Hogsmead was something of a special treat when winter time rolled in. It was a very well loved trip to go into the little magical town and see the whole place looking like a Christmas village in a muggle window display. The frosted roofs and drifts of very white snow were lit magically by the icicle covered lamp-posts. It was very much like something from a traditional Christmas picture book. The wind blew large white flakes that stuck in the various house colors of scarves and hates as students did their holiday shopping.

Remus blinked his snowflake spotted eyelashes and sighed heavily, his breath steaming out in a huge puff in front of him. He did love this trip ever so much, but he was a rotten awful chooser of gifts. He could spend hour upon hour looking through stores and never decide on a thing. This year was particularly important. He worked his way through the wind and as his nose turning very pink, he wondered what he was going to do. He had already been to Zonkos, Honeydukes, and the Quidditch supplies shop. He had yet to find anything that he thought would be good enough to give to Sirius Black for Christmas.

This year he couldn't give him just anything. It needed to be something special. Something that would get across just what he wanted to say. However, this would be easier if he knew what is was he did want to say. He had been hoping his Christmas gift search would bring him closer to what his mind was trying to work out on it's own.

The wind whirled around him when a hand caught his wrist and he was spun around, his hat almost coming off, he was brought nose to nose with Sirius, who was suppose to leave him alone while he shopped.

"Sirius!" Remus gasped. Sirius grinned toothily at him and winked.

"It's been and hour and a half, you can shop more later, I am buying you a coffee or something." Remus just stared at all the snowflakes in Sirius hair and grinned.

"Fine. Then you have to leave me alone to I can finish my shopping. You can't keep a secret when it comes to gifts." Remus touched Sirius' nose with his mitten covered fingers.

"I can too!" Sirius wrinkled his nose.

"Liar."

"...yeah."

From the shop window the snow drifted down, and holiday piano could be heard from somewhere further away in the crowd of people partaking in pumpkin lattes or hot chocolate, which was so popular this time of year. The seats by the window were now occupied by Remus and Sirius, both with steaming hot winter beverages. Remus was curious as to why they hadn't gone and met up with Peter and James in the pub for a butterbeer, but he wasn't about to complain about the alone time.

"You have a milk-foam mustache." Remus leaned over the table and stuck a napkin to Sirius' face.

"Thank you sir, now I have a paper beard," Sirius snickered, making Remus laugh.

"It suits you. If glued more of them together you could have a beard as long as Dumbledore's." Remus took a sip of his coffee. Sirius gave him an amused look. "What?"

"I think I know what I am doing next Halloween." Sirius grinned. Remus groaned.

"Oh Sirius, don't even think about it! I think imitating the headmaster is just a bit much." Remus gave him a pleading look.

"Your fault entirely darling, you gave me the idea." Sirius said nonchalantly.

"Did...you just call me 'darling'?" Remus asked slowly. Sirius actually went a little pink in the face, abashed.

"Er...I...I think I just did." He admitted slowly. They were very quiet for a moment.

"That was awkward." Remus said thoughtfully.

"Yeah, like... you made me think of you as a housewife or something." Sirius nodded thoughtfully.

"I would make a horrible housewife." Remus objected, equally as thoughtful.

"No, you can cook, and clean, and all that stuff..." Sirius replied, leaning on the table.

"But I would look terrible in a dress and apron." Remus argued.

"...I don't know." Sirius said. "If you wouldn't wear it, I might though."

"Oh Merlin Sirius. Don't." Remus laughed, covering his eyes with a hand. "Spare us the image of your hairy legs in a dress."

"Oh, I forgot about my manly legs. Right then. Dress for you. Suit for me. We will have nineteen kids." Sirius nodded firmly.

Remus looked up slowly and his eyes met Sirius'. Neither of them looked away and some sort of feeling of mutual understanding came over them.

They both looked away from each other then and at anything else in the room.

Because neither of them were kidding exactly about a house with nineteen kids and being a couple, and neither exactly was going to say anything.

It was in this space that Remus looked out the window and through the dazzling snowflakes and carolers. There, in the shop window across from them, was the perfect Christmas present for Sirius Black.