"Even if he wasn't your brother, you wouldn't be getting any stories about shagging and you know it," Remus said with a smile, tugging lightly at Sirius' sleeve to indicate he wanted him to follow as Remus moved to sit on the sofa. "I know it's going to be different and some things will have to change, like crawling into my bed at night, or friendly kisses," he added, thinking of Regulus' words before, how they meant something more to Regulus, even just the affectionate kiss to the top of the head. "But, things were always going to change, Pads. We have to grow up some time. We can't stay a bunch of idiot boys forever."
It was the moments like these he felt the intervening years between them now most clearly. Remus had already grown up, as much as a twenty-three year old werewolf grown used to being alone could, he supposed.
"The thing is, change doesn't have to mean we stop caring as much as we always have, or that we're not as close as we once were. I will still always be here for you when that fear of your darker self gets too much. I will still be here when you need a hug. I will still need you to be there when my inner darkness gets too much, or when I need a hug from my best friend. We will still work on that new map together and have nights when it's just the four of us being silly. There's too much complicated history between the four of us to ever break us up. Even death and betrayal couldn't do that. Look at how we're all still orbiting each other now, even Peter."
Smiling a little sadly, he resisted the urge to tuck a lock of Sirius' hair behind his ear. "It doesn't look like Fate really meant us to be more than this, you and I. But, maybe this will finally allow you to open yourself to the possibility of finding someone out there who is meant to be, who you look at the way James does Lily and can truly be yourself with, without fear. Because you deserve that, Pads. I know you don't believe it, but you do." His usual mock-smirk made a shy appearance. "And you deserve to find a relationship with your brother, however complicated that is. Maybe try having lunch like the Potters and Malfoys. Get to know each other again slowly."