The dinner was a smashing success.

Frank held up his pastille scarf to cover his and Alice's faces as their lips met in a kiss, but this didn't stop the others from shouting their encouragements and whooping and clapping and Alice giggled into Frank's lips as he wrapped one arm around her and flipped the bird at the others, turning redder than a Weasley boy's hair.

They had dinner, talking and laughing, jokes and joyful banter falling across the table and filling the flat in East London. The place seemed to glow with the comradarie contained in the walls and James stretched his arms over the chair backs as they talked 'round the table, dinner settling in their bellies, his arms up behind Lily on one side and Sirius on the other, legs crossed under the table. There was dessert and Alice told Frank about the preparations and Sirius regaled the group with impressions of James doing impressions of a flamingo at the tuxedo shop.

"He best not have that suit on at the wedding, Sirius Black, or I'll have your head for it," Lily wagged her finger, laughing.

"As will I!" Alice said, "We've worked way too hard at this wedding and I won't have it ruined by an eyesore of a suit."

"I did look good in it, though," James said, "I have to admit."

Lily said, "You'd look good in a flour sack but it doesn't mean you're getting married in one."

Sirius grinned. "I'd pay to see it if he did... What a jaunty little house elf he'd make."

James laughed, "I rather feel like one this past week."

This led into having to explain to Alice and Peter what he meant by that, leading into the whole story of the visit to Fallengunder, the Chainwright Theatre incident, the argument with Mad-Eye Moody and the curious understanding of Mr. Underhill.

"Was he insinuating not to trust Dumbledore?" Frank said, pulling a face, "What an insane thing to say. Not trust Dumbledore! What a rip. Underhill's mad."

James shrugged, "He seemed pretty convicted on it. Dunno, I s'pose he's probably been wronged in some way... Dunno."

"So what are you going to do now with yourself?" Peter asked.

James shrugged. "I honestly don't know, Pete. Six or seven years ago I would've been saying that I was going to go out to be a pro Quidditch player." He smirked. "I'll think on it, but I'm sure Evans will keep me busy, isn't that right, Evans?"

"Mmhm," Lily hummed, and she kissed his cheek.

"Yeah real busy, I'm sure," Sirius murmured, grinning, and he winked at James in a very obvious, theatrical manner. 

"You're such a bloody dog!" Lily squealed, and they all laughed - though only the five of them knew just how funny it was.

James said, "Actually, there is one thing that I was thinking of that might be something the lot of us could do together, perhaps, if the rest of you are up for it."

"What's that?" Frank asked, reaching for another helping of the pie that Lily had made for their dessert. 

"Well, see, it's like this... When I visited Fallengunder, well, there's a lot that the castle there could do with by way of enchantments that would make the whole operation a lot easier. I thought perhaps the lot of us could go up there and work some magic, so to speak, and perhaps give'em a bit of a Christmas surprise. What do you think?"

He told them more about the conditions of the school and how Elva Greenwood had described the students. "I reckon the Ministry's really done some shoddy stuff and wouldn't it be nice to show'em that not everyone has forgotten about them? I mean, isn't goodwill and helping others that are in need of it what Christmas is all about?"

They all agreed that they should help out with getting Fallengunder trussed up for the holidays and setting the sorts of daily enchantments that come in handy about a place like that. They started making plans - Remus making a list of the things they would need to buy or else to research - things like security charms and getting some house elves employed to their care that could help with chores such as setting and clearing the table, like they did at Hogwarts.

"Yes, you're right, house elves at Fallengunder would be dead useful," James said.

They made plans to all go together to Diagon Alley and go later that very week. "And on the way back," James suggested, "We can stop by and get mum. She asked to stay with us a couple days before the wedding."

"YES MUM'S COMING!" Sirius cried out excitedly.

"Oh we'll have to magic an extra bed into the living room for her. Do you reckon she'd be alright there?" Lily worried.

"Yeah, mum'll be alright with that," James said, then his face turned red. "Aw bloody hell, I'll have to tell her about the Ministry." He covered his face, then, half joking muttered, "Perhaps I'll ask Underhill to reinstate me after all just so I don't have to tell Mum."

"She'll understand," Lily said, "Especially when you explain to her why you've left. You had very good reasons, James."

"Yeah well... try telling that to Mum!"

They cleared off the table and Sirius got out his record player and announced that it was time to listen to the new Freddie record that Regulus had given him ("after all, there's only 70 sleeps 'til Freddie!" he announced), and they spent the rest of the night with Sirius playing the deejay until it was time that Alice and Frank went home (Sirius shouting after them to stay protected as they went out the door). James asked Peter if he wanted to stay and Peter settled in on the couch as the other four went off to bed.

Sirius was laying across the bed while Remus undressed, carefully hanging his shirt on a coat hanger and putting it up in the closet before beginning at unbuttoning his trousers. Sirius stared up at the ceiling. 

"What are you thinking about?" Remus asked, coming over to the bed and undoing his watch and putting it and his ring on the nightstand as he climbed in between the covers, adjusting the blankets the way he liked.

"About Regulus," Sirius said.

"Yeah?" Remus asked. "What about him?"

"He thought I didn't care about him."

"He knows you do."

Sirius said, "I made sure he does now." He paused, then, "I've been a terrible brother to him."

"You haven't been so bad," Remus said. Then, "Not always anyways. You've had your moments, sure, but I think even in the midst of those you've always loved him. The rest of us knew it even if you didn't."

Sirius rolled over and looked up at Remus. "He said Mother's been asking about me."

"Oh?" Remus asked tentatively. 

"Yeah."

"And... how does that make you feel?" Remus asked, thinking of Doug Melchor, who liked to ask that question quite a lot when they spoke. 

Sirius shrugged. "Like the old bitch must be feeling quite sad that she missed out on all the gloriousness that is me." He waved his arms down the length of himself as though showcasing a game show prize.

"I would imagine she must feel regret over losing the opportunity to know you," Remus agreed, rewording what Sirius had said into more vulnerable terms.

Sirius's face twitched. "He asked if I'd ever think of giving her another chance."

"And you said...?"

"Hell no."

Remus took a deep breath. He was relieved to hear that. He remembered fifth year, remembered the terrible things that Walburga Black had said and done to Sirius in the time that they'd known one another, and even he, Remus, couldn't quite bring himself to dream of forgiving Walburga now, no matter the circumstances. 

One day, he would find a reason to, but that day was not this day.

He turned back over and lay his head back down, returning to staring at the ceiling and silence fell over them.

"Remus?"

"Sirius?"

"How bloody long do I have to lay here all pensive and sad before you realize what I need is a good snogging from my husband to make me feel better?"

Remus laughed, "Oh is that what will make you feel better?"

"Proven remedy to being pensive, snogging is."

"Well, why didn't you say so sooner?"

"What the hell do you want? A written invitation?"

Remus shook his head and bent over, kissing Sirius upside down. "A written invitation would be nice."

"Give me a ticket for an aeroplane... I ain't got time to take no fast train... oh the lonely days are gone, I'll be right home... my baby... she wrote me a letter..."

Remus took hold of the sides of Sirius's face, and kissed him deeply to shut him up.

Meanwhile, in James and Lily's room, James was coiled up in the blankets, his glasses off, the bags holding his tuxedo tucked away beside the box that hid Lily's wedding gown in the closet. She'd tuttered about, clearing away her make up and putting cream on her face and neck, braiding her hair and such, and James was trying not to fall asleep. 

"Evans," he yawned.

"Hmmm?" she hummed, still braiding.

"Do you really reckon my mum will be okay when I tell her what's been on with me?" James asked.

"I do," Lily answered. "I think she'll be right proud of you standing up for yourself and for what you believe, just like I am. Especially when she hears how you've planned to help Fallengunder."

"I want to do - do something - important," James yawned again.

 "You will," Lily assured him.

"I really liked being able to help Regulus today," he said.

Lily nodded, thinking about the way Regulus had felt when she'd hugged him. She tied off the end of her braid, her eyes flitting to the stack of books on her desk. "He really needed it," she murmured. She looked at James, his face was smooshed into the pillow as he spoke.

"I like... helping... kids..." he murmured, falling asleep.

Lily got up and went over, brushed his hair off his forehead and kissed him, turning off the lamp beside the bed so it didn't glare in his face, then she turned back to her desk, opening the book on love magic.

Regulus had lost his balance on appearing in the forest. 

His knees hit the snow. Something about the disapparation had been taken a funny turn and he wasn't sure what exactly it was. The woods were so quiet compared to London, but he recognized the place where he was - so he'd come out at the right spot, but - but there was something a miss and he wasn't sure what it was. He struggled to his feet. There was fresh snow trickling through the pine canopy, and the bracken cracked with his footsteps as he trudged up the hill.

"Regulus..."

He stopped walking. He had heard the voice as real as could be, and he spun about, looking through the trees that surrounded him, pressing in like a thick crowd. His eyes played tricks in the shadows, and he drew his wand, hand shaking slightly.

"Hullo," he whispered. "Who's there? Show yourself."

But the woods were silent.

He stayed still, looking... searching between trees... sure if anyone was there they could hear his heart for how fast it was pounding.

The Safe House was just up the hill, he told himself, preparing to make a run for it. Just up top, and the incantations started partway there. Nobody could follow him through once he got there. He could run fast enough...

Not faster than Greyback.

He held his breath and listened extra hard, not daring to move or anything.

He took one tentative step, and winced at the sound it made... Then another careful step... and on the third, he broke into a run.

Up the hill, through the trees, and over a fallen log he'd used as his landmark... it should be here... any second... somewhere... just... 

But the incantations were gone, the shield charms - gone. No matter how he spun about and searched around, the spot where he knew the Safe House had been was gone. 

He choked on his own breath and dropped into the snow again. "Mother!" he yelled it, as though she might hear him. He covered his mouth, remembering the voice he'd heard. The Safe House wasn't there. It was gone. Was it gone because Mother had packed up and relocated? If so, then why had she abandoned him? Was she alright? Had someone come and attacked her and the Safe House? Was she in danger? Did he need to go and try to rescue her? But where if he did? And what if something had happened? Something bad? What if the worst had happened? And the last thing that he'd ever done was sneak out of the house before she got up because he didn't want to deal with her being -- being cheerful? Leaving a note that just said he'd be back... and hadn't come back?

Cold crept through him.

What if she'd gone to look for him? What if that's what had happened? What if she'd been captured by the Dark Lord because she had gone looking for Regulus, thinking that he'd been taken? 

"Regulus..."

The voice was louder, closer, nearly right behind him and he sprang up from the ground, turning quickly, his wand throwing sparks of incidental magic that he hadn't even meant to do out of his own nervous reaction. He spun about in place, looking north - then south - east, west, north again... The shadows of the trees were playing tricks on him. He was certain he could see figures looming behind every tree, peeking through the branches of every bush...

"Regulus..."

Closer still.

He panicked, he threw himself forward through the trees and he felt wild and uncontrolled, unsure what to do. He wanted to disapparate back to East London, but he didn't dare - whoever, whatever it was that was coming after him (for he was certain he could hear footsteps chasing him now) might be able to follow him, might trace him back to the flat and then what? Then he'd have caused more trouble, more terrible things - then Sirius would be angry at him again, and James and Lily couldn't very well have their wedding if they weren't alive for it, could they? And his mind spun, dizzying him, and he ran, panting, the cold winter air biting at his lungs as he moved through the frozen forest, hardly able to think. The snow was slippery, and he felt his feet struggling to sty beneath him, especially as his torso plunged headlong.

"Regulus..."

He looked back over his shoulders, scared of what he might see if the shadows he was certain were chasing him were to come out from behind the trees they were hiding in. He ran, pushing himself to run even harder... faster... more wildly than ever before. His shoes slid, and he caught a branch, barely staying up, still looking behind him, afraid and yet unable to leave his back unguarded, he ran and ran and ---

Suddenly his shoe hit on a rock, he tripped forward, and his foot slid on a sheen of ice that coated the stone and went flying out from beneath him... but not just any rock... Somehow in his pellmell running, not watching where he was going, he had veered off course and the rocks were the stone ledge that overlooked the sea. He slid, the ice thick, his velocity too much to stop, and the skid was longer than the cliffside and he flew off the edge. There was a moment in which he felt that was was outside of himself - outside looking at it as his body was suspended in the air, his wand falling from his hand as he desperately grappled empty sky.... and then plummeted down toward the sea.

He returned to his body for the fall.

It was all teal and dark blue, stars and ocean glimmers, moonlight and jagged cliffs. They spun about him, a blur of color and spark, and he couldn't figure out which way was up, which way was down, or perhaps there was no such thing at all anymore, only him and the sea and the sky...

There was a terrific rush of water, and his body plunged into the depths - deep, deep, deep...The water pressure tightened around him, the surface so far above he couldn't dream of seeing it. The fall had been a terrific one - it had to of been fifty feet or more. By all rights, the water should have crushed his bones when he broke the surface. But instead he just sank like a rock, in tact but with no power to fight.

Even if he had the power, he couldn't swim.

It was like falling through night sky, through space and time itself, and he closed his eyes and waited to die, for his air to run out and water to replace it in his lungs.

"Precious seconds, Regulus Black... just a few precious seconds."

He opened his eyes.