Swallowing another sudden lump of emotion, Remus shook his head. Logically, he knew Regulus was right. But, logic was something he found difficult whenever Greyback was concerned. "How can I not feel this way? They literally gave up everything for me, jobs, friends, family, plans for more children. They gave it all up to protect me and I couldn't save them? In the end..." He stopped himself, not wanting to say enough that he would begin to force guilt upon Regulus. He wasn't going to deal with his own pain that way. Hurting Regulus because he hurt wasn't the sort of man he wanted to be, wasn't the sort of man his father had raised.
When Regulus continued, his usual reassurances that he wasn't leaving were on the tip of Remus' tongue. But, they were left unspoken when he was suddenly engulfed in a hug and a promise. "Gods," he said hoarsely, "that had better not be guilt talking because I'm going to hold you to that promise."
He reached up to gently brush his fingers through Regulus' hair. "No, that's different. This...this I needed to know; I had a right to know. Voldemort isn't something I need to know right now. Whether I do in the future, we can deal with in the future. But, it's not something you've been hiding from me. You were honest from the start about why you didn't want to tell me that."
Remus bit his lip at mention of Sirius, unsure for once how his friend might react to something. "Does he need to know? Can it be used against him? If there's anything in your past that can be used against Sirius and you the way this could have been used against us..." Remus sighed. "Then he has to know. And he should hear it from you. I can be with you when you tell him. You don't have to do it alone. And, as for my parents, if it can't be used against him, don't tell him. He doesn't need to know."
Irrational fear stabbed through him at the idea of Regulus fighting Greyback at all. "No! I don't want him anywhere near you, let alone close enough for that kind of fight. You fight him with your strengths for as long as you can. But, I also want you to be prepared if the worst should happen and he gets his hands on you. There are ways to get around a stronger opponent, at least long enough for you to better use your own methods. And, if you like, you can help me with my aim while we're at it. Apparently, I throw better without magic than with it.
"We'll take the memories as they come, good and bad and in between. But, later. Tonight is not the night for them."
Laying back against the pillows, Remus threaded his fingers through Regulus' hair as they kissed. Each tender caress on his skin brought back the warmth that had fled with the night's revelation. Only Regulus had the power to put him back together, just as only Regulus had the power to have broken him like this. Cupping Regulus' face gently between his hands, Remus stared up into his lover's eyes and really saw him for the first time since their conversation had begun, saw only the love, none of the pain. Smiling softly at what he saw, he leaned up to claim more of those warming kisses.