Title: Tough Love
Author: OCDegrassi (Holly)
Pairings: Remus/James, One-Sided Remus/Sirius
Rating: M
Warnings: Slash, Graphic Sexual Situations & Werewolf Transformations, Mpreg
Note: Another chapter down. I'm having so much fun writing this story, so I hope you're having as much fun reading it! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. I'm really grateful and I hope that you keep reviewing. Now onto Chapter 6. Hope you enjoy.

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Two weeks had passed since Remus first learned he was pregnant and the full moon was approaching. The young werewolf suddenly started to worry about the toll his transformations would take on his unborn child. After several days of stressing about it, James decided it would be best to put Remus's mind at ease by going to see Madam Pomfrey. The four Marauders entered the Hospital Wing on the morning of Friday, October 15th. The room was free of any other students, much to their relief.

Madam Pomfrey saw the four of them and smiled. This was more like it. Normally, none of the Marauders came to the Hospital Wing alone. They were always accompanied by each other for support and Madam Pomfrey was relieved that Remus's pregnancy had not changed that. "What can I help you boys with?" Remus fidgeted nervously with the hem of his robes. "Well, the full moon's tonight, and I was just wondering, umm, will the transformation hurt the baby?"

Worry was etched across his facial features. She smiled warmly at him. "No, dear, not at all. During the transformation, the placenta is protected by a magical shield surrounding it." Remus let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. The pregnancy still seemed surreal to him, but it felt real enough for him to be scared for his baby's safety. He couldn't live with himself if he hurt his own child, even if it was during the full moon.

James wrapped his arm around Remus's waist and pulled him closer. He was relieved too. He would never admit it to Moony, but he knew that there was a good possibility that Remus would accidentally hurt the baby while he was a werewolf. He also knew that Remus would never forgive himself if he did, so James was more than happy to have that obstacle out of the way. Madam Pomfrey thought it was sweet how protective James was of Remus.

Of course she knew about their relationship; everybody did. The boys made no attempt to hide it, which Madam Pomfrey was now grateful for. At least when the pregnancy progressed and Remus started to get bigger, he wouldn't have to deal with the whole school finding out that he was pregnant AND gay. "Any other questions?" Remus was about to say no when Peter spoke up. His voice was timid and unsure. "How does, er, I mean, how does the baby come out?" The other three boys looked at him with identical horrified expressions.

It was a good question, but Remus wasn't sure he was ready to hear the answer and Sirius and James were positive that they weren't. "Well, during labor, the perineum, which is the area between the anus and ballsack, will open up. A temporary birth canal will be formed that connects the placenta to this area for the baby to be delivered." All four boys wore even more horrified expressions and looked as if they were going to be sick.

Remus had gone as white as a ghost and looked as if he were about to pass out. He really could have waited to hear that. "The opening of the perineum is no more painful that a normal cervix dilating during a female pregnancy though" she added. This gave Remus some comfort, but certainly not much. He just nodded deftly and started to walk out of the Hospital Wing as if he were marching to his death. The other three quickly followed him. When they were half-way down the hall, Peter addressed Remus. "I'm so sorry, Moony. I shouldn't have asked. I'm just, oh, I'm so sorry!" Remus just nodded quietly.

The information was still sinking in and he found himself unable to form any words. He wasn't mad at Peter. It was a completely valid question. He was just completely shell-shocked. He wasn't sure how he imagined the delivery happening, but it definitely wasn't that way. They returned to the dormitory and Remus sat on the bed, staring blankly at the wall. After about 30 minutes, James started to get worried. "Remus, are you okay?" Remus was finally shaken from his own thoughts and nodded. "Yea, I'm fine. Sorry I've been so quiet. It's just... weird." They all nodded in agreement.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Before darkness set in, the Marauders made their way to the Whomping Willow under James's invisibility cloak. Peter transformed into a rat to give them more room, but it was still awfully crowded under there. When they entered the tunnel, they took the invisibility cloak off and walked in silence. Remus hated this. He wished he wasn't a werewolf. It just wasn't fair. When they reached the inside of the Shrieking Shack, James hooked the chains onto Remus's arms and legs.

He hated doing it, because he knew Remus struggled against them in his werewolf form and it caused him pain, but he had to. It would be even worse if Remus broke free from the shack and ran loose. Sirius and James joined Peter in their animagus forms. As the moon rose in the sky, the transformation began. Remus closed his eyes in pain as his bones started to elongate and hair erupted all over his skin. Claws broke through his knuckles and his mind became clouded. His senses were heightened and he could smell his friends. He wanted to taste them.

He growled and sprang forward, but was instantly pulled back by the chains. He yelped in pain and tried to pull against them. They were rubbing harshly against his limbs, but he couldn't stop. He started to bite at himself when he couldn't reach the others. As the night wore on, even his werewolf form couldn't take the strain on his body. He collapsed onto the floor and stared ahead, before blacking out from exhaustion. After Prongs and Wormtail had fallen asleep in the corner, Padfoot approached Remus. He curled up next to his friend and fell asleep.

The next morning, Sirius was the first to wake up. Moony was already back in his human form and Sirius changed back. He stroked Remus's hair. He could see the cuts and bites all over him. "How is he?" Sirius almost jumped when he heard James. He quickly removed his hand from Remus. Luckily, James had been directly behind him so he hadn't seen Sirius stroking his boyfriend's hair. "He's still sleeping." Peter and James nodded and sat down next to him.

As if sensing their presence, Remus stirred and weakly opened his eyes. He was sore and tired, but still managed to smile when his friends came into view above him. James picked him up carefully and Sirius threw the invisibility cloak over them. He and Peter transformed again and the four made their way to the castle. When they were outside the Hospital Wing and knew the coast was clear, Sirius and Peter changed back and took the cloak off the other two.

Madam Pomfrey was already waiting inside for them and gestured James to put Remus on the bed. She immediately set to work healing Remus as best as she could. She shooed the others out, and they returned to the dormitory. Madam Pomfrey would be working on Remus for a while and then she would insist that he rest, so the boys had a couple hours to sleep before they went back to see him.

Madam Pomfrey was more worried about Remus's health now because of the baby. She had been honest when she said that his transformation wouldn't hurt the baby, but it was the days after that worried her. Remus was overly-weak and that wasn't good for the baby. She had to make sure he kept his strength up, but it was rather hard when his three friends were constantly visiting and keeping him from resting like he should be. She knew their intentions were good, but they definitely made her job more difficult.

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A/N: This was my first time writing a werewolf transformation, so how did I do? Did you like this chapter, love it, or hate it? Let me know! Please review. Next chapter: More people learn of Remus's pregnancy.