The Beginning

"We can't do this," Remus whispered, letting go of Sirius' hands. He tried to ignore the hurt shining in his ex's eyes at his statement, and tried not to reach for Sirius. Instead, he crossed his arms across his body, trying to stop Sirius' hands from finding his again.

"Why not?" Sirius asked, stepping forward, trying to close the distance again. "I never stopped loving you - tell me, have you stopped loving me?" Grey eyes bored into his and Remus struggled to look away. He wasn't going to lie to Sirius, he was going to tell the truth.

He slowly shook his head. "That's not it at all," he began. "Even if you disappeared for twenty years, I'd still love you just as much, but there is something..."

"Have you moved on?" Sirius whispered. "Is that why... are you with someone else?" Sirius took a step back, causing Remus to almost reach for him, struggling to control himself.

"I was married, Sirius. I was married to Tonks."

Remus watched as emotions flickered across Sirius' face at the news. "My cousin," he muttered to himself. "The little boy I saw, his hair changed colour..."

"I'm a father," Remus continued. "I have a son, Sirius. Edward, or as we call him: Teddy."

"That doesn't matter," Sirius quickly told him. "I love you and I'm sure I'll love him too!" His words were desperate now, but Remus shook his head again.

"That's not it at all," he said. "I love you, but for the first time, I can't put you first. Teddy is now the most important person in my life, and I can't be with you because Teddy doesn't even know you."

"Can we be friends?" Sirius whispered.

Remus smiled. "Of course -"

"And whilst we're friends, I'll win your son over. If I can get him to like me - if he approves of me, would you give us another chance?" Sirius' smile was hopeful now, and Remus started to feel hope.

"Teddy isn't the easiest child to bond with," Remus began. "He's quite shy."

"Well, I'm not planning on going anywhere, so I'm sure he'll be won over by me," Sirius said. "So, what happens when I win him over?"

"Whatever you want," Remus replied, with a smile. "You know I want to be with you. If you can get my son to like you, I'm yours."

"What I want is marriage," Sirius said. "If I win your son over, there's no more waiting. No more taking things slow. I want to get married, Remus."

...oOo...

Remus watched the pair as the weeks passed by. Sirius was more patient than Remus had ever seen him, content to just talk to the quiet boy who would pretend he was paying no attention to Sirius.

Remus noticed the slight changes though, even if Sirius didn't. He noticed how Teddy would place the jigsaws in the middle of the table when Sirius came over, rather than on his own side. He would quietly point to the board games, rather than choosing to play them when it was just him and his father.

He was slowly allowing Sirius to join in.

Remus felt hope spread through him. He missed Sirius so much - hating that Sirius was living back in the place he hated more than anything, but Sirius insisted that he was fine there - once they were married, he would be moving into the cottage after all.

Finally, four months after Sirius finally came back through the veil, the first warm day came around, and Sirius had followed Teddy out into the garden as Remus made sandwiches and a fruit salad for them.

Remus headed outside to call them in, and froze at the sound of Teddy giggling. He rounded to the side of the garden to find Teddy throwing a ball for an excitable Padfoot. The ball was barely going a few feet, but Padfoot was making a massive show of it by bounding around before collecting the ball. He was running circles around an excitable Teddy, before bringing the ball back.

Teddy was loving it.

"Daddy, look! Uncle Sirius is a dog," Teddy shouted, pointing at the dog that was rolling across the grass. Remus grinned in Padfoot's direction before turning back to his son.

"He's been one for a long time," he explained. "Ever since school."

Teddy's eyes widened. "Can I be a dog too?"

"When you're older," Remus said, guiding his son towards the back door. "Come on, lunch is ready."

That day had been a turning point in the relationship between his son and Sirius. Teddy was no longer shy, and would actively engage Sirius in his activities. When Sirius wasn't there, Teddy would constantly ask for him, and even drew pictures for Sirius.

Sirius had succeeded and managed to become an important part of Teddy's life, and Remus knew the feeling was mutual.

"Teddy," Remus asked, pulling the covers up to his son's chin and tucking them around him.

"Daddy?"

"I want to ask you something," Remus began. "How would you feel if Sirius... if he were to move in with us?"

"He'd be here all the time?" Teddy asked, trying to sit up in excitement. "Where would he stay?"

"With me," Remus said. "Would it upset you if me and Uncle Sirius were to get married?"

Teddy was lost in thought for a few minutes. "Would that make him like a mummy?" He finally asked, causing Remus to laugh.

"Not quite," Remus said. "Sometimes children can have two daddies. You have a mum. She may not be here with us anymore, but you'd never have a replacement. Sirius will be a second daddy."

"So... would I call him daddy too?"

"If you feel comfortable," Remus replied. "Or you could call him Uncle Sirius, Papa, Pops -"

"I'd like Uncle Sirius to be Pops," Teddy said, laying back down.

Remus smiled at his son. "Goodnight Teddy," he said, leaning in to kiss Teddy's forehead.

"Nuh-night daddy," Teddy replied.

...oOo...

As soon as Sirius stepped through the floo, Remus poured them both a glass of butterbeer. Sirius dropped down onto the sofa next to him.

"So, movie?"

"Well, I wanted to talk to you first," Remus replied. "About you and Teddy."

"He's a great kid," Sirius said. "I think he's starting to warm up to me a little bit, what do you think?"

Remus nodded.

"I'd say a few more months perhaps, and he'll be accepting.

"Teddy thinks you're great," Remus said. "I spoke to him earlier, I asked him what he thought about us getting married."

Sirius sat up straight. "What did he say?" he asked, in a nervous voice.

"He likes the idea of having two daddies."

"Daddies?" Sirius whispered.

"Well, he wants you to be Pops," Remus said. "It'll avoid confusion... so, what do you think? Because if we were to get married, you'd be his step-father."

"No step about it," Sirius said. "We're getting married, and I want to sign the adoption forms to make him officially my son too."

"Really?" Remus asked.

Sirius nodded. "I love you, and I love Teddy," he said. "I can't wait to be a part of your family. How soon can we get married?"

"Technically you haven't even proposed yet," Remus said. "I want the whole deal. Down on one knee, fireworks, champagne, romantic music -"

"I can do that... though my original plan was to shag you, and then ask you."

Remus thought about it for a minute. "Yeah, I like that idea more," he replied. "Want to go into the bedroom and get engaged to me?"

Sirius smiled and led the way from the room.

Review Please :)

Basically - Tonk's died in the war, Remus lived, and Sirius returned from the veil.