Who: Sirius, Remus, and Draco (our big happy family!) When: Sunday, later in the day What: Someone's awake. There's bonding. Super cute snuggly bonding.
Remus had been awake for several hours now and was in surprisingly high spirits. The potions had finally taken full affect and all he wanted was to see every single mate and family member. He had already spoken with several and was elated, of course, but the picture would not be complete until he had his pup near him.
"I can see him? Really? Promise?" Draco bounced around his father's knees, his eyes flashing with hope. Ernest MacMillan shook his head in amusement; he had delivered Draco to the hospital as soon as he got word, but it seemed the boy still feared it was some ploy. "Just won't believe me, Sirius!"
Sirius grinned. He couldn't help it. He'd been grinning rather relentlessly since Remus had woken, and as he felt better and better, so did Sirius. Now that his boy was there with them, he knew it couldn't get better than this. Scooping the boy into his arms, he gave him a good long snuggle and smiled at Ernest. "Thank you," he said quietly, touching Draco's cheek. "He ought to believe you." He turned to Draco with yet another lasting grin. "Because it's very, very true. He's wide awake and feeling pretty good. But you know what'll make him feel even better?"
"Me!" Draco squealed, not at all bashful. He hugged his daddy back hard. "Let's go already! Please?"
Ernest nodded at Sirius. "You're very welcome." He reached out to tweak Draco's nose. "Tell your uncle I said hello?"
Draco nodded, grinning still.
Sirius gave a small wave to Ernest, giving his best to Jean and the kids before turning to walk the rest of the way down the hall. "Still have to be a little quiet, okay?" He informed Draco as they approached Remus' door. "He's still not his very best. But he definitely wants to see his favourite boy, okay? Think you can be on your best behaviour?"
Draco sighed impatiently. "YES, Daddy!" He tugged at the man's hand. "Open, open!"
Giving a good-natured roll of his eyes, Sirius pushed the door open. "Knock, knock," he said with a grin, urging Draco forward. "Someone's here to see you, if that's okay."
Remus had made sure to be sitting up. He knew his coloring looked better and he wasn't as weak, but he didn't want to risk scaring the child by looking like death. "Okay? I've been waiting forever!" Remus grinned at the little boy who came to a skidding stop, remembering Sirius' warning. "What?" Remus asked, holding out his arms. "No hug, pup?"
Sirius gave a tiny groan and then chuckled. "It's alright," he said softly to Draco. He placed a hand on the boy's back and gave him a gentle push. "Go say hello."
"Daddy said I hadda be careful." Draco approached Remus again, still stopping short of the outstretched arms.
"Oh, I can do with a great biiiiiiig hug, my boy." Remus beckoned with his hands. "Pretty please?" He smiled reassuringly.
Thrilled, Draco dived toward the man and found himself being scooped up into the bed. Remus held him close, his eyes glittering with tears as he looked over Draco's head and toward Sirius. "I love you, little one, you know that?"
"Oh, he knows," Sirius answered, shooting a grateful look towards his friend. For allowing Draco to visit, for letting the boy pounce him, for just waking up and being alive. "We've both been pretty worried." Pulling up a chair close to the edge of Remus' bed, he took a seat and leaned back, grateful to be able to do so and have Remus actually look back.
"Aw, I know." He gently pulled Draco away so that he could look from him to Sirius. "I am sorry I frightened you."
Draco nodded seriously. "Daddy was sad and Uncle James and Auntie Lily and Uncle Severus and I REALLY missed you." He hugged Remus hard to prove his point again.
Remus laughed before gently pulling Draco so that Remus and Sirius and could talk as well. Draco settled into Remus' side quite content to be with his 'parents.'
"Sirius, you need sleep. You look...not good."
Oi, Sirius was sick of hearing that. "You're not the first to say so," he said with a roll of his eyes. "I...didn't want to leave." He gave Remus a look to convey what he meant, as he didn't want to scare Draco. None of them had wanted Draco to know just how scared they'd all been.
"I appreciate it." Remus reached a hand out to touch his friend's shoulder. "Hope you got some Draco hugs though! I'd hate to be the cause of Draco deprivation." He lightly tickled the boy's arm, grinning at the giggles that escaped.
That only made Sirius feel worse than when everyone else had berated him for leaving Draco for so long. "Not as many as I'd like," Sirius replied, trying to keep his tone cheerful. "But Draco had lots of adventures with Ernie and Neville, didn't you, son?"
Draco grinned at the term, always excited to hear affirmation of their relationship. "Well..." He gulped.
Remus frowned, looking at Sirius quizzically.
"We both made some bad choices this week," Sirius said softly in reply to Remus' expression.
"What did you do bad, Daddy?" Draco looked over at Sirius with a worried expression. "Daddy, be HAPPY. Uncle Remus is here!"
Remus had to laugh again. Nothing like a child to make him feel better. Especially this one. He kissed the top of Draco's head. "I am sure Daddy wasn't all that naughty." He winked teasingly at Sirius.
Sirius smiled, then, feeling his spirts lift a bit again. "I missed my Draco too much, that's what was naughty," he said with a small laugh. "Way too much time away, I think." Despite Remus' wink, he couldn't help fearing that his friend would think less of how he'd acted.
"Daddy hada be with you, Uncle Remus." Draco tugged at the man's hand. "He was scared. I know he was. And so was I, but Mr. MacMillan said you'd fight to come back and hug me and you did!"
Remus cast Sirius a sympathetic look. "Seems Daddy had a tough week. His silly best mate worrying him sick and then having to do with less little boy snuggles."
Breathing easier than he had in days, Sirius' smile brightened. "It was rubbish, may as well be honest. Draco and I think we should have a bond that you're never allowed to scare us like that again. Good thing we had Mr. Macmillan, isn't it?" They'd have to do something nice for the family after all they'd put them through.
"Sure was! I wanted to go to Miss Alice's and Mr. Frank's but they were all here too, but that's okay cause Mr. MacMillan likes me now and I think Mrs. MacMillan does too." He held a hand out. "Daddy come closer."
Remus nodded his agreement. "Nice family. And, really, I promise to not run myself over again."
"Better not," Sirius scolded as he moved to sit carefully on the other edge of Remus' bed. "Or we'll have to send Draco to the Weasleys' next and before long he'll know every family in wizarding Britain. Boriiiing."
"They have too many kids!" Draco protested which made Remus snort. "Oy, pup, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. Your Uncle Severus would likely have my head."
Pretending to consider it, Sirius sighed. "Well, maybe not. I mean, it's not even that pretty a head. It's better than the house elves, but still!"
"Hey, my head is quite pretty, thank you." Remus smirked before a thought dawned on him. "Severus...how is he? I feel terrible, putting him out like that."
"Uncle Severus was worried too! Duh!" Draco sighed in pure over-dramatic fashion. "Oy, you."
It was impossible not to laugh at Draco's 'oh please' tone. "He's fine. Upset, of course, worried about you. You've had loads of people parading through this hospital on your behalf I'll have you know."
"He was here?" Remus was surprised to find how much that actually mattered to him.
"Of course," Sirius replied, puzzled. "As much as he could, between classes at least."
Remus nodded, a slow smile lighting his face. "Well, then."
Draco's nose scrunched up. "What?"
Draco wasn't the only one with suspicion to Remus' expression. "Good question, kiddo. Did you really expect him not to come?" Sirius asked.
"I...no. It's just..." He couldn't really talk freely with Draco in the room. "He's a brilliant friend."
Sirius suddenly found he'd never been more glad to have Draco in the room. He didn't like the tone of where the conversation was going. "He took good care fo you," he said gruffly.
"He did." Remus thought back to his time with Severus. "It was rather pleasant other than missing you two like mad." He patted Draco's stomach gently.
"When can you come home, Papa?" Draco looked up at Remus, his eyes holding the question he didn't want to ask.
Holding his breath, Sirius watched Remus' face carefully. He knew Draco had been struggling over a name for some time, but he hadn't known he'd decided on one.
Well, Remus was caught off guard to say the least. A lump formed in his throat, but he blinked quickly, not allowing the tears to come. He knew Draco wouldn't know they were happy ones. "A few more days, little one." He stroked Draco's cheek gently before hugging him close again. "Papa loves you so so much, pup." He looked over at Sirius. "Is this okay?" He mouthed.
Smiling brightly, Sirius nodded. Yes, he considered himself Draco's father. Narcissa had left him to Sirius and Sirius took that responsibility seriously. But he'd never have been able to do it without Remus. It was only right that Remus got the acknowledgement he deserved. "Hear that, little one? Just a few more days. And you and I will go make sure the house is already for him before then so he'll have something nice to come home to."
"Brilliant!" Draco beamed over at Sirius again before holding an arm out. "Family hug?"
He hadn't been much for affection before Draco. Now, though, Sirius leaned in, wrapping one arm tightly around Draco, and letting the other grip Remus' shoulders. "Still best family ever?" Sirius posed the question to them both.
Giggling happily, Draco squeezed them both. "BEST!"