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Remus was walking through a field of books, their pages fluttering like wings as they lifted off the ground. The sky above was deep and endless, painted in shades of warm honey and stormy gray. He reached out, but the books slipped through his fingers, their words dissolving into smoke. Then, from somewhere beyond the dream, a sound cut through the haze.
“Daddy! Papa!”
The sky cracked. The books scattered. Teddy’s voice, thick with tears, tugged him toward wakefulness.
“Mhhhnn… Moonyyy,” Sirius mumbled, his voice deep from sleep as he grunted and untangled himself from Remus. Rolling to the other side of the bed, he groaned, his face smushed into the pillow. “It’s your turn tonight.” His voice was muffled, his thick black hair spilling across him and the bed.
“All nights are my ‘turn,’ sweetheart,” Remus replied, his voice rough from sleep as he slowly opened his eyes, trying to adjust to the darkness of their bedroom.
It was true.
Recently, their five-year-old son, Teddy, had started having nearly nightly nightmares. Apparently one of the older kids at school had told him a tale about a boy who didn’t eat his peas and woke up to find them rolling toward him in the dark, whispering, "You didn’t eat us... so now we’ll eat you!" In Teddy’s nightmares, it wasn’t just peas. All the vegetables he had ever refused were crawling out from under his bed. Giant carrots with gnashing teeth, broccoli with grabby little arms, and a wobbly, jiggly cauliflower monster.
That did help a bit. Teddy had been much less resistant to eating his greens recently. But, on the flip side, it meant nearly every night, Teddy was waking up in a mess of tears and fear, and it broke Remus’ heart every time. Seeing his little boy so terrified was a pain he couldn’t explain.
So, when it happened, Remus would attend to Teddy’s cries, knowing it was just a phase. These newfound fears would pass, as most childhood fears did. That was something he’d come to understand after becoming a father.
Sirius, however, was a much heavier sleeper than him. Even though he would wake to their son’s cries, he was usually still lost in a haze of sleep, and, more often than not, couldn’t be much help in comforting little Ted. Remus didn’t mind, though. There were plenty of things Sirius was better then him when it came to parenting— like keeping Teddy entertained for hours with nothing but a pile of books, getting him to laugh with those ridiculous stories he always made up, or attending to him when he was sick. Night duty, however, was always Remus’ responsibility.
Besides, it took Remus quite a while to get back to sleep once he was up.
“Go,” Sirius nudged him with his foot, giving him a gentle push out of bed. “But come back to bed after he goes back to sleep, love.” His voice was still mumbled.
Rolling slightly toward Sirius’ splayed figure, Remus pressed a soft kiss to the top of his husband’s head. After all these years together, there was still so much love in their relationship. The simple act of wanting to be near each other, to be in each other’s arms… It never faded. God, he would never get tired of the domesticity of lying down beside Sirius and waking up with him there. Always there.
Since they decided to have a child, their lives had changed in ways they never expected— late-night feedings, impromptu bedtime stories,the chaotic joy of seeing their son grow up, and mental exhaustion beyond comprehension when Teddy would get sick. But one thing had never changed: their tenderness, their love for one another, remained constant.
“I will,” Remus murmured, pressing one final kiss to the back of Sirius’ head.
Stretching his long body, feeling the cracks and pops of his limbs as he moved, Remus carefully slid out of bed. He quickly grabbed a white t-shirt — because, as Sirius once teased him, he was a “hot furnace” when he slept — and made his way out of the room, heading toward Teddy’s.
Remus navigated the dark house effortlessly, no need to turn on any lights. It was a quick journey to Teddy’s room. He could see the faint glow slipping through the cracks of the door. It was Teddy’s nightlight, the one he insisted on, especially after a series of nightmares like tonight’s.
“Hey, my little bear,” Remus’ voice was soft as he slowly opened the door, peeking inside. “What happened?”
“DADDY!” Teddy wailed, his face a snotty, red mess, yet contorted with relief with the realization that his Dad was there. That he was safe. He quickly scrambled out of his small bed, clutching his favorite stuffed animal— a white sheep that Sirius had found hilarious to buy when Teddy was just a newborn. “That’s me, you know? I’m the black sheep of my family. But because my family is full of Blacks, I’m a white one!”
With his arms up over his head, Teddy rushed toward Remus, his small body barreling into his father’s embrace.
Remus bent down, scooping his little boy up with ease. Teddy crawled to him like a tiny monkey, his legs circling Remus’ waist and his arms locking around his neck. Face smushed into the space where his neck met his body.
“Shh, shh,” Remus whispered, gently swiping his hand in a slow, repeated motion across Teddy’s back, sometimes patting and massaging his scalp. “Daddy’s here. You’re safe. “ Remus started repeating the same reassuring words he knew could calm his son down. “Nothing’s going to happen to you now, okay? Daddy and Papa would never let anything like that happen... shhh, shh.”
Remus stayed like this for a long while, holding Teddy with all the love, tenderness, and care he could muster. Every ounce of it drawn from the depth of how much he loved his boy. He swayed gently side to side, whispering comforting words, hugging him tight, letting the tiny crying figure calm down at its own pace.
Eventually, Teddy’s sobs softened into quiet sniffles. He lifted his head slightly, wiping his nose, purposefully, on Remus’ shoulder.
Remus pulled back a little to inspect his son’s face. His small features were puffy from crying, but the fear that had once been there was gone. His eyes were clearer now, no longer wide with terror.
“Feeling better, buddy?” Remus asked softly, seeing that Teddy wasn’t quite ready to speak yet. He gently brushed the wavy hair that clung to his son’s forehead, pushing it out of his eyes. Remus made a mental note to tell Sirius that they needed to get Teddy a haircut.
Teddy simply nodded, his way of saying “yes” without having to use words. Sometimes, when he felt too much at once, whether it was happiness or fear, he needed a moment of quiet to collect himself.
Remus’ thoughts wandered to Teddy’s 4th birthday party. It had been a day of indulgence, each request from their son — no matter how wild — granted. Like when he insisted the party be Green Leaf Frog-themed but with blue frogs, because blue was his favorite color. Of course, Remus and Sirius had caved to each and every little demand, spoiling him in ways only parents can.
They had even gone as far as hiring a Green Frog breeder to come to the party and give the kids a lesson about frogs, showing them a few up close.
Needless to say, Teddy had a blast. He’d partied, played with his friends, eaten far too much cake, and been showered with attention by everyone— especially by his godfather, James, who gave Teddy a kids' drum kit. Remus had cursed every breath James Potter took for the next three months as he and Sirius tried to convince Teddy that the kit was broken and had to be thrown away. If you thought that was excessive, you go ahead and try having a 4 year old with unlimited ability to make noise.
But when the party was over, Teddy had gone silent. For three hours straight, he didn’t speak. Remus and Sirius grew worried, restless— wondering if maybe he hadn’t liked the party, that they hadn’t done enough to make it what he really wanted. Or worse, if something had happened to him that he wasn’t ready to talk about.
Later at bed, Sirius told Remus that Teddy had been babbling away at bedtime’s story time, chatting excitedly about how much fun he’d had at the party— especially with James’ cursed gift. Sirius had gently tried to pry out of him why he had gone so quiet afterward, and in his little, thoughtful way, Teddy had simply said that his “head gets too funny and weird” sometimes and that he needed to “calm himself down from inside first before talking again.”
That conversation had led them to reach out to a child therapist, just to make sure they weren’t missing anything. But after some reassurance, they had learned that it was just one of Teddy’s quirks— a way of processing big emotions. The therapist had advised them to let him come back to himself in his own time, and so, whenever it happened, they did.
So Remus let him now.
Getting both of them into Teddy’s bed was always a task, more so for Remus than for Teddy, since the bed was designed for a five-year-old, not a fully grown man standing at 1.90 meters.
Still, he made do. He shifted, twisted, found what little comfort he could, and laid Teddy’s head against his bicep, keeping him close in a loose embrace. With his free hand, he absently carded his fingers through his son’s soft hair, humming whatever tune happened to surface in his mind.
He was nearly drifting back to sleep, not sure how many minutes passed since he layid out with Ted. His vision lazily focused on the Canis Major constellation among the sea of glow-in-the-dark stars he and Sirius had stuck to Teddy’s ceiling a month ago.
Then,
A small finger poked him in the ribs.
“Daddy…”
Teddy’s little voice was thick with exhaustion, small and worn-out in a way that made Remus’ chest ache. It wasn’t just the late hour. It was the weight of the tears, the fear that had shaken his tiny body, the way his world had felt so frightening just moments ago. The way he had clung to Remus, as if his very presence could chase the nightmares away. That sound, that fragile need, tugged at something deep inside Remus— something instinctive, something that would move mountains if it meant making his little boy feel safe.
“Mhm?” Remus hummed, looking straight into his son’s eyes, giving him his full attention. His fingers continued their slow, soothing strokes through Teddy’s hair.
“You need to go to Russel’s house and ask him for some of that green little ball and make them for lunch tomorrow, okay? You need to get them, Daddy!” His voice was surprisingly firm for a five-year-old: adamant and certain, just like his Papa.
“Russel’s?” Remus repeated, confused. He liked to think he’d become fluent in the language of small children, but sometimes even he got lost in the way their little minds worked.
“Yeah, Daddy,” Teddy insisted, his tone shifting to mild exasperation, as if Remus were impossibly slow. “Russel’s sprouts!”
The confusion on Remus’ face shifted into realization. “Ohhh.”
He broke into soft, affectionate chuckles, shaking his head as he gently tapped Teddy’s nose. “Brussels sprouts, buddy.”
Teddy, utterly unaware of what his Daddy found so amusing, blinked at him for a moment— then, as if deciding to go along with the joke anyway, gave Remus a small, sleepy smile. The kid really thought the sprouts belonged to a guy named Russel.
And oh, how that smile settled something in Remus' chest.
Not long ago, Teddy had been crying so hard his little body shook, his tiny hands clutching at Remus like he was the only thing keeping him safe. And now… Now he was smiling. It was small, just a flicker of amusement, but it was there. A sign that the storm had passed. That even after all those tears, his little boy still felt safe enough to smile at him, to share in this quiet, silly moment.
Remus bit back another laugh. His kid could be so unintentionally funny sometimes. That, at least, he figured Teddy got from him. At least he wasn’t yet a full-on little Sirius. Maybe there was still hope.
“That’s what I said!” Teddy insisted, his soft smile still in place. Then, to Remus’ quiet horror, he threw in a tiny eye-roll— an expression that looked far too much like Sirius.
Oh, no.
If Teddy kept taking after his Papa, Remus was in trouble. One Sirius Black in his life was already more than enough.
They were going to team up against him, he just knew it. Plot together, scheme together, push his limits with their ridiculous antics.
…Oh, wait. They already did.
Just last week, they had pulled off what Remus could only describe as a coordinated effort against him. It had all started with Sirius looking far too innocent at breakfast, sipping his tea in a way that definitely meant trouble. Teddy, meanwhile, had been uncharacteristically quiet, shoveling eggs into his mouth with suspicious focus.
Remus had only just taken his first bite of toast when Teddy, as if on cue, piped up, “Daddy, I think you should let me have ice cream for breakfast.”
Remus sighed, already accustomed to negotiating with a five-year-old. “You think I should?”
“Mhm.” Teddy nodded. “Because I ate all my dinner last night. And you said that if I did, I could have something I wanted later.”
Remus frowned, trying to remember saying such thing. “I don’t—”
“You did say that, Moons,” Sirius interrupted smoothly, setting down his mug. “I distinctly remember it. Clear as day.”
“You do not.”
“I do,” Sirius said, far too convincingly.
And Teddy, the little menace, had the audacity to nod solemnly, as if he too vividly remembered this fictional agreement.
Remus narrowed his eyes. “I don’t recall when I allegedly promised this.”
“Probably when you were distracted,” Sirius mused, tilting his head. “You do get that glazed-over look when you read. We could tell you anything.”
Remus groaned, rubbing his temples. “This is a conspiracy.”
Teddy gasped dramatically. “What’s a ‘spiracy’?”
“It’s when two little troublemakers try to trick me into letting them get away with things.”
Teddy turned to Sirius with wide eyes. “That’s what we’re doing, Papa?”
Sirius nodded gravely. “Yes, pup. And we almost had him.”
That had been the moment Remus realized he had already lost.
Because no matter how many times he told himself he wouldn’t cave, that he wouldn’t let them get away with it, he always did.
Half an hour later, Teddy was eating ice cream at the breakfast table, grinning with smug victory. And Sirius? Sirius had the nerve to wink at Remus over his teacup, like this had been a lesson in strategy.
Remus sighed. He was doomed.
And now, looking down at Teddy’s sleepy little smirk, the way his tiny nose scrunched up just like Sirius’ when he was amused, Remus knew— it was only a matter of time before the next scheme.
God help him.
“So you are going to Russel’s and getting the sprouts, right?” Teddy’s small voice cut through Remus’ thoughts, pulling him back into the present. His wide, serious eyes were filled with quiet determination— like acquiring Brussels sprouts was an urgent, mission-critical task.
“I will buy them, Teddy bear, I promise,” Remus assured him, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.
“Good.” Teddy gave a firm little nod, like he was mentally checking something off a very important list. “Because we all need to eat them tomorrow.”
Remus narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean, ‘we all’?”
Teddy only patted his stuffed white sheep, looking wise beyond his years. “Just trust me, okay, Daddy?” He waved a tiny hand dismissively, brushing away any further questions. “And you have to make Papa eat all of them, okay?”
Remus bit back a laugh. “Oh, do I?”
“Yes! Because I saw him putting his sprouts on your plate last time, even though he tells me it’s good for our health to eat all of it.” Teddy scowled, clearly unimpressed by Sirius’ hypocrisy. “So you have to make sure he eats all of his, okay? And… and…”
Remus was still focused on the absurdity of Sirius being called out for dodging his vegetables when something finally clicked.
Brussels sprouts.
They’d never been part of Teddy’s nightmare before. It was always the same handful of vegetables— carrots with gnashing teeth, broccoli with grabby little arms, a wobbly cauliflower monster. But brussels sprouts? This was new.
And yet, here was Teddy, so fixated on them, his small hands clutching his stuffed white sheep tightly, as if the very idea of those tiny green spheres rolling after him in the dark still lurked at the edges of his mind.
Oh.
Oh, Teddy.
His little voice, so full of conviction just moments ago, suddenly wavered. His fingers tightened around his stuffed white sheep, and his body curled in just a little closer to Remus. The bravado slipped.
Remus felt it instantly— the shift from playful scheming to creeping fear , the way the memory of his nightmare was slowly pulling him back under.
“Oh, Teddy,” Remus murmured, tightening his arms around him. “It’s okay. Daddy’s here.”
Teddy let out a small, shaky breath, his grip on Remus’ shirt fisting tighter.
Remus pressed another kiss into his curls. “I’ll get the sprouts, and we’ll all eat them together, okay? Papa included. And nothing, nothing, is going to come after you.”
Teddy nodded, but instead of responding, he just pressed his face into Remus’ shoulder, snuggling in deeper.
Remus sighed, rubbing slow circles into his back. Maybe this plan to make Sirius eat his vegetables was giving Teddy something to focus on. Maybe it made him feel like he had some control over things again.
Either way, come tomorrow, Sirius Black was going to be force-fed every single brussels sprout on his plate.
He knew this newfound fear of Teddy’s was a silly one, in adults' eyes. Of course, your vegetables wouldn’t hurt you or hunt you just because you didn’t eat them all. It was silly, it was childish.
But how could Remus dismiss the very real emotion of fear his little boy felt because of it? How could he not hug his little boy like what he feared wasn’t anything but a very real threat? How could he not try to shield his little boy from any sentiment of being unprotected?
"I'm sleepy," Teddy mumbled against the part of Remus’ body where he had tucked his face, his small voice muffled by the fabric of his father’s shirt.
"Then go to sleep, my little bear. Daddy will stay here with you until you do, so don’t worry..."
Another soft kiss pressed into his curls, a familiar comfort.
"Can you tell me a story, Daddy?" Teddy lifted his head just enough to meet Remus' eyes, blinking up at him.
"Sure, Teddy bear," Remus said gently. "Let me just grab a book." Carefully, he started untangling himself, ready to get up and reach for one from Teddy’s little bookshelf.
"NO!"
Urgent little hands grabbed the back of Remus' white tee, holding tight with surprising strength for such a small boy. Remus froze mid-motion, his gaze snapping back down to his son. Teddy’s fingers clutched at the fabric like letting go might mean losing him entirely. Then, realizing how loud he'd been, Teddy softened, voice quieter now. "I-I mean… please stay here."
Oh, Teddy.
Remus smiled, full of quiet fondness, and let himself settle back down without hesitation. He wrapped his arm around his boy again, holding him close, brushing soothing fingers through his curls. Of course, he’d stay. Always.
After a few moments, when Teddy had melted back into his warmth, Remus asked, "So, what story do you want to hear?"
Teddy tucked them both under his green leaf frog duvet, wiggling a little to get comfortable before answering.
"Tell me one of when you and Papa felt loving for the first time."
Remus stilled for a second, warmth blooming in his chest. He understood what Teddy meant— he was asking for the story of how he and Sirius fell in love. The thought made something deep inside him ache in the best way. Their son found their love beautiful enough to want it as a bedtime story.
A slow, affectionate smile spread across his face. "Okay," he murmured, brushing a few stray curls from Teddy’s forehead. "But I’m not as good of a storyteller as Papa." His voice held a teasing lilt.
Teddy, already halfway to sleep, scrunched his nose in a way that was so Sirius it made Remus’ heart squeeze.
"Please, Daddy," he whispered, and that was all it took.
Remus smiled, settling deeper into the tiny bed, the warmth of his son pressed close against him. “Alright, Teddy bear,” he murmured, continuing brushing his fingers through soft curls. “Let me tell you a story about a very foolish man and a slightly less foolish man who somehow managed to fall in love.”
Teddy hummed sleepily, waiting.
“Well,” Remus began, “there was once a very dramatic, very handsome young man with the loudest laugh you’ve ever heard and a heart far too big for his own good. And there was also a much quieter, much more sensible young man who spent an awful lot of time pretending he wasn’t in love with him.”
Teddy giggled, already knowing exactly who was who.
“The dramatic one liked to throw himself onto furniture as though his bones had given up on holding him together,” Remus continued, “and he had an absolutely terrible habit of talking his way out of trouble that he absolutely should not have been talking his way out of.”
“That’s Papa,” Teddy whispered, conspiratorial.
Remus grinned. “It is your Papa,” he admitted. “And the other one, well… He was the kind of person who worried about things. He liked to be prepared. He made plans and lists and knew exactly how to take care of the people he loved, even if he wasn’t always sure he deserved to be loved back.”
“That’s you,” Teddy said, smug.
“Guilty,” Remus murmured. “Now, the thing is, these two absolute fools were in love with each other long before either of them realized it. The dramatic one would call the sensible one Moony and drape himself all over him like a very affectionate, very chatty scarf—”
“Like how Papa lays on you when you read!” Teddy interjected.
“Exactly,” Remus laughed. “And the sensible one would roll his eyes and huff and act like he was so put upon… but somehow, no matter what, he was always right where the dramatic one wanted him to be. And then one day, the sensible one, who really wasn’t very sensible at all, did something very stupid.”
Teddy gasped. “What?!”
Remus paused for dramatic effect. “He thought, very foolishly, that it was possible to be just friends with someone when all he wanted to do was hold his hand and kiss his nose and wake up next to him every morning for the rest of his life.”
“That’s really stupid,” Teddy said seriously.
“It was,” Remus agreed. “And he might have stayed stupid forever, except one day, the dramatic one, who had actually been the smart one all along, got tired of waiting. So he cornered him one day and said, ‘If you don’t kiss me right now, Moony, I am going to absolutely perish from heartbreak.’”
Teddy’s eyes were wide. “Did you?!”
Remus chuckled. “Oh, I did,” he admitted. “And, my darling boy, I have never stopped kissing him since.”
“Ewww kissing is gross!” Teddy said playful and snuggled closer, sighing happily. “That was a good story, Daddy.”
Remus kissed his curls. “I’m glad you think so.”
“Papa was the smart one, though,” Teddy added sleepily.
Remus huffed, but there was no heat in it. “Go to sleep, you little traitor.”
Teddy giggled, but within moments, his breathing slowed, warm and even against Remus’ chest. Remus stayed where he was, feeling the steady rise and fall of his son, the peaceful weight of him.
Outside, the house was quiet. Inside, his heart was very, very full.
Remus smiled softly as his gaze drifted up to the faint glow of the Canis Majoris constellation on the ceiling, once again. The brightest star in the sky, Sirius, glowed there, just like it did every night in the real sky, a comforting presence. Remus found it so fitting.
Of course, Sirius would be the brightest thing in the universe, whether it was the stars in the sky or the way he lit up every room they walked into.
His mind, gently drifting into the haze of sleep, recalled the day they’d installed the glow-in-the-dark stars. It had been one of those lazy Sundays, the kind that seemed endless, where nothing mattered except the small moments that stretched into forever. He remembered how Sirius had been far too enthusiastic about it, setting up the stars like an artist determined to paint the night sky for their son. Remus could picture it still: Sirius, hands covered in sticky glow-in-the-dark star glue, muttering about how he had to make sure everything lined up perfectly, as if he were arranging the stars themselves.
Sirius had been so excited to see Teddy’s face light up when they turned off the lights for the first time, and Teddy had laughed, shouting, “It’s like the real sky!” Remus had smiled to himself, knowing that Sirius wasn’t just giving Teddy a nightlight— he was giving him a piece of his love, a piece of himself.
Teddy had been so excited about the new addition to his room that he demanded both of his parents have a sleepover in his bedroom to enjoy the new “exclusive” skyline.
Later that night, when the three of them were tucked cozily on a mattress they’d laid on the floor (the only alternative to avoid squeezing into Teddy’s too-small bed), they lay together, stargazing at the glow-in-the-dark stars. Teddy was nestled between them, holding each of his dads’ hands with both of his tiny ones. It was one of those moments that felt just right. Quiet, safe, and full of love.
“Hey, Teddy," Remus he whispered, the words almost coming out as a sleepy murmur. He pointed at the Canis Majoris constellatio "Look, that's Papa."
Teddy, half-drowsy, blinked up at the glow-in-the-dark stars, his eyes narrowing in thought. He scrunched his nose, then shook his head. "No it isn’t," he said, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "It's a dog."
Remus blinked, trying to suppress a laugh. "A dog?" He followed Teddy’s gaze and realized the little constellation did, indeed, resemble the shape of a dog— Canis Majoris, the "Greater Dog." He nodded, trying to keep it together.
“No, I think it looks just like me,” he said, his voice rough and amused. He lifted his head from the pillow, squinting in the dim light. "I mean, it's got that whole 'shiny, magnificent' look, right?" He ran a hand through his tousled hair, wearing his sleepy smirk.
Teddy’s eyes widened in a mix of awe and skepticism. "You? You look like a dog, Papa?"
Sirius grinned lazily, raising an eyebrow at Remus, who couldn't help but chuckle. "That’s a compliment, Teddy bear. I mean, if you’re gonna look like anything in the sky, it might as well be the brightest star." He leaned toward Teddy with mock seriousness. "But, just between you and me, I think I look way better than a dog."
Remus shook his head, laughing softly. "You’re right, Sirius. You’ve got that 'glowing, celestial' look."
"Exactly," Sirius said, his voice full of mock pride. His other hand, the one that wasn’t holding his son’s tiny one, went over Teddy’s figure and softly brushed Remus’ cheekbone. A touch loaded with tenderness. Remus laid a bit into the touch, feeling Sirius warm hand against his skin. "A little bit of a dog, sure. But mostly, I’m the Sirius star, pup." He retreated his hand, directing the latter sentence towards Teddy.
Teddy giggled at the back-and-forth, his little face lighting up. "Okay, Papa," he said, still not quite convinced. "But I still think it looks like a dog." He yawned widely, snuggling further into both of them, clearly ready for sleep.
Remus winked at Sirius, brushing a hand through Teddy's hair. "It’s okay, sweetheart. The dog thing’s cute. We’ll just say you’re the dog star." He grinned, his voice softening as he kissed the top of Teddy's head. "But you're our star, Teddy."
Sirius gave a mock pout, but Remus could see the amusement dancing in his eyes. "Well, I guess I'll have to settle for being the dog star, then." He also gave Teddy a soft kiss on the top of his head.
Teddy’s laughter filled the room, soft and warm, before his little eyelids fluttered shut, a peaceful smile still lingering on his face. Remus lay back, feeling the weight of love and warmth in the quiet night, with the Sirius star shining bright above them all.
With that memory, Sirius, and Teddy in his mind, Remus too followed Teddy into a blissful sleep.
~*~*~
The morning light from the window assaulted Sirius' senses. Ugh. Remus forgot to close the blackout curtains again. His mind slowly swam out of sleep, registering the chirping birds, the distant hum of their waking neighborhood.
Still half-asleep, he rolled over, instinctively reaching for his husband's tall frame. If he could just pull Remus close, bury his face against the back of his neck, press lazy kisses to his skin— maybe he could convince him to get up, close the damn curtains, and come back to bed for five more minutes. Or longer. At least until Teddy inevitably came barreling in.
"Moony," Sirius mumbled, voice rough with sleep. "Can you—"
His hand met empty sheets.
Sirius cracked one eye open. Remus' side of the bed was cold. He patted the mattress, confirming what he already suspected.
A quiet chuckle rumbled from his chest. Of course. Remus must've ended up staying with Teddy again. He could already picture it—his husband curled awkwardly in their five-year-old’s too-small bed, one arm slung over Teddy, the other probably pinned uncomfortably beneath him. And later? Oh, later he’d complain. His back was wrecked, his neck hurt, his joints were stiff— the same list every time this happened.
Sirius grinned to himself, stretching his arms over his head. God, he loved that man.
Going through the motions of his morning routine, Sirius got out of bed and padded into the bathroom. He brushed his teeth, ran a comb through his hair, and worked out the worst of the tangles that had formed overnight.
Feeling a little more awake, he made his way toward Teddy’s room. He pushed the door open slowly, peeking inside— and just like that, his heart swelled with unconditional love.
Teddy, ever the chaotic sleeper, had twisted himself into what could only be described as a pretzel. Somehow, in the middle of the night, he had completely turned himself around, his head where his feet were supposed to be. One of his arms clutched his stuffed sheep like a lifeline, while the other was sprawled across Remus’ chest in what Sirius could only assume was some kind of unconscious attempt at wrestling him into submission. His small leg was thrown over Remus’ torso, pinning him down like a human paperweight.
And Remus, poor, long-suffering Remus, looked like he had fought a losing battle against Teddy’s tiny limbs all night. One of his arms dangled uselessly off the side of the bed, his fingers just barely grazing the floor. His long legs — his ridiculously long legs — stuck out awkwardly, feet dangling well past the edge of Teddy’s too-small bed. He was curled at an odd angle, clearly shaped by however Teddy had maneuvered in his sleep. He looked wildly uncomfortable.
And yet, his face was soft, his expression peaceful. Like no matter how awful the sleeping arrangement was, there was nowhere else in the world he’d rather be.
Sirius’ chest ached with warmth. These were his boys. His entire world, tangled together in a mess of too-small blankets, stuffed animals, and limbs that didn’t quite fit where they should. And he loved them. God, how he loved them.
He leaned against the doorframe, just watching them for a moment longer, memorizing this ridiculous, heart-melting sight.
He had to physically pull himself away from the scene, reluctant to break the quiet tenderness of the moment. With one last fond glance, he carefully closed the door and padded downstairs to the kitchen, ready to start breakfast.
His movements were almost automatic, the familiar rhythm of his morning routine taking over. He set water to boil for tea, then cracked eggs into a bowl, the yolks and whites swirling together as he whisked them into a scramble. He dropped slices of bread into the toaster, retrieved the spreads from the fridge, and arranged them neatly on the table. Then, with practiced ease, he started cutting up fruit into funny shapes— stars, triangles, little half-moons.
Teddy had been obsessed with them lately. He had always liked fruit, especially strawberries and watermelon, but now he insisted on having them every morning, claiming he “didn’t want to make the fruits angry too.”
Sirius’ heart ached at the thought. His poor baby, still shaken by this newfound fear.
He got lost in the quiet rhythm of breakfast prep, the soft crackle of toast, the faint bubbling of eggs on the stove. He was only pulled from his trance when he heard the sound of footsteps entering the kitchen.
“Papa! Papa!!”
Teddy was perched on Remus’ hip, his white stuffed sheep clutched tightly in one arm. As soon as he spotted Sirius, his whole face lit up. Kicking his legs excitedly, he practically launched himself forward. Remus barely had time to steady him before Teddy flung himself into Sirius' arms, wrapping himself around him with all the enthusiasm of a child who hadn’t seen his favorite person in years, instead of just a few hours.
Sirius caught him easily, hugging him close, laughing as he settled Teddy onto his lap. “Good morning, my Teddy bear,” he murmured, voice warm with affection.
He wasted no time in covering Teddy’s face with kisses — fast, playful, exaggerated smooches that had Teddy dissolving into a fit of giggles. The little boy squirmed, half-heartedly trying to escape, but he was laughing too hard to put up a real fight.
“Papa, stooop!” he giggled, tucking his face against Sirius’ shoulder.
“Never,” Sirius declared dramatically, pressing another loud kiss to his cheek.
Teddy squealed, wiggling in delight. Remus, who had taken the lead into finishing setting their breakfast, simply shook his head, amusement flickering in his tired eyes as he reached for his cup of tea.
It was a good morning.
“Good morning, love,” Sirius said, this time addressing Remus. With Teddy still perched in his lap, he leaned over and pressed a lingering, unhurried kiss to his husband’s mouth.
“Morning, sweetheart,” Remus murmured back, looking into Sirius’ eyes before leaning in for another peck— this one quicker but just as warm. Teddy, squished firmly between them, made a small noise of protest.
Clearly, he’d had enough.
With a determined wiggle, he freed himself from their hold, slipping down from Sirius’ lap and making a beeline for his usual seat at the table. He settled his white sheep in the chair next to him.
Taking the cue, Sirius turned back to breakfast, finishing up Teddy’s plate: scrambled eggs, a handful of the fruit he’d cut into funny shapes, and a cup of grape juice. As soon as it was set in front of him, Teddy wasted no time digging in, going straight for the fruit like a boy on a mission.
Sirius chuckled, finally settling into his own seat. He took a sip of his tea, glancing at his son. “So, how’d you sleep, pup?”
“Good, Papa…” Teddy answered, his voice small, mouth still stuffed with food. He almost never spoke much about his nightmares unless he was pried, as if saying the words aloud would bring them back to life. Sirius glanced at Remus, a quiet question in his eyes. Remus only shook his head slightly, a silent I’ll tell you later.
“But…” Teddy’s tone suddenly shifted, the glint of mischief returning to his voice. “Daddy is too big. He takes up too much space.” He whispered the last part conspiratorially to Sirius, but loud enough that Remus could hear the playful jab.
Remus let out an exaggerated huff, feigning offense.
“Oh, I know, pup,” Sirius whispered back, matching Teddy’s secretive tone while smirking.
“That’s not fair!” Remus laughed, shaking his head as he set down his tea. Even at breakfast, his husband and son were already teaming up against him. “Look how tall I am! Of course I take up space!”
Sirius grinned, winking at Teddy. “It’s like trying to fit a giraffe in a teacup.”
Teddy giggled, kicking his legs under the table. “That’s what I think! But Daddy told me a story last night,” he announced suddenly, sitting up straighter.
“Oh?” Sirius raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Teddy nodded, clearly delighted to have the floor. “Yeah! He said you were very dramatic and you always fell on the furniture ‘cause your bones were tired.”
Sirius gasped, hand flying to his chest. “Remus John Lupin,” he said, scandalized. “Are you slandering me to our son?”
Remus sipped his tea, entirely unbothered. “It’s not slander if it’s true.”
Teddy continued, ignoring them. “And he said he was soooo smart and sensible, but actually you were the smart one all along.”
Sirius blinked. Then a slow, smug grin spread across his face. He turned to Remus, practically glowing with delight. “Did you now?”
Remus stiffened, suddenly realizing his mistake. “I— I may have implied—”
“Oh, no, no,” Sirius cut in, leaning forward eagerly. “I want to hear it from the boy himself.” He turned to Teddy, giving him his full attention. “Go on, Teddy bear. Tell me exactly what Daddy said.”
Teddy beamed. “He said you were always the smart one, ‘cause you knew before he did that you were s’posed to be in love and that he was the real fool.”
Sirius threw his head back with triumphant laughter. “Oh, Moony, you absolute gift of a man,” he sighed dramatically. “You’ve finally admitted it!”
Remus groaned, covering his face with one hand. “I hate everything.”
Sirius nudged his foot under the table. “No, you don’t. You love me and you love him. And you think I’m a genius.”
“I deeply regret telling that story.”
Teddy was still swinging his legs happily. “And then he said he kissed you forever and never stopped, and—”
Sirius didn’t even let him finish. “Oh, I definitely remember that part.” He turned to Remus with a smirk. “Come on, love. Let’s give the kid a live demonstration.”
Remus barely had time to roll his eyes before Sirius leaned over and kissed him, slow and deliberate, just to prove a point. Teddy, predictably, groaned in protest.
“Ewww, Papa!” he whined, covering his eyes.
Sirius pulled back with a grin, shooting Remus a wink. “Smartest thing I ever did.”
Remus shook his head, exasperated— but he was smiling, too. “You are insufferable.”
“And yet,” Sirius said, stealing a piece of fruit off Remus’s plate, “you never stop kissing me.” Sirius silently mouthed the words I love you to Remus, who returned the gesture mouthing I love you, too.
Teddy sighed dramatically, picking up his fork. “You both take too much space.”
After some more chatter and a few last bites of food, breakfast was mostly finished.
“Papa, Papa, Papa!” Teddy bounced in his chair with urgent excitement. “Look, I finished all my food! Can I go play now?”
Sirius glanced at his plate— sure enough, all that was left were a few stray pieces of egg and the smudges of jam on his fingers. “Yes, you can, little bear,” he said, already gathering the dishes to take to the sink.
Teddy wasted no time. In one quick movement, he was on his feet, clutching his stuffed white sheep in one arm and already halfway out of his chair, ready to bolt.
“Ahem.” Sirius cleared his throat meaningfully.
Teddy froze mid-motion, then turned back with the most put upon expression a five-year-old could possibly muster.
Sirius arched an eyebrow, crouching slightly to meet Teddy’s eye level. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Teddy let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling his eyes so dramatically Sirius had to bite back a grin. Yeah, alright. That one’s definitely from me.
Still, Teddy dutifully marched back over, grabbing his fathers by the collars of their shirts and planting an exaggeratedly wet kiss on each of their cheeks. “Love you, Papa. Love you, Daddy,” he recited with great importance.
“Love you too, buddy,” Remus murmured, pressing a hand to his cheek where he’d been kissed, smiling at his son.
Sirius, however, wasn’t done yet. “And what else before you run off to play with your toys?” His firm, expectant parent voice made its appearance.
Teddy sighed again, swaying from side to side as he recited: “I have to make up my bed…”
Sirius nodded. “And?”
“I can make a mess only if I pick up after.”
“And?”
“No running up the stairs.”
Sirius grinned, ruffling his curls. “Very good, pup. Off you go.”
Teddy whooped in triumph, already darting toward his room, stuffed sheep bouncing in his grip. Definitely running up the stairs.
Sirius watched him go, shaking his head fondly. “We need to get him a haircut,” he muttered to Remus.
Remus surprised expression turned to him “I was going to tell you the exactly same thing! Also…”
Just as they were finishing up, the sound of rapid little footsteps echoed down the stairs.
“Daddy!” Teddy called, breathless, his tone urgent—like he had just remembered something very important. He skidded into the kitchen, eyes wide, and pointed a very serious finger at Remus. “Don’t forget to go to Russel’s.”
His voice dropped into a conspicuous little whisper, like this was part of some grand secret operation that Sirius absolutely wasn’t allowed to know about.
Remus, ever the composed one, nodded solemnly. “I won’t forget, buddy, don’t worry.”
Satisfied, Teddy gave a sharp nod and, without another word, spun on his heel and sprinted back up the stairs.
The moment he was gone, Remus turned back to his husband— only to find Sirius staring at him with an arched eyebrow, arms crossed, and a very displeased expression settling onto his face.
Remus barely had time to brace himself before—
“Who,” Sirius said, voice low and entirely unamused, “is Russel, Remus Lupin?”
And that was it. That was all it took. Remus burst into laughter, his entire body shaking, because of course Sirius was jealous of an imaginary man named Russel.
“Oh, come on,” Sirius huffed, scowling as Remus all but doubled over. “I think I have the right to know if my husband is sneaking off to meet some bloke named Russel.”
Remus wiped at his eyes, still grinning. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about, sweetheart.”
Sirius narrowed his eyes. “I dunno, Moons. You seemed pretty committed to not forgetting.”
And that only set Remus off again, because God help him, he loved this ridiculous man.
“Oh, love,” he wheezed, wiping at his eyes. “Russel isn’t real.”
Sirius squinted. “Then why is our son sending you to his house?”
Remus let out another chuckle, shaking his head as he stepped closer, resting his hands on Sirius’ shoulders. “Teddy thinks brussels sprouts belong to a man named Russel. He’s been calling them ‘Russel’s sprouts.’”
Sirius stared at him for a long moment, processing. Then his expression shifted, like he was physically forcing himself to not find it funny. “…That’s ridiculous.”
Remus smirked. “It is.”
“And you just let me sit here thinking—”
“Yes,” Remus admitted, not at all guilty.
Sirius groaned, dropping his head dramatically against Remus’ shoulder. “I really thought some bloke named Russel had our kid out here plotting lunch dates with you.”
“Well,” Remus hummed, pressing a kiss to the side of Sirius’ head, “I am seeing him later.”
Sirius groaned louder, nudging Remus in the ribs as Remus laughed all over again.
But just as Sirius was about to come back with another dramatic complaint, he caught the way Remus' expression shifted. The lingering amusement softened, giving way to something more serious.
“…Moons?” Sirius straightened a little, sensing the change in the air.
Remus exhaled, running a tired hand through his hair. “The nightmare last night was… bad,” he admitted quietly. “One of the worst ones he’s had.”
Sirius’ stomach twisted. “Worse than the cauliflower monster?”
Remus nodded, jaw tightening. “I think the brussels sprouts fixation is his way of… I don’t know, taking control of it. Like if we all eat them, maybe they won’t come after him.” His eyes flickered toward the ceiling, toward Teddy’s room. “But he was scared, Sirius. You didn’t see him when he woke up.”
Sirius' throat went tight. Because, no, he hadn’t seen it. He hadn’t been the one to wake up to Teddy shaking, to hold him through the quiet, hiccuping breaths of a nightmare that still had its claws in him.
But Remus had.
And Sirius had no doubt it was still weighing on him.
Without thinking, he pulled Remus in, pressing a kiss to his temple, lingering there for a moment longer than necessary.
“I’ll eat the sprouts,” he murmured.
Remus huffed a soft laugh against his shoulder. “Oh, I know you will.”
But when Sirius pulled back, he still caught the flicker of worry in Remus' eyes— one that no amount of playful teasing could quite erase.
~*~*~
Later in the day, when it was almost lunchtime, Remus went out to get the damned "Russel’s sprouts" from the grocery store, and Sirius stayed with Teddy, preparing the other ingredients and getting a head start.
“Teddy!” Sirius screamed from the kitchen. “Can you come down here a second?”
Teddy appeared in the doorway a moment later, his little feet padding softly against the floor. He was still clutching his stuffed white sheep, and his eyes seemed a little more distant than usual. Sirius noticed the way his son hesitated, lingering in the doorway for a heartbeat before coming in.
“Everything alright, pup?” Sirius asked, wiping his hands on a towel and bending down to his knees so they were at eye level.
Teddy looked up at him, biting his lip as if weighing something in his mind. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice small. “Papa…”
Sirius tilted his head, a gentle smile pulling at his lips. “What’s on your mind, buddy?”
Teddy shuffled his feet, avoiding Sirius’ gaze. “I don’t want the sprouts to come after me.” His voice cracked slightly, betraying the vulnerability that he was trying so hard to hide.
Sirius’ heart softened at the words, his expression immediately shifting to one of understanding. He didn’t need to ask. He could already guess.
“Ah, I see,” Sirius said quietly, his tone reassuring. He sat on the floor, crossing his legs and patting the space next to him. “Come sit with me, Teddy.”
Teddy hesitated for only a second before he walked over and climbed into his father’s lap, curling up against him like he had so many times before. Sirius wrapped his arms around his little boy, pulling him in close and gently rubbing his back.
“Listen to me, pup,” Sirius started, his voice soft but firm, “the sprouts won’t come after you. Not here, not with us. We’re not gonna let that happen. You’re safe, you hear me?”
Teddy nodded but didn’t look up. “But they’re so scary.”
Sirius chuckled lightly, pressing a kiss into the top of Teddy’s head. “I know, buddy. I know. But you’re stronger than them, and you’ve got me and Daddy to make sure nothing gets to you. No monster, no brussels sprout, not even the scariest cauliflower can get past us.”
Teddy finally met his father’s gaze, his eyes still a little wide with fear. “But what if they do?”
Sirius’ heart clenched at the question, but he remained calm, his tone steady. “What if they try, you mean?”
Teddy nodded, his grip on his stuffed sheep tightening slightly.
“Well,” Sirius said slowly, a serious look crossing his face as he met his son’s eyes, “if they try, you’ve got us. And we’ll be right there with you, every step of the way. And if you get scared, all you have to do is come find me, or Daddy,. We’re never far away, and we’re always gonna take care of you, no matter what. You don’t have to fight anything alone, okay?”
Teddy bit his lip again, but his eyes were searching Sirius’ face now, looking for the reassurance he knew he needed.
“You’re never alone, Teddy,” Sirius repeated, his voice low and earnest. “And I promise you, the sprouts are just vegetables. They’re not going to hurt you. You can tell them Papa and Daddy will take care of you, and nothing can touch you while we’re around.”
For a moment, there was only the soft sound of their breathing. Then, Teddy let out a shaky breath, his little shoulders slumping with relief. “Okay,” he said, his voice quiet but trusting.
“Good boy,” Sirius said, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “And remember, if the sprouts start looking at you funny, you just tell them to go ask Russel for their next meal. How about that?”
Teddy giggled softly, his grip on the sheep loosening as he relaxed into his father’s arms. “Okay, Papa.”
Sirius smiled, holding him a little tighter for a moment before gently setting him back on his feet. “Alright, you want to help me finish making lunch? Or should I just get it started for you to finish after your nap?”
Teddy’s eyes lit up with excitement, but before he could answer, he turned to give his sheep a little squeeze. “Can we make the sprouts really small so they don’t look so scary?”
Sirius chuckled, ruffling his hair. “That’s a good idea, pup. We’ll make them the smallest, most un-scary brussels sprouts ever.”
Teddy nodded, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “Thanks, Papa.”
Sirius nodded and squeezed his shoulder. “Anytime, my Teddy bear.”
At lunchtime, when Remus and Teddy were in a heated discussion about whether or not a dragon could beat a unicorn in a race - Teddy was adamant that the dragon's wings would give it an unfair advantage, while Remus tried to argue that unicorns were much faster because of their magic-, Sirius felt full to the brim with love. Not only the love both of them felt for him, but also how much he loved them.
He watched as Remus, with that patient, amused look he wore when engaging in these ridiculous debates with Teddy, tried to explain that it wasn’t all about wings and speed, but also about magical properties, while Teddy shook his head in disbelief, clutching his stuffed sheep. The child’s serious face, as if deciding the fate of mythical creatures, made Sirius smile more than he’d thought possible.
Even with dragons and unicorns filling their days with endless imagination, even with nightmares and all the ups and downs of their little family, Sirius couldn’t help but feel that life, with all its chaotic, wonderful moments, was exactly where he wanted to be. He wouldn’t trade it, them for anything in the world.