Chapter 1
“Yeah, I'm calling him right now, baby. Oh! Hey Siri! I’m just calling to ask if you’d be able to come over tonight for dinner?” James excitedly asks.
“Uhm, yeah of course. What time?” Sirius replies, after briefly considering his plans for the rest of the day that only consisted of working on the painting he was commissioned and still had plenty of time before it had to be finished. They had also terribly missed James, even if they had only been separated for two days, and though he would deny it, he also missed his brother Regulus, even with his rude remarks and snarky attitude.
“Oh, umm. Reggie, what time should padfoot come over for dinner?” James' voice distances away as he talks to Regulus, the muffled voice of his brother could be heard in the background. “Oh okay, thanks love. Does 7 work for you, padfoot?”
“Ugh, it’s never not weird to hear you call him that.” He mutters disgusted. “But yeah, that works for me Prongs! I’ll see you then, love you!”
“Yay! Okay! I’ll see you later! Love you too!” James responds happily and hangs up.
Sirius presses resume on his song, tosses it gently to the table next to him and continues to work on his painting. Art has always been an escape for them with the soothing feeling of intuitively putting the paintbrush to the canvas and letting go of perfection, allowing himself to be truly free. Painting has also been one of the only things that allows Sirius to completely ignore the outside world, focusing solely on the flow of paint and drags of the brush. As they paint, time passes by quickly, the shadows on the ground moving backwards and the light from the windows slowly dimming. He moves to clean his brushes and put their paints away, heading to have a shower and get changed before the quick drive to Regulus and James’ house.
Going over to their home has always been a great comfort for Sirius, the warmth and brightness emanating in their house, a complete contrast to Regulus and Sirius’ upbringing. The couches with thick blankets slung over them, the plants on windowsills, Regulus’ current choice of book on the coffee table and the worn-out red converse shoes placed carelessly next to the neatly placed black leather doc martens is so undoubtedly Regulus and James. It made it impossibly easy to fall in love with their house, the familiarity of his two favourite people and the evident abundance of love they have for each other recognizable in every room and in every decoration. When Regulus and James first told Sirius they were dating, they struggled to understand how they would work as they just seemed so contrasting to each other. But now, Sirius couldn’t see a world where they wouldn’t end up with each other as they perfectly balance and uplift one another.
Sirius follows the cobblestone pathway to their doorway, knocking on their door and waiting by the doorstep. “Coming!” James yells distantly, jogging over to the door and opening it with a wide grin. He then proceeds to pull Sirius into an all-consuming bear hug, nearly knocking them over and holding on until Sirius pulls back. “We’ve got so much to tell you! Come in, Reggie is in the kitchen finishing up dinner. How is your painting going Pads?”
“Woah, you’re very excited today, what made you so happy? Yeah, the painting is going well though.” Sirius asks curiously. It was not strange for James to be enthusiastic and passionate about life in general but never really to this extent.
“I’ll tell you soon. I promise! Just need Reg to be here too.” He says, leading Sirius through to the kitchen where Regulus was plating the pasta up. “Hey Reg, when can we tell Sirius? Can we tell him now? Please?”
“Be patient, Mon amour. Wait until dinner and then we can tell him.” He replies, moving to get to grate the cheese onto the pasta.
“Nope! No! James has talked it up so much. I need to know right now! I demand it.” Sirius says eagerly, looking at both of them with an expectant gaze.
James looks to Regulus with pleading eyes, but Regulus has already made up his mind. “No. I’ve just finished up dinner, we are going to go eat at the table like grown-ups and then we can tell him.” James gives him a dejected look, making Regulus sigh. “Sorry, baby, but soon I promise.”
“Fine.” James huffs dramatically, but then grinning so widely again that you couldn’t mistake it as genuine frustration. Sirius just rolls his eyes at them, and proceeds to pick up the plate Regulus pushes towards him and follows Regulus and James to the dinner table.
As soon as they put down their plates, Sirius pipes up again. “Okay, we are at the dinner table. Tell me now before I start guessing. And I can keep the guesses going for a long time. Trust me.” Warning them, they both look to each other, speaking to each other silently. This takes too long for Sirius' lack of patience. “Okay! Good news, what could be the news you got? Promotion? I swear if all this is just because you’ve changed the patio again, I am walking out so quickly. Is it? It is, isn't it? I will leave.” He threatens and then continues to rant. “Or are you getting another cat? Ooh, please say it's that. Don't get me wrong, I love Leo and Nightshade, but I would love another cat around here.”
“Just shut up! We’ll tell you, just please stop.” Regulus gives in, looking to James before continuing. “Do you want to say it, Jamie?”
“Yes, please. The news we’re telling you is so much better than anything you said. You know how we applied to adopt and have been waiting forever until a kid finally gets assigned to us.” James excitedly says. Sirius' mouth gaping slowly as he comes to the realization and Regulus' mouth quirks up into a soft smile gazing at James lovingly. “It finally happened! He is the most beautiful, precious kid I’ve ever seen. His name is Harry, he’s four, has green eyes, loves the colour red and has the cheekiest smile I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing. We only met him once and only had an hour with him, but we love him so much already, more than we even thought possible, but we didn’t want to tell you until we were sure. And now we are! He’s moving in next week completely! You’re an uncle Pads! Aren't you excited?”
They both turn to him, and Sirius is still stuck in a state of shock, blinky slowly until he snaps out of it into the biggest grin that either of them have ever seen on him. Jumping out of his chair to run to hug Regulus and James, smothering them with all the love he can give. “I’m going to be an uncle! You guys are going to be dads! Harry has got to be the luckiest kid to have you guys as parents. I'm so proud of you guys. I just know you guys will be the most amazing dads.”
Everyone in the room was tearing up at this point, as they stayed huddled in a hug all holding onto each other tightly. They break apart, James crying streams of tears at this point. After looking at James, Sirius begins to break into tears as well, Regulus letting a few tears fall as they all take in Sirius' words. “Thank you so much Siri. We couldn’t have done any of this without your support.” Regulus says tearily. “You’re going to be a great uncle too. How could you not?”
This seems to break Sirius’ weeping as the overwhelming happiness turns into panic. “Oh my god! I’m going to be an uncle! I have so much I need to do. What toys does he like? He likes red, I’ll get everything red. What do four-year-old’s need? I need to go; I need to get him everything he could ever want.” They say in a frenzied state, walking towards the front door.
At this point the couple are looking at him with concern, James’ tears having dried up now, they are both following him out and James croaks out, “Are you okay Pads? You don’t need to do that now. We’re going shopping for him tomorrow anyway. You don’t need to do that now.”
Once Sirius gets to the front door, he whips around to both of their confused faces. “I’m okay! I’m so happy for you guys! I’m so excited to have a nephew, guys. I love you both so much! I’m just going to go out and get him a few things…Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.” He nods to himself and then goes towards them pulling Regulus and James into a tight hug again. “Okay! I’ll see you guys later. I’m so happy right now!”
He jogs to his car, not waiting for a response. “You didn't even eat your dinner! Ugh.” Regulus calls out to him exasperated but looks to James fondly with a smile. They pull into each other, James with his arm wrapped around Regulus and Regulus has his hands over James’ waist, James looks down at Regulus with confusion still painted all over his face and Regulus looks up and calms him with a soft shake of his head and a smile that made James smile widely back at him.
As Sirius watched this exchange from the car, he felt himself grow so proud and fond of his little brother and best friend knowing that they will be the perfect parents surrounding their child with all their love. He waves at them, James waves back at him happily and Regulus sticks up his middle finger at him. This also strangely makes Sirius grin, admiring their contrasting personalities. He drives off to the mall in hopes he will find things for Harry, he had no idea what he was looking for, but he just knew that this kid needed to be spoiled by their uncle.