“Leo, time to change buddy.” Remus emerged from the kitchen with two cups of tea, before setting both of them on the coffee table.
The toddler pouted, then proceeded to curl up further in Sirius’ arms making him chuckle.
“Come on, buddy.” Sirius prompted with a kiss on his head.
“Don’ wanna.” Leo mumbled. He could be such a stubborn 5 year old and although Remus liked to think he took it from Sirius and how passionate they could be, he knew that this kind of stubborn had Remus written all over it.
“It’s 8 o’clock love, we have a deal.” Remus lowered himself in front of the couch, placing his hands on top of his son’s feet.
“You go change, and then we can watch telly for another hour. We can even have one of the tarts granny sent us, how about that?” Sirius mock-whispered conspiratorially, making their son come out of his hiding and look at them with wide eyes.
“Really?”
“Really.” Sirius nodded with the same enthusiasm and wide eyes.
“Is Pada telling me the truth?” He asked Remus earnestly, crossing his little arms and sporting a pout. Remus pretended to take the toddler with the soft curls and grey eyes seriously. Although the blue dinosaur one piece made it a lot harder to bite back a smile.
“Yes cariad, they’re telling the truth.” Remus nodded solemnly, sharing a secretive smile with Sirius.
“You don’t believe me?” Sirius gasped, leaning back to look at Leo properly, one hand resting on their chest as they leaned into their teasing .
“I do!” Leo giggled, loving Sirius’ theatrics. Remus could not blame him one bit. One thing he loved the most in the whole world besides Sirius and Leo, was Sirius with Leo.
“Are you calling me a liar?” Sirius acted extremely offended, albeit with a soft expression as if not to upset the toddler, before reaching for their son. Soon enough Leo was in Sirius’ lap, screaming in laughter as Sirius’ fingers tickled his tummy.
‘ Am I a liar? What was that love? Stop? I can’t hear you!’
“Enough, enough, you two.” Remus chuckled, reaching for Leo. Sirius placed a delicate kiss on the crown of his head while the toddler gasped for breath, a toothy grin permanently plastered on his adorable face as Remus pulled him up. He caught the fond expression on Sirius’ face as he gave Leo’s forehead another kiss and mouthed a silent ‘I love you’ over his shoulder. For a second, before he moved towards the stairs, Sirius’ hand found its way up his waist and squeezed softly three times.
“Wait for me.” Leo’s weak voice called as they walked up the stairs.
“I will.” Sirius sing-songed from the living room.
Remus gently placed Leo on his bed and reached for his pajamas while the toddler bounced on the bed carefully.
“Leg.” Remus requested and Leo lifted one foot to help his dad dress him up.
“Other leg.” Remus requested making Leo erupt in giggles before lifting his other leg theatrically.
Remus shook his head with a smile and decided to entertain him by keeping their little game up until his son was fully dressed. He folded Leo’s one piece before placing it in the basket with the rest or his clothes that needed washing and when he turned around it was to find that Leo had pulled himself up, now socked-feet planted on the bed as he made grabby hands at him.
“Come on, then.” Remus opened his arms, moving to stand closer to the edge of the bed.
Leo gave a small jump and clinged onto his father, wrapping his arm tightly around his neck and his legs around his waist. “You’re like a tiny koala.” He rubbed his son’s back as he turned off the light and moved towards the stairs to join his husband on the couch.
“What’s a kola?”
“ Koala .” Remus corrected him.
“ Koala .” Leo repeated slowly.
“Remember that animal book uncle Prongs gave you for your birthday?”
“Yep.”
“It’s that grey animal that clings to trees in that page with the blue bird you like so much.”
“Cuddle animal.” He giggled, nuzzling Remus’ throat.
Sirius and Leo had a habit of giving alternate names to the animals after they had first opened that book. Apparently the koala was known as the cuddle animal to Leo because the way it clung in trees reminded him of cuddles. He was not wrong.
“Cuddle animal.” Remus agreed with a chuckle.
Sirius had already brought the tarts from the kitchen and placed them on the coffee table next to their cups of tea, opening their arms widely so the minute Remus put Leo down, the toddler run to them.
“There we go, okay. What shall we watch?” Sirius asked, turning in place to unfold the blanket they kept on the back of the sofa. They draped it over all three of them, Leo nearly disappearing under it and giggling, before Sirius reached to tuck in under his chin. They bent down to place a kiss on the crown of his curls, before resting back on the cushions, their hand running through their son’s hair and the soft light catching on the silver band there. Remus smiled.
“Bear!” Leo exclaimed excitedly.
They had both taken to teaching Leo all about older movies, and he has been particularly fond of Brother bear, to the point where they’d already watched it three times this week. Remus had learnt it by heart, meaning that he could recite the dialogue along with Leo every time.
“No movies, love. They will take too long.”
“How about Winnie?” Remus offered.
Sirius looked at him with a raised eyebrow, lips tight in an attempt to hide their grin. “Are we picking out for you or Leo?”
Remus spluttered. “Wha-”
“Winnie! Yes, please!” It was Remus' turn to raise his eyebrows and give them a smug smile, as if saying ‘See?’ .
There was no doubt that Winnie was Remus’ favourite childhood cartoon, having spent hours in the mornings sprawled out on the living room carpet under a blanket, watching in delight the comforting characters and soft scenery that reminded him of his home town. Sirius knew of this, of course. Remus told them one afternoon back when they were visiting the Lupins. Hope had taken out the family albums and there was more than one picture of Remus’ in Winnie pyjamas. When Sirius pointed it out, Lyall just stood up, quietly walked to the cabinet under the telly and pulled it open for Sirius to find out that half of it was taken up by Winnie the Pooh DVD collection. Sirius had been delighted by this information, and Remus didn’t think much of it, brushing it off with a faint blush. Years later, it was Sirius who suggested they introduce Leo to it, insisting that they wanted Leo to have every cherished experience they had in their own childhoods, including favourite cartoons.
Now, Sirius just stuck their tongue out to him while Remus pressed play on a random episode. They reached across the sofa discreetly, so as not to disturb the toddler, and pinched Sirius softly in the waist, watching as they jolted with a laugh.
“Shhh,” Leo hushed, with as much authority a kid in pyjamas and floppy curls could muster.
“Yeah, Sirius. Shhh, we’re watching.” Remus teased, settling back comfortably.
Sirius grinned, shaking their head exasperatedly before they got more comfortable as well. Remus reached for them once again, his hand finding Sirius hair and softly running through it, watching as a content smile took over Sirius’ expression, head tilting towards Remus’ caress.
Needless to say, Leo only managed to last half an hour before he was sprawled on Remus’ lap and sound asleep.
Sirius chuckled softly, reaching to turn the volume down a bit before reaching closer, bringing Leo’s little feet on their lap so they could lean into Remus’ embrace. Remus pulled them close instantly with a kiss on their forehead.
“He’s got you wrapped around his little finger.”
Sirius turned around then, looking at Remus through their lashes with a tired smile. “No, love,” They began, reaching for Remus’ hand that was resting on their shoulder to press a small kiss on his knuckles. “He was both of us wrapped around his little finger. I’m just the one willing to admit it.”
Remus huffed, taking a second to take in the scene, Sirius’ playful grin, the slow blinking of their eyes, a mini version of both of them safe and sound in their arms, all in a place they have carefully turned into a home with love and memories.
He let out a sigh, head dropping to rest against Sirius.
“What?” Sirius whispered, nose nudging against Remus’, “What is it, darling?”
Remus swallowed the lump in his throat, shaking his head minutely before speaking, “I’m so happy, Sirius.”
There are many things unsaid, hidden in fears they have overcome and are still learning to push aside, in tears spilled, confessions and comforting touches. There are even more things to come, as there’s no peak of happiness, just a constant effort through love to maintain it. But if that’s what’s on the other side, Remus doesn’t mind going through anything that might come their way. What would be unbeatable from the warmth of a home ?
Sirius leaned in, slowly, meeting Remus in a kiss soft and tender, breath shaking as they pulled back to take each other in.
The palm of their hand framed the side of his face, and with a gentle smile they spoke. “You two make me the happiest I’ve ever been.”
And if that didn’t make his heart flutter. Remus was sure the adoration was written all over his face, but after all these years he didn’t even bother hiding it, but wore it like a badge of honour.
With another kiss on his cheek, Sirius let their head rest on his shoulder,tucking under Remus’ chin.
The tart lay forgotten, along with their cups of tea which had gone cold. They’d have to carry Leo up and tuck him into bed before going along with their routine of brushing their teeth while Sirius attempted to make Remus laugh so he would make a mess. Then, Remus would watch curiously as Sirius went through their small routine of lotions and creams before they’d finally climb into bed.
This would be Remus’ second favourite thing, kissing Sirius goodnight with the promise of doing it all over again in the morning.
His favourite thing was actually doing it, the breakfast, driving Leo to daycare, deciding what to eat, trips to the grocery store and teasing Sirius for never being able to decide which fabric softener smells better. Just this, doing it all over again with them, in this place they call home.