This was wrong. James should have been celebrating the first Halloween of his son's life with his wife, happily decorating and partying with his friends, a beautifully perfect family... or even better, in a universe where Reggie was sitting with an alive James, playing with his hair. There would be a party the room would be alive and warm with love it would be joyus. Remus and Sirius would be laughing and celebrating their engagement, with Regulus as the best man. The Rosiers would be there, Pandora and her new daughter Luna, and Evan and Barty being their normal insufferable, lovable selves. Marlene would be with Dorcas, and Lily would be there with someone else, perhaps Mary, as they had a fling once. Yes, this would be the perfect universe.
But this is real life, and Regulus had to let James go. He had made his choice and would live to regret it. "Goodbye, Potter. I will forever love you." He gently kissed James's forehead before slowly letting go of the boy he had loved for years, letting his tears fall onto James's face.
"Evans, are you alright? Please be alright," he said, trying to cling to his last bit of sanity. He saw the nursery. "Oh, no, no, no." He rarely cursed, but seeing Lily Evans lying there, still as James, her green eyes piercing into him.
He looked around, avoiding her eyes, and found a little table with a pumpkin costume on it. Was this for Harry? Was she about to put on Harry's first Halloween costume before it was all ruined?
"Why this? Why now?" he groaned. Then he heard a sound coming from the little wooden crib next to the table.
Harry.
Harry was alive, asleep but alive, with a scar on his face in the shape of a lightning bolt that stretched and broke off, covering a good half of his face. It reminded Regulus of Remus.
"Hi, Harry. You don't know me, but I caused this. I'm sorry," tears silently streamed down his face as he reached out his hand. Maybe if he had never left James, things would be alright now. Maybe if he had prayed harder, he would have learned Voldemort's plan and could have stopped this mess, this twisted-up mess.
Reg sighed and walked away. Sirius would be here soon to collect Harry; after all, Sirius was probably his godfather.
As Reg walked out the door, he saw a ginger cat run out. James had never seemed much of the cat type.
"Sirius," he gasped, eyes watery. He saw his older brother get off the motorcycle, with Remus sitting on the back.
"Reg, what are you—" Sirius was cut off. Regulus was sobbing as he ran over and grabbed his brother.
"Sirius, Sirius, they're gone. I'm sorry. It was Peter. Sirius, James and Lily, they're dead. Sirius, please," he sobbed into his brother. "And is Harry?" he winced.
"He's alive," Regulus sobbed. Sirius was crying too at this point. "I missed you. I'm sorry for everything," Regulus continued.
"I know. I'm sorry too," Sirius hugged him back. The two stood there sobbing for a moment.
"Dear, should we retrieve Harry?" Remus interrupted, lightly touching Sirius's back.
"Yeah, you're right, Moony," Sirius wiped his tears.
"Reg?" Sirius asked. "Yeah," Regulus looked up, still shaking. "Call me sometime or drop by, please," he said, trying not to sound desperate. "Yeah, I will." Reg tried to smile, but that would hurt too much in this moment.
After Remus and Sirius left with baby Harry, Regulus stood there shivering. It was cold, there was wind in the air, but worst of all, the earth kept spinning while his world was dead.