For too long Sirius thought that he'd never feel Remus's lips on his own or his arms wrap around him. He didn't know what would happen next. He didn't know if he'd be taken into custody, convicted, and sentenced to Azkaban. He didn't know if they would find Peter or not. But for now Remus was holding him and, while everything was far from right and Sirius's soul was still breaking, at least he had his lover. And he could almost believe his own promise.

Sirius's eyes remained closed. He wasn't haunted by images of his friends' bodies. Instead, he imagined things as they used to be. Before doubts had festered in his mind, back when all of them had been happy. It hurt almost as much. When had they lost that carefree innocence?

"I love you, Remus." He said for not the first time that day and, if he had anything to do with it, not for the last either. "Whatever happens."