"This has to be one of the stupidest ideas you've ever had, Remus John Lupin." he heard her curse as he walked towards the door, gripping his wand in hand.
"They need help, Dora."
"They need our help! We did everything together, Remus!"
"Not this time..." his voice trailed off, knowing what was to come.
Her chocolate eyes pleaded with him, begging him to make his choice, tears filling them.
They'd gone to Andromeda's home to visit her, since she hadn't seen her daughter, grandson, and son in law for a long time. His mother in law was upstairs, resting. She'd worn herself out from cooking and caring for Teddy while Remus and Dora finally were able to sleep. Dora had demanded that her mother sleep and get some rest after the long day.
"You can't leave!" she cried, clutching their son in her arms. Every limb of her body trembled, "Not like the last time..."
"I'll be back."
"You know you can't promise that." Tears fell, angry and distressed. Remus reached out to hold his wife and child, she placed Teddy in his hands.
"Dora, please. They're all fighting for their lives!"
"What does it matter! We've always been together!" her eyes shone with rage and frustration, "Let me go with you!"
"But Teddy—"
"Will stay with my mother!" she cut him off, "We're both so inexperienced and who knows what could happen. But they need our help."
"Dora, I'd never forgive myself if you—" he stopped, the words fresh in his mind, but unable to be spoken.
They looked at each other. Remus couldn't stand the angry and upset look his wife gave him. Everything had gone so fast. He thought he was completely broken until Dora had given him life again. And their son. Their wonderful, beautiful son, who'd been born less than a month ago.
Every memory floated through his mind as they stood there. Meeting her. Going on Order missions with her. Lunches and dinners at her house. How she'd helped keep him alive by curing and bandaging his wounds. Warm friendship, kindled in the light of sly smiles and laughter during meetings. Realizing he'd fallen head over heels for her, and she never leaving his mind. Finally realizing that she thought he was more than good enough for her. That she didn't want anything about him to change. That she didn't just tolerate him because of Order meetings. That she loved him back, that her patronus changed for him. Realizing that his heart truly belonged to the wonderful woman standing in front of him. Proposing. Marrying her. The happiness he'd found when he'd realized that she'd forgiven him. The months he'd stayed with her. The birth of his son, Edward Remus Lupin. The few weeks the three of them had spent together. The few weeks he'd gotten to see his wife in a different light—a mother. The weeks he'd gotten to meet his son.
He found that the wolf that came from his wand wasn't the same as the one he'd casted at first—a depressed creature who mourned in sadness and lived in the dark, alone and afraid of rejection—but a mammal that lived for his family. An animal that fought and cared for the ones he loved. An beautiful creature that was faithful to one it loved forever, until death do them part.
All of his being was attributed to the one that stood in front of him. The one that was willing to live with him even though he had nothing to give. The one that had stood with him through think and thin. The most lively and cheerful woman he'd ever met. One who's heart was filled with kindness and compassion, alongside hateful anger and rage for the ones who'd done her wrong. A truly powerful witch, person you would never want on your bad side.
And she'd fallen for him in return.
His wife sobbed, "Remus..."
"Dora... I can't stay. Not this time."
"You know that's not right. I'm coming with you, whether you like it or not."
"No!" Remus cried, yelling, "You can't!"
"Who are you to tell me what I can do or what I can't." she raised her chin, suddenly filled with rage, "You may be my husband, but I make my own choices."
He'd never restrained her from anything. He knew that she was someone who thought about what she did, who thought before making a choice. He cried silently, feeling the tears running down his face. Teddy must've noticed that both his parents were upset and crying, then too began to bawl. Dora took him from his arms and cooed softly to the baby, promising that mummy and daddy weren't upset and that everything was alright.
He'd watched this unfold before him and moved closer to embrace his small family. He watched as Teddy's hair changed in tufts, some parts brown, others that matched his sandy tan. Blue and yellow mixed in. A part of his wife that would remain in his son forever.
He couldn't imagine what Teddy was seeing. His parents fighting and clearly upset and distressed. Tears streaming down both of their faces. Anger, frustration, sadness and tension filled the room. Had he been older and able to understand, how would he have acted?
Remus hadn't realized until that moment—when it hit him in the face—that he was so lucky. So, so lucky. He was blessed with a happy childhood of friendship. Given the chance to redeem himself many times. Blessed with a beautiful wife and friends who loved him for who he was. Blessed with a son—his and his wife's ultimate show of love, compassion, hard work, and loyalty.
"I'm sorry." he whispered, crying tears of both joy and anguish, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Remus' voice cracked, his words squeaking slightly. His heart was heavy, and he knew his choice. His lips grazed his son's forehead, children were fragile things and Teddy was less than a month old. Dora looked at him, confused and uncertain. His lips found hers, and he embraced her by the waist, trying not to crush the both of them. The warmth he'd felt every time he'd kissed her was still there, bright as it was the first time he'd kissed her, seemingly even more warm than it was before. She pulled away, looking at him sadly. He loved her chin slightly with his hand, caressing her pale and heart shaped face. Her hair shifted to a softer pink, one of romance and tenderness.
"Remus... don't leave me...not—not again. We're so out of practice, what good would it do. They need the both of us fighting out there. Don't leave without me..."
"I have to, Dora." he took one last look at Teddy, who looked up at his father in awe and wonder, "I have to, my love."
"No! I won't make you stay, but let me come with you. Do you think I want to leave Teddy! You're not the only one who wants to see him grow up."
He ran a thumb across her cheek, wiping away the tear that slipped from her eye, "You don't think I want to see our son grow and smile? You don't think I want to stay? I want to stay, Dora."
"Then stay." she cried, "You—you don't have to leave us both behind. I'll come with you."
"No. Stay with him." he said firmly, "He needs you."
"He needs both of us. He needs both his parents. But I also want a better world for him. Neither of us will be happy unless we finished this how we started this. Together."
Remus' eyes were filled to the brim with tears and he caressed her face with his hand, "I love you so, so much. Will you ever forgive me? Embrace our darling son for me, Dora."
He kissed her suddenly, melting into it and savoring his last moments with his wife and son. He held her for just a second. She looked away, as if contemplating his decision, then nodded.
"Oh dammit, just go before I change my mind."
Remus smiled sadly and ran, his robes flourishing behind him. He hummed a tune his wife would use to sing Teddy to sleep to drown out the sounds around him. He couldn't stand to see her sad smiles of frustration and anguish behind him, silently pleading with him to let her accompany him. But this was for her safety. For their safety.
The promise he'd made that he would never, ever take the beautiful smile off her face—the smile that'd given him life again—was broken and they'd both fallen apart, a piece of each other missing. His heart was heavy and his stomach sunk with every step he took.
But the promise that his son and wife would live in a better world would ring true.
Hey guys! Sorry I'm spamming updates but today's a special day.
We're nearing the end of this story, and I must admit, I'm a little upset. But overjoyed that we've finally almost come to a close.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME LITTLE SISTER Erenmikaarmin !!! LUV YOU!!!!
Best wishes to my friends taking the TACHS test today! (It's this test that you take to get into a Catholic high school.)
michellewontshutup
megansmeal
SilverflameWC
And thank you to all of your endless support and love!!!
-Abby