Growing Up

It had been a few months now since Sirius got the ring, it sitting quietly in his dresser drawer. Something about it was haunting him, something about it collecting dust just didn't seem right. He still hadn't worked up the courage to propose, yet. That would change today.

There was, of course, still the question of who would go to the wedding. Sirius didn't know yet. neither of them had anyone left.

If both of us are working at the school, we'll find people, but honestly, i'll try to convince him into a house party instead. That won't be too difficult.

Sirius wanted to propose before the school year because of the stress and lack of free time. They'd have to much to do, especially with the constant nagging worry of Harry, it was too much.

That day the two of them would be going to dinner. Sirius picked out a nice restaurant near a very beautiful lake, a very hopeless romantic kind of idea of his, as was nearly everything. Cliché, he knew, but Remus always enjoyed the classics.

It was early evening, and his heart was in his throat. He never thought it would make him this nervous, he never really got nervous. It was a weird feeling to him, he was never raised to feel nervous, it simply wasn't in his blood.

He wore a black button up and black pants. Normally, this wouldn't look good on most, but Sirius was pale enough, and to his opinion, "hot enough" as well.

Remus walked out with a pale pair of pants and a light sweater over it.

"Good choice."

Remus laughed, shaking his head in skepticism.

"What is going on with you?" He asked, straightening Sirius' shirt collar.

"What?"

That crooked, Sirius Black grin.

Remus smiled to himself, rolling his eyes.

The two of them talked to Kreacher, Remus giving him a list of rules that Sirius was sure he would throw away the minute they left; and walked over to say their goodbyes to Harry.

As they walked away, Sirius holding the door open, he grabbed the box out of his left pocket and opened the box, pointing it to Harry.

Harry clapped and laughed. He didn't know what it was or the weight of what it meant, but he was still smiling.

"Thanks, Bambi." Sirius blew him a kiss, and the two of the left for the restaurant.

***

Remus stared into the deep grey eyes in front of him, his glance switching between each one.

It was so nice to be away from everything else going on. It was like nothing else mattered, just staring. Staring at the way his cheekbones were sculpted into his face, almost chiseled into his face. Staring at the way his mouth shifted slightly to the side when he said something funny. Staring at the way his hair brushed gently against his forehead when he moved.

He was perfect.

***

After dinner, the two of them walked by the lake. It was empty, but not a concerning absence of people.

It was sunset, and it was beautiful. One of the very few that month, as England was always raining. That night it was clear, only a few clouds in the evening sky as if someone, something had known he needed it to be perfect.

"Moony, remember when we first met?" Sirius grabbed his hand and held it in his, trying to mask the shake in his bones.

"Of course. How could I forget?"

"When I was sorted into Gryffindor, you were the one who knew how to open the locked bathroom door. James hated it, but how could he have known how to pick a lock."

Remus laughed, his eyes watching the sun. It was true.

"And I sat there while you wrote a letter to your mother."

"You were there when i stood in front of Regulus' bare arm, covered in the dark mark."
Sirius walked a little slower, the memory flooding back to him. Regulus' red hot anger spilling out, yelling in french how he had to do it, how he never had a choice. How he couldn't leave like Sirius did. He shook away the thought.

"And I was there when you sobbed about it for hours. I still don't know how you had the energy for it."  Remus followed his pace.

"You were there when I had Harry in my arms, standing over James."

"-Watching Minnie waltz up the driveway before you about dragged her in."

The two of them locked eyes, Remus' with gentle sorrow.

Sirius' heart was pounding in his chest, his breathing steadying.

This is it He thought.

He grabbed the velvet ring box out of his left jacket pocket and held it in his hand.

"No," With wild bewilderment in his voice, he stood still, watching Sirius with his mouth agape.

"Oh my god, I knew that expensive food wasn't worth a regular night."

"I'm not gonna ask a question, Moony. Im not going to get down on one knee," Sirius' grin felt as wide as the sun. Remus stood there in quiet shock, watching him with the same grin on his face

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want us to sit in our rocking chairs when we're old and just talk for no reason other than the fact that we enjoy each others company. I don't want to spend a day without you anymore. i don't want to have the feeling like I have no one, like I would've all those times if I didn't have you there with me.  It's you, Remus. It's always been you."

Remus put his hands on Sirius' face and pulled him in to kiss him, shaking.

He was well into tears at this point, and Sirius' were about to spill over as well.

Remus wrapped his arms around him, sobbing into his shoulder. "Yes," He whispered.

"I love you, Moony"

Sirius took Remus' hand and put the ring on. Remus watched the silver and snatched his hand away, shaking his head slightly.

"Custom made." Sirius laughed as he grabbed his hand back. "You don't really think I'd do that to you?"

"Its habit," He sniffed.

It's beautiful."

Word count: 1040