Remus stared into the fire at the Burrow. He'd felt horrible for lying to Aislin about where he was spending Christmas, but he couldn't rightly tell her without blowing his cover. Besides, she was in Fenrir's pocket, she might have turned on him and told Greyback. Then where would he be? At least the parts that would be left of him.

He tried to focus on something else, catching a snippet of a conversation between Harry and Arthur Weasley. Harry still didn't trust Severus after the years he'd repeatedly proven himself for the Order. Of course, Severus was no doubt just as much at fault, unable to let his hatred for James and Sirius die.

Arthur hastily excused himself as he attempted to keep his wife from turning on her son's fiancé, Fleur, leaving Remus and Harry alone for a few minutes. Remus glanced at him, the boy had grown a bit taller since he'd last seen him and was coming to look more and more like his father everyday.

"What have you been up to lately?" Harry asked him.

"Oh, I've been underground." He answered quietly, "Almost literally. That's why I haven't been able to write, Harry; sending you letters would have been a bit of a give away." He would have written the boy plenty if he hadn't been with the werewolves and wrapped in Aislin's warm embrace.

"What do you mean?" The boy asked, as precocious as ever. So he explained all about his task and werewolves stand in the war and about Greyback. He did,however, fail to mention anything about his canine lover. He didn't need the Chosen One looking at him as suspiciously as he was looking at Snape.

He crawled into his bed that night feeling hollow. He wouldn't admit to himself that he missed being with his pack, no, not his pack, it was Fenrir's pack and he was just an informant; a spy. He wasn't actually part of the group, they weren't his family. But he couldn't deny the feeling he had when he was there, it felt almost as home-like as Hogwarts had. He loved feeling like part of a family where he wasn't different. Everyone in the pack knew and experienced the same things he went through. A few of the omega's even shared his disgust at the loss of control that came with the full moon. For the first time in his life, he actually felt like he belonged somewhere. He could even understand Fenrir's dislike of wizards. Hadn't they, after all, only a few years back attempted to brand werewolves like cattle. And Umbridge had passed some new laws quite recently that made if practically impossible for werewolves to get jobs.

No, he snapped at himself, I am not agreeing with them! I was sent as an informant for Dumbledorenot to join ranks with those foul beasts. I need to convince them that they're wrong, not secretly agree with them in my heart. They are working for Voldemort. Even Aislin has the Dark Mark. I need to save them from Voldemort. I need to save her…

He fell into an uneasy sleep, dreaming of holding her in his arms but every time he went to kiss her she'd suddenly be wearing a Death Eater's mask and robes and would say something scathing about sleeping with the enemy.

The next two weeks seemed to go by in a haze, as he was lost in his thoughts of what he needed to do to save his mate. There were defining moments, however. On Christmas morning, he received a clock that pointed to each phase of the moon from Hermione and a few vials of extra strong wolfsbane potion from Kingsley, although he doubted he'd be able to use them until after he got away from the pack. Christmas day ended with a delicious feast served by Molly, there was no doubt that she was the best cook in the Wizarding world. Tonks had remained, thankfully, absent; he didn't want to put up with her accusing stares or her pining.

He left the Burrow early New Year's day, before everyone was awake, leaving a scrawled note on the kitchen table explaining his absence. The frigid morning air seemed to slap him awake. He walked out the door and Apparated to her apartment, appearing in front of her closed door.

His hand was in his pocket, about to pull out his wand when their neighbor's door opened and a sleepy looking Muggle in a business suit stepped out. Remus' hand bypassed the wand and fell on the Muggle key Aislin had given him for just such an event. It felt odd in his hand, a flimsy piece of metal as he slipped it into the keyhole. How did Muggles rely on such items for their security?

Then his heart jumped into his throat; the door wasn't locked. He pushed the door open slowly, drawing his wand; the Muggle was already around the corner waiting for the elevator. The door bumped against the wall with a soft thump as he took a step across the threshold.

The first thing he saw was a prone body lying face down in the middle of the hall. He recognized the man; he was a pack mate. His name was Jason. Remus stepped over him, becoming more and more concerned by the second. He needed to find Aislin. He needed to make sure that she was okay. He passed another pack-mate, Michelle; she was slumped against the wall beside the kitchen.

Then he turned into living room and he almost cried out as relief flooded his system. The coffee table and floor was littered with empty firewhiskey bottles and two dozen or so more figures lay prone or propped up against furniture. Aislin lay sleeping on the couch, wrapped securely in Fenrir's heavy arms. New Years party.

He turned into the bedroom they shared, intent on going back to sleep, but the bed was occupied by a young couple he'd heard rumors about. He sighed, in that case, he'd need some coffee. He made his way into the kitchen, stepping over his passed out pack-mates, careful not to disturb them.

He began working the Muggle coffeemaker, cursing once or twice as he made a mistake. But within fifteen minutes the energetic aroma of coffee was floating through the apartment. He looked inside the fridge and grabbed an apple, biting a large chunk out of it as a pair of slender arms slipped around him from behind, hands splaying across his chest.

He knew it was her; he could smell her, despite the lingering alcohol and the pervasive coffee. He turned and slid his arms around her, tossing the half eaten apple onto the counter before kissing her. She pulled herself against him and he was reminded just how much he'd missed her and his motivation was renewed. He needed to save her, if only so that he could keep his sanity.