Author's Notes: This fic was originally written for the MetamorFicMoon Half Moon Rising Fic Jumble at Live Journal. My four prompts were: Lunascope, The Room of Requirement, A Day Spent Apart and Angst. Very many thanks must head in the direction of MrsTater, without whose stella beta skills and cries of "you can do it!", this fic would not have happened.

All That's Required

In the five years they'd been together, Remus had never been able to be close to Tonks without touching her. He loved to run his fingers through her hair, wrap his arms around her, or simply hold her hand. Three years of marriage hadn't dulled the pleasure he gained from touching her and for the last seven months, since they'd discovered she was pregnant, he could not resist the constant urge to run his hand over her ever-expanding tummy.

He'd marvelled as each day she grew slightly larger, stared at his hand on her skin with fascinated awe as he felt the baby moving beneath it. And now, as the final days of her pregnancy approached; propped up on pillows, he lay on his side next to her with his hand simply resting on the taught skin of her tummy. His other arm around her shoulders as the warmth of the late afternoon sun streamed though the windows. Her head rested high on his chest, her face turned into his neck slightly as she lay on her back. Her arm closest to him had snaked under his and her palm lay flat on his thigh.

"Do you have everything you need packed?" he asked softly, not wanting to break the air of calm and stillness that had descended upon them.

"Mmm," Tonks murmured, "I think I do. Not that it matters much, the Room of Requirement will provide, after all."

Remus lifted his hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, then brought it down to cup her face, pushing her head back gently so he could place a single kiss on her lips. His thumb scuffed her cheek as they regarded each other intently.

"It won't happen to night, Remus." Her dark eyes became pleading as she added, "It can't."

Tonight was a full moon. Tonks could go into labour at any moment. It was the one thing that had terrified Remus throughout her pregnancy, the thought of her going though labour without him. He wanted to be there so she could hold his hand and squeeze as hard as she needed to. He wanted to be there to rub her back and whisper encouragement. He wanted to be there to share with her that joyous moment when they would be presented with the little miracle they'd created.

Remus didn't know what to say. She was seeking a comfort that he could not give, but to give reassurance seemed like making an empty promise, one he couldn't keep. And yet, he was much in need of that comfort himself.

So he simply pressed his lips to her forehead and tightened the grip of his arm around her shoulder and whispered, "I love you."

Tonks brought her hand to his, which was now resting back on her tummy. "I love you, too," she whispered back, her fingers tightening around his.

They fell silent, but Remus had never felt so close to her. Throughout the last seven months, he'd felt them growing ever closer, their little world becoming ever more enclosed, even as she grew to accommodate their baby. They'd been on a path of discovery together, they'd made something together and it was mind-blowing, really. Within days, their family, their world would contain a new centre. Or really, Remus thought, the baby would be their new focus, but the love that supported their lives would remain its building blocks.

Remus felt Tonks squirming slightly in his arms, and she huffed slightly in discomfort. It was a signal he'd become more than familiar with over the last few months. "You need a hand up?" he asked.

"Please."

Remus sat up and slipped his hand behind her back to gently push her into a sitting position, and then stood to give her support as she got to her feet. He watched as she waddled slowly towards the bathroom, then sat back on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands.

All the years he'd spent as a slave to the moon, he'd never wished more that one could just pass him by than he did this one.

Months ago, Ginny had suggested their current plan: Remus would spend this ninth month moon at his old haunt, the Shrieking Shack, while Tonks rested in the Room of Requirement, which could better equip itself for a possible childbirth than the Hogwarts hospital wing, and held the distinct advantage of privacy and hopefully, a less clinical, more homely environment. If she went into labour, Remus would be near enough to join her as soon as the moon set.

Ginny had suggested the Room of Requirement because it could literally provide for all needs, even as they might change during the course of the delivery. Remus knew, though, that there was one requirement it would not be able to fulfil. Every wife deserved, needed to have her husband by her side as she gave birth.

A sharp cry from the bathroom pierced Remus' thoughts. He jumped from the bed and flew towards the bathroom, hoping with all his heart that this was just another amongst the three other false alarms they'd had.

He found Tonks sitting on the closed toilet seat, her hands pressed to her tummy, breathing heavily. She looked at him with fear filled eyes. "It's got to be another false alarm, Remus, hasn't it?" she said as he walked over to her. He knelt down beside her, resting back on his ankles and took her hands in his.

Remus' heart was pounding but he knew he had to remain calm. If tonight was going to be the night, the one thing he could do for her was to stay strong, as long as he could remain with her.

"It might well be," he answered, giving her hand a squeeze. "Just in case, why don't we take that Portkey a little early and I can help you settle in."

"Okay," Tonks answered quietly, looking down at their hands. She took a few deep breaths, before lifting her head to meet his eyes. He could see the battle raging behind them; fear fought determination, need fought her natural ability to cope. Pride swelled, as he stood to help her up.

The Portkey delivered them directly into the Hogwarts hospital wing, where they found Poppy Pomfrey, peering into the potions cabinet, a clipboard in hand. She spun when she heard their entrance and cried, "Gracious, Remus, Tonks! You're a little earlier than I'd expected. Everything's all right, I hope." Her gaze shifted between the two of them.

"Hello Poppy," said Remus, taking Tonks hand and squeezing it reassuringly, "Tonks had a contraction about half an hour ago, we thought we better come and get settled a little earlier than we'd planned. I hope you don't mind."

Immediately all business, Poppy, with pursed lips, looked Tonks up and down. "How long did the contraction last?"

"Not long," Tonks replied. "Maybe five seconds?" She looked up at Remus, askance. He nodded agreement.

"And nothing since?" Poppy asked.

Tonks shook her head.

"Right then," Poppy said, "I've already been in and had a look around, go up and get yourself settled and I'll be along shortly."

"Thanks, Poppy," said Remus, turning to lead Tonks out of the hospital wing.

"And put your nightie on," she called as the door swung shut behind them.

They made their way through the hallways, which, thanks to the summer holiday, were completely empty. Their progress was swifter than Remus had anticipated, with Tonks in her current state, and before he knew it, they were outside the Room of Requirement

The door opened to them and they stepped inside.

Tonks took a step forward, apparently eager to explore the items the enchanted room had seen fit to provide them, but as Remus closed the door behind them, he asked, "Do you want to put your nightie on first, in case Poppy doesn't give us much time?" He strode towards the bed and plopped her bag down on the table next to it.

"Well," Tonks replied, moving toward him, "first, I want you to give me a kiss, and then yes, that's probably a good idea."

Remus turned and smiled at her. Though obviously tired and anxious, she was beautiful. Her dark eyes had always sparkled, like no others he'd ever encountered, but the prospect of motherhood had intensified them somehow, she seemed to glow from within, a happy radiance. He held her face in both his hands. "Whatever happens tonight, Nymphadora, we're going to have a lifetime of happiness with our baby."

"I know," Tonks mumbled against his lips just before he kissed her. He moved his lips slowly and lovingly over hers, he slid his hands into her hair as he deepened the kiss, wondering vaguely if it was to be the last kiss like this they'd share before they became parents.

Just as all rational thought had left Remus' mind, Tonks pulled back suddenly with a sharp "Oh!" She leant on Remus for support as she took a few gasping breaths, bending over slightly, her face scrunched up in pain. Remus moved to help her to the bed, but she grasped his sleeve to stop him, so he simply rubbed her back soothingly and whispered comforting words in her ear until the contraction passed. It seemed to Remus that it lasted a little longer than the first, a thought that concerned him slightly.

As they waited for the contraction to pass, it occurred to Remus how very odd this all should seem, how new and out of the ordinary, and how, if he'd been asked how he'd cope with this a few months ago, he'd have been at a loss. It just felt so right to be helping her though this, so very natural. Disappointment stuck anew at the realisation that he might not get to see this through.

A minute or so later, she'd caught her breath, and stood up straighter. "I'd better get my nightie on, before Poppy gets here."

Remus kissed her forehead and led her to the bed, where he helped her up and began to fish around in her bag for the bright pink nightshirt she'd chosen more than two months ago especially for the occasion.

"Arms up," he said, turning back to her. She obliged, and he lifted her tee-shirt up over her head and arms before folding it neatly and laying it on top of the bag.

"In a day or so, you'll be dressing the baby and I'll be all on my own," Tonks commented, as she reached around to unclasp her bra. She pulled it off and carelessly threw it over the shirt that Remus had so carefully folded and then raised her arms again as Remus shook out the nightshirt.

"I'm sure I will be able to squeeze in a moment or two to help you on with your clothes, I've got used to it over the last couple of months, I think I'd miss it," Remus replied as he pulled shirt down over her head, then smoothed her mussed hair back into place. "I'm sure that it wouldn't take me half as long as it will to get the baby into one of those tiny little suits. I still can't believe how small they are."

"I know. But I have to say that in this position, I'm rather glad that they aren't any bigger." Tonks stood, and pushed down her trousers, allowing Remus to take them down to her ankles and she stepped out of them, leaning on his shoulder to steady herself.

"Into bed with you then," Remus said, gently patting her on the hip.

"I want to look around first," she protested. But at that moment there was a sharp knock on the door and Poppy walked in without waiting for an answer.

"Any more contractions?" she asked without preamble as she bustled around the room, collecting various objects.

"Yes," replied Tonks, easing herself into bed as Remus held back the covers for her, "one more, lasted a little longer than the first one."

Poppy nodded, then, apparently satisfied that she'd collected everything she needed, set them on the table and walked to the foot of the bed, "Right, let's have a look, shall we."

Remus held Tonks' hand, and they both waited quietly as Poppy examined Tonks in silence. Tonks squirmed restlessly, eyes darting from Remus to Poppy, and Remus got the impression that Tonks, like himself, was a little frustrated by the lack of information

"Everything seems to be coming along," Poppy finally declared. "When will you be leaving, Remus?" she asked, moving towards the door.

"Uh," Remus fished around for his pocket watch, but stopped when, to his surprise, a Lunascope appeared on the table beside him. He studied it for a moment and turned back to Poppy. "In about twenty minutes."

He was still a bit shocked that no more information was going to be offered. He was about to enquire, when Tonks beat him to it.

"Poppy, can you tell us a bit more?" Tonks asked, her voice laden with anxiety, "I mean is it going to happen tonight?"

One hand on the open door, Poppy turned back. "Everything is fine, dear, don't you worry about it. I'm afraid the baby will come when it's ready, at this stage I really couldn't tell you." And then she turned and left the room, the door clicking firmly in place behind her.

Remus looked down at Tonks to see her biting her lip, a vulnerable expression on her face. He sat beside her on the edge of the bed and ran his hand through her hair. "I know that's not what you wanted to hear, love, but please don't get yourself worked up about it. Not now."

"I know you're right, but you know, all these months we've talked about this possibility, I never expected it to happen." She drew a shallow breath, then said in a small voice, "I just want everything to be perfect."

A tear squeezed out the corner of her eye, then rolled down her cheek, Remus wiped it away with his thumb, then slid onto the bed beside her and draped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her to him.

There was nothing he could say. He couldn't make it better, because there was simply no way to mitigate not experiencing the birth of their first child together. So he held her, stroked her hair and pressed kisses to her forehead and rubbed circles on her tummy. They lay in silence for fifteen minutes. Often, Remus' gaze fell to the Lunascope, watching the steady progress of the moon against the horizon, he noted Tonks doing the same thing, with almost as much frequency. But despite the upset, despite what both of them were about to face, he felt very calm, peaceful.

"I have to go now, love," he whispered into her hair. He felt her arm tighten around him, and he responded in kind, lifting his hand to tilt her chin up for a kiss.

When they parted, she whispered, "I'm scared, Remus."

"I know," he replied. "It's only natural. Whatever happens, you're going to be fine, you're the strongest person I've ever known." Remus sat up, and slipped off the bed. He turned and placed a kiss on her tummy and a final kiss on her lips, and took her hand, giving it a squeeze, using his other hand to move the Lunascope so that she would be able to see it more easily. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he said, backing away from the bed, knowing that the longer he lingered, the harder it would be to leave. She held onto his hand until he was too far away and it slipped from her grip.

At the door, Remus paused and said, "I love you, both of you."

"I love you, too," she replied, in almost a whisper.

And with that, he reached for the door handle and slipped out the room.


Author's Notes: I shall post the second and final chapter to this next Wednesday. Very many thanks to all who put fingers to keyboard and review, I shall offer you the chance to rest quietly with Remus on a bed or settee of your choice. ;)

Following the success of the Half Moon Rising Fic Jumble, MetamorFicMoon is currently taking sign-ups for its Christmas event: the Christmas Moon Fic Advent, anyone interested in participating can follow the link to the community from my Live Journal, the link to which can be found as the homepage in my profile.