James left the tower upset. Regulus just didn't understand why he had to eat the way he did. No one else ever said anything, so why did Regulus need to say anything? He didn't know where to go, so he started wandering around the castle. He wasn't ready to go back to his dorm yet. He was exhausted, but he knew that there was no way he was going to be able to sleep anytime soon.

He walked around for a couple of hours, and somehow managed to not run into anyone. Normally, the prefects still had rounds till late, and once those were over Filch roamed the halls. It was nearing four am when he made his way through the portrait hole, finally having gotten the pressure in his chest to subside and his hands to stop shaking. As he walked into the dorm, however, he found Sirius awake sitting at the end of his bed.

"James, where were you? It is four in the fucking morning for Godric's sake!" Sirius whisper yelled. He wasn't dumb enough to be loud and risk waking up Remus.

"I went for a walk. I didn't realize it was so late," James tried to defend himself, but Sirius didn't buy it.

"I could maybe believe that if you got back at midnight, even one, but not four!"

"I don't know what you want me to say! I couldn't sleep, and I wanted to go for a walk. I'm sorry it ended up being so late!" James flopped down onto his bed, face first. He did not want to deal with Sirius right after the conversation that he had just had with his brother.

Sirius sighed, and didn't know what to say anymore either. He looked at James and noticed how tired he seemed. He had noticed that James seemed tired more often the past couple of days. He honestly just wanted James to get some sleep, and that was the only reason he was upset when he had woken up at two in the morning and had found James' bed empty. He didn't understand how James could be so tired, but then not sleep. So, Sirius crawled to the top of the bed, and pulled the blanket up, causing James to fall off the bed.

"Sirius!" James exclaimed.

"Get into bed, James. You need to sleep," James rolled his eyes at him from the floor.

"I was in bed before you knocked me off," with that he crawled into his bed next to Sirius, "Also, I can sleep alone you know."
"I know," Sirius grinned, "but I need to make sure you actually sleep. It is my job as your best friend."

"Whatever," James said while rolling over, "You know we haven't done this since we were in third year. We fit much better then."

"Well, sucks to be you then. I think we fit just fine," Sirius then finally laid down completely and went to bed, and that was the first time all school year James did not get up at five in the morning to go work out on the quidditch pitch.

-

Regulus would be lying if he said he wasn't even more worried about James. It had never crossed his mind that James wouldn't realize how worrisome his behavior is. He knew it wouldn't be an easy conversation, but he really wasn't prepared for the one he ended up having.

He spent the entire next week trying to figure out what he should do, or say to James. He tried to get James' attention, but he hardly looked in Regulus' direction. He realized that they didn't have any classes together, and they never crossed paths in the hall, but he had thought he would have found a way to talk to James by now. His only options were to corner him in the Great Hall before or after dinner, or hope he comes to the astronomy tower again.

Regulus spent every night in the astronomy tower, as the result of wanting to talk to James. He didn't want to risk missing his chance. However, James didn't come to the tower again until the 11th of December. That was an entire three weeks of James completely ignoring Regulus, and three weeks of Regulus watching James from across the Great Hall.

"James?" Regulus had called when he came up the stairs of the astronomy tower and saw James standing by the railing.

"Hey," James said softly, not turning to look at Regulus. He had been hoping Regulus wouldn't come up to the tower, but he knew that he probably wouldn't be that lucky. It's not like James didn't want to see Regulus because he didn't like him, he just didn't want to have another conversation like the last time with him.

"Are you okay?" Regulus approached the railing, and stood right next to James, "I didn't mean to upset you. I was, and am, just worried about you."

"I'm fine Reg," James turned to look at the younger boy, "You don't need to worry about me."

"I'm already worried about you though," James sighed at that,

"No one has ever mentioned anything before. I didn't think it was a big deal. I also, don't want you to think I'm mad at you. I just don't want to talk about the food thing."

"I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable, James, but, we definitely have to talk about the food thing," James looked away from Regulus for a moment.

"I can kind of see where you're coming from. I've been thinking about it non-stop since you brought it up, but I can't change how I eat," James looked back down at the younger boy. He was really uncomfortable having this conversation, but he did not want Regulus to think he was mad at him.

"We can take it slow then, and I won't mention it again tonight. However, we will be talking about it again the next time we have a chance. I need you to see that this isn't healthy. I also want to eventually talk about how much sleep you're getting." Regulus wanted to keep pushing, but he knew if he pushed there would be no progress to be made.

The next hour was filled with easy conversation, and somehow Regulus' head ended up resting against James' shoulder.

-

Winter break was quickly approaching, and James and Regulus had found themselves in the astronomy tower on the next Saturday, which was the 18th. Regulus was frustrated that he was not able to make really any progress with James. Of course, they talked about James' eating and sleeping, like Regulus, had said they would, but the conversation didn't get any farther than the week prior. Regulus really didn't want to upset James, but he was worried, and it didn't help that no one else has noticed.

If Regulus was being honest, what made him the most upset is that none of James' friends had even mentioned anything about James' obvious eating and sleeping problems to him. James had said himself that no one had ever said anything to him about it, and that made Regulus angry.

Regulus was going to keep his mouth shut, but he had come across James in the hallway on Sunday sitting against the wall with his head resting on his knees. Regulus wasn't an idiot, he knew that James would only be sitting like that if he was dizzy and close to passing out. He immediately went to James' side to check on him, and when James gained his bearings enough, Regulus forced James to the hospital wing. After making sure James settled in, Regulus stormed through the castle looking for the other three marauders.

It took him a while, but he eventually found them on their way to the Great Hall for lunch. Regulus grabbed onto his brother and started pulling him towards an empty classroom. He knew that Remus and Peter would follow, so he didn't bother looking behind him as he made it to the classroom.

"What is going on Reggie?" Sirius exclaimed the second they made it into the classroom.

"Don't call me that!" Regulus snapped.

"Whatever! What is going on? What is your problem?" Sirius was confused, and he has a habit of getting upset when he was confused. Remus moved to his boyfriend's side and grabbed his hand hoping to calm him down.

"Right now you all are my problem!" Remus' brows furrowed at Regulus' outburst. He didn't understand what they did.

"What do you mean?" Remus asked before Sirius could yell and make the situation worse.

"James is struggling and none of you have bothered to notice!" That sentence alone knocked the air out of Sirius' lungs. He was confused, he was James' best friend. They told each other everything.

"What do you mean Regulus?" Sirius asked, sounding small.

"James has been hardly eating, and I doubt he's really been sleeping for at least a few months! When I talked about it to him he had said no one had ever mentioned it before! Also, to top it all off, I had just found him in a random hallway nearly passed out because of how horribly he was undereating, and not one of you was there. He does so much for you all, and what have you done in return?" Before any of the Marauders could say anything else, Regulus stormed out of the classroom and went back to the hospital wing. He was seething, but he didn't want to say anything he'd regret, so he left.

Sirius collapsed into Remus' chest clearly upset. Sirius would do anything for James, just as James has done everything for Sirius. He hated himself for failing his best friend. 

-

Hey everyone! I apologize for updating two days late. I was traveling and was sick. I also apologize for the short chapter, but I wanted to leave a bit of a cliffhanger and I didn't know what else to add. I love you all, and please let me know what you think!