The dream unfolds like most of your waking days do -- softly, slowly, sweetly. In it, you've got your head in Remus's lap and he strokes your hair lazily, his long fingertips tracing lines on your scalp. You're torn between closing your eyes and enjoying it and keeping your gaze on him, impossibly handsome even from this angle. A small, sleepy part of you knows it's a dream because he's not home yet. You're sprawled on the couch in your flat, windows open to let the spring breeze in as you wait.
The dream is nice but you know that reality is nicer. Remus is actually yours, even if it does sometimes too good to be true. Deserved, sure -- everyone deserves to be loved the way he loves you, so wholly and intensely -- but sometimes unbelievable all the same.
The sound of the front door opening rouses you just enough that your dream-boyfriend disappears. You blink your eyes open half-heartedly, turning over to catch a glimpse of the new living, breathing body in your home. "Darling?" Remus calls, eyes on this shoes as he toes them off. "You home?"
In your head you say Yes, my love, I'm here, I've been waiting for you, but what comes out is a sleepy groan. Afternoon naps seem to do the opposite of what you'd like them to -- you always end up more tired and groggy than before. You'll swing your legs off the couch in a few seconds and go give him a hug and ask what you should eat for dinner. Definitely. For sure.
But instead your eyes slide closed again and you lose track of Remus. "Oh," he says from somewhere above you, softer than before. "Didn't wake you, did I?"
You find your voice this time. "You did," you mumble, but your lips stretch into a smile. "S'okay." You force your eyes to open again and find him in a crouch in front of you, hand mid reach to tuck your hair back, or something. When he sees that you're looking at him, he pivots and brings his palm to your cheek instead.
"My sincerest apologies," he says rather seriously. "How can I make it up to you?" Remus looks even more handsome in real life than he did in your dream. Hair a little windswept, the scarring on his face especially prominent in the afternoon light. His eyes, always so tired, soft in that way they get when he's with you. He looks pleased to be touching you, pleased to be home. Something in you settles at the sight of him.
"You were in my dream," you tell him. He blinks, stands from his crouch to sit on the edge of the sofa next to your legs. You know his knees ache easier than they should, his entire body often at war with him. And yet you also know he would kneel for you -- for anyone he loves, really -- for hours and not complain once. He is so kind, so good that you don't always know how to keep up with him.
He pulls his palm from your face and you make a small noise but he's quick to cover your knee, instead. His thumb strokes back and forth over the soft material of your pants.
"Was I?" He sounds amused now. He laughs the most when he's around Sirius, but you're a close second, and you'll take it. With you, at least, he's softest. Your hand fumbles for his and he catches it, bringing it to his lips to kiss your palm. Sleepy butterflies erupt in your stomach.
"But you're here now," you say around a yawn, eyes fluttering shut once more.
"Seems so, sweetheart." Part of you remembers your original plan -- it's almost time to eat and you should get up to get that sorted. You tug yourself up but overshoot it and all but careen into Remus's chest. "Woah, there," he chuckles. You hook your chin over his shoulder as his arms surround you. He smells like citrus and something spicy and warm.
"Food," you say, finally attempting to banish the nap-fog for real. "I bet you're had a long day. What do you want to ea--"
"I have had a long day," he interrupts you. "And what I'd like most is a lie down, I think." You tuck your nose into his collar and roll your eyes. Everyone says that Sirius and James get up to the most shit, but you know that Remus is maybe the most mischievous of them all, always convincing people to do things without making it obvious. He has an uncanny ability to lead people in the direction he wants -- but he never leads them astray.
"I see what you're doing," you mumble. "Sneaky bastard." His chest rumbles as he laughs.
"What, pray tell, am I doing?" He pulls away from you, hands on your shoulders to get a good look at you. This close, you can see the beginnings of stubble on his cheeks, the swirling storm of his eyes as he looks at you. Your lips part and he smirks just a little before leaning in to kiss you chastely. It's soft, the press of his lips barely there, but you lean into him all the same until he pulls back. He swipes his thumb over the soft skin of your under eye before tapping your chin as if asking his question again.
"You know what," you breathe. You lick your lips.
Remus starts to maneuver you so that you can both fit on the couch. You let him. "Maybe I just came home and saw the most beautiful girl in the world on my couch and decided that I'd rather lie down next to her than do anything else."
"Flattery, Lupin," you tell him, "does not work on me." The hammering of your heart from one small peck says otherwise, but you ignore it. He situates himself on his back and tugs you over him, tangling your legs together and resting your head over his heartbeat. It's steady and sure, even when you snake your hand underneath his shirt. Unflappable, your boyfriend is.
"We both know that's not true." He's right. A single compliment, his hand in yours, even a glance from Remus across the room is enough to sent your own heart into a riot. It's terribly annoying and the boys tease you about it constantly.
Remus sighs and you rise and fall with the breath. "We do need to eat," you say into his chest. His hand trails through your hair, just like in your dream, and you feel his lips on your crown for just a moment.
"Later," he whispers. "I'll cook. Go back to sleep." You want to protest just to be difficult but you can barely keep your eyes open. His gentle touch, the beat of his heart, the steadiness of his breath all lull you back toward dreams, even if the best one is right here in front of you.