A/N: So, this is my first Remus/Sirius and a leap back into fanfiction - - I believe they call that returning from retirement in the real world. This story demanded to be written, though, and who am I to refuse? I hope you enjoy.

Remus laughed when he discovered his first gray hair, laughed until his sides split and everything poured out, good things and bad things and everything in-between, laughed until his breath was gone and his throat closed up and his eyes itched. James left. Peter followed. Sirius stayed.

It felt childish to say that it wasn't fair, nothing was fair and he knew that. He was well acquainted with life's tosses and turns. There was no point in wishing for anything different; the moon would wax and wane and he would grow older and grayer each month like clockwork. He felt tired trying to recognize his face in the mirror, observing his eyes and hair and hands and mouth and wondering, deep down, why he bothered to do it at all.

"I'm going gray," Remus said; it was embarrassing, like a dirty secret, but he laughed anyway. "I'm going gray."

But Sirius was there, and Remus was surrounded by warmth and friendship and everything he associated with good things, like chocolate and summertime and the new moon.

"I'm going gray," Remus repeated, something breaking in his voice.

Sirius held him tighter, his cheek against his hair.

Remus tried to laugh, but it came out like a dry sob. "I'm going gray."

Sirius ran his fingers over his face, into his hair and over his back, splayed like spider webs.

"I'm going gray," he whispered. He wasn't sure why it hurt so much, but it did; over and over again, like a kick in the gut.

Sirius moved his face close to Remus's –an impossible proximity– and kissed his jaw, below his eyes, his chin.

"Please," Remus said pitifully; but he did not stop.

Sirius hovered his lips above Remus's and whole thing was so sensual and deliberate Remus felt his insides twisting and turning into labyrinths.

"Oh, fuck," Remus whispered hoarsely.

Just then Sirius pulled back, and his grin was devastating.

Remus felt the heat rush to his face; still breathless, he aimed and took a swing. Sirius ducked.

"You fucker," Remus said, but then he laughed; a true, ringing laugh that gave lift to his heavy heart.