There were many things that Teddy did not understand as he watched his mother making breakfast. Uncle Sirius was sipping a mixture that did not smell appealing to the boy and his father was reading the paper. He watched his uncle through the side of his eyes and drew a dog on a sheet of parchment. There was an oddness about the air in the kitchen.
"Uncle Sirius," Teddy broke the silence and the animagus glanced at him.
"Yes, kid?"
"Are you going to have a baby too?"
Remus had been watching the room; he could smell something and wasn't quite sure what it was. Guilt? No, guilt wasn't as watered down. Disappointment? Still not as light but anguished. It was scent coming from Hermione and it made him wonder what she had done to cause such a smell. He was not a youth who demanded to have answers before they had developed, but he also wasn't ignorant to something being wrong.
Sirius finally answered after faking deep thought, "No, Teddy, I don't think so. I much prefer having a nephew to a son."
Hermione narrowed his eyes at the man as she started setting plates on the table. "Don't listen to your uncle. He doesn't have a clue what he wants really."
The child patted his uncle's arm, "It's alright, Uncle Sirius. I think babies are strange too."
Sirius grinned at the child, "Yes, they are. They make loud noises and holler all the time. I am sure your mommy had a hard time when you were a baby."
"Yes, but he was a good boy for me. Didn't cry too much, listened to me read and always went to bed and let his mother sleep."
"My children would be awful," Sirius announced with a nod.
Remus finally joined the conversation as Hermione sat down, "That is the understatement of the century, Pads." His smile was hidden by the paper.
Sirius chuckled and nodded as Remus set his paper down, "It would be something to see."
"I would like it if you had a baby, Uncle Sirius. Could I call him my brother too?" Teddy mused before he took a bite of his breakfast.
"Thank you for cooking, Hermione," Remus muttered and could see her trying to figure out how to answer the boy.
"Teddy, the only time you can have a brother or sister is if your father has a child or I do. He would be your cousin." Hermione said carefully and the boy shrugged his shoulders.
"This is absolutely delicious, thank you," Sirius said quietly and Remus caught the animagus's gaze.
The woman was looking at her son and trying to see exactly what he was getting at. She decided to leave it alone and eat, but the Marauders were still having a nonverbal conversation. The exchange lasted long enough for Hermione to note the two marauders staring each other down. Sirius finally conceded the contest and looked away, making Remus sit a bit straighter than usual.
"So, was James the leader of the Marauders?" She inquired as she dressed her tea.
Remus shrugged his shoulders and swallowed his food before speaking, "More or less. We usually allowed him to call the shots unless it was truly disgusting or horrible, then I would speak up."
"Moony and I did not care who led, we just were glad to be accepted and have companionship. James was like a brother to us."
"Peter was at one point," Remus reminded him and Sirius grimaced.
"I don't want to talk about him. I told you that," the animagus grumbled and sipped his bloody mary. "I have to go get ready. I have a date today." Sirius said after glancing at the clock and Hermione glared.
"A date? At ten in the morning?" Her voice was skeptical and Remus noted the trills of distaste.
Sirius drained his glass before nodding, "Well, a lunch date. I want to go get cleaned up, it has been a length of time since we have seen each other." Hermione turned back to her plate and Sirius raised an eyebrow. "I will be back for our dinner with Narcissa and her brat. Don't worry." Sirius declared simply and left the room.
Hermione continued with her breakfast and Teddy had started to go over the specifics of his drawing. She halfheartedly listened with a smile as he went on about how his Uncle Sirius was the black dog in the picture and his dad was the brown one. Remus was interested to see why his son was so incredibly accepting of his condition.
"You know what werewolves are, right, Teddy?" He asked his son.
The boy nodded and pointed at his mother, "Mom taught me all about them. Every full moon you turn into a wolf-like creature. You can be mean but as long as mom makes your medicine, you aren't. Uncle Sirius plays with you as a dog when you turn so you don't get lonely and hurt yourself."
Remus glanced between them and felt aghast at how... normal this seemed, "You don't mind?" He questioned the child.
Teddy giggled and shook his head, "No, dad. It isn't your fault and I am not scared of you because of it."
"Just remember what I told you," Hermione warned and Teddy nodded grimly.
"Mom says you don't like being a werewolf and you can still hurt us even with your medicine so that is why we will go to Uncle Harry's and Aunt Ginny's for the full moon."
The werewolf ran fingers through the boy's hair and smiled, "That's a good idea. Just because I love you so much doesn't mean I won't accidentally hurt you. Also, I can be very scary as a werewolf... your mom has seen it."
"I love mom's stories. She told me in the third year she saw you as a werewolf. Scary and loud with big sharp teeth and yellow eyes," Teddy bared his teeth and put his hands up for ears.
Remus chuckled and nodded, "I am sure she was scared. Uncle Sirius had to fight me that night. That's what they told me. I don't remember things without my medicine."
Teddy made an agreeing motion, "It's alright, dad. No matter what, I still love you."
"Alright smart boy, go get cleaned up for the day and we will head to Diagon Alley. I need supplies and if your dad is up to it, maybe we will go buy some books." Hermione said and Teddy clapped and scooped up the last of his breakfast.
He swallowed swiftly, "Thanks for breakfast, mom!" The boy kissed her cheek as he ran by and hopped up the stairs.
"It is quite interesting, Hermione. You spent years preparing your son for a werewolf father and didn't plan on me coming back until recently?"
Hermione shook her head and sighed, "I spent years teaching your son about you and your condition. It just made itself out to be perfect that way."
Remus sipped his tea to hide his smirk, "Hard to believe that you did not want someone your own age."
The witch turned red with embarrassment and cleared her throat, "Not many suitors for a know-it-all, Remus. You were the only one smart enough to realize that I had more to offer."
"Possibly, but I feel there is something unspoken between Sirius and I today. Did something happen?"
Hermione rubbed her face and looked him in the eye, "He kissed me last night. We said some pretty bitter things to each other and I asked him why we always seem to do that. In response, he kissed me and then left the room."
The werewolf raised an eyebrow, his lip twitched lightly, "Did you find yourself enjoying it more than you thought you should?"
"I enjoyed it but it felt wrong. You know I would never do anything to hurt you." Hermione was trying to gauge whether Remus was upset or not.
"I appreciate your honesty. You are a loyal witch and we haven't set boundaries yet. Would you like to discuss it?" She could see his eyes glinting in the light.
"Does it bother you?" Hermione asked him and Remus smirked.
"You ask a question you know the answer to, Hermione. Of course, it bothers me, but I am also keenly aware of my best mate's interests. I have been for quite some time."
Hermione frowned and tilted her head, "You seem quite forgiving of him for it."
"There are things about Sirius that given my years with him... I understand him better than anyone else in this world. He kissed you and walked away? That says more in measures about his feelings for me than anything." Remus finished and Hermione was scowling.
"How so?"
Remus raised his eyebrows in surprise and folded his arms, "I wouldn't walk away from you if the situation was reversed. In fact, even if I were sober when we... made Teddy, I wouldn't be able to. I would take Sirius's motto into account; apologies later than regret not doing it for the rest of my life. Then again, I am quite sure my second nature comes into account there."
Hermione lounged in her chair, "Remus, what is he going to do? I feel incredibly guilty. He deserves to be happy and I feel horrible about it now that I know."
Now that was something Remus had been pondering for days. He knew of her guilt... it was something she wasn't able to hide. He also could smell the animagus's feelings of pining and longing on the air. It was difficult and the werewolf knew for a fact that Hermione felt caught between them. "He will figure it out... we all will. This isn't the easiest spot to be in, but I will do my best to accommodate you and your feelings."
Hermione felt the relief sweep over her and she got up to close the gap between them. She straddled his lap suddenly and kissed him, making him moan in surprise and pleasure at her quick action. Remus slid his hands under her tank top and caressed her skin as she took his face in her hands to deepen the kiss.
"I could eat you up," Remus breathed when she pulled away and she smirked at him.
"I hope so..."
His fingers trailed her skin and ran over sensitive spots under the thin clothing. She was melting for him as she had done routinely over the last few days... it was a symphony that he wished to play repeatedly if she let him. He was hoping they could continue, but he heard his son running down the stairs and cleared his throat, "Teddy is coming," he removed his hands from her shirt.
Standing up she took the empty plates in hand and started to clear them as the boy ran in, "I am ready!" he announced happily.
"I am going to go get dressed for the day," Remus replied with a smile and stood up to meet Hermione at the counter.
He kissed her deeply and took his leave, "Dad is pretty happy today, mom." Teddy mused with a smile.
"I think he might be happy every day now, Teddy. He has us and that makes him the happiest."
The boy nodded and sighed, "I am glad Uncle Sirius let us stay."
"Me too, son," Hermione said with an agreeing gesture and hid her grief in a smile. "I am going to go put on some clothes. I will be back shortly. Why don't you make me a list of what we need?"
"Okay, mom." The boy pulled out a quill and parchment.
He started writing things like candy and ink which made the mother smile as she left the room... it was going to be nice to go out together as a family.