A/N: Thank you sooo much for all of your wonderful support. I love you guys bunches!

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Remus sighed petulantly as he squirmed around in his bed. Sleep was not coming easily tonight. It might have to do with the girl who was currently sleeping in the Lupin's guest room. Yes, that's right; Lynne Lurse was spending the night at the Lupins'.

Around midnight, after both Lynne and Remus had calmed down, his mum and dad came in and told them that visiting time was over. Of course they said it nicer than that, but that was the main point. However, as Lynne opened the door to leave a massive pile of snow fell into the entrance way. Apparently no one had noticed the blizzard that was happily wreaking havoc on nature outside.

Lynne was prepared to apparate from Remus's house to Hogwarts gate, but his dad quickly forbid it. If weather was bad in England, chances are it was horrendous in Scotland. Their logic puzzled Lynne, but she did not protest too adamantly.

And thus, Lynne was corralled into the guest room with little choice. They said if the weather was calmer in the morning she could leave—if not then she would have to stay a wee bit longer. It made no difference to Lynne; she just shrugged it off and smiled kindly.

"I-I…I know t-that you will never love m-me..."

Her voice rang sadly through his head; he could still see her stifling her sobs, holding back her tears, refusing to look at him. To be honest it broke his heart.

It broke his heart to know that she knew all along he would never accept that kind of love from her, yet she did not withhold it from him. It was ripping his soul apart to know that she wasn't going to stop loving him anytime soon. He felt so wretched on the inside because all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and hold her, kiss her, love her like she deserved.

But he couldn't.

It was for the best, wasn't it?

No, he couldn't say it was; he didn't truly believe it was either. But that doesn't mean that he was going to do anything to amend it.

Tears were trying to leak through his clenched eyes. Life sucked, and he felt pathetic. He doubted James ever cried over his inability to be with Lilly—then again James always thought they were going to end up together, and indeed they did.

Remus knew that he and Lynne were never going to be. Perhaps that made all the difference perhaps that was just the excuse Remus was using.

A knock sounded at his door, and for a moment Remus's heart skipped a beat as hope over took him. Maybe it was Lynne, maybe he could tell her how he really felt and they could be together.

But his hope was overtaken with disappointment when he recognized the small form of his mother.

"Remus, dear, are you still up?" She asked quietly, peering blindly through the darkness.

A grunt was the only response she received, but being his mother that was all 'the okay' she needed. She quietly padded across his room before sitting softly on the edge of his bed.

"Is she okay?" She semi-whispered to her slightly moody son.

"About as okay as anyone can be with a broken heart." He replied dejectedly. He and his parents were very close, other than the marauders, they were his confidants. This was largely in part of the whole werewolf thing. Those kinds of illnesses tend to either bind a family together or rip them apart entirely.

Luckily the Lupins drew closer and not apart.

A soft sight escaped his mother's lips as she ran her fingers through her only son's soft brown hair, calming his frazzled nerves, but not lessening the despair he felt.

"Why is it broken?"

"Because she gave it to me." He replied, somewhat dramatically. A small smile tugged at his mothers' lips.

"She knew all along, though." He continued. "She told me so. Straight to my face. She looked so resigned…like she knew from the start it was never going to work. Why did she do it mum? Why?" He finished, his voice pleading.

His mother's hand paused as she thought carefully about her reply.

"I can't say, Hun. Perhaps she couldn't help it. Love is a very cruel mistress. Maybe she gave it to you because she couldn't find anyone else to give it too. Maybe she wanted to give it to you. You'll have to ask her those questions."

Her words did not sooth his aching heart.

"But she knew." He pressed. "She knew it was only going to hurt her in the end. How can someone do that to themselves?"

"Why do you distance yourself from those who care about you? You know it's only going to hurt you in the end." She replied peacefully.

Remus looked at her in shock. That was different! Surely she knew that.

A full blown smile overtook her face.

"Yes, it is the same thing. Goodnight Remus. Try to get some sleep, the blizzard isn't supposed to let up anytime soon so I doubt your dad will let the poor dear leave tomorrow."

And with that she kissed his forehead and silently made her way out of his room, closing the door softly behind her.

XXxxxxXxX

Remus's father was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping his morning coffee and reading the daily newspaper when Lynne walked in looking slightly disheveled.

"Morning, Sir." She said smiling brightly, causing him to smile in return.

"Good morning Lynne. Did you sleep well" He asked conversationally.

A small frown twisted her lips down as she shook her head.

"Not really, but I've never been able to sleep comfortably in any other bed but mine. It's quite a nuisance, really." She said, a smile replacing her frown as she finished her sentence.

Mr. Lupin's eyes held some emotion that Lynne did not recognize as he folded up his newspaper and gave her his full attention.

"Why don't you grab a cup of coffee? I was hoping I could talk to you one on one." His voice was friendly, but his eyes were all business. Shrugging away any discomfort Lynne did as she was told.

Sitting, she faced him blankly, waiting for him to begin.

"Remus told us some about you, but I was hoping I could hear it from you. I hope you understand that I am only being overly intrusive because of Remus's ailment. One slip up and his life could literally be endangered." His voice was firm, leaving no room for disagreement. Lynne thought it was rather touching that his family was so protective of him.

She smiled in understanding as she prepared herself to tell her story, for the second time in her life.

A faraway look overtook her hazel eyes, making the grey flecks sprinkled in them stand out noticeably.

"My mum and dad live on the other side of the forest, I was their only child and they loved me deeply. We led a very simple and secluded life. I suppose if you had to pin a religion on them it would be protestant, they were very superstitious. So when I received my acceptance letter from Hogwarts they went a little berserk and chased me out of the house. Had I stayed I think we would have had another go at the Salem Witch Trials." She said irony in her voice and a cruel smile on her lips.

"I spent the night up a tree in the forest; it was the biggest one in the forest, I had always been fascinated by it. It was a full moon that night." Her eyes settled on his, unnerving him slightly.

"I'm sure you can fill in the rest of the night. But in the morning, instead of finding a monster waiting to devour me I found Remus. He looked so fragile…and you guys cared for him so deeply. At eleven I didn't understand it, but I wanted it. I followed you guys to the other side of the forest to see where you lived. I think I honestly believed you guys lived in a completely different world than me, one that my parents hid from me, shunned me from. I remember him lying in bed; all cut up and exhausted looking. He seemed so defeated it made me want to make him smile. And since then I've been sending him letters and chocolates." She finished with a shrug, her eyes focused clearly in the present time.

Mr. Lupin rubbed his chin in thought. It was pretty similar to what Remus had told them, more in depth, but that was to be expected.

"So what is your relationship to my son?" he asked finally, causing Lynne to grin at him. She felt like she was a boy trying to take his daughter on a date—it was very amusing.

"I suppose if you had a flare for dramatics I would say 'Unrequited lover'" she giggled as he slightly choked, eyes wide at her brutal honesty.

"Although, if you're not that fond of drama, I would say I'm a dear friend." His brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to figure out the petite slip of a girl that sat before him.

"Does he know…how you feel that is?"Discomfort was rising through his calm, controlled tone. However, he kept his familiar honey eyes trained on her amused ones.

"Yup." She said smiling grandly."But you and I both know that means nothing."

He decided that he was not fond of one on one talks with Lynne, she slightly intimidated him. Which he found ridiculous, he was supposed to be intimidating her.

"He has your eyes, you know? And his mum's nose. I think it's cute."

He blinked at her, was she for real?

"You're very odd Lynne." Was all he could say.

Her bell like laughter rang through the kitchen softly as Mrs. Lupin walked in looking ready for the day. She paused momentarily to take in the sight of the small brown haired woman, barely above being a child, laughing merrily at her husband who was wearing a bewildered look on his handsome face.

Remus walked in seconds after his mother, catching the tail end of the scene. It seemed like one of those moments that should be stowed away and remembered for a very long time to come.

Mr. Lupin shook himself out of his stupor before looking up at his wife and son.

"Good morning you two, I was wondering when you would join us." He said contently. His wife smiled in return.

"So what were you two up to this early in the morning?" She asked curiously. She hoped that he didn't scare the poor girl away; he could come on a little strong at times. But from the look of it Lynne didn't seem bothered.

"We were reenacting the Spanish Inquisition." Lynne said, winking at him good naturedly. Causing Mr. Lupin to look slightly embarrassed and Mrs. Lupin to tut disapprovingly.

"I told you not to badger the poor girl." She said addressing her nosy husband who had the decency to look slightly abashed. Remus, however, looked slightly alarmed at the thought of his father drilling Lynne with questions. His fears were abated when he noticed that Lynne looked perfectly at peace sitting at his kitchen table, no trace of discomfort in her body language.

After the two newcomers were seated at the table the room took on a relaxed air. Conversations were kept light and impersonal.

"Do you suppose I will be able to leave today?" Lynne asked staring at Remus's parents. As much as she loved being around them, she didn't want to intrude on their family holiday. She also wanted a shower and a clean set of clothes.

Mrs. Lupin looked at her husband whose brow was furrowed, lips pursed in concentration.

"I'm afraid not, the blizzard has let up some but it's still pretty nasty outside. I would feel much better if you could hang tight here just a little longer." He said finally, sending an apologetic look her way.

Her head tilted to the side as she sent Remus a curious look. "Your fireplace isn't hooked up to the floo network is it?" Mr. and Mrs. Lupin looked at each other in confusion, neither were witches so both were under educated on Wizarding transportation.

Remus smiled apologetically at her. "Sorry, but no."

"What is this 'floo network?" asked Mrs. Lupin, her face screwed up in puzzlement at the strange name.

"Wizards take a handful of floo powder and throw it into the fireplace, saying clearly their destination, and poof they appear there." Remus explained. Lynne cast him a funny look at the 'and poof' part, for some reason she never imagined the word poof to be in his vocabulary.

His parents nodded their heads slowly in response. The Wizarding world is full of strange things.

"Well, then I suppose I will just wait patiently until the weather becomes more agreeable." Lynne conceded agreeably.

XXxXxXxX

By mid afternoon everyone had gotten more comfortable in each other's presence. Lynne was quickly growing on Mr. and Mrs. Lupin, they were becoming slightly attached. Remus had decided to make the most of his time with Lynne and his family, choosing to ignore his bleeding heart, and pretend for the day that Lynne was his.

Lynne was soaking up the family vibe that everyone was sending out. She hadn't realized how much she missed her own. Perhaps for Christmas she would go visit them…

"Do you think they'd be happy to see me?" She asked Remus quietly, her eyes wide at the prospect of seeing her mother and father again.

Remus couldn't help but smile endearingly at her innocent gaze.

"They would be fools not to." He said, brushing a strand of her soft brown hair behind her ear, causing her to flush red at the tender contact.

A couple hours of laughter and merriment later Mr. Lupin gave her the okay to apparate to Hogwarts, as long as she promised to be careful.

"You're coming back for Christmas Eve, right?" Mrs. Lupin asked as she gave Lynne a hug goodbye.

"As long as you guys will still have me." Replied Lynne, smiling shyly.

Mr. and Mrs. Lupin laughed and reassured her that she was more than welcome, anytime.

Remus walked her to the end of the property…she could have apparated from their living room if she really wanted, but it's always best to find a clearing before apparating.

Remus shyly took her hand on the walk down, lacing their fingers together. It was a moment that both of them would cherish for a long time.

"I know that this won't last past Christmas Eve…"Lynne said softly, staring into his emotion filled honey eyes. "It's okay, it really is…but until then, can we at least pretend?" Her hazel eyes were pleading.

How could Remus even begin to say no?

He nodded slightly, a smile starting to spread across his chapped lips. At his response Lynne's whole countenance changed. Her face shown with happiness and her eyes held the love that Remus had always craved.

"Thank you." She whispered, bringing him into a tight, meaningful hug. His arms wrapped securely around her, begging him to never let go of his precious girl.

They pulled away, both flushed, unsure of how to deal with the waves of emotion they were experiencing. Lynne tenderly cupped his warm cheek with her hand, staring into his honey eyes.

"I will always love you, Remus Lupin." She murmured, pressing her lips against his. Warmth flooded her body as tingles ran rampart on her nerves. Remus melted into her embrace, relishing in the sensation of being loved.

It was a simple kiss, one of undying love and care.

Lynne and Remus broke apart after a few moments. Love was still reflecting from Lynne's eyes as she apparated away. Leaving Remus standing dazed, staring at the spot she had just been in.

As he walked back into his house he was greeted by his mum and dad. Blinking out of his daze he tried to focus his attention on them and not the delicious kiss he had just experienced.

"You know she loves you right?" His dad asked gently, looking sadly at his only son.

Remus nodded mutely at him. Oh, he did indeed know she loved him.

"Do you really want to break her heart? You both could be so happy." His mom said wistfully. Honestly, Remus should just get over himself and accept the wonderful gift Lynne represented.

Remus's conflicted eyes met his mothers.

"What happens when I'm chased out of town for being what I am? What happens when I'm flat broke because no one will hire me? What happens if we have a kid? What about any of that says happiness?"

His words weren't harsh, but the truth supporting them was.

His father met his gaze full on, determination and a hardness that Remus was unused to shining in them.

"I don't think she would care about that. She seems used to being shunned; I honestly don't think it would bother her half as much as it does now if she had you by her side."

His father's words were said bluntly, leaving no room for argument. But even if Remus felt like disagreeing he knew that his father only spoke the truth.

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"Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart."—Marcus Aurelius.

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A/N: So what do you guys think?? More fluff than normal, but this whole story is fluff. =] I know not a lot happened but it was necessary for the coming chapters. What do you think of his parents? I wasn't quite sure how to portray them.