Where it Ends and Where it Begins

WolfStar

Jamulus

Alice/Frank

As always, thanks to Lizzy for betaing

And another short chapter - I seem to have hit a writers block so I'm not getting as much done. But I'm determined to have a chapter out each week...

I'll get back into the swing of things as I have plans for the next two chapters.

It was two months before the ship set sail again. Two and a half months since Remus' arrival in town and Sirius was leaving on the ship. Remus really wanted to leave himself, but had been warned that since his body was trying to regulate, his heat would be unpredictable for a few months. He trusted Sirius to keep him safe on the ship, but it wasn't fair to put Sirius in a position like that.

It was hard watching Sirius leave. His only experience with a relationship was Fenrir rushing him to bed. Though he had thought himself in love with the older man once, it was clear to him now that it was an infatuation. He had seen Fenrir as saving him and giving him a home.

Sirius had done the same thing, sure… but it was different. Sirius had done it without expectations - he hadn't wanted something in return. Sirius had brought Remus along out of the goodness of his heart. Falling in love with Sirius was more real than anything that he had felt for Fenrir.

But he wanted to make his place there. He wanted to belong there because of his own hard work and contributions to the town. He wanted to make friends and get to know everyone. Once he belonged there and earned his place, then he'd allow things to go further with Sirius - because then he wouldn't feel as though he owed Sirius a debt, even if Sirius didn't feel the same about that debt.

But he enjoyed what they had. Sirius worked hard throughout the mornings and Remus had begun to help him - he brought in meat for the village and Remus made bed-covers with the skins. The farm was put on hold as there were few supplies. One of the things added to the list for their town to retrieve when they headed to the trading post a week's journey away.

"I can stay," Sirius offered softly, sensing Remus' reluctance. "James can take my place as captain this time." Remus could hear how torn Sirius was. Part of him wanted to go out to sea, but the other part clearly needed to be with Remus. He didn't want to be one of the Omegas that stopped his partner doing what the partner loved. Perhaps when his heats were more on track, he could join Sirius.

"Go," he insisted softly. "You need to be at sea. I'll be here when you get back."

"When I get back, it'll be James' wedding. Maybe it'll spur Alice and Frank into action," Sirius suggested softly. "When I get back, we'll be living in the same place. As an Alpha, it'll piss Frank off even though he knows I'm devoted to you."

"Charlus offered to take me hunting whilst you're gone," Remus replied. "Plus, I was talking to Regulus - we're going to move James' stuff when you're gone and get mine and Alice's stuff into his room. We can make the house nice for them when they're married. Alice is also going to help me plot the farm - where everything is going to go. We're going to draw the plan up and a couple of the buildings might actually be ready upon your return."

"I can't wait to see it. If you need, you can stay in my house. It's next to the land."

"I was looking at the house on the other side. It's empty…"

"No!" Sirius replied quickly. "That's… that's reserved."

"Oh. Another house for a married couple?" Remus asked.

"Something like that," Sirius insisted. "I don't want to leave you. The idea of being away from you…"

"I know, but it's going to happen sometimes," Remus replied. "You need to go and I need to stay. We'll be together soon enough."

"When we get back… I… I'd like to talk about something. About what we have?"

"As long as you're not ending things," Remus murmured. Though he had heard Sirius talk about his love, when talking to James, he was still scared that something so perfect and wonderful could end.

"I would never," Sirius said, pulling Remus close. "Remus, you don't realise how I feel about you. I want to talk to you about… about us. What we want from this relationship. I want to make sure we both want a future with each other. I certainly do but I don't want to make assumptions on your part. I just… I mean…"

"I want a future with you too," Remus said softly. "I'll see you soon. Stay safe."

"You too." Sirius' lips brushed Remus' gently. "I think this would be a little easier if you were wearing my mark. I wouldn't feel so… I'm sorry, I know marks don't define what we have because it speaks for itself…"

"It's in our nature," Remus murmured. "I get it. But I think it'd still be as hard to part. I think it'll always be difficult, but the more times you leave, the more routine it'll be. We'll both adjust to you being away sometimes. Maybe the time will come where I can do the shorter journeys with you - not the raids, but the ones to the trading posts."

"And knowing that you could be going through your heat doesn't help this either, but you can come when your body adjusts."

"What, because you can't guard my door any longer?" Remus teased.

"Am I ever going to live that down?" Sirius asked, grinning.

"No. Are you ever going to stop pacing the door for the whole of my heat?"

"When you finally spend the heat at home, I'll make sure I'm not pacing anywhere," Sirius murmured.

Remus smirked. "I'm sure you'll be too busy to pace." He kissed Sirius on the lips. "Come on, they're all waiting on you. The quicker you leave, the quicker you can get back to me and check I'm okay after my heat."

"One more second," Sirius said. He pressed his face into Remus' neck, taking a deep breath. "Do you believe in true-mates?"

"What?" Remus asked.

"Nothing. I… you just smell amazing. I want to commit the smell to memory."

Remus smiled, breathing in against Sirius' neck. "I'll miss you."

...oOo…

As Sirius walked off the ship, he noticed the worried faces of those in town. It took seconds to realise something was very wrong. Especially as the first face he had expected to see was Remus'.

Remus wasn't there. He took a deep breath and another, hoping to stay calm. Perhaps Remus was going through his heat… but if that was the case, the people wouldn't have been moving away as Charlus approached, panic in his eyes. "Sirius, I'm sorry. He's gone."

"Remus… left?" Sirius felt like he couldn't breathe. Remus had left him. Remus didn't want him after all. Remus… Remus had changed his mind.

"He was taken," Charlus replied. "All three of them are gone."

Sirius stared at the man who was like a father to him as the words sank in. Remus hadn't left him after all - Remus had been taken and there was only one thing to do. "Stock the larger ship, we leave at once," he said, turning around, his eyes moving across the crew who were looking longingly at their families on the pier. "James, Frank. They've been taken. Remus, Alice and Regulus are gone."

Frank almost dropped the box in his hands. "I'm coming with you."

"Me too," James said.

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