"Hey, Remus," James said as Remus came up to the passenger seat and sat down.

"Hey," he said.

"Hanging in there?" James asked.

"I'm fine. Peter and Sirius are asleep," Remus replied.

"Wow. Those lazy shits! Didn't they sleep well enough in the hotel?"

Remus shrugged.

"I guess not. Maybe we're just all a bit tired. When Lily and I traveled out to Oregon I remember really be glad when it was over. I mean, we did it pretty fast though. We didn't stop for anything but food and sleep," Remus said.

"I love road trips. You gotta get out and see America. You can't really understand it until you've seen it. Not really," James said.

"That's fair. I've had a nice time. I'm looking forward to being… well, not home. But my old home. I've gotta work on my best excuses for being so poor at staying in contact with my mom and dad," Remus said.

"Strained relationship?"

"Nah. It's… just kind of how my family is. Especially my mom's half. I think I've always struggled with keeping people in my life when I'm not around them. It's funny… I used to see Lily's partners all the time. They were an almost every day part of my life. But… I haven't seen them or spoken to them at all since I moved. I… don't know how to maintain those connections," Remus admitted.

James wasn't sure what to say. He knew that people could drift out of your lives but he usually preferred maintaining connections if he could. But he didn't want to sound like he was judging Remus because he couldn't really relate.

"That's a bummer, man," James said.

"Yeah. I feel guilty but… I don't know how to be different. It's just… so easy. Does that make me terrible?" Remus asked.

"I don't think so. You seem like a good guy with a soft heart," James said.

Remus chuckled with embarrassment, muttering, "Thanks."

"We should spend some time together this summer. Just you and me? I mean… I don't mean to pry you away from Sirius," James said.

"That could be cool. I'm afraid you'll think I'm boring," Remus said.

James wanted to tell Remus that he could never be bored by someone so cute but instead managed, "Nah. You're geeky. I'm geeky too."

"For a jock," Remus countered and giggled.

"Fair. I'm a jock too," James admitted.

"Makes sense. You have the body for it," Remus said.

"Been checking out my body?" James asked with a wink.

Remus burst into laughter. James liked it when he laughed.

"Umm… uh… I mean it lives around the house. And the other night… it was there," Remus stammered.

"There's no shame. You're only human," James chuckled.

Oh, James, he thought, you're flirting with your best friend's boyfriend and not even hiding it.

"On my better days. When I'm not hiding away in my attic," Remus said with regret.

"You should come out more often," James said, thinking he was the one who probably needed to come out.

"Probably. It's not easy. Being around people can be draining. I channel a lot of energy into my fanfic," Remus said.

"How's that going?"

"In between projects. Actually… I got this email the other night… and I haven't told anybody."

"Oh?"

"Yeah… someone working with a publisher… wants to turn my fic into a novel? I looked them up. They're legit. But… surely they must be mistaken?" Remus said.

"I don't know. I haven't read it. But Sirius and Lily think it's awesome," James said.

"Yeah. But that's different. They can't be objective can they?" Remus proclaimed.

"Does that invalidate their opinions? So they have a bias. So what?" James said.

"Well… no but…"

"I'm just saying. They love you but that doesn't mean their opinions of your art aren't valid. Can… I tell you a secret?" James said, lowering his voice.

"Sure."

James exhaled then said, "I don't really like Sirius's photography that much."

"What? Really?" Remus asked, seeming shocked.

"Yeah. And I love that boy like family. I always have. And I always support him and would do anything to help him achieve his dreams. But personally? I just don't think I'm that into photography."

"But doesn't that mean they could be faking their love for my fic?" Remus countered.

"What? No! It means the opposite of that, man. I don't lie to Sirius. I don't pretend to love this or that photo he takes. I find other ways to be positive about it. And I'm not a fool: I know he's good at what he does. It's just not for me," James said.

"I see. So you're saying… I should trust them since they offer particulars about what they loved?" Remus said.

"Definitely. Look, I tell you what: I'll read it and I'll give you my honest opinion," James said.

"I'm not sure that's the same thing…" Remus said.

"What? You don't believe I love you? You're my family too. All of you are," James said.

"R-really?"

"God, yes," James said, grinning over at Remus.

Remus smiled back and didn't say anything else. The rest of day four of the road trip went smoothly. They stopped in Akron, Ohio for Lunch and so that Peter could see the tribute to Devo, who he apparently was a big fan of.

That night it was time for James and Remus to share the bed and James was more than a little nervous. He didn't normally share a bed with his crushes like that. But there he was, trying to get comfortable in the dark. He'd already said goodnight to Lily. She'd informed him that she was about to hookup with her partners, hinting at tantalizing details that had made him more than a little aroused.

I can do this, James thought to himself. Just be cool. You're always cool, James, he told himself. Just be cool right now.

"Having trouble sleeping?" Remus asked.

"Yeah. Apparently," James said.

"Me too," Remus replied.

"Maybe I should just switch with Sirius…" James said and started to get up.

"No. It's fine. I don't want you to leave," Remus said and James's heart started slamming his chest.

"Oh. Well, thanks," James said, lying back down.

"I-I appreciate what you said this morning. That… I'm your family. That you… umm… you know," Remus said, clearly too embarrassed.

"I got ya. It's no problem. I meant it," James said.

"Yeah and uh… Same. To you. About you," Remus stammered.

"Thanks."

"Sorry I called you a jock."

"Don't be. I am. And between you and me, you're not wrong about my jock bod," James said, definitely not helping his situation down below any.

"Sometimes I wonder if I could have a body like that. But… I'm just kind of meh," Remus said.

"I don't think you're meh. You're cute. Everyone thinks so," James said.

"You think I'm cute?" Remus asked in disbelief.

"As a rule, I don't say things I don't mean," James replied.

"Th-thanks."

Just leave it there, James told himself. Just be cool.

"I can definitely see what Sirius sees in you," James said, definitely not being cool.

Remus was a silent for a moment then just said, "Thanks."

James flushed with embarrassment.

"I guess I can see what Lily sees in you," Remus admitted.

"Thanks," James muttered softly and rolled over, willing himself to move off this path he was on.

He needed sleep.

Remus struggled to get himself out of bed the final morning of the road trip, as they left Erie, Pennsylvania and headed towards Keene. Was this really happening? Surely not.

Remus was thinking… he might have a crush on James Potter. A big one. And he wasn't sure where it came from but he woke up with that fluttering feeling in his belly, same as he had felt for Sirius before. He really could see what Lily saw in him. James was fun, incredibly handsome and… he cared about people. He might care about people more than anyone Remus had ever known.

"No, no, no, no," Remus urged himself.

He couldn't allow this. What would Sirius think? He knew Lily would be OK with it… but Sirius? The risk was too great. He had to bury this shit fast.

There was a knock on the bedroom door. Remus pulled the covers over himself and said, "Come in."

"Hey. Getting up? It's the last day! Don't want to miss it!" Sirius said.

"Yeah. Just a moment," Remus said nervously.

"Oh. Uh… right, I'll give you some privacy," Sirius said and quickly left.

Remus groaned and got out of bed. He was feeling grateful that it was a shorter day of traveling with nothing planned but meeting up with Lily. Most of the day was spent driving through upstate New York before they finally pulled up to the hotel they would all be staying in, Lily waiting with a smile on her face.

As they exited the RV she screamed and ran towards them. She grabbed Remus first, squeezing him tightly and planting a kiss on his cheek. She then did the same to Sirius and Peter before damn near making out with James as he came out.

James pulled away from her, laughing.

"Damn, Lily. Save it for later," he joked.

"Fine, fine. Let's get checked in!"

There had been a fair bit of discussion about how many rooms they would check out. In the end, James and Lily got a room with the other three having their own. Of course, Lily would spend some time with her other partners from time to time but she still would have a bit more comfort at the hotel if she wanted her own space now and then.

The hotel itself was only temporary. In a few weeks they would be headed out to cabins for a couple of weeks, to get in touch with nature or whatever. Remus's mind was filled with a flurry of thoughts. Someone wanted to publish his fanfic as a novel. He had a developing crush on his best friend's boyfriend, who also happened to be straight.

What Remus wanted was some time with Lily alone. She would have the best advice. He could text her but it wouldn't be the same thing. Unfortunately, they all shuffled right off to dinner, where many anecdotes about the road trip were had.

"So, James, who would you say has the nicest butt?" Lily asked with a wicked grin on her face.

"Me, obviously," James said.

"Hmm. I might have to check to make sure," Lily said and cackled.

"Remus has a nice butt. I mean… for a guy. Let's just say… he's… umm.. Impressive naked," Peter said, looking awkward and quickly going back to his burger.

"I'll keep in that in mind," Lily said.

Remus was wishing there was something he could hide behind or under. Luckily, the subject instead switched to Sirius as Lily asked, "Hey, Sirius. You never did take that picture of me."

"No. I'm sorry. I guess time slips by," Sirius said.

"No, it's fine. We should do it at the cabin," Lily said.

"We could. Hell, I'll give you an entire day of photos," Sirius said.

"Oooo it's a date!" Lily said and Sirius awkwardly laughed, blushing.

Remus thought maybe James right. They were a family or at the very least were becoming one. That was nice.

Remus was sitting by the hotel pool when Lily made it down. He had texted her after dinner asking if they could have a private conversation. It was still light out and warm. Lily had considered going for a swim but thought that would make conversation difficult.

Remus looked troubled, more so than usual.

"What's up?" Lily said, sitting next to him at a table.

"God, what isn't? Things with Sirius are progressing faster than expected. Which is good but kind of scary? Like… we didn't have sex but we kinda did?" Remus said.

"Were genitals involved?" Lily asked.

"Definitely."

"That's sex, my friend," Lily said.

"Really?" Remus said.

"Yup."

"Huh. I had sex. Weird. Anyhow… then I got an offer to have Reliquary of Blood… published?" Remus said.

"Really? Wow! That's amazing," Lily said, quickly giving Remus a hug.

"Sure. I guess. I'm… kind of overwhelmed by the prospect. And I'd probably have to make a lot of changes," Remus said.

"It'll still be better than fifty fuckin' shades of grey," Lily said.

"Low bar."

"Very."

"For whatever it's worth I did email them back and said I might be interested. They said they would send more details soon. So… I guess that's a thing?" Remus said.

"Everything sounds good so far. What's bothering you?" Lily asked, furrowing her brow.

"James," Remus replied.

"What did he do? I'll fuck him up if he hurt you in any way," Lily declared.

"No, nothing like that. He's done nothing wrong… Well, not to me anyhow. Maybe Peter feels differently but… no… it's not that… it's… Oh, God. I… think I have a crush on him?" Remus said then pulled his shirt up over his face.

"Oh. My. God!" Lily shouted.

Remus groaned underneath his shirt. Lily's mind raced. She couldn't tell Remus about James's crush. And of course, that meant she couldn't tell James about Remus's crush. Oh, this was going to be lots of fun for her.

"When did this happen?" Lily asked, trying her best to be serious and supportive.

"I don't know. Kind of… this morning? We shared the bed last night. And before that… he was saying… nice things. It made me feel good. And then… it made me feel attracted to him. God, how fucked up is this?" Remus said.

"It's fine. Dude, do you realize how many active crushes I have at any given moment? I mean, sure they aren't all the same but… I'm a crushy sort of gal," Lily proudly declared.

"Yeah, but you're you. You can just… flash them your eyes and seduce them with emerald," Remus said.

Lily wanted to counter that if that were the case, they would've hooked up ages ago but held her tongue and instead said, "Sadly, that's not true. Most of the crushes I've ever had never played out. Which shows you just how many I've had."

"Wow."

"Yeah. Wow."

"Anyhow… obviously, James is straight and your boyfriend," Remus said.

Once again, Lily couldn't out James without his consent so she had to hold her tongue. But as far as the boyfriend thing went she said, "I don't care about that. You would be welcome to hook up with any partner of mine. I guess it'd be cool if you let me know you were into them and might hook up with them… but hey, you've just done that, so you're good to go!"

Lily lightly shoved his shoulder, careful not to hit his still healing tattoo, and he laughed.

"Let's be real: James Potter is way out of my league," Remus said.

"That's what you said about Sirius too," Lily pointed out.

"Fair but… I mean, they both are," Remus said.

"After all these years I'll never understand how one of the best looking people I've personally known thinks he's unattractive. Dude… Do you know how many friends and partners I've had who told me how hot you were?"

"I… don't know. I find that hard to believe," Remus said, clearly blushing.

"Look, here's a more important question: Assuming Sirius was cool with it, because that's a whole other can of worms, would you want to also date James?" Lily asked.

"He's straight," Remus said flatly.

"Let's also assume that wasn't a hurdle," Lily said.

"But it is! I don't want to invest my emotions in someone who is never going to reciprocate, Lily!" Remus said, standing up and looking very flustered.

Lily frowned.

"Sit down. Let's try this again, from a different angle. Let's take James out of the equation. Let's say… you liked someone who was definitely attracted to you and you were definitely attracted to them. Would you want to date them and still date Sirius?" Lily said.

"I don't know. Harder to work in the theoretical. But… maybe? It could be cool, I guess. But I'm… I really love Sirius. I'm terrified of scaring him off."

"Maybe you and Sirius should talk. Hammer out what you want from your relationship."

"You're probably right," Remus said.

"That's why you come to me, right?" Lily said.

"Yeah. I suppose it is," Remus said.

"Well… that's great. I have an appointment with my bed and my boyfriend I have to get to, babe. Take care. Have that conversation!" Lily said, standing up then leaning over to give Remus a kiss on the cheek.

James was lost in thought, already reminiscing about the road trip in his mind, when Lily entered the hotel room in a flash.

"Are you ready to throw down?" Lily asked.

"What did I do? Are you going to beat me up? Actually… that could be fun," James said, rubbing his slightly stubbly chin.

"I'm thinking my pussy wants to fight your dick. It's going to win, by the way," Lily said, starting to undress.

"Ah, that kind of throwing down," James said, his penis instantly responding and stirring in his underwear.

"Can you believe it's been over a week since we've fucked? I'm in need," Lily said, now naked and rifling through her things.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you have a lot of sex with Mary and Dorcas this week?" James asked, standing up and removing his clothes.

"Ohhh yeah. It was nice. Let me let you in on a secret James: if I had fifty partners I would still want to have sex with all of them as much as possible," Lily said, not sounding the least bit ashamed.

"That sounds exhausting," James said.

"Time consuming. I mean people in porn do more than that. Oh yeah, I'm thinking about producing my own porn. We should talk about that sometime," Lily said.

"Oh? What kind?" James inquired, stroking his now very hard cock.

"We'll talk about that some other time. That idea is still fermenting. What we should really talk about," Lily said, standing up with lube and one of her vibrators in her hands before continuing, "is how turned on I'm getting thinking about you and Remus."

"I could be into that," James said, sitting on the end of the bed as Lily strode over, falling to her knees before him and setting the lube and vibrator on the bed next to him.

"Oh yeah?" Lily asked, taking his cock in her hand and slowly stroking it in smooth motions.

"Definitely," James said.

"I've gotta admit… all your naked shenanigans, sharing a bed with Remus… are really getting me worked up, James," Lily said, persisting with her strokes.

"He told you? Oh god. Oh god!" James stammered, suddenly panicked.

"Are you coming?" Lily said with surprise.

"Huh? No. I'm freaking out because Remus told you about… how I acted last night," James said.

"And how did you act last night?"

"I… I told him I love him. And that he was… attractive. I couldn't help myself. I was there in bed with him and my dick was hard and every part of me was telling me to shut my mouth except for my heart and my dick. And I kept thinking about the other night, when Remus and Sirius shared the bed and… they were doing stuff. I was on the sofa, trying my best to sleep," James said.

"Oh?" Lily said and put her mouth on the head of his cock and started to suck.

"Mmm. Yeah, I had no idea what they were doing but I could hear the moans and even once it stopped and Remus went to the bathroom then back to bed. I finally couldn't take it anymore and I crept up to the front of the RV. I… I crouched down and pulled out my cock, stroking myself off into a handful of tissue and praying to God that no one walked by and that Peter didn't wake up," James said.

Lily's mouth made a pop sound as she pulled her mouth off his cock then said, "Wow. That's… hilarious but also kind of hot," Lily said then started sucking again.

"Yeah. Mmm. I just… I've got a Remus Lupin problem," James said.

"Does it turn you on to think of him doing this? Close your eyes and imagine he's the one blowing you," Lily suggested, then went back to work.

James did as she requested. He imagined Remus's golden brown hair, deep brown eyes and pouty, soft looking lips between his legs. He mapped Lily's motions onto Remus's visage. The vision was incredible and he let out a deep moan.

"Ooo," Lily said, a brief interlude before she got back to sucking.

"Yeah. That's good. That's really good. God, I am so fucking bi," James said.

Lily sped up and as per usual right as he was at the very edge she pulled off.

"Fuck," he groaned.

"Oh, hush. You like it," Lily said, standing up.

"Well… yeah," James admitted.

"Do you want to know my fantasies?" Lily said, climbing up on his lap and wrapping her legs around him.

They kissed, slow and deep as James reached behind her and squeezed her ass, pulling her closer.

"Always," James replied.

"Sometimes when I'm really horny I think about… you and I are making out downstairs. It's getting hot and we get naked. Then Remus and Sirius walk into the room and they start fooling around. And then we switch partners," Lily said, then sucked on James's neck, making him shudder against her.

"Tell me more," James urged.

"So then you and Remus are lying on the couch, he's straddling you and rubbing his cock against yours. Mmm," Lily said, James rubbing between her legs, unable to believe how wet she was, her inner thighs soaked.

"Keep going," James said.

"I'm behind the couch, giving Sirius head, showing him how good I am with my mouth," Lily said, then reached over for the lube, pouring it in her hand then reaching between them to slick up his cock.

"Yeah?" James said, Lily's hand gliding effortlessly up and down his thick shaft.

Lily lifted herself up over his cock then slowly eased herself down it, grunting and moaning until she was all the way down. She felt so good.

James rocked his pelvis as Lily lifted herself on and off of him. She continued her fantasy: "I make Sirius come harder than he ever has in his entire life then move around to the front of the couch. You and Remus are all over each other, making out and rubbing your cocks against each other. I tap Remus on the shoulder and he rolls off you, coming to me from behind."

"Mmm," James moaned, Lily's fantasy feeling vivid in his mind.

Lily grabbed her small pink vibrator, that was vaguely shaped like a tongue… James seemed to recall her being amused by the fact that it was called Lily, and turned it on, placing it on her clit, the vibrations strong enough to stimulate him as well.

"Lay back," Lily requested and James did so.

James reached up and gently squeezed the softness of her large breasts, then moved his hands down to her hips as she rocked her pelvis, sliding him and out as she continued: "Then Remus has me bent over the end of the sofa, fucking me while you watch and jerk off. Then Sirius climbs on you and slides down your fat cock like it's nothing because I made him so wet."

At any other time, James might've balked at the idea of fucking his best friend, but hearing Lily say it was surprisingly sexy and he moaned hard, realizing his balls fucking ached. James knew the scenario wasn't all that realistic but at the moment he didn't fucking care.

"God. I don't know how much longer I can hold on. You're really turning me on," James said.

"I watch as Sirius is fucking the shit out of you and you come in him. Mmmm. Then Remus comes in me. And then Sirius gets off you and I lay back on the sofa in front of you, letting you eat me out while Sirius sits on my face and I eat him out again," Lily moaned, her voice getting high, clearly almost at the edge herself.

"You're such a fucking pervert, Evans," James said, feeling her vaginal muscles tightening around him.

"Takes one to know one, Potter," Lily said, bouncing up and down on his dick as she turned up the speed of her vibrator.

"I'm gonna come, Lily. Oh god," James said, his body clenching in anticipation as heat built up.

"Me too. Shit. Ahhnnn," Lily moaned, shaking as she squeezed hard on his shaft, her muscles contracting around him as he exploded inside of her in hard pulses.

"Oh! Godddamn!" James said, gritting his teeth, as he tried to thrust while the pleasure rushed through him.

"Mmmm," Lily moaned, dropping her vibrator as she rubbed her clit with her hand, James shuddering one last time for a final spurt.

"Damn," James said, breathing heavy.

"Yeah," Lily said then laughed.

"I think I needed that," James said.

"I thought you might. Let's get some rest. You get to meet Dorcas and Mary tomorrow," Lily said, climbing off him and running to the bathroom.

James lay there. He sometimes found that fantasies were less sexy after he had came. Not this time. Sure, the idea of sex always lost appeal after he came but… the four of them together… Yeah, that definitely had some appeal.