Chapter Six

'Shh! Don't, Remus. He'll wake up,' Maddy hissed, trying to stop her own laughter as a laughing Remus rolled them over and nuzzled his face into her ribs.

'You think I'm going to let your attack go unpunished?' he mumbled against her skin, tickling her. 'It's your turn now.'

He blew a raspberry on her stomach and she giggled. He did it again and she smacked his shoulder.

'Cut it out!' she laughed and he chuckled, kissing her stomach instead this time, tracing his tongue along a scar near her hip.

They had gone to bed a minute after Teddy had fallen asleep and had quickly shed their clothes. There was no urgency tonight, their desperate need for each other sated somewhat by the two encounters they'd had already that day. They played instead: talking, kissing and teasing each other.

She sighed now and closed her eyes, feeling an ache beginning inside her as his tongue lavished attention on each scar the Death Eaters had given her. The ache wasn't just physical need; and it was that other need, the emotional need, that bought tears to her eyes that she rapidly blinked away.

His mouth moved to the scar on her leg, kissing along the length of it before pushing her legs apart and shifting between them. He wanted to taste her; he could smell her, smell how aroused she was and his need to bury his face in her was bordering on desperation.

'Remus,' she murmured, putting a hand on his head to stop him.

He pressed his face into her thigh, trying to hide his disappointment then kissed up her body to her mouth.

'I want to so badly, Maddy,' he whispered, kissing her lips. 'Why are you stopping me? I've been told I'm pretty good…'

She frowned, chewing on her lip. 'It's so intimate,' she said softly. 'I…I've only ever let Marc do that to me and only after I knew I loved him. I'm sorry, Remus. I just can't. Not yet.'

He was surprised by how hurt he was that she wouldn't let him be as intimate with her as her husband had been.

'I've got no right to expect her to allow me to be so personal,' he told himself. 'This is casual. This is sex.'

'That's alright,' he said softly, touching her face. 'I'll take whatever you're willing to give me, Maddy.'

Her chest tightened and she felt teary again. He kissed her softly then, as it grew, their mouths and hands ran over each other. When they were breathless, Remus slowly slid inside her, closing his eyes at the sensation of her soft body surrounding his. He leaned over and kissed her as he began to rock into her, Maddy moving with him. Their lips moved on each other in sync with their bodies but then Remus pulled away, watching her face as she began to fall.

'Remus,' she whispered, biting her lip. 'Don't.'

'I want to see you,' he told her hoarsely. 'Let go, baby. Let me see you come.'

His words made her groan and her head fell back as she came, crying out his name as her body tightened around his and she shook with the force of her climax.

'Jesus, Maddy, you're beautiful,' he whispered then he couldn't talk anymore as his own release struck him, strong and breath taking, making him shudder hard and moan her name.

He fell onto her, shifting a little so he wasn't too heavy. He didn't want to break their connection; that skin on skin contact. Burying his face in her neck, he felt her pulse beginning to slow and kissed the delicate skin there, feeling Maddy shiver. Her arms were around him and he felt her fingers tracing a long scar on his back. He slid his arms underneath her, wanting to hold her.

'Roll over,' she murmured softly and he obeyed, rolling the both of them onto their sides. Maddy shifted closer, nuzzling her face into his chest, kissing the skin lightly as he put his arms more comfortably around her.

They lay in silence for a long time, both feeling a little overwhelmed. Whatever it was that had just happened between them, it wasn't just sex. And there was nothing casual about the way they were feeling now.

'I shouldn't stay here,' Maddy muttered eventually, lips brushing over his chest. 'I should go back to my own room.'

Remus made a noise and shook his head, lowering it to kiss the top of hers. 'Stay,' he insisted, tightening his grip on her, one arm wrapped around her back, the other sliding down to keep her hips close to his.

'Teddy…' she began but he interrupted.

'Will sleep through probably,' he said. 'And if he doesn't, I'll go to him. He won't know you're in here.'

There was another moment of silence then he said quietly, 'But if you don't want to stay, that's alright. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable.'

'I'm quite comfortable actually,' she smiled, sliding a leg over his hip and wrapping it around his legs. 'And I want to stay.'

Maddy hesitated then added, 'I'm just not sure I should.'

He knew what she meant. Whatever it was that had emerged between them needed returning from where it came.

'I think I'm moving out just in time,' she murmured and Remus smiled.

She was right - they weren't ready for a live in lover situation. The emotions that were surfacing now were not feelings they were ready to deal with or to even acknowledge.

'We've spent so much time together,' he mumbled, dragging his fingers through her hair. 'That's all it is. Once we've got a bit of space…we'll be back to normal.'

He felt rather than heard her murmur of agreement and they were silent again, Remus stroking her hair, watching the blonde strands flow through his fingers.

'How is it women's hair is always so soft?' he muttered a few minutes later.

Maddy chuckled and lifted her head, looking at him for the first time. 'Rinse and repeat,' she told him. 'Lots of conditioner.'

He smiled and rolled onto his back, dragging her onto his chest. 'Soft skin too,' he muttered, running his hands down her back. 'And you smell so good.'

Maddy giggled, resting her hands on his chest and looking up at him. 'You don't smell so bad yourself,' she said softly.

She reached down and took a hand, bringing it to her mouth. 'You have nice hands. Strong. Gentle.'

She kissed each finger then pressed her lips to his palm.

Remus felt a ache in his chest that had nothing to do with lust and he frowned until she looked up at him. Smiling at her, he pulled her higher so her face was opposite his. 'You're an amazing woman, Maddyson Horton,' he said softly, cupping her head in his hands. 'You're going to make some man very, very happy one day soon.'

He kissed her gently, missing the frown that creased her brow as he tried to ease the ache in his own heart at the thought of Maddy loving another man.

'Sex,' he told himself firmly. 'Friends with benefits.' He pressed his lips to her forehead. 'Why do I have to keep reminding myself? Convincing myself?'

Maddy rested her head on his shoulder and curved her body around his. 'I think I will stay,' she murmured, wanting a last night with him all to herself. 'Night, Remus.'

'Night, Maddy,' he whispered, kissing the top of her head again, breathing in the scent of her hair.


It took them both a while to drift off and Remus didn't know what time it was that he woke, but it was still dark, and he was by himself. He sat up, wondering if she'd gone back to her own room after all. Biting his lip, he hesitated for a moment before getting out of bed, pulling his boxers on before opening the bedroom door. He heard soft murmuring coming from Teddy's room. Moving quietly, he stopped just outside the slightly open door and peeked inside, heart leaping when he saw Maddy. She was wrapped in his robe, sitting in the rocking chair that Tonks used to rock Teddy in and holding the little boy who was looking sleepy, patting her face with a chubby hand. She was talking softly to him as she gently rocked.

'Then your mum tried to sit down, but her pants split and I had to wrap my jumper around her so we could get home without anyone seeing her knickers,' she said softly, smiling down at him.

Remus smiled too, recalling the day she was talking about. She'd taken Tonks to buy maternity clothes, trying to convince her that hers were getting too tight. Tonks' pants split when they sat down to eat and they'd come home with an armful of larger sized clothes, Maddy telling him the story, both of them crying with laughter as Tonks glared at them.

'She was a laugh - your mum,' Maddy said, seeing the little boys' eyes closing again. 'I wish you'd gotten to know her. I wish she'd gotten to know you. But you've still got your daddy and you are a very lucky boy because he's the best daddy in the world.'

She sighed and saw he was asleep. 'He's a wonderful man. Your mummy was a very lucky lady.'

Remus blinked rapidly to try and clear the tears from his eyes. He saw Maddy stand up and lower Teddy carefully back into his cot then gently try to extract her finger from his grip. Quietly, he moved back to his room, pulling off his boxers again and sliding under the sheet.

'Bill was right,' he thought, clearing his suddenly tight throat. 'I need to be more careful or this could get very complicated.'

His door opened with an almost inaudible squeak and a moment later, he felt the bed dip beside him. He turned his head and saw Maddy curled up on the other side of the bed. He tried to resist the urge to roll over and hold her but it was uncontrollable. He shifted, wrapping his arm around her and curving his body to fit against hers.

'Hi,' he said softly and she turned her head to smile at him.

'Sorry,' she whispered. 'I didn't mean to wake you. I was just settling Teddy.'

'You didn't wake me,' he murmured, kissing her now bare shoulder then brushing her hair out of the way to kiss her neck.

Maddy made a soft noise in her throat and moved an arm back to wrap around him, holding him closer. He felt his cock coming back to life as it rubbed against her ass and his hand moved down to stroke her clit, sliding one of his legs between hers to give him better access. She moaned and rubbed her ass over his rapidly hardening prick , their breathing speeding up.

'Jesus, Remus,' she groaned, pushing her hips back and forth, helping him stimulate her further. 'That feels so damn good.'

Her own hand left his ass and slipped between them, wrapping around his erection and stroking in time with his hands' movements.

'Maddy,' he whispered, his finger sliding into her body. 'I want to be inside you.'

'Yes,' she moaned, lifting her leg higher. 'Now. Please?'

He shifted so the tip of his erection was nudging her entrance then slowly pushed into her hot, tight body.

'Maddy,' he gasped softly. 'God, you take my breath away every time.'

She shivered in his arms then moaned as he moved, driving deep. His finger continued to swirl around her clit as he pumped slowly in and out of her.

'You're going to kill me,' she whispered, pushing herself back hard.

'Keep doing that and it'll be like our first time all over again,' he groaned, his thrusts becoming faster and more erratic. 'I won't last another second and you'll be left hanging.'

He thrust a little harder, lowering his head to bite her neck lightly. 'Fuck, do that again,' she swore and he did, scraping his teeth over her skin as he flicked her clit and she bit her lip hard to stifle her scream as she came, her arm flying back to grip his ass, fingernails digging in.

The sharp pain along with her bodies spasms made Remus explode, unable to completely muffle his own loud cry of pleasure as he let himself go inside her.

Taking several moments to pull himself together, Remus clenched his eyes tight, emotion threatening to overwhelm him.

'Jesus, I'm falling for her,' he thought despairingly. 'Snap out of it, Remus. It's incredible sex…'

But he knew it was more than that. It had always been more than that. He trusted Maddy. She trusted him. They couldn't be doing this with anyone else.

'I shouldn't be doing it with her. Bill was right. I can't keep this casual.'

Maddy turned over, her own eyes betrayed her conflict. 'We can't do this,' she said and Remus let out a breath of ironic laughter.

'How is it you always know what I'm thinking?' he grumbled, touching her face. He frowned, noticing her lip was bleeding.

'Maddy, you're bleeding,' he said, reaching for his wand.

He pointed it at her mouth and muttered a healing spell, seeing the wound close. Throwing his wand at the bedside table, he cupped her face, checking to make sure the bleeding had stopped.

'I bit my lip, honey,' she told him, amused and touched that he was so concerned. 'I'm sure I'll be fine.'

Remus looked up from her mouth to her eyes and smiled self consciously. 'Sorry,' he said with a shrug. 'Forgot you were a Healer.'

'I've nearly forgotten I was a Healer,' she muttered, brushing his hair off his face. 'I've been thinking it might be time to go back to work. Not at the hospital though - I'm ready for a change. Maybe private practice. I've got some money. Marc had insurance and they paid me when he died. I always told him I'd like to have my own practice one day. Perhaps now is a good time to really think about that.'

'Now is a great time to do it,' he said enthusiastically, even as he couldn't help noticing that there was no sign of pain in her voice or face when she mentioned her husband. 'You're a fantastic Healer, Maddy. You'd do great wherever you went.'

Maddy smiled broadly and turned a little pink in the moonlight. 'Thanks,' she said softly. They were silent for a moment then Remus asked, 'Did you call me honey before?'

She looked startled and frowned as she tried to remember. 'I…I don't know. Did I?' she stammered, looking at him. 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable..'

'You didn't,' he said quickly. 'I don't mind.'

They stared at each other. 'Once I've moved out, things won't seem so intense,' she told him, a vulnerable look in her eyes. 'I love being with you, Remus and I know things are getting a bit…complicated but I think once we aren't together all the time, the intensity will fade.'

'You think?' he asked hopefully.

'I hope so,' she said with a smile. 'I don't want to stop this. This…this is incredible.'

Remus grinned and pulled her closer. 'Yes it is,' he murmured, kissing her.


The next morning, Remus dropped Teddy at Andromeda's so he could help Maddy move her meagre belongings to her new apartment. While she unpacked her clothes, he pulled out the bits and pieces she'd taken from the house she shared with her husband. Knick knacks, books and photographs. He pulled out a framed one of Maddy and Tonks, frowning a little.

'Is it terrible that I'm doing this?' he wondered. 'Sleeping with my wife's best friend?'

He hadn't once felt like this was wrong. Complicated - yes. Dangerous - yes. But never wrong. As he gazed down at the face of his smiling and waving wife, he didn't feel guilty.

'I don't think you'd mind,' he mumbled. 'Maddy's a good person and you loved her. You wanted her to be in Teddy's life; in my life because you made her his godmother.'

He put the photo on a shelf, pulling out a few that were obviously a younger Maddy with her parents, one of Maddy holding Teddy with Harry and Remus, then saw a wedding photo. Maddy and Marc. He pulled it out, looking at the black haired man who was laughing and pulling his wife closer, kissing her on the cheek. He and Marc hadn't been particularly close but he'd liked the man and they got along well enough to entertain themselves when their wives were involved in their own conversations. Maddy looked just glorious in white, her face glowing with happiness. Wincing at the horrible, hollow feeling in his chest, he put the photo on the shelf along with the others. He frowned as he watched the couple in the photo kiss, hating himself for being jealous of a dead man.

'Done!' Maddy exclaimed as she came out of the bedroom, blowing the hair off her face with a sharp exhale. 'I've got a bag to give to charity - I don't need that many clothes and I can't really fit them into m….'

Her voice trailed off when she saw the photo's on the shelf. Moving closer, she stared at them.

'Are they alright there?' he asked, swallowing hard when he heard how choked his voice sounded.

Maddy nodded absently, still looking at the pictures. Suddenly, she reached out and took down the one of her and Marc and put it in the drawer of a sideboard. She looked at Remus, biting her lip.

'This is a fresh start,' she explained. 'I want to remember him but I want to move on - and I can't do that if I have photos of him everywhere.'

Remus was startled to realise how happy he was that she was thinking that. 'She's not moving on with you, Moony,' he told himself. 'Someone else's photo will be up there.'

They went to a nearby café for a quiet lunch then went back to her flat. 'Are you coming in?' she asked when he hesitated.

'Is that alright?' he said and she grinned.

'What do you think?' she said, grabbing his hands and pulling him through the doorway. Their lips met and they stumbled to the couch, pulling each other's clothes off.

'God, I love your ass,' he mumbled, hands cupping it as soon as her knickers hit the ground.

'Really?' she said, amused. She knelt on the couch, leaning against the back of it and wriggled her ass at him. 'Look all you like while you have at it, honey.'

Remus laughed and smacked her bare cheek, making her gasp then giggle.

'Ooh,' she said breathily. 'I like that.'

He smiled a wicked smile, pushing her legs further apart then pressed his hard cock between them. She pushed back and he groaned, guiding his erection into her soft, wet body. He plunged without reserve into her then, when he felt her tighten around him, he slapped her ass again, making her swear loudly and come hard around his cock. Her release was so strong, she forced him to suddenly climax as well, surprised by how quickly he gave in.

'Oh my god,' Maddy muttered, hanging over the back of the couch, Remus leaning heavily on her. 'I never realised I was a masochist.'

He chuckled, kissing her shoulder. 'You're a kinky thing,' he teased and she shifted, turning to sit on the couch, Remus falling down next to her.

'You were the one doing the slapping,' she retorted, poking him in the ribs.

He laughed and drew her closer, wrapping his arms around her as he fell back onto the couch. 'I didn't hurt you, did I?' he asked more seriously.

Maddy looked up at him and shook her head. 'That was incredible,' she assured him with a smile. 'I've never done that kind of thing before.'

'Neither have I,' he said softly. 'But I'll do it again. Or maybe…'

'Maybe I could slap your ass next time,' she finished, grinning at him.

He nodded and kissed her, holding her face. They lay quietly across each other for several minutes then Remus caught sight of the time and groaned. Maddy shifted to look at him.

'Time to go?' she asked and he nodded.

She got to her feet, gathering their clothes and handing his to him as he rose. They dressed and Maddy walked with him to the door.

'This is it then,' he said and she nodded.

'I'll come and see Teddy tomorrow if that's alright,' she said and Remus smiled.

'He'll love that,' he told her. 'So would I.'

Maddy smiled then let out a breath. 'We need to do this, don't we?' she asked suddenly. 'Even though this doesn't feel right, we have to do it?'

Remus nodded, reaching out to tuck strands of hair behind her ears then cupped her face.

'I think so,' he said softly, silently agreeing that this felt wrong. 'Maddy, if it doesn't work out, you can come back. You don't have to stay here. Maybe it is too soon.'

Maddy felt her stomach twist painfully and she felt ill. 'Don't be so ridiculous,' she told herself. 'I'll still see him. We'll still get to be together.'

But it wouldn't be the same.

'I'll be fine,' she murmured, taking his hands in hers. 'You'd better go and pick up Teddy.'

Remus nodded, finding it hard to actually move out the door. 'I'll see you tomorrow,' he said then leaned down to kiss her.

It was a tender, gentle kiss that made Maddy ache inside. Pulling away, he smiled.

'See you later, Maddy,' he whispered and Maddy murmured a 'goodnight'.

He turned and walked out the door then stopped when Maddy said his name. When he turned back, she was behind him and threw her arms around his shoulders.

He quickly put his arms around her as well and lifted her off her feet. Her lips met his and they kissed hungrily, Remus pressing her back against the doorjamb. Maddy's legs wrapped around him and they got completely lost in each other for long moments. When they could no longer breath, they finally, reluctantly, pulled apart, not letting go of their hold on the other.

'Well, that's a proper goodbye,' he murmured, trying to catch his breath and Maddy smiled.

'Not goodbye,' she corrected, tightening her legs. 'See you later.'

'Definitely,' he agreed, hands gripping her ass as he kissed her again.

He raised his head after a minute and sighed. 'I know,' she muttered, dropping her legs. 'I'll see you tomorrow.'

'Make it early,' he said, then gave her one last quick kiss. 'Bye, sweetheart.'

He left before he could change his mind, apparating away before he realised he'd called her 'sweetheart'.