Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Hermione/Remus/Sirius
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 1,039

Notes:

30 Day OT3 Competition/Challenge: Day 10 - Family

Pokemon Trading Card Collection Challenge: Spearow - Gold - (word) Spear

Greek Mythology Category Competition: Medusa - Alternatively, write about someone undergoing a change for the worse

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Fairytales - Task - Write about a character who shows a lot of patience. Prompts - (object) china/porcelain, (lyrics) Saltatio Mortis - Miststück: "Whoever told you that the world is turning, did he also tell you that you're standing in its centre?"

"When is Hermione going to be home?" Sirius asked as he angrily speared his vegetables with a fork.

Remus sighed. "We have to be patient; you know she's working on a big case right now."

Sirius looked down at the plate and pushed it away. "I miss her."

"I know," Remus murmured. He understood where Sirius's anger was coming from because he missed one-third of their relationship as well, but he also knew Hermione loved work, and they had to be patient.

The case would be over soon, and then things would go back to normal. He was sure of it.

"How about we clean up and go lay down in bed?" Sirius asked.

It was just after seven, but Remus wasn't going to question Sirius's desire to go to sleep early. He simply nodded.

Two weeks passed, and everything remained the same. Hermione continued to work hard, and Sirius and Remus barely saw her.

It was hard, but they got through it because they had each other.

Then the best thing happened. The case finally finished. And it finished a week before their anniversary.

Sirius and Remus planned a romantic evening with candles and the fancy china that they only used on special occasions.

They smiled at each other, sure in the knowledge that she would be home at the normal time of 5:30. After all, the case was done. She had her standard workday again.

At 6:00, the smiles were still on their faces, believing there was just a slight holdup.

At 6:30, Sirius began pacing, angrily grumbling to himself about the audacity of their lover.

And at 7:00, Sirius was furiously throwing the china against the wall.

Remus winced. He would have a lot of repair charms to perform once Sirius calmed down. "Sirius, relax."

He whirled on the werewolf. "How can you tell me to relax? Once again, she's not here. And what's the excuse this time? She's not on a case right now. What excuse are you going to make for her, Moony?" he demanded.

Remus didn't lose his temper. "I'm not making any excuse for her. We'll talk to her when she gets home, but I think we should have rational heads when we do it."

"I'm going to bed," Sirius snarled and stomped out of the sitting room.

Remus waited and when the fireplace activated at 8:00, he was up and waiting for Hermione as she stumbled in. "You're home late."

Hermione smiled, faltering a bit. Her cheeks were flushed, and he knew she had drunk a little too much alcohol that night. He wished she hadn't Flooed in her impaired state. She could have ended up Merlin knows where.

"Oh? I am. Oh well. I had dinner with a friend."

Remus narrowed his eyes. He didn't like how she placed the emphasis on the word 'friend.' "What kind of friend?"

Hermione brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. "You don't know him."

Remus swallowed, but he didn't lose his patience. He knew if he did, nothing would be resolved. "You spent tonight with another man?"

Hermione shrugged. "What's the big deal?"

Remus closed his eyes. "The big deal is it's the anniversary of the day you, me, and Sirius entered into a relationship. And you spent the night with another man."

Hermione didn't show any regret. "So? It's not like I had sex with him."

Remus tried to think really hard. Was she angry at them? Was this her way of punishing them for a crime they didn't even know they committed? "What did Sirius and I do that made you angry?"

Hermione glared at him. "Whoever told you that the world is turning, did he also tell you that you're standing in its center?"

"Then tell us what's going on. It was one thing to be late because of work, but now you're blowing us off to spend time with another man? That's not like you."

Finally, Hermione seemed to lose some of her tipsiness. "How about... It's none of your business, so leave me alone!" And she marched at of the room.

Remus massaged his temples. Both of his lovers were so hot tempered. It was hard to be the even one, in terms of emotions, but it was the burden he carried when he decided to be with two brash Gryffindors.

He wouldn't give up, either. She might be too drunk to discuss things rationally right now, but tomorrow was a new day.

And the next day, he made sure he was up before either of his lovers. Hermione was the first one in the kitchen, and opened the cabinet where they kept their potions. She grabbed the hangover potion and quickly swallowed it.

"Not in the mood to talk," Hermione whispered.

"I don't care because we have to talk. If you're unhappy about something, you need to tell us. We're not mind readers, and we can't fix it if we don't what the problem is."

Hermione looked at her feet.

Remus waited her out. He knew she wanted to talk, but she just needed a gentle push, and he had already given her that.

"I want a family," she finally whispered.

"Family?" Remus asked, not quite understanding.

A throat being cleared interrupted them, and they both looked up as Sirius walked into the room.

Remus was thankful to see there was no scowl on his face. It meant he had cooled off after the previous night.

"You want to be a mom?" Sirius asked, understanding in his silver eyes.

Remus's eyes widened.

Hermione nodded. "Yes, but you never talked about the possibility of kids, and I didn't think you'd want them. I thought that once you found out about what I wanted, you'd leave me."

"So, you were trying to push us away before we pushed you away," Remus breathed. The reason for Hermione's change of character suddenly made so much sense.

"You don't give us enough credit," Sirius mumbled, and he crossed his arms over chest.

"You should have talked to us," Remus advised.

"I'm sorry," Hermione whispered, tears running down her cheek.

Remus closed his eyes. Things were far from fixed, but now they knew the why, they could start repairing their relationship.