The News

The first time James said he was going to marry Lily Evans nobody believed him, after all he was only 11 years old, and in the following years everyone watched him being rejected by her. But at age 15 something changed and they started dating. They were the “perfect couple”, the school athlete and the student council president. And no one else doubted that they would marry one day.

So, after years of back and forth and a year of engagement, they finally set a wedding date. In 4 months, on the 15th of May, James Potter was going to marry the one he believed to be the love of his life.

Sirius never doubted James and his love. Because James Potter knew what love is better than anyone, he grew up with love and came from love. So he was happy for his best friend when he showed up at his apartment earlier to break the news.

Hours later, everyone gathered in the apartment, drinking and celebrating that they had finally set the date for the wedding, which was now more than official. And no one doubts that it was going to be a perfect wedding at the beginning of the summer.

Lily was telling her that she was probably going to marry in the same dress as her mother when the doorbell first rang, but no one heard. The music was loud and everyone was talking at once; the doorbell rang a second time, but they were all there, it wasn't important.

When the doorbell rang again and again, Remus went to open the door and was surprised at who he found.

“Barty Crouch Jr. Well, who is alive always shows up, right?``Of all the people who could show up that night, he never thought he would be his brother-in-law's best friend.

By the age of 20, at the start of college, they were all friends. With James dating Regulus, groups of friends always end up meeting together at parties. Once they really got to know each other, all that high school rivalry was over, and Remus was surprised at how much he, Evan, Regulus, and Pandora had in common. And after the couple broke up, the group also drifted apart.

Barty could hear the loud voices in the background, the laughter and the music. Apparently he picked the wrong night. He even thought about leaving and coming back another day but he was already here so he would go through with the scheme he and Pandora had planned.

“Lupin, how are you? Is Black there?" Even after all these years, Remus still hadn't gotten used to the cordiality of the wealthy London families that Sirius and James were a part of.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking Crouch!" Opening the door wider, Remus allowed Barty into the apartment he shared with Sirius. "Pads, it's for you!" he yelled for his boyfriend.

When Sirius appeared he had a bottle of beer in his hand, he wasn't drunk enough to not understand what that visit meant. So when he saw his brother's best friend at his door, his first thought was that there was something wrong with his brother.

“Is it Regulus? He is fine?`` At this point he was already worried. Sirius hadn't seen his brother in almost 3 years, they only spoke on the phone or a few emails, and Regulus wasn't very active on social media for him to know what his brother was doing either.

“Can we talk?” You could always find a hint of sarcasm in Barty or a mocking smile, never knowing when he was being serious or not, but somehow this time Sirius knew it was something important.

“Come, let's go to the kitchen"

Going further into the apartment Barty could see who was there, and this really wasn't a good night for him to come to talk.

"Looks like I came at a bad time, good night everyone, what are we celebrating?"

“Crouch, what are you doing here?” Of course, Potter had to be the first to speak, he thought.

Barty hated James. In high school, he believed Potter was just a brainless, muscular idiot. When he and Regulus were lovers at the time, it was a hidden thing, they were 15 years old, they were teenagers discovering each other. That's when Potter and Black started pestering Regulus to run away from home and move in with the Potters like his older brother had done a year earlier. That's when James came into Regulus' life.

"James and Lily set the wedding date, May 15th" replied a slightly drunk Mary Macdonald; at the same time as Evans scolded her "Mary!?"

Barty laughed, chuckled. Not in a happy way, but as if it was a joke. Everyone was looking at him, surprised by that reaction. Lily was surprised. Mary smiling drunk. Alice, Frank and Peter looking at him without understanding a thing and James with angry

“What the fuck are you…" James began before being interrupted.

"Life's a fucking bitch" God I need a drink, thought Barty still laughing. "Of course you guys are going to be a happy couple now. Congratulations. Really.”

“Are you kidding me?! What are you even doing here?” asked Potter, already getting up from the sofa he was sitting on next to Evans.

"Come on Crouch, I told you to go to the kitchen in case you don't remember" at that moment Sirius, annoyed, was already pulling him towards the kitchen.

"Want to know? I'm leaving, I won't spoil your night”

"More than you already did?" asked Potter following them

"James, no!" scolded Lupine also next to them

"Are you here already, tell me what's going on?" always the impatience of the Blacks.

"No. I'm leaving, but I still want to talk to you, preferably alone. I passed a coffee shop on the way from here, a couple of blocks away, next to the sign, do you know where it is?" They were all together in the kitchen now Barty, Black, Lupine and Potter.

"I know which one it is. But can you end it soon and tell me what happened? Is Regulus okay?” asked Sirius again, now irritated and impatient. After all, he never liked Crouch Jr anyway.

"Reggie?! What happened to him?" Now all of James' anger was replaced by worry as he looked at Barty.

"Oh. I see you still remember him Potter" this time it was Barty who got irritated and angry. Who does James Potter think he is for after all? Have these years shown any concern for Regulus?" He's alive, if that's what you want to know" at least for now, he thought.

"What the fuck is that answer? Where's my brother? What are you doing here? ” asked Sirius wanting to go after Barty but being grabbed by Lupin

" Meet tomorrow at the coffee shop at 10 am, and don't even try to call Regulus now or I won't come tomorrow." Barty ended up quickly walking out of the apartment without allowing further inquiries.

“Crouch waits!” Lupin, still apprehensive, follows him to the elevator "He's fine, isn't he?"

Entering the elevator Barty paused for a moment thinking about how to respond. "He's fine now" and then the elevator door closed.

----------------

In front of the building, inside a car was Evan Rosier waiting for her husband. It was a mission. While Barty and Evan came and talked to Sirius, Pandora and Dorcas stayed with Regulus preparing food for a movie night. They'd meet up later, with the excuse that they'd had dinner with Barty's mom, but they'd make it in time for the second movie.

Or not.

It hadn't even been 20 minutes since Evan had been waiting when he was startled by Barty trying to get into the car. "What happened, have you talked to him yet?"

"He guesses?!" tried Barty with an unbelievable expression. “James Potter is getting married in 4 months. Isn't it wonderful?”

"WHAT?"

“The motherfucker even had the audacity to ask about Reg” side by side in the car, they both didn't know how to react. Both were frustrated, angry, sad and afraid.

“Is it with Evans?”

"What do you think?" Taking a deep breath and watching the movement down the street, Barty knew that news would hurt Reg. "Let's go, I made an appointment with Sirius at the cafeteria tomorrow and you're going with me this time" he said looking at his husband.

On his side, Rosier was still processing the information. Regulus left James 3 years ago. He spent a week locked in his apartment crying while his friends stayed with him trying to figure out what went wrong. They didn't understand at the time and it took years for them to really know why. But they know that to this day Regulus still loves Potter and that this news would confirm all of his friend's insecurities.

_______________

When Barty opened the kitchen door he found, again that night, laughter and loud music. Dorcas and Pandora were dancing in the kitchen and Regulus was on the stove cooking something smiling.

“What happened to dinner?” When Pandora saw him and Evan at the door, she immediately stopped dancing. She knew the plan had failed.

“It was canceled at the last minute. What are we going to have for dinner?" replied Rosier calmly as he walked towards Regulus. At the same time, Barty, Dorcas and Pandora had an entire conversation just looking at each other.

“Fettuccine, Dorcas's choice” Regulus replied, concentrating on preparing the dough. "Thank God you guys arrived, they were going to make me watch Twilight again"

"You talk like you don't like it, but everyone here knows here that you built your personality just like Edward" Pandora said as she left the kitchen making the boys laugh .

"That's not true, I didn't even like him, I preferred Jacob"

"That's a bad thing to lie Reg, you even made us act out that scene of them in the…." the sentence was interrupted when Barty was hit by a roll of paper. "Ouch"

"I've always been Team Jacob" Rosier replied as he picked up the dishes to set the table for dinner. "You know, the whole thing about him being strong and hot and muscular and.."

"And yet you married Barty" said Dorcas from across the counter next to Crouch.

“Because I'm irresistible! And they may even prefer Jacob but it was me they stayed with” Evan and Regulus rolled their eyes

“I was Team Edward” said Pandora reappearing with a bottle of wine.

“Okay, dinner is ready. Rosier stops talking and goes to set the table, Barty helps him. Dorcas will turn the music down and Pandora will help me carry the food.” Regulus liked to command and somehow managed to make everyone obey him.

“Okay boss” they replied.

It had been a week since everyone was in town. When college ended two years ago, everyone went in search of what they wanted. Dorcas came from Italy and Pandora from Spain. Evan and Barty were in France. They hadn't seen each other in 6 months, so they still had a lot of news to share.

Pandora met a guy who travels the world in exchange for work, so she ended up in Spain much to the Malfoys' likely dismay. Dorcas was working at a fashion magazine while trying to learn for her own clothing line. When Barty and Rosier finished college they were soon married and to everyone's surprise they opened a community law firm in London.

When Regulus broke up with James years ago, it was the end of his college semester. He left and didn't come back for the next semester, staying a year away from London, and when he came back no one knew. He finished college and was going to graduate alone, he didn't want anyone there but somehow Rosier knew so they all showed up on the day of the ceremony. To this day Sirius does not know this.

Years ago, when everyone was 14 except Dorcas who was 15, after they smoked a joint for the first time and high and shared their worst secrets they promised each other eternal friendships with the excuse of "you know too much about me to go free for there". So they were stuck with each other no matter what. And so, at the worst time for Regulus they came back.

“I vote for us to watch The Nun,” Barty said at the end of dinner after Pandora talked about all the animals at the zoo she worked for.

"Me too" replied Rosier, agreeing with her husband, both knew that this was one of Regulus' favorite films.

"That doesn't count, you always vote together" Pandora countered with false indignation

“It's three against two, let's see The Nun” Regulus immediately said “We can watch Twilight later.” Yes, he really liked the movie.

Later, as they prepare to start the second movie with Reg and Evan in the kitchen, Barty is finally able to tell the girls what happened in Sirius' apartment.

"Oh" Pandora knew Regulus would suffer when he heard the news. They all knew. And unlike the others who were rooting for their friend to move on, she knew he just needed time and now that he was ready, time was up.

"Do you need us to go with you?" Dorcas asked.

“No, I'm going to talk to him, but I don't know what it's going to be like afterwards” for Barty, that was the main problem.

They didn't know what the next few months would be like.

---------------------------

Sirius and Regulus had a complicated relationship. Raised by conservative and strict parents, both boys had to follow the rules and that was one thing Sirius never liked. The first beating Sirius remembers getting was when he was 7 years old and it was because he climbed a tree at his aunt and uncle's house. His father belted him as soon as they got home; and later he found out that it was Regulus who called his parents when he saw his brother in the tree. He remembers being angry with his brother at the time and not wanting to play with him anymore. Regulus explained that he was only afraid of Sirius getting hurt.

He doesn't have many fond childhood memories. Their parents didn't allow many things, and they were full of activities. Between learning piano, French, dancing, etiquette and school, he didn't have much time to play. However in his fondest memories Regulus was always with him.

Fortresses and castles were built with bed sheets and there was a pillow fight. Regulus' laugh. The mischievous smile when they went to get a piece of pudding from the fridge after midnight. The stories they read before bed. They were superheroes. Him teaching Regulus to ride a bike. Horse racing. The hidden rain showers when your parents weren't around, or even the indoor runs. All when her parents weren't seeing, when they couldn't know.

Because when Walburga and Orion Black learned of their children's antics, they punished them. Locking them in their rooms or closets, no food, no bathroom, hours in dark rooms, spanking and belting. Sirius could bear it all, but it hurt every time he saw his brother being punished too, for him Regulus was so small and fragile, so he always tried to protect his brother by taking the blame for everything, especially after a punishment in which Regulus stayed two days stuck in the attic closet, in the dark, coming out crying and having nightmares every night for a month. He had to protect his little brother, always.

But things changed when he turned 11. He went to a boarding school miles away from his parents. At first he was sad to be away from his brother, but then he made friends and it was perfect. By keeping good grades and not getting caught playing pranks his parents couldn't punish him. He could play, run, laugh and scream without fear of punishment. He never felt so free.

In the first year, he tried to call his brother on the weekends, but he was never home, and when he came home for Christmas, excited to tell him all his news, Regulus didn't even look at his face, didn't play with him. and was trapped inside the room for the entire period. Things only changed over the summer break.

In the second year, even with her brother also in the same boarding school, they couldn't be further apart. Only a year away Sirius could no longer recognize his little brother. Their opinions and their actions couldn't have been more different from each other, and that's when the fights started.

Everything got worse when they were at home. Regulus was his parents' perfect son and Sirius their displeasure. Things took a turn for the worse when he was 15, his parents found out he was gay and sent him to a psychiatric clinic to be cured of the “illness” over the summer. When he came back he tried to keep up the facade that everything was fine, but at Christmas his parents found out he was dating someone from school and they beat him up, that's when Sirius ran away from home, going to live with the Potters.

No one understood Sirius' relationship with James, not even himself. They were more than best friends, more than brothers, and just saying they were soulmates wasn't enough to say what they meant to each other. James meant the world to Sirius, he would die and kill for him, and that was reciprocal. Just as he would do the same thing for Regulus.

So when James and Regulus started dating he didn't know how to react. They couldn't be more different from each other, and Sirius knew that better than anyone. But at the same time, if anyone was going to make Regulus a good person, it would be James. Their two people in the world were making each other happy so it was okay, except if they got hurt in the end.

And when that happened Sirius found himself helpless. Your best friend made your brother cry like a baby. Regulus made James feel inadequate. None of them could say what caused the end. And a week later, Sirius saw James kiss Lily at a party, when the night before he had to help a heartbroken, drunk, crying Regulus. But he couldn't say anything or do anything. Helpless.

A month later her brother left, only receiving messages from him during those years. And now he was here trying to figure out what happened to Crouch to set up this meeting.

____________

When Barty and Evan entered the cafeteria Sirius was already there alone sitting at a table by the window. The couple came all the way trying to rehearse how they would break the news when they didn't even accept it themselves. They sat in front of the older Black and stared at him for a few minutes, until the waitress came to serve them.

"What's the strongest drink you have?" asked Barty. He still didn't know why he was doing this. Regulus even said that he didn't want his brother there.

“Barty, it's too early for this! We'll just have two teas,” Evan replied to the waitress. "We just had breakfast" he said, turning to Sirius.

"If the news is bad you could have booked it at a bar, Crouch. Just a coffee" Sirius replied. When it was just them again he asked "So, you guys will tell me what's going on?"

Silence again.

"Are you already married to Lupin?" Both Evan and Sirius turned their heads to face Barty, that was the last question they expected "What?!"

“Regulus called us a week ago” began Rosier, still not knowing how to break the news “He is living in Hampstead, did you know?”

"No. Last time he contacted him he was living in Italy" Sirius knew his brother had been lying about how he had been these years, but he being fine and calling every now and then was fine. He just didn't want to lose track of with him again.

Evan and Barty knew that Regulus had never lived in Italy, in fact he had been living in Hampstead for over a year. The house was beautiful, with enough room for all his friends, and with a garden that would make Narcissa Malfoy jealous.

"He's sick" blurted out Barty after his orders arrived

"BARTY!!" That's not how Evan wanted to break the news. Now Sirius was looking at them with a worried and at the same time scared look.

Sirius felt all his breath coming out of him. "What's wrong with him? Is it serious? Where is he?" With a sinking heart and short of breath, he inquired about his brother, wanting to see him as soon as possible. Hampstead is two hours away from where he lives, why didn't Regulus call him?

“Like I was saying, Reg called us a week ago.” Taking a breath Evan continued, “And yes, it's serious Sirius and he can't go through this alone, we think you should be there with him too. We're all living with him, Pandora and Dorcas are with him now"

"He's been diagnosed with cancer" continued Barty "It's in an advanced stage, the treatment is going to be difficult and the doctors asked him to go with someone, so he called us"

" He says he doesn't want you there. Not now at least” Barty and Evan exchanged sad looks “But we think you should be with him. Does he love you, do you know?”

“He doesn't know we're here, obviously. And well, the first session is on Thursday, we had to talk to you first, so..”

“Session?” sirius asked, still confused. He was numb, lost, out of breath, out of strength.
"Where is he now? I want to see him" he needs to see Regulus now just like he needed air again "Now"

"We can take you there"

___________________

Regulus' house didn't have high walls. There was no wall actually, it was a live deer, he could hardly see the front of the house with so many plants, flowers and trees. After a two-hour drive over listening to Crouch talk about his wedding, to Sirius' surprise, he arrived at his brother's house. His first thought was of James, he remembered one day listening to his brother and best friend planning what their future home would be like.

"Again, Reggie doesn't know we came after you, so try to take it easy when you see him, okay?" Rosier warned, looking at Sirius before getting out of the car.

It was a two-story house, looking from the outside, with several windows, it was red brick. Sirius could imagine a happy family living there. He followed Rosier, who took the driveway to the side. At the back of the house there were more colorful flowers, a tree that covered most of the backyard and a vegetable garden.

Before entering the kitchen, he found a black cat standing in the doorway, which he took by the arms and petted. "Hello Icarus, it's been a long time isn't it friend?!"

“Heyyy, we’re here!” shouted Crouch as he grabbed an apple from the table.

"Pandora and Dorcas left to..." Regulus stood at the kitchen door as soon as he saw his brother "What are you doing here?"

His hair was bigger, Sirius noticed, now the curls were down to his chin, but he was thinner and wearing baggy clothes didn't help much. When did Regulus start wearing baggy clothes? he thought. He looks fine, there's no way he could be sick. He can't be sick.

” I missed you too little brother.” It was true. Regulus might even tell him to fuck off now that he would laugh, even that he missed. And he didn't know why, maybe from the news he received hours ago, or it was the fear of losing his brother, but when Sirius saw him he was already hugging his brother.

Regulus didn't like hugs. Except for a few people, his brother was one of them, still, he counted the seconds for the hug to end, five seconds “ok, that's enough, leave!”

Sirius' hair was longer, past his shoulders. He had a beard now, at least the project of one. He seemed to be fine. He was smiling, he was happy, and Regulus felt his chest heat up at the idea of his brother being like that because of him.

Looking at each other, neither of them knew where to start. Sirius had so many questions and Regulus wasn't prepared for any of them. He didn't want his brother there, not now, it was too soon.

Looking away, Regulus found Barty and Evan still in the kitchen, looking at them expectantly. traitors. “What did you tell him?” asked angrily

"Do you remember a year ago when we had a car accident in France?"

"DID YOU HAVE A CAR ACCIDENT?!" Sirius' smile died as he stared at his frightened brother.

"You've been calling out to Sirius the whole time" Evan continued, looking calmly at his friend "You want him here Reggie. You know that"

"You didn't have that right"

"Reggie" tried Barty approaching

"LEAVE. NOW" Breathe out, breathe in.

Now it was just the two brothers in the kitchen, and the silence. Sirius remembered when they had gotten over that phase years ago.

"What exactly did they tell you?" Regulus was shaking now, with anger and fear. He still hadn't moved away from the door, it was only when Icarus started to meow between the two brothers, drawing attention, that he moved into the kitchen to get the cat food.

“Cancer. First session on Thursday" Sirius was now watching his brother standing by the sink, looking out at the garden.

"You don't have to go. There's no reason to be here.” Lies, maybe not.

When the test results came out earlier this month and Dr. Pomfrey said the treatment would be so aggressive that he would need a chaperone, the first person he thought of was Sirius. Regulus knew his brother wouldn't treat him differently because of the illness he wouldn't feel sorry for. But he also knew that Sirius had always felt a sense of duty towards him, that he felt obligated to protect his little brother, which never ended well.

"So it is true?" Sirius didn't want to believe it. Your brother can't be sick. "What do you need?"

Breathless. Afraid. Creeped out. Both of them

Sirius might not have known the gravity of the problem, but he would do anything for his brother.

Regulus has been through this once. Two actually, one when he came home from the hospital after the doctors told him everything and the other when he had to tell his friends. But it never looked as serious as it did now as he faced his brother. The feeling of loss, of being alone, of uncertainty, and the urge to cry.

“What do you think you can do?”

"Regulus, I'm your brother, tell me what you want to do and I'll do it"

"Nothing, there's nothing we can do" Regulus started to say as he sat facing his brother at the table. “It all started with a red spot near the rib, it was small at first and then it got bigger and darker. When I went to the doctor, they started asking me how long I had it, if it was always this big, if anyone in the family had it, they asked me for some tests and then after two days I had the diagnosis: metastatic melanoma (stage IV), that spread to the lung. It's going to take chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions to reduce the cancer cells as much as possible so I can get on the transplant list, my lung is the one that's most compromised”

Everything and nothing went through Sirius' mind at the same time. He remembered the time Regulus fell down the stairs at his uncle's house, he was 13 years old at the time, he had a cut on his head and was unconscious for half an hour, it took 10 stitches in the fracture, and there was blood, more blood than the two brothers had seen at that age. They've never liked blood, it's too red, it stains so much it doesn't come off, it sticks to the skin, it has a horrible smell and it's impossible to forget. Sirius was never as scared as he was that day, except for today.

"What are….are the chances of a cure?" Sirius was already choking with tears, but he wasn't going to cry. If her brother was being strong about it, so would he.

Regulus looked at him seriously, Sirius couldn't tell what he was feeling. "5%"

Damn. Fuck. Fuck. He couldn't breathe now.

He got up from his chair and walked away from his brother. His hands went over his face and tugged at his hair. This couldn't be happening, not with your little brother. "Have you ever been to see another doctor, a second opinion?"

"I'm already feeling the symptoms Sirius, I saw the exams, I believe them" Regulus' voice was calm, in contrast to all Sirius' despair.

"Why didn't you call me as soon as you found out? Why didn't you tell me you lived in London all this time? What the fuck Reg!"

Anger.

Regulus laughed. This was the attitude he had hoped for at the end of it all. Fighting was normal between them. He couldn't let Sirius get out of here without an argument.

Still sitting with the cat now on his lap, he replied "I didn't want to see you, I'd be in contact soon but I wasn't ready yet"

"Why? What did I do?" It hurt Sirius to hear that. In fact he had been in pain since early this morning.

"It's funny how you're my brother and everyone says we look like twins, but I look at you and all I can remember is him"

"Is that why you left without talking to me, because of James?" This irritated Sirius.

"Yes and no, I wasn't fine Sirius" Regulus laughed, with the irony "Well, I was healthy, but I was fucked in the head, I just needed to leave"

"You could have told me. I could have helped. what did you have?"

"Maybe, but I couldn't look at you without remembering him"

They stared at each other. Regulus was still petting the cat while Sirius watched. What would happen now? What would you do?

"I'll come with you on Thursday"

"Fine. But you don't have to, you know?"

"I want"

Silence

__________________

Regulus and Sirius had a complicated relationship. Regulus loved his brother, and for many years it was just the two of them. Sirius cared for and protected him like he was something precious, and he would be lying if he said he didn't like it. They were just kids growing up alone without their parents' affection. But he had Sirius' affection and love and that was enough.

Until he has no more.

He still remembers waiting for Sirius' calls all weekend, after all his brother promised he would. But during his first year Sirius never called. And things got sad at home. He didn't have anyone else, his parents were never present, his cousins were also at school, and the day he asked his father to play chess with him, his mother grounded him without dinner.

He had a lot of punishment that lonely year. It was the year he stopped being afraid of the dark after being stuck in the closet so many times. He never told Sirius, but he resented his brother for not being there with him, after all Sirius had promised.

At Christmas when his brother returned, Regulus wanted to get back and ignored his brother the entire time, although he missed him badly. But things got worse and it was Sirius who got mad at him.

The following summer, Sirius showed up in his room in the middle of the night with a piece of pudding. It was the first week of vacation. Regulus was still upset with him for not coming at Easter break. They stayed up late talking about school and her brother's new friends.

It was the first time that Regulus felt jealous. The first time he felt he was losing his brother. James Potter's name was in every sentence. "He's my best friend" Sirius said. "But I'm his brother, I'm more important" was what Regulus thought that night. And for the rest of the summer they were fine.

Until classes returned and this time Regulus would be in his first year. And Sirius promised he would be there for his brother, whatever he needed. Except he didn't.

The very first day he met the famous Potter, and he hated the boy. He laughed a lot, he was always smiling and singing jokes, he talked to everyone and hugged everyone.

"Hi, I'm James, you're Reggie aren't you? Sirius told me a lot about you" still smiling.

"It's Regulus for you"

Sirius didn't stay to help him when he found out he was in different dorms. But that's okay, they could meet during classes, right? Not. Sirius didn't have time for him, being too busy with his best friends and becoming the most popular in school.

In the following years things did not improve. Sirius didn't approve of Regulus' friends saying they were a bunch of bourgeois bastards and they also argued all the time because Sirius believed he had become just like his parents when in fact it was just self-preservation. Sirius never understood this

His brother was always ready to rebut every argument his parents had. When Walburga screamed Sirius screamed louder. When she knocked, he laughed. When Orion took Sirus to the company they always came back angrily. Regulus never understood Sirius' need to disobey his parents, so he just watched.

So during their teens they weren't such friends anymore, maybe Sirius even hated him. When they spoke it was just the basics with each other, and on vacation, Sirius would always go over to James' house. Until at the age of 16 he left home.

Regulus understood why his brother needed to leave, and that later on he would need to have the same attitude since he was dating Barty. So when Sirius tried to approach him again he wasn't reluctant, but it allowed James into his life as well.

____________________

Sirius stayed for lunch. Regulus was preparing the food. Barty and Evan hadn't shown up yet, and Pandora and Dorcas still hadn't returned from downtown.

“So how did you end up here?” Sirius was chopping some vegetables next to his brother.

“hmm.. i wanted to go back to london but not to the center, and the first time i saw the house i liked it and bought it” It was simple indeed, Regulus felt the family feeling as soon as he saw the house.

"Does anyone in the family know you're back?"

"No" He left home at 18, he didn't scream like Sirius, he packed his bags and left for midnight. It was the end of the Black family, his two gay sons. His parents threatened him when they found out, he would lose his inheritance and all the perks that went along with the surname, but he kept his choice.

"Narcissa contacted me once, she got married, did you know?" When he was disinherited, Narcissa was the only one who kept in touch. It was hidden, but they met once a week for brunch.

"She sent me the invite, but I wasn't in town at the time." Cooking with Sirius reminded him of the time they lived with her brother at the beginning of college. "How's Lupin doing?"

“Well, we still live together. He works as a literature teacher now.” He knew that Lupine loved Sirius before his brother even knew it. The couple only got together when they were 19 years old, when no one else could stand the atmosphere that existed between them. "By the way, we could talk to Peter, he might be able to refer someone," Sirius continued.

“NO” He said loud and clear, immediately stopping cooking “You are not going to tell him anything, understand?” Regulus stared at Sirius "I don't want anyone to know, if you want to be a part of this, you won't tell Lupin, Pettigrew or… not James"

"They worry about you too, you know? They were there when Barty came to visit. What do you want me to say?! And Monny?! I can't hide anything from him and you know it”

“I don't care” trying to keep calm Regulus turned to his brother “Sirius I don't want… I don't want them to feel sorry”

“Pity?! Reg they love you and will do everything they can to help you”

“Please don't!” frowning Regulus stared at his brother making the request.

Sirius huffed and turned away, going back to chopping the vegetables at the same time Pandora and Dorcas entered the back of the kitchen and immediately realized that the mood was not good between the brothers.

"Well, at least no one died" joking Docas tried to lighten the mood while looking at Pandora for help.

“Maybe in a few months” Regulus had always liked morbid jokes, and now he could play with his own situation.

"Reggie, this isn't funny!" scolded Pandora as she walked towards Sirius for a hug "Hi Sirius, how long? How's Lupin doing?"

"Hey, um...he's fine, he's become a teacher" he waved at Dorcas.

Regulus never understood how he became friends with Pandora. In fact he still remembers her on the first day of school, with her school clothes all stained and paint on her hair. No one approached her, and in the last class when they had to say what they wanted to be in the future, in a class where everyone wanted to be politicians, doctors or lawyers, Pandora said she wanted to see the world.

But he soon discovered how focused and insightful he can be. One day while looking at his brother from afar, she came close to Regulus and told him that he need not be afraid or angry with his brother. After that they ended up meeting in the library several times until they started studying together. She likes to ask questions, and she asks you questions looking deep into your eyes, her voice is sweet and she also has a cute smile so you can't help but fall into her conversation

“We don’t need to be married to know it's real l. I love him like I did the first day or maybe more and he loves me, we don't feel the need for marriage” Sirius replied about Lupin when Pandora asked. “What's your problem with marriage? Crouch asked me the same thing as soon as he could.”

“By that time, everyone expected you to be married. How long are you together? Eight or nine years?” Asked Dorcas

“Six actually, it wasn’t even that long ago”

“If you take into account how long they were pining for each other, it’s 10 years”

“You should get married, you never know when you’re going to have a terminal illness that can get in the way everything” Said Regulus finishing setting the table for lunch “I'll call the two idiots, wait a minute”

Sirius, Pandora and Dorcas exchanged glances as he left, in a brief moment they had forgotten why they were all there.

“He told you then?" started Pandora looking at Sirius "Are you going on Thursday?"

"He told me, and yes I will" Sirius was sad again. The atmosphere in the kitchen became heavy. "He's so calm, how is that possible?!"

"He had more time to digest the information than we did," Dorcas replied

"He needed you here, you still resent each other so much." Sirius had no idea how Pandora knew that.

It was ironic for Regulus to see his brother along with his friends, he still remembers when Sirius hated Barty and Evan, saying they were bad influences and stuff, not that he believes his brother likes them now.

“Last I knew you were a police investigator, is it still?” They were all around the table now, still asking Sirius about his life.

"Yes, James and I work together" replied Sirius looking at his brother.

“Of course you would be together right? The dynamic duo" snorted Barty.

Like Pandora, Barty understood Regulus better than anyone, even better than Sirius. He never asked why Regulus broke up with James, but on those crying nights he asked Regulus if they would hate James now. And ever since that day, maybe before, they've hated him.

Sirius spent the afternoon at his brother's house, discovering that Regulus is now a writer for a renowned best seller, or would be if he didn't use a pseudonym

”Seriously you won't tell me the name of your book?” He asked

"No, you are Sirius and I'm Regulus" They were heading out to the front of the house when Regulus said this, catching his brother's attention. When Sirius looked at him he was chuckling in disbelief at the same time astonished as if looking at his brother for the first time.

And that's exactly what Sirius felt, as if the one in front of him was his 7 year old little brother, the first one to make this joke. He felt close to his brother for the first time in years.

___________________

Sirius came home in the early evening. Remus was on the couch reading a book. They hadn't spoken all day.

"Hey" Remus thought himself quite perceptive, during his teenage years as he lusted after Sirius learned to read all his moods. And while seeing his boyfriend walking to stand beside him on the couch, he realized that Sirius was lost, not only in thought, but as if his entire world had been taken away from him.

Turning to his boyfriend, Sirius stared at him and pulling in his breath he started crying in his arms. The last time Sirius cried was when he ran away from home, Remus remembered.

"Shiu, it's okay, calm down" Remus ran his fingers through his hair of Sirius petting "It's ok" he continued whispering.

Sirius lay on his boyfriend's lap for a while after he stopped crying, receiving affection he didn't know how to tell his boyfriend. "Is Regulus okay?"

Silence.

"Do you want me to call James?"

"No"