Hi! This is the first time I've attempted a multi-chaptered story on here. I hope you guys like it. I've done my best to edit it, but if you spot any mistakes, feel free to point them out to me. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope it can keep you entertained.

This is AU, I guess, because Remus and Sirius have raised Harry. The events of the first two books did occur, but obviously the events of the third book wouldn't happen if Sirius was free, so I went from there and ran with it.

It is SLASH, so be warned. It will contain abuse and possible sexual assault (nothing graphic, if it happens). I haven't decided yet, but it most likely will, so if that is a trigger for you, don't read it. if anything else comes up, I will put a specific warning on that chapter.

I do not own Harry Potter or any of the character within, however awesome that would be.

Sirius rolled over in bed, pulling the soft sheets with him and burying his face in them in a fruitless effort to block the sun from his eyes. He groaned, slowly coming to terms with the fact that he wasn't getting any more sleep that morning.

"Morning, love."

Sirius propped himself up on his elbow and rubbed his eyes blearily, scowling at the man sitting up cross legged in bed next to him. "It's too early for you to be this awake."

"It's ten o' clock," Remus rolled his eyes. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Even Harry's up by now."

Sirius grunted and pushed himself up so he was facing Remus. Remus was already dressed, wearing an old sweater with a stretched collar and worn jeans. His feet dug into Sirius's calves, and Sirius could feel the thick fabric of his socks.

"I made pancakes," Remus added, quirking an eyebrow at Sirius.

"You should have opened with that," Sirius grinned and leaned forward to press his lips to his partner's. Remus smiled against his mouth and pushed him away.

"Keep your morning breath to yourself," he muttered, but his smile made it hard for Sirius to believe he was really annoyed. He stood up and moved towards the doorway. Sirius caught his wrist and pulled him back towards the bed. The back of Remus's knees hit the bed frame and he was sent sprawling back onto the sheets. Sirius climbed on top of him and bent over him so their foreheads touched. Remus rolled his eyes and tried to look stern, but ended up smiling softly up at the dark haired man.

"I love you," Sirius said quietly, suddenly serious as he touched Remus's cheek. His hair curtained around them, tickling Remus's nose and blocking out the rest of the room from Remus's vision.

Remus tilted his head curiously and twined his fingers through Sirius's. "I love you, too. Are you okay?"

"Fine," Sirius replied, smiling brightly. Honestly, he was more than a little worried about Remus. Full moon was approaching fast, and the werewolf was paler than usual. Sirius had felt him tossing and turning last night and the lack of sleep showed in the light dusting of purple under his eyes.

"Come downstairs?" Remus asked quietly, straightening the front of Sirius's pajama shirt. He smoothed the fabric against Sirius's chest with his slim fingers.

"I'll be right there," Sirius brushed his nose against Remus's before rolling off of the smaller man. Remus stood up again and made it to the door successfully this time.

"Morning," Harry greeted his godfather when Sirius finally made it to the kitchen after pulling on a t-shirt and semi-clean pair of jeans. "Finally decide to grace us with your presence?"

"You should be honored," Sirius ruffled Harry's hair as he walked by and plopped into the seat next to him. He caught sight of Harry's empty plate on the table. "You ate without me? I'm hurt." He held a hand to his heart in a mock wounded gesture and flopped back in his chair.

Harry rolled his eyes and turned the page of the broom care manual Hermione had gotten him for his birthday last year. It reminded Sirius that his thirteenth birthday was coming up soon, and he still had to order a broom for his present.

Sirius was interrupted in warming his plate of pancakes up in the Muggle microwave by the shrill screech of Remus's ancient owl and a dull thud as it landed on the table.

"God, that beast is obnoxious," Sirius eyed the large bird's twitching body with distaste as it made pathetic, high pitched cooing sounds.

"He's old," Remus admonished him, entering the kitchen at hearing the bird's cries. He carefully adjusted the animal so it was in a more comfortable position and untied the letter from its foot. The owl cooed softly and nipped Remus's fingers affectionately. Sirius glared at it. When it nipped at his fingers, it wasn't gentle; that thing was out for blood.

Remus scooped up his lump of an owl and carried him to the nook by the back door where he'd made the thing a bed of ragged blankets by the window. "Take a rest, Caliban."

He returned to the kitchen and slit the letter open with his finger, unfolding it in the same motion.

"Who's it from?" Harry asked curiously. Sirius took his warm plate and reclaimed his seat at the table.

"Romulus," Remus replied, his eyes scanning the page quickly. A small line of worry appeared between his eyebrows. "He needs a place to stay. He's getting a divorce."

"He wants to stay here?" Sirius almost spit his pancakes out over the table. "What the hell, Remus?"

"Who is he?" Harry asked, perking up with interest.

"My brother," Remus replied distractedly, staring down at the letter as if he could change the words by looking at them long enough. "Sirius, please."

"Don't 'Sirius' me," Sirius growled. "After thirteen years he sends you a letter out of the blue asking to move in? That's ridiculous."

"He's my brother," Remus's eyes shifted to Sirius and his gaze was steady and determined. "What do you expect me to do? Turn him out?"

"Maybe some of his Death Eater friends can take him in," Sirius snapped, instantly regretting it when he saw the flash of anger in Remus's eyes.

"He's a Death Eater?" Harry asked, eyes going from Sirius to Remus as they went back and forth.

Remus didn't look away from Sirius. "It was never proven."

"There are other reasons I don't want him around you," Sirius said lowly. "Or Harry."

Remus blinked and looked away, crossing his arms over his chest defensively. "That was a long time ago."

"Exactly," Sirius raise his eyebrows. "So he's had plenty of time to apologize."

"I don't want him here any more than you do, Sirius," Remus said, rubbing his temples. "But he's my brother. And he's already on his way. I can't let him come all the way here and then tell him to leave."

"I can," Sirius growled.

Remus sighed and looked away, out the window that faced the woods outside the small cottage. His fingers threaded through his thick tawny hair and tugged at the wavy strands. "Just…" his gaze travelled back to Sirius and his expression was solemn, his hazel eyes imploring for Sirius to just stop arguing. "Please. Only a few days. For me."

Sirius's resolve crumbled a little bit. Remus didn't use that line often, and Sirius didn't fall for it when he did. However, he recognized the desperate plea behind it and nodded slowly, reluctantly allowing the matter to drop. For a little while, at least.

"Thanks," Remus stood up and disappeared into the hallway. Harry and Sirius heard him in the study, moving the books off the shelves in the small room so he could dust. Sirius relaxed a little but when he heard it. Cleaning was a coping mechanism for Remus, he'd figured out over their years together. Definitely one of the preferable ones Sirius had witnessed in his years of knowing the man. Remus had some very well hidden self-destructive tendencies. Dusting was a harmless relief.

"What did his brother do?" Harry spoke up after a moment.

Sirius looked up and met the bright green eyes of his godson. The innocent curiosity in those eyes that were so much like Lily's caused a jab of pain in his gut, and he swallowed hard. Harry was almost a teenager now. He wasn't a little kid anymore. As much as Sirius wished he could protect the kid from anything bad, it was stupid and unrealistic of him to try. He just couldn't get the image of a year old Harry wrapped in Remus's arms as he slept out of his head. He could remember the exact moment when the fierce protectiveness for the boy had set in (the first time he'd held him), and he wasn't quite ready to let him go yet. Maybe he never would be, even when it happened and Harry left to start his own family.

"Sirius?" Harry said his name and Sirius snapped out of his thoughts, blinking hard a few times.

"Sorry, Harry, what?" he asked, trying to focus on what Harry was saying.

"What did his brother do?" Harry asked again, repeating the words more slowly. "Was he really a Death Eater?"

Sirius pursed his lips and thought for a moment. "I…I don't know. If you want to know the whole story, ask Remus. I have no right to tell it. I don't even know it all, honestly."

"He's obviously upset," Harry pointed out, glancing towards the study.

Sirius listened for a moment to the sound of objects being shuffled around in the other room. "Just give him some time. He'll be alright."

Sirius hoped he was right.

I would really appreciate and love it if some of you would drop me a review to let me know if I should go on with it. I don't want to keep going with it on here if people don't like it.

Thanks!