected. Remus had wanted to say something, but what? The animagus sighed deeply as thoughts of what it could have been mingled with worry for his friend. He had been naive to think that it would have been so easy. Love was never simple, not even in the daylight.