A/N: so this was only written with the purpose of making an announcement.

It's been on my hard drive for a while just doing nothing so I figured why not.

Announcement time: those interested, the next chapter of Tired should be up soon, I'm just a bit preoccupied with school and what not. It should be up on my next update.

Anyway, this is a sequel inspired by two songs. Goodbye my lover by James Blunt and Say something by Christina Aguilera and A great big world.

Usual apologies especially spelling and grammar so... Yeah my bad

Disclaimer: see first chapter.

There was a strange ache in the back of James' throat, he wasn't exactly sure what it was since it felt so unfamiliar yet so fitting towards his current situation.

Laughter maybe?

Possible, but it doesn't really feel like it fits, does it? A bark of laughter to go with a dark comedy of sorts.

His chest felt tight, heavy.

Constricted under the light cotton shirt and loose jumper he wore. He couldn't have felt any smaller or anymore powerless if he tried.

Is it normal to be this terrified? To feel like you were holding onto nothing but the smallest shred of hope ever imaginable?

They were outside the castle, behind the stands on the quidditch pitch. The sky was filled with clouds, moving together before spreading apart across the velvet sky while the crescent moon lit up the ground below as much as the floating forms would allow.

Mrs. Norris was feeling a bit under the weather that day so Filch was too busy watching over his precious cat to worry about any trouble makers breaking curfew. So it was just him and Sev.

Sev.

Snape hates it when James calls him that.

"He says he's in love with me."

James didn't reply as he just continued to stare at the slytherin, watching as Severus' arms wrapped around his waist and he looked down at the grass beneath his feet.

He wasn't surprised, not really anyway.

I mean, it's not like James didn't see this coming. It was inevitable really.

It's been about five months since that first night in the room of requirement.

James and Severus would get together whenever the slytherin seemed to be feeling a bit down. At first it would only happen once a week and they wouldn't really do more than fuck and sleep. Severus would say Sirius' name sometimes, but James never said anything about it.

It didn't really seem to matter back then.

That sudden pain of his heart being pierced never seemed to matter since he got to hold Severus for as long as he wanted once it was over.

A few weeks later, Severus had been too tired to do much. The N.E.W.T's had started and Snape spent most of his time hauled up in the library, James didn't even think he'd get to see him at all. Well, at least not till the N.E.W.T's were over.

But then again, James hadn't counted on Sirius getting a new girlfriend either. Some ditsy brunette with a great arse and the I.Q of a tree stump.

All they did in those few weeks was kiss and talk and still, it didn't matter that Severus was only there because he couldn't bare the chance of seeing Sirius with Anna or Sarah or whatever her name was.

All that mattered was how Severus' breath warmed the side of his neck when he breathed and spoke and how good it felt to have the raven's weight against him. With a steady heart beat beating against his chest.

Later, they'd start meeting at different times of the day and not just at night.

In the library, on the desk in the furthest darkest corner of the large room. Whispering arguments that had James smiling more often than not, while Severus pretended to be mad. The west tower on nights when it was much too cold for anyone to ever possibly catch them. James would wrap the slytherin up in his cloak and ignore the angered huff Severus would give in favour of concentrating on the way Snapes hands would cling to his shirt as he leaned in closer for warmth. Behind the tapestries on the third floor between classes when no one was looking, because James just wanted one more kiss before he went on with his day and Severus would allow it.

If only to get away from the daily jeers and insults screamed against his back, specifically those from Sirius.

Then things changed, because things always change.

It's just how life works.

Severus learnt not to whisper Sirius' name whenever James brought him to completion in those few hours spent in the room of requirement. He learned to forget the animagus as he walked by in the hallways and during class, since Potter was always bothering him with some manner of annoying distraction. He learned to ignore the insults, because honestly, they've all gotten old by now and the whispered declarations James always breathed against his cheek seemed to linger in his ears. No matter how much he tried to shake them off.

Eventually it almost became a normal relationship, with the exception of the fact that no one besides them knew about it of course.

And that's just the way that Severus liked it, even if James didn't.

He wanted people to know about them.

A few years ago that thought might have scared him half to death, regardless of the fact that he's loved Severus since that first moment on the train.

Silly isn't it?

Such trauma that could have been avoided if he'd just tried a little harder with this stubborn little prat. But he didn't try, did quite the opposite actually. He drove Severus away inch by inch until the slytherin couldn't even look at him without sneering in disgust.

Hey, he was young and stupid and he hadn't gotten the childhood tantrums of not getting what he wanted under control just yet.

But then he noticed Severus watching.

Severus staring, Severus' eyes always in his direction. In Sirius' direction and I guess you could say that's when reality gave him a rude awakening.

So this time he tried, he actually put in the effort and now Severus' eyes were on him.

Sometimes in a slight smile and occasionally the light blush which he'd refuse to acknowledge if James ever brought it up.

Severus started glowing.

He was less depressing these days, one could almost say he was pleased.

Everyone noticed how he just seemed to be different than he was before.

Suddenly his hair didn't look as greasy as it used to be and his skin wasn't as pale. Suddenly he wasn't so hideously skinny as he used to be and the witches even started comparing him to some of the other girls at school.

Severus had almost pitched a perfect fit when James told him that he heard Claudia Mills say he'd look darling if he just let his hair grow out a little more.

Everyone noticed Severus' change, even Sirius.

"Yesterday he said he'd like to try it, see how things work out and I think... I think I should let him." Severus wouldn't look up at James.

The slytherin kept his head down low, still staring at the evergreen grass beneath his feet. Raven hair covered his face in a curtain of black while the clouds above cast shadows around him as they moved in the sky.

Of course James knew this would happen, after all Sirius isn't half as moronic as he seems.

He was bound to notice eventually.

It took James two weeks to notice how Severus would pull his bottom lip between his teeth when he was struggling with a potion during the double periods with Slughorn, before releasing it and running his tongue over his teeth when he finally figured it out. Four days to know Severus hated pumpkin juice and only ever drank tea. Seven days to notice Severus would rub his neck and shut his eyes to let out a long sigh whenever he was hunched over a book for too long.

Just three minutes to see the way his eyes could suck you in and trap you for ages if you just got to look at them long enough.

Of course he'd notice and of course Severus would still be in love with him when he did.

James isn't as moronic as he seems either.

He knows Severus hasn't gotten over Sirius, he knows the slytherin is still in love with him.

James just managed to distract him for a while, but that never lasted long. His elevated mood would always slip from time to time.

There would always be something there to remind him, no matter how hard James tried to make him forget. They'd be alone in some corner of the castle and James would always see the way Severus' expression would change. His eyes would turn distant and James could almost see Severus thinking about him.

He didn't know what to do at first, but then things started getting better and he thought that maybe there might still be some hope.

Ha.

Of course there wasn't.

"I just, I feel like I should let him try."

James didn't say a word, just kept staring at Severus' head as the clouds went by while his hand clenched around the little package in his pocket and his chest tightened even more.

It was so tight he could barely breathe.

"I told him that I was... Involved with someone and he got this look in his eyes." Severus gave a snort, "He stared at me like a kicked puppy and asked me if I loved this person. I said I'm not sure and then he asked me if I've let them touch me and I said yes."

Severus paused and James could see his arms tighten around his waist. "Then the stupid mutt grabs my arm and kisses me, pulls away saying, I could love you better." The gryffindor tensed considerably and his hands clenched but he still didn't say a word.

"I felt-" Severus lifted his hand to touch his lips with a thoughtful look on his face. "I must be completely insane for saying this but I felt something when he did it. Like something burning on my lips and down my spine and I just... I think I should let him try."

Silence fell between them and James hadn't so much as moved an inch, Severus pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as he waited in the quiet while James just stared in silence.

The raven looked up with those soul consuming eyes, looking more uncertain than James is sure he's ever seen them. "James?"

The gryffindor continued to stare at the shadows falling around Severus' face and his body slowly started to relax as he forced himself to take a deep breath. The slytherin's head dropped back down to the ground and his arm went back around his waist. "James, say something."

James' hands unclenched and he pulled them from his pockets to step forward and gently grasp Snape's chin and turned it to see his face.

It's too late, of course it is.

But, just one more try, just hold on a little longer.

Before he's forced to let his heart break in his chest.

"Do you believe him?" James asked as he leaned forward to cup the side of Severus' face with his other hand and press a kiss against his cheek. "Do you think he could love you better?"

Severus shut his eyes as James pressed another kiss on his forehead and then his other cheek before moving down to his neck while the slytherin lifted his hands to grip James' jumper to steady himself. "Severus?"

Severus took deep breaths while his heart started to pound in his chest and his head slumped forward against the gryffindor's chest, he didn't know if Sirius was telling the truth. He only knew what he wanted the truth to be.

"Yes."

James tensed just as both his hands went down to Severus' waist, "Do you still love him?"

"Yes."

James didn't say a word as the ache in the back of his throat got worse, he let his hand slide up into Severus' hair and gently pressed his head against his shoulder while the arm around his waist tightened a bit.

Severus leaned into James' chest and ignored the croak in the gryffindor's voice as he spoke. "You know, sometimes I swear I can feel you right next to me when I'm asleep. I can feel you breathing against my neck and I can feel your body pressed against mine." James gave a scoff. "Probably going bonkers I guess, but sometimes I can hear your voice too. I hate it cause all you ever say is Sirius, you never say my name and then I think about you with him and it drives me insane."

Severus could feel James adams apple move as he swallowed but he still kept his head down. "It hurts thinking about it, even for a second. Makes me feel like my chest's ripping itself open and just then I want to try a crucio on myself just to see if I'd feel any better."

James took a shaky breath when Severus suddenly felt a rain drop on the side of his face.

The liquid was hot as it dropped onto his skin and slid down, until a cool one dropped down on the top of his head and seeped down onto his scalp. Before another and then another.

It was starting to rain.

No thunder no lightning, just silent rain fall making soft splashes all around and on top of them.

James didn't pull away until a full blown shower had started and they were starting to get soaked. The gryffindor took Severus' chin in his hands and pulled him forward for a deep kiss.

It was different from Sirius' kiss.

With Sirius it burned but with James, Severus felt his entire body warm.

James pulled him closer against him and Severus felt his heart thump so hard against his chest he was sure it would break through any minute. He wanted James like he wanted Sirius only unlike Sirius, Severus felt consumed.

Even in the pouring rain, Severus felt warm and safe. Complete in a way he hasn't felt in a long time and that scared him.

James hand slipped up and clenched in his hair to pull his head back and deepen the kiss even more. Wet and cold as the raindrops pounded against them, but somehow warm.

So warm.

Severus moaned and the hands in James' jumper tightened as the warmth enveloped him even more.

He wanted more.

He wanted James to absorb him, to pull him tighter and never let go. Severus needed more.

He needed James to do something- anything just so the warmth could consume him, burn through his veins and bind them together. It was so much more than what he felt for Sirius, much more than he's sure he could ever feel for Sirius.

He loves James.

And at that thought Severus panicked.

The slytherin immediately turned his head away and tried to pull back, gasping as the rain landed on his face. "No-"

James didn't let go, he held on tight as he whispered in Severus' ear. "I've loved you since the moment we met and I'll love you long after he stops." Severus' breath hitched in his throat and he froze as James let go and started digging around in his pocket until he pulled out a small wooden box.

James pulled his glasses off and dropped them aside, they were useless in the rain anyway, before taking Severus' hand and putting the box inside of it. He closed both his hands around it and placed a kiss on Severus' lips.

"Even if you choose him, I promise I won't ever stop loving you. Not in this," James pressed another kiss against Severus' lips and put his free hand on the back of the slytherin's throat. "Or in any other life. My heart and soul is your's Severus."

Severus tried to blink back against the rain as he stared into James' brown eyes, he opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. His heart had reached lighting speeds while his breath started coming out in pants. James leaned forward and spoke against Severus' ear.

"Severus. Say something."

No reply.

He tried to say something, anything, but the words failed him and a new bout of panic washed over him.

The slytherin pulled away and ran back to the castle.

His clothes were heavy from being soaked through the rain and his shoes slipped over the grass and mud but he didn't stop. Somehow he knew that James wouldn't follow him, that he was probably still standing there on the quidditch pitch but he still didn't slow down.

Not until he'd made it to the dark somewhat dry shadows of the dungeons where he leaned against the wall and let out panting breaths before slipping down to the floor, letting his water weighed clothes and tired limbs drag him down.

The dungeon halls echoed with his heavy breaths until they evened out and the panicked waves began to subside. Severus roughly pushed back the wet strands of hair clinging to his face when he realised that he was still holding the box that James forced into his hand.

Severus stared at the wooden box for a moment, before pulling the top open and his eyes went wide.

There was a single gold ring in the plush red interior of the box. Severus gently pulled it out and dropped the box onto his lap. It was a simple golden band, nothing special about it, but when Severus read the engraving written on the inside his heart cracked.

Forever - James

A sob broke through Severus' throat and he pulled his legs up against his chest as his body trembled.

It's raining again.

The End

A/N: yeah that was odd

Anyway, review or whatever