Remus and Sirius walked into their cottage. Remus felt so overwhelmed with emotions. Not only did have Padfoot back but Prince Harry was back too and up in the palace talking to Dumbledore about Merlin knows what. Remus wanted to talk to Harry and find out what his life had been like but right now Padfoot had to be his top priority.

Sirius had been kept on a ship called the Cruciatus for the last sixteen years and had been tortured by Severus Snape. 'Evil git,' Remus thought while Sirius tried his best to explain on the walk down to the cottage.

Harry had been kidnapped by Snape on Voldemort's orders and brought to the cell next to Sirius's where Harry had finally met his godfather. A young man named Draco Malfoy was sent to torture Harry but when he was unable to follow through Harry took the opportunity to overtake him and force him to release both himself and Sirius.

They had been confronted by Snape and with that distraction, Malfoy ran to the hangar bay and Harry and Sirius had followed him, hoping to find a way off the ship. Instead, they had just barely missed Malfoy as he left and another ship soon docked.

"Our ship, Remus! The Marauder!" Sirius had exclaimed. Of course Remus had recognized it when it landed but he had left Sirius get excited about telling him anyway.

Turned out that Albus Dumbledore had hired this group of teenaged adventurers to rescue Harry. Dumbledore had, however, neglected to even mention to them that Sirius was there as well. Surely, if he knew Harry had been taken there within hours of Harry arriving there then his intelligence network must've told him years ago where Sirius was.

But they had brought him back with them anyhow and now they were reunited, just after Remus had given up hope.

As Sirius stood in their kitchen Remus had to admit that Sirius looked terrible. His skin looked much paler than he remembered. And he looked so thin it made Remus want to break down sobbing.

"Cottage looks the same," Sirius said.

"Yes. I haven't touched it. I only come to the palace for the transformations now," Remus said. "It's the one place I know no one is ever around."

Sirius looked around. It looked to Remus that whatever strength Sirius had been holding onto to get him through this ordeal had finally depleted and all that was left was an empty, broken man.

"You need a shower a bath, Padfoot. Let me run you some water," Remus said and walked through the bedroom and into the bathroom with Sirius following slowly behind him.

"I'm afraid none of the tech works here anymore so it will be cold," Remus said.

"I haven't had a proper bath in sixteen years, Moony. I don't care if it's cold," Sirius said.

Sirius removed pulled off the clothes they had given him in the detention cells, letting them fall to the floor. Sirius's body was in worse condition than Remus anticipated. He had burn marks from being tortured all over his back and torso. His bones were protruding in both his chest and hips.

"Oh, Padfoot," Remus said, tears filling his eyes.

"I'm alright, now. I'm here with you," Sirius said putting a hand on Remus's shoulder.

Remus turned on the water and the tub slowly filled. Once it was filled Sirius lowered himself into it. Remus got a sponge and wet it then gently scrubbed Sirius's body for him while Sirius relaxed in the water. This went on for awhile and they never spoke. Remus realized this was the first moment of true peace Sirius had likely had in sixteen years. He wanted desperately to roll back the years and give the time back to him, back to them.

At the end Remus washed Sirius's hair and then rinsed it off for him as well. Remus drained the tub and Sirius stepped out of it where Remus was waiting with a towel. He then did his best to dry Sirius off from head to toe.

"Thank you, Remus," Sirius said.

"It had to be done, my love," Remus replied and Sirius nodded.

"Let me get you some robes, " Sirius added and Remus went into the bedroom and opened some drawers then brought back big pink robe that Sirius used to love. Sirius smiled at the sight of it then grabbed it from Remus and put it on.

They went into the bedroom and Remus, who was still in his blue robe, sat on the bed and gestured for Sirius to join him. Sirius sat on the bed then slid next to Remus who then held him with Sirius's head resting on Remus's chest. Remus stroked Sirius's hair and Sirius began to cry.

"Is this a dream, Moony? Please tell me this isn't a dream!" Sirius begged.

"It's real, Padfoot. If it were a dream I would hope it would be a better one. One where…" Remus trailed off.

"Where James and Lily didn't die," Sirius finished for him. "Yes, you are right. Though I have dreamed of our reunion many times. I think I had given up hope. I thought I would die in there. They barely fed me. They tortured me on a near daily basis for years. I think once they realized if they kept it up I would die and then they wouldn't be able to torture me any longer so they slowed down," Sirius said. Remus continued to stroke Sirius's hair and even planted a kiss on the top of his head.

"And Snivellus," Sirius sneered. "Snivellus taunting me day in and day out. Feeding me lies and truths all rolled up together so that I never knew what was real or not. If Harry hadn't been there when I escaped I swear I might've killed him."

"I'm glad you didn't have to," Remus said.

Sirius sighed and said, "Me too. I suppose."

The two of them laid there together for awhile in silence then. Slowly, the sun set and everything was quiet. Remus assumed everyone had departed from the palace already. Sirius tilted his head back and looked up at Remus.

"Moony? Will you… kiss me?" Sirius asked.

"Of course," Remus responded and Sirius rolled over to face Remus and they kissed, lightly. Remus had never forgotten Sirius's taste after all these years. Remus could feel his cock getting hard but he wouldn't allow himself to give in to passion right now. These were kisses of affection, not lust and affection was what Sirius needed.

After a few minutes Sirius pulled away and said, "Moony, I want to make love to you. But I can't. Not yet. I don't think my cock has gotten hard in quite some time, if I'm being honest. But will you just hold me and let me fall asleep in your arms?"

Remus smiled and nodded then kissed Sirius on the forehead. And Sirius turned back over and rested against Remus's chest again. He closed his eyes and very swiftly Remus could tell he was asleep. Remus was not able to sleep so quickly. He wanted to savor this moment for as long as he could because he realized now that you never knew what terrible things might come your way.