Enjoy!

June 1976

"This is completely unfair!" Sirius nearly yelled.

James eyes widened at his friend's outburst. It was unusual for either of them to raise their voice to their parents. Break the rules absolutely, but do something as disrespectful as practically yelling at them? Never.

James wasn't even sure why Sirius was so upset. They were at the cottage on the beach for the next three weeks. It was their absolute favorite place to be. Nearly every house in the neighborhood that their cottage was settled in the middle of was owned by the parents of one of their friends from school. It made for a lovely holiday of days filled with hanging out with their friends on the beach or in the town.

They had had a curfew every summer that they had spent time here. James felt it was quite reasonable. His parents basically let them go off on their own as they pleased all day long as long as they were home by nine.

Sirius clearly didn't agree with the fairness.

"Sirius," Charles said in a shocked voice.

"I'm nearly of age," Sirius replied angrily. "I shouldn't even have a curfew like some sodding toddler."

James sucked his breath in. He had never heard Sirius speak in such a way to their parents.

"You aren't even sixteen yet," Charles replied sternly. "That is hardly of age Sirius."

James searched for the right words. Something that would calm them both; something that would fix the situation but he came up short.

"I nearly am," Sirius argued. "Besides even fifteen is too old for a curfew."

"I'm sorry that you feel that way," Charles replied as he picked up his book from the counter and left the kitchen.

James breathed a sigh of relief. Sirius had to have been the luckiest person alive. He had expected his dad to punish him on the spot for the way he was acting and somehow he had let him off the hook.

"You're barmy," James hissed at Sirius.

Sirius ignored his best mate and instead chose to follow Charles into the parlor.

"I'm not coming in at nine," he dared to say.

James stayed rooted to his spot in the kitchen doorway. He wanted to go up to his room and remove himself from this whole situation, but his legs had somehow forgotten how to move.

"Then you will be grounded to the house the following day," Charles replied. He didn't bother to look up from his book. He wasn't sure exactly what had gotten into Sirius, but he wasn't in the mood for a row. It was their first day of holiday. His wife had gone to the market to stock them up on all the necessities and he had planned to sit in his armchair and enjoy his book until she returned and then take her for a stroll on the beach. His plans had not included disciplining a disrespectful fifteen year old.

Sirius nearly stamped his foot in frustration. He couldn't believe how unreasonable he was being. Every day of his life he took a moment to remember how fortunate he was to have the Potters as his parents. However, when it came to things like curfews and rules that he felt far too old for, he couldn't help but think that had he still been with his maternal parents he wouldn't be dealing with such things. Deep down he knew that a curfew was a small price to pay for the wonderful life they had given him, but he couldn't help his anger over the situation.

"You aren't being fair!"

"It isn't my job to be fair Sirius. It is my job to be a parent and as your parent I am telling you that you will be in this house by nine o clock or you will not leave this house the following day," Charles replied.

James bit his lip as he waited for Sirius' response. He couldn't even see his best mate and he could read him like a book. This wasn't going to be pretty.

"No," Sirius spoke the single word.

The silence was deafening.

Sirius watched as the man closed his book and set it on the table next to him. He didn't miss the rigorousness of his face.

"I beg your pardon?" Charles said in a low stern voice.

Everything in Sirius was begging him to stop, to apologize and walk away.

He ignored those feelings.

"No," Sirius repeated. "I'm not coming in at nine like some bloody child!"

"I'm not quite sure what has gotten into you but it ends here," Charles replied. He quickly racked his brain trying to recall if Sirius' behavior had been off at all over the past few days but he was coming up short. "You will go to your room until you've calmed down enough to have a civilized conversation."

"I am calm!" Sirius practically yelled causing James to jump in surprise.

Charles was on his feet now. He was done trying to reason with a child who was being so impossibly defiant. In one quick movement he had taken ahold of Sirius by the upper arm. He was careful to make sure he wasn't gripping the child too tightly before he raised his right hand and brought it down on the jean clad backside.

"To your room this instant," Charles repeated his requisition as he released his grip on the child. "I will be up shortly and we will continue this conversation then."

Sirius didn't argue. In fact he was beginning to regret every arguing with the man in the first place. He hurried the few feet to the staircase and then took the steps two at a time to his bedroom.

James sucked his breath in. He wasn't stupid. He knew what had just happened. He couldn't say that he hadn't expected it either. He was actually surprised that it hadn't happened much earlier in the conversation.

He slowly exhaled as he peeled himself off of the kitchen wall.

He had to talk to Sirius.

He walked into the parlor to find his dad sitting in his armchair. His book closed on the table next to him.

"James," Charles said as he spotted his son. His voice was startled as if he had forgotten he had another child in the house.

"I was uh…I was just going to go talk to Sirius," James replied softly. It wasn't often that one of them got into trouble without the other. James was almost afraid that his father would tell him that he wasn't allowed to go talk to him.

Charles nodded softly. "See if you can find out what has gotten into him will you?"

James nodded in agreement before heading for the staircase. He practically ran up the stairs, skidding to a stop in front of Sirius' bedroom door. He knocked once and let himself in. He was sure Sirius was expecting their dad and he didn't want to make him worry.

He had expected to find his best mate still fuming. Instead James found him sitting on his bed, his legs pulled up to his chest, his face buried behind his knees as his shoulders shook with tears.

James was across the room and on Sirius' bed in less than thirty seconds.

"What is it?" James asked when Sirius made no move to even pick his head up and see who had walked in.

Sirius didn't answer instead his shoulders shook even harder.

"Siri," James said in a soft voice. He reached out and placed his hand on Sirius' foot. He had seen Sirius cry numerous times over the course of their friendship but it never got any easier for James. In his opinion it was the absolute worst sight in the world.

Slowly Sirius brought his head up. His tear stained face meeting James'.

"I'm an idiot," he muttered.

James shook his head but remained silent.

"They are amazing to me," Sirius continued after a moment. "He is amazing and I was so rude."

"It's okay," James said softly. "He'll forgive you."

Sirius shook his head. "Why was I so stupid over a dumb curfew?"

James shrugged softly. "I don't know," he answered honestly. "Maybe you still aren't used to all the rules?"

"I am," Sirius admitted. "I just don't always like them. My parents never made rules like that you know? They didn't care how late I was out. I used to stay out past nine before I even turned nine."

"I want you in the house by nine because I care about your well-being," Charles spoke from the doorway.

Both boys turned to see their father walking into the room.

"I don't want you out late because it isn't safe," he continued in a gentle voice. "Honestly if it were up to me, I'd keep you two safe in this house all the time but I know that isn't possible so I allow you two to go out and have fun but expect you home by your curfew so that I know you are home and safe."

Sirius digested these words as he worked to get his tears under control. He knew that they were true. He knew that the Potters cared about him far more than his maternal parents ever had. Up until this curfew nonsense he had always loved the feeling of being cared for so deeply.

"You likely will not understand until you are grown with children of your own," Charles went on. "But your child being out in the world on their own is likely the scariest feeling that there is. I constantly worry that one of you will end up hurt or in danger."

"I'm sorry for the way I talked to you," Sirius said in a sincere voice. "I was just angry dad."

Charles opened his mouth to respond but James beat him to it.

"I'll go now," his son said softly as he started to stand.

Charles was sure that James figured that Sirius' punishment was coming and that the best thing he could do is make himself scarce.

"There's no need for that," Charles said as he watched Sirius brush the tears from his face. "I do not want to start our holiday by doling out a punishment."

Sirius looked up at the man with a confused look plastered on his face. Surely he had misunderstood him.

"You have apologized and I believe that you know that how you spoke to me was unacceptable correct?"

Sirius nodded earnestly. "Yes Sir."

"And you will abide by the curfew your mum and I have set without argument?"

Another sincere nod, "Yes I promise."

"Then we won't speak of this again," Charles replied with a small smile.

"Really?" Sirius asked as James smiled widely.

"Really," Charles nodded. "This may come as a shock to you two but I don't enjoy punishing you any more than you enjoy being punished." He paused for a moment before deciding to add a quick warning. "That's not to say I won't do so if it is needed, however today I do not feel that it is."

"Thanks dad," Sirius said softly.

"Now go wash your face and you two go down the beach and enjoy your holiday," Charles commanded in a mock stern voice.

"Yes Sir," James smiled brightly as he bounced off the bed. "I'm going to go get my broom. I'll meet you downstairs Siri."

Sirius watched as his best mate raced out of his bedroom door.

Slowly he brought his knees away from his chest and then slid off of the bed.

"I really am sorry," he offered in a small voice.

"I know that you are," Charles replied. "And I forgive you."

Sirius took the two steps to the man's side and then slowly wrapped his arms around him hugging him tightly. Despite the fact that he had nothing but love for the Potters, he often still had a hard time showing his affection for them.

Charles hugged the boy back tightly. "You are so very loved Sirius, even when you misbehave."

Sirius nodded into the man's chest unable to speak for fear that the tears that he had just gotten under control would start up once more.

"Now go enjoy your holiday before James flies off without you."

Another nod as Sirius released his grip on the man and gently pulled himself away. "Love you."

"Always Sirius, always."