"So enjoy present pleasures as to not mar those to come. " - Senneca

Remus stretched when the first lights fell across him through the dirty window, and a soft groan escaped him. There was no confusion about where he was, or who he was with - this wasn't like the previous weekend, when waking up to the head of black hair beside him caused some panic and confusion. No, he knew where he was and who he was with - he rolled onto his side and smiled down at the messy head of black hair that was nestled against him.

The previous night had been amazing - frenzied and yet they had taken all the time they needed to learn every inch of each other's bodies. Remus couldn't remember the last time sex had been quite so pleasurable for him. Sirius had wanted him to take the reins of what happened, but he had waffled and stumbled until gently, Sirius eased him into things, and didn't show any sort of impatience at all that their feverish, hurried pace had slowed to a crawl, just in Sirius's effort to make it equal.

He shifted in the bed at the memory, and kissed the top of Sirius's head. "Come on, you big lug. Let's get up and get some breakfast." He laughed when the mess of hair apparently moved, snuffling as unseen lips moved up to the crook of his neck and kissed a bruised spot, before nuzzling away there.

"Dun' wanna get up."

"C'mon, Sirius. It's a beautiful Mon-" that was when Remus froze, eyes widening, and then he was scrambling away from the affectionate man, grabbing for his phone. The old, worn screen proclaimed that it was 7:40. Twenty whole buggering minutes until school started.

"Fuck. Fuckfuckfuck." He breathed, and before Sirius knew it, the brunette was bustling around the room, awkwardly stumbling around in naught but his skin. Clumsily, the bathroom door slammed while he practically jumped into the shower, and crawled out minutes later. It was a frenzy dressing, but he was done with enough time to get to school.

During this, Sirius had sleepily sat up, watching him, and flashed him a drowsy grin. "Never thought I'd find an English teacher hot..." He mused, and laughed when Remus threw a rolled up sock at him.

"Oh, shut it, you git. I'd much prefer to stay in bed with you all day." The admittance spilled out of his mouth before he could stop it, and then he flushed, quite aware of the grin widening on his husband's face.

"Oh?"

"But I can't. So you get dressed, enjoy a breakfast and your interview I overheard James tell you about, and I'll see you around 4." The words were as hurried as he had been, and he leaned down, kissing Sirius lightly.

And then shivered when Sirius's hand brushed against that lovely bruise on his neck that repeated nips and sucking had created. "Careful not to go around showing that off. Everyone'll think you had a wild weekend, not a family emergency." He grinned and Remus pulled away with another pouting frown.

And he almost returned with a retort, as well, before he looked at his cell phone again. "Shite! Bye, Sirius!" He waved slightly before racing out the door, just barely remembering to grab his suitcase.

The day went by tortuously slow. A few of his students had noticed the hickey and had quite clearly pointed it out. When they noticed the wedding ring in conjunction, though, their words were full of congratulations. All in all, it was quite embarrassing. Thankfully, he had enough sense to not tell them to call him by his new married name - he would've looked around for Sirius, had he heard a question directed to 'Mr. Black'.

Around lunchtime, he got a text message from Sirius, that simply said 'I got it', and a smiley face. Remus responded with a like face, smiling softly to himself.

School hurried on, finished, and so did the week. Sirius didn't start work until the next week, and so he was enjoying playing a domestic husband for now - Friday met Remus with another surprise, and Remus stared at Sirius when he picked him up at school, a second helmet perched on the back of the motorcycle, on top of a picnic basket. "C'mon. I told you I'd take you out on a real date, and James showed me the greatest spot yesterday." He was practically beaming at the thought, and that expression only grew when Remus tentatively climbed on behind him.

"You know I'm deathly afraid of this thing, right?" He murmured into Sirius's ear, fixing his helmet unsurely atop his head.

"Oh, come on. Just trust me, it'll be fun." Sirius promised with a shameless grin, winking at two girls walking out to the school's parking lot, who were pointing in shock that one of the most well known (and liked) Literature teachers at the school was on a motorbike with some strange man they'd never seen before. "Now, hold on tight, Remus, babe." He told him over his shoulder, and Remus nodded, wrapping his arms securely around Sirius's waist.

Someone would have to sit there and physically pry him off to shake him loose.

The bike roared to life, and as undignified as it was, Remus squeaked slightly, burying his face into his husband's back, and closed his eyes. Until he realized that they were moving smoothly down the street, wind playfully whipping at them. He looked around cautiously, before giving a laugh. "This is actually a lot of fun, Sirius!" He called ahead of him to the mechanic, who flashed him a grin before returning his attention to the road.

After a small while of driving through city, they were on a country road, and the smell of grass and rain and nature rose into the air around them, before the motorbike slowed to a stop. Remus looked around, and felt almost disappointed - not only was the area rather plain, but the ride, which had been breathtakingly fun, was over. "We're here?" Remus asked Sirius, who had stood from the bike and put the kickstand up.

"Not quite." He grinned, shaking his head. "You trust me, right, cutie?" An inquisitive tilt of his head, leaning closely into Remus, and Remus felt he would've agreed that the sky was on fire if Sirius wanted him to.

"Of course." He smiled.

"Good." Sirius seemed satisfied with that answer, and drew a long piece of silky black fabric from his pocket. The folds fell out delicately, and suddenly, Remus had reservations. What was that for? "Take off your helmet real quick, babe." Remus numbly did, once more, as he was instructed, setting the heavy black helmet in his lap. He looked inquiringly at Sirius, who just shook his head.

And then the fabric brushed against the bridge of his nose, and then fell over his eyes. Then it was gently tied in the back, and he felt Sirius lean in and gently kiss both covered eyelids. "Just trust me. I want to get everything looking just right before you see it." He smiled, the expression filled his voice till it overflowed. Remus nodded slightly, taking a gulp of breath, shivering when he felt those same gentle, calloused hands return the helmet on him.

"Sirius..." he hated to admit all of these unmanly sounds and tones that this experience was wringing out of him, but he never seemed to catch them in time.

Then his hands were being cradled in the calloused hands that he so admired, and Sirius's chapped lips were kissing the palms. Remus shivered - he'd never realized how much more alive every touch would feel if he couldn't see what Sirius was doing. And then his hands were released, and the bike shifted as Sirius sat in front of him once more. "Hold on tight, okay Remus? We'll be there before you know it, promise."

Remus nodded and locked his arms together around the other man's solid torso once more. "Ready? You have a good grip?"

"Yeah..." Remus's voice trembled slightly, but he nodded. He felt Sirius's hesitation, and shook his head. "I'll be fine. Let's just get there soon." Remus encouraged, leaning up for a brief moment, kissing the back of Sirius's neck, before settling back again, solidly.

The beast they were riding on roared to life, and Sirius laughed slightly at the small sign of affection. "Okay, and here we go!" He whooped, and Remus winced, feeling the air rush past them much fasted than before. But once more, before he knew it, they were slowing to a stop, and Sirius was climbing off the bike. "Okay, babe, just wait right there. And no peeking!" He teased with an easy laugh, stealing a kiss.

Remus nodded dutifully, and tried to figure out what was happening, based on the sounds. He knew that Sirius had taken the picnic basket off the bike, and he could hear the rustle of a tree, but that was it. He had felt them go steadily up a hill, but still, just knowing that they were higher up than they had been, and that there trees held no bearing on what Sirius was preparing to show him.

After what seemed like ages, Sirius was before him. "Ready?"

"More than. I was starting to think you'd abandoned me." Remus laughed softly, letting Sirius remove the heavy helmet, revealing the tawny strands, which he ruffled back to their normal state (amid laughter and denials of 'Never, never!'). Then one of his hands was in Sirius's, and he was led to standing, and carefully to a specific spot. He didn't release his hand, and instead stayed at his side.

"Okay, take off the blindfold." He murmured, and Remus lifted his suddenly freed up hands, undoing the knotted fabric and letting it fall away. And then he was smiling. At the view of the sweet little picnic for two, he couldn't help the way his lips curled into an easy smile.

"Oh, Sirius..."

There was an oak tree overhead, the sound of leaves brushing against each other rattling into the air. In the shade of the oak tree, was a small stone wall, flat on top, that used to likely mark off property. Now, though, it was falling apart in places, crumbling away - except for the center, where the shade of the oak tree fell. There, a blanket - red and white checkermarks - was draped over, held in place by a closed bottle of wine and the picnic basket.

All in all, it was possibly the sweetest thing a boyfriend had ever done for him.

"You're gonna catch flies with your mouth hanging open like that." Sirius teased, whispering in his ear.

The reminder that Sirius was right there made him jump in surprise, before he whirled and hugged him, kissing him. "Best date you could've taken me to." He announced decidedly, smiling brightly at him.

"But it hasn't even started." There was a confused blink from Sirius, though he was grinning pleasantly that Remus liked this plan of his.

"Sure it has!" Another kiss, and then another. The feel of the stubble on the older man's cheeks scratched him slightly, and he made a face, but then he dissolved into laughter. "The bike ride. That was easily the most arousing thing someone's dragged me along on. And now a full picnic in such a nice spot? Hell yeah, the date's started."

"Most arousing, huh?" Sirius grinned playfully. "Well, I'll have to keep that in mind later." He pressed their lips together, coaxing Remus's mouth open, deepening the kiss until they both had to draw away with soft pants - Remus leaning slightly against Sirius for support. "But come on, come on, let's eat and drink, for now." He laughed - the sound breathless, and a little wistful that they could carry on with what he'd started.

Remus figured that there was no reason to hold on that for too long. For the moment though, they both sat on the short wall, across from each other, and ate. Sirius had brought a pasta salad, and grapes, and sandwichs. It was a basic lunch, but the thought counted. Besides, Remus realized, there was something that made his gut twist when Sirius would lean over and push a grape in his mouth.

When the food was gone, Sirius gathered everything up and put it by the motorcycle while Remus spread out the blanket beneath the oak tree - having told Sirius, who was a little tipsy from the now empty bottle of wine, that he didn't want to risk the motorcycle while they were freshly buzzed from the wine. Then Sirius was back near him, tugging him into his arms and sitting, the tawny haired man folded into his arms comfortably.

Remus stretched out comfortably, back to Sirius's chest, arms wrapping back around his neck. Sirius took a deep breath in his hair, and Remus dissolved into soft laughter. "Like I said, best date ever." He murmured up at Sirius, closing his eyes as hands slipped over his waist, holding him close.

"You've had some pretty bad dates, then." Sirius summed up, trailing his lips behind Remus's ear, making his way to his neck. "'Cause this is nothing compared to some of the dates I want to do with you." He added with a soft laugh.

"You have no idea. This is wonderful though, Sirius. Thank you." He smiled softly, before turning in his arms, kneeling on the blanket, leaning in closely against him, letting their foreheads meet and press together. "This is lovely, Sirius. Just sitting together and enjoying meals and just everything..." He murmured.

"I'm glad you're enjoying this." Sirius smiled warmly, turning his head up to kiss him lightly. And then again, before he let his head fall back slightly with an adoring laugh. "I want to make you have plenty of lovely dates likes this, Remus."

"And why do you think I deserve wonderful dates, Sirius?" He laughed in surprise, watching him. Curiously. "I mean, we've only known each other two weeks, still."

"Well, you're a wonderful man. And I know that for a fact because I love you, Remus. And I wouldn't fall in love so easily with someone who wasn't completely wonderful." He sounded so sure, with his little grin, hands slipping to grip Remus's hips, staring up at him.

Remus felt his cheeks flare in embarrassment from the words before he melted into a warm smile, lifting a hand to caress Sirius's cheek. "I don't think I'm all at great... but I love you too, Sirius. There's just something - I love you." He shook his head, smiling, before yelping when Sirius whooped and tugged him down into a rough, adoring kiss.


Author's Note: Alright, that's the last of the chapters I have written. I'm so sorry, I've been a terrible author and neglected to respond to your reviews, but that doesn't mean I didn't read and love each and every of them.

Right now, I'm speeding along through NaNo with my original novel, but November is still three weeks from being over. I'll finish writing Last Name as soon as I can though - I love this story, and have no intent of abandoning it.

Thank you for reading so far, and I'll see you on the other side of November!