Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the general plot. Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Confession Time

Okay, he'd had it all loosely plotted out thanks to years of mental preparation and conversations in his head to work out just exactly what he would say and how he would say it when the time came. He'd always known the day would come after all, when he would have to tell his godparents and siblings, at the very least, that he was gay and would never marry. His plan had been a flexible one, accounting for multiple scenarios and variances, but it seemed that now that he was at the sticking point…his brain was as blank as a clean slate.

Which was not good, Teddy thought as he struggled to form a thought, not good at all.

"Teddy?" Obviously picking up on the hints of desperation in his godson's eyes, Harry walked over and placed a hand on the younger man's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You all right?" Generally Teddy wasn't the one coming to them because he'd gotten into some sort of trouble, that was more James and Lily.

"Did something happen?" Ginny wanted to know, equally concerned.

"This is why you freak out beforehand." Louis told Teddy with a shake of his head, torn between sympathy and amusement. When he'd been gearing up to tell his parents about his sexuality he'd spazzed plenty, but when it was time to actually spill he'd held it together like a champ in his humble opinion.

Harry and Ginny both shot their nephew looks that advised him to explain what was going on so that they could either start worrying properly or stop, but he just gave them a look that said Teddy had to do it.

So they turned their full attention back to him, and their gazes had Teddy blurting out an answer.

"Louis and I are dating."

What the hell kind of way was that to start, Teddy mentally berated himself as soon as the words had left his lips, horrified that he'd started with such a-

"Oh, Teddy!" Throwing her arms around him Ginny gave him the biggest, most loving 'mom' hug in her extensive repertoire. "You finally came around! I was hoping Louis would help you! This is wonderful news!"

"Uhm…what?"

While Harry chuckled a little and tousled Teddy's hair affectionately, Ginny continued to hold on to her oldest as she explained. "Of course we knew you weren't straight, you stupid boy. We're your family, we love you. We couldn't figure out why someone as smart as you was so hesitant to come out or accept who you are, it's been driving us crazy for years! And James and Lily give us enough white hairs as it is so really…oh but wait until everyone finds out you're dating!"

Blinking hard as he struggled to understand, Teddy looked in his godfather's direction questioningly, seeking confirmation of the very confusing statements he was trying to process.

Harry just shrugged. "We didn't want to push you on it, that's what most of the books said not to do. Of course some of those books I wanted to burn afterwards, and would have if Hermione wouldn't have somehow sensed I'd done it and hunted me down like a dog. Parenting books are evil no matter what she says."

"What tipped you guys off?" Louis demanded to know, equally surprised. "I had no idea until he all but bashed me upside the head with the truth."

Confusion briefly crossed Harry's face. "I thought you knew before but kept quiet for him. Don't you always say you have excellent gaydar?"

A pout was Louis's response as he grumbled that no system was perfect.

"Well what's important is that -oh…dear…Merlin. Victoire."

Paling visibly at his wife's words as he envisioned what was going to happen when his oldest niece found out about the new couple, Harry looked back and forth between the two men. "You two are either incredibly brave or you've lost your minds."

Even after Louis explained about the deal he'd made with his eldest sister the two continued to look at them with a mixture of horror and pity. As much as they loved their niece, and they did, they had no misconceptions where the woman was concerned. The combination of a Veela and a Weasley's temper in female form was the stuff of nightmares, and never pretty to see.

Understanding completely Teddy informed them that after they left here they were headed for Shell Cottage to inform Louis's parents and make them aware of the storm that would be hitting very soon.

Then they were going to see Victoire.

"Do you want us to come…and maybe get your brothers and Lily to come too as backup?" Harry offered, the idea of being in a part Veela cat fight about as appealing as revisiting memories of his childhood. But for love of Teddy he was willing to put his balls on the line that way, and could only hope he'd be allowed to keep them.

"The more people there, the more furious she'll be."

Okay, Louis was probably right about that. And since he was going to bear the brunt of Victoire's fury, they figured he had the right to make that kind of call.

So while the other three discussed how to go about telling Victoire about her brother's relationship with him Teddy's mind wandered to the fact that his godparents had known all this time that he wasn't straight and hadn't breathed a word. How horrible they must have felt, thinking that maybe he didn't trust them enough, love them enough to come out to them. He must have hurt them, there was no way it could be otherwise.

He felt lower than a rat.

So he interrupted the discussion by grabbing them both, pulling them into a tight group hug as he hung on like he hadn't done since he was a boy waking from a nightmare. "I love you, Guys. So much. I'm sorry. So sorry. I'd never hurt you. I'd sooner-damn but I'm sorry."

Stroking Teddy's back soothingly, as he'd done when his godson was still a boy, Harry's voice neatly cut through the younger man's stammered apologies. "Did you have a good reason to keep quiet that had nothing to do with how you thought we'd react?"

Drawing back Teddy's voice was firm and sure. "I've never doubted that you love me, not once. I had a good reason, and it sort of still applies, but it was never because I thought your love was conditional. I can be dumb, obviously, but never THAT dumb."

"Okay then. Just checking."

"But thank Merlin you finally said something! No more secrets like that, young man, or I'm going to make you eat Al's cooking."

Since his brother couldn't cook a decent meal to save his life Teddy grinned and promised his godmother that he'd be way more upfront and honest about things from now on.

There was only one secret he had left, Teddy thought as he glanced in Louis's direction, and that one he still needed to keep to himself for the time being. But if his godparents questioned him about it he'd tell them the truth…he owed them that.

)

Teddy hadn't let go of his hand since they'd left Shell Cottage, and Louis didn't call attention to that fact as they walked up the empty street that was a few blocks away from Grimmauld Place. The cold chill in the air made him hunch his shoulders a little, but he didn't complain, especially since he'd insisted on joining Teddy for the walk in the first place. After they left his parent's place Teddy had stated that he wanted to walk a bit to clear his head before turning in, and had suggested Louis just apparate himself to the house and he'd be home soon. Yeah, like he'd be that stupid. So he'd insisted on sticking and sticking he would do even if he was freezing his fine ass off.

To take his mind off that fact Louis went back to trying to covertly study Teddy's face, trying to get a gauge on how the older man's mental musing were going. It wasn't easy, especially since the streetlights didn't exactly give off a whole lot of light, but the strain he could just make out around Teddy's eyes said that the mental conversation the man was having with himself wasn't going well.

Which was why they weren't currently being blown up at by his sister at the moment.

Teddy had managed to get through the conversation with his parents well enough, but when his maman had announced that it would be for the best if she told her daughter about the two instead of them doing it themselves…well the fact that Teddy had barely argued with her had made it damn clear that he didn't have it in him for another emotional scene and knew it.

Not that his parents had reacted badly, his own papa hadn't even looked all that surprised for some reason. His maman had been shocked speechless for a while, a startling occurrence that had thrown them all at first, but it had given him and Teddy time to explain things to her, which had made that a lot easier to do. He was also pretty sure that she'd picked up on the emotional strain Teddy was currently under, she'd barely grilled them at all about how serious they were before she'd informed them that they weren't going to be the ones telling Victoire.

She'd said it was because she didn't want to visit them all in St. Mungos, but he was pretty sure a large part of it was because his maman had known that Teddy, at least, wasn't up to it and she'd wanted to spare them.

"You really think it's better that your mother tells her instead of us?"

"Well, Maman had a point, about how it would be better if we weren't there for the initial explosion. At least this way, when she comes hunting for us, maman will be with her to keep her somewhat in line." And hopefully, the worst of his sister's fury would be vocalized before she got to them, Louis silently added.

Slowing down Teddy reached out with his gloved hand to stroke a couple fingers along Louis's cheek. "I'm sorry. I should have made sure you understood what you were getting into before I seduced you. A lot of this is my fault."

"Hey, I did some seducing of my own, thank you very much. And if you want to talk blame you could just as easily drop it on my shoulders for not seeing the consequences before I jumped you. I mean I was plotting on how to get you into bed, even getting Victoire's permission, without really thinking that hard about why I needed to do that. I'm the idiot."

"You're not an idiot."

"Neither are you, so quit trying to take all the blame on your shoulders. You've prematurely aged yourself enough as it is already."

The chuckle was weak, but welcome. "I suppose I do. It comes naturally to me."

Smiling at the sound Louis moved in to steal a kiss, cuddling close when Teddy's arms came around him to hold him close as the snogging continued, comforting them both with the love and warmth they felt for each other. And when the kiss finally ended Louis simply shifted to lay his head on Teddy's broad shoulder, closing his eyes on a sound of contentment.

Keeping one arm around Louis's waist Teddy lifted the other to stroke his fingers through the blonde hair he was becoming addicted to playing with. He wanted to promise that everything would be okay, that he could make everything all right, but he wasn't that stupid. He knew better.

The road to hell was paved with good intentions, and thinking you knew what was best for someone else usually came back to bite you on the ass big time.

Which begged the question of whether he was right to keep his last secret, whether he had the right to make that choice, but he didn't feel up to another confession at this point. And he did still think he was right…but maybe he should get a second opinion on that one. Now that he was coming out to his family there were at least a couple of them he figured could give it to him straight and keep his secret for him if necessary.

Why did life have to be so bloody complicated?

Sighing, Teddy forced himself to loosen his hold. "We should get home before you freeze."

Seeing the sadness that still lingered in his lover's eyes Louis reached out and framed Teddy's tired face between his hands. "Good plan. Though I hope you know, I do expect you to personally undertake the task of getting me warm when we get there."

That had a small but genuine smile teasing Teddy's lips. "I see."

"Less seeing, more walking quickly towards the house, Lupin. ASAP."

"Yes, Sir."

Linking fingers once more they continued on their way at a quicker pace, Teddy was unable not to smile a little when Louis swung their hands merrily between them. He had his Hummingbird, he reminded himself. And he was not going to waste a minute of that fact if he could help it.

)

When the doorbell sounded that morning Louis came out of the kitchen in a hurry, all but running for the door since he wanted to get there before Teddy did. They'd actually locked the house down that night, not wanting to chance his sister letting herself in and catching them unaware. Or any other member of their family for that matter, seeing as they couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other, Louis acknowledged ruefully, not even wanting to think about what Victoire's reaction would be if she stumbled in on them while they were making out or naked together.

Reaching the door Louis opened it, surprised for a moment to find Lucy on the other side before he remembered that Teddy had mentioned she'd be dropping by to pick up some papers. Teddy wasn't going into work again today because he'd wanted the confrontation with Victoire to take place here instead of his office.

While he'd like to believe his sister wouldn't do the latter…better safe than sorry.

Smiling at him Lucy moved in to give her cousin a warm hug hello. "Hey, Handsome."

Returning the hug Louis smiled back at her before letting her go so that he could motion her to come inside. "Hey, back. Sorry to drag you all the way here for the papers. Teddy feels awful about it."

"He would. It's really no big deal." Stepping inside Lucy shrugged off her coat while he closed the door behind her. She wasn't going to ask about the house being locked against family too now, though she was just a little curious as to what excuse they'd decided to use. At the end of the day she figured it was a smart move on their part, since apparently the two men were such rabbits Teddy needed to take two days off in a row instead of just the one.

No wonder her cousin was looking so sleep deprived, Lucy noted with amusement.

Hearing the sound of footsteps on the stairs Lucy automatically turned to look in that direction, her small grin fading away as she got a good look at the man she'd expected to see looking like a cat with a mouthful of canary.

Okay…maybe Louis didn't look like he hadn't gotten any sleep because the two had spent the night shagging each other's brains out. Maybe they'd had a fight or…no…no this wasn't a fight vibe, she realized, taking in the way Teddy came to a stop beside Louis, the blonde edging closer subtly. They wouldn't look so together if they were on the outs and they should still be hip deep in the honeymoon stage of the relationship given it had just started. So it had to be something else.

"Hi, Teddy, I came to get those papers for the presentation you need me to sit in on."

"Yeah, thanks. Seriously, I owe you big time for letting me drop this on you at the last minute. I will repay with flowers and a gift of your choice." Teddy worked up a smile for her, but they both knew she wasn't buying it.

"Dangerous promises to make a girl."

"Especially since Lucy's got great taste in clothes and jewelry." Louis added with a forced wink in her direction, knowing that she'd be picking up the tension weighing on them. A smart girl, his cousin Lucy, but thankfully not the sort to pry.

"I can't hold a candle to you when it comes to fashion, Cous, but I do try."

"The papers are in the office, I'll just go over them with you quick so I don't hold you up too long." And to hopefully make sure that she wasn't there when Victoire came by, Teddy silently added as he motioned for Lucy to follow him further into the house.

Giving her cousin a small wave goodbye Lucy followed Teddy down the hallway and into his office, waiting until they were both inside before she tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned around she wrapped her arms around him to give a quick but heartfelt hug. "You look like you're in for a really bad day. Anything I can do besides take this meeting for you?"

Relaxing against her Teddy briefly wished he could sic Lucy on Victoire, the redhead was a lot tougher than most people realized thanks to years of dealing with Molly, but no, he wouldn't do that. He couldn't do that since Victoire would never come around if he didn't deal with her face to face, preferably one on one.

"Thanks, but no, there's nothing else you can do. I've made my bed so to speak, and if I want to lie in it I've got to deal with the consequences."

Lucy studied his face, thought about his word choices and what she knew was going on in his life at present, and put two and two together. "Victoire is going to find out today that you and Louis are a couple, isn't she? You'd tell her before everyone else knowing how she'd take the news. Ouch."

Arms dropping to his sides Teddy stared at her in shock. "What the…does EVERYONE know?"

"That I couldn't say for sure…but if I was putting money on it, I'd bet that more people than you think know about you."