A/N: PLEASE read the author's note at the end of this fic. I's got shit to say. :-)

anyhoo. Basically a filler chapter with some goofing off. Not the best writing in the world I'm afraid. but Review anyway! I'd LOVE to make it to 100 reviews. Yes We CAN!

Warnings: Um... language. Reference to non-con. Blatant overuse of ellipses by author... oops!

Disclaimer:Not mine. Don't throw a legal fit.

Our sorrows and wounds are healed only when we touch them with compassion.
-- Buddha

Chapter 9: Walkie Talkies and an Offer.

After the pushup incident Remus had drifted off and slept a for awhile longer with Sirius watching over him. When he re-awoke with a few more of his wits about him Sirius had explained what happened, skipping over the bit where he realized his undying love for the man. No need to overwhelm the poor guy, Sirius reasoned.

"When I got there I just saw you on the floor unconscious. Then that… that… Gray came up to me and said, well he said some things and it was clear that he'd done that to you and I just lost it I guess. Beat him up pretty bad. Than I called Lily, and she and James came right away and we took you back here and took care of you. You've been sleeping for hours. I was so worried."

Remus shook his head in wonder. "They didn't have to do that. None of you had to do that… wait, You beat up Gray? Sirius he could have killed you!"

"He almost killed you. God I was angry. I almost killed him. I'm not sorry to say it. Maybe I should be but I'm not." Sirius said fiercely, thinking of Gray's unmoving body left on the cold warehouse floor.

"I'm just thankful you didn't get hurt because of me. You saved me. Thank you." Remus said holding Sirius's eye.

"How could I not?" Sirius replied as if it was the simplest thing in the world. "Remus, Lily said, she said, well, did he umm... did he rape you?"

Remus felt the shame and the bile rise in his throat. "Yes."

"Bastard!"

Remus jumped.

"Oh God, Remus I'm sorry."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for."

"You deserve so much better than that." Sirius reached up to tuck a stray piece of hair out of Remus's eyes. The younger man flinched and Sirius's hand paused just before touching him. Of course Remus wouldn't want to be touched after such a traumatic experience. Think stupid think!

In Remus's experience men didn't like knowing in so many words that they weren't the only ones to have him. Weather by his consent or not. Would Sirius be disgusted with him now? Knowing what Gray had forced on him? When Sirius's hand reached forward Remus flinched from instinct. When Sirius's hand paused it became obvious his only intention was one of comfort. Of course. Thought Remus. How could it not be? It's Sirius after all and he is wonderful.

Remus reached up taking hold of Sirius's wrist he gently pulled the outstretched hand all the way to his face, holding Sirius's eyes.

Sirius tucked the errant strand of golden hair and watched as Remus leaned in, pressing his nose against the inside of Sirius's wrist and inhaling.

Sirius slowly let his hand fall, trailing down Remus's chest, he came to rest in the young mans lap and gingerly held his hand.

"Why did you come after me?"Remus said.

Because I love you. " Because you didn't say goodbye." He said instead, voice low and rough, " You can't just leave without saying Goodbye."

"I'm sorry," Remus replied, meaning it, "I just… didn't think you'd want me there…" He trailed off awkwardly. "I'm glad you came after me though."

Sirius looked incredibly solemn "Saying I'm glad I came too would be an understatement Remus. You have no idea how thankful I am that I found you. I just wish I'd been sooner, I… Why didn't you tell me Remus?"

Remus looked confused. "Tell you…?"

"That man, that… monster… He hurt you, I thought you were dea…" Sirius shook his head to dispel the hateful thought "Has he hurt you before?"

Remus frowned at Sirius's concern while inside he heart thudded painfully against bruised ribs. Sirius was worried about him, god it warmed his soul to hear it.

"Gray… has a particular way of keeping his property in line that is not uncommon for our kind."

"That's a yes."

Remus hated the pain in Sirius voice. "Yes it is. But never this bad." He quickly added.

"Why didn't you tell someone?"

"Who would I tell?'

"You could have told me!"

"Tell you what Sirius?" Remus said his voice rising in embarrassment. He felt his anger building, humiliated that Sirius had seen him so weak. Angry at how pathetic and dirty and worthless he was. Why did Sirius have to push this?"Tell you, some guy who hired me for the night that my pimp beats me? That my pimp rapes me?" Remus's voice shook. "Big fucking whoop. That's just the way it is. Welcome to the real world Sirius."

"It doesn't have to be that way."

"Really? What would you have done Sirius? Hmm? Listen I'm incredibly amazed that you swooped in and rescued me like the fucking golden knight I know you are, but wouldn't it have just been easier for both of us to leave me there?"

"Easier to leave you there?" Sirius whispered, incredulous. "How can you even say that?"

"When I go back things are going to be a lot rougher because of today..."

"You are NOT going back there Remus Lupin." Sirius roared. "I forbid it."

"I have no where else to go! You think I like being there? You think I like belonging to that bastard? Do you think I like selling myself just to survive? I didn't choose this Sirius, this life was chosen for me and right now it's my only option."

"No it's not."

" I just told you.."

"You've got me."

"What?"

"I'm offering you this." Sirius said slowly gesturing around the room. He would have preferred to carefully plan this proposition but desperate times called for improv. The key was to convince Remus to live with him without revealing his desperate love for the man and scaring him away. "You can stay here."

"That's very… generous of you Sirius but I can't stay here forever."

"Yes you can. I can take care of you. For as long as you need. Live with me and I'll give you everything you need. Everything you want." Forever. He added silently.

Remus shook his head in disbelief. "Why would you do that for me?"

"Because…" Sirius shrugged and avoided eye contact. "Because I can."

"Oh." Remus whispered, foolishly disappointed.

"And because I, I like you Remus. You're an um, good guy and I think you deserve better. Well I know you deserve better than, well, that!" Sirius scratched his head and wondered if he'd taken it too far.

Remus felt an unfamiliar rush of happiness at Sirius's words but kept his face and tone non committal.

"What exactly are you proposing here Sirius? Because the more I get to know you the more I think I should never assume anything."

"I'm proposing that you live with me for as long as you want. My home is your home. I'll provide you with clothes, food, some spending money and if there's anything else just ask. In return I ask that you don't go back to that monster and that you don't have sex for money."

" And sex with you?" Remus asked.

"Se…err. With me?" Sirius repeated a pink tinge coloring his cheekbones.

"Yes, sex with you. I'm a whore Sirius so I'm thinking you're not planning on keeping me about for my bad ass vacuuming skills."

"Do you have bad ass vacuuming skills?" Sirius countered stalling. He was a healthy hot blooded young man who, after last nights performance, would like nothing better than to make love to this Remus at a non stop rate. But, and isn't there always a but, he didn't want Remus to feel obligated. The beautiful young man's happiness was his number one priority.

Remus winked. "Well, I am familiar with the art of suction."

On the other hand… No, no Sirius. God, focus.

"Sirius?"

Sirius placed a gentle hand on the man's knee. "Remus I…"

The door to the bedroom swung open and Lily Potter bustled in, Mrs. Weasley close on her heels.

"Oh good, Remus, you're awake. I want to check you over."

Sirius snatched his hand away from Remus and quickly stood from the bed allowing the two red haired women to fuss.

"Lily, Sirius was just telling me what you all did for me, what you did for me. You saved my life. I don't know how to thank you. I don't have much but if there's anything that I can do for you…"

Lily shook her head in a brusque manner though there was a motherly kindness and love in her eyes. "Nonsense. You don't know owe me anything. I was glad to help you Remus. You're a good man, I like you, James likes you, Sirius likes you and Molly likes you. And if Molly's given her approval then I know it's right. Now enough of that, tell me how you're feeling?"

"Better than I thought I would." Remus replied honestly, unable to contain a big smile from Lily's compassionate response. "My chest it a bit sore though."

"Let's have a look." Lily helped Remus out of Sirius's slightly too large t-shirt.

Sirius and Molly let out a collective hiss. Bruises mottled the young mans fit torso in wince inducing shades of purple and blue. The silvery scars Sirius had noticed looking so beautiful against golden skin last night now looked violent and sad against the livid bruises.

"I will kill him." Sirius spat, and Remus shot him a startled look.

" Please calm down Sirius. I don't want you riled up, doing something stupid and getting hurt too."

" How can you not be furious Remus?"

" I've learned to choose my fights. We can't fight every battle and win them too."

Well I choose this one. Sirius thought.

"Everything looks good." Lily said helping Remus back into his shirt. "Healing up very nicely if I do say so myself. But we do need to feed you. Can't have my patient this skinny."

"Now that I can take care of." Mrs. Weasley spoke up, pleased to have a way to help the polite young man. " I'm afraid dinner has been… annihilated by untimely overenthusiasm."

Lily and Molly shared a grieved look.

"What, has Harry bathed in the custard again?" Sirius asked.

"I'm sorry to say my son isn't the sole proprietor of disaster this time." Lily said shaking her head.

"Don't tell me James fit himself in the custard bowl!"

"Don't worry dear," Molly said patting Remus's head. "I'll find you something for dinner."

With the image of James reclining naked in a giant bowl of custard Remus didn't feel quite so hungry anymore.

"I'll bring it up to you." Sirius said.

"If it's okay, I'd rather go downstairs myself. Move around a bit. I'm feeling stiff."

"Sure." Said Lily.

"No." Said Sirius.

"I'm feeling stiff," Said James walking into the room. "IF you know what I mean."

Everyone turned to look at him. "What? Someone had to say it. And ever since Sirius turned into Mother Worries all innuendos fall to me I'm afraid."

"I'm afraid too." Sirius muttered.

"What are you doing up here?" Lily said.

"I got lonely. Everyone's up here fussing over Remus. Hey Remus." James waved at the man still in bed.

"Hello Ronaldo." Remus waved back.

"Then who's watching Harry?" Lily panicked.

"Don't worry love. I left him with a task, to clean the curry off the walls, and with the other walkie talkie." James said holding up his own, partner walkie talkie. "That way if he needs help he can get me right away." James looked pleased with himself, but his smile began to fade when he noticed the building anger in his wife's face.

"Mr. Potter," Molly quickly interceded, " I need to make that chicken for dinner. Do me a favor, go downstairs and stuff it with the choppings in the fridge, okay? And throw the pie in the oven."

"Sure Molly," James agreed glancing nervously at Lily. "Err, here Sirius you can hold on to this one. We'll be just like those agents in the spy pictures!"

He handed Sirius his walkie talkie and headed back downstairs.

"That man…" Lily shook her head. "I cringe to think of the genes he passed on to my child."

Sirius clipped the walkie talkie onto his jeans, and Remus started to get out of bed. "Whoa there, where do you think you're going? I said I'd bring you something to eat."

"And I said I rather get it myself." Remus huffed gingerly putting his feet on the floor.

"That's fine Sirius." Lily said, "Remus can go downstairs. He just needs to take it easy obviously but I see no reason for continuous bed rest."

"And I see no reason why not! Rest never hurt anyone."

"I'm rested enough as it is." Remus stood, taking a moment to find his balance, he swayed a bit and Sirius jumped forward and grabbed his arm. "I'm fine, really."

"Well…" Sirius didn't want Remus to go downstairs but standing so close to the man with his hand wrapped around warm, muscular bicep he was having a hard time remembering why exactly. Remus sensed how flustered he was and feeling a bit feisty after countless hours of sleep he lowered his eyelids, gave Sirius a smoldering look through his eyelashes and flexed the muscle Sirius's long fingers were wrapped around. With a slight intake of breath Sirius's gaze shot to Remus's face in time to catch a pink tongue slip out to moisten delicious looking lips. "uhh…."

Suddenly a crackling noise filled the room and the foursome jumped. Pulled out of his lusty haze Sirius realized the sounds were coming from the walkie talkie and with some trepidation he unclipped it from his belt. "Err. Hello?"

"James to Sirius, James to Sirius." James voice rose from the hand held communicator. "Disaster down here. Harry's made a pots n' pans castle and is playing fetch the fruit with Padfoot. Need immediate back up. Repeat. Need immediate back… Oh God Harry NO!" Loud clattering, shouts, barks and squealing could be heard over the radio, "May day! May day! The castle is no more, boy run wild, your dogs on the table and I think I've set the pie on fire. Over."

"Phew," Said Sirius shaking his head, "thank God that's over."

A/N: okay. So I lied. you didn't actually end up meeting harry tonight. sorry bout that. Next chapter for sure though. But that bring me to a dilemma. The plot that i have (very vaguely) sketched out in my head goes forward during the Valentines weekend mentioned a while ago. But that's "a week" away. So if there's anything in particular that any of you would like to see happen now would be the time. They've got like five days to kill before then and I have no idea what they're going to do in the meantime. SO, put in a request and if it sounds good to me and doesn't interfere with my eventual plot plans I'd be happy to write it up for ya. Next chapter we'll be having dinner with Harry and then some R/S lovemaking methinks ;-) but after that it's up to YOU!

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