Chapter 60 - A Piano

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"Shhh!" Sirius hushed the others. They all froze and looked at the staircase. When nothing happened, they looked back to the large piano. "Put it in the corner, quietly." Sirius instructed. The others nodded Lily, Remus and James all pointed their wands at the piano and let it float to the corner he pointed to.

They needed to be quiet, Izzie and Regulus were still asleep upstairs. The piano was a birthday present for Izzie and Regulus, Reg's birthday only two and a half weeks from hers. When Izzie mentioned he still played the piano and he could sing, he needed to bring it in the house. So that they all could enjoy their talents. Remus was overjoyed with the idea. Izzie was right, Remus would swoon all over him. That night they all were going to a local bar with live music, and they hoped they could convince them to sing on stage.

Once the piano was placed in the corner, Sirius and Remus went upstairs both carrying a tray with breakfast on it. Sirius slipped in their room, at the same moment Remus slipped into his. She was still sleeping soundly. Her hair was in disarray on her pillow, her top had crept up, revealing her bare stomach, scars partially visible. Her shorts left nothing to his imagination. They were small, so small. Her long, skinny legs bare, with a blanket wrapped between them. She had clutched Sirius pillow against her chest, her head nuzzled a little against it.

He smiled softly as he walked closer. He put the tray on the nightstand before lying down next to her. He tucked her hair behind her ear and her nose scrunched up in the most adorable way. He leaned his head in his hand as the fingers of his other hand traced from her cheek to her neck, then from shoulder down to her arm. She hummed a little in her sleep. He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

"Happy birthday, love." He whispered just a breath from her lips.

She leaned forward and pushed her lips more firmly against his. "I love waking up like this." She smiled before her eyes flittered open.

"I love waking you up like this." He gave her a lopsided smile. She clutched his shirt and pulled him on top of her. "Oh." He gasped in surprise.

"It's my birthday."

"I know, that's why I greeted you with a happy birthday." He chuckled.

She licked her lips as a grin spread on her face. "I can do whatever I want on my birthday."

"Yes, you can." He said, playing with a strand of her hair. "What do you want to do?" He asked, but from her dark eyes, he already knew what she wanted.

"Do I need to spell it out for you?" She purred before straining her neck upwards to kiss him. Sirius's body went flush against him, and he kissed her passionately.

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It was almost two hours later when they came down. After their morning/birthday sex, they ate leisurely in the bed before taking a shower together. Just enjoying each other's company. When they came down, the piano was concealed as Regulus jumped up from the couch to wish Izzie a happy birthday. Izzie was looking around the room, he saw that she knew something was different but couldn't place it. At everyone wished her a happy birthday, Remus and Sirius guided them closer to the concealed piano.

"We got the both of you a present." Remus smiled.

"The both of us?" Regulus frowned. "My birthday isn't for another two weeks."

"An early birthday present." Remus leaned down to kiss him softly.

"We all chipped in." James grinned as he leaned against the wall.

"Well, now you got me curious." Izzie chuckled. She smiled as Sirius wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning his head in the crook of her neck. "So, where is it?"

Sirius laughed against her neck before waving his wand over the concealed piano. It appeared in front of them, and Sirius's eyes flickered between Izzie and his brother. His brother seemed to have stopped breathing as he walked closer to the piano. His hand softly grazed the piano wing, he let out a trembling breath. Izzie's eyes were on Regulus, a happy smile curved on her lips as she watched him.

"Whose idea was this?" Regulus asked in a small voice as he tore his eyes away from the piano.

"It was all Sirius idea." Said Lily.

"It's the same one as Uncle Alphard."

"Yeah." He smiled as he unwrapped his arms from Izzie and stepped towards his younger brother. "I know you loved that piano." He looked to Izzie. "Uncle Alphard is the one that taught Reg how to play." He wrapped his arm around his shoulder, tugging his brother close. Reg looked down with a secret smile. "He tried to teach me too, but you all know how rubbish I am at playing any kind of music instruments." Everyone hummed in agreement, making Sirius purse his lips at them. "So, he gave up on me pretty quickly. But not Reg, the real talent in the family." He rubbed his knuckles over Reg's head. Regulus scowled and tried to push him away, but he held on tight.

Izzie walked closer and grabbed a hold of Reg's hand. "We can play together, just like last summer." She smiled a little.

"Only in a happier place, we'll make new memories." He tugged on her hands until they were hugging. Reg's eyes connected with his over her shoulder. "Thank you."

"Anything for you two."

"Can you play us a song?" Remus asked like a giddy schoolboy. Sirius turned to look at him, he was bouncing on his heels, his eyes dark and large as he looked at Regulus. Izzie chuckled as she untangled herself from Reg.

"Told you he has a soft spot for musicians." She grinned as she sat down on the stool in front of the piano. Regulus sat down next to her and lifted the lid. Everyone sat down around them, Remus was practically vibrating in his seat. Soon the house was filled with the sound of the piano before Izzie's voice accompanied him. Lily and James were cuddled together watching the pair at the piano with a soft smile, while Remus and Sirius eyes were glued to their better half's, their eyes dark and filled with love and desire.

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Izzie was pacing in the living room, biting her nails nervously. Lily wasn't back from school yet and the boys were getting ready to leave. On the right side of her, James was tugging on his shoes while Remus put on his coat. Sirius came out of the room fully dressed and walked over; he placed his hands on her shoulders to stop her from pacing.

"Everything will be okay, love. I'm going to take care of him, both of them."

She gnawed on her bottom lip, her eyes terrified. "I don't know if this is a good idea. He just learned it a few months ago."

"It will be fine, Iz." Remus said, coming over. "I got my furry friends with me." He grinned. "And you know Reg is the one that can calm me when you're not there."

"But what if-"

"Don't think of the worst-case scenario, love." Sirius kissed the top of her head. "We're going to the same forest we've been going since we moved in, nothing ever happens."

She nodded slowly, still not convinced. Her eyes went behind the two men when she heard Reg walk in. She pushed between them and stopped in front of Reg, who had raised an eyebrow. "Show me again."

"Isabelle." He reached over and squeezed her hand. "I'll be fine."

"Reg, show me, please."

With one last squeeze he said. "Alright." He stepped back and turned into his Animagus form. Now in front of her sat a black furry bear, about a meter forty, with round black ears. He had a u-form chest patch in a cream colour. It was a sun bear. The smallest of bears but a bear, nonetheless. Regulus nose twitched in the air before he licked the side of her face. Sirius growled behind her.

"Relax, Pads." Remus amused voice came from behind her. Regulus turned back and dusted of his clothes, a proud smile on his lips.

"I'll be fine, I'm the strongest one of the bunch." He winked.

"Just - just be careful, alright." She wrapped her arms around him.

"I will, I promise. I'm not like those idiots, I'm careful."

That brought a smile to her lips as the others all yelled Oi! "You're right. You all ways think before you act." She glanced outside, the sun was setting. "You should go."

Reg kissed the top of her head before Remus pulled her in a hug. "We'll see you in the morning. I love you."

"I'll be here." She kissed his cheek. "I love you and be safe."

"Always."

Remus and Regulus went to stand by James at the front door waiting for Sirius to say his goodbyes. "Wasn't Lily going to keep you company?"

"She is. She should be here by eight."

"Good, I don't want you alone. I know you worry too much." He cupped her cheek lightly. "I love you."

"I love you." She kissed him softly before she watched them walk out the door with a heavy heart.

OoO

"You did great, Regulus." James beamed as he turned back. The sun was slowly rising. They were still in the forest, right next to a big lake. It was peaceful and quiet, and Regulus was buzzing with excitement.

"Thank you, James." He smiled before going over to his boyfriend. He leaned down to a very naked Remus and wrapped a coat around him. "How are you feeling?"

"Amazing." Remus gently cupped his cheek. "The wolf seems to like you." He smiled.

"I figured." He chuckled. "Since he kept chasing me all night."

"I didn't hurt you, did I?" He sat up straighter, cupping both cheeks and looked him over.

"No, I'm fine, love. I feel perfect." He kissed him slowly. "Thank you for sharing this with me."

"I'll share anything with you." They heard Sirius and James snort behind them, but they ignored them. "We should go, don't want Izzie to get too worried."

Regulus helped him up, they all checked the area before they disappeared with a crack. They stood in front of the house when Regulus suddenly clutched the coat hanging over Remus's shoulders.

"Wait!" He frowned. "Does this mean that my brother and James see you naked every month?"

Remus's eyebrows disappeared behind his fringe, his mouth opening and closing without a sound. Then his brother clapped his back, grinning.

"For years, Reggie, for years." He laughed. "Oh, don't look at me like that." He rolled his eyes as James opened the door. "I'm not into men and besides now you know how I feel that everyone here has kissed my girlfriend."

"I never kissed your girlfriend." He retorted in a huff. They followed James inside, but suddenly bumped into him when he stopped in the middle of the room. "Potter, move."

Regulus frowned when neither he or Sirius moved, dread filled his gut, and he sidestepped them to see what they were looking at. On the couch Izzie and Lily were sound asleep, nothing really out of the ordinary in his opinion. He looked to Sirius and James who were practically drooling over the girls. He looked back to the couch. Lily was wearing a tank top and shorts, barely covering skin but he was used to it by now. Izzie was wearing an old, faded Queens shirt from Sirius, normally it would cover her thighs, but now the shirt had risen up, her lace knickers on full display. Their legs were intertwined, and Izzie lay with her head on Lily's chest, while Lily's arms curled around her waist. If it wasn't for the fact they both had boyfriends, this could have looked like something entirely different.

"I didn't know Izzie had a freckle on her hip." James mused; he avoided the others gaze quickly when three men growled at him.

"You better stop watching before I curse you, Potter." Lily murmured, before her eyes flittered open.

"I - I wasn't -" James stuttered. "I only have eyes for you, love." He said charming but Lily just rolled her eyes. Smart girl. Regulus mused to himself.

"How did this happen?" Remus asked, sitting down across from them, keeping the coat closed. Regulus sat on the armrest next to him, his hand curling in the nape of his neck. Remus hummed softly in contentment.

"Izzie's been a nervous wreck since you left. We watched a movie together and we just fell asleep, she needed to take a potion, otherwise she would've been up all night." She whispered; stroking Isabelle's hair softly.

Suddenly Isabelle bolted up and breathed out. "Remulus!"

"Remulus?" James raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"I guess she couldn't choose between Remus or Regulus." Remus laughed. "We're okay, Iz. Everything is great, nobody got hurt."

She took in a deep breath, relaxing against Lily again. "Oh, okay, that's - that's good."

"You look cold." Sirius leaped forward and covered both girls in a blanket. The two of them raised their eyebrows at Sirius with an amused expression. "Did you get enough sleep?"

"I think so." She intertwined her fingers with Sirius's as she put her head back on Lily's chest. "Lily is kind of soft to sleep with."

Sirius and James groaned, looking away as Isabelle purposefully rubbed her cheek against Lily's chest. The girls started laughing at their flustered faces and Remus couldn't help but join in. Regulus couldn't stop the chuckle that left his throat.