Enter for the Quidditch League Competition - Round 5 - Caerphilly Catapults - Beater
Prompt: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus – Turkey
Optional prompts used: 11. [action] cursing; 13. [object] leather bag; 15. [action] winking
Word count: 1,614
Warnings: Canon Divergence
Dedicated to Sky—a belated birthday gift, I hope you enjoy!
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"Uncle Jamie!" two tiny voices yelled and James put down his leather bag and braced himself before two tiny people ran straight into his legs.
"Why, hello! You look like my nephew and niece, but you can't be! You look too grown up to be them!" James said, looking into their eyes.
"Uncle Jamie, it's us! Harry and Hermione!" Hermione said in her know-it-all tone of voice, which never failed to bring a smile to James' face.
"I would never have guessed!" James said, picking the twins up, making them giggle. "You two look bigger every time I see you. Speaking of bigger, where's your father?"
James would have never pegged Sirius Black as a family man, but he shouldn't be surprised. Sirius always did his own thing, even with the Marauders.
What surprised James the most was the woman Sirius had children with. Once upon a time, Lily Evans had been the love of his life, but over time, James realised that he actually thought of Lily as more of a sister than a potential lover.
It was around that time James also realised how beautiful Regulus Black had become.
That was a weird conversation to have with Sirius, even more than when his best friend had finally confessed how he had secretly dated Lily through their last two years in Hogwarts.
"He's making breakfast for Mummy," Harry replied, looking at James with the same eyes as Lily. "Uncle Reggie is helping."
'Good, Regulus is already here,' James thought, before putting the twins back down, picked up the leather bag and patted it nervously praying he had remembered to put everything in it, even if he had checked it five times before leaving the house.
"Well, let's go find them," James said, grabbing the hands of the toddlers and walking towards the kitchen.
Sirius and Lily's house wasn't what he was expecting the first time he visited, but somehow, it suited both of them. It was a cottage style, and it wasn't too big—but still included a library, potions lab, and enough bedrooms for visitors and the little family.
"Uncle Jamie is here!" Hermione yelled, before running towards her mother. "May I please have some toast, Mummy?"
"Of course you can, dearest," Lily said, kissing Hermione's temple before looking up. "Good morning, James. Do you want some toast too?"
"Yes, please," James replied, smiling before looking at the stove, where Sirius and Regulus were bickering over eggs and bacon. "Everything alright there?"
"James! Good to see you! Can you please keep your boyfriend in check? I'm trying to make breakfast here," Sirius said, winking at James "Still gross you're sucking face with my baby bro, but meh, what can you do?"
James snorted but smiled seeing the scowl Regulus was sending Sirius' way. It was one of the things he loved about his boyfriend; who was he kidding? He was in love with Regulus.
"Stop being such a—" Regulus started, but looked at Harry and Hermione before shaking his head. "I can't even curse you because your adorable kids are here."
"Why do you think I keep them around?" Sirius joked, before yelping. "Ouch, Lils, what was that for?"
"Stop saying our children are like accessories!" Lily admonished, glaring at Sirius, before smiling at him. These two were such a weird couple, but James understood; love makes you do weird things.
"Speaking of your children, can I take them out today?" Regulus asked and James turned to him with widened eyes.
"Yes, please!" Hermione and Harry yelled in unison, before darting from the kitchen to their rooms, presumably to start getting ready. The twins had so much energy, it was tiring to keep up with them all the time.
"Reggie? I thought we had plans? Just the two of us?" James asked, trying to understand Regulus' train of thought.
There was a reason why James had decided to book a portkey and take his favourite leather bag—the one Regulus had gifted him on their first anniversary—but if he wanted to take the kids with them, maybe he would have to change his plans?
"I figured the twins would enjoy some time out, and that way, Lily wouldn't kill Sirius while we're out." Regulus was smiling at him, and James couldn't say no to him.
He just hoped Regulus wouldn't be able to say no to him.
"I guess we're leaving with them," James said, while Sirius and Lily exchanged a look. He wished he could know what they meant with it, but he wasn't going to ask. "Let's finish breakfast and go then. We have a portkey to catch."
"Oh, the twins' first portkey! I bet they'll love it," Sirius said, and James couldn't help but be afraid of his best friend's smile.
.:.
"I hate it. I never want to do it again," Hermione said, very mature for her four-year-old self.
"Me too! I hate it," Harry said, imitating his twin. James exchanged a look with Regulus, who smiled indulgently.
"Alright, little hooligans, do you have any idea where we are?" Regulus asked, holding the twins' hands.
"Some place far away?" Hermione asked, looking around.
"Very good, Hermione," James said, grabbing her other hand. "We're in Bodrum, Turkey. We're here to go see a Wonder of the Muggle World!"
The pair of eyes looked at him without blinking and James cringed, realising now how Lily must have felt when she mentioned something about the Muggle world when they were at Hogwarts.
"I thought…never mind! I think we're going to have an amazing day! This is where your Uncle Reggie and I had our first date, you know," James said, practically skipping towards the centre of the city.
"You always were over the top," Regulus added fondly.
James grinned back at him. "It's why you love me."
"Merlin knows why," Regulus replied, before turning to the children. "This is also where Uncle Jamie and I spent our first holiday together, and we were able to see the ruins of a Mausoleum."
"What's a Mausoleum?" Hermione asked, and James and Regulus shared a panicked look.
"It's a place where the dead go to rest, but don't worry! We aren't going to be near one today," Regulus quickly answered, seeing the widened eyes of the children.
"Nice save," James mumbled, to which Regulus glared in return.
They started walking towards the ruins, and James started to feel a nervous feeling again. His leather bag was balancing next to him—now enlarged to keep everything a toddler must need like snacks and wipes and a teddy bear, alongside his own plans—and the weight of what was inside reminded James of his plans.
"Uncle Jamie, are you sweating?" Hermione asked, looking at him with curious eyes as the trio caught up, and James flinched.
"What? No! It's just hot here, Hermione darling, nothing more to it," James said, winking at her and trying to disguise his nervousness.
He had forgotten how attuned toddlers were to emotions.
"It's not too hot, Uncle Jamie," Harry said, and Regulus had to stifle a laugh. "Are you nervous?"
'Sometimes, I don't think Lily and Sirius having children was a good idea. Especially when they can see through my shit like this.'
"Why would I be nervous, Harry?" James laughed weakly, before mentally thanking the fact they had arrived at their destination. "Hey, look! We have arrived!"
They were in front of the ruins of what was once the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, a tomb created a long time ago—James thought it was creepy, but it was such a beautiful sight, and he had never imagined he would have brought along two toddlers; the trip was supposed to be just him and Regulus.
"Can we go play there?" Harry asked, pointing to a meadow that had some children playing on it already. James nodded and Harry and Hermione ran away to play.
"Alone, at last," James joked, putting his bag on the floor and looking at Regulus.
"You know we still have to keep an eye on them, right? Lily will murder us both if they come home hurt or get kidnapped," Regulus said, even while he dragged James closer and kissed him.
James' hands started sweating again, and he knew he had to do it now, or else he would lose his courage. Grabbing Regulus' hand, James took a deep breath and looked at him.
"I never thought I would have met someone like you. You're an amazing person, who loves so freely, and it's just so insanely good, and you're my best friend—don't tell Sirius I said that—" Regulus laughed, but James could see some tears in his eyes. "I have many things I could say about you, but I prefer to ask something."
Getting down on one knee, James looked into Regulus' eyes and smiled. He fumbled about in his leather bag, pulling out a little black velvet box and opening it, showing the ring inside
"Regulus Arcturus Black, will you marry me?"
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Regulus said, and it wasn't the answer James was expecting. Before he could ask what was passing through his mind, Regulus kneeled and took out a box identical to the one in James' hand. "I was going to propose to you today! How dare you!"
James started laughing, and Regulus soon joined in. They were still laughing when the twins joined them.
"What's so funny?" Hermione asked, watching the two adults kneeling on the ground.
"Uncle Jamie is finally joining the family," Regulus replied and Hermione and Harry screamed in delight, launching themselves at the two grown ups.
Maybe Bodrum didn't bring luck to the old civilization, but it certainly brought it for James.