Prologue - Come Back...
Come Back...
"I swear you'll have a great time Reggie," Sirius promises over the phone. "Besides it's only one week, you can sacrifice one measly week for your dear ol' brother."
Regulus is silent as he stares at Pandora wide eyed, asking for help. Pandora giggles and shrugs.
“You should do it,” She mouths.
Some friend she is. Absolutely no help when he needs her. Why does he even keep her around? He scowls at her and sticks out his tongue. She does the same. Rude.
"Reggie? I know you're still there; I can hear your heavy breathing."
"My breathing's not heavy," says Regulus defensively.
"I'm not going to argue because I really want you to come on this retreat," Sirius informs him. "Please Regulus? It's my ten-year anniversary with Moony, we're renewing our vows! It's a momentous occasion!"
"I don't know why you're going to all this trouble. You've already had a wedding Sirius, why do you need another?"
"Because little brother, when you're as madly in love as Remus and I are, you want to celebrate it all the time as much as you can!" Sirius explains passionately.
Regulus rolls his eyes and mumbles how stupid that is. Sirius ignores him and continues.
"Besides, you can spend some much-needed bonding time with your niece!" Sirius is quite delighted by this idea, and that makes it slightly harder for Regulus to say no.
He's also not… wrong. He could use some bonding time with his niece. He likes her a lot which is saying something, considering he hates most kids. Begrudgingly, Regulus gives a heavy sigh knowing he's about to give in. Sirius, a mind reader apparently, cheers loudly on the other side of the phone. Regulus pulls the cell away from his ear wincing.
"I knew you'd come around Reggie, you love me deep down."
"I love my niece," Regulus states.
"Sure, but you love me too," Sirius sing-songs. "You know you dooo."
"Maybe some where deep deep down in the depths of my heart I have a small amount of fondness for you," Regulus clarifies. “But only because you’re my brother.”
"You're a twat Reg but I'm too excited to care right now," Sirius sounds giddy. "Alright, I'll see you in a couple weeks little brother."
Regulus mutters out his agreement and is about to hang up when Sirius exclaims. Regulus groans and looks up at the sky in a silent prayer. Pandora whispers that he's being a drama queen and he flips her off.
"Feel free to bring a plus one. Most everyone will, I think. So, you might feel a bit left out being alone and si-" Regulus abruptly cuts him off.
"I'm not single," it comes out rather harsh, more defensive sounding than he wanted. He rubs his temple, cringing.
Pandora looks at him confused. "You're not dating anyone!?" She whisper-yells at him. He waves his hand at her to tell her to shut it.
"Oh? Well great! Can't wait to meet him," Sirius replies jovially.
"Mhm," is all Regulus can get out since he's already thinking of ways to get out of this.
"By the way..." Lord have mercy, there's more? "I know you and James haven't been the best of pals in previous years, but do you think you can put that aside for this occasion? I really don't want anything to ruin the harmonious vibe of this retreat."
"You sound like a hippy."
"Reg did you even listen to what I said?" Sirius asks, exasperated.
"Fine, yes. I'll do my best to keep 'the harmonious vibe' whatever that means." Answers Regulus, bending over to bang his head on the kitchen counter. Pandora calmly puts her hand on his head and pushes it up away from the counter. He narrows his eyes at her in distaste. She smiles back sweetly.
Fucking James Potter. Why did he have to come? Yes, obviously, he's Sirius's best mate and Remus's for that matter but was it absolutely necessary? He wasn't sure he'd be able to handle a week long vacation with James. Especially not if he was going to be all obnoxiously flirty with Lily like he was at Sirius's wedding. That was almost enough to make one puke. Actually, it had made Regulus puke. Or maybe that was the copious amounts of free alcohol he'd consumed. Either way.
"Good, because if you don’t, I'll have you paired in the team building exercises." Sirius threatens, obviously already planning on doing just that no matter how they get on. Regulus made a repulsed face at that idea. No way was he doing anything with James especially not something that involved team work.
"Sirius what do you mean by ‘team building exercises’?" Questions Regulus tentatively.
"Oh, you’ll see," Sirius says flippantly.
“Sirius,” Regulus warns.
"Huh? Oh, is that right Moony? Of course, I’ll get on that straight away.”
“Sirius, you and I both know Remus is not telling you anything,” says Regulus irritated. “Tell me what the hell team building exercises are.”
“Sorry brother, I’ve got to be going. Can’t wait to see you, I’ll be in touch. Ta!” And before Regulus can get another word in, the other end goes silent.
The bastard has hung up. The absolute audacity Sirius has to demand he come to this remote retreat, for a week, and do team building exercises like a 42-year-old legging wearing mum named Deborah. It was unacceptable. He was too young to be doing anything mid-life crisis-y. Nope, not a chance. Sirius would just have to be happy that he’d even agreed to come at all.
"So, you're going then." Pandora says as less of a question and more of a statement.
"Looks that way," Regulus grumbles.
"You don't have a date," Pandora points out.
"How very astute of you."
"And James is going to be there. With Lily."
"You are just full of profound observations." Regulus crosses his arms and glares at her.
She ignores the look since she receives it at least once a day.
"What if you asked Barty?" She suggests. "I bet he'd love an excuse to get away from his office for a week."
He ponders this idea. Barty has been his friend for a long time, since they were kids in fact. He knows the James drama and would understand why Regulus needs a date- even if he would still make fun of him for it. He's also Regulus' only single friend. Would Sirius buy it though? Would James? They knew Barty in school, knew Regulus and him were friends. However, they didn't really know much about him. It could work.
Plus, he remembers that one time where James got all pissy after he saw Barty give Regulus a kiss on the cheek. It was a silly friend peck that hadn't meant anything, but James got very annoyed afterwards. Regulus hadn't realized why, at the time. He had just thought the boy was in a bad mood that day. Since then, he realized that James was jealous. It wouldn't hurt to toy with him a little.
"I'll... Ask him..." Regulus sighs, defeated.
Pandora throws her head back with a laugh as she gets up from his kitchen barstool. She comes around to give his cheek a peck as she heads to the door. "You're going to have so much fun with that. I wish I was there to see it."
"This will not be fun. It will probably end in disaster and pain for everyone," Regulus grumbles as he walks her to the front door.
"Well, it'll be nice to have a relaxing get away in any case. Who knows, maybe you'll even get it on with Potter again, y'know, rekindle the old flame." She waggles her eyebrows at him.
"He's married, Dora," Regulus reminds her shaking his head. "Besides, even if he weren't, still nothing would happen. We had a small... fling almost 15 years ago."
"Jesus. Is that how long it's been? We're so old." Pandora touches her face checking for wrinkles.
"Yes, that's generally what happens with time." Regulus says and then his lips turn up at the corners. He runs a hand through his hair theatrically. "Luckily, some of us age gracefully."
"You tosser," she chuckles and shoves his arm. "You wish your skin looked like mine."
"No, I prefer my skin without wrinkles, thanks," he says.
"Shut it," she gives him a warning look that is only scary because it's her mum look.
"I'm kidding, you have wonderful skin Dora and your beauty is timeless," he drawls with a chuckle. "Now get out I have to call in a date."
"Keep me updated!" She calls as she leaves.
"I probably won't!" He calls back.
He goes to sit down in his living room and sighs picking up his phone. May as well get this over with. The trip is only two weeks away, after all.
"Barty? Yes, hi. I need a favor..."