Voldemort was dead, the war was over. James was relieved not only because his family was safe but also because he could finally pack up and leave. They had been staying cooped up in the house for nearly a year.

A year of lusting after his best mate's husband, a year of having to watch them be loving towards one another, a year of bickering with Lily. It was all too much for the poor bloke, everything almost exploded in the pureblood's face a couple of days before the end of the war.

It was late at night, the pureblood was banished to the couch by Lily. Instead of sleeping, he had gotten into a bottle of liquor. He sat there, drinking away his feelings, it helped a bit in suppressing his emotions. They were still there but they were dulled, easier to handle.

Severus had entered the living room once he made it halfway through the bottle. James had almost thought he was dreaming him up for a second. The half-blood was in one of Padfoot's band tees, he remembered the bloke wearing that shirt anytime they ventured out into the muggle world. It was loose on the Slytherin, the shirt's hem stopped at the halfway point of his thigh, and after that, it was just bare leg.

James visibly swallowed as he stared at the pale, slender thighs. Severus stopped suddenly when he realised there was someone else in the room. "Oh- Potter, I didn't see you there," He said, his face suddenly red due to the embarrassment of his ex-school bully seeing him in such a state.

"S'okay," James slurred out a bit, making Severus frown.

James could tell the moment that the Slytherin had noticed the bottle. "Are you drunk? " He asked but before James could answer Severus had made his way over to the Gryffindor, snatching the bottle from his hands. " Merlin , did you drink all of this?" Severus asked, eyes widening.

James had just stared dumbly at the man. The neckline of the shirt was loose, exposing the love bites on his collarbone. Looking up at the Slytherin's face he sees the bruising of his lips, the faint pink to his cheeks, and the slight dilation still in his pupils. The Slytherin had just been shagged. Merlin , he looked good.

He was probably coming down to get a drink before he stumbled across the inebriated Gryffindor. Severus's expression turned worried when James didn't reply, "You stay here," the Slytherin said, "I'll get you some water."

James's eyes trailed after him, noticing the bite mark on the inner part of his thigh. He imagined what it would feel like to bite him there, what noises he would make. James was going to have a hard time, no scratch that, he was currently having a hard time.

The Slytherin came back with what he had promised. "Drink," Severus demanded as he pushed the glass into James's hand. His hands were soft and cold, James was so overheated from the alcohol that all he could think about was letting those hands roam his body. How they would feel wrapped around his-

James complied with the Slytherin's demands, downing the beverage. He only managed to drink half of it, the other half falling onto his lap. Severus scoffed and summoned a towel, handing it to James who tried to dry himself to the best of his ability. His clothes started to cling to his body, thankfully the cold water helped down his arousal but only by a little.

"Why don't you just spell my clothes dry?" he complained.

Severus crossed his arms, "You deserve this, this is what happens when you drink your feelings away."

James slumped on the couch, glaring at the Slytherin, "Haven't you been punishing me enough?" he choked out.

He must've looked pathetic at that moment as Severus's face softened a bit at that, "What happened?" He asked, sitting next to the Gryffindor.

James looked at him for a moment, they lived in the same house for a year now and the Slytherin had never sat next to him. The closest he'd get is when Pads would be sitting between them. He smelled good and all he could do was stare at his lips, even doused in cold water his groin had still managed to stir at the thought of placing a chaste kiss on them. He thought about it for a moment, kissing him right now just to see the Slytherin's eyes widen but he refrained.

"What do you mean?" James said densely.

He frowned at that, "You wouldn't drink like that if you weren't going through something." he said softly.

It was all too much for the pureblood, the Slytherin was so close to him and was being so nice. He had to ruin it by saying the first thing that came to mind, "Why do you care?" James had spat out like a petulant child, he had meant it to come out more delicately but the alcohol gave it a whiny edge.

Severus's eyes lost a little of their softness, "I care because you can't drink away your problems Potter, you have a family now."

He felt himself prickle at that, "I'm not a drunkard for Merlin's sake, I just did it this one time!"

The Slytherin didn't back down, it was like they were back in Hogwarts. "One time soon becomes daily if you never talk about your feelings like an adult."

James felt it again, the need to retaliate against the Slytherin. The need to take out his frustrations on him. This was all Severus's fault anyway, he is the cause of all of James's issues right now. He had to punish him in some way. He couldn't hold back what he said next, "Just because I drank one bloody time doesn't mean I'm going to beat my wife and child. I'm not like your fucking dad!" he spat.

Severus had flinched hard at that, "I- w-who told you that?" James felt a twinge of guilt at how affected the Slytherin seemed to be. "Was it Sirius?" He asked, sounding heartbroken, scared almost.

James had almost wanted to lie at that moment, say yes, get them to argue as he and Lily argue. Get him to believe that Sirius had betrayed his trust and told his dirty little secret to his ex-school bully. However he couldn't do that to Padfoot, "It was Lily." He bit out.

Severus closed his eyes and let out a long sigh, "I see," he said before getting up, "well I'm going-"

The Gryffindor grabbed his wrist before he could finish his sentence, "Wait! I'm sorry, I- want a divorce…" James revealed.

The Slytherin's eyes widened, "Why?" he asked.

James let out a long exhale through his nose, "Nothing happened, I just- fell out of love. We argue all the bloody time! It's all your fault!"

Severus grimaced, "How is it my fault?! I thought by now it'd be pretty obvious that I don't want your wife." he spat, trying to pull his arm free.

James had held on, pulling him back. A particularly hard yank from Severus sent James to an upright position. Unfortunately, James's legs gave out, the alcohol turning them into jelly. He landed on top of the Slytherin. Since James was drunk and unintentionally used Severus to soften his fall, he hadn't felt much. He did however hear the man underneath him let out a painful wince.

He lifted himself with his arms, everything but his shoulders up pressed flush against the Slytherin. They were so close that James could count each of his eyelashes, "Are you okay?" he asked.

Severus started squirming, and James had to bite back a moan. "I will be once you get up !" He huffed.

There was one thing on James that was up and by the way that the Slytherin had froze, he had felt it too. Suddenly sober, James scrambled off the Slytherin, "I'm so sorry! Oh Merlin-"

Severus got up, brushing himself off before turning to the Gryffindor, "James, it's okay. That's a natural thing that randomly happens to plenty of blokes when drunk. Now calm down and tell me how the hell you wanting to divorce my friend is my fault." He had wanted to tell him that it wasn't the alcohol, that it was him it was always him and that was the issue.

James swallowed, sitting back down on the couch, his mouth started moving on its own, "I can't stop thinking about you, I think I fucked up." he croaked out.

Severus's brows furrowed, "James, you're drunk and confused."

James huffed, "I may be drunk but I am not confused. You can't tell me that you've never thought about it? What it would be like to be with someone else." with me, he had wanted to say.

James had thought about it all the time, why did he have to pick the wrong person? He knew why, Lily was bright, he saw her first so he chased her; it wasn't until later that he finally saw Severus, was pulled in by him. Sadly he found it out too late.

Severus seemed pissed that James would even suggest that, "No, I don't think about that. I'm very happy with your friend ," he emphasised the last part, reminding James who he was talking to.

He frowned, "Why him?" James asked, a lump starting to form in his throat.

Severus raised an eyebrow at that, "Are you asking why him or," he got closer to the Gryffindor, "why not you?" he bit out.

James had looked at him, awaiting his answer. He looked disgusted at the Gryffindor and James couldn't blame him.

Severus sighed, "Well first off he apologised , something if you recall you've never done. In all the years we've been amicable you still haven't said sorry for assaulting me, for stripping me in front of the school, for-"

The Gryffindor suddenly took Severus's hands into his, "Severus, I'm-"

"Sev?" They both snapped their heads over to the new voice, it was Sirius. He was standing where Severus was when he had initially caught James. Like Severus he was half dressed though he was in only his trousers, his muscular frame was on full display which terrified James even more. He had caught them in a not-good position, James holding his husband's hands looking to be begging while the Slytherin tried to pull away.

Merlin, it looked like he was coming on to him! He quickly moved away from the Slytherin who made his way over to his husband. Sirius looked like he was seconds from ripping James's head off.

Severus grabbed Sirius by the chin, forcing his eyes onto him. They seemed to be communicating telepathically as Sirius's shoulders relaxed slightly. He put his hands on his husband's waist, bringing him in and placing a light peck on his forehead. "Go back to bed love, I need to have a word with James," he said.

James stiffened even more at that. Severus took a quick worried glance between the two before going back to their room. Now James was all alone with the dangerous beast.

Sirius slowly made his way over, James quickly stood up, if he was going to attack him he'd have a fighting chance if he was standing. The truth was Sirius was a lot stronger than James, and unlike the Potter heir, he knew how to fight the muggle way. "I was letting this slide before," He said.

James blinked, "What slide?" he asked dumbly.

Sirius ignored the question, "If I ever see you touch him again Lily will be a widow." He spat out, poking hard at James's chest.

"Look I-"

"James, I let a lot go when I was younger. I used to put you before him, but ever since we got together I gave you three chances, and you have already used up two of them." He said.

James blinked, "W-what was the second one?"

"That bullshit you pulled during OWLs. If we weren't hiding our relationship back then I would have beaten your arse in front of the whole school," he snapped.

He remembered it back then, Pads trying to convince him not to pull the prank. When James seemed dead set on it Sirius had tried convincing him to use another target. He remembered how cold Sirius got, how for the rest of that year and halfway into sixth he would run off somewhere. James supposed now that he was with Severus those times.

"If I didn't love you like a brother, if I didn't see Harry and Lily as a part of my family I would've kicked you out of this damn house for what you just did," he spat.

"Pads all I did was-"

Sirius grabbed his arm in a fierce grip, "I don't care, you don't touch things that don't belong to you James. I let you look, I let you fantasise, but I am not letting you put your hands on him." The look in his eyes was wild, it was the infamous black madness, James had seen it before but never directed at him. It was bloody terrifying.

James swallowed, "O-okay Pads, calm down-"

Sirius let go of his arm, "Glad we could have this talk," he said before returning to his bedroom. James watched his retreating figure while nursing his arm.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ten years later and things had gone to shite in James's life. He and Lily had divorced after two years of trying to make it work. He hadn't seen much of Padfoot, unlike before when he used to go out of his way to make time for him Sirius had just shown up to marauders hangouts planned by Moony or Wormtail.

James coped by throwing himself into work which led him to still being single at the age of 31. He'd go to pubs, shagged whoever caught his eye, not acknowledging that all his escapades had ink-black hair and pale skin.

He stood at platform 9 , waiting for his son to come off the train. It was winter holiday and while Lily usually got the boy she was off on her honeymoon. He was happy for her, truly, Macdonald was a nice girl. However, that now meant that he had to take Harry over to Padfoot's house.

James hadn't stepped foot in there since the war had ended, he couldn't after the arse he made of himself. But he had to for Harry, the boy was close with their son and went over there every December twenty-third. He'd pitch a fit if he refused to take him.

He was looking around the station and that's when he saw them . Padfoot and his husband were also there, Severus had looked the same as he had ten years ago only now with slightly longer hair. He looked good, James had to force his eyes away before either of them noticed.

Thankfully the train pulled into the station, kids pouring out of the locomotive. He saw Harry, who was walking with a Slytherin boy. The other boy's eyes widened as they landed on something, "Dads!" he yelled.

He ran over to where Sirius and Severus were, jumping into Padfoot's arms as the older man let out a grunt. "You're getting too big for this pup," he breathed out.

"Theo honey, you know that your father is getting old. If you keep doing that you're going to break his hip." the boy in question started snickering while Sirius protested. Severus put a hand on the boy's back who turned and hugged him as well, softer than the one he gave Sirius.

"Missed you," the boy said into Severus's clothes.

Severus raised an eyebrow at that, "Did you miss me or my cooking?" he asked.

The boy was silent for a moment, "...both." he said, his father chuckling and running a hand through his brown hair.

His laugh was nice, James had to look away from the warm scene. He had heard from Lily that they adopted a boy, Theodore, only a few months after the war. The boy had been rejected from eight other families due to the fact that his parents were death eaters. Specifically his father, Nott, who was one of the original members. They seemed a good fit for the boy, James was happy for his friend.

He couldn't help but find it ironic, he remembered feeling bad for Sirius when he found out the snake was his roommate. He thought the git would ruin his life. Now James was the one with the fucked life while Padfoot had a loving family, a beautiful spouse, and a big warm home to come home to after work.

He looked over to his son who seemed to have a sad almost longing look on his face. James walked over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder, "You ready to go?"

"Yeah…" Harry said. He grabbed his son's luggage, making their way back to James's flat.

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Sirius helped set the table for when Harry and James arrived. The animagus grimaced at the thought of James coming back over, he purposely distanced himself from the pureblood in fear of his madness getting the best of him and hurting the poor bloke. They both worked as Aurors and would exchange pleasantries whenever crossing each other's path but that was about the extent of their friendship.

Someone knocked, "I got it!" his son yelled, running over to greet his friend.

He and Harry had both yelled each other's names once he opened the door, pulling one another into a fierce hug. Sirius smiled warmly at that, it had reminded him of James and himself back in those times. He missed it sometimes, how he and James used to be but Sirius was happier now than he ever was. He was married to the love of his life, and they created the healthy home that they had wanted as children themselves.

"You'd think they hadn't seen each other for months.." his husband said under his breath, Sirius chuckled, watching the scene.

Once the boys let go of one another Sirius and Severus went over to greet the new arrivals. Sirius went to welcome James, slapping him on the shoulder. He noticed how tired and somber he was lately, he didn't want to give his friend a hard time.

Harry made his way over to Severus giving him a shy smile, "H-hello Uncle Severus," he said.

Severus gave him a warm smile, "Hello Harry, how's my favourite nephew?" he asked, pulling him into a hug. His husband always had a soft spot for the young Gryffindor, something Sirius used to make fun of him for.

"G-good," Harry said, a faint blush on his cheeks as he adverted his eyes.

Sirius froze. Oh Merlin , not mini James too!