Remus heard a thud outside his front door. The school year hadn't ended yet, but he had quit early, he couldn't risk any more students lives like he had on that faithful night a month ago. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to live with himself if he woke up that next morning, exhausted from the full moon the previous night, only to find out he had killed the son of his best friend.
Shaking nervously, Remus turned towards the door. A second later, there was a knock followed by an all to familiar sounding voice;
"Moony? Moony open this door! Remus! Remus please don't leave me out here it's raining and I'm cold!" The voice whined. With a sad smile he raced to the door, threw it open, and took the escaped criminal in his arms.
"Sirius what are you doing here?" He whispered, pulling padfoot out of the rain and into his home. He heard a squawk from a few feet away and looked to find Buckbeak, Hagrid's hippogriff that mysteriously disappeared at the same time as Sirius.
"I don't suppose you have a place for him do you?" Sirius whispered. Remus nodded, tugged on his cloak, and pulled Buckbeak into the shed where he usually spent his full moons.
He came back in to find Sirius standing there, still dripping wet, presumably because he had been flying for hours in the storm. Remus smiled at the sight, "you smell like a wet dog" he joked weakly.
Sirius ran at him and pulled him back into a hug. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry I should've seen Peter for the rat he is, I knew he was always a git I shouldn't've gone with the idea I-" he sobbed.
Remus stroked his hair gently and hushed him, "it's ok. None of us had seen it coming, you were trying to help, it's ok." Then, Remus closed his eyes and pressed his lips to Sirius's forehead. He hadn't done that in so long. Not since the night before he was arrested for murder. Remus hated to admit it to himself, but he still truly loved the man that was now sobbing in his arms. He remembered the day that he found out... Lilly and James dead, little Harry being sent to live with Muggles made Remus's blood boil. He knew those particular muggles were awful people and to have Harry live with them of all people. He volunteered to take Harry in, but Dumbledore went on about not wanting Harry to grow up around fame, and turned Remus down.
Then there was the news of who ratted them out. Sirius.
"No, I know Sirius he would never do such a thing! Dumbledore how could you let this happen? Sirius was loyal to you he would've never done something like this! Especially when James was involved. How could you let this happen? Don't let them take him away from me!" Remus had pleaded when he heard the news. Dumbledore gave him one of those sad smiles that he assumed would fix everything. It only added to Remus's anger.
"Remus... Remus did you ever believe the stories?" Sirius asked desperately.
"I agreed with everyone when they mentioned you were a killer, but I always knew otherwise. I was a coward and I should've fought harder to get you out Sirius would you forgive me-"
He was cut off as Sirius grabbed his neck and pulled him down into a kiss, it was deep and there was a sense of tension and longing. It had been twelve years too late, and Remus found himself wishing he could savor it.
"Come with me?" Sirius asked when they finally broke apart. His eyes had tears in them and Remus almost complied, but he shook his head quickly, wrapping his hands around Sirius's waist.
"You know I can't with my... condition. Travel would be difficult, I can't slow you down like that."
Sirius stood up on tiptoes and kissed Remus's cheek gently. "I don't care. I love you and I can't risk losing you. I don't want to leave you behind."
"So don't." Remus replied, pulling Sirius against his chest. "Stay here. Live with me. It'll be like old times."
Sirius smiled longingly at the idea, but pulled away. "I can't stay in one place, I don't want to be found and if they find me they find you and then you could get caught."
Remus took Sirius's hands gently. "I can keep us hidden enough. But I need you, Harry needs you, and he can't get that if you're off who knows where. Please... stay?"
Sirius stepped back, thinking for a moment. He looked up at Remus and rushed back into his embrace, longing for the love he had missed out on for 12 long years, longing for that feeling that he belonged somewhere. He kissed Remus again, rougher than the first time. Somehow more desperate. He needed this. They both did.
"Stay with me?" Remus asked again. This time, Sirius nodded eagerly.