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Chapter Three

Remus made himself scarce the next night before Tash got to the house, going to visit the Weasley's with Harry. He was distracted all night, his mind imagining in all too graphic detail what Sirius and Tash might be doing at that moment, causing Molly to ask several times if he was alright.

It was late when he got back and there were two glasses and a couple of empty bottles of mead on the kitchen table as well as dinner plates. Obviously, Sirius and Tash hadn't made it out of the house. Remus sighed as he picked up the plates and took them over to the sink.

He'd thought he felt a connection with Tash yesterday but her subsequent kiss with Sirius made him think he'd imagined it. He sighed again. He should be used to this by now - Sirius got the girl and he got to clean up. He heard movement upstairs and his jaw tightened as he scrubbed the counter top harder.

'Maybe I should go have stayed at Molly's,' he thought.

There was a more than fair chance Tash was upstairs with Sirius and he was sure he didn't want to go up there and listen to them fucking all night.

'I wish he'd learn to put up Silencing charms,' he muttered then jumped when he heard a voice.

'Were you talking to me?'

He turned around and saw Tash frowning at him.

'No,' he said, his stomach twisting when he saw her. 'To myself. Bad habit.'

She smiled and his knees went weak. 'I do it all the time. They think I'm mad at work,' she confided, coming into the room. 'You shouldn't have tidied up. That man is too used to people running around after him.'

Remus couldn't help his smile. 'You're a good judge of character,' he said and she giggled.

'I'm a cop,' she shrugged. 'I would have been dead ten times over if I wasn't, particularly as I seem to have a knack for getting myself into trouble.'

She leant back against the wall, watching him tidy up.

'Let me see if I get it right - Sirius is a guy who will never be tamed by a woman. He'll never really stop looking for the next best thing. I don't know if that's because he's afraid to commit or if he thinks he doesn't deserve someone's love. Bad childhood maybe. Parent's didn't love him enough now he doesn't see how anyone else could.'

Remus was impressed. 'You've pinned him,' he said with a nod.

Tash smiled, a little sadly, Remus thought, then looked at him. 'He's not that hard to work out. I know someone a lot like him,' she said softly. 'But you, however….you are harder. You wear your affliction like a shield to keep people at arms length. You are fiercely loyal to your friends, but put their needs and desires ahead of your own. You struggle to accept that someone might like you or want to be with you because you're a nice, attractive guy.'

Remus' jaw clenched. She'd hit too close to the truth for comfort. 'Good guess,' he said lightly, turning to wash the glasses out. 'Did you two have a nice night?'

'Oh,' she said, flushing a little. Damn. She'd forgotten about Sirius. 'Yes, it was nice. Sirius was showing me some of the portraits. I was going to the bathroom when I heard you talking to yourself.'

She pushed herself off the wall and smiled at him. 'You're very easy to talk to,' she said. 'I don't usually get distracted so easily.'

'There you are,' Sirius said as he walked into the room then saw Remus.

'Chatting Remus up? You little minx - you think you could handle two at once?' he teased.

Remus shot him an admonishing look but Tash smiled, a speculative expression on her face that made both Sirius and Remus stare at her, smiles fading.

'Why not?' she said with a shrug after several seconds. 'I don't mind. I quite fancy you both.'

She turned from a surprised but delighted looking Sirius to look at a stunned Remus. 'It's up to you guys,' she told him with a smile. 'I'm not a threesome virgin, if that makes your decision any easier. But I don't have time tonight. I'm tired and I've got an early start tomorrow. Walk me out, gorgeous.'

She smacked Sirius on the leg then smiled at Remus. 'Think about it,' she said, brown eyes meeting his blue ones.

Sirius walked her out, taking time to give her a thorough good night kiss and, to Tash's astonishment, somehow got two of the buttons undone on her shirt and copped a feel, before he walked back into the kitchen.

'You've got to say yes,' he said immediately as Remus opened his mouth to put forth his objections. 'Moony, do you know how often a woman suggests a threesome? Never. It usually takes months of serious begging or hours of serious drinking to convince her.'

'It might still take you months of begging to get me to agree,' Remus mumbled and Sirius frowned.

'Come on, Moony,' he said. 'You like her. I know you do. I saw the way you were looking at her ass. And she obviously likes you - she wants to fuck you.'

'You don't know me at all if you think that argument will persuade me,' Remus muttered, walking past his friend and walking up the stairs.

'Just think about it,' Sirius asked, stopping him. 'We've done it before….'

They had, many years ago, but…

'Not with someone I like,' Remus thought, surprised at himself.

He'd only known Tash for a little while and he was surprised by how much he did like her already. She was far more Sirius' type than his own but there was something about her… Behind that tough exterior, she had a vulnerability; a softness that he suspected she didn't let many people see. He'd caught a glimpse of it - just for a second - but that little peek had been enough to make him want to try and tear down those walls and delve deeper.

He sighed and nodded. 'I'll think about it, alright?' he told him and Sirius nodded, figuring it was the best answer he was going to get right now.


Remus did think about it and was still thinking about it when he heard his name called a few days later in a Muggle store. He'd gone out for some space, Sirius was driving him insane, and he was trying to decide between chicken or some dodgy looking fish for dinner when he turned around and saw Tash.

'Hi,' she said, smiling at him.

She was in a uniform today and his breath caught as his cock hardened immediately.

'Fuck, she looks hot,' he thought, knowing instantly what answer he'd give Sirius when he got home. God help him, but he wanted her.

'H…hi,' he said, stumbling over the words a little, distracted by the fact blood was rushing out of his brain at a speed that made him dizzy. She mistook his inability to speak as horror at what she wearing.

'Yeah, I know,' she said ruefully, looking down at herself. 'Attractive, huh? I was last in CID so I'm first back into uniform when they need someone.'

'Tash!' another uniformed officer called from the doorway, juggling two takeaway coffee cups and a paper bag.

She waved impatiently. 'Alright,' she called, then turned back to Remus.

'It looks good on you,' he said and she grinned.

'Told you you were a nice guy,' she said. 'This doesn't look good on anyone.'

He chuckled and she bit her lip, suddenly looking a little uncomfortable. 'I'm glad I ran into you. Look, I didn't mean to mean to embarrass you in any way the other night,' she said in a low voice. 'With my comments about you or my…suggestion. I have boundary issues sometimes.'

'It's fine,' he said, looking down at his shoes. 'I, um, didn't give Sirius an answer yet.'

'Take your time,' she said, her face going red. 'Just forget it if you don't want to…it's not everyone's cup of tea and well, you don't have to fancy me just because I'm female…'

'It's not that,' he said, hastily. 'I…fancying you is not the issue, Tash.'

He was bright red now as well and he took a breath. 'I was going to tell him I'd do it. If you still wanted to.'

The corner of her mouth turned up and she struggled to hold back her grin. 'I do still want to,' she admitted. 'I fancy the hell out of Sirius and…I like you. Not that I don't fancy you as well…or that I don't like Sirius…'

She rubbed her forehead and for the first time she looked ruffled.

'God, I'm ballsing this up,' she muttered then jumped when her radio squawked into life.

She turned away a little as she answered then listened. The other officer was also listening and waved to her, tossing the coffee's into the bin. Tash nodded then quickly muttered into the radio before turning back to Remus.

'I have to go,' she said, looking a little harassed. 'Um…look, would you like to get together tonight? Maybe get something to eat?' She handed him her card from her pocket. 'If you do, meet me outside the station later.'

'I'd like that,' he said with a smile, looking down at the card then back at her. 'I'll see if Sirius is available...'

Tash smiled at him as she walked backwards towards the door. 'I didn't invite Sirius. I invited you. '

'Aren't you and he dating?' he asked and she shook her head.

'We've had dinner once, Remus,' she said quickly. 'That's all it was. Seven o'clock, alright?'

He murmured an agreement and she grinned. 'See you then,' she called, then turned and ran to the waiting car.

Remus watched as it took off, siren on, and smiled.


He was glad Harry had bought him some Muggle clothes for Christmas. He'd never worn them, he never went anywhere where he needed to wear them, and now he stood in front of the mirror after dressing in the khaki trousers and sky blue shirt, frowning at his reflection.

'You look a bit overdressed for a quiet dinner at home,' Harry smirked, looking at him from the doorway of his room.

Remus spun around: he hadn't heard Harry come home.

'Oh, hi. What's the time?' he asked, worried he'd lost track of time and Harry looked at his watch.

'6.45,' he told him, then looked him over. 'Are you going out?'

Remus nodded then sat on his bed to pull his shoes on. 'With….?' Harry encouraged and Remus laughed.

'Just a friend,' he told him, then stood up.

He wasn't sure why he didn't tell Harry he was seeing Tash. He just wanted to keep it to himself for now. He'd asked Sirius, quite casually, this afternoon about he and Tash and his friend had insisted she was a free agent.

'We both are,' he said, flicking over the page of the newspaper.

'Should I tuck this shirt in?' he asked now, turning to frown at himself again. The clothes weren't his usual tattered grey and brown baggy garments. They were nice - the colour suited him and they fit better than his second hand stuff.

'Nope,' said Harry who looked him over. 'It's meant to stay untucked. Hang on.'

He disappeared and Remus ran a comb through his hair again then put on some cologne.

'Shit,' he mumbled, wondering why he was so nervous.

This wasn't a date - not really. Tash was seeing Sirius as well and had made it clear she wasn't interested in anything remotely serious. Harry reappeared with a brown leather jacket.

'Your coat doesn't go with what you're wearing. I'm sure Sirius won't mind you borrowing this,' he said with a grin. 'I've made it a little longer for you.'

Remus thanked him and pulled it on. 'Ok,' he said. 'Thanks. I should go.'

'Have fun,' grinned Harry and Remus smiled.

'I'm sure I will,' he said.


Tash had finished her shower at the station and brushed her hair out, pulling it back loosely with a clip so the unruly black curls looked a little neater. She thanked whatever God it was that made her put on a skirt and a blouse instead of jeans and a t-shirt this morning (forgetting it was because she hadn't done any washing all week), then begged some make up off one of the uniformed officers.

'This isn't a date,' she reminded herself, using a little mascara and lipstick only. 'He turns me on, that's all.'

So why did she feel so damn jumpy?

She let out a breath then grabbed her bag, leaving the dressing room and joining some of the other officers leaving the station.

'You going to slum it with us a bit longer, Tash?' one of the PC's said, winking at her. 'Coming for a drink?'

They pushed the front doors open and Tash hesitated, looking around. 'Um, actually, I'm supposed to be meeting a friend…'

Then she saw him, standing near the road. He smiled and Tash couldn't stop her own from spreading across her face.

'There he is,' she said to the man. 'I'll see you tomorrow.'

She waved good bye then walked quickly over to where Remus was waiting, irritated by the butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

'Hi,' she said and he murmured a greeting, nerves making him shake a little.

'Um, I got you this,' he muttered, uncertain as to whether the white rose was a good idea now. He handed it to her and shrugged. 'Hope you like flowers. Some people don't…'

She looked a little strange and he kicked himself. 'Not ok?' he asked with a sinking heart.

'No, it's lovely. I…I don't think anyone's ever given me a flower before,' she said softly. 'Thank you.'

Remus' heart leapt back into his chest and started to beat faster. He smiled and shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to both hide the evidence of what her smile did to him and to stop himself from reaching out to touch her as he desperately wanted to.

'Where did you want to go?' he asked and she grinned.

'Do you like Italian?' she asked and he nodded. 'Do you mind walking?'


They walked a couple of blocks, talking about her day and the call she'd taken while they'd been talking earlier.

'A domestic,' she said with a sigh. 'Husband beating up his wife but when we tried to intervene she gave us a mouthful about minding our own business. It wasn't the first time uniform's been called out for them and it won't be the last. And you wonder why I don't want to get married.'

He glanced over at her and frowned. 'Not all marriages are like that, Tash,' he told her. 'My parent's had a great marriage. My friends Arthur and Molly have a wonderful relationship, as does their son with his wife. It doesn't have to be so awful.'

'I think this job makes you a bit jaded about relationships,' she admitted. 'We get called out to so many jobs where apparently happy couples are violently arguing about money, or exes, or their kids. Do you know how many times I've heard "but he really does love me" from a woman whose partner had just beaten the living shit out of her?'

She shook her head and stopped. 'I'm happy with my life the way it is. No strings, no commitment, no disappointment. We're here.'

He was startled out of his thoughts and looked at the little restaurant. 'I don't have a booking but they usually manage to find me a table,' she said, taking his hand and opening the door. 'Remus. No more talking about my work tonight. Alright?'

He agreed and they walked into the cozy eatery, the manager greeting Tash warmly then seating them straight away.

'You never have to call, DC Walker,' he said cheerfully when Tash apologised for not calling ahead. 'And you don't pay here.'

'Oh yes I do,' Tash said straight away. 'I can't take freebies, Jo. You know that.'

He waved his hand. 'Who would know?' he said. 'You'll eat the evidence.'

Tash smiled but said firmly, 'Make sure I get a bill, please.'

He shook his head. 'You saved our Angela. We owe you…'

'Jo, I did my job,' she said, turning pink.

'What did you do?' asked Remus, curious now.

'Nothing,' Tash said but Jo interrupted.

'Angie's husband, may he rot in hell, had a knife to her throat,' he told Remus. 'My daughter would have been killed but DC Walker got the knife away from him. She nearly…'

'Jo, you have customers waiting,' Tash said loudly and the man took the hint, leaving them with a little bow.

'You saved his daughter?' Remus said, slightly in awe of the woman sitting opposite him.

Tash looked pained and stared at the menu steadfastly. 'It wasn't that dramatic,' she mumbled. 'Jo's prone to exaggeration. We said no more work talk, remember? So, how do you like the restaurant?'

She wanted to change the subject and Remus went along - for now. 'It's nice,' he said, looking around. 'Do you come here often?'

'Mmm,' she said, passing him a menu then concentrating on her own. 'They do a fantastic seafood pasta. I am so hungry.'

They looked over the choices then ordered. They talked over dinner about the wizarding war that happened just over a year ago, Remus telling her about his role in it.

'I remember how bad things were around then,' she mused, a frown marring her pretty face. 'Murders, assaults. It was so dreary and miserable.' She looked at him. 'You lost a lot of friends?'

He nodded and she reached over the small table, taking his hand in hers. 'I'm sorry, Remus,' she said softly and he closed his fingers over hers.

Heat crawled up from their joined hands to spread through their bodies. Startled by their reactions to the simple touch, they were both relieved and annoyed when the waiter bought their coffee's over, breaking the moment and their hold on each other.


After the bill was paid, they walked slowly back to the police station where Tash's car was parked. Remus slid his hand into hers as they left the restaurant and Tash linked their fingers together.

'I like you, Remus,' she said suddenly and he smiled.

'I like you too, Tash,' he said and saw her grin.

'This is my car,' she said, pointing her keys at a white little hatch.

'I had a really good time,' Remus said, not wanting to let go of her hand just yet.

'So did I,' she said, looking up at him. 'Thanks for my flower. It's beautiful.'

The words were out before he could stop them. 'So are you,' he murmured then he leaned forward and pressed his lips lightly to hers - just for a second or two but, when he pulled away, Tash put her hand on the back of his head and drew him back.

Their lips touched again, parting a little this time. Remus caught her bottom lip between his and sucked on it lightly, enjoying her tiny moan and the feel of her hand sliding into his hair. She tasted so sweet and her lips were so soft - he couldn't help himself from tasting her more thoroughly, dipping the tip of his tongue quickly between her lips. He heard her intake of breath, felt the tightening of her fingers in his hair, then she was gone.

His eyes opened and he looked at her, for a moment able to see the confusion and vulnerability very clearly on her face. Then she blinked her suddenly darker eyes, and it disappeared.

'I should go,' she told him, her husky voice the only sign that she'd felt anything even close to what he had. 'I've got a couple of days off after tomorrow. Maybe we could all get together then.'

His hot body cooled a little at the reminder that she was interested in Sirius as well but he nodded.

'There's usually someone home,' he said softly. 'Just call around when you want to.'

She nodded but hesitated before getting into her car. 'I really had a very good time, Remus,' she whispered and he smiled.

'I'll see you soon, Natasha,' he said and she grinned.

'Yes you will,' she promised with a wink.