I just spent all day either in an airport or on an airplane and I am wrecked...so...please leave a review. Just to make me feel better.

The door banged open and Lily let out a short scream in shock as Sirius strode into the house as if he lived there. And while he spent a decent amount of time there, he most certainly did not live there.

"Don't you ever knock!" She snapped in annoyance staking out of the kitchen to retreive her now crying son.

James poked his head in, "Hey mate."

"Hey Prongs."

Knowing his role, and seeing that look on Sirius face James dug around in the fridge for some leftovers, heating them up with his wand rather than the microwave Lily had insisted on having in her house.

"Eat."

"Thanks."

James pulled up a chair as he watched Sirius wolf down the food and ran a hand through his hair. He could still make out the faint smears of blood on his friend's face that Sirius had obviously tried to clean away before coming here.

It wasn't like them to hide things from each other, hell it wasn't like them to hide, period.

But they didn't have much choice in the matter. They had been overruled.

"Are you okay?" James asks, already knowing what Sirius is going to say.

"Peachy mate."

"You missed some blood." He adds, just to get the satisfaction of seeing Sirius' face going from pale to paper white.

Huffing in annoyance Sirius crosses his arms, "Fine, there was a run in with some death eaters. I took care of it."

James listens carefully to Sirius' voice, in case he's lying to him. They never used to lie to each other, even if it was for they're own good.

"You weren't hurt?"

"Got hit in the head some, that's where the blood came from, and took a few nasty curses but nothing that I can't sleep off."

James digests this and nods, his mouth tightening which Sirius sees.

"Jamie...come on..."

"No, I should be out there!"

"You should be here, with your family. That's the only reason I'm out there, to keep you lot safe."

Looking away, because the guilt he feels over that is unimaginable to anyone but Sirius, and he knows Sirius said that on purpose.

"But who's keeping you safe? It was always my job to keep you safe, and now I can't..." He trails off and drops his head into his hands. "I just hate this Sirius. I hate this so much."

Neither man says anything for a long time and finally Sirius gets up and starts washing his plate.

"When are you putting the Christmas tree up?" He asks finally, drying the plate off in a not so subtle change of conversation.

"Tomorrow, you coming?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"You can stay here tonight, if you want." Offers James, "The couch basically has your name on it by now."

"Yeah, I think I will. I'm beat."

After using the guest bathroom for a shower and a pair of James' old pajamas Sirius sits on the couch and stares at James.

"If it's any consolation, despite how shitty this war is, I wish you were out there too."

It may have not sounded like something one would say to comfort another, but it comforted James. He ruffled Sirius hair and tossed him a pillow and a blanket.

"We've always been better together haven't we?"

"Always and forever mate."

"Goodnight Padfoot."

"Goodnight Prongs."

So...what'd do you think? Not bad for being half dead over here :P