Together

"James?" James looked up from where he'd been sitting. Mary had come to sit with him during her break but she'd had to go back to work about fifteen minutes ago.

"Remus?"

"Hiya."

"How is he?"

"Good. Sirius is calling the skittles to tell them."

"Okay. Is he awake?"

"He woke up a while ago but went to sleep. Willingly." James nodded.

"You should go see him. He'd like to see you when he wakes up."

"No."

"James," Remus's sounded mush like Euphemia Potter as he came and sat in the chair next to James which only made him feel worse, his Mum was all alone after his Dad's death, he hadn't visited her in two months. He was such a bad son. "Look, I..." He sighed and dragged a hand over his face, "Reg really wants to see you."

"He tell you that?"

"He told Sirius."

"Well, if he wants to see me he should have let me in the bathroom rather than- "

"I know, you have every right to be mad, just please come see him? I'll come with you."

James was silent for a minute, thinking. He really was so angry but he had to know if his fiancé was really okay.

"Okay." Remus gave him a soft smile and stood up extending a hand as James pushed himself to his feet.
They walked along the corridor it was seven at night James saw on the clock,

"How long have we been here?" He asked trying to figure out the timeline.

"Oh I don't know, Marlene called me and Pads at about... half eight? And we didn't see Reg till about two thirty, It's been almost two days."

"Oh."

"Did you sleep."

"Must have."

Remus laughed slightly,

"Come on, he's in here."

James felt his knees lock as they got to the door, Remus turned to look at him with a questioning look, "Okay?" James shook his head frantically but Remus simply snatched his arm and dragged hi in. He'd never been one for nonsense, "Oh come one James, you've been together since sixth year, your engaged for Merlin's sake!"

James managed to get one deep breath before Remus pulled back to curtain and the breath was knocked right back out of him, his arms. He couldn't tear his eyes away. He'd suspected Regulus had relapsed be he hadn't known it was this bad. He was so skinny. James was such an awful fiancé, how could he not do anything sooner?

"Hiya, James." Sirius spoke first, James tore his eyes away from Regulus's arms only to have them fixed on his open eyes. He was awake, that was good but... shit.

"Hi." James still didn't look at Sirius Regulus wasn't looking at him, 'Look at me bastard!' he wanted to scream. It was a horrible thing to think.

Behind him Remus cleared his throat and Sirius began to rise from his chair, James didn't protest, Sirius placed a hand on his shoulder as he passed, "We'll come back in half an hour, yeah?" James nodded and the couple left the room.

They were silent for a while. A long while. James knew Regulus wouldn't start the conversation but he also knew he was too salty to start it himself. As always, James Potter, the life
of the group, swallowed back his own emotions and focused on the ones of others.

"How do you feel?"

"Hmm."

He wasn't sure why but that was the point where James broke. He stood up abruptly shouting at the boy.

"Don't fucking 'hmm' me! I stood there trying to help and you-" He ran a hand through his hair, "I'm trying to help and you don't even give a shit about me. You stand there and shove me aside and I try with everything to get though to you and you still treat me like shit."

He could see Regulus was crying, tears were falling from is eyes in a steady pattern but James couldn't bring himself to care.

"You don't know what it was like. I know you've been through shit and your struggling and I'm trying to help but- but you can't do that. It doesn't solve anything it just makes everyone worried about you and I- I've never been scared like that Regulus. Never. I tried my best to get through to you and I will continue to try. But I can't if this is how your going to react."

Regulus nodded and James sighed.

"I'm going to talk to Sirius." He picked up him bag and jacket.

"Please don't-"

"No! Don't! You don't get to cry and guilt trip me into staying. If you want me, you fucking find me!" And with that he left. Slamming the dorr behind him. He knew he'd feel guilty later but he couldn't care.

"Hey! James? Mate? You good?" Sirius was standing outside the door. Great.

"Where you fucking eve's dropping!?" James said accusatorily.

"No, I swear! I just came back now. I was talking to Marlene and Mary and..." He looked down scratching the back of his head.

"And?"

"They think Reg should go to rehab."

James felt sick. Yes, he'd been thinking the same thing but he knew Regulus would hate it.

"Their not gonna send him unless he wants to but... I figured it'd be best to ask when your together. I think he should go. I know he's gonna hate it but it could do some good?"

"Yeah."

"Shall we... shall we go ask him?"

James nodded and Sirius nudged past him to open the door.

"Hi Reggie!" Sirius burst into the room, Regulus began furiously scrubbing his eyes and James felt a stab on guilt pierce his chest.

"What do you want?"

"Look, Reg," Sirius took the chair and James walked around to the other side of the bed in case Reg needed to hold his hand, "I was just talking to Marlene and Mary and... Uhh." Sirius looked up and James looking for help, he just shrugged. "Uh so, they think you should go to... to rehab."

Regulus turned his face away from Sirius screwing up his eyes, James instinctively reached for his hand, kneeling by his bed cupping the boys face with his other hand.

"Reggie, this could really help." Tears were falling from Regulus's eyes again and James brushed them away with his thumb, "It's all up to you."

"You think I should go?" Regulus chocked. James thought for a minute,

"Yeah, yeah. I really think you should. Our friends miss you, Harry misses you."

More tears fell from Regulus's eyes but he nodded, "I'll go. When?"

James looked over Regulus to Sirius, "They want you to go next week. Your getting discharged tonight." Regulus nodded again and Sirius stood up,

"I'm gonna go. Me and Remus are supposed to be meeting with Maisy today so..."

"Yeah, that's all good mate." James said, "Call me later yeah?"

"Yep! Bye Mr. and Mr. Prongs."

James shock his head laughing slightly as Sirius closed the door.

"I'm sorry." Regulus whispered.

"Hey, it's okay." James kissed his forehead, "Just don't do it again."

"I won't."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while before a doctor came in, someone James didn't recognise.

"Hello, I'm Laura, I'm just here to tell you your free to go. We'd rather you be out in the next half an hour, just tell the person at the desk when your leaving." With a smile the doctor left and James got up gathering the bag he'd got Lily to pack and drop off. Out of it he pulled a change of clothes for Regulus, a grey hoodie and some black jeans.

"Here." Regulus was already standing, they'd unhooked him before James had come in. He took the clothes and, much to James surprise, through them on the bed before coming to hug James. The smaller boy buried his head in James chest and James held him back, breathing in the soft smell of his hair.

"I love you." Regulus murmured, James smiled, kissing the top of his head, "I love you too. I always will. As long as I'm under these stars I'll love you. I'll love you until your star dies."

Regulus laughed pulling back, "Too cheesy?" James asked as the boy gathered his clothes, "Way to cheesy." They both laughed and James felt his heart grow. It was cheesy. But it was true.