Sirius shifted slightly in his chair, a look of resolve crossing his tired features. His hand still clasped in Regulus's, he turned his head to look at his brother, an idea forming in his mind. "Reg," he said, his voice firmer than it had been all morning, "we need to go cuddle on Dad's bed."
Regulus, rubbing his eyes wearily, blinked at his brother, unsure if he had heard him right. "Dad's bed?" he repeated, a small smile starting to tug at the corners of his lips.
"Yes," Sirius nodded, determination settling in his expression despite his exhaustion. "I need cuddles, and whose bed is better to steal than Dad's?" A soft chuckle escaped his lips, the first bit of humor he had shown in days. He shuffled to stand, his hands pressed on the table for support, his belly making the movement a bit more cumbersome than usual.
Regulus watched for a second, then groaned quietly as he followed suit. His body felt heavy and uncooperative, but the idea of snuggling up in the comforting warmth of their father's bed sounded far too good to resist. "Alright, but only because I'm too tired to argue with you," he muttered, though his own grin widened as he slowly stood, mirroring his brother's movements.
The two of them walked slowly down the hall, their steps in sync, each step taken carefully as if they were moving through some secret mission. The soft padding of their bare feet against the cool floors was the only sound, their breaths steady as they leaned on each other for balance. Their bellies—large and round—made the short walk a bit of a challenge, but they moved with a kind of practiced ease, the kind that only came from years of being perfectly in tune with each other.
Sirius reached the door to their father's room first and gently pushed it open, the door creaking softly. The room was bathed in warm, golden light from the sun streaming through the curtains. The familiar scent of their father—clean linen, a hint of cologne, and that distinct sense of home—wrapped around them like a comforting blanket.
Without saying another word, Sirius made his way to the massive bed in the middle of the room. It was their father's favorite place, and for good reason. The bed was enormous, plush, and always felt like it could swallow you whole with its warmth. Sirius wasted no time, climbing into the middle with a contented sigh, the soft mattress sinking under his weight as he settled down.
Regulus, slower but no less determined, followed suit. He clambered onto the bed beside his brother, both of them adjusting their positions until they were nestled in the middle of the bed, right where it was the softest and warmest.
Sirius reached out, wrapping an arm around Regulus and pulling him close. Regulus snuggled into his side, their bellies pressed together, the warmth of their bodies creating a cocoon of comfort. They fit together perfectly, as they always did—Sirius slightly taller, Regulus more slender despite his pregnancy, and the two of them instinctively finding the most natural way to hold each other.
The bed creaked slightly as they shifted, but neither of them cared. They both sighed at the same time, their bodies finally able to relax in the familiar safety of each other's arms. Regulus rested his head on Sirius's shoulder, his hand resting on Sirius's belly, his fingers tracing small, lazy circles there. It was a simple gesture, but it was one they had shared countless times before—it was their way of offering quiet support when words weren't enough.
Sirius closed his eyes, the weight of the last few days beginning to melt away. "See?" he mumbled, his voice soft and slightly muffled by the pillow. "I told you, Dad's bed is the best. It's like it was made for stealing naps."
Regulus chuckled softly, though it was more of a breathy laugh, the kind that came when you were too tired to do more than breathe out your amusement. "You're ridiculous," he said, but there was no bite in his words. If anything, there was a quiet affection in his tone, as if he found Sirius's ridiculousness to be exactly what he needed right now.
The room fell into a peaceful silence, broken only by the soft sounds of their breathing. Sirius's hand moved to rest on Regulus's back, his fingers gently rubbing in soothing motions. They both felt the weight of their pregnancies, but here, in this moment, all of that faded away. They were just two brothers, curled up in the safest place they knew, holding onto each other like they had done a thousand times before.
"I love you, you know that, right?" Sirius murmured suddenly, his eyes still closed but his voice filled with sincerity.
Regulus, eyes half-lidded and already beginning to drift off into that blissful space between sleep and wakefulness, shifted slightly, snuggling closer. "Yeah," he whispered back. "I know. I love you too."
And they did. In every small gesture, in every shared look, in every quiet cuddle like this, they had always loved each other. It was the kind of love that didn't need to be spoken but was always there—unshakeable, undeniable, and as natural as breathing.
As the minutes ticked by, their breathing synced up, slow and steady, their bodies completely relaxed. Sirius's hand stilled on Regulus's back, his grip loosening as he drifted closer to sleep. Regulus was the same, his head still resting on Sirius's shoulder, their bodies tangled together in the middle of their father's bed, both of them finding peace in the quiet warmth of each other's presence.
For now, there was nothing else—no discomfort, no overdue dates, no worries about what came next. Just them, in the softest bed they knew, holding onto the person who mattered most.