Author's Note: Hello again readers! I apologize in advance for the considerable shortness of this chapter; however I promise that the next chapter will make up for it! If it's any consolation, this chapter happens to have some good amount of fluff in it.

Also, I came upon the sudden realization that it can be confusing for readers to constantly be switching their brains from Luna to Remus to Luna POV and I apologize for that, however, that's just how I write! I don't really have a formula for dividing up POV time amongst characters (is there a formula?) and I'm afraid I would find it rather difficult to have to be constantly thinking about how to write certain parts if I can only do it from a pre-decided POV.

Finally, as I am finishing writing this story (don't worry, you still have many more chapters to go!) I am in the process of beginning to write down ideas for another fanfic I might possibly write. For those of you who are interested, this fanfic is shaping up to be one with a Draco/Luna pairing (I just adore Luna obviously). And for those of you who care about such things, just from the initial brainstorming, it looks like the majority of that fanfic would be told in Draco's POV.

It's still quite rough and I'm still working on an outline, however let me know if that's something any of you would be interested in, would like to know a little more about, or would like to bounce ideas! I might even take some suggestions or requests some readers may want to see (Merlin knows I have a million requests for fanfics I'd like to see).

oOo

Remus tugged nervously at his robes as he stood outside of Shell Cottage two days later.

He was more nervous than he could remember being in quite a while. You would think that having already gotten over the first step of actually kissing Luna he wouldn't be quite this restless. He'd known it before, but now there was no doubt that not only did Luna liked him, she wanted to be with him. She didn't care about what he was or what he owned or didn't own, and she didn't care what other people might think. All she cared about was that she wanted him. She wanted Remus and she wasn't going to let anyone get in her way, including Remus.

Despite all this though, Remus couldn't help but feel the small- big- sense of anxiousness in the pit of his stomach. The only explanation was that he was unsure.

Despite all that he knew, Remus was unsure what would happen to them. Remus was an older man. He knew it was easy to say you cared for someone and make promises. What was difficult was making it work.

Remus cared for Luna deeply, he knew this like he knew his own two hands. He also knew that more than likely, the future would not be easy for them, or certain.

Then the door opened.

"Remus."

And for a moment, Remus forgot to breath and all thoughts of the future and its challenges vanished from his mind.

Luna was smiling up at him like he was the only thing that existed in the world. She looked absolutely perfect in her grey wool dress and stockings. Her hair was free and there was a natural blush to her cheekbones, just waiting for his lips.

Luna grinned at him and finally Remus's brain had enough oxygen for him to respond with his own grin.

"Would you like to come in?"

"Um," Remus blushed at his inability to speak.

Luna's eyebrows furrowed in a confused but amused way.

"We can walk instead," Luna suggested.

Remus nodded quickly, "Yes, let's walk."

Luna smiled and went to grab her coat, boots, and a bag before rejoining Remus outside. Together the two made their way down to the sand as they had many times before, only now it was different.

They walked in silence for some time, and just when Remus was beginning to gather his thoughts once more, Luna spoke. "Have you been overthinking?"

Remus started and side glanced at Luna curiously. It seemed that once again he had underestimated the Ravenclaw. Remus could feel himself relaxing as he asked, "What makes you say that?"

"You seem like the type to do that," Luna smiled teasingly.

Remus smirked looking away, "You've got me all figured out then?"

"No, not completely," Luna shook her head.

Remus was unsure what to make of that and continued to stare ahead. Despite the fact that Luna knew he was an over-thinker, and as much as he knew this was a trait he knew he wanted to work on, he couldn't help it. New Year's night had been one of the best he's ever experienced. He couldn't remember the last time he had been as happy as he had been when laying on his couch with Luna in his arms in that beautiful dress.

He'd stand by his word, whatever it was he had with Luna, he was tired of avoiding it. He had feelings for Luna and she for him, and he wasn't sure he wanted to let what they could have slip by his fingers.

But he simultaneously also meant what he'd said that day in the hall at Hogwarts. Luna was too young, and too respected and loved by those around her to be tainted by the likes of him. He cared what other people would say, what they would say about him, but mostly what they would say about her.

"Do you remember that day in your office at Hogwarts?"

Remus almost reeled at how Luna had chosen to draw Remus from his thoughts. He blinked, bringing himself back to the here and now at the beach with Luna.

"What?"

"That very last day," Luna specified, her blue eyes shining up at him.

Remus did recall that day. That day he had set to work packing all his belongings from his office in the DADA classroom, Harry had not been his only visitor that day.

He remembered young, twelve-year old Luna Lovegood skipping into his office with her wand tucked behind her ear and small red flowers in her wild blonde hair.

Remus paused from carefully stacking his vinyl records into his trunk at the sound of Luna's entrance. He briefly thought it a tad impolite that the girl had not knocked before entering his office, but then again he had left the door open.

"Can I help you with something Miss Lovegood?"

Luna stopped skipping to stare around at Remus' office. "Are you going on a trip Professor?"

Remus ignored the tightness he felt in his throat and cleared his throat, holding his hands behind his back, "No Miss Lovegood. Actually, I'm leaving Hogwarts. I'm afraid I will no longer be a professor here."

Luna's eyes had widened momentarily before she got distracted by one of the many trinkets in the office. Luna lightly poked at a globe he had on his desk and Remus had half a mind to politely ask her if she was quite done when Luna spoke.

"Is it because they've discovered you're a werewolf, sir?"

Remus swore his heart stopped as he gaped at the words. Luna paid no mind to his momentary inability to speak, continuing to turn the globe casually as if she had just mentioned the weather and not his condition.

Had Harry and his friends told her? They seemed to understand the importance of maintaining the events of the last few nights a complete secret, despite their youth. What's more, it was unlikely they had spoken word of it to Luna as he didn't even think they and Luna ran in the same circles.

"H-How did you-"

"I've known since the first full moon first semester. Professor Snape seems awfully jealous."

Remus didn't think Snape was jealous so much as prejudiced and bitter.

While Remus was still contemplating how the younger girl could possibly know Luna seemed to lose interest with the globe and beamed up at him.

"Well, I wish you luck sir. I must say you were a much better professor than Professor Lockhart."

Before Remus could interrogate Luna further, she had skipped out of his office as quickly as she had arrived. It was almost as if she had never been there in the first place, the only evidence to her having been there at all being a small red flower on his desk that had fallen from her hair.

Remus picked it up, the color of the flower briefly reminding him of another girl who had once also guessed his condition. It seemed Luna had joined Lilly Evans and Hermione Granger in the club of young intelligent women who had guessed what he truly was and sincerely did not care.

Remus remembered being somewhat concerned that Luna would help spread what she knew, but had quickly dismissed that thought as ridiculous. Luna had known what he was since the beginning of term and had continued to attend and enjoy his classes, never having told anyone what he was. She was strangely very alright with the knowledge of what he was, but then he figured, if anyone was to be accepting of what he was, it would be the unique character of Luna Lovegood.

"Of course I remember that day," Remus murmured quietly, a faint smile on his lips.

Luna smiled faintly at him and stopped walking and so did Remus.

Luna stared imploringly at Remus. "I kept your secret all year second year. I never spoke a word to anyone about it, and I'm alright with not speaking about us now."

Remus swallowed, somewhat uncomfortable with the passion in the younger girl's eyes, "Luna, I don't want you to think I want to keep us a secret."

"But you do."

Remus groaned, "Luna-"

"You do and I understand why," Luna's eyes furrowed. "I'm not naïve Remus. I know there will be people who don't understand, who would try to keep us from each other, who would judge us, you especially, and that's the last thing I want."

Remus grinned, "I thought you didn't care what other people thought."

Luna smiled at him, and for a moment Remus thought she seemed much older than her age. "I don't, but I do care what you think, and you're an over-thinker. I know that if we told everyone immediately about us when we're still discovering us, it might cloud how you feel about us."

"Luna I wouldn't-"

"You wouldn't intend to, but it might happen, and I understand. I want us to try this on our own, without any other influence." Luna bit on her bottom lip, "So…if no one knew about us for a little while, I would be alright with that. I just care about being with you."

Remus hoped that Luna's hearing had not improved so much that she could hear his heart pounding.

It seemed that once again Luna's being in Ravenclaw had proved itself. Everyone knew Hermione was the smartest witch of her age, but the more he thought about it, from what Remus remembered Luna had been just as smart as Hermione and perhaps even smarter in other things outside academics.

Remus nodded at Luna, a smile tugging at his lips.

Luna grinned at him and Remus could feel his heart skipping again.

Luna pressed her lips together and then blushed adorably before breaking eye contact with him. Luna reached into her bag and pulled out a package wrapped in red and white paper, all tied up with brown twine and a silver bell.

Remus' eyes widened, "What's that?"

"Well I was a little distracted Christmas day and forgot to give you this."

"Luna you didn't have to," Remus felt his stomach sinking, "I'm afraid I haven't gotten anything for you."

Luna shrugged, still blushing prettily, "You don't have to. You can consider it a thank you gift for showing me the ins and outs of all this werewolf business."

Remus smirked and sighed, taking the package from Luna's hands and began to carefully opening it. Remus bit down his grin and pulled out the pajamas folded neatly inside.

They were lovely pajamas, Gryffindor red, and the best quality that he had ever owned. They were just pajamas, but Remus was certain Luna must have used a considerable portion of her first paycheck from Slug and Jiggers Apothecary.

"Needless to say, you probably shouldn't use these on full moons," Luna smiled.

Remus let out a bark of laughter before wrapping his arm around Luna and pulling her close, kissing those smiling lips. Laughter rumbled in Luna's throat and Remus nearly melted when she wrapped her arms around neck.

She was perfect.

And she was his.

oOo

Luna laughed at the description Remus was reading from a particularly bad muggle teen novel that had werewolves in it.

It was the lunch hour and Luna and Remus were currently in Flourish and Blotts stock room during the lunch hour. It was a small room, and it didn't help that nearly each and every space of it was occupied with stacks of books.

Luna herself was currently seated on the last step of the stairs leading into the downstairs stockroom while Remus sat across from her on a small stack of books. The space was so small that their knees were brushing against each other, but Luna didn't mind that. She was enjoying the closeness. She enjoyed the feeling of Remus' pants again her bare knees.

It had been two weeks since the day at the beach when Luna had given Remus his Christmas present, and they were some of the loveliest weeks Luna had ever had.

Granted, now that they were both working and Fleur was spending more time at home now that she was six months pregnant, Luna had limited alone time with Remus. They had taken to visiting each other at their respective work places during lunch or breaks as it appeared to be the only time they could spend together without worrying about friends catching on to the change in their relationship. Admittedly, they had only spent time at Luna's work twice due to Remus not being able to stand the terrible cabbage smell of Slug and Jiggers.

Luna still shivered slightly in pleasure when she thought of last night, when Remus had come over to dinner at Shell Cottage. Luna had jumped at the chance to walk Remus to the door when the night had come to its natural close. Luna still felt warm as she recalled how Remus had bent down to whisper to her to meet him tomorrow at the bookstore for lunch, his lips brushing intentionally against her ear.

Remus laughed and snapped the book shut.

"Oh no, why'd you stop," Luna teased, giggling.

"I'm proud to say I've always stood up for the muggles whenever wizards and witches say that their published literature is complete trash. I've read Fitzgerald, Austen, Bronte, Steinbeck, Hemmingway and countless others. This, however, this is just embarrassing."

Luna laughed, throwing her head back. It was fun seeing Remus this way, playful and light.

Luna knew she had been right. The past two weeks all those hidden moments with Remus Luna would treasure for the rest of her life. It wasn't even just because there was a thrill to having Remus kiss her behind bookshelves, a small bout of adrenaline rushing into her system at the thought that someone could accidentally see them.

It was more that for the past two weeks she had gotten to spend time with and learn Remus in a way she wouldn't have if anyone else had known about them. There was a certain freeness Remus was allowing himself when he was with her that he wasn't sure he would have had if anyone knew about them, or if they had allowed others to see them.

Their moments had been short in nature, but it had been enough to learn things about Remus she might not have known otherwise.

She knew Remus' book and music preferences, she knew how he liked his coffee, and she knew that he had a weakness for antiques. She knew that he abhorred lateness, when smart people pretended they weren't smart, and when people were overtly nosey in private business. She knew he respected honesty, hard work, and determination. She knew what his relationship had been with his parents, how much he truly loved Bill and Harry, and how dearly he missed Sirius.

The more she learned the happier Luna became that she had him in her life, that she had the privilege of getting to learn him in a way not everyone did, in a way she thought perhaps not even Harry knew.

She also knew now with great familiarity the places on his palms that were rougher than the rest of his hand. She knew the shape and size of his hands as they ran over her back and the pressure with which they gripped her hips. She knew the texture and shape of his lips and the way his tongue slid into her mouth. She knew the coldness of the tip of his nose as it brushed against her cheekbone. She thought it funny how even when his lips and cheeks were warm, the tip of his nose was almost always cold.

Remus sighed then and one glance at the clock in the room let her know that their time was nearly up.

Luna's eyes locked with Remus' who frowned regretfully at her. Then Remus perked up as he stood, unintentionally reminding her of how tall he was.

"I actually have something for you."

"Is it another turkey sandwich, because this was actually quite good," Luna called after him, stealing the last bite of Remus' unfinished sandwich.

Remus laughed from behind one of the overflowing shelves. "Not quite."

When he came back Remus grinned mischievously at her, sitting back in his spot and with his hands suspiciously behind his back.

Luna bit her bottom lip, "What is that?"

"Close your eyes," Remus smirked.

Luna grinned and then closed her eyes expectantly until she felt a solid weight placed on her lap. Luna opened her eyes to find a book on her lap.

"It's not much but I believe it's what you've been looking for," Remus said quietly.

Luna bit down her smile as she read the title of the book.

5,000 Plants: Smells, Tastes, and Textures by Phyllida Spore & Arsenius Jigger.

Luna giggled uncontrollably as Remus explained, "If there's anything that might possibly counteract that terrible cabbage smell, it's in there."

Luna grinned and leaned in to press her lips to Remus', enjoying the warmth radiating from his cheeks. Luna could feel her entire body relaxing as Remus kissed her back, resting his hands on her legs just above her knees. Luna let her hands cup Remus' face gently, happy that the older man no longer jumped in surprise every time she initiated a kiss.

When Luna pulled away from the kiss to breathe, she stayed near sharing breath with Remus, stroking his cheekbone. Luna's eyelids felt heavy as she let her thumb brush over the two freckles under Remus' left eye. Remus' amber eyes seemed to be melting darker as he stared at her.

Luna breathed a small laugh, completely aware of the bruise her heart was beating against her chest.

She wanted a little more.

Luna leaned in for another kiss, sliding her lips against his, feeling bold and tentatively touching her tongue to Remus' bottom lip. Remus' breath was shaky as he parted his lips to let Luna explore his mouth, the grip he had on her thighs getting marginally tighter. Luna was almost scared at the speed with which her heart was beating as she let her hands sneak to the nape of his neck, pulling him closer and playing with the ends of Remus' hair.

Luna could feel their kisses becoming quicker and heavier and then Remus bit down on Luna's bottom lip and she couldn't help the small moan that escaped her.

Or the smell that she suspected she had exuded that day on the beach that she was sure had given Remus his first hint of her feelings for him.

Remus must have smelled it too.

"We should start getting back," Remus whispered between kisses, "Lunch is almost over."

Luna smiled shakily, nodding and pulling away enough to rest her forehead against his to catch her breath.

Remus smiled too and reached up to brush her hair away from her cheek, his fingertips tickling her skin.

"Thank you for my gift," Luna whispered, her nose brushing against his.

"Anything," Remus whispered, pressing one last kiss to her lips before helping her up and holding her hand nearly all the way out, watching from the Flourish and Blotts window as Luna made her way to Slug and Jiggers.

oOo

"This is starting to feel normal," Bill commented.

Bill and Remus were on the beach at work setting up the wards to keep Luna and him contained and protected during the night. As it stood now, Remus figured they had about half an hour left before the moon rose.

Remus snorted, "Welcome to my life."

"And Luna's now," Bill pointed out.

Remus tried not to think of a shared life with Luna. Merlin knew that was not at all what Bill had meant.

"Yes, she's acclimating quite well," Remus acknowledged, thinking back to earlier when they had all been sitting around the kitchen table sharing dinner before they prepared for the night's activities.

Luna was like a tornado of blonde hair and wildflowers. She was practically dancing as she moved about the kitchen preparing dinner, giving Fleur respite and insisting the older woman remain seated. Luna had served them the most beautiful Italian dish and then proceeded to chatter basically nonstop throughout dinner.

Remus knew this hyperactivity was a result of a common werewolf symptom hours leading up to the full moon, but he still enjoyed seeing Luna so bouncy and excited. Remus himself was having difficulty keeping his body still, but Luna was on an entirely different level.

The most hyperactive part of Remus was his mind. It was very much near torture sitting across his beautiful witch in the company of loved ones he was comfortable with who didn't know Luna was his witch.

One other bothersome symptom of being a werewolf was that sex-drive tended to go up in the days leading up to the full moon, particularly when a werewolf had a mate. This was a symptom even Bill occasionally suffered from, as was evidenced from the strong smell coming from Bill and Fleur's room that Remus had caught earlier as he'd passed on his way to the bathroom. This was evidenced as well by the arousal Luna had experienced last month in the moments before they had turned.

All day Remus had been plagued with nothing but thoughts of the little Ravenclaw and was embarrassed by himself of the number of time's he'd had a cold shower that day.

So far Remus' and Luna's interactions had been fairly innocent, customary of a new relationship. They'd shared many kisses with only a few particularly heavy snogging sessions and a clear limit to the amount of wandering their hands made. This was all mostly due to Remus' own reluctance and fear that he would unintentionally push Luna for more than she was ready for.

They'd yet to talk about each other's respective romantic pasts, but considering the way Luna's enthusiastic responsiveness to a simple squeeze of her waist and a nip of her bottom lip, Remus would say that Luna's experience was sorely limited. In fact, Remus was willing to bet with almost complete certainty that Luna was a virgin, never before touched by a man.

Completely pure.

Remus had shifted uncomfortably in his seat, urging his blood to return immediately from its sudden rush southward.

He had spent the rest of the dinner trying to ignore how lovely Luna smelled and pushing away thoughts of how pretty Luna's blush was when she was short of breath and how the tendons of her lovely pale neck stretched.

As Remus and Bill finished setting up the final wards, Remus couldn't help but still think of Luna's pale skin, however his intent had strayed from lustful.

Remus had yet to bring it up, but he had not forgotten the fact that despite being a werewolf now, apart from the bite that bastard Greyback had left on her, Luna's skin was completely perfect and unmarred, a complete contrast to his own.

Remus was glad for Luna's sake that, for the most part, her skin was unblemished, but it did not answer the question of why. In Remus' experience all it took was one transformation without wolfsbane for a werewolf to self-inflict harm if he or she could not bite a human in his or her own place.

Luna had undergone three entire transformations without the wolfsbane.

Something wasn't adding up.

Before Remus could ponder more on it, he sensed Fleur and Luna's precense.

Sure enough, one glance at the cottage confirmed that Luna and Fleur were making their way down to the beach. Remus quickly looked away. In his state, even the sight of Luna's bare feet were embarrassingly enough for him to have to adjust his sweats if he remained staring for too long.

oOo

Remus was dreaming of sneaking into Honeydukes far after closing time. The sugary smell was like a drug for Remus' nose. He was surrounded by countless sweets all wrapped in colorful paper just waiting for his teeth to rip apart. It all looked so very tempting, he wasn't sure where to start.

Remus took a step forward only to regrettably discover that he had not watched where he was stepping and consequently found himself falling through the trap door leading into Honeydukes' cellar.

"Remus."

Remus started awake finding himself on one of the rather comfortable couches of Shell Cottage and staring up into another tempting sight.

"Luna," Remus breathed, focusing his eyes on Luna who was kneeling by the couch, her lovely face higher above his for once.

"Were you having a bad dream," Luna whispered, her blue eyes widening in concern. Remus was momentarily touched at how concerned she appeared over something as harmless as a bad dream.

Remus urged his body to relax back into the soft cushioning as he quietly caught his breath.

"No, it was a rather good dream actually," Remus shook his head. "I was trapped in Honeydukes."

Luna giggled quietly, "That does sound like a good dream."

Remus smiled and the two were quiet for some time. Remus was enjoying this quiet space they were sharing, the living room dark with only a few rays of moonlight peeking in through the windows. One such ray was streaked across Luna's face, illuminating her pert nose and small lips. Remus could stare at her all night.

Luna was beginning to blush, and just when Remus was thinking of teasing her for it, Luna leaped to her feet and whispered conspiratorially, "Come up to my room."

Remus had been told this combination of words a few times in his lifetime, and each time his young healthy body had wasted no time at acquiescing to such requests, aforementioned body being rewarded bountifully.

For the first time in his life however, that combination of such words produced a feeling of dread and uncertainty within Remus.

Luna for her part seemed not at all bothered in the slightest.

Luna must have noticed the look of dread that must have been on his face because her eyes suddenly twinkled mischievously as she backtracked, "Don't worry, I've only made us some food. I thought we could have it in my room."

Luna shot him a wink that did nothing to assuage Remus' nervousness before she tiptoed her way back upstairs to her room, where she and the food she had prepared sat waiting for him.

Remus spent some time contemplating why they couldn't have their food downstairs in the living room as they had last time, or the kitchen where meals were supposed to take place. However, after it became clear that Luna would not be coming back down Remus got up. He folded his blankets neatly so as to attempt to slow down time but eventually had to make his way upstairs.

Luna's bedroom was the same room Remus had slept in a few times before Shell Cottage on nights he had had a little too much of the elvish wine with Fleur and Bill. Remus noted however, that none of those times had he ever entered this room to find a pretty witch sitting on the bed with two plates of breakfasts foods that she had prepared for them.

Luna smiled at him warmly, and Remus would have thought that she was the picture of innocence in her purple and blue plaid pajamas had she not used her wand to close the bedroom door behind him.

Remus could feel his chest tightening, though whether it was from excitement or nervousness he could not tell.

oOo

Author's Note: As always, please review comments, questions, or concerns!