Amelia

Coops - @lumosinlove

Bubbles and Cuddles - Remus overworks himself

Don’t be suspicious - Coops prank James

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O’Knutzy - @lumosinlove

Loverboys - Finn wants to tell Leo he loves him

Make a wish - Logan’s birthday

Everything is okay - FinnLo are outed without Leo

Everything is okay part two - aftermath of above

Sugar Sweet - Leo takes longer at the store

You’ll find out when we get there - Leo’s birthday

Nothing they could do - O’knutzy break up

One Day - O’knutzy talk about kids

Bad Days - Finn has a bad day

And he ran from the ball - Finn leaves LeLo

Hugs and Kisses - Leo’s 21st birthday morning

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Ficmas 2020 - incomplete sorry

masterlist

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Ficmas 2021

masterlist

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Multi-chapter fics

The Aftermath of Sirius Black’s Prank (complete)

the year after Sirius’ prank on Snape. Hurt/comfort with sad Sirius and protective Lily. (13.5k words)

The Royal Affair - @lumosinlove (complete)

an O’Knutzy fic with Prince Logan and Finn and cook Leo. multiple other Sweater Weather characters. Hurt/comfort with a happy-ish ending. (120k words)

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WIPS

A Game of Hearts - @lumosinlove

a spin off fic from TRA with the backstory of Alex and some more of Finn and Logan’s past. Going to be sad eventually. Predicted to be 8 chapters long. Current = 1/8. (5.2k words)

Runaway Prince - @lumosinlove

another TRA spinoff focusing on Coops’ relationship in the past and snippets of their time during TRA. Predicted to be 8 chapters long. Current = 1/8. (6.7k words)

The Last Friend - @lumosinlove

a TBDATE Sweater Weather fic split into different point of views of characters. Will have a sad ending. Unsure of length but likely to be 5 parts/chapters. Current = 1/5 (2.1k words)

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TRAU mini/micro fics

My Lord,” James smiled, pushing his glasses further up his nose and straightening out his jacket slightly. He ignored Sirius’ quiet snort, turning around to see the face of the voice.

“My Lady,” he replied back, his usual smug grin resting on his face, much to the disappointment it seemed to the lady in front of him, who rolled her eyes in response.

“Must you always be so cocky?” She asked, hesitating for a moment before taking the outstretched arm he held out for her.

“Yes, of course,” he smacked Sirius’ arm when he started to talk, leading Lily away from the Prince and around the back of the palace to the greenhouses. They kept quiet for the most part, enjoying the scenery and the nature around them. Though, James wasn’t looking around them.

He looked over at the woman by his side, her flowing red hair tied back in a delicate braid cascading down her back, the light from the sun hitting it delicately, mixing the colours together, a soft ginger mixed with the dark auburn. Her dress blew with the wind, catching ever so slightly in the grass where the ends were too long, flowers brushing against it, the forest green blending in with the floor beneath. Her lips were parted ever so slightly, a light pink, shining and glossy and so tempting. But his gaze locked in on her eyes. Her beautiful, captivating gemstone green eyes, staring straight at him.

He coughed, looking away, catching a smirk forming on her lips. “Don’t say anything, Evans,” he warned, face relaxing when her calm laughter rang out across the empty space.

“I wasn’t going to Potter,” she answered back, earning a scoff from him. “Well, maybe I was. Do you always stare at me for so long when we walk?”

“Of course I do. You always look…” he paused, raking his eyes up and down her again before resting on her sparkling, curious eyes. “You always look so beautiful.”

Now it was her turn to blush, the redness standing out against her pale skin and dotted freckles ever so prettily. She turned her head away, picking up the pace of their walk, seemingly ending the conversation there. He wasn’t going to have that.

“You don’t believe me? I could go on for hours and hours about how beautiful you are. Ask Sirius, he’ll tell you.”

“I don’t doubt that for a second,” she answered quietly, but a small smile was there and he inwardly cheered to himself.

“Speaking of the Prince,” he started, eyes glancing around for wandering lords and extended ears. “Any luck getting him and Mr Lupin to be friendly yet?” It was a no from his end and would most likely be the same from her, but she was far more determined and far scarier when she wanted to be.

“Not on my side. I don’t understand why they won’t talk to each other. Sirius has warmed up to everyone around here but him, and Remus tries the very best he can to be away from his presence,” she sighed, reaching behind to pull her braid to the front, twisting it around her finger.

“Well if that’s the case he needs to find a new job. He can’t ignore him if he’s overseeing his stay,” he muttered, drawing yet another laugh from the girl.

“Well, I can talk to Remus again today and see what the issue is. I have an idea and I really hope I’m wrong, but if I’m right...then the two of them have some talking to do in order to gain trust.”

“I don’t suppose you could share your brilliant ideas with me?” He tried, instantly on the receiving end of one of her glares.

“No, Potter I can’t.”

James hid his smile behind his hand, keeping his eyes locked on hers, and she smiled back, reaching down and tangling their fingers together before dropping them instantly. He sucked in a breath and ignored the blush crawling up both of their faces.

“Okay,” he breathed out, reaching out himself this time and tugging her closer. “Okay.”

---

Remus sighed, eyes closed and face cast towards the sun, a small smile dancing on his lips as he basked in the early morning heat. It was far too soon for him to be awake, the moon still fading behind him and the birds only just beginning to chirp in the trees surrounding him, but his mind was stirring and his body was far too conscious to attempt to sleep again. The garden was the only place he felt comfortable this early in the morning, other than the dark passageways deep in the palace that only a small number of the staff and royals went down, but that was more for the late nights, unable to sleep, not the early morning rises.

He let his hands trail through the rose bushes he trimmed to perfection, avoiding the thorns as much as he could, though his hands were littered with small scars, reaching up to his wrists. He didn’t have the most delicate hands, forever shaking and unsteady. He had tried a variety of jobs over his time here but this one stuck the most, he wasn’t sure he would ever be as comfortable at this very moment doing something else.

He was forever switching, his mind panicked over the simple jobs and his shy nature holding him back from high up positions. But a year was a long time for switching between jobs and so the crown gave him free rein, with a disgruntled warning from the King to pick wisely and the gentle wisdom from the Queen to pick what felt right. Right now, this felt right.

When he arrived in Gryffindor all those years ago, he was a broken man. Or that was what everyone thought about him. He became the talk of the town in Crianna, eyes always following him around with the rumours and the history trailing behind him, sticking to his back. He thought it would be the same when he was referred to the palace as a servant. It mostly was, and probably would have followed him to Bardom too if it wasn’t for the prince. Thomas was more than just his prince. He became a friend, almost a protector against the whispers and past. He stayed by his side for the three years he was there, trailing him and warning people away when their voices got just too loud for Remus to hear. He never took an official job there, or an official role. He was just Thomas’ friend. The two year age difference did little to steer them away from each other, no matter how hard people tried. They were attached at the hip.

When he moved to Bardom later, he was prepared for it all to start again, for the stories to be used against him. Thomas had secured him a good place at the palace and squashed everything down, but it didn’t do much. He found himself another royal who backed his corner, a younger prince this time. Finn was everything a prince wasn’t supposed to be and it was a pleasant surprise for Remus to witness. He was loud and outgoing, forever ignoring the warning glances from his parents and brother, wandering the woods on the outskirts of the palace grounds with another, younger still, prince.

Logan was more like what Remus was expecting. Calm, collected - well, as collected as a hotheaded prince with plenty of opinions could be, but he kept those to himself mostly - and rule-following up until the moment he was reunited with Finn, and everyone knew when the pair were reunited. You could never find them for more than mere minutes at a time, the two running off with each other to who knows where from a young age, Remus was told the first time he saw it happen. It was sweet to see two princes get a lot so well together and not battling with one another. But then again, this was Gryffindor. Not everyone was like the royals of Slytherin.

He didn’t bother turning his face away from the sky when he heard the footsteps sound from behind him, simply letting them approach and clap them on the shoulder. He heard a deep sigh and then they were sitting next to him, arm now fully around his shoulder.

“For a prince, you are far too comfortable with commoners,” he remarked, cracking an eye open to glance at Finn, whose gaze was cast to the bush beside them.

“You say that like you don’t enjoy these times we spend together. Admit it, you like my hugs,” he shot back, moving closer and wrapping him up tighter, Remus’ head almost locked in.

“I’m not Logan,” he wheezed out.

Finn faked a gasp. “You’re awfully more cheeky now that you’re no longer in your teenage years. Being twenty changed you, Loops! Where is the gardener from all those months ago?”

He rolled his eyes, shoving his side gently, hiding the smirk growing across his face. “You’re just mad that you're only sixteen.”

Finn let out a quiet snort, waving his hands slightly. “Please. I love being 16. The older I get, the more princely responsibilities I get. I’m very happy to be 16.”

He huffed out a laugh, pulling himself free and settling down more firmly on the bench. “Is that sarcasm I detect? That mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble one of these days.”

“Yeah, well, the joys of being a prince. I’ll be protected from that. Lucky me,” he said dryly and Remus cast a knowing gaze over to him.

“Hey,” Finn looked over, a downcast and sullen expression on his face, one that was not normally found on the bubbly sixteen-year-old. “I know it’s not easy the older you get. Especially not for you. But you have people here to help you when things get hard, you know that. Your parents, as unapproachable as they are, are here to teach you this. You have Olli, he’ll be your advisor very soon, and you’re lucky he’s someone who can put up with your adventurous nature,” Finn smirked at that. “Alex is there. He’s always there for you. Logan’s there. I don’t think he’s going to be leaving anytime soon, neither of you would be able to function very well if he did. You have people here.”

Finn smiled at him. “Don’t miss your name off that list, Loops. You may not class yourself as someone worthy of my time but you mean a lot to me too. I’m here talking about this with you, aren’t I?” He raised an eyebrow and Remus shifted his gaze back to the flowers surrounding them.

“There are people who would be able to give you better advice about this than I can. I know nothing about being a sixteen-year-old prince whose duties are increasing tenfold by the day. Your brother does. Thomas does, you can write to him. There are others who could help you far better. Don’t disregard that and stick to asking me. I’m quite useless in this topic area.”

“Yes, well, I came to talk to you about it. Deal with it,” he snarked back, chin poised and eyes closed as he looked up. Remus couldn’t hold back his laugh.

“Well, I’ll leave the bad decision making to you, then. When are you leaving?”

Finn shrugged his shoulder, shifting in his spot and spreading his legs further out, slouching down further. “Tomorrow afternoon, I think. Logan has brought most of the belongings that he needs but we will be stopping at Dumo’s along the way. Then straight into Hufflepuff to the house.”

“You don’t sound too excited,” Remus remarked, turning and making Finn look directly at him. “You normally love your trips away, especially when Logan gets to go.”

Finn sighed, nodding along absentmindedly. Remus frowned in slight concern, moving closer. “I know. Father still won’t budge on us going alone with just the guards. No older siblings or advisors to ruin the trip with royalty talk.”

“I know this isn’t what you want to hear but it’s not because they are being difficult, it’s for your own safety-”

“I know it is but it’s not that necessary anymore. Saint and Luke will be there to travel around with Logan like they always do and Henrik and Sergei will be there, of course they will, and the guards at the house too, so I don’t understand why it is such a big issue. It’s a week and a half trip, a holiday that we look forward to every year that’s mine and Logan’s holiday. It always has been.”

“Finn,” Remus started, as softly as he could. “Logan is fifteen. Even if you wanted to, it is not practical. You are only sixteen. You’re princes. It’s not going to work. Don’t make this trip unhappy for the both of you just because Dumo is with you and Alex is staying for a few days. Eventually, it will just be the guards with you. But you are both still teenage princes. Give it a few years.”

Remus could only describe the look on Finn’s face to be a sulky pout, his eyes downcast and heavy overexaggerated sighs interrupting him as he spoke. “I know. It would just be nice to do it now, while we don’t have so many responsibilities. I’m second in line, my responsibilities are nowhere near to where Logan’s are going to be once he turns sixteen. We won’t get as many opportunities as we have now.”

“I get that, I do, it’s frustrating. But that’s exactly why you can’t ruin this trip by being miserable, okay. If not for your own sake then Logan’s.”

Finn sighed again and Remus bit back his smile, shaking his head at the brooding teen. “Yeah, you’re right. I guess I can put up with it for now. But as soon as Logan turns eighteen…things are changing around here.”

Remus chuckled. “If you say so, Your Majesty.”

Finn pulled a face, turning his face into a scowl. “How many times? Don’t call me that. That title goes better with my brother than it does me.”

“Okay, little prince.”

“That’s no better. Come on, you’ve known me for two years now, you can do better than that. What are your plans for when Alex and I aren’t here? You can go down to Crianna, I think mother said you have time if you wanted to. Or is Thomas coming here?”

“Thomas is the King, I doubt he would have time for me within his schedule. But yes, he is coming up for this week, so rest assured I won’t be completely on my own when you are away.”

“Are those the days before Alex comes or after?”

“I think before. He and Kasey are going to join you after his first day and then I get him all to myself. Well, along with the politicians visiting,” he smiled to himself, already excited for him to arrive.

“It’s been so long since you have last seen each other. You could always go back down to Crianna with him. It’s your home, where your family is. I’m sure Julian would love to see you for a surprise visit.”

His smile widened at the mention of his younger brother, young and carefree at the age of six, who he absolutely adored and hated leaving behind every time he visited. It was worth waiting to see them, though, knowing they were safe in Crianna than they were before. Before they left. If he could bring them up to live in Bardom and be with him every day over safety, eight weeks separation was the far better option.

“Maybe. I’m supposed to be back in three weeks, so I can’t afford to lose any days that I can be down there. Your mother would let me go. Your father…” He trailed off and Finn raised an understanding eyebrow. The King would never allow it.

They were quiet after that, the only noise around them coming from the wind between the branches of the trees and the birds singing in the alcove nearby, a trio circling around each other. Remus smiled and made to stand up, stretching his back and his right shoulder, wincing at the pull in his left. Finn gave him a sympathetic look and stood with him, clapping his forearm softly.

“I’ve got a meeting now and I’m sure that Adam will be here any minute now to drag me away. Apparently, they’ve found me an advisor now that I’m sixteen and they want me to see if I like them,” he rolled his eyes and sighs. “All my freedom is now going to be gone.”

“You’ll get over it. I’m sure they will be nice. Your mother had a say and I’m sure Adam wouldn’t pick anyone who you wouldn’t like.”

He only got another sigh in return and a tight-lipped smile before walking backwards away from him and around the corner, out of sight. Remus let out a breath that he wasn’t sure he was holding until it was gone. He started his slow walk over to the flower beds, still low and unbloomed and sank down beside them. No matter how long he spent at the palace and how many royal members he had as friends, he would never get over that feeling. The feeling of being friends with a prince, never mind a king.

He let his fingers trail through the soil, tracing random patterns and shapes over and over until it had spread out and over the edge. He dropped his hand, bringing his knees up to his chest and tipping his head back into the warm morning sun, creeping higher into the sky now, the moon disappearing away. He let his eyes fall shut and his body drop, ignoring the feel of the wet soil creeping up where his shirt had ridden and he let his breathing slow out. It was too warm for him to be staying out here in the middle of summer with no cover or shade. But he let the heat wash over him and let himself drift off.

**

Sirius lay in the dark of his room, silent and still, ignoring the whispered voices from downstairs and the creaking of floorboards around him. He squeezed his eyes shut, blocking out as much as he could with no hope, grabbing his pillow and shoving it over his face. He struggled to breathe in this position but at least the noise was lessened.

He should be downstairs, is expected to be downstairs and greet the guests that had arrived for dinner and the diplomatic meetings taking place across the weekend. Instead, he was here, cowering away, trying to get as far away from the Slytherin kingdoms all piled into his home. He knew, he knew as much as his mother tried to dismiss his concerns that he wasn’t safe here. Regulus wasn’t safe here and that was his biggest worry. His brother, barely eleven and already under the influence of his parents was being paraded around in front of dangerous people with dangerous minds and there was nothing he could do about it.

It would be more dangerous to bring him along, to try and make the journey to a destination he still wasn’t certain of than it would be to let him stay. They wouldn’t hurt him, not like they had him. He was too much under their power for that. But he couldn’t leave him to the snakes. It would ruin both of them.

He flinched when a knock resounded through the room, bouncing off the walls and echoing around him. He silently moved off the bed and over, turning the lock with the key he wasn’t supposed to know was hidden and ushered his brother inside, closing it behind them just as quickly. He sighed, resting his forehead against the cool wood, letting his breath slow and his heartbeat even out.

“Sirius?” He turned at the call of his name, Regulus perched on the edge of the bed, rigid and tall, displaying the perfect stance of a Slytherin prince even in the confines of an empty room. Even when there was no one to judge his every move.

“Please relax, Regulus. You won’t get told off here,” he kept his voice soft and gentle, seeing the shakiness of his form and the barely concealed rough breathing, moving to settle beside him and wrap an arm around his shoulder.

Regulus flinched slightly at the contact and Sirius clenched his jaw, bringing him closer to his side. Moments went by before a warm weight settled more deliberately next to him, his brother slouched and calm, sitting like he was. Sitting like a normal boy.

“I don’t like all these people downstairs. They are not very nice,” the posh accent of his brother threw him and for a minute he forgot who they were. They could pose and pretend that they were normal all they wanted but they had been conditioned since birth, given far too many harsh and unneeded punishments for not following rules. It saddened him that his brother couldn’t even talk freely, always princely and proper. It disgusted him.

“I don’t either. You can stay here all you like, you know that. You don’t have to go back downstairs, I won’t make you, and I won’t let them take you back down,” it was no shock to everyone that Regulus was not one to enjoy social interactions, similar to himself. He knew that his parents wished they weren’t as similar.

They were brought up around nobody but each other, parents who didn’t love them and nannies who barely spoke a word out of turn. Regulus didn’t know crowds or many people. He shouldn’t fear being in a room with his cousins and their husbands. He shouldn’t fear his family. But that was what it had come down to. The disciplinary lessons didn’t happen to just them. It was a family ‘tradition’. Others just took to it, following it more than he did.

“They want me to join a club. A society of other young princes. I do not want to join,” his words were frantic and scared and all Sirius could do was hold him closer to his side.

The Society of Young Slytherin Princes, or The Den which Sirius called it, was unavoidable. Once every prince turns eleven and a half they are made to join. If the lessons with his parents were intense, it was nothing compared to this. They were called pythons, young snakes hungry for order. It was the worst six years of his life. He had only just ‘graduated’ the club, just over a year ago, turning eighteen the November before. Graduates left six months before the age of eighteen, enough time left to prepare them for what came after they turned of age.

The Society was led by cruel and punishing men, hired and controlled by one of the Slytherin kings, Riddle. It didn’t matter that they each had their own kingdoms, Riddle was the king of kings and oversaw the entirety of the country. He had all the power. Normally, graduates of The Den would become apprentices, groomed into becoming exactly what made them the men they were. In some people, they became teachers to get revenge on what happened to them. Only, they would just repeat the actions on the innocent children around them.

If there was one place Sirius didn’t want Regulus to be, it was in The Den. Sirius missed his brother’s life, missed his own life when he was there. It was almost a boarding school in the very northwest of Horcrux, Riddle’s kingdom, called Little Hangleton, the grounds spreading into Tedith, an empty plot of land perfect for their outdoor lessons. Mostly combat and one on one fighting. It wasn’t innocent and careful training. It was a brutal, injury-inducing conflict. Regulus would never survive. They were there for months at a time, coming home for two weeks at most to display all they had learnt before being shoved right back into the snake’s den.

“I know you don’t. Nobody does and I will try my very best to keep you as far away from there as possible, but I don’t know how much I can do. But I’ll try,” he promised, brushing the long fringe out of his brother’s eyes. “Did you meet anyone who will be going with you?”

“There is a boy called Nott. He is a Prince of Abima. He is going along with his twin brother Avery. But they are not nice. They are mean and were causing trouble all night.”

Sirius pursed his lips. Those boys would be an issue if they were there with Regulus. “That is why princes are sent. To correct their behaviour and prepare them to become rulers,” he was spitting bullshit, lies that his mother had beaten into him, but he knew there was nothing else he could tell Regulus.

“But my behaviour is good. I am a good prince, I do not need to go,” it was almost like Regulus was pleading with him to not let him go and Sirius could feel the beginnings of tears form. None came, not even a glaze went across his eyes. Crying was not proper of Slytherin princes. He didn’t even know if he had any tears left.

“I’m sorry,” he choked out in a hushed whisper before clearing his throat. “You are an amazing prince, Regulus. But you cannot escape this, as much as I want you to.”

Regulus only let out a sniff and Sirius’ heart broke. One day he wouldn’t even be able to do that. Would be too numb to feel emotion at all. They stayed in the silence, his hand rubbing circles across Regulus' shoulder as he tried to calm his panic-stricken brother down before something bad happened. His eyes were locked on the gap beneath the door, the light creating shadows that he wasn’t sure were footsteps; there was no sound to follow them but it was eerily too empty upstairs for nobody to be here.

Regulus gasps quietly and his attention was drawn away and back to the child beside him, angling his body to look at him more directly, a questioning look drawn on his face. He followed his line of sight and his heart sunk, bile rising up his throat. Regulus’ eyes were locked on the small bags on the corner of the room, concealed but easily clear to what they were.

“You are leaving,” it wasn’t a question, but his voice still pitched up at the end, thick with emotion and Sirius sunk down until he was eye level with his brother.

“Regulus…” he started but stopped. How was he supposed to explain this? Explain that he was leaving their home and consequently Regulus behind.

“Why?” His voice was small and he couldn’t even look at Sirius, his eyes everywhere but on him. Sirius made a soft noise in the back of his throat and leaned forward slowly, as if he was approaching a wounded animal and cupped the back of his neck, bringing his face to look at him.

“I…I do not know what to say to you. I am so sorry. I am. I do not want to leave you here, not with…with all these people around you, all of these horrible people. But…” he trailed off again, wiping his hands over his thighs, watching Regulus stare at him with tear-filled eyes, shaking again, curling his fingers into his robes. “I can’t,” his voice broke and his head dropped.

Small hands grabbed his face and pulled it back up and Sirius watched the first tears fall down his cheeks and reached up to wipe them away. “It is okay,” his voice was wobbly and he was nodding along to his words like he was trying to convince him just as much as Sirius.

“It’s not okay. It is not what I want to do. But I am. I am going to find a place, a safer place for us, both of us and then come back for you. I am going to come back for you as soon as I can.”

“I understand,” Sirius felt like sobbing. Regulus was far too mature for an eleven-year-old, had seen far too much that a child shouldn’t have to see. “When are you going?”

Sirius was prepared to leave at any given moment, as soon as he knew Regulus wouldn’t be in immediate danger then he felt ready enough to go. He wouldn’t be gone for long. He would be back as soon as he could. He had to be.

“I do not know yet. But I will tell you before I go. I will say goodbye.”

“‘S not goodbye. Promise me. It is not goodbye,” that was when the tears came, and they came harder and faster than before, spilling down both of their cheeks. Sirius reached forward and wrapped Regulus into a tight hug, bringing him down to the floor with him and pressing them as closely together as he could.

“I promise. I promise I promise,” he whispered fervently, rocking them slowly and they struggled to catch their breath, chocking on clogged emotion.

As soon as Regulus had stopped shaking, Sirius could feel it slump down and become a dead weight in his arms. He glanced down, watching the small breaths puff out and smiled slightly despite the dried tear tracks on your cheeks. He shifted the boy’s weight and lifted him up as he stood, walking over to the door and unlocking it, peeking out and glancing for wandering guests. Once it was clear he walked across the hall to Regulus’ room and placed the boy down on his silk green sheets, tucking them up to his chin and swiping the hair from his forehead, sighing.

He left shortly after, making sure Regulus was warm and comfortable back to his own room where he sat, elbows resting on his knees and face in his hands, silent tears tracking back down his face.

**

There was a chill breeze in the air today compared to yesterday that had Remus wrapping himself up in his softest and warmest jumpers. Gryffindor was always tedious with the weather, especially in summer and especially in the north. But not even the cold could stop the smile spreading across his face as he rounded the corner into the sitting room in the west of the palace, towards the guest rooms.

“Long time no see Mr Lupin,” the smile only widened and he crossed the room in a second, arms flinging around Thomas’ shoulders, a laugh escaping him and he pulled him close.

“Six weeks,” he started around the laughter bubbling out of both of them. “Is far too long.”

“Damn right, but hey, we’ve lasted longer. Are you sure you need to stay here? You can come back with me. You still have the place at the palace and your parent’s house,” he knew it was only a joke but the temptation was still there.

“As much as I would like to…I like it here.”

“I bet you do. Lazing around in the garden all day every day, soaking up a tan. But looking at you right now, I’d say more of a burn,” Remus scoffed and brought a hand up to his cheeks, cooling the heat pooling there. The lazy rest in the sun a few days ago had left him red all over.

“Oh stop. I’m not used to the sun, you know that. My home was a dark place,” he trailed off, mumbling and scratching his neck. Now he’d made it awkward.

“Exactly why this job is the best for you. You can soak up everything you didn’t have before, sun included,” he sighed in relief, shoulders dropping and smile returning. Thomas never asked when he didn’t need to. But he knew the story himself already.

“What are you planning for today? Are there going to be a swarm of politicians here to steal you away or are you clear for us to do something?”

“You have me all to yourself along with Alex and Kasey. I hear the two little troublemakers are over in Hufflepuff. Shame, I enjoy pulling trouble with them.”

Remus chuckled. “I think the palace staff are very grateful that the three of you aren’t together. Alex and Kasey should be here soon. They were in a meeting this morning.”

“Them two are always in meetings. Come on, you need to tell me everything that has happened since we last saw each other.”

“There isn’t much to tell. So far, June has been a slow and boring month. But at least summer is here. Finn hasn’t stopped going on about summer since last summer, so at least he’s happy now.”

“All excited for the big birthday ball in August, I assume,” they both rolled their eyes. It was no secret to anyone that Finn hated growing older.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that he and Logan will escape some time into the evening. They always do,” Logan liked growing older, looked forward to the responsibilities it brought him. He just didn’t like being the centre of attention of parties.

“Come on, we’re not having these conversations here when Alex has a massive sitting room all to himself on the other side of the palace where we won’t get interrupted. We’ll meet them there, they should be done by then.”

They started a slow walk over out into the garden and over to the other side of the grounds, mostly in silence with quips thrown between them as they went. “How are my parents? Julian?”

Thomas badly tried to conceal a smirk. “Well, Julian has now decided that he wants to be called Jules full time,” Remus raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know either. But he pulls a face when he is called by his full name. Must think it’s too posh.”

“He’s not wrong. And my parents?”

“They are all well. No issues, no troubles, both there and elsewhere. They miss you, of course,” silence dragged out as they walked back through the halls and Remus looked over at him curiously. “I…may have sent a carriage over to their house before I left so they could join us over here in the next few days.”

“Thomas…” he said in disbelief, stopping outside the door and catching his arm. “What?”

“Don’t look at me like that. You miss them, every day, I know you do, and if I have to look at poor Jules' baby face frown and grow sad every time your name is mentioned I’ll have to kidnap you and bring him back to you. Your family miss you.”

There was a ghost of a smile on his lips as he pictured his baby brother's face and he nodded along. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me just yet. Jules is going to make a storm when he gets here, believe me. Good job Finn isn’t here. A child with a child? This poor palace.”

“Alright, alright, my brother is not that bad, Your Majesty, and I can guarantee that Jules would only have his attention for the first hour before he himself will be tired out,” they turned around, Alex and Kasey standing behind them, all four of them going to bow before laughing at each other. “Up you get you two. Welcome back,” he drew Thomas into a hug and Kasey walked up to Remus’ side.

“Back together again, huh? Reckon they will be just as bad as last time?”

“I don’t think you have anything to say. If I remember correctly, you were the one who fell into the fountain, not them.”

He was smacked lightly on the back of the head. “We were never supposed to bring that incident up again.”

“But we always have such a good laugh when we do,” he laughed as if to prove the point and Kasey rolled his eyes at him, dragging him back into the room.

“Come on, we are leaving later on tonight so we only have the rest of the day together. Let’s make some new memories and stop rehatching old ones.”

The three of them laughed at his pout and Alex walked over to ruffle his hair, but ended up just running his fingers through it instead. Remus looked away over to where Thomas was rifling through the shelves and pulling out objects, making a mess already. He smiled softly to himself and sank down into a chair, letting his head tip back and his body relax before the laughter and fun began.

**

Sirius was back where he was before, laying in the dark confines of his room, his travelling jacket wrapped around himself and his bags by the door. His hands were covering his face and he was desperately trying to find the urge to stay but go at the same time. He had reasons for both. He slowly sat himself up, brushing his fingers through his hair and sighing softly to himself. If he didn’t leave now he never would, and he would never be able to escape past the guards and grab Padfoot before waking up the rest of the house.

Grabbing his bag, he paused by the door, taking another look at his dull, green room, with his king-sized bed rumpled and unmade. He eyed the curtains at his window and around his bed, pulling a face at the intricate silver designs and French phrases stitched into them. His dresser was a dark brown, almost black and was cleared of all the belongings he desperately wanted to bring with him. His crown was resting on top and he walked over to it, letting his fingers run over the silver lines and the emerald gems. He stashed it in the bottom of the bag. If he needed to he could sell it. Or use it if he needed proof of who he was, but he hoped it wouldn’t come to that. He didn’t need people to know who he was.

He unlocked the door, keeping the key in his hand and relocked it behind him, walking over to Regulus’ room. It was late, far past the time his brother normally goes to sleep but he had promised him that he would say goodbye before he left. He opened the door, wincing at the creek in the wood and quickly made his way over to the bed, settling down beside the younger boy.

He smiled sadly at the calmness he saw when he was asleep, a look he had never seen was Regulus was awake. It would be there less and less by the time he went to The Den and he would be plagued with nightmares. He wished he could stop it. He run a hand down his arm and to his hand, the cold seeping into his skin and rubbed it softly before leaning over.

“Regulus,” he whispered, pushing his hair back. “Reg, wake up.”

The boy groaned in his sleep, whimpering and shifting over, curling into his side, his eyes scrunching up. He reached up with his fist, rubbing at them and making eye contact with him. “‘Rius?”

“Come on, sit up,” he coaxed him into a seated position and let his bags drop beside him quietly, Regulus following the movement with his eyes. The tears came faster than he thought they would. “It's okay. It’s okay, don’t cry, Reg.”

“How long? How long will you be gone?” The question was hard and unavoidable. But he didn’t have an answer for him.

“You will be at The Society soon, you won’t have time to miss me,” that was a lie. Sirius missed Regulus every day when he was there. He missed the birth of his brother, his first steps, his first word. He spent every second missing his brother. But he needed Regulus to be better than him. “I’ll be back before you know it and me and you will leave this place forever. I promise.”

He couldn’t promise him that but he had to do something to calm him down. It would be kidnapping and as much as Sirius needed Regulus out of the house, he needed a plan in order to do it. He needed help and he wasn’t sure he was going to get it.

“Don’t forget me. Please come back for me,” Sirius’ old tears fell then and he brought his brother into a tight hug.

“Never, Reg. I will never forget you and I am getting you back to me.”

They stayed in the hug for minutes, neither of them wanting to pull away before Sirius took the first move and pushed himself back, cupping the back of Regulus’ neck.

“Now, you listen to me. When you get to The Society, don’t disobey. Don’t give them a reason to punish you. Don’t isolate yourself from the other boys but you do not have to do what they do. Don’t make enemies. It’s…it’s going to be hard, but you will get through it.”

“You will not be back before I have to go?”

“I don’t know yet, Reg. But just in case I am not, follow what I said, okay? I know you, I know how smart you are. You’ll know what you should and should not do. Do what you think is best when you are there, okay?”

Regulus nodded, mumbling in confirmation and Sirius stared at him for a moment longer. He had no idea how old his brother was going to be the next time he saw him. Would it be a few months? A year? Even longer? He didn’t know. He leant forward, pressing a kiss to his hair and stood up, stretching and letting his hand drop onto Regulus’ hair.

“Love you, Siri,” he felt his heart squeeze at the mumbled words and bent down to pick up his bags, walking towards the door, dropping the key to his room on the dresser.

“Love you too, Reg. The key to my room is there if…if you need a place to hide out. I got the locks changed so her key will not work. Be safe, Reg.”

He didn’t stay behind to hear what he said in reply, closing the door behind him and making his way down towards the stairs. It took a moment to look at the stairs, at the worn about splotches in the carpet and slowly made his way down, sticking to those creak-free spots.

He made his way out of the door, closing it quietly and running over to the garden, past the seats and the outdoor eating area and over to where the horses were kept. He crept past Kreacher, the horse turning in his direction and watching him carefully as he unhooked Padfoot’s reigns and saddle before going over to the horse and getting himself ready. He flung the bags over the side and led him out and into the clearing before jumping on and turning around, watching Kreacher trot back over to his own stall.

He groaned, shifting back around, glaring at the empty spots beside him, no boyfriends in sight, only a slight dip in the mattress and the still warm material in his hands when he smoothed down the sheets. He slowly started to sit himself up, running a hand through his hair and brushing it out of his face before looking around the room. Nothing seemed different. He glanced to the side and grabbed his phone, pulling a confused face at the time. There was no way that Finn would ever have woken up voluntarily on a Saturday with no morning practice before ten in the morning, especially not before nine.

He leaned down to grab a shirt blindly from the floor and shoved it over his head, shrugging when it landed just around his midriff and not holding the usual bagginess. Clearly not his then. He swung his legs over the side, leaning his elbows against them for a minute as he woke up the rest of his limbs, eyes slipping closed without his permission.

He jolted himself up, shaking his head while he stood, stretching his back and arms, sighing at the satisfying pop that rang out. He shuffled his way out into the main room, yawning behind his hand and searched the room for his boys. He huffed again when he was met with an empty house, wandering into the kitchen and beelining for the coffee machine. He was far too tired to deal with whatever they were doing today.

It didn’t take long for the two of them to get back, Leo sitting down and nursing his coffee when the door was shifted open, in what Leo supposes as an attempt to be quiet. It didn’t work. He snorted into his mug, taking another sip and then his eyes followed Logan as he walked into the room, face turned away from him, looking to where Finn had started following him in.

He waited a moment, a smile forcing its way onto his face before he steeled his expression and turned to them. “Why are y’all awake right now? We should be in bed.”

It was worth waking up early to see the two of them jump, Logan whipping around, eyes wide and mouth dropped open in what looked to be an almost shout. “Knutty, don’t fucking do that.”

Leo only smirked, opening his arms when Finn barrelled towards him, letting one wrap around his shoulders and the other twist into auburn hair, eyes still locked on Logan. They kept staring at each other, Finn snuggling closer until Logan’s eyes drifted towards his now open arm, a grin ghosting his mouth before he too was collapsing into him, pressing his nose into his collarbone.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he muttered into his hair, letting his cheek fall onto Finn's head, eyes drifting closed, basking in the feeling of them surrounding him.

“We were just getting everything ready for your day,” Finn mumbled against him, pressing himself closer. “Your big, special day.”

Kisses were pressed along his neck up to his ear and he let his eyes shoot back open, gripping Finn tighter. “You don’t have to do anything. It’s just my birthday.”

“Just your birthday he says like he isn’t turning twenty-one. Twenty-one, Knutty,” Logan grumbled, pulling himself away from where he collapsed into him and smiling brightly at him. “We have so much planned. So much!”

Leo smiled back contentedly, looking over to the clock on the wall. 8:34. “That sounds nice. Can we just stay here for a bit. I wanna stay here for a bit,” he brought Logan back towards him and leant further into his chair, sighing softly.

He barely managed to nod off again before the pounding started again, and he huffed, sitting up and running a hand through his hair. It wasn’t going away. But he stopped suddenly, keeping as quiet as he could, ignoring the creaks coming from his half-broken desk from the wind coming through his jammed window that the caretaker had yet to come and fix since they returned from Thanksgiving break. The pounding wasn’t coming from inside his head, someone was outside his door.

He grunted, pulling himself away from the warmth of his bed and stumbled over to the light twitch, searching blindly for it along the wall. He winced when the brightness hit him and he rubbed at his eyes, blinking the remains of his sleep away. The knocking kept coming, and Leo was surprised no one along their hall had poked their head out yet to tell them to shut up.

“‘M coming, ‘m coming, stop bangin’,” he mumbled out, almost inaudible, but the noise stopped and he could finally hear himself think again.

He undid the locks on his door with uncoordinated movements, muttering under his breath about lack of sleep and yanked the door open, ready to tell whoever was there to shove off. It was still dark in the hallway, the lights always turned off by ten pm every day, and Leo had to squint to see who was there.

“Leo,” the person sighed, almost in relief and he allowed the confused expression to take over his face.

“Logan?” His voice was muffled by a sudden yawn, and the older boy shoved his way through Leo’s door before he had time to even invite him inside. “Yeah, okay, please, come right in.”

He relocked the door behind him, not before sticking his head into the hall to check for anybody out there, and turned back into the room, facing the boy now sitting on his bed. He was a lot more awake, seeing him fully dressed with a bag slung over his shoulder, cap perched on his head and thick jacket wrapped around himself.

“What the hell are you doing?” He asked, walking back over, settling himself beside him. “Going out for a walk?”

Logan shook his head and Leo couldn’t help but watch the curls fall loose in front of his face. He coughed to himself and shook his head. “No, I’m leaving.”

Leo froze, turning his head slowly so he was fully facing his best friend. “What do you mean you’re leaving?”

Logan shrugged, tightening his grip on his bag. “I can’t stay here for another day. I’m going, right now. And you’re coming with me.”

He just kind of sat there for a second, still staring at him, with wide eyes and a tilt to his head. He coughed, looking around the room before turning back to Logan. “You’re not…serious, are you?”

“Leo, look at this place,” he pointed around, almost like he was in disbelief. “Look at your room. You want to stay here?”

“Well, no, of course I don’t want to stay here. But we can’t leave. You can’t leave. Where will you go?”

“I…” He gulped, shifting where he was sitting, looking down at his hands, twisting them together. Two of them were bruised, from an accident three days ago that Leo wasn’t there for. He pushed them away. “I don’t know. I don’t care. But I need to leave. We can’t stay here, no with the way they treat us. Leo, you saw what they did last night. You know what they did to me. I watched what they did to you last week. Have the bruises cleared up yet?”

Leo winced at the mention of the incident, hand automatically coming up to rest on his ribs over his sweater, trailing the edges of the worn bandage that was still there, covering the blotches of black and blue, the scrapes just barely healed. He shook his head, swallowing harshly, and then Logan’s hand was there covering his, bringing his hand away and pulling up the edge, bringing it into view.

“Logan…” he whispered, almost choking on the words, shaking slightly when his hand ghosted over the middle, almost as though he was debating what to do with it.

He loosened the knot, gently unravelling the darkened bandage, muttering under his breath words that Leo couldn’t understand, couldn’t make out whether they were French or English. When it fell away, landing in Leo’s lap, he had to turn his face away, not able to face Logan when he saw.

“Leo…” his words were rough and shaky, his hands cold when they pressed on his side. “Do you have another bandage?” He nodded over to the drawer with no handle and Logan just sighed again, bringing it out.

He sat beside him, closer this time, and gently pulled his head over to look at him. Leo didn’t realise he had let any tears slip down until they were brushed away with the pads of his thumb, rough against the softness of his skin. He took in a shuddering breath and nodded again. Logan turned his attention back to his side and Leo could have cried again when the gentle hands moved with precision and utmost delicacy, wrapping the gauze around him and wrapping it together again as if attempting to heal his wounds with just the heat coming off them.

When the edges were tied, the hands lingered and Logan leaned down. Leo sucked in a breath, trying to relax his body as he leaned closer. He imagined Logan going right up close to his ribs, imagined him mouthing along the edges of them, soothing the wounds gently, heat escaping from a different part of him than his hands. He willed the thoughts to go away, closing his eyes firmly, head turned away again.

“Leo, we can’t stay here. I won’t let you stay here and risk going through that again. God, what they did to you…” he trailed off and sat back, reaching down under Leo’s bed and throwing the backpack up onto the mattress. “Pack up, right now, Le.”

He sat there, just staring at him as Logan went around and opened up his drawers. He glanced around at his room again, the room that had been his for his entire education. He could easily stick it out until the end. It was December and he was nearly nineteen, Logan nearly twenty. They could both stay at the year-round boarding house until their education was finished. If they let them leave, that is. He had seen people around over the years that he knew had finished their final years. They had never left. So really, this may be their only chance of getting out.

He sighed, standing and stretching before grabbing the bag and walking over to Logan. “Alright. But you better have a plan for where we are going by the time I’m finished or I swear, Logan I’m not coming with you.”

Logan rolled his eyes, grabbing a handful of clothes and dumping them in Leo’s arms. “Say that all you want, Peanut. You’ll never let me leave this place on my own,” and Leo hated how right he was.

“Do you have an idea of where you’re going to take me?” He took the clothes, folding them into his bag. They moved over to his drawers and Logan moved over to the window, glancing outside.

“I might have,” he murmured, and Leo turned his attention away from where he was shoving the remainder of his items in his bag and instead looked towards Logan.

His head was extended, eyes cast down, leaning over the window sill and staring out of the broken window. His features were hard but delicate and Leo’s breath caught in the back of his throat at the sight of him, basking in the moonlight. His hair, rumpled and flared up around the edge of his cap looked silver-dipped, glowing at the edges, making it softer and ethereal. He couldn’t take his eyes off him and the way the older boy’s own eyes, pools of gorgeous green were bright with excitement and hope, captivating and mesmerising.

He sighed, closing the last drawer and walking over to where he was still hunched over, propping his bag up against Logan’s. He bumped their shoulders together, smiling when he saw that familiar tilt of his lips curve up into a smirk.

“You ready to go?” He asked, grabbing both of their bags and slinging them over his shoulder. “I might have a place to go. Whether or not it will stick, I don’t know. But I have some money, enough to last us for some time. After that…after that, we’ll have to see. But we will never come back here again,” he said fiercely, and Leo smiled again, taking his bag off of Logan and slung it over his own shoulder.

“Well, we better get going then, shouldn’t we?” His voice was soft and he turned around, walking backwards to the door, cracking up an eyebrow at Logan, who grinned back, heading towards him. His back hit the door and he reached for the handle, watching Logan stalk up to him, nodding. He swallowed, twisting the handle. “Go on then. Lead the way.”

*

The night was gorgeous. The sky was clear and bright, lightened by the moonlight and dotted with stars. Leo was almost dragged along the path, eyes stuck on the view above them. He knew that he had a soft look on his face, jaw slack and mouth open in a silent gasp. The path they were taking was long and winded, the area around the still deserted and away from civilisation, much like how the boarding house is, away from people.

“How much further until we reach, like, an actual building?” He asked, pulling his eyes away and over to Logan, staring at what must have been a map on his phone.

“Not much longer,” he murmured. “You see those lights over there? Yeah, that’s where we are heading, a little town called Gryffindor. There’s a small inn…or a hotel I guess it might be now, that I stayed in a couple of years before I was dropped off at The House. It might have grown by now, I don’t know.”

He watched Logan tense up when he mentioned the past, the way everyone at The House did. They were dropped there, either by not having another choice, or by not having a reason as to why they were there. Logan didn’t know, Leo knew that. Logan was just there one day, eleven years old without any idea about what was happening. Leo had been there since he was eight. There was no choice for him, both of his parents passing. This was the only place that the rest of his family would willingly take him. They didn’t want him.

“Hey,” he nudged him. “I know the memories are going to hurt. Let’s make our own there, okay?”

Logan straightened up, smiling and nodding. The walk was considerably shorter than he had believed it would be when he set his sight on the lights of the town. The town was very small and Leo loved it, spinning in circles to get a good look at the place. There weren’t many houses, maybe a hundred, more perhaps. The shops were small, only half a dozen, with a church in the middle, fountains surrounding the town centre. He saw the hotel Logan must have meant and by the look on his face, it had grown significantly.

“Is it how you remember it?” He shook his head. “Good. This experience…this is just for us. No bad memories.

Logan smiled again, and led them over. “The front didn’t look like this last time, and that restaurant wasn’t there, either. It’s all different,” he said, almost in disbelief.

“Well, let’s go grab a room. We can go down there to eat after we’ve settled, and you can show me around the town.” The two of them smiled and they walked through the doors and away from the cold chill that was starting to ache in his bones from the five o’clock weather.

Leo felt Logan tuck himself further towards him and Leo ignored the ache in his chest when he realised and moved away, plastering on a smile and walking towards the front desk.

“Hi,” Logan started, talking to the man in front of them. “Can we get a room for two, please? For as long as this can get us,” he fished out a wad of cash and Leo’s eyes widened as he took out a section and placed it on the desk, putting the rest away.

The man nodded, searching around and grabbing them a key, taking the money and telling them the room number. “Okay, so you need to go to the elevator up to the second floor. Turn left and then head down the hall until room 120. It’s a room with two single beds, and you have the room until the end of the month. The restaurant closes at 10 pm, and breakfast starts in two hours. The bar opens at 3 pm and closes at midnight. Let me know if you need something and you can call down to the desk at any time from your room. Enjoy your stay.”

They thanked him and took the key, following his directions over to their room, unlocking it and collapsing inside. There were two beds, one by the window and on the other side. Logan threw himself onto the farthest bed and Leo dropped his bag on the other, heading straight to the bathroom.

When he walked back into the room, face washed and hair pushed away from his face, Logan was unpacking, placing items on the bedside table. He heard him walk in and turned, smiling softly. “So, we’re here until the beginning of next year. At least we have a nice room. I was thinking…these beds are really small, and you’re going to fall right off the end of it,” he huffed out a laugh, dropping onto the mattress. “Can we push the beds together?”

Leo froze from where he leaned over to grab his back and swallowed hard. “Yeah…yeah if you want to.”

It was a team effort to get Leo’s bed over to the window, pushing away the tables and the lamp and settling them next to each other. “Ah, this is so much better,” Logan sighed and flopped back down, patting the side of him, beckoning Leo over. “We have a couple of hours until we should head down for breakfast. I know how bad your sleeping is and I know I woke you early. Why don’t you go to sleep? I’ll wake you up at eight, yeah?”

He let his eyes flutter closed and hummed, shuffling closer unconsciously. “Mhm, yeah okay. You try and sleep too, though, okay? You need sleep. We’ll go to breakfast when we both wake up.”

He heard Logan move around and he snuggled closer into his pillow. He sighed, eyes squeezed closed and froze when he felt movement directly beside him, Logan’s head right beside his on the pillow. He cracked an eye open and watched him sleepily, turning to try and get comfortable. He made a soft noise in the back of his throat and Logan shifted to face him. He silently lifted his arm and nodded his head towards the area next to him, smiling when Logan, hesitantly, crawled under his arm and rested against his shoulder. Leo closed his arm, resting his hand gently on his shoulder and wrapped his other around his waist, pushing closer and resting his head on top of his curls.

“Go to sleep, Lo. We’ll wake in a bit.”

*

Leo groaned as silently as he could when he stretched his arm, mindful of the one still trapped under Logan’s head, squeezing his eyes shut. He sighed, lightly threading his fingers through Logan’s hair almost unconsciously, gazing down at him with a soft smile on his face.

He froze when he felt him move, nose scrunching up and eyebrows pulled together. Leo pulled him closer, wrapping his arm around his waist again, smiling wider when he rubbed his face on his shoulder.

“Lo,” he whispered, trailing a hand up and down his arm. He looked over at the clock, noting the time and then back down to Logan, his eyes fluttering open slowly. “Come on, breakfast is open,” he nudged him and laughed when he grumbled under his breath.

“What,” he yawned, stretching up and off Leo’s shoulder and he tried to ignore the chill that crept back into his bones when his weight disappeared. “What time is it?”

“Just after eight. Are you hungry?” He shuffled away from him when Logan sat up, his hair all over the place and eyes still dazed and soft.

“Yeah, a little. Didn’t eat much last night. You didn’t eat at all. Come on,” he yawned again, staring down at him with his head tilted to the side, a curious and wondering look in his eye, reserved normally for when he stared at Leo. It always confused him.

Neither of them moved. Leo stayed rooted to the spot, pushing his hair away from his face as Logan gazed down at him and held his breath as he silently moved back down to lay beside him again. Leo shifted, laying on his side to face the older boy, heart rate spiking as he shuffled closer. Logan continued to look at him, deeply and focused, making butterflies erupt in his stomach and fly up towards his throat.

He flinched slightly when a hand came up to his face and he watched Logan halt for a moment before cupping the side of his jaw. His thumb moved methodically across his cheek and down to the side of his neck, eyes following his strokes.

“Have I ever told you,” Logan started and Leo let his eyes drop to his mouth for a brief second before flickering back up to his eyes. Logan noticed. “Have I ever told you how…how beautiful you are?” He trailed off into a whisper near the end and Leo’s breath caught in the back of his throat.

He swallowed harshly and shook his head, eyes trained on the spot beside Logan’s head, his hand still resting on his face. “No,” he coughed into his shoulder, breaking the contact between them. Logan was quick to get his hand back to where it was before. “No, you haven’t.”

“Well you are,” he murmured, fingers moving across the whole of his jaw, trailing up to rub under his eyes. “Your eyes…merde your eyes are gorgeous. They’re my favourite thing.” Leo felt the heat crawl up his cheeks and he knew Logan could feel the heat if the soft smile on his face was anything to go by. He didn’t stop him from talking, not yet. This was the most Logan had ever talked about his feelings about anyone with him. He wasn’t ruining this.

Logan’s fingers trailed down and traced the pink across his cheeks and nose, focused and delicate. “Your blush, I love your blush. I love how it brings out your freckles. Je les adore,” the French brought a smile to his face and Logan instantly went down to his dimples. “And these…I don’t know what I would do without them but my god they are distracting,” he let out a quiet laugh and moved his face further into his hand. His fingers reached his bottom lip and Leo stopped breathing, eyes watching Logan’s every move.

“Your lips are distracting as well. I always catch myself staring at them without meaning to. Je veux toujours t'embrasser,” he closed his eyes and breathed out slowly onto Logan’s finger. “Leo…”

He cracked open his eyes and Logan was significantly closer than he was before, eyes glancing down at mouth and then back to his eyes, asking a silent question. He moved with him, eyes fluttering closed again and then their lips met. Leo didn’t know what he was expecting to happen, fireworks or thunder. It was neither. It was soft and tender and questioning and Leo surged forward, deepening the kiss and Logan gasped, clutching his face closer. It was so much better. It was like everything fell into place, the last piece of the jigsaw missing for months, the final star joining up in a constellation, a key slotting into the right keyhole after a hundred wrong ones. It was everything he could have wanted and everything he was expecting with Logan, bursts of light going off in his head and a pressure releasing off his heart.

They broke away, gasping into each other’s mouths and Leo unconsciously trailed after him letting his nose trail across Logan’s and down his face, across his jaw. “You’re amazing,” he whispered out, eyes still squeezed shut. “You’re fantastic. There is so much I could say about you. I could write poems upon poems about your eyes and watch you talk for days on end. You’re gorgeous, Logan.”

They breathed each other in, slowly, basking in the silence and the atmosphere they left around them. “I want to talk about this,” Logan whispered back. “I want to talk about us. I’ve wanted this for so long, Leo.”

“Me too. Me too. I need to know what you want from me, what you want from us. And we will talk about this. But I can hear your stomach grumbling and breakfast is going to close eventually. We can talk over food or we can eat and come back here and talk here,” he trailed off and reached down for Logan’s hand in the sheets, grasping it tightly within his own. He leaned across and pressed their lips together again, sighing into it, and he felt Logan melt into his arms.

He pulled away regretfully, raising an eyebrow at him and smiled as Logan groaned, pulling the two of them up. “I hope the food here is good,” Leo hummed in agreement as they pulled on their shoes, Leo grabbing a sweater from the chair and pulling it over his head before walking to the door, following Logan out.

They made it down the lobby area, smiling at the man at the desk who nodded over at them and walked into the restaurant. It was surprisingly less busy than Leo was expecting it to be, but then again, it had been open for a couple of hours already.

They settled down at a table opposite each other in a corner, away from any prying eyes and turned to the menu. “I’m glad we’re doing this,” he said suddenly and Logan looked up at him from above the top of the page. “This is a little exciting. Really scary, but so exciting. And I’m glad I’m doing it with you. One of many adventures it seems.”

Logan grinned at him and reached over to squeeze his hand quickly before reaching for his phone. “I think after this we should go to the room for a while and then go out into the town. Look around at home for the next three weeks. Right now we don’t need to worry about where our next step is going to be. Right now, me and you are going to enjoy our Christmas away from hell and in this amazing little village.”

Leo nodded at him and sighed glancing out the window at the area around them, the small shops bustling with people who looked overjoyed, to the school over at the other side of the street, children outside getting ready to go inside.

“Hi,” he jumped out of his daze when a voice sounded from above him and he turned, seeing a pair of hands holding a pad and pen.

He heard Logan’s intake of breath when he looked up at the same time as he did and he couldn’t find it in himself to feel anything bad about it. He made the same noise and he knew it. But his eyes were currently glued on the man who stood in front of them, tall and bent over slightly, leaning on the empty table behind them. Leo let his eyes go up to his face, covered in freckles, a small blush on his cheeks from their stares most likely, up to his eyes, almost like melted bronze mixed with gold and then swirled with a dark brown. He landed on a pile of red hair, pulled back by a headband away from his face.

He moved to stand tall and Logan and he turned their faces away quickly, glancing at each other out of the corner of their eyes. “Hi, good morning, I’m your server for the day. What can I get for you?”

He let his eyes glance down at the name tag. Finn. Finn Finn Finn. He looked back up at his face, an amused smirk stretching across his cheeks and he ducked his head down, scanning the menu quickly.

“Um..I’ll have the Breakfast Burrito, please and some water for the table,” he nodded, writing it down before his eyes went to Logan.

“And for you?” He drawled, and Leo watched the moment Logan almost gasped, his body slouching down and his pupils blown wide. “What can I get for you, love?”

“The pancakes. Maple syrup, please,” he managed to get out, and Leo reached his foot out to knock against his, desperate to have some kind of contact with him.

His gaze snapped up to her and he lowered his hand from where it was fiddling with his lip. He adjusted his snapback and pulled the strings of his sweater, pulled on hurriedly as he followed the ambulance out to the hospital. He nodded along, shifting slightly, wincing at the pain that throbbed through his eye.

“We’ve been in this position before with Finn and concussions and I strongly recommend keeping a very close eye on him for the first week, week and a half at least. Don’t leave him on his own for long periods of time and keep him away from too much extraneous activity,” Logan felt himself blush slightly at the raised eyebrow, but he nodded nonetheless. “No phones, at least not for longer than ten minutes. Keep him away from exercise until he’s been cleared.”

“But he should be okay, yeah?” He rushed out, voicing the question that had been in his head for the whole two hours he had to wait to speak to the doctor.

She smiled at him softly, nodding her head. “He should be perfectly fine, honey. But since this is his second in such little time, we need to be more careful. We’ll be checking in with your PT, which he will need to see multiple times within the recovery process, and whenever he feels himself getting worse. You’re his roommate, so I trust your judgement to take him to see them when he needs to, as well as to make sure he takes medication when he feels pain. Other than that, there’s not much else we can do at this very moment about the concussion. The stitches should dissolve within the next week, so just keep an eye on the cut and change his dressings. But he should be ready to go within the next hour. Let me know if you need anything else. I’ll send Leo over as soon as I can.”

She smiled at him, reaching over to place down the clipboard before leaving the room. Logan sank into the chair next to Finn, reaching over and grabbing his hand, squeezing softly. “Scared the hell out of me, Finn.”

His hand was squeezed back gently and he looked up to Finn’s face, bruised and swelled, eyes shut, a small frown on his face. He leant forward, brushing the hair off his forehead softly placing a kiss to the side as carefully as he could, minding the cut on his head.

“I’m fine. Just a cut. The concussion will go away soon and I’ll be back to normal in no time. I’m okay, baby.”

Logan held back a sob and rested his head on their conjoined hands. “No, you’re not. I know you hate it when I jump into fights and I never knew how it felt from the outside and I do now and I can’t, Finn, I can’t go through this again. Not when it’s this bad, not when you’re this bad. I can’t,” he trailed off in a whisper and Finn’s grip tightened on him.

“Logan, I’m okay. It’s always not as bad as it sounds, you know that. I’ll be fine in a month, tops, and the two of us will be back on the ice kicking ass all over again,” his voice was rough and Logan winced when he saw his face contort in silent pain.

“Sh. Don’t talk, sweetheart, don’t talk if it hurts,” he smoothed down the side of his head, pulling away at the whimper it brought and moved down to cup his jaw. “Just rest my love. Just rest.”

Logan felt his own eyes drooping slightly, and he slouched back in his chair, bringing his hand back to Finn’s, watching his breath even out before he dropped off. He smiled to himself, tilting his head and watching him with soft eyes before his own closed and he dropped into sleep as well.

*

Leo rushed through the hospital corridors the minute he caught word that Finn was there, shrugging off his white coat and dropping everything in his hands. He felt his heart creep into his throat at every bad thought that entered his head into why he would be here. He knew they had a game tonight, knew that it hadn’t been that long since Finn recovered from the last concussion and felt bile enter his mouth as the worry increased tenfold.

“Finn. Finn O’Hara, what room,” he rushed to the desk, grabbing gently onto Lily’s arm where she was sorting through paperwork. “Lily, I know you were with him, what room?”

Lily shushed him, grabbing his arm gently and dragging him away from where people were starting to give him looks. “Leo, breathe. He’s okay, just another concussion and a cut. He’s in room 54, down the hall. You’re done for the night, okay? Go see him and get back to your dorms alright? I’ll let Remus know and you can start up a little bit earlier when your next experience day is. Go,” she urged and he breathed out a thank you before setting off again, although it was a lot calmer than last time, ignoring the stares he got as he pushed past.

He reached the door and took a deep breath, settling his shaking hands and calming himself down before going in. He sighed in relief at the sight of Finn, looking to be significantly more in one piece than he was expecting, and he hurried over to his side, looking over his face and holding back tears as he examined him, hands ghosting over his body.

He heard something move beside him but ignored it in favour of reaching over and grabbing his board, eyes scanning through the injuries and the care programs, nearly jumping out of his skin when a hand landed on his shoulder.

“Hi, Lo,” he whispered out, turning around and taking Logan into his arms, clutching him against his chest. “Are you okay? Is he alright? What happened?”

“Sh, take a breath, darling,” Logan pulled back, rubbing his hands up and down Leo’s side, calming him down and pulling him over to sit on his chair. He sighed as he sunk down, and smiled at the comforting weight of Logan as he settled on top of him. “He’s okay. Concussion and cut. Out for around another month and a bit. He’ll be fine. I’ll be there to watch over him when he starts to come back to the ice, and you’ll be there to get him all better again, little doctor to be,” he teased, but it fell flat, Leo’s eyes stuck on Finn's head. “He’s okay, Leo.”

“What happened?” He asked again, taking his eyes away and letting them flick over to Logan instead, gripping his waist tighter. “Oh my god, Logan, your eye.”

Logan moved away from his outstretched hand, grumbling slightly, batting it away. “I’ve been looked at, don’t worry. Just a rough hit when I went after the guy that got Finn,” his nose flared and Leo rubbed his hip slowly, brushing over his tattoo with his thumb. “It was a rough hit. Knocked him right into the boards head-first. Smashed his helmet into his face. It was lucky it didn’t hit his eye,” he sucked in a breath, eyes going back to Finn.

He reached over, grabbing his hand, leaning his head onto Logan’s shoulder. “It hasn’t been that long since his last one,” he mumbled and Logan shifted in his arms so he was facing Finn.

“You’re the doctor here, baby. You’ll know how bad it is and how we can help him. With you he’ll be perfectly fine,” he nodded absentmindedly, nuzzling further into his neck, pressing a soft kiss just below his jaw.

“I’ll get him all better again,” he confirmed and leant back into his seat more, bringing Logan along with him, keeping Finn in his hand, grip tight and not letting go.

*

Finn blinked his eyes open slowly, groaning at the bright light, turning his head. He winced when pain throbbed in his skull, his hand coming up to touch along the bandage. Right, he was in the hospital.

“Hey, sweetheart,” a voice whispered in his ear and he slowly turned his head to the other side, smiling at the mop of blonde curls sat by his side, blue eyes clouded with worry and mouth turned up into a small frown.

“Hi, my little doctor,” he teased and Leo rolled his eyes. Finn ignored their dampness for now and shifted more onto his side, Leo’s hand shadowing around him. “I got it, baby. Now, this is a sight I love waking up to. I remember a similar one last time I was in this hospital bed. Although this time, I get to do this,” he leant forward, pressing his lips to his gently, Leo smiling into his mouth, hands cupping his jaw.

“This time, I’m scared out of my mind,” Leo sighed when they broke away. “Having to find out my boyfriend is in the hospital while on one of my work experience days is not what I want.”

“But think of the memories, Leo, all the deja vu. We met in this exact same situation,” he shrugged. “And I'm kinda glad it’s one of the days you’re here. At least you don’t have to rush here from campus,” he watched Leo nod and smiled at him. “Now, where’s our fighty boy and how much damage did he cause while I was out.”

Leo huffed out a laugh. “He’s a little black and blue, but he’ll be alright when I’m done with him,” he shrugged and Finn sat himself up, knowing there was a small frown on his face. “Hey, he’s okay. I’m sure the other guy looks worse than him.”

He nodded, glancing down at their joint hands. “So, what’s the diagnosis, doc? How long am I out?” He joked, raising his eyebrows, swallowing down the wince of pain. It was worth it to see Leo’s happy smile.

“Well, you have a concussion, again. A deep gash on your forehead, all stitched and wrapped up. You’ll be off the ice for at least a month if not longer, so you’ll miss the last few games of the year. Hopefully, you’ll be all better by Christmas, you can’t fly home if you’re still concussed. But you will be fine. I’ve got you, I'll take care of you,” Leo stressed, face firm and determined.

“I’m not expecting anything else from my doctor in training. Need my boy to take care of me, and Lo as well as it seems. I know you will.”

Both of them turned their head to the door, watching Logan sneak through, clearly trying to be as quiet as he could. “We’re both awake, Lo,” Leo called out, stifling a laugh.

Logan jumped slightly, turning to face the two of them, with a sheepish smile on his face. “Well, how was I supposed to know?” He moved into the room, perching beside Finn and letting his eyes scan across his face. “The swelling’s gone down a bit, that’s good. The doctor said we can go whenever you’re ready to.”

Finn looked over to Leo. “Is that right, doctor? I can go whenever I want to?”

“If Lily says that, then yes you can,” he laughed out and Finn caught both him and Logan smiling at the sight, his scrunched up nose and dimples out.

“You’re so adorable, baby,” he whispered, and Leo stopped, looking over at him and then at Logan, who was nodding in agreement. “I know you hate seeing us like this, but I’m so grateful that I got that concussion,” Leo cocked his head in slight confusion. “If I didn’t, we wouldn’t have met you.”

*

Logan was a mess and he knew it. He let himself hit the wall, hands grasping at his chest to slow down his breathing, eyes wide and frightened. He knew he was being stared at. He knew he looked horrible, face pale, almost grey, and hair sticking up all over the place. But he didn’t care. All he cared about was the fact that he had just watched Finn get wheeled away from him, wincing and holding back tears, whispering about his head over and over.

Someone crouched down in front of him and he turned his head away, not wanting to cause a scene. “Hey, can you hear me?”

The man’s accent was heavy, clearly southern and young. He looked over in his direction and felt the air go back to his lungs when he took a deep breath in. Blonde, blue-eyed and dimples, maybe a year younger than him. Logan didn’t want to look away.

“Okay, you can hear me. Can you breathe for me, nice and slowly?” He did what he asked, almost like he was in a trance, only able to follow his directions. “Good, good. My name’s Leo. I’m here for work experience. I go to Harvard. You’re Logan, aren’t you? You’re on the hockey team, and I’ve seen you in here a couple of times as well. What are you doing on the floor?”

“My…Finn. Finn, he’s been taken into a room down there. He’s hurt and they won’t let me in to see him,” he started panicking again, his breathing picking back up.

“Hey, no, we were doing so well, come on, keep breathing. Finn’s going to be fine. My supervisor Remus is with him and he’s getting checked out. He’s going to be okay. Are you hurt?”

He watched him scan his body quickly and shook his head. “No, no, I’m okay. Just my knuckles. Bloodied the other guy a little bit.”

Leo laughed. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me too much. How about this? I’ll get these cleaned up for you and then I’ll take you to go and see Finn whenever we can. It’s most likely going to be as soon as we’re done. Okay? Does that sound good?”

He nodded and let Leo pull him up and he almost fell back down again when he saw his height. “How tall are you?”

Leo laughed again. “I’m 6’1 and still growing. I’m only 19 so I have a bit more time left. I grew three inches in just a couple of weeks once, so I’m guessing I’ll get another couple more and then stop.”

Logan nodded along. 19. So he was the same age as him. Maybe the same year, but most likely not, since he’d never seen him before.

“You’re studying to be a doctor?”

“Yeah, I am. Wanted to play hockey like you when I was younger but found I had a knack for cleaning people up better than actually playing. But I’m decent.”

They’d reached an empty room by now, and Leo situated him and the bed, holding out his hand. Logan dropped his into it and watched him assess his knuckles. “All good?”

Leo nodded, turning his hand and leaning over to grab some liquid and cotton. “Yeah, they’re fine. There’s no need for stitches but they’ll bruise quite a bit. I’ll get them cleaned and wrap them up and you should be good to go. This’ll sting,” he warned and pressed the cotton onto his knuckles.

Logan sucked in a harsh breath, squeezing his eyes shut. “Merde, Leo,” he glared at him when he laughed and winced again when he moved to the next one, brushing away the blood and wrapping his hand.

“There you go, all done. You're good.”

Logan nodded, clutching his hand close. “We can go and see Finn now?”

Leo smiled, helping him up and nodding his head towards the door. “Yeah, we can go see Finn.”

They headed down the hall again and Logan rushed into the room Leo led him to, sighing when he saw Finn propped up on the bed, smiling tiredly over at him.

“Hi, baby,” he mumbled out, still half asleep, and Logan was by his side in an instant.

“Hi,” his voice wobbled and he ducked his head to push the tears back. “Are you okay? What did they say?”

He watched Leo wander over and grab his clipboard, scanning the sheet. “Concussion. A pretty bad one as well. Other than that, there’s no more serious injuries.”

Finn squinted up at Leo and Logan smiled at him, grabbing his hand. “And who are you?”

Leo glanced at him, a grin lighting up his face and Logan’s eyes narrowed onto his dimples for the second time. “I’m Leo. I go to Harvard with the two of you. Same year as Logan, I think. But I’m training to be a doctor and Dr Lupin is my supervisor. I saw your boy here panicking on the floor. Cleaned him up a little and here we are.”

Finn turned back to Logan. “There’s no need to panic, darling,” he whispered. “You heard the doctor, it’s only a concussion.”

“Trainee doctor,” Leo pointed out, moving to check on Finn’s glazed over eyes. “Follow my finger for a second, okay?”

“Fine. You heard the baby doctor, Logan, it’s just a concussion,” but he followed Leo’s instructions, cracking up when the boy sighed deeply, Logan joining him.

“Yeah, very funny. You’re okay. Your eyes might be a little bad for the next few days, but it looks like your vision is fine.”

“Looks like those glasses are going to be on more, Logan,” Finn winked at him and Logan stifled a groan. He really didn’t need that image in his head.

“Well, I’d best be off then. I hope everything goes well. I know it must suck to be out so soon into the season but you’ll be back on the ice in no time. Lupin give you a recovery sheet?” Finn nodded. “Good. Well, then I hope I don’t see you back here very soon.”

“Leo, wait,” Logan looked over at Finn who was attempting to sit himself up. Leo got to him first, wrapping his arms around his waist and lifting him up, whispering careful under his breath. “Thank you,” he breathed out.

“No problem. What do you need from me?” He moved away to stand at the end of the bed and Logan moved to sit by Finn's side directly into the mattress.

“I need you to stay,” Logan’s head shot to Finn who was looking at him and he saw the look in his eyes and knew that there was a matching one in his own. He nodded slightly smiling at him widely and turned back to Leo, resting his head on his shoulder.

Leo looked at the two of them confused. “Need me to stay? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay. But that’s not what I meant. Are you free in…a week?” Leo nodded mutely, still confused. “Well, I should be better by then, at least to do something. Do you want to get a drink with us? Or a meal? Or, if I’m not healed by then, come to ours and have dinner there?” Logan rested his hand on his knee, rubbing softly, silently telling him to stop rambling.

“Like…” Leo started and visibly swallowed. “Like on a date?” The two of them nodded, smiling softly at him. “But you don’t know a thing about me.”

“Exactly. We want to know more about you, if you want to,” they started to worry a little now, Logan stiffening slightly when Leo didn’t answer.

He swallowed again and nodded, quickly, a smile taking over his face and his dimples appearing again. Logan looked away, this time letting out his groan. Fucking dimples.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’ll go out with you.”

*

“That doesn’t mean you should keep going and getting more concussions,” Leo said wetly, and the three of them laughed, reaching over for him, settling him between them. “I mean it, no more getting hurt on days when I'm here otherwise I’ll start to think you’re doing it just to see me.”

“Why would we need to get hurt to see you?” Finn watched Logan whisper to him, crowding up against his back. “We can see you around campus, around town, in our dorm room, in our bed.”

Leo let out a soft smile, eyes slipping closed. “Yeah,” he breathed out.

Finn sighed at the two of them, shifting again into a more upright position. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m ready to leave this place and go home.”

They laughed again and nodded, the two of them helping him up. “Yeah, of course we are. I’m staying at your place tonight though.”

“And tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that,” Logan teased into his ear and Leo pushed him away. “You don’t leave our room, love.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. You say that you don’t want me to be there.”

“If it were up to me, you would never have to leave. We could stay there all cuddled up all day,” Finn added and the two of them grabbed a hand and gently pulled him up.

“Well the sooner we get out of here, the sooner we can cuddle. Easy does it, Harz, slow movements. Mind your head.”

They got out of the room a lot later than Finn would have liked to, but Leo and Logan were adamant that he slowed down. He let Leo cover his eyes when they left the room and he squeezed them as tight as he could without hurting his head. They lead him out and through the doors outside, heading over to Logan’s car, sitting both him and Leo into the backseat, most of his weight resting in the taller boy.

“We’ll be home soon. You should ring Alex when we get there, let him know that Christmas is to be confirmed. They might make the journey up here instead,” Logan looked back at them through the mirror, smiling at the sight of them snuggled together. “But right now, you two sleep. You’ve been here all day, Le, go to sleep, love. Finn…is already asleep.”

He was woken up by car doors closing and the feeling of being lifted up. He tightened his grip around Leo’s frame instantly, pressing closer to him as he climbed the stairs and went through the open door. He could hear Logan talking to their teammates, most likely explaining everything, but he and Leo went the other way, up the stairs towards his dorm room.

He placed him down, grabbing a pair of his sweats and a hoodie that Finn knew belonged to Leo and helped him undress from his training clothes. He settled down, letting Leo cover him up with the blanket on the side and watched him with sleepy eyes sit down next to him.

“Harzy…” he whispered, stroking back his hair softly. “What are we gonna do with you, huh? Concussion after concussion.”

“You gonna be here when I wake up, Knutty?”

He smiled when he felt another hand in his hair and pushed into it, more calloused and rough than the slim fingers curled around the strands by his neck. He looked up at Logan, at his mesmerising green eyes and his soft but worried smile and let himself relax further into his bed.

He had been waiting for what felt like months for this day, to finally meet the author of the book that finally convinced him to try out the whole ‘reading in your spare time hobby’. It had done a pretty good job, and Sirius’ version of the book was tattered, edges fraying. He had tried to keep it in the best condition he could but he was constantly reaching over for it to read whenever he had the time to.

He spied the new editions, the perfect edges and the shining cover and shook his head. No, he was going to have his original book signed. It would mean nothing if he got a new one that he’d never touched branded. This one, no matter how destroyed it looked - it really wasn’t as bad as he was making it out to be - had been with him through hell. This is the one he wanted signing.

He sighed, not able to get any further through the crowds and stood dejected at the back, watching the women fight and push their way through. He had no idea why they were so worked up so fast. R.J. Lupin wasn’t even here yet, and wouldn’t be for at least another twenty minutes.

He moved further back into the shelves, being pushed out of the way and groaned, turning around and heading down the aisle. He glanced through the shelves, rolling his eyes when the two women involved began to yell at each other. He turned his attention to the books around him, pulling a couple out and reading the back. He sighed, placing it back and slumping down slightly, bringing up the tattered back higher to his chest.

“Nothing here taking your fancy?” He glanced beside him, a man picking up the same book he did and skimming over the description. He winced before doing the same, placing it back and positioning himself so he was face to face with Sirius. “Yeah, I have to agree on that. Big no.”

He laughed, turning to look at the mysterious stranger and let out a small gasp. The guy was taller, taller than him, at least head taller. His dark brown curls were hidden beneath a red beanie, flopping his hair into his eyes. Speaking of eyes…he couldn't see them. They were covered in huge sunglasses, taking up the majority of his upper face and he couldn’t help the disappointment. His smile made up for it more than enough, blinding and huge, all pearly whites and the starts of small dimples in each corner. His eyes skimmed down the rest of his body as discreetly as he could, though judging by the way his smile turned into a smirk, it wasn’t very discreet.

“Yeah, nothing good for me here,” he replied, leaning back against the shelf, quickly looking up at the aisle sign. “Although, this is the crime section. Not my sorta thing.”

“And what’s your sorta thing? Something like that one,” he nodded his head down to the book in his hand and Sirius felt himself unconsciously smiling. For some reason, it made the stranger smile too.

“Oh, yeah. Though, there’s nothing out there like this book. Never will be unless Lupin writes another.”

“That good, huh?”

“Of course,” he was a little shocked at the defensiveness in his tone and he smiled sheepishly up at the man. “Sorry. You ever read it?”

“Can’t say I have. Maybe you should tell me more about it? Maybe over a drink?” He questioned, and Sirius felt the breath knock out of his lungs.

“I don’t even know your name,” was all he could reply and he smiled at the man’s hearty laugh.

“Okay. My name is Remus. There, you know my name. What do you say?”

“I’m Sirius,” he replied back easily, the only thought going through his mind right now was Remus on constant replay.

“So am I! My name is Remus. Do you want to go for a drink with me and you can tell me all about this book that’s like no other?”

He pulled a face, eyebrows scrunching up at the comment before realisation spread through him and he let out a small snicker. “No, I know you’re serious. I mean my name. It’s Sirius, like the star.”

Remus just stared at him for a second, and Sirius wished he could see his eyes before he began to grin. “Well, that’s a name and a half. Right then, Sirius, would you like to come out with me?”

“I would love to,” he answered, but frowned again, glancing down at his book. “But I’m here for a book signing that starts soon. Maybe another time?” He asked hopefully.

Remus hummed, looking over at the crowds of women. “How about I wait here for it to finish and we can head off after? If I trust anyone’s judgment of the book besides yours, it’s the authors.”

He hesitated, glancing around until his eyes were back on Remus. “You don’t have to. It’s your choice?” He got an enthusiastic nod of his head. “Okay. I’ll be quick.”

“I don’t want you to rush, I want you to enjoy yourself, take your time. I’ll be here when you’re done.” It sounded like a promise.

*

He had managed to shove himself to the front of the group, a little over to the left than the middle. He glanced nervously over to the door at the front of the shop where Remus was supposedly waiting - though he couldn’t see him at all - and over to the door to the back room where R.J. Lupin was getting ready to come out. He was shaking in excitement, book clutched to his chest and he held his breath as the announcer came forward and welcomed him out. And then he felt it drop to his toes.

Out stepped Remus, glasses off and beanie clutched in hand, the same small-dimpled smile and lanky figure a head taller than himself. He brushed past him reaching out to grab his shoulder softly as he walked by, not meeting his eyes, and Sirius wasn’t sure what to think right now.

He half-heartedly listened as he was introduced in front of everyone, ignoring the hidden worried glances he shot his way. “Hi everyone. Thank you so much for coming. Now, I know some of you have been waiting here for a while and have places to be, so let’s get through this as quick as we can.”

With that, queues began forming, and this time Sirius let himself be pushed towards the back, body still seemingly frozen in shock. The queue of people was obviously not going down as fast as Remus wanted it to, and Sirius could see him huff every time he glanced in his direction to see that he had barely moved.

He heard the laughs of both Remus and the customer in front and felt his stomach drop when he realised just how close he was to the front. He turned behind him, seeing a couple more people behind him and he waited until Remus’ eyes were focused on the book placed in front of him before looking back at them.

“Hey,” their heads shot around from where they were trying to catch a glimpse of Remus. “You wanna go in front of me?”

Their eyes widened and they nodded almost comically, making him have to hold back his laughter. He tried to be as quiet about it as he could but when he made it back in line and looked up to Remus he could see the hurt flash across his face before he steeled it, turning back to the woman in front of him.

He reached the front far sooner than he would have liked to, even after switching with everyone he could. When he did come face to face with Remus, he silently placed his book down on the table, opening it to the front page.

Remus opened his mouth a couple of times before swallowing harshly, nodding to himself and grabbing the book, pulling it closer to him. Sirius kept his gaze towards the window, bouncing on his toes, smiling when it was nudged against his hand.

“Have a great rest of your day,” he heard Remus mumble and took a deep breath, steeling himself for a bad reaction. He closed his eyes, hearing Remus start to move and reached forward blindly for his hand.

“Well that’s up to you, isn’t it? I believe I was promised coffee with the cute guy at the crime aisle to talk about this fantastic book,” he lifted it up, shaking it slowly. “Is this offer no longer on the table?”

“Hey,” he whispered, reaching above and grabbing his elbow, directing his attention over to him. He sat up straighter and turned his body over to him, rubbing soft circles into his skin. “Don’t be nervous. It’s not too bad.”

“Yeah,” Regulus scoffed, eyes cast down. “It’s not too bad that we get sent to a camp for Christmas because our parents don’t want us there.”

“Hey,” he was firmer this time, and Regulus looked up at him. “Don’t say that. You don’t know that,” he rolled his eyes. “You’ll make friends here. There are lots of other eighteen-year-olds.”

“Why are you still coming here? You’re twenty, you don't have to come to Kids Christmas Camp. I don’t have to come here. I can spend Christmas with you somewhere else.”

“I spend my time here because I am a councillor. You spend time here because I don’t want you to spend Christmas on your own. This is your first year here. This is my fourth. I’m not letting you stay here on your own.”

He sighed, hands twitching together again. “I don’t know why I’m here,” he whispered, and Sirius heard the emotion in his voice. “They never asked me to go somewhere else before.”

“That’s because you were younger, Reg,” he grabbed one of his hands. “You weren’t able to go anywhere else, they couldn’t send you away.”

“You came here from sixteen. You did it.”

“That’s because I left. They didn’t even know I was gone, Reg, and I couldn’t stay there. I’m sorry they are doing this to you now, but trust me, you’ll have a much better Christmas here than you would with them. Believe me.”

He only nodded, turning his face to stare out the window and Sirius sighed, patting him on the knee gently before moving to open the door, a wide smile already forming on his face as he looked over his Christmas home, seeing children already running around and adults chasing after them. He was going to make this a good Christmas for Reg. No matter what.

He popped open the trunk, grabbing both of their suitcases out and walking around to Regulus’ side, leaning against the car while he got out. He nodded over at his case and smiled again when he received an eye roll and it was snatched out of his hand.

“Okay, he started, walking over towards the main house, Regulus right behind him. “We’ll find out which cabin you’re in first and get you set up and then I’ll show you around myself.”

“Are you allowed to do that?”

“My brother, my rules,” he heard a snicker. “You better hope you’re not a member of my cabin Reg. That behaviour will not be allowed,” he teased as they pushed open the door.

“Yeah, whatever,” he murmured from behind him and he grinned.

His grin widened as he caught sight of two people and before his brother could question it, his suitcase was on the floor and he was sprinting over, slamming into both of them.

“You are too old to be doing that now, mon fils,” Dumo whispered to him while Celeste stroked his hair back from his face. They all turned back to face Regulus, whose eyes were downcast, feet scuffing against the floor. “This must be Regulus? Sirius talks about you all time when he’s here.”

He looked up, smiling softly and Sirius beckoned him over, wrapping him under his arm. “Yep, this is Reg. These are Pascal and Celeste Dumais, the heads of camp.”

They waved to him Sirius grinned when it was returned, pulling him closer towards him. “Nice to meet you Regulus. The first year is always the hardest but you should be fine. The councillors are all very friendly, along with the staff and kids. You aren’t the first and won’t be the last to arrive who has never been here before, so you don’t need to worry about that. And you have Sirius here, of course. It doesn’t look like he's going to let you leave his side,” Dumo teased and Sirius scoffed.

“He can leave every once in a while. I’m not going to hold him captive,” he turned his body to face the Dumais directly. “Right, I’ll sign him in and get him unpacked. Which cabin is he staying in?”

Celeste checked her list, scanning down until he found his name. “We’ve put you in Snakes…but if you want to you can move to one of the cabins in your brother’s area? Slytherin rooms are on the other side of camp, so if you want to be closer to Sirius you can stay in a Gryffindor cabin? Whatever you decide.”

Sirius turned to Regulus whose eyes were already on him. “Where do you wanna go, Reg?”

He glanced around at everyone, twisting his hands together. “Um…can I unpack in my original dorm?” They nodded at him. “But…can I stay with Sirius for tonight? And maybe tomorrow as well?”

They hummed having a silent conversation with each other. “You can tonight. We’ll have to see about tomorrow night, we don’t want to go back with your roommates after too many nights away.”

Sirius grinned at the way Regulus face lit up and turned to Dumo. “My cabin this year is which one?”

“You’re in the cabin you normally stay in while you’re here. Lions,” he pumped his hands in the air. “James is with you, as always. Remus and Lily have got the Griffins this year.”

He nodded along, face no doubt comically happy. “Right. Them two together in one cabin against me and James in the other? On opposite teams in challenges. Really decided to pit the couples against each other this year, huh?”

He saw Regulus’ eyes snap up to him out of the corner of his eye, but he ignored it, for now, suppressing a smile. “Yes, well, when James and Lily are together it’s a nightmare, when Remus and James are together it’s a nightmare…I have no doubts you two will be even worse.”

“Hm…imagine if you put me and Remus together?” He laughed himself.

“And deal with the constant kisses and hugs? No thank you,” Celeste laughed and Dumo nudged her slightly. Sirius froze up slightly, and he felt Regulus do the same beside him.

“Yeah,” he rubbed the back of his neck, slowly reddening. “We should go and unpack,” he pointed behind him and then tilted his head in Regulus’ direction. “I’ll come by once I’ve shown him around. Is Remus here yet?”

“You are more likely to know that than I am, mon fils. But no, he’s a couple of hours away,” he nodded, reaching for Regulus’ arm.

“Right, so I’ll come by after I’ve seen Re,” he heard their snickers from behind him as he pulled Regulus out of the room and back into the grounds.

“Whose Remus? Who are James and Lily?”

“Unpack now, answer questions later. Come on, leave out some clothes to bring with you to the Lion cabin and we’ll put the rest in the Snakes. You want me to help you unpack?”

They walked in through the door of the cabin, the rest of Regulus’ roommates clearly not here yet, and Sirius directed them both over to the bunk in the far corner. “Um...yes, please. If you have time.”

He leant forward and ruffled his hair. “I’ll always have time to help you, Reg. If we get done quick enough, I can still show you around before lunch.”

*

Regulus sighed, sinking down on his newly made bed, Sirius flopping down next to him. “Well…that took far much longer than it needed to. You brought so much stuff, Reg! We’re here for a week and a half”

“Yeah, well maybe I’m planning to go somewhere else before I head home,” he groaned out, Sirius rolling over, digging his elbow into his side.

“And where might that be?” He smirked, turning his face away. “Oh, no, tell me where you’re going.”

He glanced back, nervous now and shifted onto his side. “With you, if you let me. I don’t want to go back home. Please don’t make me.”

Sirius’ face softened and he pushed himself up onto his elbow. “I’m not going to make you do anything. If you want to stay with me for a while, you can stay with me, absolutely. If I had it my way, you’d never be back in that house. Ever. But it’s up to you now, Reg, where you want to stay. You’re eighteen. You can go anywhere you want.”

He cleared his throat, nodding and looking away. “Cool. Okay,” he could feel Sirius’ smile from over here and tried to suppress his own. “How long until lunch?”

Sirius checked his watch and cursed quietly to himself. “Half an hour or so. Don’t have time to show you around completely but we walk past the main areas. I’m sure your roommates can show you the rest.”

He nodded again, dragging himself into a sitting position and stretching, wincing at the cracks of his bones. He sighed, standing up, watching Sirius groan as he did the same. He followed him out of the room, squinting at the bright sunlight and down the steep hillside to what looked like the main campsite.

“Right,” Sirius clapped his hands, and Regulus tried not to jump, scowling when his brother laughed under his breath. “This here is the Black Lake. You can go there whenever you want to, but try not to encourage the younger children to go there without a councillor or leader. You’ll go skating sometime later while we’re here since the lake has frozen over. But there’s not much else to do there during the winter.”

“Why is it called the Black Lake?” He peered over to look down, but all he could see was the frozen water.

“In summer, the water is so dark you can’t see anything beneath it. Even now if you clear away the frost you won’t be able to see anything but black.”

He looked down again, backing away from the surface slightly. “Huh…”

“So this is the Owlery. Don’t worry, there are no actual owls there but it’s an activity area in the camp where the younger ones write letters to family members while they stay since they don’t have a phone,” he nodded along, smiling when he saw young children bustling out holding glitter-covered paper. “The building next to it, is the Ravenclaw dorms. Two different cabins, the Ravens and Eagles. Across just over the other side of the lake is the Hufflepuff dorms. Again, two cabins, the Badgers and the Weasels-don’t laugh!”

He couldn’t help himself, snickering softly. “The Weasel Cabin. Who came up with these names?”

“The old founders of the camp. They named the dorms after themselves. I know,” he rolled his eyes. “Okay, the huge building in front of us is the Great Hall. We eat there, we have full camp meetings as well as small cabin group meetings, depending on the day. We’ll head there now and you can go beyond that with another councillor or roommate if you want. Now, though, we’re eating because I don’t know about you but I’m starving.”

Regulus nodded in agreement and they both started walking down. Sirius stopped suddenly and turned to him with a grin before taking off, laughing older his shoulder at him. He stayed frozen in shock for a moment before sprinting off down the path, hot on his brother’s toes.

“Merde, Sirius, a bit of warning next time,” he huffed, stopping by the door, leaning against the wall.

He heard him snicker. “You’re at a camp, little brother. Do you think you’ll be sitting out of activities like this?”

“I didn’t think I’d have to be running in the freezing cold and risk slipping on ice and injuring myself.”

“Always so negative. This will happen, bad, that will happen, even worse. Lighten up, Reg.”

The room was deafeningly loud when the two of them walked into the hall, and Regulus cringed slightly, closing his eyes and shuddering. He never liked too much noise. He felt Sirius grab his arm and lead him in a different direction and he found himself backed into a corner.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry, I didn’t realise so many people would be here today. Most people arrive tomorrow when camp is actually supposed to start. Will you be okay eating here?”

He nodded slowly, his ears slowly losing the ringing feeling and he blinked his eyes open. “Yeah, it’s fine. ‘M getting used to it now.”

Sirius straightened up. “Okay. You’re eating at my table today though, I’ll sit with the Lions instead of the head table-”

“You don’t need to do that. You don’t.”

He nodded anyway. “What kinda brother would I be if I let you eat here for the first time on your own. Anyway, there always has to be a councillor on the table, so I’ll just switch with James. By tomorrow you should be with the Snakes.”

He was dragged over to a table and plopped down in between two boys, Sirius clapping him on the shoulder before making his way to the head of the table, making quick conversation with others along the way.

“Hi,” the boy beside him said and he jumped slightly in his seat. “Woah, careful there. I’m Leo, nice to meet you.” He was tall, unnecessarily, tall, with blonde hair, a tuff at the front streaked grey. His eyes were blindingly blue, bright and powdery, filled with mischief and joy.

“I’m Regulus,” he answered back after Leo raised an eyebrow. “Sirius’ brother.”

“Oh, you’re the infamous Reg. He talks about you all the time. This your first year?” He nodded and cocked his head in a silent question. “This is my third. Been here since I was fifteen. My ma’s the cook here so we spend Christmas here instead of me being on my own back home. How come you’ve never come with Sirius before?”

He frowned glancing down at his empty spot and felt Leo tense up beside him when he noticed. He could tell he was going to apologise and he really didn’t want that, so he mustered up the best smile he could. “Someone had to stay with our parents, didn’t they,” he knew Leo could see it was fake, but he didn’t question it. “So, what do we do after this?”

Leo hummed taking a sip from his glass. “Well, we eat, sit for a while, wait for Dumo to give his welcome speech and then enjoy the day until dinner at six. You can just hang with me if you want? Are you in the Lion cabin or just here because Sirius forced you to be?”

He huffed out a laugh. “That obvious, huh? No, I’m in Snake cabin. I’m…not a fan of loud noises and this place is…pretty loud. So he wants me here to keep an eye on me.”

Leo gave him a soft smile. “He cares about you a lot, doesn’t he?”

Reg returned it. “Yeah, he does,” he turned to where Sirius was sitting, talking animatedly with his hands, glancing in his direction every now and then, grinning at him widely.

“Can you skate?”

He turned back to Leo. “Like…on the ice?”

“No, on your knees,” he teased. “Yes on the ice. After we’ve finished up in our cabin, we’re going skating. You wanna come with us? It’s just going to be me, Kasey and a few of the younger ones. Oh, and James and Sirius most likely,” he pointed out each person, who smiled at him kindly.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’ll come,” his voice was strangely soft and he smiled to himself, before focusing his attention back to the table around him, the food being placed in piles around them. “I’ll come with you.”

The people were friendly, strangers in front and behind him making conversation, though he blamed the holiday season for the cheery voices. The queue moved slow but steady and he was soon making his way to the front. He glanced around at the business and frowned slightly at the lack of tables.

“Hi, what can I get you,” he smiled at the man behind the counter, making him jump out of his thoughts and he looked down, reading his name tag. Pascal. He glanced up at the menu, filled full of specials and flavours he had never heard of.

“Um…hi, just a hot chocolate, please. The biggest you have,” he mumbled, smiling at the grin the older man sent him and moved over to let the old woman behind him order.

He bounced on his toes, trying to regain feeling in them while he waited, and smiled gratefully when his drink was passed over, full to the brim with whipped cream, a chocolate on the side. He turned to the main room and slowly walked through to try and grab an empty table.

He checked behind him, seeing the older woman grab a takeaway cup and breathed out in relief, taking the table beside him and sinking down into it. He stripped out his soaked-through coat and draped it on the back of the chair, feeling warmth sink into his bones

When he leant forward and took a big sip of his drink, he could have melted, and had to stop himself from going up and ordering three more. The heat got more intense suddenly and he turned to his right, nearly crying in relief when he saw Pascal place firewood in the fireplace, smiling at him over his shoulder.

He sighed again, reaching into his bag and pulling out a, thankfully, dry book, smoothing out the cover before turning to his marked page. He let himself fall back into his usual mindset, blocking out the sounds of coffee being made behind him and the scraping of chairs in front and around him, focusing solely on the words on the page. He barely let out a breath, turning the pages carefully, trying not to break the calm atmosphere he had created around his table.

It worked until he heard the chair in front of him pull back and he startled, glancing up and feeling all the breath he had let himself take, catch in the back of his throat when he caught sight of who was disturbing him. He suddenly didn’t feel like he was being disturbed and his heart stuttered at the shy smile he received from the stranger. The gorgeous stranger sat in the seat directly opposite him.

*

Sirius felt like he was moments away from passing out when he walked into his parent’s shop, taking one look at Dumo and taking the outstretched coffee. It was the quiet hour right now, in terms of the queue, but the place was packed, not a single table free as far as he could see. He could feel the nerves rise up when he realised and made to walk behind the counter and sit in the back with Celeste when he saw Dumo steering him the other way with his eyes.

He groaned and put on his best sad face but the older man shook his head. “Not today, mon fils. Celeste is busy and you’ll just distract her. People are table sharing so you have to as well.”

“Can’t you put my coffee in a takeaway cup and I can just take it home?” But that idea was shot down as well and he gave him his best glare before walking forward.

If there was one thing that he hated about how popular this place was, it was when Dumo and Celeste decided that they would introduce table sharing. It was his absolute worst nightmare every time it happened. He could barely talk to the people he knew for too long before his social battery ran out, and having to sit with strangers who would no doubt try and make conversation with him just scared him.

Normally Celeste would let him sit back with her when that happened, or take up another quick shift until the big groups were gone and he could sit down on his own but when it was Dumo behind the counter, he would do nothing more than steer him away. There have been times when he allowed him to stay if his anxiety looked like it would increase tenfold if he tried to talk to someone else other than him, but he had no excuse today. Other than being tired, he was completely fine with having conversations.

Still, he made sure could see the discomfort he felt very easily and ignored his scoff from behind him, scurrying forward with his coffee and sitting in the first free seat he could find, over in the corner by the fire, his usual place.

He paid no attention to whoever was in front of him for the first few seconds, placing his coffee and his bag down and cursing whoever it was that made Dumo so gifted at making coffee before finally glancing up to see who was there. He froze as he reached for his coffee, eyes wide and mouth slightly parted as he looked at the stranger in front of him, from his brown curls dangling just above his ears to his almost golden eyes staring at him down to where his long nimble fingers curled around the frayed pages of his book before going straight back to the eyes that were staring right at him. He smiled shyly, sitting further back in his chair.

“Hello. Sorry, there’s no other tables and Dumo is saying people need to table share. If it’s a problem, I can go somewhere else?” His voice was softer than he meant it to be and his words were quiet, but the beautiful stranger still managed to hear him and shook his head gently, eyes flicking back to his book before glancing back up at him, a slight blush on his face.

“No, it’s okay. You can stay here, there’s no problem,” Sirius felt his breath catch in his throat at the sound of his voice, and gulped harshly, nodding back, offering him another soft smile, returned before his face was shoved back into his book.

Sirius was glad that he was equally not interested in talking to him, but at the same time, he was a little disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to know who this person was. He sat there playing with his fingers for what must have been ten minutes, despite the piles of work sitting in his bag waiting to be done before he had to hand it into NYU when he went back up tomorrow to grab the last of his stuff for when he stayed at Dumo’s for Christmas.

He sighed and glanced out the window, frowning at the snowfall still coating the roads and streets and then back to his coat, still wrapped around him and dripping melted snowflakes onto the floor. He made a mental note to apologise to Dumo later and grab the mop before anyone could trip over it. He looked over to the boy in front of him and at his coat, placed on the rack by the fire, along with a woolly hat and a pair of gloves, and even though Sirius knew nothing about this man, not even his name, somehow it fit his vision of him perfectly.

He continued to flick his gaze between outside and the boy, occasionally looking over to Dumo serving the still growing crowd of people entering the shop and over to where he was pairing them up with others who had an empty seat at their table. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes at Dumo’s blatant attempt at matchmaking both friends and more. He had tried with him multiple times, but that was before he went back to NYU, when he was still closeted. Now Dumo let him choose for himself and he was both grateful and upset at his choice this time because here he was in front of a gorgeous stranger. A gorgeous stranger whose head is stuck in his book.

He shot a look over to the front cover and let a wide smile cross his face as he snuck a glance at the title of the book. He reached into his bag, letting out a soft laugh, and felt eyes on him, but he didn’t glance back up, just continued rooting around until he pulled out a matching book. He felt the gaze on him deepen as the man caught sight of the book he was holding and he flicked through until he found what he hoped was the same page before he began reading out loud, quietly, just between the two of them.

“‘I don’t know what to say’,” he saw the man’s head shoot up at him and his book lowered, his eyes now visible and trained on him. “‘It was scarcely the document that restrained me. I didn’t want to go anywhere else. Marfa Petrovna herself invited me to go abroad, seeing I was bored, but I’ve been abroad before’-”

“You’re around four pages behind,” the soft voice interrupted him and he looked up from where he was peering closely at his own book, eyes glancing at him through his eyelashes. It had the desired effect, and the boy began blushing furiously before setting his book down and turning to him. “I’m on page 263.”

Sirius looked at his page number and sighed, flopping back just a little bit more calmly than would seem dramatic. “Page 258, I’m afraid. Five pages behind.”

The other man nodded and turned fully to face him. “Well, I have to say, nobody has tried to start a conversation with me before by reading the same book out loud to me. Never mind, trying to guess my page number. Good guess, anyway.”

“Thank you,” he smiled and he saw the man’s smile get a little bit tighter before evening out again to look more genuine. “I’m Sirius.”

“About what?” He laughed at the man’s confused look. He’s adorable.

“No, my name. It’s Sirius,” still confused. “Like the star?”

Recognition lit up his face and his mouth dropped open into a silent ‘oh’. “Who the fuck decided to name their child Sirius?”

He laughed again. “You don’t even want to know the rest of their names then,” the man shook his head, a bright smile on his lips and he picked up his drink, taking a long sip before catching his eyes again.

“I’m Remus,” now it was Sirius’ turn to look confused and he barked out a laugh of his own.

“Who the fuck decided to name their child Remus? Don’t tell me you have a brother named Romulus?”

“I used to,” he answered, eyebrows rising in question and Sirius snickered, shaking his head and settling down further in his chair. “So, you know the owners?”

Sirius nodded. “Yeah, Celeste and Dumo. I live with them when I’m not in New York. They’re not my parents but they took me in when I left Slytherin.”

Remus listened to the rest of his brief story, and he kept out the harsh and upsetting parts. That was a story for a different day. Now, he just wanted Remus to know what he needed to about him and to get to know everything he possibly could about Remus.

“You’re not from here then? I can’t say the same. Born and raised right here and I’ve never left. Even went to college here.”

“Hmm, you’ve graduated,” a nod. “What did you study?”

Remus gave a pointed look down to his book and then back to him. “Guess.”

Sirius smiled softly to himself and looked down, pretending to think really hard before looking back up. “Well, the obvious guess would be literature, but I don’t think that’s it. Then again, the book you’re currently reading fits more into that category. Maybe some kind of classical study. A mix between them both,” he was rambling on to himself now and caught sight of Remus hiding his laugh in his palm. “Go on, put me out of my misery.”

He chuckled and leant forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Well, I kinda pointed you in the wrong direction. I majored in teaching. I specialise in teaching people of certain needs and health problems and learnt the skills to teach them in ways that they would understand. It should really be taught to all students majoring in teaching, but I want to work directly in that area. As for the book, I’m just a big reader,” he shrugged as if he hadn’t said the most amazing thing Sirius had heard all week and he looked at him with soft eyes and a gentle grin, watching the blush crawl up his neck.

“That’s amazing,” he made a disapproving sound at the shake of his head. “No, really. It’s amazing. You’re amazing.

“What about you? Graduated, studying or completely bypassed higher education?”

“God you really do have the teacher type voice though, don’t you,” he laughed at the look shot his way. “No, I’m still studying. I’m a student at NYU, majoring in Architectural Engineering and minoring in graphic design.”

Remus looked stunned for a moment, before regaining himself. “And you said, I’m amazing. Wow, that’s…wow. So you want to design buildings?”

“Yeah, basically. I don’t know how far I’ll get into that, but hopefully somewhere close enough,” now he shrugged off the praise, his blush stretching up to the tips of his ears, and he was thankful his hair covered them fully.

He glanced down to his mug, frowning at the lack of coffee in it and then over to Remus’ reaching right over the table to look inside. Empty too.

“What are you doing?” He looked up and jumped back, forgetting how far over Remus was leaning on his elbows and how close their faces suddenly were.

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Sorry. I’m going to get us some more drinks,” he jumped up, grabbing his card and walking back towards Dumo, whose eyes followed him all the way over.

“Wait, us?” He ignored Remus’ call from behind him and joined the back of the queue that was still formed, this time just slightly inside of the door.

Sirius shivered, the cold chill from right outside hitting him directly on his back, his flimsy jumper doing nothing to deter the wind. The line went down relatively fast, only taking five minutes and then he was standing in front of Dumo again.

“What can I get you, mon fils?” Dumo asked from where he was wiping down the counter. “And don’t say another coffee. It’s nearly four and I can guarantee that I just gave you your sixth of the day,” he rolled his eyes, but didn’t argue back or deny the statement.

“What was it that the man I’m sat with had? Was it just a regular hot chocolate?” He eyed up Celeste’s freshly baked pastries and looked back to Dumo, who was nodding with a grin curling up his lip. “Stop. I’ll have two more then. An extra chocolate on one of them and…a chocolate croissant please as well.”

Dumo just shook his head and nudged Logan beside him to start on the drinks, but not before he leaned over and gave him a tight hug. He hadn’t seen him since the summer since their college timetables were always interfering. He wasn’t even staying with Dumo this year either, instead spending the place at his ‘friends’’ house Finn and Leo, along with his little brother Regulus, until he joined him at Dumo’s in a couple of days. He was forever grateful that the two of them had found each other in college, the both of them studying just at Gryffindor College. He was just as grateful to Finn and Leo, who were both just fresh out of college themselves, for letting Regulus stay with them when he was off-campus.

He snapped out of his thoughts when Logan passed him his drinks and a bag, and he reached down to put his card in the machine when Dumo placed a hand over the top. “It’s on me, mon fils, for subjecting you to this horrible conversation and not letting you take your coffee home.”

Sirius just rolled his eyes and thanked him, going back to his chair and placing the tray down, Remus’ eyes following him until he sat down, a small smile of wonder on his face.

*

Sirius was up before Remus could get the words out to stop him and he sighed, leaning back into his chair and placing his book back in his bag. He had a feeling his reading time was over now. He sank down into the warmth surrounding him and then let himself laugh, a quiet but heartfelt laugh at the situation. Oh my god!

He glanced back over his shoulder to Sirius, seeing him hug someone behind the counter before ruffling their hair and he smiled at the scene before turning back to face the other way. The gorgeous boy was called Sirius. God, what a name. He was an architectural engineer major. Fucking genius. He was so nice and sweet and Remus felt his cheeks heat up when he let Sirius’ appearance float through his mind. He was so gorgeous.

When he placed down another hot chocolate in front of him as well as a chocolate croissant, he wasn’t too mad anymore that he was interrupted, and his book was long forgotten by his side. “Thank you. You didn’t have to get me anything.”

“How else was I going to make sure that this conversation kept going,” he shrugged, and Remus’ heart melted just a little bit at the sweet smile on his face.

“Well, I wasn’t going to leave just because my drink ran out. Believe it or not, I was enjoying myself.”

“Even more than you would be reading about Rodion Raskolnikov?”

“A lot more than I would have been reading about Rodion Raskolnikov,” he confirmed and he silently cheered to himself when that victorious little smile appeared on Sirius’ face. “So how long have you got left at NYU?”

“I’m in my last year. Then I’m moving back here with the Dumais for the first couple of years. Maybe get a place with my brother,” he shrugged, leaning down and taking a sip of his hot chocolate, a smudge of cream sticking to the corner of his mouth.

“You’ve got cream right there,” he pointed against his own mouth, smirking as Sirius struggled to lick it away. “Come-c’mere,” he waved him over, grabbing the tissue on the plate, and moving closer to him. He grabbed Sirius’ jaw gently in his palm and turned his head to the side, dabbing at the side of his mouth.

He felt Sirius freeze up and glanced up at him from where his gaze was firmly on his lips and took a deep breath in, feeling Sirius release it, the warmth hitting his face clearly from how close the two of them were.

“Sorry,” he murmured, letting go of his face but not moving backwards, eyes still trained on Sirius’ deep greys, mesmerising and captivating. It was so hard to look away from them.

“It’s okay. Thank you,” he mumbled back, moving backwards in his chair, coughing into the crook of his arm, and Remus could see the deep blush spreading up his neck.

“Don’t worry about it,” his voice regained its usual volume and he moved to grab his drink before settling back down, distracting himself with taking little sips over and over. He reached across for the croissant, breaking it in half, cursing when the crumbs spilt all over his lap, glaring when he heard Sirius laugh under his breath, and passed one half over to him. “Here, at least have some of it.”

He smiled, taking the outstretched croissant, their fingers brushing, lingering slightly longer than they should have. “Thank you.”

They kept themselves in silence for a while, eating and drinking, staring out of the window at the falling snow and the small children in the park opposite them. It was starting to get darker, the winter skies blackening and the café was clearing out.

They exchanged small words here and there, smiling and laughing as they finished their drinks and soon they were reaching down for their coats and bags. Remus stood, piling their cups up onto the tray and swinging his bag over his shoulder. He looked over at Sirius, pushing his hair back from his face and Remus sighed softly to himself, body relaxing the longer he looked at the man in front of him.

He reached into his pocket, grabbing out his phone and opening a new contact, passing it over to Sirius. “Here,” he took it carefully, a wide grin spreading across his face. “I really like talking to you.”

Sirius typed the numbers into his phone and passed the phone back, Remus quickly sending him a text, Sirius saving his number with a smile on his face. “I really like talking to you too. So, please text me,” he laughed nervously, and Remus reached over to rub a hand up and down his arm.

“Trust me, I will,” they walked over to the bar, Sirius dumping the cups on the side and reaching over to grab his apron from where Celeste was holding it out for him. He turned to Remus, ignoring the people behind him and he let himself smile, opening his arms a little in question and Sirius fell into them, hugging him tightly.

“It was really great to meet you,” Remus heard muffled into his shoulder and he held on tighter, wrapping his arms more firmly around him, silently agreeing.

They separated, and Remus squeezed his shoulder before Sirius went around the other side of the counter, leaning forward on elbows. “I’ll text you,” he promised, throwing him a glance before walking out the door and into the cold, almost stormy weather.

He shivered, wrapping his arms around himself, hugging his coat closer. He crossed the road again and walked across to the park, through it to the other side to where his apartment building was. He sighed when the warmth encompassed him, hurrying up to his apartment, stripping his coat off and getting started on the fire.

He stopped when he heard a ping from his phone and reached over to grab it. He let himself smile widely when he saw the message from Sirius asking if he got home safe and he held his phone close to his chest, closing his eyes. He let out an unbelieving laugh and shook his head. He hadn’t felt like this over a boy since he started college and just the knowledge that spending only a couple of hours with Sirius was doing things to his heart and sending his stomach into nervous flutters made him nervous but so excited. God, he was falling so deep and hard for this boy.

*

Sirius didn’t hear the bell ring when the door opened, his mind too preoccupied with the four orders he was preparing on his own, Logan having stepped outside with no explanation almost half an hour ago, phone held firmly to his ear and Sirius could see the blush and soft smile on his face from here.

He turned, placing them on the counter before wiping down his hands and looking to the next customer. He startled with shock before jumping out of it, checking behind to see if there were any more customers, settling on his elbows when he saw nobody there. “You never said you were coming today.”

Remus chuckled, sitting down on the barstool. “I didn’t know you were working today.”

Sirius just shrugged, hands clutching his forearms. “Celeste and Dumo took the kids out to the city for the next couple of days so I’m taking their shifts.”

“Well, then I’m glad I came in. Can I get-”

“A hot chocolate with enormous amounts of whipped cream and marshmallows?”

Remus laughed and shook his head. “You know me so well,” he teased and Sirius couldn’t help but think how much more he wanted to know. They had met two weeks ago and Sirius couldn’t even think about life before Remus right now.

“What can I say,” he turned around and started on the drink, ignoring Remus tapping his card on the table. He put a ridiculous amount of cream on top along with marshmallows on the side, sprinkling over it with chocolate powder. He reached over and grabbed two of the mini chocolates from the tup, placing them on the saucer before bringing them over to the table.

He headed over to the food, picked out a brownie with chocolate sauce dripped over the top and placed them down next to it on a small plate. He grabbed his own card from his wallet, turned the machine away from Remus and smirked at his spluttering, paying for the items and passing them over.

“Every damn time,” he heard him groan and dragged over a chair from the other side of the room, sitting down opposite Remus, who slipped into his own chair and brought his drink closer to him. “I am able to pay for my food, you know that right?”

“Of course I do. But why let you when I can treat you to it instead?”

Remus just sighed and Sirius watched him drink it down, taking the pieces of brownie that were passed over to him with an eye roll. It was later than Sirius thought it was, just the two of them there after Logan rushed in apologising saying he had to leave now. Sirius was worried but he let him go, making sure to try and catch him tomorrow to see what was wrong.

Remus chugged down the last of his hot chocolate while Sirius wiped the place down, switching the machines off and grabbing his coat, the keys to the door swinging from his finger. They both stood, heading to the door and Sirius locked up, turning to face Remus with a smile on his face.

“How are you getting home?” Remus asked him and Sirius startled slightly but mumbled that he was walking under his breath. Remus looked up to the sky and shook his head. “I can give you a ride home.”

“No, you don’t need to,” but Remus was already taking his hand and dragging him over to his car. He sighed, buckling himself in and watching him walk around the other side. Remus looked at him expectantly and he sighed again. “Take the first right and then the third left and to the end of the street, then three rights in a row. Then to the end of the street, please.”

“Alright,” he put the car in gear and set off, letting the music flow softly through the air, Christmas of course, but Sirius blocked it out, eyes focused on the window behind Remus as an excuse to glance at him instead.

They pulled up outside his house and they sat there for a minute in silence before both speaking at the same time. Remus laughed and gestured over to him to go first and Sirius swallowed harshly. “Would you like to come inside?”

Remus’ breath hitched and he nodded. “Alright. Yeah, I would love to.”

He nodded back and opened the door, leading Remus over and letting them both in. It was dark inside, the house silent and empty and they trudged through, shedding layers as they went. “I know you just had a brownie, but do you want to stay for dinner? You don’t have to, but I have enough for two and I don’t really want to eat alone anyway.”

“Sirius,” Remus interrupted his rambling, placing his hands on his shoulders. “I would love to, as long as it isn’t much. Celeste makes very filling brownies.”

He laughed. “Yeah, she does. Don’t worry, it’s not a lot, just some pasta salad left from yesterday.”

Remus nodded and followed him over to the fridge, grabbing the fork held out for him. They didn’t even sit at the table, leaning over the counter, the bowl between them. They were really close, almost nose to nose and Sirius knew he had a blush engrained into his cheeks.

Remus’ eyes were trained on him, looking up at him through his eyelashes, using his own tricks from when they first met against him. He reached for another forkful when Remus pulled a face and he choked on a laugh, causing Remus to burst into fits of giggles as well. He leant down, letting his head rest on the older man’s shoulder, trying to conceal his laughter. He felt Remus’ hand reach up and run through his hair gently, keeping his head resting on him.

Still, he forced his head up, pushing his forehead against Remus’ and let his eyes fall shut. He felt his breath against his cheek and pushed himself closer to Remus, nudging the bowl out of the way and crowding against him. Remus’ hands found his waist, digging into his skin before pushing his hands underneath his jumper, tracing his fingertips gently across his hips. He let his own hands find his hair, twisting the ends at the back of his neck between his fingers, tugging his head back and smiling at the gasp he got.

“Remus. Can…” Sirius swallowed nervously, wringing his hands together. “Can I kiss you?” He whispered.

Remus didn’t answer, instead pushing forward, letting his lips catch his own. Sirius sucked in a breath, and kissed back fiercely, gripping his hair tighter and moaning quietly when Remus pulled him forward by his waist, hand trailing higher up his warm skin. Remus parted his lips and Sirius enthusiastically followed, letting their tongues slide against each other. He let himself be backed up against the counter, pushing up and sitting against the cabinet, wrapping his legs around Remus’ waist, pulling him in.

They only pulled away when they felt lightheaded, keeping their hands where they were, foreheads still resting firmly together. “Remus,” he gasped, and he sighed when his lips trailed down his jaw and ghosted over his ear before sucking down onto his neck. “Re…”

“God, you’re amazing. You’re so amazing, Sirius,” he switched sides and Sirius held his head close to his neck. “Don’t wanna stop kissing you.”

Sirius couldn’t take it anymore, pulling his head back up to his own, smashing their mouths back together with an intense passion that made them both shiver. “Remus, Remus,” his name was like a mantra on his lips, soft and delicate, trying not to break the atmosphere around him. “Mon Dieu.”

They pulled away from each other again, this time keeping their faces away so they could look at each other properly, Sirius taking in Remus’ red lips, split-slicked and swollen, parted slightly and body heaving with heavy breaths. His eyes were hazy and dark, only a small sliver of golden brown left to see.

“I don’t want this to be a one-time thing. I don’t want this to stop,” he whispered desperately, and Remus shushed him softly, kissing him gently one more time.

“It’s not and it won’t ever just be a one-time thing, Sirius,” he whispered back fiercely. “I mean what I said. I don’t ever want to stop kissing you. God, Sirius, I’m falling for you so hard. So hard.”

He nodded at him, a brilliantly wide smile breaking through and he pulled Remus in for another kiss. “I don’t know what I’d do without you Re.”

“You don’t have to even think about that,” he kissed him back, nudging his nose against his cheek, lips still pressed together until Remus pulled back, straightening up. “I don’t want to stop but I think I should go home. I don’t want to move too fast, not with you. I don’t want to ruin this.”

He couldn’t help the disappointment that flowed through him but he nodded in agreement. “I know. I know.” He pulled him closer for a hug this time, wrapping both sets of limbs around him once again, holding him tight. “I don’t want to go too long without seeing you again, though.”

Remus laughed and stroked through his hair. “It won’t be. It really won’t. We have our phones, you can ring me whenever you need to. We’ll make this work.”

He nodded again, releasing him from his grasp and jumping down from the counter, taking Remus by the hand and leading him back over to the door, grabbing his coat for him and wrapping it around him tightly.

“Text me when you get home so I know you’re safe?” He asked, opening the door and wincing at the cold icy winds.

“I will, as soon as I’m there. Get some sleep, yeah? Tomorrow we’ll discuss this more. But I know that I want to be with you. Even when you’re back in New York.”

“Me too,” his words couldn’t have been more honest and he watched Remus pull out of the street, keeping his gaze on the car until it was out of sight.

There was a long list for today’s tour, filled with families and the last-minute school trips of the year, a fun little Christmas special. He was planning out the route in his head, the floor plan of the museum imprinted into his head as he imagined the happy faces of everyone as he went around to each exhibit.

He sighed in relief as the building came into view, snow-coated and bleary but so pretty in the winter weather, the long stone walls taking up the majority of the street and the doors wiped down and waiting for him to open. As soon as he stepped through the door he shook himself off, shaking slightly at the abrupt difference in temperature and switched his snowshoes for his trainers, heading down the staff room.

He stripped his soaked coat off and placed it on the rack by the heater, beanie and gloves joining the pile. He breathed in the smell of hot coffee wafting through the room and followed it through to the sofa’s, plopping down next to his coworker and taking the mug she held out for him.

“I don’t know why you still decided to walk,” she sighed at him, turning slightly to face him fully. “James could have picked you up and dropped us both off on his way to take Harry to school.”

Logan shrugged, letting himself take small sips of the large coffee and relaxed back further into the seat. “He would have had to go in the opposite direction to get me. It was easier to walk.”

She scoffed but dropped it, reaching forward and passing him the list for today. “You have forty-five minutes to set up and get ready,” she stopped and looked over at him with a knowing smile. “But I’m guessing you already did most of it last night when you stayed back another hour.”

He merely nodded, eyes trailing down the list of people, pairing together the families and counting the children he still needed to make bags for. He started the idea last Halloween and kept up the trend of goody bags for the kids, loving the bright smiles and high-fives he got in return from both them and their parents.

“Mostly. There’s still a few more signs to put up and a warning about the new exhibit not being ready yet but then I should be about ready to go.”

She nodded, taking her own coffee from the table. “Any plans for Christmas this year?”

She asked the question every year and every year was the same answer. “Just me this year, again. The weather is too bad to travel right now and my sisters have busy schedules as it is. And so do I. I can’t rely on the Dumais for any more events this year, it’s been far too many.”

“Logan there are other people that work at this museum with you, you know. You can take a break and visit your family. And even if you don’t, you know our door is always open. Harry would love to spend Christmas with you and so would we.”

He smiled faintly at the mention of her son but shook his head anyway. “I don’t want to impose. I’m perfectly capable of spending Christmas on my own again.

She looked like she wanted to argue but held back, simply shaking her head slightly and turning back to her phone. Logan basked in the quiet, the soft groan of the heater providing the only noise in the room and closed his eyes, smiling, enjoying the warmth and relaxation until the tour was ready.

*

Most of the people were here now, standing at the beginning of the first exhibit with him, children already asking questions about what they could barely see in the room. He grinned at them and answered as best he could, crouching down to their level, ignoring Lily’s dig of how unnecessary it was to bend down when she walked by him, keeping his focus on the child to stop himself from swearing back at her. 

There were people heading over to the group, the final family and Logan went to introduce himself and hand out the small bags to the girls, asking simple questions on what they were excited about and what they wanted to see.

He made his way back to the front and grabbed his list, ticking the family of five of the list. There were only two people left and he checked his watch. Eight minutes late. He sighed and rested against the wall, keeping an eye on the group to watch for any wanders or any joiners who weren’t supposed to be there. It hit the ten-minute mark and he pushed off and cleared his throat ready to just start.

He flinched when the doors almost slammed open and two figures crashed through the door, eyes glancing all over the place before they both sighed in relief when they spotted him and his group, making their way over. He excused himself, straightening out his clothes from where they scrunched up against the wall and heading towards the pair.

“Hi, welcome to Gryffindor Museum. My name’s Logan, today’s tour guide. You must be Finn and Leo, right?” He asked, eyes pointed down to his list to make sure he got it right.

“Yeah, we are,” his eyes widened at the soft southern accent from in front of him, and he stopped himself from whipping his head up to see them, instead slowly lifting it like a normal human being. “We’re sorry we’re late. The weather,” he trailed off slightly at the end.

The blonde had spoken and Logan caught his gaze as he waved his hand around, his arm slowly lowering as he looked back at him. Logan felt his breath catch in the back of his throat at the blue gaze that settled on him, eyes piercing into his own. He unconsciously let his eyes rake up and down his body, from his adorable mussed up hair hidden beneath a woolly hat to his Christmas sweater, oversized and hanging down his figure. God, he was tall, at least 6’2, 6’3.

He recovered slightly and willed himself not to blush when he saw the blonde do the same to him before his eyes snapped back to his, a wide smile adorning his face. Logan almost whimpered at the sight. Dimples.

“Yeah, sorry about that. I’m Finn, that’s Leo,” he turned his attention to the other boy and almost had to take a step back.

His fringe covered over his eyes lightly from where his beanie - a dark blue - rested over his auburn hair, a perfect colour contrast. His deep brown eyes captured him immediately and this time he let the blush take over his face. His features were soft and his freckles took centre stage. Logan wanted to map out everyone one of them, but he immediately willed that thought away. He was shorter, maybe 6’0 but still, so much taller than him. But it wasn’t intimidating. It was nice. He kept going down and felt himself visibly stop when he saw their hands, clasped together tightly between them and pulled his eyes away, ignoring their curious glances.

He coughed, remembering where he was and the people waiting behind him and internally shook himself out. “Don’t worry about it. Come on, head over to the group and we’ll get started.”

He didn’t wait to hear their answer, turning sharply and walking forward, trying to keep his breathing under control. Why did two gorgeous boys decide to come on his tour? He wasn’t sure whether this was a blessing or a curse as he tried to get his opening sentence out, eyes trailing over to the back of the group against his will.

“Hey everyone. Welcome to the first of the Christmas tours. You guys are lucky, you get to be the first ones this year!” He smiled at the excited whispers of the children. “If you’ll follow me, the tour lasts for around 30-45 minutes, unless you have any questions. Try not to wander too much and keep away from any exhibits which are under construction. Please, if you have any questions throughout the tour, just make your way to the front. During stops I’ll make my way around and check with you all but don’t feel like you have to wait for that,” he looked around at all the nods and smiles. “Right, let’s go. Our first destination today is the medieval exhibit…”

*

He had done well to stay away from the couple for the first twenty minutes of the tour, sticking with families for the most part, but feeling their gaze - or what he assumed (hoped) was their gaze on his back. It was once they reached the Ancient Greek and Roman section of the exhibit, right in the back corner of the huge building that they made their way over.

He was walking around the group, checking in on everyone and directing people to the toilets with other members of staff so they could make their way back over to them when they were ready. He heard their footsteps behind him and calmed down his heart, beating furiously in his chest and turned around, a wide smile on his face.

“Hi, what can I do for you?” He asked in an even voice, keeping his eyes pointedly at the spot between them.

“Oh, we just wanted to apologize again for being late. My boyfriend isn’t the best driver in the winter. We know you guys have a tight schedule here,” it was Finn who answered, one arm wrapped around Leo’s waist now and the other tucked into his jacket pocket. 

“Don’t worry about it,” he repeated but then backtracked slightly. “Have you done the Christmas tours before?” He would have definitely remembered if they had been here last year.

“No, no. We came to the summer ones, just two of them, while we had a break,” Leo said, hand reaching out to brush away some hair from his face. Logan realised it was streaked grey.

Ah. The summer tours. There were a couple done this year, but Logan had - he realised, now regretfully - taken Lily’s warning and took two weeks to visit his family’s summer house in Nice, so it would have been Regulus doing the tours when he was taking up his summer position while back from NYU.

“Well I hope you enjoyed them,” he repeated the same old phrase, though this time it was softer and he internally rolled his eyes at himself. They are dating, idiot.

“Your accent…what it is,” Finn asked and Logan stopped for a second. People didn’t normally ask about him while he was touring.

“I’m French-Canadian. Rimouski,” he answered, his accent coming out heavier when saying his home town and he swore he heard Leo’s small intake of breath. “You two aren’t from Gryffindor either.” It wasn’t a question, but they answered it anyway.

“No, I’m from New Orleans,” Leo said and Logan could have swooned at the way the name came out with his soft accent. “Finn here is from New York.” Hmm. Logan thought. City boy.

He smiled at them and turned to look around at the rest of the group, people returning back from the toilets. They would need to be moving on soon. He glanced back at them, both of their gazes already on him.

“We’ll need to be moving soon. Any questions about this exhibit while we are here?” He hoped they would.

He watched them look at each other, a silent conversation passing through their eyes. Logan deflated slightly at the reminder. Boyfriends.

“Nah, I don’t think we do. And if we later think of some…well it gives us an excuse to come back, doesn’t it?” Finn smiled at him and pulled Leo away to another wall, pointing out the different pieces of literature pinned up as delicately as possible. Logan felt his heart almost stop.

“Right, everyone,” he ignores the crack in his voice, as did everyone else but the two at the back. “Let’s move on now, to the Egyptian exhibit. So, first over here, we have…”

*

Logan was exhausted by the time he lead the group back to the front desk, smiling tiredly at Lily when she glanced over at him, preparing another group at the other end. He turned back to his own and clapped his hands, grabbing their attention.

“That was the final exhibit. Thank you all for joining us on the tour, I hope you had a fun time,” he smiled down at the kids who nodded up at him. “Of course, we are running for three more weekends and more on Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the weeks, except for, of course, the 25th and 26th. Christmas Eve is still going to be a tour, though it will be quieter if you want a closer, almost a one-on-one type tour,” he ignored Finn and Leo’s glance at each other. “Have an amazing Christmas everyone, and I’ll hopefully see you for the tours next year as well.”

He waved goodbye to everyone, giving fist bumps and high fives to the kids and thanked the parents for coming. The majority of them left straight away, a couple heading over to the information desk where Remus was handing out leaflets and making more bookings. He couldn’t keep the smile off his face. It began to get even bigger and brighter when the final two headed over to him and stopped a couple of feet away, hats and gloves reader, car keys in hand. They wore matching smiles and Logan clasped his hands in front of him waiting.

Finn broke the silence first. “That was amazing,” Logan startled and blushed, turning his face to the ground. “I’m serious. The way you talk about each aspect of history without needing notes or reading any of the signs is incredible. You talk so expressively and passionately about it it’s like we’re physically there with them. You’ve got a real talent for this.”

Logan switched between Finn and Leo for a moment before turning back to the floor. “Well, thank you. History…it’s always been my thing, so it comes naturally.”

“Did you study it at college?” Leo spoke up, glancing at him curiously.

“Yeah, I graduated two years ago. Harvard. It was my minor but it captured me more than business did. I moved here in the winter that year and found this place. Celeste and Pascal are like my parents. I’ve been here ever since.”

“Harvard,” Finn let him finish before interrupting, though Logan can tell he was close to butting it. It wasn’t a question but he answered it with a nod anyway. “I went to Harvard. Graduated three years ago.”

That caught Logan’s attention and he snapped his head up to meet Finn’s incredulous look. “Huh…” was all he could think of saying. “Guess we just didn’t cross paths?”

Finn nodded absentmindedly and Logan watched Leo rub a finger up and down his palm soothingly. He broke away from his daze and turned to the station next to him, lifting out a set of leaflets and grabbing two from the pile. 

“Well, thank you for coming. I hope you had a good time?” It pitched up at the end questioningly and they both nodded furiously. He smiled back, rubbing his neck softly to smooth away the redness creeping up. “Good. Here are some more events that we have going on if you ever wanted to come back,” Please want to come back. 

They took them and pocketed them away, sending him a nod and took each other’s hands again. “It was great to meet you. Thank you again, and sorry for being late,” Leo’s voice was barely heard over the harsh wind that entered the building when the door was opened, but Logan grinned anyway, regardless of what was said.

They stared at each other for a moment longer and Logan swore Leo was about to say something else but he stopped and squeezed Finn’s hand. The two waved him goodbye and walked to the door, wrapped up tightly around each other, fighting against the strong snowfall and walking out of sight. Logan hadn’t realised he was still stuck in the same position.

*

The next weekend Logan didn’t turn down the lift from James and Lily, squeezing himself into the back with Harry who talked a mile a minute about how much he loved the snow and about the playdate he was having with his best friend Ron after school on Monday. Logan nodded along animatedly, feeling James’ soft smirk through the mirror. He ignored it.

He was excited again for today’s tour and he had changed the route last minute yesterday when he stayed behind to clean up the mess from when a school trip had knocked over a stack of flyers. He volunteered, which gave him more time to set out his plan for today and get the exhibits perfect. 

They climbed out, Lily giving out soft kisses to James and Harry before rushing over to link arms with him. They walked the short distance from the door to the staff room, Lily beelining for the coffee machine as Logan laughed behind her, picking up her coat that was carelessly thrown on the sofa.

“Tired, Lily?” The groan was an answer in itself and he laughed again but took the coffee handed to him gratefully. “Ah, thank you.”

“Hmmm,” they stayed quiet like they normally did when the two of them opened the place up. “How many have you got today?”

“Just the three. One in an hour, one after lunch and the last one before closing,” he loved the last tour of the evening, the dark atmosphere and night sky keeping any light from shining through the windows, making the exhibits even more magical.

“Are you expecting to see the two boys from last week?” He didn’t even need her to specify which two boys, despite the fact that he did five tours last week.

“No,” he wanted them to be here but it was unrealistic to think they would come back for the same tour all over again. “No, they already came once, it’s only the same information again.”

“It might be the same information but you deliver it differently every time. It’s always amazing to watch you talk about history. It’s not the same.”

He shrugged, holding his coffee closed. “Maybe. But I don’t think they will.”

“You never know.”

That was the end of the conversation and Logan headed down half an hour later to prepare for the first of the day. He couldn’t shake what Lily had said though and reviewed in his head what he was going to say today. It was exactly the same.

*

By six, he was dead on his feet, waving out the last of Lily’s tour from where he was sitting at the information desk, tapping absentmindedly on the keyboard of his computer. He had an hour until his final tour and the final one of the night before he wrangled out the stragglers and closed up. 

Lily headed over to him, bag hanging off her shoulder and coast wrapped firmly around her. “The offer’s still there. James can come back for you and you can eat with us?” 

“No, Lils, it’s okay. I have some dinner in the fridge and it’s only a half-hour walk home. The weather has calmed down slightly so it’s fine.”

She sighed, a sad smile on her face as she waved a final goodbye, rushing off towards James’ car. He sunk back in his chair, reaching across for the list of people for tonight’s tour. He swept down the names, taking note of the families and grabbing the bags he needed to fill and started the older members so he would remember to check in with them more often. He made it to the end before stopping and backtracking, making it halfway back up before a familiar name caught his eye. Finn O’Hara.

*

He was trembling with excitement when the doors started opening and the group started walking through, staring around in wonder at the pictures and statues around them. He kept his eyes on the door mostly, though he greeted everyone that came towards him. 

His face instantly brightened when he caught sight of red hair hidden between the same dark blue beanie. Though today, he had Leo’s Christmas sweater from last week and Logan smiled to himself at the sight. He was adorable.

He kept his feet firmly planted on the floor where he was, simply grinning widely over at him when he joined the back of the group, not wanting to come across as too eager. He was.

“Right, everyone,” he turned his attention to the group, his watch telling him it had just turned seven. “Welcome to Gryffindor Museum, my name is Logan and I’m your guide today. A bit about myself, I’m 24 and I’m from Canada, so excuse the accent,” he chuckled at the laughs that went around. This part wasn’t normally this long, but he felt as though he was talking directly to Finn this way. “I’m a history minor student from Harvard and I have worked here for two years…” 

He moved on to the normal section of his introduction and then directed the group to the other end, where normally they end the tour. He saw Finn’s eyebrows pitch up in confusion but he followed along anyway. 

“Now…here we have our section on The Cold War…” he waffled through the rest of his knowledge, stopping every now and then for the questions that arose and he led them through to the next exhibit.

It wasn’t long until he was joined side by side with Finn, just as they were entering the African animal exhibit, where the children rushed over to the large statues dotted around the room.

“So…what brings you back here?” He asked first, still walking around and pointing the children to other areas when they got too close.

“What can I say…your tour is amazing,” he blushed and smiled, heading over to the lions. “Leo wanted to be here too, he really did, but he had to work tonight. One of us had to and he drew the short straw. Literally.”

“Thank you. I hope I don’t bore you too much with the same information over and over and over…” he trailed off sheepishly when he saw Finn’s expression, his eyes soft and trained on him.

“You won’t,” his voice came out gentle too and he felt him reach and squeeze his arm slightly before walking back to the group.

Logan was once again stuck to the spot. It wasn’t until a little girl came over to him, pointing and asking what was next behind him. He snapped out of it and drew everyone’s attention away from the animals and back over towards where he was standing to take them through to the WWI section.

*

He stood by the door, arms around himself as he watched everyone walk away, thanking everyone for coming as he got ready to close for the night. This tour was calm and quick, the questions dimming the further they went around and the more tired the children got. He checked around and saw the cleaning equipment there by the door, the cleaner already gone after Logan said he could handle the final sections when they crossed paths halfway through. 

He went to close the door when Finn appeared beside him, his jacket zipped up and one air-pod sitting snug in his ear. “Ready to head off?” His voice was no more than a whisper, his hands clutching the handle tight.

Finn hesitated, looking out into the street before glancing at the equipment. “I can help you tidy up?”

Logan looked at him in surprise. “I…no there’s no need for that, really. It’s late and cold, get home to Leo. I’ll be fine on my own I do it all the time.”

Finn looked at him worriedly. “There’s only one car left and that’s mine. How are you getting home?”

Logan thought about lying, saying that he had a lift, someone coming to get him. But he didn’t want to lie to Finn. “I’m walking,” Finn made to interrupt him but he stopped him. “It’s fine. It’s not that cold and I don’t live that far away, half an hour at most.”

“Logan it’s freezing out there! Let me help you tidy and I can drop you off at home,” Finn urged and Logan could tell he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

“You really don’t need to…” he trailed off when he saw Finn already walking over to the bucket, picking it up and looking back over his shoulder for him.

“If you come now we can leave a lot quicker. It will make me feel more comfortable, and in turn, Leo, if we know you got home safely.”

He hesitated one more time before internally groaning, dragging himself over to Finn. It was worth it for the blinding smile he got in return. They entered the first room, and Logan went around picking up any rubbish trapped under cabinets and pushed under tables. The rooms were normally spotless, but there were a lot more tours today so there was of course more rubbish to tidy.

When they entered the cafeteria, the sky was pitch black and Logan smiled at the soft atmosphere around them. He gasped, flinching when he felt something cold hit him in the back of the neck and slide down his back. He turned slowly, seeing Finn’s smirk, a challenging glint in his eyes. He trailed his eyes down to the floor to where a wet sponge was by his foot.

His head shot back up to Finn when he heard the shifting of the bucket and saw another sponge in his hand, raising and aimed at Logan. He leant down himself, slowly, picking up his own sponge and walking slowly towards him. 

“Oh, you’re on,” he charged, and Finn took off, Logan rushing around the tables to get to him, squeezing the sponge down the back of his shirt.

“Oh, you fucker!” Logan laughed breathlessly and Finn stilled from where he was standing right in front of him. Logan held his breath as Finn shifted, and swore he saw his eyes flick down to his lips. He gasped, moving away slightly, running his hand through his hair.

“We…we should keep going. Lots more rooms,” he swallowed hard and turned, grabbing the bucket and waiting for Finn to be at his side before they moved on to the next room, soaked and feeling the chill. 

He glanced over at Finn, his fringe stuck to his forehead and he let out a short giggle. When Finn hears, he looked right back, a faint smile growing on his face. They bumped arms gently and Logan let himself lean slightly more on to him, not moving as they continued down the hall.

*

“Why are there so many exhibitions? There is no way we went through all of them,” Finn complained, and Logan snickered, putting the bucket back in the corner and leading Finn over to the staff room.

“Not all of them, no. Some aren’t included in tours specifically and some aren’t allowed access yet, those are the ones I cleaned.”

“Well, there are too many. Tell me we’re finished now?” Logan walked through to get to his coat, watching Finn from over his shoulder leaning against the wall, eyes on him.

“I didn’t ask you to stay,” he pointed out. “You just decided to.”

Finn shrugged, grinning over at him as he walked back over. Logan just sighed and led the way back out. “So where in Gryffindor do you live?”

Finn bummed, pushing the door open and hissing at the cold air that blew over them. Logan shivered, turning the lights off and locking the door before following Finn to his car. “Not far from here. Thirty-minute drive in that direction,” he pointed out and Logan sighed. That was the other way from where he was going.

“Finn, I don’t live that way. You go home, I can make my own way back.”

“Absolutely not. Logan, it’s pitch black. Get in the car, I’m driving you home. It’s not safe,” Finn stressed and Logan let himself be dragged to the seat, the door closing behind him. Logan watched him out the window walk to the other side and strap himself in, turning to Logan. “You’ll have to direct me, Lo, I don't go that way much.”

He felt the heat crawl up the back of his neck and across his cheeks. “Um…Lo?”

It was reflected back on Finn and he coughed into his shoulder, pulling away, sheepishly smiling at Logan. “Is…is that alright?”

“More than alright,” his voice was soft and quiet and he turned his attention to the road in front of him. “Take the next road on the right and then follow until the next right. Just a couple bends around and then the next left is my street. If you pull up there I can walk down to my place from there.”

Finn made a disapproving noise. “Nope, I’m taking you right to the door. Look, it’s starting to snow, you’re not walking in this, not if I can help it.”

Logan nodded after a moment of glaring and leaned back into the seat. Finn reached forward for the music, turning the volume low and glanced over at him. Logan kept his eyes on the road but let the corners of his mouth pull up a little. That was good enough for Finn.

They pulled around the corner onto his street and Logan sat himself up, grabbing his bag and tuning to Finn. “If you keep going down, it’s the house in the middle.”

“You live here by yourself?”

“Mostly. My roommate, Sirius, he’s like my brother, he stays at his boyfriend’s house nearly every night of the week. You met him today, Remus, the man at the desk. Yeah, he stays there a lot. I’m by myself more often than not.”

“And for Christmas?” He pulled up outside, putting the car in stop and twisting to face it. “What about then?”

“I’m on my own then as well,” he shrugged, the statement coming naturally. “They’re heading to Remus’ family, back in Wisconsin. So it’s just me.”

“Lo…” he turned to face him, frowning at the sad look in his eyes.

“Hey, it’s fine. Nothing I haven’t done before, don’t worry,” he didn’t do much to reassure him and Logan sighed, reaching for the handle. “Thank you for helping clean and dropping me home. I…I really didn’t want to walk home tonight.”

“Yeah, I could tell. It’s no bother, really,” he smiled, leaning over to rest his arm on the back of Logan’s chair, hand grazing close to the back of his neck, too close, the tips of his fingers catching in his hair. Logan wanted him to push forward and let his fingers tangle in his curls fully but pulled his head away. Leo. 

He popped the door open and stepped out, turning back to wave goodbye. “I’ll…I’ll see you whenever, yeah?” He hoped that it would be soon.

“Here, give me your phone,” Finn asked suddenly and Logan passed it over without a second thought. “There, you have my number. Text me so I can save yours. Just in case you ever need me again.” I'm starting to think I'm never not going to need you.

“I…we shouldn’t,” he wasn’t sure what to say, but he knew having Finn’s number in his phone after the night of flirting they just had when Finn had a boyfriend was not a good thing. “Leo?” Was all his mind could come up with.

“Oh. Yeah, I’ll pass your number to him too when I get it,” his smile was bright and unknowing of the inner turmoil in Logan right now.

“I…” that wasn’t what he meant. “Okay. I’ll see you soon then,” but he’ll take it any day.

Finn’s smile was soft and small, eyes shining from the car light. “Yeah, soon. Have a good night, get some rest.”

He nodded. “You too. Say hi to Leo for me.”

“I will.”

He watched him pull away and drive back down the road, walking backwards up the path, bumping into the door. He sighed, tipping his head back and eyes closed, sighing deeply, feeling the soft flakes of snow fall on his face, sliding down to his neck. He was so far gone for them.

*

“Hi!” 

Logan jumped slightly from where he was kneeling down by the floor, collecting any dropped flyers scattered around and turned to see Leo grinning behind him, dimpled-smile bright and blue eyes shining. He was in a similar beanie to Finn, a pale blue, the same as his eyes, pushing his hair down to the point where Logan was holding back from pushing it up. His coat was pushed back, a backpack hanging on one shoulder. 

His grin fell slightly and he reached forward to grab his arm to stop him from falling. “I’m sorry, I thought you would have heard me coming.”

“It’s alright, Leo. What can I do for you?” He grinned, standing up and wincing at the crack of his knees, straightening out the flyers and tucking them under his arm.

“It’s my turn this week. Finn got the last one so…” he shrugged, looking shy all of a second and Logan reached forward to stroke down his arm quickly before pulling back.

“Hey, it’s okay. Well the next tour isn’t for another hour or so and it’s Lily’s so if you want to go sign up for it, the sheet is over there with Remus,” he nodded his head over to the desk and then stopped, mouth opening and closing as he thought through his words. “Or…you could come to the cafeteria with me, it’s my break now. Get some food before you start…if you want to?” He quickly rushed out, stacking the flyers back on the table to distract himself.

“Yeah. Yeah, that sounds nice,” he heard from next to him and smiled to himself, glancing over at him. “I haven’t eaten much yet today.”

Logan frowned, looking at the clock. “Leo it’s almost half one!”

“I was busy at work,” they started to walk, Leo following behind him, towering by his side. Logan couldn’t help but love how it felt. “I haven’t had time.”

They joined the queue, conversation steering off until they reached the counter, Leo reaching forward to grab a sandwich, smiling when Logan glared at him to grab something else. “Is that all you want? Not a drink or anything?”

He ended up getting a drink and Logan pushed in front of him, blocking him from the card machine. “Logan! No, let me pay.”

He didn’t answer, and he heard a sigh behind him, reaching to grab their food and walk over to the only free table left, placing Leo’s bag on the spare chair. “So, anything on the tour that you’re looking forward to seeing again? Lily is a bit different from me when she goes around, so at least you get a different outlook on events.”

Leo was silent for a minute as he finished his bite and then looked at him hopefully. “Well…I was hoping that it would be you. I…I was looking forward to you. But if not, that’s okay too,” he rushed out, blush rising on his cheeks. Logan felt himself melt at the sight and his words. “I just…you were so amazing last time. So amazing. I wanted to experience that again, but I don’t want to bother you.”

“No, no, it’s okay. I can see if Remus can cover my shift at the desk, it won’t be very busy today with the weather. I can follow round with the group, do a joint tour if Lily wants or…stick by you. Whatever I can do.” Leo nodded, glancing at him for a moment before staring straight back down at his food. Adorable. 

They finished slowly, savouring both their food and each other’s presence before the area cleared out, the two of them heading over to the meeting area. Logan broke off, heading over to the information desk, Remus simply raising an eyebrow at him.

“Please, please, please cover my shift for me,” he got straight to the point, sighing at Remus’ muttered curse and dig at his lack of manners. “Désolé. Bonjour. Please, please, please can you cover my shift for me?”

Remus peered over at Lily’s group, eyes zeroing in on the blonde and Logan closed his eyes to avoid the smirk that was bound to be present on his face. “Fine. But you owe me.”

“Yes, ouais, whatever you want,” he left straight after the words left his mouth, hearing Remus’ bark of laughter behind him, but focused instead of making his way through the crowds to Leo.

The taller boy glanced up from where he was furiously texting on his phone, a beaming grin sent over to him as he reached his side. “Yes?” 

“Guess you’re stuck with me for the next forty minutes, Peanut,” the nickname slipped out unconsciously and he swore to himself, shyly glancing up to gauge Leo’s reaction. He was not expecting the wide blue eyes and open mouth staring at him, almost in wonder, but he soon shook himself out.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing, Lo,” ah, so Finn had let the nickname slip to him as well. He was certainly not against it, the two letters sounding so pretty in Leo’s accent that he hadn’t realised they had reached the first stop until Lily was beckoning him to the front.

He sent an apologetic glance over at Leo, who simply waved him off, and set off to the front of the group, letting himself fall back into his routine, the names and dates coming to the front of his mind and as soon as the question was out of Lily’s mouth, he was off, information spouting from who knows where, hands animatedly pointing out different areas and facts he never remembered telling people before. The soft look he got from Leo was worth the ache in his throat from all the talking by the end of the session.

*

Logan jumped as Lily tapped her hand against the door frame from where he was starting to take down the Christmas flyers, her bag in hand, James behind her, Harry gripped tightly in his arms.

“Hey guys. You heading off Lils?” He put down the staple remover, wandering over and tickling Harry softly on his stomach, cooing at the giggle that he let out.

“Yeah, you got the last one right?” There was still one more tour of the night, but he was expecting to lock up early, the place already deserted. He nodded, taking note of the gift she placed in his backpack from behind her back. “Okay, well have a good day tomorrow. Please call people and leave the house, even if it’s only for a walk. Pop by tomorrow night, if you want. Thomas will be there since he’s not with your sister and I’m sure Nado and Kuny will come around for some drinks too. Don’t spend the whole day by yourself.”

“I won’t, promise,” he meant it this time, planning out his day already in his head. He could easily come around for an hour or two. “You have a good Christmas, yeah? All of you. Don’t forget to put out a carrot for the reindeer,” he reminded Harry. “Otherwise he’ll be too tired to continue,” the young boy nodded seriously and they all let out a quiet chuckle. “Right, head off then so you get home nice and early. I’ll see you sometime tomorrow, or if not, then in a couple days, okay?”

He waved goodbye to the family, checking his phone for the time and any messages. The next tour was to start in ten minutes and he set down the rest of the posters from the wall, scrunching the tape into a ball and throwing it to the bin, pumping his fists in the air when it cleanly went in. He didn’t have his list today to check, since there were no names on it. Still, he planned to stay for an extra fifteen minutes in case of stragglers appearing needing some place to go showed up and then he would close down for the night and head home.

He made sure all of his bags were packed and his coat was on his chair at the desk so he could leave quickly when he could and perched on top of the table, eyes wandering over to the new exhibit opening in the new year. He couldn’t wait for this one to open. He hoped it would help people and provide an area in history not often portrayed in museums. He spent nearly all of November working through it himself, collecting all the information and making all the business deals to get statues made and relics collected. He was really proud of it and it was almost ready to be on show.

He checked the time again, now ten past six and made to stand up, reaching for the light switch for the main exhibits, letting the dark fall over the rooms, when the door was pushed open, a draft of cold air and flakes of snow entering the building and he glanced up, expecting to see someone trying to escape the bitter snowfall.

He gasped slightly when he saw the two men stumble inside, much like how they did the first day they met, panting harshly and leaning heavily on each other. Their eyes snapped up when they saw the dark encompassing them and audibly sighed when they caught sight of Logan still standing there.

“We thought we might have missed you,” Finn huffed out, still trying to catch his breath, tugging Leo with him when he started moving. “We weren’t sure what time you would leave.”

“I’m still here,” he said, mostly still in shock, reaching out and brushing the snow off the collar of Leo’s coat, fingers grazing his neck slightly and he pulled away at the iciness. “Merde, you guys are freezing. Come on,” he walked them over to the heater, switching it up to full blast and watched them relax into the heat, stripping off their hats and gloves. 

Logan reached up to Finn’s hair unconsciously, moving the parting slightly away from his eyes and felt his breath hitch when the older man reached up and grabbed his hand, bringing it down but holding it tightly. Logan knew Leo was right there, eyes closed and basking in the heat, but he couldn’t bring himself to let go.

 “You can’t possibly be back for another tour. You’ve each done it twice already, you know everything you need to know.”

They looked over at him kindly and Logan felt his heart stutter. “You’re spending Christmas by yourself,” Finn pointed out, squeezing his hand gently. Logan saw Leo glance down at them and made to pull away put Finn held on tighter. Leo looked back up at him, the same kind look in his eyes and a dimpled smile showing off his pearly whites. “You think we’re gonna let you spend Christmas Eve on your own?”

They’d done it now. They’d given him so much care and happiness in the course of the month and Logan could feel his self-restraint wearing thin. So instead of doing what he wanted to do, pull them both down by their collars and kiss them soundlessly one after the other over and over until it turned to Christmas morning, he shot a glance over to his new exhibit and took a deep breath.

“Okay. Well you guys are the only ones here tonight, and I’m not going to take you back around the same sites,” he hesitated. He wanted to wait for the new year, for when it was officially open. But he wanted them to experience it all. Just the three of them. “Why don’t I show you my new exhibit? It isn’t open to the public yet…but I want you to see it.”

Leo stepped forward, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder, rubbing gently and despite his thick jumper, Logan could feel the heat from his palm soak into his skin. He wanted it to encompass him. “Of course we want to see it. If you want to show us something, I’m pretty sure me and Finn would never pass up the opportunity.”

Hand still clasped in Finn’s for reasons he couldn’t even comprehend right now, the trio started up towards the black curtain and Logan abruptly turned to them. “Close your eyes,” he whispered, and grabbed Leo’s hand as well, shivering at the heat that filled him again, squeezing back when the faint tightness appeared.

He took a deep breath and stepped through the curtain, pulling the two of them behind him and closing his own eyes. He let go of Finn’s hand, swallowing down the lump in the back of his throat when it reached out to follow him and turned on the lights, blindly. As soon as his hand was down, Finn was grabbing it again and holding it close. He opened his eyes and quickly surveyed the area before gripping their hands tighter.

“You can open your eyes now,” his voice was still a whisper and he waited until the boys joined their own hands together before he let go of theirs, moving to stand behind them. 

He heard the twin gasps as they spun in slow circles around the room, saw the emotion gathering behind Leo’s eyes who was brought in closer to Finn’s side as he tried to subtly wipe away his own tears. He felt the wetness gather in his own eyes and willed it away, wanting a clear few of the two of them taking in the room, he didn’t want their reactions to be blurred.

He looked around himself, from the sign at the top of the exhibit to the mass colour surrounding the room, the most colourful room in the museum. His eyes scanned over the collections of literature and authors over to sections of artwork and artists. He sighed, collapsing against the side of the wall. It felt so good to share this with people, people who could relate and could reflect.

“Lo…” Finn’s voice was hoarse and quiet and he turned his head to find the source, seeing the two boys gazing at him, tears still streaming down their faces.

He held his arms out, gesturing to the room as a whole. “Welcome to the LGBTQ+ Through History exhibit.”

*

They spent a good half hour in the room, Logan carefully going over each and every piece of work there and every person shown in the room until the three of them came out feeling lighter than ever, hands back together again.

“You’re amazing,” he glanced up at Leo. “I knew it three weeks ago and I knew it when I came tonight but…you truly, truly are so amazing.

He gave them a shy grin, walking them over to where his stuff was laying, grabbing his coat and wrapping it around himself. He checked his phone, the time only eight. He didn’t want to end this here and he had a feeling that they didn’t want that either.

“It’s still early,” Finn spoke first. “Come and get a coffee with us?” Logan couldn’t have said no even if he wanted to.

They trekked out back to their car, Logan adamantly taking the backseat despite Leo’s protests. Finn set off, taking them in the opposite direction from his house, further into the town. The snow was still coming down heavy and Logan let the fear leave him when he saw the way Finn was staring at him through the mirror, comfortingly and just safe. 

They pulled up outside a small corner shop, lights out and door locked, a closed sign obvious even from in the car. Leo got out first, heading straight for it and Logan followed, confused and clearly showing it. Then the blonde was unlocking the door and light filled the place, Finn walking in after him and Logan reluctantly following.

“This is where you work?” He scanned the place over, from the small cafe section to the back and the seating area all the way to the bookshop at the front. It was cosy and warm and symbolised Finn and Leo so perfectly Logan couldn’t see them being anywhere else.

“Yeah, we bought the place at the beginning of the year,” Finn answered, crouching in front of the fireplace, flames starting to burn bright. “We weren’t together at the time, not until Valentine’s day, but we’ve been friends since we met last summer. Leo works the cafe with our coworker Kasey and I do books with his girlfriend Nat and my brother Alex when he’s in town. Sometimes we have events on and Natalie sings but normally it’s just for people who need a quiet place to go.”

He had settled down on the sofa by now, blankets resting on his knee ready to be spread across the three of them and he beckoned Logan over. He took a quick sneak over to what Leo was doing, perching down on the side next to Finn, relaxing back into the softness of the cushions. Leo joined them a moment later, three mugs in hand and passed them over.

“I figured hot chocolates were the best bet tonight,” he placed his down on the table and reached over the side of the coach. “Lift your legs up.” Logan did, jumping at the footrest that jutted out and Leo pushed a wooden table underneath it, pressing down to be sure it wasn’t going anywhere.

They squished together on the small sofa, Logan practically in Finn’s lap and he looked straight ahead at the fire, blaming the heat rising from it as the cause of his blush. They didn’t say anything, sipping on their drinks, snuggling further under the warmth of the blankets. Logan was sure this was going to put him to sleep and he felt his eyes drooping. They snapped open when he felt a weight on his shoulder and saw out of the corner of his eyes Finn’s head dropped down onto it, his eyes still wide open. Logan didn’t breathe, didn’t want to move, wasn’t sure what this meant.

He didn’t realise how tense he had become under Leo’s hand snaked over to rest on his knee, rubbing over his jeans slightly with his thumb, soothing the muscles. His breath was shaky when he released it and he looked over fully at Finn now, who lifted his head the slightest bit up to meet his gaze. He may as well have kept his breath in, his nose nudging Finn’s, face closer to him than he ever thought it would be. His breath hitched when Finn moved even closer and his eyes dropped closed without his permission.

Then he felt Finn’s lips capture his and the warmth suddenly spread through his entire body, too much too quickly. Finn’s hand came up to clutch at the back of his neck and Logan parted his lips, whimpering quietly when his tongue brushed against his own. The sparks behind his eyes could have blinded him and he sunk further into it, ignoring everything around him, the world melting away behind him. Finn sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and Logan had to pull away to catch his breath, resting his forehead firmly against the others.

He heard gasping breaths, and he knew that two of them came from them but his eyes flew open when he recognised another behind them and he whipped his head to look behind Finn’s shoulder to Leo. He didn’t look mad or upset or even surprised, but Logan felt his stomach drop.

“Leo…” he swallowed, moving away from Finn and standing in front of them. “Oh my god, Leo, I…I can’t believe…merde, oh my god,” he was rambling now, hands flying to his hair, gripping and pulling tightly.

He heard voices around him but he couldn’t place who was talking, his eyes clamped shut tightly. A hand was pressed to his cheek and he unconsciously leaned into it, feeling lips press to his ear. “Logan, you need to breathe, sweetheart,” the southern drawl and pet name pulled him out of his panic and he gasped harshly, listening to the shushes whispered in both of his ears, Finn’s arms wrapped around his waist from behind.

“That’s it, Lo, there you go, breathe love,” Finn whispered and Logan felt his heart rate slow and his gasps soften. “There, good.”

He forced his eyes to open, a blue pair right in front of him, shining with concern. “You, okay, Lo?”

He nodded, throat still closed and went willingly into the arms that immediately opened up for him. Leo’s arms were strong and tight around him, soothing him and protecting him from everything around him.

“It’s okay, Logan, it’s okay. You did nothing wrong, and neither did, Finn, alright? Nothing,” he continued to whisper, hands stroking through his hair, scratching at his scalp.

“But…but I kissed your boyfriend,” he murmured and then his face was being lifted up and was back in Leo’s hands.

“Did you want to kiss him?” He nodded, a guilty look crossing his face again. “Don’t look at me like that. Finn wanted to kiss you too. I don’t mind,” Logan nodded again, relaxing slightly. 

He breathed deeply again and shyly turned his attention back to Leo, his hand reaching out to grip his wrist before going behind him and grasping Finn’s hand. “Can…can I kiss you too?”

Leo looked at him longingly but he could see the hesitation in his eyes. “Are you sure? That was quite an attack you just had,” but Logan just nodded, reaching his free hand to tangle in Leo’s curls.

He leaned up as far as he could, Leo meeting him in the middle, and Logan gasped when they collided, fireworks shooting throughout his whole body. He clutched him closer, arms winding around his neck as he let his mouth drop open, Leo licking into it. He moaned softly and they pulled back together, Leo letting quick bursts of kisses press to his lips before pulling his face fully away.

Finn wound his arms around his waist and he leant back into the embrace, eyes still tightly closed. “That…that was nice.”

The two of them chuckled, directing him back towards the sofa, plopping down and wrapping the blankets around them.

“You okay?” Finn whispered, and Logan nodded, eyes drooping onto Leo’s chest, pushing back into Finn’s warmth. “In the morning, we’ll talk about this more, okay?” He just nodded again, snuggling closer.

“Yeah, okay. I don’t know where we’re gonna go from here but…I want you. Both of you.”

“Come back,” he sighed, turning over his shoulder to face him, the sheets pooled around his waist, eyes bleary and hair crumpled. The small pout on his face was so tempting, so tempting, but he shook his head, taking a further move away from him and towards the window.

He heard the padded footsteps not long after and felt a warm body press into his back, soft kisses skimming across his shoulders up to his neck. He tilted to the side ever so slightly, not missing the grin that Logan tried to hide in the junction where his shoulder met his neck. He sighed, twisting in his arms so their chests were pushed together, raking a hand gently through the mussed up curls, lowering his hand slowly until he was cupping Logan’s cheek, stroking it lightly with his thumb. Logan’s eyes fluttered shut and he moved further into his palm, pressing delicate kisses up and down his hand. He regretfully pulled away.

“Hey,” Logan huffed and Finn just winked at him before escaping his tight grip and moving to where his clothes were resting against the chair, letting the silk material fall through his fingers.

“We would have had to split soon enough anyway,” he called over his shoulder, taking the outfit into his arms fully and facing back to the bed. “You have to go, get dressed before we go down to breakfast.”

“Is breakfast really that important?” He sauntered his way back over to Finn who closed his eyes in response, not giving in to the feather-light touches that Logan left as he ran a hand down his chest and sides. “We could stay here, do something else?”

“You know the answer to that already, Lo,” although he ran the idea through his head anyway, just to make sure for himself. “My father will be at breakfast, as will Alex and the rest of the important male members of my father’s inner circle,” he rolled his eyes. 

“Are they still splitting up the men and women?” Logan finally detached himself from his side, making his way to the other end of the bed, sitting in the only space where the sun was hitting.

“To everyone else, this is still a normal, royal wedding. Only we know that it’s not,” the clothes dropped from his hands onto the bed and he rested himself against the posts. “What do you think would happen if I just didn’t show up?”

Logan just stared at him for a second before glancing away. “Your father won’t be happy but I don’t think anybody would be surprised if you just didn’t go.” He sighed, sitting down beside him, head hung low.

“I don’t want to do this,” he mumbled, and he wasn’t sure Logan had heard him at first until he shifted in his direction and pulled his head up gently to face him.

“I know you don’t. I don’t want you to either. June doesn’t...I don’t know anyone other than your families who want this marriage to happen. But it’s too late now.”

“It’s not,” he whispered. “It’s not. I could just not go. Not go through with it. We could go right now, to Dumo’s and get Leo and leave. We could,” he could hear the hopefulness in his voice and the whiney tinge to it and looked away from Logan. 

“You can’t do that, Finn. Not when your kingdom, June’s kingdom needs the resources. Both of you do. You have to marry just in case Alex doesn’t. You're not next in line but if Alex doesn’t then your marriage has an impact.”

“I could not be in line at all,” Logan opened his mouth, eyebrows pitched up in confusion but Finn beat him to it. “I could renounce my title.” 

That caused them both to go silent, Logan’s mouth still open, now in shock and Finn couldn’t even believe it himself that he had said that. He had never thought to step down, never really wanted to, even in the current situation. 

“Finn…” Logan started, grabbing his hand. “No. You are not doing that. Don’t even think about doing that.”

“But why not?” He argued back, eyes widening. “I could! He couldn’t force me then, there would be no purpose, no point in us getting married if I had no title to go alongside.”

“Finn I don’t want you married to her either, and I would go to any lengths to make that not happen. But not this. Not to the point you give up everything you have,” Logan reasoned, hand tightening around his own.

“I wouldn't be. I’d still have you and Leo. Alex will always be my brother and Remus and Sirius would still be there. I would be giving up less than you think. You said it yourself, I’m not next in line so there would be no extreme backlash, not as much as Alex would get.”

“Stop. We have a plan. A plan that doesn’t involve you not being prince anymore. The marriage is only marriage on paper. To you...to us, it isn’t real. It’s not there. It won’t affect us in the future because we can’t get married,” Finn flinched and Logan’s hand moved to rest on his neck instead. “We can’t, Finn. Not the three of us, not even two of us. This doesn’t impact anything except make Alex’s life so much easier when he takes over the throne. June has siblings. You don’t need heirs. Alex will have an Alex plan for when he becomes king. All you need to do is get married and come back to me and Leo. That’s it.”

His words were soft and Finn didn’t realise he had fallen back until his eyes opened and Logan was hovering over the top of him, one hand pressed into the mattress next to his head and the other tracing his jaw. He let out a shaky breath and nodded, letting himself be pulled up, wrapping his arms around Logan tightly. He squeezed his eyes shut again as Logan’s hands travelled his back, applying pressure to his shoulders, tense and high until they softened under his grip. Finn finally allowed himself to relax in his lover’s arms.

**

He didn’t want to say it but the distance was doing him some good. Being so close to them and yet not being allowed with them helped put things in perspective. He missed them, of course he did, they were the only things he thought about. But after a whole morning and night of them not being there, the first time he had truly not seen them for even a second since he moved to Bardom, made him realise just how much he wanted them. He could handle the distance, but he didn’t want to. 

He sighed, settling further into the chair in the kitchen, watching Celeste move effortlessly through the kingdom, dodging his many attempts to help, swatting his hands away when he came too close.

“You’re our guest, Leo,” she kept saying, raising an eyebrow when he went to say something else. “Stay over there.”

So he did. He watched the sun rise and dip behind the trees and shine through the window, casting an orange glow across the room, a warmth that felt so inviting, so comforting with everything happening today.

When he had woken up that morning he had been almost in a trance-like state, floating through the house with no real destination or direction. Celeste found him hovering by the door, hands resting on either side and head pressed to the wood, eyes closed and led him back through the kitchen, water pressed into his hand. 

She had murmured into his ears calm, soft words, words of comfort or advice, he wasn’t really sure. He listened as much as he could, drank as fast as his throat could take and sank into the chair she had pulled out for him. She didn’t even know him and yet she cared for him as his own mother does.

“Are you sure there is nothing that I can do?” He tried again, standing this time to make a point. Celeste huffed, whirling around with a spoon in her hand, waving it in his direction.

“You can go wake the children if you can’t sit still. They need to eat and get ready before we set off to Bardom.”

That was the other thing. He was going to be left alone while the Dumais household went to the wedding. He didn’t know if that was better or worse, not having someone there for comfort or knowing that he would be putting everyone down by needing to be comforted. But being alone would be for the best. 

He trekked the stairs up to the next floor, knocking gently on doors until tired faces peeked around the corner, staring with curious eyes. Adele only smiled, walking past him and down to Celeste, moving slowly and quietly. The boys stared at him for longer, as if trying to work out why he was here. They didn’t know him, so that didn’t surprise him. Katie was harder to wake. He had to venture inside her room, the youngest child wrapped in a cocoon in the centre of her bed, hand clutching a small teddy to her chest. It was old and tattered but her grip was strong. 

“Katie,” he whispered, crouching by her side, gently running a hand across her back, shaking slightly. She whined and rolled over, making Leo chuckle quietly. “Katie, wake up.”

She looked over her shoulder, face scrunching up in confusion. “I don’t know you.”

“No you don’t,” he smiled, and she turned fully to face him. “I’m Leo.”

This made her sit up quickly, a bright smile crossing her face and she untucked herself from her blankets. “You’re who Logan talks about!”

Leo grinned up at her. “Yeah, I am. Are you ready to go downstairs? Your mother is waiting.”

She nodded, holding her arms out expectantly. Leo lifted her uncertainly, holding her close and walking back down to the kitchen. Celeste turned to face them, her gaze softening and motioned for them to sit down.

“Now you need to eat quickly and then get ready to go to the palace,” Celeste handed out bowls and plates filled to the brim with food and Leo looked at her as she spoke along with the children, listening intently.

“We goin’ to see Lo?” Katie asked through a mouthful of food, receiving a look from Celeste. She swallowed quickly and showed off her best smile. Celeste rolled her eyes and turned away.

“Yes, we are, so hurry!” He had never seen children eat so fast in his life, the food gone in seconds and the patter of footsteps going back where they came from. He turned to Celeste, mouth open and ready but she stopped him. “Leo, if you could help with the plates that would greatly help me while I go and get them ready.” 

He nodded, standing instantly and collecting them in his arms making his way over to the soapy water in the basin, listening as Celeste left the room with the others. He sighed, leaning down onto his elbows, head resting on the cool surface. It wouldn’t be long now until Finn was getting ready to stand by the altar and June was ready to meet him, Logan sitting with the Dumais and his family in the front rows. It wouldn't be long and then he would be seeing them again.

**

Breakfast was, as always, a lavish affair. Plates upon plates lined the table, with servers surrounding them and more people seated than Finn knew and wanted to be there. He sat opposite Logan, whether or not that was a good idea was still to be decided, and Alex was by his side, a hand resting constantly on his arm or back. He was glad the topic of conversation hadn’t shifted towards the day’s events just yet settling instead on the lives of the noblemen around him. He chimed in every now and then with a comment or a simple yes or no answer to a question, with no intention to elaborate. They seemed to understand that Finn was not up to talking this morning and turned so their attention was not on him.

He felt something nudge his foot slightly under the table and lifted his head to catch Logan’s gaze in his, smiling softly in reassurance at the clouded worry evident in his eyes. He didn’t move his foot, though, and his gaze remained firmly on him whilst they ate. He felt his body beginning to relax again, his tense figure melting under Alex’s hand, who continued to rub softly at his shoulders in a discreet attempt at comfort. 

His father had yet to comment on the wedding, but he was expecting the words to come out any minute now, the gazes returning to him one by one until they were all back and his father was facing him completely. 

“Finn,” he inwardly sighed and steeled himself for the questions and the assumptions, humming in question to him. “How are you feeling?”

Well...that wasn’t what he was expecting, not at all. He furrowed his brows ready to make a sarcastic remark until Logan’s foot nudged his again, harder now, hard enough to jolt him in his chair. He glared at him until he turned back to his father in understanding. It was all a game, an act to them, but to the others in the room, it wasn’t.

“I’m feeling good father,” and then he turned away again, continuing his streak of clipped, short answers. He heard the sighs and the huffs from around him but simply ignored them in favour of reaching out for more food, waving off the servers who reached to do it for him. “I can manage,” he smiled at the young lady, who sheepishly nodded and returned to stand by the wall. 

“What are your plans for after the ceremony, Your Highness,” a burly man he had no recollection of knowing asked in a gruff voice, his eyes burning holes into him. He looked away.

“We will stay here for the nightly celebration as per tradition and then we will leave sometime tomorrow,” he answered honestly, missing out on the details of picking up extra passengers on their way.

“So you won’t be staying for the week, then?” Another chimed in. “Normally celebrations on this level will last for much longer than a single day.” Logan looked confused as well, sitting upright in his chair.

“I have private celebrating of my own to do,” he struggled to get out, wincing when he saw Logan turn away and controlled the urge to roll his eyes when laughs went up around him. He watched Logan glare down at the table and let his foot stroke and up and down his calf in what he hoped to be a comforting way.

“Then we can’t hold you back from those celebrations much can we?” His father spoke in a neutral voice, playing his role as well as they did. “But you will stay for longer than today, Finn. Two, three days at least,” he turned to face him, hoping he could see the frustration building in his eyes.

“Father-”

“If Finn wants to leave and celebrate after today then he should be allowed to,” he turned slowly to Logan, his heart breaking slightly when he couldn’t turn to face the table. The words were almost growled out, Logan’s face growing red with anger and Finn desperately wished he had chosen to sit beside him instead.

“Logan,” he said softly, catching his eyes. Logan glanced up at him, lips trembling slightly and Finn nodded at him, eyes gentle. He sucked in a breath and turned back round to face the group. Finn looked back to his father. “Two days and then we leave.”

His father nodded, pleased, and turned back to his friends, the conversation picking up again on the other end of the table, Finn, Alex and Logan staying silent in their corner, staring down towards their plates.

As soon as they had the chance to leave, Logan shot up from the chair and bolted from the room, everybody else paying no mind. Finn made to leave after him until he was pulled back down into his chair by Alex. “Alex-”

“Let him cool off for a second,” he wanted to disagree but was silenced with one look. He collapsed back into his chair, the two alone in the room and Alex’s hand was back on his arm. “Talk to me.”

“I knew this would be hard for him. I knew that these conversations would kill him. And I told him not to come to protect him from that,” he huffed out, burying his face in his elbow, muffling his words slightly.

“I know. But it was his choice. He wanted to be here for you and he knew what that meant. This isn’t your fault,” Alex soothed, crouching down in front of his chair.

“I know,” he sighed, lifting his head slightly to smile at his brother. “How do I do this? How do I get married in just over an hour to someone I don’t love? To someone I don’t want to marry?”

Alex sucked in a breath and turned to face him more fully. “I don’t know, Finn. I’m not good at this, not this subject,” he went to apologise but was stopped. “Don’t. I’m your older brother, I should be able to give you advice. Listen. All you have to do is get through it. Get through this ceremony and then you can take every day as it comes. Nothing is certain yet. But once this is over, the pressure will be off you and you can figure out where to go from there.”

“You give good advice, Alex,” they both laughed softly and Finn leaned forward, wrapping his arms around his brother, holding him close.

“Thank you. I know you want to see him now but you don’t have time. You have to get ready and so does he,” he went to complain, but Alex pulled him closer. “I’ll make sure Dumo finds him before he goes in. He won’t be alone and neither will you.”

He nodded and stood, both of them twisted together and they laughed again before Alex pulled his arms away and clapped him on the shoulder, leaving the room. Finn took a deep breath, taking a look through the room-length windows on either side of him, the crowds gathering and the sun shining. He would go and see Logan anyway. He steeled himself and shook out his robes, though it didn’t matter too much. His wedding attire was waiting. 

**

Logan slammed the door behind him and slumped down onto his bed, ignoring the outfit set out beside him, pushing it out of the way. His breath was coming in heavy and he could feel the anger coursing through him. He had no one to blame but himself. He chose to be here.

He sighed, raking a hand through his hair and stumbled towards the window, pushing it open and breathing in the outdoor air. He closed it immediately at the stream of voices that poured through, leaning against the wall, clutching at his chest. Why did he agree to this?

The knock at his door snapped his attention back to the present and he wheezed out a quiet answer, expecting it to go unnoticed but the door was suddenly opening and there was a warmth pressed over his own hands and a figure by his side. He squeezed his eyes shut, gasped out for air that wasn’t coming and felt himself falling into the arms of whoever was wrapped around him. 

He was lowered down, sat against the cool wall and a cold shock went through him when he felt the ice-cold water drip down his face and the pressure against his forehead. One hand was pulled away from his chest, bringing his own with him and he felt a strong, steady heartbeat under his fingers. He furrowed his brows, trying as hard as he could to follow their breathing and patch their pace, succeeding slowly, bit by bit. 

Ten minutes later he was finally able to pull his eyes open and clear his vision. Two figures were kneeling before him and the clearer his eyes got, the more he could make them out. He recognised Dumo’s calloused hands holding his to the other man’s chest and fell forward, pressing his wet forehead into the man’s shoulder. Beside him was Celeste, kneeling with a glass of water and a damp cloth on the floor beside a bowl from the bathroom. He reached a hand out for her, feeling her fingers curl through his.

They were murmuring to him, words that he struggled to make out, his ears still blocked and stuffed with nothing. They were calming him, running gentle hands across his back and shoulders, massaging him back to the present. He heard fumbling behind him and whimpered when Celeste’s hand disappeared and almost cried when his mother’s was there to replace it.

“Mama,” he whispered, moving from Dumo’s arms into her’s, watching the scene around him, his father and sisters talking with Celeste, his room door open and Adele peeking through, keeping Katie behind her, though her attempts to get through didn’t let up.

“Oh, mon chéri,” her hands were in his hair, smoothing it back, whispering in his ear words of comfort that he still struggled to hear but was grateful for them either way. 

The voices in the back blurred out and he relaxed in his mother’s arms, feeling the anger seep out of him. And then Finn was there and he was moving before he realised it, over to the door and into his embrace while his mother was still calling his name. He finally breathed, a proper, deep breath and let himself be moved, legs hoisted up and around Finn. He would have been embarrassed if he didn't think that he wouldn’t be able to walk on his own.

He realised he was mumbling under his breath and wasn’t aware that it was Finn’s name until he answered back, hands steadying his hips as he sunk down onto the bed. “I’m here. I’m right here, baby, I'm right here. I’ve got you, Lo.”

He didn’t let himself cry, as much as he wanted to and pulled away from Finn to look straight at him, hands reaching up to cup the redhead's face in his palms. He was wearing his suit, his wedding suit and the thought sent a shock through Logan and he almost started again before Finn leaned up to kiss him softly and slowly. It was only once he pulled away that he remembered that his family were in the room and this was completely unknown to all of them. When he turned to them, though, there was no surprise on their faces and he let out a sigh of relief, leaning his head on Finn’s shoulder.

“You okay?” Finn whispered in his ear and rested his hand on the low of his back. He nodded, his voice rough and sore. He curled a hand through Finn’s hair, holding him steady against him, his eyes still on the other’s in the room.

Katie had managed to worm her way into the room and was now clawing her way past people in order to get to him. She succeeded, plopping herself in his lap, making Finn groan quietly into his hair, which brought a laugh out of Logan.

“Logan!” Her voice was excited and she ignored the situation and the breakdown that she witnessed Logan have, instead snuggling into his chest, grabbing his arm to wrap around her.

“Hey, Katie bug,” she giggled at the nickname and he turned fully to bring her further onto his lap, pulling her close. “You look very pretty.”

“Thank you,” she pulled away so he could see better and then frowned when her gaze landed on his rumpled everyday clothes. “You’re not dressed yet,” she gasped and then turned to Dumo. “Papa, Lo’s not dressed yet.”

Dumo hummed in agreement and walked over to her, picking her up and out of Logan’s arms. “No, ma petite, he isn’t. Should we leave him to get dressed?”

She nodded and turned to everyone else in the room, shooing them away with her small hands, a serious look on her face. Everyone chuckled, lightly, glancing over at the pair one more time in concern before leaving the room.

Logan turned back to Finn when he cupped his neck, leaning in for another kiss. “Lo…if you want to leave you can leave,” he started and Logan started shaking his head. “No, Logan, I’m serious. If it is causing you to hurt this much, I can’t have you there. I can’t have you hurt, baby.”

Logan sighed, pressing his mouth back to Finn’s continuously, wrapping his arms around his neck. “I’m staying. I’m not leaving you now.”

Finn huffed, pulling away further. “If you’re sure?” He nodded again and Finn ran a hand across his face. “Alright then. Katie makes a good point. You’re not dressed yet. Leave or stay?”

“I want you to stay, but leave. You don’t have long and I know that I won’t let you leave if you stay. I won’t get dressed either.”

Finn nodded, kissing his forehead before pushing him off his lap, standing and straightening out his clothes. He reached for his hand and Logan held on tight, bringing him closer so their foreheads were together.

“I love you,” he whispered and Finn murmured it back, squeezing his hand and leaving the room, glazing back one more time, the door closing shut quietly behind him.

Logan turned to the clothes, letting his hand brush them back into position from where he shoved them away. He began undressing, groaning at his stiff muscles from where he slammed into the wall before and slid his dark green suit onto his body, smoothing a hand through his hair, getting it to settle as much as possible.

He walked out of the room to where he saw Dumo waiting against the opposite corridor and followed him down to his family, taking his mother’s arm and heading out through the gates and into a carriage. The church wasn’t far from here, not even five minutes but they dragged and dragged.

Walking through the doors made it all real. Seeing the flowers lining the benches and the guests taking up the rows made his heart clench. They made their way to the second from the front row, taking a seat, Logan running his palms on his trousers. His father sat on one side and Dumo on the other, himself placed in the centre of the bench, both of his families on either side.

He didn’t know how long he sat there until Finn was walking through the side entrance, his mother and father behind him, taking the front row and Alex waiting beside him. Before long, the entire church was filled and they were glancing at the entrance for the bride to walk down.

He caught Finn’s eyes, smiling at him as best he could before tearing his eyes away and standing up with everyone else, turning to face the entrance of the church. Logan took a long breath and let it go as June walked through the door and turned so he was looking at Finn instead of her. His gaze was already on him.

**

Logan looked beautiful. He saw June heading towards him through the corner of his eyes, but he couldn’t pull them from Logan and that green suit, hugging around his waist and his gentle curls framing his face. His eyes were on him too. They couldn’t look away.

It was only when June was standing in front of him that he looked at her. June looked beautiful too, her dress blowing out behind her, reaching down the steps she just walked up. They smiled at each other and June reached for his hand, squeezing it and turning to face the priest in front of them. Finn shot one last, risky glance in Logan’s direction before following June to turn his back to their guests.

He tried to listen to the priest and follow along to what he was saying, nodding when he needed to and answering when it was necessary to. He listened to the words of welcome and the introduction, keeping his hand firmly clasped in June’s. 

They didn’t write their own vows, sticking to the given ones, and Finn’s voice was quiet as he repeated them back to June. Her voice was strong and calm but her hand was shaking in his and he squeezed it again. He could feel Logan’s gaze on him from behind as he spoke and he wanted to turn, and he wanted to speak them to him instead, wanted to tell him he would hold him from this day forward and would love and cherish him until they died. He imagined Leo sat beside him, pictured his soft blue eyes in his head and saw him saying the words to the both of them instead. His voice was barely heard when he said I do.

Then the rings came. Alex and Heather came forward and Finn pretended not to notice the tears that streamed down the girl’s face, knowing that they weren’t of happiness for her best friend. Their shaking hands found each other’s left fingers and then the ring was cool on his finger and he fought the urge to take it back off again. He gulped and met June’s gaze as she fiddled with her own ring, the silver sparkling in the sun shining through the window.

When the priest pronounced them man and wife and turned them to kiss, Finn was ready to walk. He had done it now, he had married June, he had done what his father had asked him to, why did he need to continue to the end? But he leant in anyways and kissed her as quickly as he could without it being awkward. 

The two of them turned back to the guests, cheering and clapping and they walked back down the aisle, side by side. He dared a look at Logan, his face turned to the floor and matching tear tracks to Heather trailing down his cheek. Dumo had an arm tightly around him and nodded when he glanced over.

They made it outside, the others following close behind and split, June heading to Heather and her family, smiling sadly. Finn looked for Logan. He trailed out behind the rest, face downcast and eyes lost. He made a move for him, ignoring his father’s eyes following him and gently grasped Logan’s hand and pulled him behind the church.

He didn’t know who moved in first, the two of them gravitating towards each other, hands grasping clothes and lips pressing desperately together. They kissed with urgency, Finn wiping away the tears that still leaked from Logan’s eyes and pressed him against the side of the church. They gasped into each other’s mouths and Logan pulled away, trailing down the side of his neck and jaw. Finn kept one eye facing the corner, waiting for someone to appear but they closed involuntarily when Logan bit down on his jaw.

“Lo, baby,” he breathed out, bringing their mouths back together, grabbing at his hair and twisting his head to the side. They split eventually, breathing heavily into each other, foreheads pressed together and hands holding tightly.

“I love you,” Logan sighed, his hands running up and down Finn’s side. He leant down and kissed the smaller man’s jaw, bringing their eyes together.

“I love you so much, Logan,” he answered back, holding the man close to his chest and stroking circles into his hips. “So damn much.”

They knew they had to join the others soon, so soon, but they stayed there, for now, wrapped tightly together. Alex would come and get them when he needed to. Right now they didn’t need to go anywhere else.

**  

When they got back to Bardom, Logan was ready to bolt out to the door. He was lucky that he wasn’t sitting so close to Finn and June during the meal, their table close but far enough away that he didn’t have to listen to their conversations. He still longingly glanced over in their direction, most of the time Finn staring right back at him. His lips were still red and swollen from earlier and Logan allowed himself to feel pride at knowing that he caused that and not his ‘wife’ sitting beside him like everyone else thought it was.

“-gan. Logan,” he turned to face Katie sat beside him, tugging at his jacket. 

“Yes, Katie?” She perked up when she realised that his full attention was now on her and she shifted on her chair to face him fully.

“What happens now Finn is married?” It was an innocent question, one that she didn’t know not to ask, but it still sent a pang to his heart. “What happens to you and Leo?”

He debated how to answer her question without making it obvious what was happening in case she accidentally told anyone else. “Nothing, Katie bug. Nothing changes now, not really,” she still looked confused. “Why don’t I tell you later after we go back home and see Leo then we can all tell you?”

She nodded, happy with the answer, but it left a list of questions in his head that had yet to be answered for himself. He frowned down at his hands, rubbing at the rings that covered his fingers, the family crest on the right middle, one from Finn on the left pointer and Sirius on the right one that he never wore for anything other than these occasions. He wondered what his finger would look like if he moved the one from Finn across two fingers to rest on his ring finger. He stopped touching them after that. He didn’t want to see it if it couldn’t be true.

The rest of the meal flew by, much faster than Logan expected it too and he followed everyone to the ballroom where Finn and June made their way to the centre of the room. They formed a circle around them, most in pairs, arms linked and wide smiles on their faces as they watched the newly wedded prepare to dance.

The music started up and if Logan wasn’t feeling so down he was sure he would have loved it, the calm soothing violin and the soft harp floating through the room. When they finally did start dancing, Finn’s eyes were looking everywhere but June and she was doing the same. They were murmuring between each other and Finn was smiling and everyone else smiled with them. Then his eyes caught Logan’s.

He felt his breath hitch at their intensity, the once soft brown now dark and locked on him. Logan’s gaze followed him as he moved around the room, never leaving his sight and Finn smiled, leaning down so he could peer at him from over June’s shoulder. Logan felt tears spring and desperately pushed them back. He wished he could dance with Finn right now like she was, held firmly in his arms, resting against him, protected and safe.

Others started joining in, Celeste with Dumo and his parents. Noelle wandered over to where Thomas was standing and together they made their way onto the floor. Sydney walked over to him and offered a hand and he smiled, taking her arm and joining the rest of his family. They danced close to Finn and crossed each other enough times that Logan was about to grab his hand and pull them together instead.

Finn beat him to it, nodding over to the door to their right, but he shook his head as much as he wanted to go. Too risky. He mouthed as much to Finn and as much as it looked like it hurt him, he nodded, understanding. They continued to dance around each other, switching partners every song until they retired to the chairs, conversing in meaningless conversations.

Before long the night was drawing to a close and Logan walked to the door with a handful of Katie. He followed the Dumais to their end of the palace and placed the youngest child beside her sister in their bed, kissing them both goodnight and tucking them in. He went with his parents to the other side, to one of the empty sitting rooms and they stayed for the rest of the night, catching up and making most of them all being in the same place.

A knock sounded through the room a half-hour later and Finn poked his head through the door, eyes searching for Logan. When they reached him, a smile broke across his face and he made his way over.

“Hi,” was whispered into his ear and a kiss was pressed just below. He pushed him away, the blush already making its way across his neck as his sisters laughed in his direction.

“Hello,” he turned to him and took the hand offered, letting Finn drag him out of the room. “Finn my family-”

“I won’t be long,” he reassured, laughing lightly. He closed the door behind them, crowding Logan against it. “Listen. I know I told my father we would leave in two days but we’ll go in the morning straight after the celebrations, okay? I don’t want to be apart from you and Leo for much longer. We’ll sneak off, all of us, June included and make it to the Dumais household late the next morning. We don’t have to stay the whole day, my mother will vouch for us.”

He nodded. “Okay. Okay, yeah. Where will we go from there?”

“I have an idea. I’ll need to check with my mother but it should work. For all of us,” he closed his eyes and smiled, leaning into Finn’s chest. “Get some sleep, alright? Wake up late and miss breakfast, you don’t need to be there to hear all that. I’ll get Eloise to save some for you.”

His smile widened. “Make sure you get some sleep too. No funny business tonight,” he teased, but the word held seriousness to them.

Finn leaned down and kissed him softly, cradling his jaw in his palm. “Never.” 

They kissed a final time before Finn went back to his chambers, back to June, and away from Logan. He didn’t go back to his family, walking the other way towards his own room. He sunk into the bed, letting his head hit the pillow softly. He didn’t think he’d get to sleep yet, content to lay on his side and watch the trees sway in the wind outside, casting shadows around his walls. But his eyes got drowsy and he struggled to keep his head from collapsing. He gave in to the urge to close them and turned the other way, grabbing a pillow and holding it close to his chest. He hoped he would sleep until after breakfast otherwise curiosity would get the better of him. He closed his eyes, sighing and succumbed to sleep.

**

Finn was glad he told Logan not to come down to breakfast this morning. He sat beside his new wife, controlling the urge to roll his eyes as each comment rolled over him. Logan wouldn’t have survived. He leant over to June, telling her to leave and she listened, standing and leaving the room with Heather and her ladies. They didn’t have to listen to this either. 

He left soon after, ignoring the calls from his father, making his way out to the gardens. The fresh air was good, it cleared his head as he followed the familiar trail through the maze. The sound of the flowing water was clear even from here and he made his way towards it. He wasn’t surprised to see who was there.

“I thought I told you to sleep in,” he could hear the smirk before he saw it, Logan turning in his direction, a sleepy look on his face.

“I’m not good at doing as I’m told,” Finn huffed out a laugh, sitting beside him and taking his hand. “I couldn’t just stay there and pretend to sleep. I’d rather be here. We don’t know if I’ll get to return.”

Finn let out a sad noise. “We will be back, love. When Alex rules I’m sure we’ll spend more time here than we will at home.”

“And home is where?” Logan asked and Finn wanted to give him a clear answer.

“I haven’t spoken to my mother yet. But it is close.”

They stayed in silence for the rest of the morning, moving to lay on the ground beside the fountain, wrapped in each other’s arms, trading kisses and laughs between them.

“Can’t we go now?” Logan asked into Finn’s shoulder, his voice quiet and almost pleading. “I want to see Leo.”

“I want to see him too. We can leave later on this afternoon, after dinner, most likely. I don’t wish to anger my father much more. We should get there by the evening, your kingdom is not too far away,” he stroked Logan’s arm with his fingertip, dipping into his palm and up to his fingers until they were clasped together.

“That’s still too long,” he laughed again and tugged him closer.

“I know, love.”

They left not long after, Logan to find the Dumais and tell them what the plan was and Finn to find his mother and Alex. The latter was easier to find, walking through the woods towards the clearing they used to go to, kicking at stray sticks, hands twisted together.

“Alex,” he called out, and he turned to him, a soft smile evident on his face even in the distance. 

“Finn,” he breathed out, moving towards him and taking him firmly by the shoulder, bringing him closer. They stayed together, grasping at each other. “I assume you are getting ready to leave?”

“After dinner. We still have plenty of hours left before we go.”

“Defying father’s wishes again, are you,” Alex chuckled against his shoulder.

“When do I ever honour them? I did as he asked, he can expect no more from me,” he scoffed, moving back, keeping his brother at arm’s length.

“I suppose he can’t. You will visit, won’t you?” His voice was uncharacteristically small and Finn pulled him back towards him.

“You can’t keep us two split up for too long, brother. And you can always visit us where we end up.”

“And where will that be?”

“I’ll get back to you on that soon,” he smiled, clapping him on the shoulder again before leading the two of them back through the gardens into the palace grounds.

He left Alex with Kasey and began his search for his mother, admittedly a lot harder than the previous one. But it was her who found him in the end, pulling open a door into a room he had never ventured into before, one he never remembered seeing.

“Finn,” she started, leading him over to the chairs in the corner. The room was the same as all the other sitting rooms, smaller, but the same design. “My private room,” she answered his unspoken question and he nodded along. “You are leaving soon, I suppose.”

It wasn’t a question. “I am,” he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say to her, unsure where this conversation was leading.

“I didn’t want it to come to this,” she sighed, reaching out for his hand. “Your father means well. He has never been a good leader, but he was a good father. I’m not sure what changed. But he does love you, Finn. He does. I can see how you could find that hard to believe, but it’s true. I do not wish for you to think he doesn’t.”

Deep down Finn knew his mother was right. His father did love him, and he was good to him. But somewhere along the line power took over and Finn didn’t know what to make of that. “I know, mother.”

“Will you go somewhere safe? Somewhere you can be you?” She asked, her voice calm and collected even though the conversation sounded too much like a goodbye.

“We will. I will come back, mother. One day.”

“I know you will, Finn,” her smile was sad and her grip on his hands was tight as he stood, leaning forward to kiss her cheek, ignoring the dampness there.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you…”

When dinner finally arrived, Finn was just as desperate as Logan to leave. He steeled through it, engaging in conversations, sticking to June’s side the whole time to avoid any unnecessary rumours and doubts. The time went agonizingly slow, Finn keeping one eye on the door at all times, ready to grab June for when the right moment came.

When the time to leave did come, he accompanied June back to her room and waited as she packed everything she came with two months ago, Heather behind her. At his questioning gaze, she revealed her parents would be staying here along with her ladies to make the trip seem more acceptable by the crowds of people in the palace. A honeymoon almost to their prying eyes.

The three made their way back out to the gardens, avoiding the bunches of people leaning against walls, their drinks slipping from their fingers and found Logan and the Dumais standing by three carriages, the Tremblay’s seated in one already.

“Heather, you will ride with me and Logan. Finn and June, you two must go together in case there are any wandering eyes around the grounds,” Dumo grabbed their bags and they nodded, taking the front carriage. Olli was once again seated on top and Finn moved to him, catching his eye and made his gratitude known.

“How far is the Dumais residence?” They were on their way, out of the palace gates and down the dirt track through the woods, the bumpier but faster way to Carth.

“Not far from their palace. An hour’s drive at most, especially this way,” he glanced out the window, seeing the carriages behind them trailing along.

“Have you got a plan for what happens now?” At the question, Finn glanced down at his wedding ring, the gold catching his eye and attention. June was staring at her matching one adorned on her finger and together they removed them.

“I’m not giving it back to you,” he said honestly and she looked as if to say the same. Instead, she moved it to a different finger, the metal fitting just the same as before, if not better and she watched him do the same. “I’m glad I met you.”

“I’m glad I met you too, Finn,” she smiled brightly and their conversation seemed to halt there until their eyes met again. “Where will you go?”

“I have a place in mind. A place to suit all of us, my family included. Of course, we still need to keep up on appearance, at least for now, until the news blows over and the attention is away.”

She nodded. “Visits must happen, both at Coreder and Bardom in order to make it seem real. I assume you won’t be going too far from there?”

He shook his head. “Not too far at all. I do not wish for us to visit each other purely for appearances only. You are a close friend, I don’t wish for that to get lost among the lies. You’re too important to lose for a reason such as that.”

“It won’t. We will know the truth, that’s all that matters. You are a close friend of mine too. One day maybe just that will be fine.”

They rode in silence for the rest of their short journey, admiring the view from their window, the setting sun over the meadows in the west, the moon sparkling over the rivers in the east. When the carriage came to a halt neither of them had realised that the time had gone so fast. 

Finn was quick to jump out of his seat, pushing the door open and ushering June out to her amusement. She walked over to Heather, the two making their way over to the gates at a leisurely pace. He wished he could say the same for him and Logan. As soon as their gazes met, a blinding smile crossed both of their faces and everyone else in the garden disappeared, the only thing mattering being the boy inside the house. They took off with a run.

**

When Leo heard the carriages pull to a stop outside the estate, he swore his heart stopped too. Finn and Logan weren’t due back until the end of the week and he sprung to his feet out of the living room and into the kitchen. If this wasn’t them then he was screwed. The door opened and he held his breath, eyes searching the room for anywhere he could hide.

“Mon amour?” He stilled, eyes widening and he slowly made his way out back into the hallway, watching the two men search around for him.

When their eyes met, he didn’t know who moved first. Suddenly, there were two pairs of arms wrapped around him, a face pressed into his chest and another resting on his shoulder. He took a shaky breath, bringing his arms to wrap around them and tug them closer, eyes closing and squeezing tightly shut.

“Leo,” Finn breathed out and Leo titled his head up to him. His lips ghosted across his own and he brought a hand up to his cheek, bringing his face closer. Their lips met quickly and firmly, gasping into each other. 

He felt another mouth skimming across his jaw and up to his ear and his heart fluttered. He and Finn split and Logan quickly tugged him over, lips capturing his in a soft, delicate kiss, butterflies floating up inside him even after all this time. They were warm against him and he wasn’t sure how long they stood there, wrapped around each other before they pulled away, going over to the chairs behind them, sinking down together.

“You’re...you were supposed to be gone four more days,” he started, not sure what was going on, keeping one hand on each of them at all times.

Finn leant over and kissed his neck, resting their foreheads together. “We couldn’t wait any longer to see you.” 

He laughed softly, leaning back until his head knocked against the back of the chair, breathing deeply and letting the two of them surround him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

He laid there for minutes, debating where to go from here, how to approach the situation. Finn’s left hand was heavy in his, and he didn’t want to glance down and see the metal resting on a certain finger. When he did manage to brave himself to do it, he gasped slightly when he saw where it was instead. It rested on his pointer finger, looser but still snugly fit and he traced the edge with his fingers, feeling the shivers go through the older boy.

“You moved it,” he said simply, and the hand was taken out of his and into Logan’s, who leant down to place open-mouthed kisses on his ring finger, tracing where the outline of a ring should have been.

“We didn’t need the reminder. I’ll still keep it on, June is important to me and we’ll need it for when we have to make appearances together,” Logan stilled where he was still tracing down Finn’s hand. “It’s happening whether we like it or not.”

“When you say appearances together, does that mean we won’t be with June all the time?” Leo asked, Logan resting back onto his chest.

“No we won’t be. That is what we need to discuss. We need a home,” Logan answered instead of Finn, smiling over at the other prince.

“I actually have a place in mind already,” this caught both Leo and Logan’s attention, the two of them glancing over at him, his head lowered and hands twisting in theirs. “It’s still up for debate and you need to want to be there too. I spoke to my mother, it’s protected, there will be guards that won’t interfere and it’s close enough to the kingdom but away from it too-”

“Finn,” Leo said, gently. “If you love it, we will love it too. We don’t care where it is and whether it is protected. You found somewhere for us to live. We will live there no matter what,” Logan nodded in agreement.

Finn smiled back at them. “Get some rest here tonight and I’ll take you there in the morning after we split from June and they go back to Ravenclaw.”

“Where is she staying? It will be too risky going back to her palace alone,” Logan murmured out, eyes drooping and Leo leant down to press a kiss to his hair, grabbing the blanket from the back of the couch and draping it over him. 

“She is going to her summer house with Heather and her ladies, just until the end of the week when her parents return. We should be in the clear by then.”

They both nodded and Leo stroked a hand up and down Logan’s arm, smiling when he heard his breath even out. “Is he asleep?”

Finn looked down fondly at the boy laying on his chest and reached a hand out to brush the hair out of his face. “Yeah he is,” they smiled at each other. “How are you doing, baby?”

Leo took a moment before he answered, pushing further into the pillows and drawing Finn in so he was pressed up close to his side. “I’m okay. I’m so glad that you two are here. I’m excited to see where we are going to be living, I’m excited to live with you. I’m just...scared for everything that is going to come from this now. How hard it is going to be to keep this even more of a secret now you have a wife.”

“I don’t have a wife. I have a marriage but I don’t and I’m not going to see June as my wife. You just have to trust that I will do everything in my power to make sure you are safe in both our home and in the outside world. You have me and Logan and you know damn well that this boy,” he nodded down at Logan with a smile, “will do anything to make sure that you are protected.”

He laughed quietly up against Finn’s ear, feeling his arm wrap around him. He could feel the tiredness grow behind his eyes too and forced them to stay open. “I know you will,” he yawned and Finn moved slowly to kneel in front of the two of them.

“I think it’s time for us to go upstairs to bed, yeah? You need some sleep before we go home,” he shook Logan awake who grumbled and stuck further onto Leo who wrapped him up in his arms.

He smiled at the redhead. “Home. I like that. I really like that.”

“Me too,” they all stood, Logan keeping his arms and legs circled around Leo, the three of them making their way over to the stairs. “You two head up. I’m going to go and speak to the others first.”

Leo just nodded at him, tightening his arms around Logan and walked towards the room he had been staying in. “Hey,” Logan started, lifting his head up from his shoulder. “This is my room.”

Leo placed him down on the bed and hovered over him, hands on his knees and forehead inches from his. “I thought it might be. Come on, sweetheart, get in the bed.”

He hummed in agreement, rolling over and untucking the covers, wrapping them around him. Leo climbed in behind him, curling his arms around his waist, pressing light kisses to the back of his neck. He felt the tiredness return and closed his eyes with a sigh, hearing Finn walk into the room and settling on the other side of Logan, grabbing his hand and kissing it softly. He smiled and squeezed it, tugging his arm closer and he allowed himself to finally relax with his boys in his arms. 

**

Finn refused to tell Logan anything about where they were heading, despite his constant questions. Leo stayed silent in the seat next to them, smirking over at Logan’s antics but stared out the window instead, trying to gage any idea of where they currently were.

The morning was a breeze compared to the past few mornings Logan had, his family heading in the other direction to them, to their palace not even twenty minutes away. June left earlier than them, Finn waking to say goodbye and arranging as much as they could without any guide to help them. 

Logan refused to get up until the children grabbed him and dragged him down to the kitchen where Leo was laughing and moving around, putting food on the table and dishes to the side. He smiled softly at him and wandered over to place a kiss on the base of his neck, wrapping an arm around his waist and leaning into him.

Getting ready to leave took no time at all, Logan and Leo desperate to get to wherever Finn had scouted out for them. He stayed to the side watching them both in amusement, pulling them into the carriage before telling Olli where to go.

They were an hour into their journey when they drove back past the road to Bardom and Leo perked up in his chair. Logan looked over at Finn in question and the smile he received in return answered all his questions. There were no more kingdoms past Finn’s in Gryffindor. Leo was trembling in his seat, his eyes stuck to the window, Logan reaching over to rub the back of his neck.

“You think you know where we are?” He hoped he did, because although Logan had a rough idea all he was seeing was meadows and fields.

“I think so,” he glanced over at Finn to check, who promptly looked away, making both boys huff.

Another hour went by and Logan could see a clear road marked out in front of them and sat forward in his chair. Their path was still blocked by trees and bushes and Logan couldn’t make out if there were buildings near or not.

He got his answer when they turned the corner and the two of them gasped at the estate that came into view. It was a mix between the Tonks and Dumais residences and Logan felt himself tear up as he stared in disbelief at the house in front of him, the paths to the woods behind it and meadows surrounding them, clearly Hufflepuff lands.

Leo was worse than him, tears already streaming down his face as he swapped seats with Finn to get a closer look. They rolled to a stop outside the gates and Leo was quick to open the door and leap out, Finn and Logan standing beside him, taking his hands in theirs.

“This...this is ours?” Leo whispered out and he was tugged forward by Finn, bringing Logan along with him. 

“Go take a look, love,” they all took off to the gate, walking through and over to the fountain in the centre. “I figured we needed one in our own place.”

“How did you have time to look for an estate?” Logan asked as he ran his hands through the flowers growing along the side of the house.

“I have my ways. Go look inside.”

They spent the rest of the morning exploring the grounds, interrupting the tour with kisses from Leo at the kitchen and hugs from Logan at the maze running through the garden.

“I had some close friends change some aspects from the original,” he explained when they brought up how that was possible, combining their favourite parts of all three places.

The smiles on their faces made Finn's cheeks darken softly and they spent the afternoon sitting outside by the fountain, hands clasped and jaws aching, laughing at fond memories.

Logan turned to the both of them. “This is our home,” they looked back at him, eyes softening and a new round of smiling began again.

**

Finn was sitting out the back on one of the chairs, the table beside him and two empty seats. He was staring out in the distance, eyes following the tree line, fingers twisting one of the three rings on his fingers, the silver stark against where his dark sleeves covered his wrist. His attention turned to the two on his right hand, the bronze and gold glittering where the sun caught it and he traced them gently, eyes still staring out away from him.

He turned at the sound of footsteps behind him and leaned up when Leo bent to him, a kiss pressed to his cheek. His eyes trailed Leo as he placed the trays and jugs on the table and sat down, twisting his body to look behind him where Finn was gazing at.

“Is Logan still out there?” The question was murmured and Finn reached across to grab his hand, fingers grazing the matching bronze ring and the silver one beside it, smiling when they clunked with his.

“You know how he gets when he starts riding him. You’ll have to drag him away,” they both glanced over at the gate, Logan coming into view, seated atop a black Morgan Horse, gripping the reins tightly, his focus drifting over to them.

Neither of them looked away from the pair as they trotted to the edge of the fence and they watched him swing down and saunter over to them, hair dripping with sweat and sleeves rolled to his elbows.

Finn glanced at Leo and his blushed face and nudged him softly with his foot. He refused to look over at him and Finn stifled a laugh, instead moving to let Logan perch on his lap, accepting the kiss pressed to his lips. He took his hand, admiring the way the silver and gold looked on his fingers and pressed kisses along the veins up to his wrist. They weren’t official but to have them there along with June’s and seeing them wear theirs…he didn’t need anything more.

He stopped when Logan pushed his head away, letting his pout be kissed away and leant back in his chair. He looked around at the two boys beside him and their garden surrounding the three of them. It had been two months. He would have to leave tomorrow to join June in Coredor for the weekend and Sirius and Remus were coming next week with Regulus to visit. Alex left yesterday with Kasey and Natalie, plans already forming on where he goes from there. 

He thought he’d done surprisingly well at avoiding everybody, walking down the familiar but now foreign corridors and through empty rooms. He wasn’t the best at sneaking around, though.

“I thought you might be showing up sooner or later,” Alex stopped in front of him, a grin dancing on his lips and Logan fell forward into his outstretched arms. “Good to see you, Logan.”

“I wish it was for better reasons,” he mumbled, pulling away slightly to catch his eye. “How’s he doing?”

Alex sighed, running a hand through his already mussed up hair. “I think he’s coming to terms with the fact that he has to get married in two days. He knows he has no choice now. He’s still very rightly upset but…it’s clear he has accepted it more now than before.”

Logan nodded mutely, rubbing the back of his neck and ignoring the look Alex was sending him. “Where is he?”

“At a fitting with Marlene. He should be finished soon, though,” he nodded again, going to move around him and continue down the hall. “Let me walk you to his room.”

He tried not to let his confusion show, following Alex’s steps to the west wing, keeping his head down and eyes shielded from the stray royal. “You’re not normally like this. What’s going on?”

“What are you talking about? I’m always like this.”

“Offering to walk me to Finn’s room? No, you’re not,” he huffed, stepping in front of Alex and crossing his arms. He might have looked like a child throwing a tantrum but at least he didn’t stomp his foot. Yet.

Alex sighed. “Finn told you not to come, yeah?” He nodded. “Exactly. I just want to make sure everything goes okay.”

“Alex, as nice as that is, I don’t need an audience. He doesn’t need a guard or a knight. It’s just me,” he couldn’t lie and say he wasn’t hurt by that. What did they think he was going to do, scream at Finn for not inviting him? He knew why he didn’t. He came anyway. He’s not mad, not at all. He just wants to see Finn.

“I’m not saying he does. I just know what it is like to get married to someone you don’t want to. I know how hard it will be for him to see you right now.”

“Are you saying I should leave?” They had started moving again, not as discreetly as before, footsteps echoing down the hall.

“No, Logan, I’m not! Listen, I won’t go in with you. I just want to wait outside in case either of you need me,” they had reached Finn’s room, both of them standing on opposite ends.

Logan could only nod, eyes directed away from Alex. He heard another sigh, exasperated this time, and suddenly there were arms wrapped around him and Alex was there, closer.

“I’m sorry if I’m overstepping. In this case and in terms of before. You’re really important to me. And I know you’re upset about this. I just want to be there for comfort. For both of you.”

“You’re not,” he murmured back, gripping at his shoulders. “You’re not.”

They stayed like that for longer than Logan thought necessary, but he didn’t let go and neither did Alex. But they had to eventually, and Alex clapped him on the shoulder gently.

“I’ll go. I’ll see you later for dinner,” he pulled off, straightening out his jacket and giving him a soft smile.

“You don’t have to…” he trailed off, resting a hand on the door.

“No, I do. I have things to do and so do you,” Logan nodded, watching him walk back down the corridor before letting himself into Finn’s room.

He sighed, walking to the centre and to the bed, letting his hand fall onto the sheets, trailing a hand through them, memories flickering through his head, tainted by the realisation that Finn and June would be in here after the wedding. He tried not to think too much about that.

He moved away, vision taken by the window on the other side of the room, the bench beneath it covered in soft silk. He moved it to the side, letting his fingers trace the carving the two of them left there when they were younger, no older than ten, the rough letters forever a reminder that the two of them couldn’t be parted. He wanted to add to it, a heart, another name, something, but he couldn’t bring himself to change a thing about it.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” he heard the smooth, low voice behind his back and he let himself smile softly, turning to stare over his shoulder.

“Well I couldn’t let the man I love get married without being there for him now, could I?”

Finn grinned at him, a slight sad twinge to it, showing through his eyes as well and Logan moved forward towards him, letting his head tip back to keep his eyes locked on his.

“Why are you here?” He closed his eyes, Finn’s head resting against his own, breath fanning against his face and he brought a hand up to cup his cheek.

“I’m here because I love you. And I’m not letting you do this alone,” he said fiercely, gripping harder when Finn let out a shaky sigh.

“Well I guess that’s a good enough reason,” he huffed out a laugh, leading the two of them to the bench and tucking his face into Finn’s neck, breathing him in and relaxing in his embrace. “You left Leo there?”

“Yeah. Yeah I did,” the familiar ache in his chest came back at the thought of him by himself in that huge bedroom, curled up under the sheets when he left the first time and hovering by the door when he left the second. “He’ll be alright.”

“I know he will. Stronger than the two of us, that’s for sure.”

“Oh, I don’t know. You’re a high contender, doing this for the kingdom that stood against you,” he smiled when a hand came to curl into his hair.

“The kingdom didn’t turn, just my father,” he felt a nose nudge against him and lifted his head an inch to see Finn lean down to press a kiss to his cheek. “You’re a contender too.”

He scoffed. “No, I’m not. What have I done compared to you too?”

“You left. You went against everything you have ever been taught to protect us. You left your kingdom and your crown to keep us safe. You are one of the strongest people I know.”

He sniffled, moving his arms to wrap around Finn’s neck, tugging him closer. “I love you,” he didn’t let the other reply, pulling his face down into a searing kiss, swallowing down Finn’s gasp and letting himself be pulled flush against him.

He moved on instinct, settling himself into Finn’s lap, breath stuttering when he grabbed his hips. He let himself indulge a minute more before pulling away, resting their foreheads together.

“I love you too,” he laughed now, giggling into Finn’s mouth when he brought them back together, swapping quick bursts of kisses and long, passionate, breathtaking ones.

They stayed there, taking each other in, hands wandering around, trying to memorise every part of them they could while they still could. They pulled back eventually, resting against each other, eyes closed and breaths slowing.

“I still think you should have stayed there,” Finn started, voice soft in his ear, making Logan shiver slightly. “But thank you for coming.”

“I’ll always come, Finn. Always,” and he meant it. Wherever, whatever, whenever. He would always be there for Finn, Leo too.

“You sure you’ll be okay watching the wedding?” Logan could be honest or he could reassure Finn, calm him down before he worked himself back up tomorrow.

“I don’t know,” he settled on, leaning further into Finn’s warmth. “But I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying and I’ll be there the whole time. I’m not letting you go through this on your own.”

“I know. I love you for it. But I don’t want you to be there if it’s going to hurt you. And it will, you know it will.”

“I know. But I need to be there. For you, for myself, for Leo. I need to comfort you for both of us. Who knows what state he would be in if neither of us had come.”

“Imagine the state he’s in now alone,” Finn pointed out and Logan didn’t want to.

“He’ll be fine,” he wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince, the words sounding unsure to his own ears. “And if he isn’t, he’s not alone. The others are there and they’ll be distracting him the whole time. And we’ll see him soon enough when this is all over.”

“Will we? I don’t even know what is happening when this is finished. Where we will live, how we’ll get away with living apart from each other and us living together. I don’t know how we’ll do it.”

“I don't know either. But we’ll figure it out when we need to. I’m not letting you get away from me again. If I have to let you live with June just to see you then so be it. Whatever I have to do to have you and Leo I’ll do,” he mumbled against his chest, but his words were clear and unwavering.

“We don’t have to talk about this now. We don’t have to talk at all. So let’s not talk about the wedding and everything in the future. I just want to sit with you and be happy you’re here and sad Leo isn’t.

He laughed softly. “We can never seem to be together all at once for more than a couple of weeks, can we?”

“No, we can’t. But we will eventually. We’ll be able to sit here and not miss him.”

“Everything would be easier if he was here. He’d know what to do even if he isn’t a prince or royalty. I miss him so much.”

“I miss him too, baby. But soon, yeah?” A kiss was pressed to his forehead and he pulled back to stare into unrelentlessly soft brown eyes, pulling him until they were right there and his fingertips were tracing the skin beneath and around them.

“Soon,” he whispered, kissing him once more before pushing him to lay down, rolling his eyes at the groan of complaint and laying down on top of him.

He smiled up at him from where his chin was pressed to his chest and let his head fall into Finn’s hand when he pressed it to the side, pushing his curls back and tracing his face, down his jaw and across his lips. He closed his eyes and a faint smile played on his lips. When he cracked them open, Finn’s eyes were closed too, and he joined him, sighing quietly against his chest when he laid back down, Finn’s arms wrapping around him, keeping him close, preventing him from leaving. He was never going to.

**

Leo wasn’t sure how many more times he could do this. How many times he could watch them walk away days after each other and leave him to wait for their return. It wasn’t fair for him to even think that, they would always return and they always left him for his own safety. He still didn’t like being alone.

He felt him before he saw him and didn’t bother turning his head to acknowledge his presence. Neither of them spoke up, letting the quiet wash over them until he couldn’t stand it any longer and the fidgeting started. He wasn’t the only one to notice it.

“You okay?” He let out a breath, shifting over to face Remus, ignoring the concern shining in his eyes.

“I don’t know,” he really didn’t. “It’s not like I don’t know what is going on, but it’s different knowing and not being there to see it happen in person. I feel bad that I can’t be there, but I’m so glad that I’m not.”

Remus nodded along with him. “I understand. You’re allowed to feel like that. Neither of them will be mad if you tell them that you didn’t want to go. They didn’t want you to go and I know I wouldn’t if it were me and Sirius in that situation. The best thing for you to do right now is to stay here and be away from any danger.”

Leo felt some air make its way back into his lungs and a slight weight life’s off his shoulders at Remus’ words. “Yeah, you’re right. I just wish I could do something for them, anything to make them feel better.”

“I think they would feel better if they knew you were safe. And here they know you are. There’s nothing more you can do and there’s nothing more they can ask from you or expect from you.”

He leant into his side hesitantly, but relaxed when an arm came to wrap around his shoulders. “They will be back soon, Leo. Then things will start to get better, I promise.” He nodded back, pressing further into his shoulder.

They didn’t move for the rest of the morning, Leo’s mind wandering over tomorrow’s activities until they were joined by both Sirius and Regulus with plates filled with sandwiches, cheeses and jams with a pitcher of apple juice on the side.

They feasted for the first few hours of the afternoon, trading stories alike from both the royal aspect and the commoner. It took Leo’s mind off of his boys and the wedding for the most part and when they retreated back inside the house he felt better than he had when he first left.

There was a knock on his door soon after he settled back onto his bed and he groaned, lifting his upper body up onto his elbows to see who was disturbing him. He flushed slightly when he saw Sirius leaning against it, an amused glint dancing in his eyes.

“Am I interrupting you?” At the shake of his head he moved further into the room, settling down into the chair by the window. “Sorry, I just wanted to see how you were doing. Without the others there.”

“Why?” The word was out of his mouth before he could stop himself and the redness deepened even more. He mumbled an apology, looking down at his lap when he heard Sirius’ chuckle.

“It’s okay,” he reassured, adjusting his posture so he was leaning with his elbows on his knees. “We haven’t really spoken just the two of us before so I can see why you asked. I just thought I might provide some comfort being a prince and having been through this. It’s not the same, you're not a prince too, obviously but…” he trailed off shrugging.

Leo made no move to interrupt him and gestured for him to continue with a smile sent towards him. “I know this sucks for you and the others too. But it isn’t something unusual that is happening. Princes and princesses have been married before and ran off to somebody else, either another prince or commoner. Take Alex for example and Princess Sophia. They did it. Andromeda did it too. She married Prince Rabastan and then ran to Edward soon after, ending their marriage.”

Leo hadn’t realised how common this was, and he felt the tightness in his chest ease more and more with every word Sirius said. By the time he had finished, Leo had moved further and further down the bed until he was sitting on the edge, facing Sirius only two steps away.

“What I’m trying to say,” Sirius continued, “is don’t worry. The three of you will be fine. If I know Finn he’ll do anything to make sure the two of you are okay and Logan is a stubborn prick who always gets his own way. Nothing will go wrong if they can help it.”

Leo smiled brighter, dimming Sirius’ slightly nervous one. “I…thank you. Really, thank you,” he wasn’t quite sure what to say in response to that but he hoped that Sirius understood anyway.

“Your welcome,” he did. “I hope that made you feel better or at least shed some light on the situation. I’ll be going now.”

He nodded towards Leo, who nodded back and swiftly left the room, closing the door behind him. He stayed in the same position resting against the bedpost until a half hour had passed and the familiar sound of hooves came through the slightly ajar window. He frowned, standing up and walking towards it, peering out at the grey horse standing by the door with an unfamiliar man behind and the sleek black carriage behind him.

His first instinct was to leave the room and find Remus to duck and hide in case it was an unfriendly visitor but before he could, the passenger was opening the door and stepping out, their long, jade green cloak drifting across the floor, hood pulled slightly across their face. He made to crouch below the window but stopped when Sirius opened the estate door and walked towards the person. He held his breath, waiting to see his move and froze again when he made forward and grabbed them into a tight hug, knocking the hood down to reveal long dark hair cascading down.

He wasn't sure what to do now, watching them walk into the house, arms linked and he racked his head on who he knew had hair like that who would embrace Sirius without causing a single flinch and even made him initiate it first. He didn't have long to speculate, another knock sounding on the door, two swift blows going straight to his stomach. He didn’t let them wait long, opening it slowly and peering around the edge.

“Yes?” He asked as strongly as he could, letting the door fall open to reveal Sirius and the mystery woman.

“Leo,” Sirius started, standing back a step so the lady was in front. “I’d like you to meet Pascal’s wife, Celeste Dumais.” His mouth was dry and his words caught in the back of his throat.

“Hello, Leo.” He just stood there in shock.

**

It was evening now, or as close to as it could be, the sun still an hour away from setting completely. Finn had barely moved away from Logan, only to sneak to the kitchen to collect food and update Eloise on the situation. They remained in his room, getting no knocks or demanding advisors interrupting their peace. He expects that it's Alex's doing. But it seemed not even Alex could turn away this person as Dumo entered his room, without waiting for an answer and immediately sat in the chair by the door.

“Oh, Dumo, yes please come in,” Logan said from where he was perched beside him, an unamused look on his face.

“Thank you, Logan,” he got back and Finn snickered slightly, masking it with a cough.

“What can we do for you Dumo? Do you have mail?” He really hoped he had mail.

“Yes, but not for you. I received a letter only moments ago to my surprise from Celeste...there is a visitor in my house,” they both gave him confused glances. “It seems my wife has taken control over the situation and has asked - or rather forced - Leo to stay in our home,” their faces remained confused. “In other words, Leo is currently in my house. In Carth. In the next kingdom over.”

Finn snapped out of his daze, looking over to Logan, who seemed to be trying not to get angry. “He’s back in Gryffindor, he’s next - why?”

Dumo shrugged. “I think she wanted to make it easier for you. There is no doubt that you will want to see him as soon as the wedding is finished, yes?” Finn nodded slowly, still trying to wrap his head around this. “So, Carth is a lot closer than wherever the safe house is. You can see him faster. It makes my job delivering letters a lot easier as well.”

“Is he safe? You took him from a safe house back into the kingdom next to the one that wants him locked up!” Logan was now angry.

“He’s safe, mon fils. At least here it is easier for me to watch over him. And I think he might want to be closer to the two of you as well, non? Or are you enjoying the distance?”

“Dumo, if he gets hurt-”

“He’s not going to get hurt, that I can almost promise. He’s safe with us. The guards already searched our house weeks ago. They won’t expect him there,” he explained calmly, and Finn wrapped his arm around Logan’s shoulders, stroking his thumb up and down as soothingly as he could.

“Can…” he really shouldn’t. “Can I see him?” But he had to.

“Finn, I don’t think you should. Your wedding is tomorrow-”

“-which is exactly why I need to see him. I have to tell him something before I get married. I have to see him again while he is so close,” he was close to begging, tightening his arm around Logan when he turned to him.

Dumo hesitated. “I’ll...I’ll see what I can do. I make no promises, Finn.”

Finn nodded gratefully, watching Dumo walk back out the door and Logan walk in front of him. “What was that about, mon amour?” He reached out to run a hand across his neck and he leaned into him.

“I...I never told him I loved him before I left,” Logan sucked in a breath. “And I can’t get married and not have him know. I can’t. I need to tell him.” Logan shushed him and led him over to the bed. He flopped down onto it, covering his face with his hands and groaned. “I can’t believe I didn’t tell him. It’s been going through my head for the past two days and the words have been right there for so long and I didn’t say them. I left him to get married and didn’t tell him I love him.”

Logan was quiet for a moment and Finn turned to look at him, nudging him slightly with his elbow. “Hm?”

“Tell me.”

Logan looked at him feigning confusion. “Tell you what?”

“Come on, Logan,” he gave him a look, forcing him to make eye contact. “You can tell me,” he whispered.

“I don’t want to make you feel even worse,” he paused and Finn stared at him until he continued. He had a feeling he knew where this was going. “Before I left to come here, when I said goodbye to Leo...I told him I loved him. And he said it back,” he said almost sheepishly.

Finn tugged him forward into his arms, keeping them firmly tucked around his waist. “Why on earth did you think that was going to make me feel worse?”

“Because you want to tell him too and feel guilty about not doing it before you left and I did!” Logan fought back but Finn pressed a hand over his mouth.

“The only thing I can think of right now that is better than me saying it to Leo is knowing that the two of you said it to each other,” Logan lifted his gaze up. “Logan, do you know how unbelievably happy I am that you told him? That he told you? I’m so happy for you both.”

“But-”

“-no buts. This impacts me as well. Would you be happy if it was the other way around and I had told Leo before you,” Finn watched him shake his head firmly. “Exactly. As far as I’m concerned you just made everything ten times better for me right now.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” now Finn had a hand over his mouth, cutting off whatever he was going to say next. He didn’t even know himself. Slowly Logan dropped it though and brought him in for a quick kiss. “I really hope you can tell him tonight.”

“Me too. Dumo has no reason to say no, really. It’s only a little under an hour's travel and we won’t be there long and we’ll be heading back before midnight. Nothing bad will happen if we go.”

“We?” Finn shot him a confused glance.

“Yes, we. Aren’t you going to come too?”

Finn could see his hesitation. “I want to see him, I really do...but I think you should go alone. At least if anyone notices you are gone, it will be less conspicuous if I am still here. And you’re going to tell him that you love him. I think that will be best said just between the two of you.”

“You think he will say it back?”

Logan scoffed. “Are you serious? Of course he is. There is no doubt in my mind that he loves you too and you know it.”

Finn nodded, carding a hand through his hair and then Logan’s too, trailing it down until it rested above his heart, the strong beat quickening ever so slightly.

“After all these years I still make your heart speed up?” He asked, tracing around the area with his fingertip over and over.

Logan flushed. “Of course you do. You will always make my heart speed up no matter how many years we’ve been together.”

Now it was Finn’s turn to flush to his embarrassment and Logan’s delight, who quickly swooped in and kissed across his cheeks and over the redness, making it more vibrant by the second.

There was a knock at the door and Dumo entered, slightly out of breath. He held a hand up when Logan went to speak and rested against the door, drawing in as much air as possible. “Okay. I got you an exit in the carriage we came in. It hasn’t been put away yet but it will be soon so we need to leave whenever you can, Finn.”

He shot up from his spot, shifting Logan with him who whined at the change in position but he took no notice, standing and lacing up his boots and grabbing his coat. He turned to face the man remaining on the bed and walked back to him, kissing him softly on the forehead, letting his lips linger for a moment longer.

“See you soon,” he whispered, heading back to the door.

“Hey,” he looked over his shoulder at Logan’s call, seeing a reassuring and encouraging smile on his face. “He loves you.”

He smiled back, nodding quickly before leaving the room and heading back through the corridor into the open air towards the carriage.

“You’re going back...to tell him you love him?” Dumo piped up from his side, matching his stride.

“You don’t think it’s a good enough reason to do it?”

Dumo smiled, shaking his head. “It’s the best reason.”

**

Leo had never met this Celeste before but he already trusted her with his life. They arrived in Carth a little after nine in the evening and she immediately situated him in a chair with a mug of tea and a blanket around his shoulders as if he had returned after trekking through the snow or he was ill.

She sat beside him silently for the first ten minutes before shifting in her chair to face him. “I thought I recognised you that night. You were one of the cooks serving the night of Finn’s birthday ball, weren’t you?”

Now that Leo thought about it and looked closely enough, her face was a familiar sight and he remembered seeing her there with her children. He nodded at her question, going back to sipping at his tea, trying not to be impolite, but he had no idea what to say.

“You are very handsome. It’s no wonder Logan and Finn are so taken by you,” he couldn't blame his blush on the warmth of the tea, smiling at her and silently thanking her. “And you look very young too, younger now than you did then, you mustn't be over twenty,” he didn’t specify but nodded anyway and received a warm smile in return.

They remained in silence until Leo had long drained the cup and placed it down on the table beside him. He wrung his hands in the blanket around him, gaze locked on the floor, unable to start up the conversation himself. He didn’t have to.

“I’m sorry for essentially forcing you here. I just assumed it would be easier for everyone if you were closer to Bardom and our house is as safe as it gets now that it has been checked already.”

“It’s okay. You didn’t force me, I wanted to come. The closer the better,” she nodded along, eyes locked on the front door.

“How long would you say we have been back dear?” She asked and he didn’t answer for a moment, genuinely surprised by the question.

“Oh...I’d say a little over an hour by now. Why do you ask?” Her gaze was still on the door.

“I have a feeling we might be having some guests around any minute now,” was all she said, and she moved to collect his mug and went into the kitchen, leaving him there more confused than he was before he asked.

“Guests?” He mumbled to himself, relaxing back into the seat, wrapping his arms further around himself. His questions were partly answered when the handle of the door twisted and opened wide, revealing two figures he could barely make out in the dark.

“Celeste?” Ah, that was Dumo he recognised, watching him walk further into the room and passed him, barely giving him a glance. He must have known he was here.

“Leo?” That was a voice he wasn’t expecting to hear and his head whipped away from Dumo and back towards the door.

“Finn?” He breathed out, instantly standing and moving towards him, sagging into his arms once he reached him. “What are you doing here?”

“I had to see you while you were so close,” he clutched him closer, rubbing his face into the warmth of his coat, the bend awkward but he wasn’t moving anywhere.

“You’re getting married tomorrow, Finn, this is such a risky thing to do,” he tried to scold, but the tears in his eyes and the hitch in his breath lessened the anger.

“I couldn’t get married knowing you were here and I didn’t come to you,” he shot back, moving the two of them back until they fell into the seat, still tightly wrapped around each other.

“And Logan?” He didn’t remember seeing a third person come through the door and he definitely would have noticed if he was here.

“He stayed just in case. Besides, this is something I have to do on my own,” now his confusion was back and he let his grip loosen just slightly so he could see his face.

“Need to do what on your own?”

“Tell you this,” his body froze again, much like how it did with Logan and he already felt the tears prick at his eyes. He scolded himself internally, pushing them back. He wasn’t even sure if that was what Finn was going to say anyway. “Leo…” Finn mumbled, and Leo watched him swallow nervously. He reached forward and grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently.

Finn took a breath and tried again, while Leo couldn’t seem to find any air at all. “I love you,” there it was, the breath of air he needed and the push to make his tears fall over. “So much, Leo, you have no idea. And I couldn’t sit there kicking myself knowing you were here and I hadn’t said those words yet and I am getting married tomorrow. Not after being ready to say them for so long.”

“Finn…” once again he had no idea what to say and Finn pulled him close, pressing their foreheads together.

“I love you regardless of the fact that we aren’t supposed to be together, that we shouldn’t be together. I love you even though you aren’t the princess that I’m supposed to be marrying tomorrow. I love you because you made the past two months golden and bright and good. I love you because you are, you are good, you’re amazing. I love you because you stood against something so much bigger than yourself to protect the people you care about. I love you because you love Logan and Logan loves you. I love you because you help make me feel whole. You made home feel so much warmer, you made a huge palace feel so much cosier. You made me feel normal. I love you so damn much Leo Knut.”

He wouldn’t have been able to stop the tears if he tried and Finn’s efforts went to waste. He took in a shaky breath and closed his eyes, pressing impossibly closer to him. “I love you. I love you, I love you. I admired you from the day I met you and I’ve loved you for so long I can’t even remember when I started to. You make me feel like royalty, both of you, every day,” he choked out, grasping onto Finn’s hands tighter, feeling tears from both of their eyes drip onto them. “I love you both so much.”

They stayed pressed together for longer than either of them tried to count, their tears eventually drying up and their breaths evening out. They were interrupted by a cough behind them and Leo opened his eyes to see Dumo standing there apologetically.

“Finn? We have to go now,” Leo felt the tears return and he clutched on tighter, shaking his head.

“Hey, hey,” Finn soothed, bringing him closer, pressing a kiss to every inch of his face that he could. “I will be back for you the second this is over. The moment we finish, Logan and I will be in the first carriage back for you. I promise.”

He nodded, releasing his grip on his hands and leaning back into the arm of the chair, swallowing down the sob that threatened to spill from his lips. “Okay.”  

He stood, stretching his back and legs leaning down to press a final kiss to his lips, whispering between each movement those three words again and again and Leo continued to hear them and feel the press of his lips against his own long after he had left. When he opened his eyes again it was to an empty, silent room and he could do nothing more but close them again to go back to the final memory he had of them.

**

Logan was exactly where he was when Finn left when he returned, eyes resting, half-closed and half watching the door for his return. He almost didn’t realise he had returned until he felt the bed sink under his weight and there was warmth pressed next to him, soft kisses trailing across his neck.

“I can assume that things went well then?” The kisses continued up across his jaw and eventually found their way to his lips, short bursts erupting from them.

“You very much can,” he murmured into his skin and he smiled, ducking his head down to reach the other’s neck, pushing his head back into the pillow, ignoring the gasp.

“Good. You should always listen to me from now on,” he spoke quietly when he moved his mouth from his neck, careful not to leave marks others could see. Finn was not doing the same. “I should go before you eat me.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” he squealed when he was pushed back into the pillows, Finn’s weight hovering above him, his eyes gazing down into his own. “I’m never letting you go.”

“I assume you want me to stay the night?” He got a hum in return, Finn’s mouth already latching back onto his neck and he closed his eyes. “I really should go.”

“You really shouldn’t. Stay. Let me have the night with you here before we leave.”

“You mean before June comes in here,” he gasped out, Finn trailing behind his ear.

“Now, now, nothing is going to happen even if she did. But no, we are skipping that part of the wedding,” he snorted at the answer, feeling Finn’s laughter in his hair when he moved to see him again.

“Still. Inviting another into your bed chambers the night before your wedding. How scandalous.”

Finn grinned madly. “I have intel that the bride is doing a similar scandal as we speak so there is no harm caused.”

He returned the smile. “Well, then I suppose we must continue.”

Finn was already leaning back down, kissing him slowly and passionately before pulling away again, the both of them gasping. “Continue we must.”

They came back together at the same time.

**

When dawn broke the next morning, there were five people wide awake staring at the sunrise out of their respective windows. A single and two pairs. A myriad of colours settled on each of them, pale pinks and vibrant oranges with tinges of purple. The blue of a perfect day peeking through, the sun right there with it when the colours faded ever so slightly over the hour.

Dumo stood near the horses, brushing down their manes and standing a distance away from them. Finn was grateful, pulling the two boys slightly further away, pushing them into the alcove by the wall. He sighed again, closing his eyes tightly when a hand gently threaded through his hair and another rested on his hip, a comforting thumb rubbing in gentle circles.

“I spent all night thinking and planning what I was going to say. None of that seems fitting anymore,” he started, cracking an eye open to peek at their faces, two sympathetic but sad smiles sent his way.

“You’re not the only one,” Leo mumbled, resting his weight more firmly on the wall, bringing Finn along with him. “You don’t have to say anything, though.”

Finn smiled back at him, pressing closer towards him, turning to face Logan. He let out a soft sound, bringing a hand up to stroke across his cheek, wiping away the tears that fell down his cheek, his eyes red and bottom lip quivering slightly.

“Don’t cry, Lo,” he whispered, bringing him closer, foreheads pressed together. “Please.”

Logan nodded against him, reaching out to grab his hand. He let his arm go around Logan, pulling him into his side, kissing his hair softly, breathing him in. Leo let out a quiet, shaky breath and Finn pulled him closer too, resting his hand at the back of his neck. He watched the younger man swallow down a cry and Finn let his head tilt back, eyes closing again involuntarily.

“I don’t want this to be sad. I don’t. I don’t want you to be sad.”

“We can’t exactly be happy, though,” Logan pointed out and Finn brought his hand down to his head, pulling it to his chest.

“Well, I want you to try. Because I will be back before you know it. I swear, I will be back after this is finished,” Finn promised, pressing another kiss to Logan’s head and stroking a hand across any piece of skin he could find on Leo’s arm.

“We’ll do our best to be happy,” Leo mumbled, wiping his tears away and standing taller and straighter. Finn couldn’t help but smile at him.

Logan couldn't seem to find the strength to do it himself, shrunk in and eyes cast down. Finn glanced towards Leo who nodded in understanding, moving away to stand with Dumo, shifting awkwardly, turning back, concern evident in his eyes.

Finn turned his attention back to Logan, his hand fisting his shirt tightly, pressed as close to him as possible. “I love you.”

He cried and Finn pulled him closer. “Finn…”

“I love you. I’m coming back to you, I swear I am. But I need you to--to try and get through this,” he stammered out, Logan’s hand coming up to rest on his jaw. “For me, for yourself, for Leo. Because I’m coming back. So, you can’t be sad this whole time. Don’t make this worse for yourself, baby. You have Leo here. Make the most of it before everything changes again, okay?” He said slowly and purposefully, watching more tears spring to Logan’s eyes. “Lo-”

“No, no, I’m okay. I’m okay. I just...I can’t keep watching you leave and I can’t keep leaving you.”

“Last time, Lo. This is the last time,” he rushed out, pulling the smaller boy back to his chest, pressing him close. “The last time and we’ll all be together again, I swear.”

Logan nodded against him and Finn sagged down, looking behind him and stretching a hand out blindly, fingers tightening around the soft hand that grazed his, pulling it closer until another body was pressed to his side and a hand was smoothing through his hair.

“We’ve got this, Logan,” Leo murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of both of their heads. Finn leant back into him, tipping his head up to rest on the taller boy’s shoulder, gazing into the clear strikingly blue eyes. He would forever get lost in those eyes.

“Yeah, love, you do,” he whispered back, tightening his arms for the final time before pulling away completely. “I’ll see you as soon as it’s over,” he promised, grasping their hands.

“We know,” Leo pulled Logan to him and the prince smiled at him, as genuinely as he could.

“I love you,” he said into the air, Logan nodding back and Leo looking away. He walked backwards until he reached Dumo’s waiting hand, pressed firmly into his back.

“Let’s go, Your Majesty,” Dumo moved away, reaching up for the reins and settling into his seat, keeping his eyes forward and on the road. Finn looked back at the two waiting by the door.

His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes as he glanced at them the final time, making his way up the carriage steps, left foot, right foot. His hand lingered on the door and his body tensed, his head shaking side to side slightly, the internal conflict on whether to turn back around again. He didn’t. He took the final step in and let his hand drag along the door and inside with him. He made sure he was facing the opposite way, back towards his boys. The door closed and he let out the breath of air sitting at the base of his throat, whole body moving with the intensity of it. He jolted forward as the carriage moved and he sighed, taking the final look out the back window, watching them hold each other tightly before turning, pressing the back of his hands against his damp eyes. Enough crying for one day.

**

Leo stared at Logan moving around the room, hands fisting his hair and clothes bunched up and creased. He wanted to reach out and still him, wanted to draw him back into his arms where he was only moments ago and reassure him, calm him as best he could. But he didn’t. He continued to let Logan go about his rampage, swallowing back his own tears before the prince flopped down onto the bed.

“I hate this,” was all he said, moving so his head was resting on his thighs, Leo hands coming up to his hair instinctively, smoothing out the knots that formed from the rough treatment Logan had been giving it.

“I know. I hate it too,” he softly said back, trailing a hand down his face up and around his features, his nose, eyes, lips. He leant down and pressed a gentle kiss to them, feeling him kiss back ever so slightly before pulling away again.

“I hate that stupid kingdom. I hate that goddamn crown. I hate him being a fucking prince,” he fumed out and Leo let him, soothing him through it with hums and grunts of agreement, head far away. “I wish we could just live our fucking lives.”

“I know, sweetheart,” he stroked a hand down his side, resting on his hip. “Once this is over, everything should be okay,” he tried to convince him, sounding unsure to his own ears.

They sat there in the quiet for a while longer before Logan sprung from the bed, running a hand over his face, Leo leaning forward to wipe the tears away, making a sad noise in the back of his throat.

“Logan…”

He let out a sigh before leaning down and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I’m going to see Sirius,” he whispered against it, pulling away and walking out the door before Leo could say anything.

“Okay…” he mumbled to himself, shaking his head and standing himself, walking out of the room and towards the kitchen. He may as well make himself useful.

Walking past Sirius’ room was hard. The sobs and the cries that echoed out of the room and into the corridor almost made him stop and push his way in, desperate to stop them and comfort Logan as best he could. But Logan clearly thought he wasn’t able to do that. So he continued on, grabbing bowl after bowl and ingredient after ingredient until the surface was covered in flour and he couldn’t see his hands through the tears welling up in his eyes.

“Hi,” Leo will deny for the rest of his life that he jumped out of his skin, whipping around to see Regulus hidden in the corner of the room, arms crossed and leaning against the kitchen wall. To anyone else, his posture would look stiff and tense but it was an improvement to even have him leaning against something.

He wiped his hands down and raised an eyebrow at the prince who went to move out of the room, beckoning over to follow. Leo looked back at the worktop, at the mess he had made and the food that still needed finishing, shooting a look over to Regulus. The boy only shrugged and took a seat in front of him, motioning with his hand to continue going. He smiled at him gratefully.

There was no conversation for the first minute of Leo preparing the pastries to cook, only shy smiles and glances towards each other. When the first batch was finished, he leant forward on his elbows, head dipping down to rest against the cool worktop.

“Well that can’t be comfortable,” he could hear the smirk in Regulus’ voice and tilted his head to the side to catch it for himself, though it quickly disappeared.

“You’d be surprised,” he turned back, pressing down firmer. He flinched when another head went down beside him and turned almost shocked to see the prince in the same position he was in, keeping his eyes away from his.

“No, I was right. This is not comfortable,” he shrugged and stood again, arms crossing over and his head tilted to the right, a curious expression evident on his face.

“I’m not trying to be rude…but what do you want, Regulus?” He winced at his own tone, but Regulus didn’t seem too fazed, shrugging again.

“I heard you making a mess from the other side of the house. I wanted to see why there was lots of noise. At first, I thought you were stress baking but the red eyes and blotchy face suggests otherwise. Sad baking. What’s wrong?”

It still shocked Leo slightly just how close he and Regulus had grown in such little time, especially the past five days. He wasn’t used to seeing this side of the prince but he was damn happy he got to.

“Sorry if I made too much noise. Yeah, sad baking. Finn left today,” he mumbled, turning his attention back to the surface beneath his arms. He felt Regulus stiffen up next to him and he took a deep breath before straightening up. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t have to be,” he shot a look over to Regulus who rolled his eyes in response. “Yes, I know. But now I’m the one comforting you, so I can give out the same advice. You are allowed to not be okay. Where’s Logan?”

“He’s with your brother. Sirius can probably comfort him better than I can. I can’t comfort someone if I’m upset too.”

“You shouldn’t just be the one comforting him. He is allowed to be upset and comfort you,” he pointed out, but Leo just waved it away.

“This is hitting him harder than it is me, anyway. I don’t mind being the one to comfort.” He was right after all. This wasn’t the first time, not even close, that Finn and Logan have had to leave each other. But the reasons for this were worse than before. Leo was more than capable of taking care of Logan. At least he thought he was.

“Okay. Can we go outside now? I think you need to give the kitchen a break,” Regulus moved swiftly away from the topic, Leo forever grateful for how he was able to do so.

He scoffed. “We can. But the kitchen is perfectly fine.”

“That’s because you have only baked one batch. There are five more next to you. I don’t think the kitchen has been used this much...ever to be honest,” Leo followed him out of the room and into the open air, sucking in as much as he could, heart rate slowing down and the shaking he hadn’t noticed stopping.

“That is rude. I thought you liked my baking,” they settled on a bench by the flowers, the blues and pinks clouding around them.

“I do like your baking. But there are only eight people in this estate, one being a baby. We don’t need so many pastries,” he relaxed back, hands grazing across the petals, careful not to dislodge them.

“Alright. I’ll only do the one batch,” Regulus hummed in agreement. “Today, anyway.” He smirked at the groan from Regulus and dodged the elbow that was heading for his hip.

“Well isn’t that a sight we like to see,” they both looked up at the gardener beside them, pretending that they weren’t shocked to find him there. “Do continue your conversation.”

“Have you been there this whole time,” Leo asked, eyes following Remus’ hand as it brushed the flower he was holding not a minute ago.

“No, I’m not that sneaky. I was at the other side of the garden when you two came out. You ready should pay attention to your surroundings,” he mused and the two boys stayed rooted to the spot, glancing at each other from the corner of their eyes. “Oh stop it. Go back to talking and stop staring at me. Leo, what’s wrong? Regulus, why are you bothering him?”

Regulus spluttered. “I am not bothering him. I’m helping him. He’s upset.”

“Regulus,” he snapped, letting out a huff of air before looking over at Remus and his bored expression which slowly evened out.

“Leo, we can all see that you’re upset and we all know why,” he said softly, budging Leo up to sit beside him. “I’m not saying you have no right to be upset, you have every right to be upset. Don’t hide it when people can help you.”

Leo closed his eyes to push back the emotion threatening to spill over. “I know that. I just don’t need help. Finn is gone, there is nothing Logan or I could have done to stop that. But he’s coming back, so it’s fine,” his voice cracked on the last word and he cursed to himself.

“Leo...stop. Stop,” he didn’t know what he had to stop until he saw his hands clenched tightly together. He let Remus pull them away and he winced at the crescent moon indents in his skin. “You’re okay. You said it yourself, Finn is coming back. You know where he is, you know what he is doing and who is there with him. You know everything and I’m sure he’ll write to you if something happens that you don’t know about prior. You can be upset but you know you are all fine,” Remus soothed, rubbing a hand up and down his back.

He sniffed, rubbing his eyes roughly, blurring his vision for a moment before it cleared out and he saw Sirius crouched in front of him. He jumped back for the second time today, held in place by the hand on his back. Sirius shifted on his feet, resting a hand on his knee.

“Are you okay?” He asked, glancing over to Regulus and Remus by his side before leaving his eyes on Leo.

“I’m good. Is Logan okay?” He sat up straighter, looking above Sirius’ head for his shorter love, seeing an empty corridor instead. “Where is he?”

“He's back in your room. You should go see him, he was looking for you,” he was out of his seat before Sirius had finished, making his way past the bodies surrounding him and towards the door before turning around, almost sheepishly.

“Thank you for...you know,” he gestured around, receiving three matching smiles in return before he was off, nearly running towards his room.

**

Logan didn’t even bother knocking on the door, creeping it open until he could get through, eyes narrowing in on where Sirius was standing by the window. The prince turned when the door shut behind him and he was there by his side almost instantly, eyes searching his face, probably seeing the redness surrounding his own.

“Come on, sit down,” he led him over to the edge of the bed, pulling him down beside him, resting an arm around his shoulder.

“How did you do it?” He asked, trying his hardest to keep his voice steady and clear. “How did you get through all of those months without Remus?” He knew he shouldn’t have asked, feeling Sirius tense up beside him. He opened his mouth to apologise but was quickly shushed.

“No, it’s okay. It was hard. It was really fucking hard. I didn’t want to leave. A couple of times I had to be dragged there by Remus himself. I dropped out of some trips because I couldn’t bear to leave him so soon after coming back. It got harder and harder every time. But we both knew I was coming home. That helped, a lot, knowing that we would be back with each other soon. You know that too, right? He’ll be right back after the wedding.”

Logan nodded absentmindedly, playing with the tassels on the bedsheets. “Do you...do you think it will work when he comes back? When he comes back married?”

“If there is one thing I know about Finn O’Hara it’s that he loves you and being married isn’t going to change that. Trust him, Logan.”

“I do trust him. I just don’t trust the situation,” he ran a hand through his hair, closing his eyes and sighing.

“I know. But this is out of your control. The celebrations will last, what, a week at most and then he’ll be back.”

“It’s a week too long,” he whined, ignoring the chuckling coming from beside him. He didn’t say much else and neither did Sirius, the two of them relaxing and absorbing the quiet for as long as they could until it got too much to bear. Sirius knocked an arm out, bringing Logan’s attention back to him.

“Listen. As much as I love giving big brotherly advice to you,” Logan jabbed his arm out, smacking him around the head. “I think there is someone else who can give you better. Where have you left Leo?”

Logan groaned to himself. “Why do I always do this?” He muttered, ignoring Sirius’ confused glance. “I need to find him.”

“Yeah, I think you do. This is hard for both of you,” he went to stand up, clapping Logan on the shoulder, “I’ll go see if I can find him, alright?”

Logan nodded, squeezing his hand gently. “Thank you. I’m going back to our room. If you find him, tell him.”

He trudged back out of the door and down the hall, laying back down on the bed and covering his face with his hands. He was expecting - or rather hoping - that he had grown out of putting his feelings above everyone else’s, even if he wasn’t aware he was doing it. But apparently, he was still doing it and doing it to Leo made him feel so much worse about it. He wasn’t the only one suffering through this.

He looked up when his younger love walked through the open door, red-rimmed eyes and damp face. His heart broke for the second time that day. With open arms he sat in an upright position, shifting on the bed and beckoning Leo over. He complied, heading straight for him and dropping down next to him, only to be pulled into his lap.

“I’m sorry,” he spoke into his ear, pulling the taller boy as close as he possibly could. Leo gave him a confused look, a small frown on his lips, quickly kissed off before he spoke again. “You’re going through this too. I didn’t even ask how you were.”

He wasn’t expecting Leo to laugh softly at him. “It’s okay, Lo. I know you care. This is hitting you harder than it is me and that’s fine. I can do the comforting,” he whispered to him, and Logan swallowed down all the feelings and words bubbling to come up.

“You don’t deserve that. You deserve comfort too and I want to do that. I’m sorry I didn’t,” he stroked a hand across Leo’s cheek, feeling the boy pressing closer and a small smile broke across both of their faces.

“What I don’t deserve,” he pushed even closer. “Is thinking that I am finally able to comfort one of my favourite people only for them to go to someone else,” Logan winced, leaning back to look at Leo properly. “I know that I don’t have any right to complain about that, of course you would go to Sirius, he knows more about this than me...but I would have liked to try.”

“I’m sorry, Le, I’m so sorry,” he murmured, pulling his head down to rest in the crook of his neck. “That wasn’t fair of me, at all, you are allowed to be mad at me for doing that. I didn’t even give you a chance to help,” he felt like crying himself.

“Apology accepted, but enough apologies,” Leo pulled back, wiping his own tears before leaning forward and kissing across Logan’s face, drawing out a short, quiet laugh. “Can I comfort you now?”

“As long as I can comfort you too,” Logan countered, flopping back against the mattress, bringing Leo down with him, swallowing down his laughter with short kisses.

“I can agree with that,” Logan ran a hand up and down Leo’s back as he snuggled closer, pressing his face into his chest. “Yeah, I’m completely fine with this.”

**

It had only been a day since he had returned home and Finn was ready to leave again. Back to back appointments with Marlene trying to get a month’s worth of fittings done in four days, trying endless amounts of food made by Leo’s mother to decide on a cake. That appointment was fine, though, it gave him a chance to tell Eloise that Leo was fine and he was okay. At least his mother was making it more bearable, getting him out of useless conversations with his father and leading him away from situations that were far too much for him.

Even members of June’s court had caught on to the situation, avoiding the topic of marriage and wedding as much as they possibly could. June had been dragging them away from him and Alex had been doing his part of sorting out as much of it as he could for him. He couldn’t be more grateful. But he couldn’t avoid his father and the plans much longer.

“Is it really that important for us to be here for the invitations?”

“Let’s just get through this and you can leave and be done with it. But we need to sign them and send them off first,” June pointed out, the two of them rounding the corner towards their parents in the open ballroom, their table placed right in the centre, four pairs of eyes looking at them expectantly.

“You two are late,” his mother pointed out softly, standing up to hug him. Finn rolled his eyes, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. “We won’t be here long, Finn,” she whispered.

They moved back, sitting down opposite each other, Olli walking through the door with a list, placing it in front of them. “Here are all our neighbouring kingdoms and allies from overseas. Unfortunately, any overseas kingdoms will not be able to make it in time for the wedding.”

His father sighed, bringing the list closer. “This will have to do, I suppose.”

“It is far too late to be sending out invitations anyway. Is it really that necessary? I’m sure the people nearby will be fine. They should have been sent out a month ago,” Finn grumbled, sinking down in his chair.

“Well they would have been sent out a month ago if the groom was in the kingdom to sign them off,” his father glared, shutting Finn up quickly.

“Who is on the list?” June intervened, squeezing Finn’s arm gently, either in comfort or a warning.

“There’s King Timothy and the kingdom of Tryld, they are already travelling through the country to reach us. At most, all of the Gryffindor kingdoms should be able to come, Prince Thomas is here, the Cooks and Lavolie’s aren’t that far away. Then there are the Tremblay’s in Carth, that’s only next door, they will all have to attend-”

“Not Logan. Logan won’t be coming,” Finn interrupted, his back straightening, pushing off June’s other hand from his knee. “We are not inviting him.”

“And why is that, Finn?”

“He does not need to see this. I don’t want him to see this. It is not fair on him,” he shot his hand out to grab the list and the pen near Olli when it was snatched over his father’s shoulder.

“That is not your decision to make. It may be your wedding but it is my kingdom and our allies and neighbouring kingdoms have to be there.”

“Father, I don’t want him to be there,” he tried again.

“Finn,” he stopped at his mother’s gentle tone. “Let us invite the Tremblay’s, all of them and let them decide amongst themselves whether or not Logan comes,” he went to argue again but quieted down at her soft glare.

“Very well,” he relented, sinking back down on himself.

“Good, now for your allies, Your Majesties…”

Finn left the room an hour later feeling worse than he did going into it and he wasn’t sure that was even possible. There was no way that he was going to let this happen.

“What happened that made you so mad?” He didn't even turn his head to greet his brother, continuing down the path that led to his room. “It’s rude to ignore me.”

“Sorry,” he huffed out, reaching his room and pushing through the door. “They’ve invited Logan to the wedding,” he made straight for his desk, reaching inside for as much parchment as he could along with a pen. Which, unfortunately, wasn’t there.

“Here,” Alex reached into his pocket and handed him one, Finn nodded in thanks. “What are you writing?”

“A letter to Logan telling him not to come. I can’t have him see this,” he murmured, hand frantically writing across the paper.

“You know that won’t stop him. If his family is invited he would do anything to please them and the kingdom.”

“I don’t care. My father is wrong for inviting him,” he threw the pen down and stormed out of the room down to the east wing, Alex hot on his tails.

He found Dumo at the front doors and almost ran to reach him. “Finn. What can I do for you?”

“Are you delivering the invitations to the kingdoms?”

“I am,” Finn placed the letter on the top of the pile.

“When you reach the Tremblay’s can you give them this letter and have them deliver it to Logan?”

“I’m going to see Logan myself. I’ll need to bring him back with me-”

“No, you aren’t. He will not be coming back,” he stressed again, following Dumo as he walked towards his carriage.

“Finn, you and I both know that isn’t true,” Dumo perched on top of the horse, looking down at Finn.

“Can you at least try and convince him otherwise?”

“I’ll do my best, Finn, but I have to go,” he didn’t say anything more, turning away from him and setting off on his journey. Finn sagged slightly and ran a hand through his hair turning away and going back into the palace. He did all he could.

**

The letter reached Logan the next day, along with Dumo who found himself in the spare bedroom once again. He didn’t even need to read it all to understand what was going on, leaving the library and Leo in order to read the rest in their room instead before placing it to the side and lying face down on their bed.

That was how Leo found him ten minutes later and Logan heard him laugh under his breath before he turned him onto his side and laid down next to him. “What was the letter?” Leo murmured to him, hands trailing down his side and resting on his hips, rubbing soothing circles underneath his shirt.

“It was from the palace. Finn’s. A letter from my parents came with it,” he started and Leo moved closer, pressing the smaller man further into his chest. He hummed, kissing his forehead softly, glancing down to watch him when he started again. “I’ve been invited to the wedding,” Leo sucked in a breath, tightening his grip slightly.

“And the letter from your parents,” he whispered, Logan’s hand clutching at his shirt. “What did the letter say?”

“They said it was my choice. That me attending would look good for them and the kingdom but they don’t want to force me to go if I don’t want to. I have a feeling my sisters had some kind of input.”

“What are you going to do?” He pulled back, shifting down so he was face to face with the prince, reaching out to stroke across his cheekbone. “Are you going to go?”

“I don’t know. Finn put with the invitation that I didn’t have to come, or rather he would prefer if I didn’t. But...I don’t want him there alone. I know he will have Alex and Kasey and others but I want to be there for him,” he rushed out, closing his eyes and breathing in deeply.

“Okay. If that’s what you want to do, then you should go,” he mumbled, pressing his lips softly to his cheek, tracing the route his fingers just travelled down.

“I don't want to leave you. These weddings...the celebrations last for days on end. If I’m invited to the ceremony I can only assume I’m invited to the rest as well. I don’t want to leave you for that long.”

Leo smiled against his cheek, his own eyes slipping closed. “I won’t be alone. Remus is here and Sirius and Regulus. I’ll be fine. If you want to go, you should. I think you should,” he added, Logan’s eyes cracking open.

“You do?”

“Yeah. I don’t like the idea of Finn being by himself without us before he gets married by force. I would rather you were there with him,” Logan nodded, pushing closer.

“I won’t enjoy it,” he whispered.

“I don’t expect you to.”

“I might not be able to just sit there and be quiet,” he pointed out and Leo laughed under his breath.

“I know. But you’re going to have to, love.”

“I don’t want him to be alone,” his voice cracked slightly and Leo opened his eyes, Logan staring back at him, his own wide and watery.

“Me neither,” he nudged his nose against Logan’s. “You should go. I’ll be fine for a couple of days.”

He was quiet for a while. “I wish you could come with me. I know he would want you there as well. One of us isn’t enough.”

“I want to go. Not to witness, I would probably have to step outside when it started. But I want to be there for him. I can’t come at all?” He knew it was useless, the two of them would never allow him to go and Leo saw the protectiveness flicker in Logan’s eyes already.

“You know the answer to that question. I’m not even going to answer it,” he said, voice no longer quiet, breaking the soft atmosphere around them.

“I know. I just…yeah,” he finished, a smile on his face and he saw Logan’s start to form too. “Sorry. I know I can’t.”

“We just don’t want you hurt,” Logan started and Leo went to interrupt him, but his hand slapped over his mouth. “You can take care of yourself, yeah I know. But let me be protective,” he almost whined and Leo couldn’t hold back the snicker that forced its way out. “This is a king, someone who could really hurt you. Stay.”

“I won’t leave. And I won’t ask again if you don’t want me to,” his words slightly muffled and Logan withdrew his hand, kissing him quickly before moving back out of his arms.

He drummed his fingers against his sides, glancing down at the smaller boy when he sighed deeply. “It’s so quiet without him here.”

Leo hummed, looking around the room, eyes resting out the window on the road that leads through the forest and would take them to Finn. “I know. I never thought I would miss the constant chatter,” Logan laughed and Leo let himself smile into his hair. “When...when do you have to leave?”

“Tonight. Whenever I’m ready and Dumo is ready. And you.”

“When I am ready has nothing to do with when you are leaving,” Leo pointed out.

“Yes, it does. I’m not leaving until you are ready for me to leave.”

He sighed, hands stilling for a moment. “Well, you might be waiting for a while longer then.”

“Leo,” Logan twisted around, sitting up and hovering over him.” I don’t have to go.”

“Yes, you do, Lo.” Leo pushed away, holding his face between his hands and leaning down to press a kiss to his nose, smiling when it scrunched up under his lips. “You have to go. For him, for you and for me because I can’t.”

Logan nodded to him, moving to stand up. “Help me pack?”

“Of course.”

**

It was late when they were finally ready to leave, suitcase packed and carriage ready. “You have everything you need?” Leo asked him, pulling his sweater further around him.

“Well I should hope so, you helped me pack,” he teased, reaching out to still Leo’s hands. “Stop. I’m okay.”

“I know you are. But I’m allowed to worry,” he argued, bringing Logan’s hands up to his mouth, pressing tiny kisses along his knuckles. They both sighed when he pulled away, shifting so their foreheads were pushed together.

“This feels like a goodbye,” Logan whispered. “Don’t make this like a goodbye.”

Leo closed his eyes. “I’m trying not to. How many days?”

“A week, most, and then we’ll both be back to you.” Leo felt the air get heavier around them the longer they stayed in that position.

“Okay. That's good,” Logan chuckled lightly.

“Listen, Le. I don’t want you to think I'm telling you this just because I am leaving, because I'm not. And I wouldn't want to do this in these circumstances with just the two of us. But I can’t leave without telling you this, I can't. So I'm going to. I don't want you to say anything until I'm finished. I love you.”

“Logan-“

“Please let me finish. I love you so much. To the point where I don't know how I ever went without loving you. You’ve done so much to and for me and to Finn. And I can't leave here without telling you that I love you. I know it sounds like I have to say because I'm leaving but I could have said this any day while we have been here. I could have told you the week after I met you if I’m honest with myself. I love you Leo Knut. Not because I'm leaving. Just because I love you.”

Leo couldn’t do anything more than just stand there in shock, Logan’s words muffled in his ears. His body was frozen in place and his gaze never wavered from the smaller boy's face. Sure he had been ready to say the words himself for weeks now but hearing them said to him…every drop of self-doubt drained away and he sucked in a deep breath, stopping the prince mid-sentence. Logan loved him. Logan loved him back. The words he had heard muttered between the two boys and kept away from him...they were now said to him. He let the smile break out across his face, let himself pull Logan ever so closer.

Logan

When Logan received the call at 12:47 he could barely talk to the woman on the phone. Instead, he sat there, eyes blank, staring at the floor beneath him, making sure to keep his breathing even and quiet. His family couldn’t know about this. The woman rattled on for the better half of ten minutes before leaving him in the silence again. He took a shaky breath, eyes trained on a spot on the floor, his hands twitching at his side. He allowed himself to let one tear fall from his eye. Just the one. After all, today was the day he was going to die.

.

Leo

Leo wasn’t expecting it. He was awake, he always was at this time, but the shrilling tone coming from his phone at 1:05 made him feel more awake than he was before. With shaky hands he picked it up, leaving the room and going outside, away from his sleeping parents. He answered and talked to the man as best he could without tearing up before placing his phone down beside him. He lent his arms on the wall beside him, head bowed and breaths ragged before hearing the sob tear from his throat. So this was it then. His last day.

.

Finn

Finn was more or less expecting the call. He spent every waking minute of the early mornings forcing his eyes to stay awake and his brain to stay switched on so he could be prepared for the phone call whenever it came. He thought he would be prepared for it, thought he had built it up enough in his head so that he would be fine. He wasn’t. He answered his phone at 1:19 as warmly as he could to the person on the line, making sure to keep his voice low and sweet. He didn’t need to take it out on them. It was their job. Still, he left the room numb and shaking, phone open still, the app store open and bright. This was the end for him.

.

Sirius

Sirius knew that he would die eventually. Many times he expected the phone call to come, would go through the days with his parent’s showing their usual love and affection in their own, deranged way, thinking that maybe they had missed him off the list. But he never went. But he was ready to go. He answered the call as he would any other and talked in a bored tone. This wasn’t the first time he had heard the questions and the bright voice. He was there when Regulus received his call. So he was prepared. He was prepared to spend his last day by himself like he had spent every other day for the past two years. This was the same as any other day. Only he was going to die at some point. But against his better judgment, he found himself downloading Last Friend and making his profile. Something people could remember him by when he left today.

.

Remus

Remus hates his job at Death Cast. He hated listening to the crying mothers who picked up the phone for their young children and the barely adults scream and yell at him down the phone. He hated the numbness in their voices and the scratchiness of their throats. Even the ones who acted unaffected had a hitch to their breath every couple of minutes and sniffed as quietly as they could. But he still hears it. He hates that he can. He leaves earlier today, walking out across the street and down the roads to his shabby apartment. His shift wouldn’t have lasted long anyway, there were only very few calls left. He spent the walk rehearing the conversations in his head and the pain people felt. Which was why he had no trouble opening his own phone and downloading the app, filling in his details and leaving it there until he arrived home. If it wasn’t his day yet the least he could do was make somebody's last day the best he could.

.

Logan

Logan always said he would never download the app, he would never go so low as to have to find somebody else to spend his last day with. But he didn’t want to tell his family that they wouldn’t see him again after today. So he left a letter to each of them on the table and slipped out of the house, tears going with him. He didn’t want to spend his last day alone so he downloaded the app anyway, prepared to make his profile and shut it away to never look at it again. He received messages almost instantly and he read through the ones which looked the most interesting.

Emily S. (1:12 a.m.): sorry this is your last day too. the world will miss you.

He answered back to that one out of politeness before swiping away, deleting the conversation from his inbox. Many were the same, either from Deckers or people wishing him a good last day. Many were looking for a person to spend the rest of the night with. He ignored those ones. He wasn’t expecting to find someone to talk to properly or god forbid meet up with so he left his phone for a moment. He went through some of the ones he checked and reset his profile to ‘people nearby’, waiting for more to flood in. He only found one person interesting who messaged him first with a profile that seemed good enough to strike up a conversation with.

Finn O. (1:24 a.m.): Hey, sucks that this is your last day. You seem pretty cool. Where in Gryffindor do you live?

Logan T. (1:26 a.m.): you a Decker too, then? sorry about you as well i guess. why do you wanna know?

Finn O. (1:27 a.m.): Yeah, last day. Hey, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, no big deal. I just don’t want to spend my last day alone. You’re the most interesting person I've spoken to so far. I'm hoping you don’t want to spend yours alone either.

He winced. He didn’t want to be rude, not to someone on their last day. He clicked on the profile, eyes running down the information.

Name: Finn O’Hara

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Height: 6’0”

Weight: N/A

Ethnicity: American

Orientation: Bisexual

Job: Teaching assistant

Interests: Hockey. Reading.

Favourite Movies/TV shows/Books: Pride and Prejudice

Who were you in life: I spent my whole life waiting for this phone call.

Bucket list: Live fully. Don’t fuck up my last day.

Final thoughts: Gonna go out big, baby.

Similar age, similar interests…he seems like the perfect person to spend the last day with. Something is off, though, with the whole “waiting his entire life for this call”. But he seems ready to go. At least, he’s tried to make it look like he was. It wouldn’t hurt him to try.

Logan T. (1:39 a.m.): you’re pretty cool too. i live down near the east side but i’m on the road right now. you seem like you live up north area, am i right?

He answers almost instantly and Logan feels bad for making him wait so long while he mulled it over in his head whether to message him back.

Finn O. (1:40 a.m.): You’re not wrong. Your profile checks out, we have similar interests.

He has no idea what to say back. He wants the conversation to keep going, and wants to talk more to the 6’0” teaching assistant living in north Gryffindor who is going to die today. But Logan is not good at conversations.

Logan T. (1:41 a.m.): yeah we do.

He groans. Is that the best he can do? Finn doesn’t seem to mind, though, keeping the conversation up and steady.

Finn O. (1:42 a.m.): You said you were on the road? Where are you heading?

Logan stops at that. He doesn’t know where he’s heading. He stopped walking two minutes into their conversation and from where he is, he has no clue where his location actually is. But he takes a shot in the dark here and prays for the best.

Logan T. (1:44 a.m.): north.

He holds his breath.

Finn O. (1:45 a.m.): Are you on your own?

He doesn’t seem to question it and Logan frantically clicks on Google Maps and breathes a sigh of relief. He’s heading north, thank god.

Logan T. (1:48 a.m.): yeah i am.

Finn O. (1:50 a.m.): Do you want to change that?

He feels his heart rate take off.

.

Sirius

He ignores every message that comes through to him, filtering them out of his inbox one by one. This was a stupid idea. He wasn’t going to meet up with anyone anyway. Still, he kept his profile up and kept staring at the messages but leaving them unanswered.

Amy V. (2.03 a.m.): You seem like you are on your own. Want to meet up?

Ignore.

Will P. (2:05 a.m.): sorry you’re leaving, man.

Ignore.

Until one message comes through that for some reason catches his eye. He clicks it and looks through the profile. He isn’t a Decker. He does however work for Death Cast. That in itself should put him off. But it doesn’t. He opens the message again.

Remus L. (2:08 a.m.): Sorry you are leaving us, Sirius. My thoughts are with you.

He bites his lip, rereading it again and again. It’s nothing different to the other messages he received, so why is he hooked on this one? He just can’t leave it ignored.

Sirius B. (2:10 a.m.): Thank you.

He plans to leave it there and continue looking at this man's profile, and go about his day again. But the man has different plans.

Remus L. (2:12 a.m.): Your profile is very impressive.

Sirius never gets compliments. He definitely doesn’t get compliments from a stranger.

Sirius B. (2:14 a.m.): Thank you…

He waits, planning and plotting in his head.

…What part is impressive?

He is determined not to let this conversation dry out.

Remus L. (2:15 a.m.): The hockey player part, mainly. But your bucket list seems small. Is there not much you want to do today?

He thought about leaving the hockey out, putting something generic instead. He’s not professional but people still use something like that to their advantage. Money grabbers. At least someone is finding it good on this site for more than asking for something.

Sirius B. (2:16 a.m.): I only have one day. There are not enough hours to do what I want to do.

Remus L. (2:18 a.m.): So find something you can do. Don’t waste your final day.

He contemplates again.

Sirius B. (2:19 a.m.): Well what are your suggestions?

The chat goes dead and he sighs. Back to his original plan then. He goes to stand when his phone flashes. It’s embarrassing how quickly he picks it up.

Remus L. (2:24 a.m.): That depends on where in Gryffindor you live.

He seems to be contemplating a lot.

Sirius B. (2:26 a.m.): I live in the south end.

He holds his breath.

Remus L. (2:27 a.m.): Well it seems the stars are in your favour. I live in the south too. And I know the perfect place. Do you know Sid’s Diner?

Sirius B. (2:28 a.m.): I’m still going to die today. Not completely in my favour. But yes, I do.

He debates whether or not he ruined it by mentioning his death but sure enough another message comes through.

Remus L. (2:29 a.m.): Meet me there?

He contemplates for the final time in his life. Does he want to go meet a random stranger at 2:30 in the morning on the day he is supposed to die? It doesn’t sound the best of plans but it certainly beats staying home alone. What has he got to lose? Apart from his life. He laces up his shoes.

.

Leo

-

Finn couldn’t do this anymore. He stood by his, no, their bed, empty bag clutched in his shaking hands. He wasn’t sure why he was in this room anyways. All of his stuff had been moved into one of the spare rooms long ago. He had been moved out of his own room and now he was leaving his own home.

But he couldn’t stay here. He couldn’t stay watching the delicate, loving smiles they send to each other but never to him. He couldn’t sit in the dark anymore and listen to whispered I love yous and hidden kisses while they cuddled up to each other on one side of the bed while he pressed himself as far to the corner as he could, back towards them. He wouldn’t let himself.

So he was leaving. Leaving the place that he bought and invited Leo into when he needed it and that the two invited Logan into when they loved him. Back when the two of them loved him and said it without wanting something. He took a breath, breaking slightly but pushed the tears as far back as he could. He wouldn’t cry.

He raked through item after item, pulling clothes into the bag before stopping and walking back into the boys’ room again. He knew there wouldn’t be but he had to check. He shuffled through drawers and opened doors but came away with nothing. None of his stuff was there anymore. But he should have known it wouldn’t be.

With everything packed he moved back into the living room, adorning with photos of the three of them because no matter how much it felt like it was now two and one, the images stayed, pinned in place on walls and bookshelves, hidden in nooks between books and scattered on the tables waiting for a frame so they could join the rest. He couldn’t help but reach out for one. It was simple, there was no big event, there was no special place. Just here in what used to be their home, backs pressed against each other, Leo’s warm mouth against his cheek, his startling blue eyes captured in the photo staring down at Logan, his gaze locked on Finn. It wasn’t even that long ago. Finn wasn’t sure they would ever take an image like that again. Not looking at him anyway.

Still he stashed it away, tucked deep into his bag beneath everything else and went to the bookcase. They weren’t just his books, though. He shared with Leo, the two of them reading together and switching books when they were finished. But right now Finn didn’t care about that. He just wanted to get his books and leave. So he took the ones he knew that Leo wouldn’t miss, and one that they always read together no matter what. At least if he took it they might realise he was gone.

Bag heavy, closed and thrown over his shoulder he cast another look around the place. He couldn’t help but let the tears fall now. This was all too real, he was about to leave. He wouldn’t have to worry about leaving a note, they wouldn’t care if he left, and wouldn't notice unless they called for him to do something. He didn’t have to worry about sneaking away, they weren’t here. He didn’t know where they were.

His key felt heavy between his fingers as he passed it between them, taking in the place one more time. The kitchen where they would spend their time watching Leo cook, Logan on the counter, Finn pressed into his chest. Where he would go when the nights were too hard to sleep, soon joined by Logan who was up when they were up, a sixth sense almost to tell when they were awake. The long nights spent drifting back through to refill cups of tea and bring in freshly baked snacks Leo made back to the younger boy, who would lay himself down into Finn’s arms.

The living room where their life was shown in pictures and random objects strewn across the room. The blanket Leo and Logan were pressed under last night on the couch while he sat himself in the chair on the other side. The coffee table, full of books and empty mugs that Finn should have cleaned before he decided to get everything ready. But why should he? They were theirs and he was going.

He let his gaze wander back over to the three rooms across the other side of their place. His room, his room, which he desperately shared with them, wanting everything to happen there. Leo’s old room which in some time became Finn’s temporary room when the boys were already asleep and he couldn’t disturb them. Where his belongings were moved to. Logan’s room which was just where the extra items were shoved. Although now, with Finn’s things gone, Logan’s clothes were mixed in with Leo’s in their closet. Their’s.

He took another deep breath and stepped away, moving backwards towards the door until he was against it, eyes closing and hand curled around the handle. He could do this. He could leave. He couldn’t live like this anymore, in a relationship where he was only wanted to just be like Cinderella with meaningless I love yous and half-assed kisses. He was sure they used to love him and maybe they did now. But time changed and something clicked into place between them and not him and he was always two steps behind, being pushed even further by them until he was trying to run to catch up, never moving from where he was now.

He twisted the handle in his hand and stepped away from the door so he could open it enough to slip out. There he locked it again and placed the key with the spare one. He hesitated though. He wanted to clutch it close in case he decided to come back when he was halfway down the road, deciding his love for them overpowered the feelings of being left behind. But he didn’t. He placed it down, and turned his back to it.

He walked down the steps to where his car was parked on the corner and he sighed softly. At least they left his car. They must be on a walk somewhere. He tried to convince himself he didn’t care where. He climbed in, hands gripped the wheel as he forced himself to take a breath, to calm his pounding heart enough so he could drive away. It took longer than he thought, the constant reminder in his head to leave before they came back because he would never be able to if they were standing right in front of him.

And then the tears fell. They fell too fast for him to catch them, dripping onto the wheel and his hands. Because he couldn’t do this. He couldn’t leave them when he loved them so much. He would keep doing it, he would allow them to love him just to use him, to kiss him just to keep him there, he would do it all. Because it took him so long to have this, he wasn’t going to throw it all away. Even if he didn’t deserve the treatment. Even though Kasey and Nat were waiting for him with a room made up and Alex was waiting for his phone call. He couldn’t do it. But…