Scars

Chapter Ten-Healing

"You're a good brother." The compliment slips from my lips without me really thinking about it, but when his wide eyes turn to me, I shrink a little. He chuckles softly and I feel his fingers idle with a few of my curls.

"Could be yours." His tone is nonchalant, but the look in his eyes is certainly not. Regret rises in my throat as my head shakes slightly.

"James..."

"Hold on Arell, just think about it. I know you want to protect all of us, but that's what Aurors are for." My eyes roll, but I let him go on. "I was angry because I saw how upset my parents were when you left, then they explained the adoption papers which made me even more confused. It didn't help that Padfoot was noticeably deflated without you either. I didn't understand why you'd just walk away from us and got pissed, but now that I know it was really a misconstrued gesture of your adoration-"

"Where the hell did you learn the word misconstrued?" I interrupt and my eyebrows shoot up when he actually blushes.

"Evans may have let it slip once or twice. Anyway, now that I realize you're just as crazy for all of us as we are for you, I don't see why you shouldn't be a part of my family. Well, you already are, but legally. So when you stay with me it's not kidnapping or whatever."

"James, just because you know more now doesn't mean our circumstances have changed. I'm dangerous." I tell him firmly, but all he does is shake his head and sigh.

"You know, every person in this room has said that to me." He whispers and I follow his eyes to Remus. "Moony first, for obvious reasons, then Sirius because of his family, even Peter when I caught him eating every single one of my sweets I got for Christmas one year. Even Evans is dangerous because I risk getting cursed near every time I talk to her." He goes on and I look back to him when he pauses and find that little glimmer of...indescribable something that's just James shining out of those hazel orbs.

"Every single one of you pushed away the very thing that you needed. Peter needed friends that wouldn't judge him. Remus needed friends who would accept him. Sirius needed a family to support him. And you," His hand in my hair ruffles my curls a bit. "you just need a family to love you, Mane. We're all ready and willing, but you've got to let us." Tears sting my eyes, but James doesn't look away.

"Why would you make me cry when I only have one hand to wipe away my tears with?" I accuse while laughing wetly, but James is quick to tug his sleeve down over his hand before dabbing away the tears on my cheeks. The gesture doesn't exactly help since I'm crying about how much he cares, but it's sweet all the same.

"Come here, you poor, pathetic, sap." He beckons and I lightly slap his chest before allowing him to guide my head to his shoulder. I sniffle before a thought comes to me.

"What about you, family matchmaker? You must need something." I ask and feel his chin brush my hair as he shakes his head.

"Nah, I've never needed anything. For me, it's more about what I want. What I've always secretly wanted."

"Then what do you want?" My head rises along with his chest as he takes a breath. Then he shrugs slightly.

"Siblings." His answer makes me warm all over and my arm that has found its way around him squeezes. Softly, he plants a kiss on my forehead. I don't give him an answer now and he doesn't ask me to. We simply lay there surrounded by family and it's just peaceful. A long while passes before I realize we're both falling asleep.

The next morning starts with a yelp that's immediately followed by laughter. My eyes open to find Sirius has fallen onto the floor and Remus is chuckling on the bed next to us. "Next time you fall asleep I'm tossing you on the floor and laughing in your face." Sirius threatens and Remus holds up his glass of pumpkin juice as if he's toasting the occasion.