Remus Lupin has a few select memories that he looks back on every once in a while when he’s feeling sentimental. James and Lily’s wedding, meeting Harry for the first time, Sirius and his wedding day, his 16th birthday and the first time he kissed Sirius. Both of those events are intertwined.
When he first met Sirius Black he didn't know what he was getting into. He first thought he was going to be like the rest of his family, the people his mother and father told him to stay away from. Then he realized that he was nothing like his family but was still always going to be in trouble. He also knew that falling in love with him was inevitable.
Somewhere along the way they fell in love. Neither of them know when it happened but it was the easiest thing in the world. Sirius may not be the easiest to be around but loving him is as easy as breathing. He couldn't imagine a world where he doesnt love Sirius Black.
The one thing he knows for certain is that he’s loved Sirius Black for the past 4 and a half decades, they weren't the easiest 4 and a half decades but loving him has been the only constant.
So when Remus Lupin wakes up on the morning of his 62nd birthday he knows it's going to be a good one. Remus doesn't have many birthdays he’s fond of but something in his bones tells him it's going to be a good one this year.
The first thing he registers is that Sirius has wrapped himself around Remus like a baby koala. Even at the ripe old age of 63 he still acts like a 16 year old. The second thing he registers is that Sirius is definitely staring at him. Don't ask how he knows, just know that after 4 and a half decades of being in love with one Sirius Black you develop a sixth sense.
Sirius also seems to register when he wakes up because he presses a kiss to his hair and tells him good morning.
“Happy Birthday Moony” he says as he presses a kiss to his forehead. Remus kisses him back as a thanks.
He just spends a few moments to look at him, and wonder how lucky he got to get to keep this. To keep them after losing it so many times.
He lost him in ‘81, lost him again in ‘93 after just getting him back and he almost lost him for good in ‘95. There have been a handful of times where they have both almost lost each other.
They are both old men now. The moons are getting harder and Sirius’ health gets worse every year, but they’re still together and thats all that matters. They have their cottage in the middle of nowhere, they have children and grandchildren and its everything Remus could ever want.
He’s broken out of his thoughts by Sirius asking, “do you remember your 16th.” and Remus almost laughs, because of course he remembers his 16th it was the start of them, his first kiss with Sirius, arguably one of the best days of his life and he tells Sirius as much.
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The party is dying down and people are starting to go up to bed but Remus isn't ready for the night to be over so he sits on the floor in front of the fire.
Remus hasn't had a birthday like this before. Obviously he’s celebrated but he never had any friends growing up and for the first 5 years he was at Hogwarts he never wanted a big deal made of his birthday. So one wasn't made.
But this year Sirius said they had to have a party, he was turning 16, a big milestone he said. He said it with so much love and determination Remus didn't have it in him to tell him no. So he had a birthday party. And it was the best birthday he’s ever had.
Remus is brought back into focus by Sirius waving a hand in his face. “Happy birthday Moony”. Remus chuckles “you’ve said that already, multiple times”.
“I'm aware but I think you deserve to hear it a couple more” Remus stares at him with what he’s sure is pure love and adoration. “Sirius- I, I don't know how to thank you for this. No one has ever done anything like this for me before”.
“You don't have to thank me, I did it because I think you deserve good things and having a good birthday counts as a good thing” Remus has never been so glad that he has Sirius Black than he is at this moment.
Remus feels the sting of tears coming to his eyes and he doesn't want to cry on his birthday, but this time they wont be sad tears.
He knows Sirius sees him tearing up so he wraps him in a hug and pulls him into his chest. Remus lets the tears he’s been holding back fall freely. He vaguely hears Sirius whispering comforting words in his ear but the only thing he can think of is how good Sirius’ arms feel around him. A discernible amount of time passes before his tears subside.
He pulls away from him and Sirius dries his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt and it manages to make him laugh a little. They sit there in front of the fire until they start to see the sun come up.
Remus is about to stand up so he can go to bed and sleep all day but Sirius tugs him back down. He runs his eyes over Remus’ face and cradles his jaw in his hands. Just as Remus thinks he’s going to let go Sirius asks to kiss him.
Remus never thought this would happen, he cant seem to voice his surprise but he nods enthusiastically.
Sirius leans in and presses a soft kiss to his lips, he does it once then again. When he pulls away he runs his fingers over his jaw and smiles at Remus, and Remus smiles back
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Sirius brings him back to the present by running his fingers through his hair. Remus presses a soft kiss to his lips and intertwines his fingers with Sirius’.
“Happy birthday Moony.” and Remus really does laugh that time.
“You've told me that already.”
Sirius replies with a smile “well I think you deserve to be reminded”. Sirius presses a kiss to the gold band on his finger.
They get out of bed eventually, as their limbs start to cramp up. Sirius makes him tea and toast and they enjoy breakfast in the garden. He opens the presents that Sirius got him (books of course).
They have a quiet day together just the two of them. They go into town to have lunch and go for a walk around the lake near their house.
And when Remus is making toasties for dinner Sirius plasters his front to his back and presses a kiss to his shoulder and says “I love you, my darling”. Remus thinks this is one of the best birthdays he’s had in a while.