James's holiday break was spent tending to Regulus's sickbed...and he wouldn't want it any other way.
His breaths were wheezy, his steps wobbly and his skin sallow.
But even sick, he was a sarcastic arse.
"James this water is lukewarm." Regulus complained, "I said I wanted ice water, not bloody room temp."
"Sorry, sorry," James said, taking the glass and tapping his wand to it to remedy the situation, "here you are."
Regulus took a sip, "better. I'm hungry."
"What do you want to eat?"
"Bombolone."
"Reg, I don't even know what bombolone is," James chuckled.
"Well you'll have to figure it out sooner or later." Regulus said, "consider this sooner."
"Fine," James said, "you'll have to come down and sit with me then, I'm not leaving you up here alone."
"Help me up?" Regulus asked.
James scooped him up into his arms.
"Not what I meant but I suppose this'll do," Regulus mused, wrapping his arms around James's neck.
The days before Christmas passed in a similar fashion.
Regulus's mornings were the best, by night he was weak and sick, unable to fall asleep until the early morning hours.
Regulus experienced his first of hopefully many Potter Christmas's.
Effie made her infamous treacle tart, James and Regulus sat outside, bundled in coats in blankets, hot chocolate between their frozen fingers as the snow fell around them.
"This is nice," Regulus sighed, settling himself practically on top of James's lap, savoring his body warmth.
"We're just avoiding my parents and you know it." James said.
Regulus groaned, "don't bring it up, I'm mortified."
"You can't be more embarrassed than me," James shuddered. "I never want my mother to mention my sex life ever again."
Only a couple hours prior, Effie had sat down with the young couple to inform them that their 'sexual intimacies' would have to be put on hold for four weeks.
Mortifying.
"Boys! Inside!" Effie appeared in the back door as id they had just summoned her. "I told you Regulus can't be out in the cold for too long!"
"We've only been out here five minutes!" James protested.
"In." She demanded, "you two can sit by the fire and get warm."
"Two more minutes?" James asked.
"That's it," Effie warned, "if you're not on the couch in two minutes I'll drag you inside by the ear."
"Yes ma'am." James nodded, "thank you."
The door shut and James turned back to Regulus who was flushed pink. He couldn't tell if it was from the cold or Effie catching him on her son's lap.
"How're you feeling?" James hooked his chin on Regulus's shoulder.
"Fine, tired." Regulus said, taking a sip of his cocoa, "thank you."
"For what?"
"Putting up with me," Regulus smiled, tracing his fingers across James's cheek, "you've been so good to me."
James turned his head and kissed Regulus's fingers, "come on," he whispered, "let's go in."
James helped him up and Regulus limped to the house, using James to keep balance.
It was a quiet Christmas Eve—Regulus developed a cough right after dinner, resulting in the pair retiring to bed early.
James woke up with his face buried in Regulus's curls and a smile.
He tightened his hold on Regulus's waist, breathing in deeply.
Regulus stirred, grabbing James's hand, pulling it to his chest.
"Goodmorning." James kissed his shoulder. "Happy Christmas."
"Morning." Regulus yawned, snuggling into James's hold.
He sneezed and James sat up abruptly.
"You alright?"
"Yeah," Regulus sat up as well, "do you mind getting me a potion please?"
"For what?" James asked, already getting out of the bed.
"My chest and my head," Regulus sighed, "thank you."
"Of course," James was gone and back within the minute, they had begun keeping the potions in his bathroom with the frequency that Regulus needed them.
"Here," James's handed him the potions as well as a perfectly wrapped box.
"I thought we agreed on no presents." Regulus groaned, drinking the potions quickly.
"Oh, shut it." James smiled, "I know you got me something too."
"There's no way you could've known that." Regulus frowned.
"Sure there is." James said. "You're predictable."
Regulus gasped. "Am not!"
"It's alright, Love," he laughed, "just open it please."
"I hate you," Regulus grumbled, undoing the folds of the paper.
"No, you're doing it wrong." James corrected, "you have to rip it."
"Rip it?" Regulus frowned.
"Yes! Rip it." He encouraged.
Regulus gave him a hesitant look.
"Oh, come on, just do it."
Regulus laughed, tearing the paper off the box. He lifted the lid and pulled out a chunky, royal blue knitted sweater.
"I made it," James grinned, "it's got a warming charm, I figured since you're always so cold and I can't always be there, you can wear it."
Regulus smiled, leaning over to kiss James's lips, "I love it. Thank you."
"You're welcome," James laughed, "Happy Christmas, Love."
"Go get your cloak." Regulus said.
James raised an eyebrow.
"Not for that!" Regulus smacked his arm, "honestly, James, get your head out of the gutter, we can't do that for weeks if you don't remember."
"Fine, fine," James laughed, reaching over to his trunk.
"Check the pocket," Regulus said.
He pulled out a small box.
"I'm sorry, I'm no good at wrapping," Regulus frowned. "But I figured you would've found my gift close to Christmas if I hid it in the cloak."
Inside the box was a gold plated, polished wood ring, the inside in-scripted in Regulus's flawless lettering.
Ti amo
James's eyes widened, "Reg—is this? Are you?"
"Sort of, yeah." Regulus smiled shyly, "why is it too soon?"
"No, no, it's perfect," James grinned, kissing him fiercely, "I love you so much."
"You'll marry me then?" Regulus grinned.
"I already swore to, didn't I?" James smiled, "I'd never break a promise to you mio amour."
"Sarai mio marito?" Regulus let the Gryffindor engulf him in his arms as he pulled him into his lap.
"What does that mean?" James laughed.
"Will you be my husband?"
"Sí." James kissed him as Regulus put the ring on his finger. "Do you have a ring?"
Regulus shook his head, "not yet."
"Here," James's lifted his wand and duplicated the ring, placing the other one on Regulus's finger.
"Grazie."
Regulus settled back in James's chest, sighing contently. "I was worried you'd think it was too fast."
"Maybe." James hummed, "but not with you."
"Do you like it?" Regulus asked.
"Love it."