Chapter 13
It's flu season, a.k.a the most feared period of the year for anyone raising small children. Regulus had suspected that once Harry started attending that damned muggle preschool, that also meant he would start coming home with all kinds of ailments. Turns out he wasn't wrong.
He walks into the living room, still holding the thermometer he'd used to take Harry's temperature a minute ago. 38.2°C it reads. His fever had been rather high since yesterday evening, and even though Regulus tries hard to not freak out, he had to admit he was feeling rather anxious.
James joins him after giving their son a pain potion. A warm hand lands on Regulus' shoulder, followed by a gentle squeeze. "He's settled down again." James says. "He'll be fine, love. Kids are quick to catch things, but they're pretty damn resilient too."
Regulus hums and looks up at his husband, directing him a half-hearted smile. "I told Sirius not to come over." He informs him. His brother had desperately wanted to see 'his sick boy' to comfort him, but Regulus had told him no. Maybe in a few days. "And then I told Remus to tell Sirius not to come over... He usually listens to him."
James grins.
"It's rather difficult to not listen to Remus. He's got that natural kind of authority... You know what I mean?"
Regulus' smile becomes a little more genuine as he nods in agreement. He does know what James means. He also knows what he was trying to do.
"You're doing the thing."
"Hmm?"
"The thing where you bring up unrelated stuff to keep me from ruminating." He puts the thermometer on the table. They'll need it again later. James grins and takes a step closer, pressing a warm kiss to cheek.
"Is it working?"
Regulus rolls his eyes. "A little..."
James chuckles against his skin. "Great..."
Then, one of his hands finds Regulus', and before he can protest he's being pulled towards their sofa. "Let's watch a movie." James suggests. "We'll check up on him again halfway through."
Regulus allows him to drag him along and soon finds himself snuggled up against his husband's chest. Like Remus, James is difficult to disobey. Not because he too possesses that natural kind of authority... More because Regulus knows that whatever he says or does, he's always trying to do what's best for him.
And how could anyone possibly argue with that?