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blankdblank · 4 years

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Hobbit Soulmate Pt 19

It’s been a while but here is the next part. Kind of simple but it gets the story out of limbo zone and into the meatier part of the flow i wanted to get to anyways. :D

All –

@himoverflowers, @theincaprincess, @aspiringtranslator, @sweeticedtea, @ggbbhehe4455, @thegreyberet, @patanghill17, @jesgisborne, @curvestrology, @alishlieb, @jogregor, @armitageadoration, @fizzyxcustard, @here2have-fun, @lilith15000, @marvels-ghost, @catthefearless, @imjusthereforthereads, @c-s-stars

X all Rich. A - @abiwim, @deepestfirefun, @thestorybookmistress

@evyiione, @deepestfirefun, @rhaenaatargaryen

…

Back to the routines you melded easily feeling a bit colder with your father now gone too back to fulfill the final leg of his contracted season before stopping in the end of August to fly out to New Zealand to be with you. A brief week was what you had to deal with yourself alone and groggily on your feet you had finished packing up. The bulk of all you needed in hand for your flight out to LA. It was a shock but with the press and such noteworthy people knowing your name and singing your praises you got landed for a magazine shoot that would land you out there to fit nicely with a spot on a show far from memorable no doubt.

All the same you had to lower your phone when you had told Lee, who was beside himself with worry on his film as the dates neared. The show bits would be the first to film and in the few days you would be in town just like his blankie he wanted to cling to you to get through it. The flight went easily and just as soon as you’d landed it was off to work no matter if you were near to needing a wall to hold you up.

Dolled up in the $600 dress they let you keep, purple with a bell like layered skirt that dipped low in the front you didn’t care of people were staring. Tall heels didn’t help but hell the $300 pair were yours for free and with bag and violin case in hand you finally checked into your hotel and promptly headed down again to hop onto a cab to meet up with Lee.

A tall blonde in platform boots reaching up to the thigh in a leather two piece with freckled shoulders you would know anywhere had the already gawking fellow stage actors drop their jaws more as you said, “Bitch..”

Turning with wide eyes and a minor pout Lee I hard sharply watching your crouch to get a better look at his boots and say, “Damn it all, if you didn’t have such big feet I would be stealing these when filming was through. Legs for days and they still make you taller. Selfish.”

Chuckling lowly he offered a hand to steady you as you rose again and turned to say, “Everybody, this is Jaqi.”

“The infamous girlfriend,” rippled around the room and in the sea of awed people who had caught your show and others who had seen bootleg copies of it filmed and shuffled around you were quickly honed in on by the director who added a minor non speaking role to your resume. Lee was timid on the dancing aspect but with you on site his confidence burst out and that cemented the tiny unasked favor to keep the young star calm through this harrowing role to debut in. A spot in the crowd at the shows and a flicker of a spot at a barbecue later you mingled and blended in causally.

All between your three hour stint at another set for filming and Lee’s stolen bouts of cuddling before you were off to England you were glad you made it to the proper plane on the right day to make it just on time.

School was amazing, just like a glove you melted back into it and soaked in all you could of what you had aches for at having to graduate from Julliard so soon. Yet the London Ballet was different. An hour train, both ways there and back with long rehearsals in a sea of women and men built far different than you hard didn’t come close. It was stunning how amateur they imagined you and how much harder they pressed you to become more like the others when you had surpassed a great deal in skill even on your first day.

All the same the title role got gifted to their perfect star and you graciously accepted your minor role allowing you to nap more once you weren’t needed any longer in the month long show. To then it was paying your dues until you’d fit the mold but to the people expecting so much more from you after hearing such heartwarming compliments on you those buying tickets let it be known they didn’t care they demanded more than a five minute blip for the ticket fees. And of course the press heaped on when they caught wind only adding to your lulling urge to keep up in this place.

Not even mentioning the friends of your grandparents who had far from subtly hinted on higher challenging role set for someone with your pedigree and training leading to your latest role.

“Woof.” You stated taking another bite of your revenge triple order of chips after the first show you had been put into one of the three main female lead roles as a compromise to the noise about your place in the company. “Pedigree, they actually said pedigree, I’m a dog now.”

Dean’s cousin smirked stating in a pinch of your cheek while Richard hid his smirk behind his pint raised for a sip, “And what a cute doggy you are.”

In the roll of your eyes and Dean said, “You didn’t even share the best part.”

“Ooh,” rippled around the table making Chris smirk as he sat beside his brother with a refill on his drink. “Just grow five inches, and I could be their lead all the time, that’s what he,” in a cocky shake of your head and careless swipe of your hand you mimicked the snooty accent of the casting director, “If you could just grow five inches that would be swell and we would not be in this mess.” After a disgusted grunt you said, “I can’t grow five inches, no clue how I would, magic beans or buttons I guess that do that.”

One of the guys smirked, “I can grow five inches,”

And his brother patted his back, “And your bird is so proud of you for that.”

After another bite finishing off the chip you mumbled over your packed cheek behind your raised hand, “Besides, I got hired because I’m this size. I can’t grow or I’d lose the job.”

Dean, “The dream job.”

Another teen smirked saying, “Yes the mystery job none of us can know of yet.”

In a faked whine his brother said, “I hope it comes out soon. The wait is killing me.”

You rolled your eyes and Dean said, “Lads, we shall have to be patient and simply watch our dear Bunny puff up until it explodes out of her.”

Richard chuckled asking, “Is it really that terrible dancing there?”

Lowly you sighed, “It’s not. I love it, it’s just the people in charge. And honestly, ballet is so different, from anything else. Theater, singing, playing the violin, even musical theater. It just,” you sighed again, “I just really hope this film goes well, because, I mean, ballet was never my end all be all career. It fucking hurts. All the time, and you have to look a certain way and act a certain way and then there’s the director expecting favor for their ‘gifted roles’ I love ballet, but I don’t think I can do another season here.”

Dean, “Well if you word it right you know your grandparents would hire you.”

“I know. And I do like it at the Bolshoi Company. They offered for after I graduate Oxford for a season. Even when they bring the team on tour of the States.”

Chris, “That sounds better, they would be family.”

“And it’s Bolshoi, not trying to be like Bolshoi. I can be as fucking short as I damn well please and as long as my ass gets up higher than the girls in line under me who gives a flying fuck.”

The men chuckled and raised their glasses making you giggle and lift yours to clink them together, Dean led them in saying, “Here, here.”

Richard, “Have you called your dad about it?”

You nodded after your sip, “He’s happy for me, says to do what makes me happy. Told Gramps when he called the other day, he thinks a season off would do me good. Gran is livid beyond words that I would be treated like this. And now they have this show to honor their careers in January they want me to be a part of. Whole company is insisting, apparently someone had been sending them the press on my career from New York, so, yay.”

Chris, “Not mad at you I hope,”

You shook your head after another sip, “No. they said the same about her when she came to the States as a teen visiting her mom, then she went back home and blew their critics away. Just pent up, stuff.. Plus she said something about a show coming up she wanted me to join them for.”

Dean, “Well we love you no matter what you choose to do.”

Your grin split wider in the nudge of an elbow from one of them making the men chuckle again as you ate another bite of your fish refusing to starve yourself to date the anorexia mongering men in charge of casting.

Richard smirked in tossing his shirt away after his ungrateful plop onto the bed making you smirk in his attempt at alluringly sweeping his hand over the bare spot beside him. In a giggle you climbed in beside him and melted into his offered kissing tug to lay you out against him. “I love you.”

“I love you.”

In a low hum he said, “I’m glad you’re finding what you’re comfortable with. I just wish I could have been around more to help you through it.”

“Ugh,” you scoffed making him chuckle deeply, “You have your play to prep for. Of which I am not missing opening night.”

“Don’t-,”

“Hey, I am not missing it for the world.”

“We only have two weeks left, I’d rather focus on-,”

After stealing a kiss you said, “I’d rather focus on you in those tights of yours,” making him smirk, “And those puffy shorts and that cinched shirt with all those buttons-,”

“So many buttons,” be murmured against your lips then claimed another kiss while he folded around you.

Inspiration. That was why you were here. A one night only show with most of the audience being the cast of an upcoming indie film ‘Billy Elliot’ formerly a play called Dancer now set to be captured for the big screen. And all centered around a boy and his growing love for Ballet and the struggles he faces fro it in a mining town in the 80’s.

The ending called for a rendition scene capturing him grown and performing in Swan Lake with a great amount of hard earned prestige and admiration from his fellow dancers. It would only be a snippet of the full show, and yet to prep the young cast and their assigned on screen relatives they would sit through the classic show of which the Bolshoi Ballet would be performing, all around you as Odette/Odile, the role that Sir Ian had put you on the map for. Press would be there and it would be recorded for the film to remind the cast of the performance and to be sold separately as well.

All the same between shows with the London company you had fit in two rehearsals with all of your company and the managing team watching you flow in effortlessly with their chosen cast all thrilled to see you again. On the big night you could hear the chatter outside of the few well known actors settled to the film waited for by the press to snap pictures as you moved past them with the dancers to get warmed up. Truly you could do the role in your sleep, and honestly you wished you had gotten more sleep but grumbling to yourself while another dancer stepped on your back helping to pop your hip while in full splits you pressed your forehead to your crossed hands hoping you wouldn’t have to dance another night with the throbbing bother.

A painful pop later and up you got hugging the dancer gratefully before moving on with her to help the male lead pop his back after his lingering stiffness from the long flight he was finally recovering from fully. Painted and feathered up with slippers laced you tapped your toes one at a time behind you testing the tips of the new slippers on their give while you waited for the cue to enter onto the stage for the opening curtain.

Hours of stolen pictures and the dazzling scene of ‘adult Billy’ leaping onto the stage in his feathered pant body painted glory later the curtains closed again at the final scene. A pause came then the applause erupted from even the most initially bored children who had sat through the show. The mixer after found you showered and with a smile wearing your expensive dress and heels. All round you speaking with others the cast mingled until a wide grin split across your face as Julie Waters walked up to you after you had finished speaking to a set of dancers who were leaving to get some sleep before their next flight.

“Hello,”

“Hello,” you replied.

“I was wondering if I might as you some questions?”

Anxiously you answered with a broken giggle, “Absolutely,” after a momentary clearing of your throat you said, “What’s on your mind?”

Your held grin and gentle nods egged her on in asking her full list broadening her view of the art form and how the studies are handled and how a teacher would actually handle courses. Though the more you shared with the after lesson regimens and show effects on you it took away the glamour of things easing her own version of a teacher who was nowhere as strict as those monitoring in prestigious ballet companies fitting more to the town it was set in.

The boys were the last to come up, with the girls all having been so eager but with Dean and your friends coming up to talk to you Jamie Bell, the young Billy, especially loved hearing how you and Dean had struggled into dance lessons at Oxford and you also in Julliard while working steady jobs. Emails were traded for questions to be answered as they would come up later. And somehow you had managed to wiggle your way under Richard’s arm in an unaccountable shower and change into one of his shirts while he slept in his briefs not even caring to pull anything else on after his day of rehearsals and your show after he insisted on attending.

More and more Richard seemed to be worried about how the time apart would go after the last time when Tiffany had found him in a night of weakness while September neared. But after sharing his own call with his agent where he had heard of casting for a certain Elven Prince he was laughed out of and nudged away from trying for he came home to share the news only to see you bite your lip and explode himself in excitement for you at finding out what role you had gotten. Even in not being able to join you on the filming of a lifetime he was thrilled you could experience it with your father and hoped to sneak out for a visit himself.

It was secured, once you had told your grandparents about the job to explain why you couldn’t fly out to Russia for a season at the company they leapt at the chance to help you feel more secure in your dream job even they were excited for you to have earned. A large patch of land with seven cottages sprawled in a ring across it, the smaller ones split into separate apartment suites all joined in a stone courtyard with a fire pit and outdoor cooking area meant for plenty of guests was where you would call home.

It all looked so picturesque and near to dream like you were almost certain the pictures were a lie and you would walk into a raccoon’s nest without a roof and only half the walls and a giant wasps nest in the chimney. Honestly that would help to ease you into the role, if something outside the job was wrong so you couldn’t mess it up. If anything else went wrong then you had an amazing chance of this working out perfectly for you. Wine and dining was your final goodbye on the weekend after your final classes you bit your lip and entered the airport gate Chris had dropped you at with a tight hug Richard couldn’t give while warming up for the second night of his play.

24 hours including boarding time you were to be stuck on this plane and once again you poured through your tolkien collection well worn with taped spines and a shoddy glue job on a few of the pages coming apart at the seams with notes scattered throughout widening your smile. Richard’s play had gone wonderfully and you couldn’t help but keep smiling all through it even if he wasn’t the lead. You could almost see his future self leading an ensemble of his own when companies would have more faith in his name to draw in ticket sales and you’d be lying if you didn’t want to miss all the days in between his shoot to stardom. It hurt not having him here but all the more it was perfect to have your dad here, just a matter of weeks now and he would be joining you.

It was annoying how early you had shown up, that was your impression, but a check in call after having to adjust the date of training camp on the original date you had arrived not wanting to risk a fee to shift the date. Two full weeks you were early and outside the gate Peter and Fran chuckled helping you load your bag into the open trunk and guide you into the backseat beside their two children.

Chuckling to himself Peter stated, “For all the eagerness in the world I for one am glad you arrived early. Now we can give you the full tour. The workshops, our model scales and also through camp we can show you some of the locations we’ve scoped out for certain cities and traveling shots you would love. But first, I think we should take you for some food. There’s a great place by the studio lot, and we can help you stock up on some grub after, the house you mentioned it is furnished?”

“Gran said it would be. If not it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve slept on the floor.”

Fran, “You aren’t sleeping on any floor. If it isn’t we are taking you home with us until it can be furnished.”

“I couldn’t-,”

Peter, “Can and will. Your first time in New Zealand you need some family to show you round and keep an eye out through camp, I know your dad will surely appreciate us treating you like the family you are.”

That made you smile wider and while Fran asked you on if you had brushed up on Tolkien your books were brought up and even out for the lunch in the small eatery they had brought you to. A small hole in the wall with ample space on the booth table for you to show them plenty of your notes, all of which were consulted again when you were shown through the workshops stirring more and more elated squeaks from you.

And it truly was perfect, two story log and stone cabin style home with an amazing view stunning Peter as well who said, “The other cottages are yours as well?”

“Ya, they said it was the only one with enough space. Though what I need twenty five acres for I have no clue. It’s not far, guess I could find a bike shop for some wheels.”

Peter, “Well if you’re up for renting I know a few of the younger guys had said they were finding trouble locating rentals.”

“Sure, long as they don’t eat the pipes and such,” making him chuckle as you let out a weak giggle, “We could have a sort of Tolkien campground out here.”

Peter, “Exactly, nice and private and we could send out vans for you all to make it easier. I’ll make some calls. I know Ian and Sean would love the peace and views especially.”

Fran gave you a smile as you led the way into the largest cottage to bring in the food to fill the fridge and cabinets in the cozily furnished home in which Peter set down your bag and his wife said, “Now, tomorrow at seven sharp we’ll take you in for all the molds and final measurements and we can get you started on the weapons and movement training.”

Peter, “No worries our other size doubles are here early as well.”

And that was it, you were in new Zealand. Cocoa in hand you welcomed your first sunset and tried to sleep on your chosen bed, the second largest, as the room with two King beds pushed together clearly was your dad’s. You had your own bathroom and somehow the texts and emails off to friends and family had calmed you down enough to sleep.

Molds were first, with hair braided back your whole face was coated in blue goop you tried to remain as un giggly as possible until it was peeled off. Face, neck, ears, hands and even your feet were molded with every inch measured easing the varied sketches of the fifty possible characters you could play in varied locations to be joined by a great number of the crew when casting extras had run thin for certain locations. Sweats and a tank top were your go to with new converse nearly worn through by your second week of physical training where everyone could see just how toned you had made certain to build yourself up to ensuring you could survive the filming.

Straight from the airport exhausted actors in vans were unloaded for their tours while you worked with a few of the stunt doubles on a complicated fight scene in varied actor’s places. Eyes landed on you and familiar low chuckles had your final sword swing planting faked into the chest of a goblin before your head turned from the chuckling stunt actor and you smirked in your stroll over to Ian already walking out to greet you. A tight hug later and one by one each actor beginning with the Hobbits were introduced to you noting your spreading grin, with Elijah being he widest.

Peter, “And for Frodo, Elijah Wood. I take it you’re a fan?”

In a giggle at his weak chuckle looking you over you replied, “Oh I have a friend that will die hearing I get to work with you.” Subtle squeaks came out in introducing Sean, David and Hugo. John gave you a nod of his head, clearly uninformed of your role just yet and at the wide eyed brunette beside him you said, “Hey Orlando,”

Peter, “You know each other?”

“Oh ya, year or so now,” you looked to Orlando again, “Let me guess, Legolas?”

After clearing his throat he nodded, “Yes,”

Curiously between you Stuart Townsend looked you over in his own introduction as Aragorn before he asked, “So, who are you playing?”

Peter laughed saying, “Haven’t named all her roles yet, for now, it’s a surprise.” Making you giggle again and head back to rehearsals.

Changed into workout clothes the men started on their own movement courses while you continued with Peter and the stunt men finalizing the fight scenes to train the men on later the guys kept stealing glimpses of. Lunch however freed you up for a chance to possibly meet with John again only to turn around and grin seeing Orlando with another quick grin. “Hi,”

Giggling you replied, “Hi.”

“Listen, I, um, meant to call…”

With a nod you teased, “You mean after we made out in the theater for hours and you promised you would?” at his nip at his lip you nudged his arm, “Hey, water under the bridge. You’ll be seeing a lot me, near daily I bet, I would love to be friends. Certainly would help things.”

“Yes it would.” Anxiously he wet his lips, “So who are you playing?”

Widening your grin you said, “You’re just going to have to wait and see there pointy eared princeling.” Winking at him in your path around him making his eyes narrow a moment in watching you trot over to John beside Peter, the pair of whom were already talking about you. That was the beginning of a timid friendship, to your charms he certainly had fallen with Ian and Peter smoothing the way and by dinner at your home the guys all excitedly inspected and accepted a suite at you had all gathered around the fire pit Peter helped to teach you how to use it and the outdoor kitchen properly. That first dinner began it all and friendships started to brew up with the puzzling female in their midst making all but the amused John wonder just what role in the testosterone packed film could be taking.

All the same the men in archery, swordsmanship and movement came between your cherished horseback lessons enabling you to bond with the steeds you would be working with through the films. The more you got into training camp it became obvious something wasn’t fitting, as talented as he was the actor for Aragorn had to be older. A few minor traveling scenes had been filmed with no dialog at all and the 87 year old future King had to be recast. Visiting Peter on your day off you were privy to the table of headshots and resumes, a single ‘ooh’ from you and with a smirk Peter and Fran felt their own personal preference confirmed and the calls were made.

Within two days the new hire was on the ground and curiously looking you over beside Peter and Fran when you went to pick him up from the airport. An excited ‘hi’ later and he was wrangled up as you had been and invited to the dinner that night at your campground for the cast he loved at once. Ample space for himself and his son when he could be brought out for a visit while being close to the main cast. Still he was curious why you were in your own house alone until Fran had mentioned your dad was coming to film as well in a couple weeks.

Instantly in your aiding him through catching up on the history and any physical training he would need freshening up on a solid bond was formed and by the third day he had fully taken you on as a baby sister assigning himself to look after you until your dad got there. But nothing was funnier than hearing how you and Orlando had known one another explaining why he was still so awkward around you.

Though the final week of training camp when you should have been getting word from your dad on his arrival your stomach couldn’t seem to unclench and an odd day of silence from you came after headlines of an oil rig hit by a terrible storm. Again you had to take a moment off in the hall to calm yourself down after another hour had passed without word. Silently Peter kept hold of your phone you didn’t want to leave alone allowing you to pull yourself together, glad you weren’t alone but still hating that you had refused to take the day off at the news. His eyes rose when Viggo slipped away from a stunt rehearsal to ask, “Something’s wrong with Jaqi?”

Inhaling sharply the Director answered lowly, “That oil rig on the news,” Viggo nodded with curiously furrowed brows, “Her dad was on it.” He lifted her phone, “Hopefully he’ll send word soon they got out safe. Swears she just needs a moment. I tried to get her to stay home.”

Viggo, “She’s certain it’s his rig?” Peter nodded and nipping at his lip the actor went back to his scene seeing you inhaling sharply in a trot back up onto the cushioned platform the guys were on, only now having a hint that you would be doubling for John at your ax you had been rehearsing with for the past few days. Pink eyed you nodded to the stunt men readying to go again lulling the men back to regretful silence wondering what was going on until two hours later at lunch your phone rang and Peter called you over taking you into a side room.

Against the wall you slid down in tears talking to your uncle who had spent the night having your dad flown out to Texas to be seen at a hospital there. Still in scans to see what was wrong with his burned and swollen arm he swore he would call again before he would head back to their house to pack the rest of his things from the house there added to his bags he had loaded onto the escape ships when the rig caught fire to fly out to you. Information through Fran was traded to confirm the flight number and times before you were given the phone to sniffle your way through hearing your dad fresh back from a scan saying he had a minor arm sprain he had to be given a brace for and mild burns on his arm. Fully able and willing to just get to you after his days of hell in the middle of the ocean. Tightly in Peter’s arms you were held until you calmed fully and wiped your cheeks to join the others for lunch where the reason for your tears had bubbled out leaving all the men eager to spread the love and eagerness to welcome your dad as well.

Pt 20

#Richard Armitage x Reader OC #Lee Pace x Reader OC #lotr

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ronanwazlib · 5 years

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wolfstar pride pt. 3

(please rb in case the linked posts still don’t show up in this new algorithm!!!)

As the last of the parade goers wandered off and said their goodbyes, Sirius tousled Remus' hair and announced that he was hungry.

"What do you reckon, Moony? Fancy a bite with ol' Sirius and the girls?"

Remus' heartbeat a bit faster, but he pretended to ponder it over a moment. "Suppose I could eat. I am craving chocolate." He admitted with a shy smile, ducking his chin. Now Sirius' heart kicked up.

"Right then. I know just the spot." He eyed a payphone outside of a petrol station. "I'm going to duck out and call a friend. Well, he's more like my brother. See if he wants to join. Back in a mo'!" He jogged off and Remus gathered Dorcas and her girlfriend, who was trailing the sign behind her tiredly and cheered at the proposed nourishment. Sirius walked them down to an American style diner crammed in beside three or four seedy pubs. They slid into a large booth in the back corner, Sirius smushed up against Remus without even thinking, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. He shifted his weight so that his shoulder was pressed against Remus', who was starting to believe that maybe it was.

"Budge over." Marlene said as she threw a cheeky glance at Sirius. "I wanna sit next to your boooooooyfriend." An hour ago, Remus would have turned red on the spot and leapt up from the table, stammering excuses and protestations, but now his eyes darted over to Sirius' unimpressed expression and then back to the girl's as he tossed an arm around the back of the vinyl lacquered seating and across Black's shoulders, before scooting them both down. Then he smirked, one corner of his freckled mouth turning up. "There's room, why don't you get closer, McKnickers."

Even Dorcas looked impressed as their mouths all dropped open. Remus settled back in his seat with a self satisfied grin just as a tallish boy with unruly dark hair and the thickest set of black frames Lupin had ever seen loped up to their table, with a tiny red headed girl in tow. "What are you lot doing gapping with your mouths open like fish?" He asked, fighting a laugh, before throwing himself down on Sirius' other side and picking up the menu. As the girl examined their choices, he peered at them from the top of the laminated cardboard. "Alright then, lads? How was your... event?"

Marlene scoffed, while Dorcas flipped him two V's. "Lads!" She cried in outrage. "Last I checked, you know, I weren't no lad!"

Marlene's face shifted into a bemused smile as she innocently sipped at her glass of water. "Last I checked, too." James' eyes went wide and his face reddened. Dorcas and Sirius both dissolved into uproarious laughter and even Remus chuckled at the group's friendly teasing.

"Alright, alright! That's enough, ladies!" The tiny girl spoke for the first time, and her voice was much stronger than Remus had been expecting. "Don't break poor James' heart by reminding him about the night life he's missing out on! He can't bear it, you know how sensitive he gets."

James rolled his eyes and shoved her good naturedly with a gentle hand. "Piss off, Evans." He said all smarmy, before ducking his head to kiss her once, then twice, then long enough that the rest of their friends began to cheer or jeer.

"Come on, mate, you've already got one in the oven!" Sirius called out and they finally broke apart as a waitress took their orders.

Remus turned to him. "Is she really pregnant?" He whispered and Sirius broke into a wide smile. "Yep. Eight months along in a week or so, not that you'd know it. It's like she uses magic to hide it, or something."

"But it's not magic, Sirius, it's just clever layering of clothing and never letting anyone stare for too long. Not that I'm ashamed, of course." She cut in, rolling her eyes at Black and fixing him with a sharp stare.

"Congratulations, er..." Remus began.

"Lily." She offered her petite fingers to him across the table to shake with a new bright smile. "Pleasure to meet you.."

"Remus. Remus Lupin."

"Pleasure, Remus. And thanks. We couldn't be more excited."

"Or surprised." James added. "God, you never think it'll happen to you... One time you forget and now you're awaiting a sprog." His eyes shone, and he kissed Lily again, on the top of her head.

She turned back to Remus. "Not going to ask why I'm near to pop and out and about, then?" She began, but Remus waved a hand.

"Think you can trust your own judgement. And I'd bet that you aren't the type to let anything stop you." He replied easily, leveling her stare with a kind smile. Her grin broadened and she leaned over James to punch Sirius' shoulder.

"Oh, I approve." She stalled and placed a hand to her stomach with a dignified wince. "Baby does too."

Sirius mimed wiping away tears and blowing his nose loudly into James' discarded jean jacket. "I'm gonna be an uncle." He blubbered, clutching Remus' arm as though in hysteria. They all laughed, then were distracted by the food arriving.

"God, what is wrong with the Americans! And can I grow up to be just like them?" James had crowed upon seeing the wide array of fried foods they'd ordered. Nobody noticed that Sirius didn't take his hand off Lupin's arm, or that Remus slid his own over it to keep it there.

Once everyone had finished, forcing down the last burnt chip at the bottom of the basket (Marlene) or loudly slurping the final sip of a milkshake (Sirius), they all elected to go round someone's house and "get blitzed," as Dorcas put it. The debate lasted a while, Remus listening the whole time without much input seeing as he was basically a stranger to them all, and he lived in a bad part of the city in a shite little flat he wasn't too keen to have people over to. Dorcas and Marlene had crazy housemates, Lily lived back home in Cokeworth and was only staying with James until they could move into a house of their own outside of London, James had somehow forgotten the keys to his flat and someone called Pete wasn't answering the phone, leaving him fuming about the ten pence he'd lost to a phone booth, and Sirius was currently sleeping on James' sofa, so they were running out of options quickly. Marlene and Dorcas returned from the drugstore in Piccadilly square, where they were currently stopped, and waved the brown bag at the rest of them.

"Come on then, whiskey's getting cold!"

Sirius raked a hand through his hair with a groan. "Alright, alright, I've a shitty idea."

"So one of your usual ideas then?" James quipped, raising an eyebrow. Sirius smacked him on the backside of his head. James stuck his tongue out at him, then Lily smacked him again and chided him for acting like a tiddler when his unborn child was around. James lovingly placed a hand on her abdomen and cooed apologies at her belly button.

Sirius' face twisted in a grimace for a split second, and James was suddenly at his side and not laughing any longer. They all circled around him as he stared down at his boots. Hating to just stand there idly, Remus stepped forward and pressed his fingers into Sirius' hand. He squeezed back and finally spoke.

"We could go to the ol- my house... No one's there since my mother died, and it's technically mine... I've just been avoiding going over there."

James balked at him. "Ta, mate, but you don't have to go back there if it's too much." Remus frowned. What had happened at the place that Sirius would rather stay on a sofa at James' with three other people than go there?

Sirius shrugged, all smiles as though his minute of panic had never happened. "Nah, it's just sitting there anyhow. Might as well use it to keep our drunken arses out of the cold." With that he stepped forward with a dramatic thunk of his boots on the pavement, and began to lead the way. James and Lily had actually driven in her car, so they all piled in for the ride to the Black home. Remus gave Marlene the other seat, but they protested when he tried to curl up at their feet, so he ended up half on her lap and half on Sirius'. He very awkwardly attempted to at least angle most of his bottom away from the girl, as she probably didn't want to be crushed under a lanky male behind, and because to his chagrin, Sirius probably wanted exactly that. He tried not to think about it too much, focusing on the strains of the Clash trailing in from the radio.

Sirius' house was grand. It was sandwiched between two other very large and posh estates on a street that was completely clear of any refuse and not a spot of graffiti to be seen. When he unlocked the door and led them inside, the interior was a different story. Cobwebs darkened the gloomy corners of every corridor, complimenting the peeling gold wallpaper and cream paint flaking off of the banister. The heavy brocade curtains all wheezed a layer of dust when Sirius threw them open to let in some air through the windows, some of which sported cracked or missing panes. The ancient floor creaked as they gingerly tiptoed around in observation. Ghoulish hunting trophies and lifelike oil paintings of harrowing and stern figures followed their every move. Out of the corner of his eye, Remus saw Lily shiver.

"Well, here's home. Cozy, isn't it?" Sirius preened, smacking a switch hanging out of the wall to bring light flickering in from an ornate brass chandelier overhead.

"Right..." Remus replied, attention turned to the large black cloth draped over a heavy gilt frame, now illuminated.

"That's dear old Mum." Sirius told him with false adoration and just a hint of bitterness. "Keep her covered up so that I don't have to feel her judgement whenever I come by to pay the caretaker's wages."

Sirius could afford to hire a caretaker who didn't seem to even do his job, and yet he slept in James' living room? "There's a caretaker?"

"Well, no, not really. I keep changing the locks on him so he can't get in, but he usually finds a way. Like magic, it is. Cor, I'd bet he's here even now, creepy bugger he is." Sirius chuckled, before a loud scream sent both men racing into the kitchen.

"What the bloody hell!" Remus exclaimed, as they found James, pale as a sheet and clutching the space between the wall and the ice box, across from a squat old man bent onto the floor surrounded by piles of silverwear.

"Pansy here be scared o' old men." He grumped, mouth twisting into a sneer as he gestured with a delicate wrist and his polishing cloth as though it were a ladies handkerchief. Then he shrieked in a high falsetto, "Gave me a fright sir, Ohhh!" and swooned.

James scowled, and Sirius moved to haul him up from his spot, kicking over a pile of incredibly tarnished spoons. "Mr. Kreacher, get the hell out of my house before I call the police. I took your last key."

The Kreacher fellow jerked out of his grasp. "Bah! What a waste it is in your hands, too! Look at how you keep the place. Look what you've done to the family silverware!"

"Do not make me ask again. Take this and leave us." Sirius pushed a crumpled twenty into his hands. The bitter caretaker nearly growled at them as he slunk out the door.

"Well, that effectively removed me of ten years of my life." James announced briskly, clapping his hands together as Marlene and Remus walked about lighting candles with Sirius' silver lighter and a book of matches. They were holed up in the basement, one of the only places Sirius could stand to be in, and therefore one of the cleanest.

They'd laid a few small and threadbare blankets on the ground, yet Marlene and Dorcas still huddled together for warmth. "Freezing my bollocks off here, thanks, Siri, darling." Dorcas groused, and her scowl deepened when James shot back, "I thought you didn't have any bollocks Dori, dearest."

"Then why aren't we drinking?" He replied, twisting the cap off the bottle, their second one as they'd shared the first between the four of them on the walk and ride over, and something much more fancy than their pharmacy score from the Black cellars, with a roll of his eyes. He fixed the short haired girl with a sarcastic smirk; he knew she was mostly being dramatic, seeing as it was summer and just under 18°. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Oi, save that for Marlene!" He jeered as she shoved at him, and Marlene, hearing her name and Sirius' voice called out, "Wanker!" without even looking up from the long shaft of the candle she was lighting. Sirius shrugged and set the first bottle on the stone floor with a clink and a devious glint in his silver eyes.

Remus chuckled, then looked to Lily, sitting against one wall, James' jacket tucked behind her back. "There a history I'm missing here?"

Lily smiled then arched an eyebrow at the pair. "Oh them? Marlene was Sirius' first kiss in year four. Played seven minutes in Heaven. I know, much more mature than spin the bottle." She joked. Remus laughed again. "Then they dated for about two weeks. Lot of snogging, those two. Then someone accused him of being her beard and she went off on them. Somehow the shouting match turned into an invitation to dinner to prove she really liked her man. Guess who the accuser was?" She deadpanned, eyes settling on Meadowes, still harassing Sirius.

Said "wanker" was rubbing his hands together and beckoning Remus over. "Gather round, ducks, and give us a spin. Who's first then, Evans, are you game?"

Lily, unmoving from her somewhat more comfortable spot, shook her head with a wry smile. "God, no. I kissed enough of you lot when we were 15." The rest of the group began to cahjole her, even Remus calling out, "Come on, Evans." and throwing a wink in her direction.

"Oh alright!" She conceded, shooing off James, who was still at her side. "Be a dear and spin for me."

The bottle whirled clunkily around for a few moments before its head settled between Sirius' feet.

"Oooo!" Marlene giggled. "You've got to kiss Lils, Sirius."

"With pleasure." Sirius said, pretending to fan himself with an exaggerated lick of his lips. Remus watched his tongue swipe out from behind his teeth.

"Ohh no!" Lily protested, pointing a finger to James. "He spun for me. He's the one who's got to snog you." James and Sirius pulled the exact same look of disgust, staring at each other, aghast.

"That's bloody incest, Evans, and as the mother of our child your suggesting it quite disturbs and concerns me!" James cried.

Sirius wrinkled his nose haughtily. "I shan't be kissing... That." The rest of them laughed and said they had to, rules were rules, it weren't personal, innit? With a sigh, James trudged forward, eyeing Sirius apprehensively. At the last moment a grin quirked at the corners of his mouth and he grabbed Sirius' by the back of his head, hurdling him forward to smash his lips... against his forehead with a loud smack. His glasses smushed up against his hairline, the both of them drew away laughing.

"Mate, I didn't know you loved me that much." Sirius told him, false shock coloring his tone.

"'Course I love you, arsehole!" James chirruped over his shoulder as he placed his glasses back onto his nose and crossed back over to Lily. The next few spins of the bottle saw Remus peck a slightly stunned James Potter on the lips, Dorcas kissing Sirius full on the mouth, and quite a bit of snogging from Marlene and her girlfriend, who were cheating and placing their feet in the bottle's trajectory. Eventually, and without any sapphic intervention, one quick flick of the wrist of Sirius Black pointed the bottle directly across at Remus, whose cheeks pinked only a little... from the alcohol, of course. He looked up at Sirius with a sort of blank expression that was equal parts hesitant and Well, try it, then... and rose to his feet only to find Black still firmly planted on the floor.

"No." He said, with a careless shrug of his shoulders.

"No?" Remus repeated, halting in his tracks. His stomach dropped.

Sirius shook his head, tossing his hair out of his eyes, which were hard. "No." He intoned again, with a certain finality that declined any further explanation. "Won't do it."

"Oh." Remus said, still a bit confused, though on his way to being angry, and hurt. "Right, then." He resumed his seat, legs crossed, holding his own elbows. At this point Marlene was half asleep in Dorcas' lap, Dorcas herself being a giggling mess. He couldn't understand what he'd read wrong.

part one part two inspo

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