A/N: At the end.
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Chapter 11- Quirks and All
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"Ou-our family?" She asked, barely above a whisper.
Did he really just say that?
She had to be imagining things, right…?
"Mhmm." He murmured, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close again.
Oh Merlin……
"B-but……"
We can't…..
He looked down at her tear-stained face.
"Wh-what about Scrimge….?"
He brought his hand up to her face again and placed his finger over her lips and she fell silent, looking up at him curiously.
"He doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is what you want, Dora." He whispered.
"Wh-what I want….? But Remus….."
"Shhh."
"But…."
"Humor this old wolf for a moment, Dora. Please?"
She nodded and he smiled at her.
"I never wanted you to know this type of existence. I wanted to keep it from you, to keep you safe." He told her and he sighed heavily.
"All for naught. The harder I tried, the more you were pulled in. I have done the one thing I swore I would not do- I've cursed you to a life of alienation and rejection. And no apology could possibly convey how sorry I am. Your only crime was loving me too much to let me be. You were only trying to be close to me. You had no idea….." He trailed off and looked into her eyes.
"Dora, you gave me something that I never thought I would have. You gave me my fantasy. Just by holding my hand and being my friend, you made that fantasy come true and you have given me much, much more than I ever could have hoped for." He told her.
Her eyes were filled with tears again and her breathing was more shallow than usual.
I didn't realize…..
Oh……..
He took her hand in both of his.
She looked down at their hands and then back up to his eyes.
"You've done so much for me….You made my fantasy come true and, if you will let me, I'd like to make yours come true too." He said quietly.
The absolute sincerity in his eyes was so intense she almost gasped.
He was really saying these things………..
He really meant them.
Now it was her turn to speak, but she didn't trust her voice.
Merlin…..she never expected…..he wanted…..
"R-remus….do you really….." She swallowed hard, past the lump in her throat.
"Do you really want….a…a family with me?" She whispered, her voice sounding strained and a bit raspy, as she looked up into his amber eyes.
"I want you to be happy." He told her.
"Is….is that the only reason you….?"
He shook his head.
That would not be a good enough reason, much as he wanted her to be happy, and they both knew it.
"No. That's not the only reason."
"Then…?"
He cockled his head to one side and smiled.
"You gave me hope, hope I haven't felt in a very long time, when you offered to make a cherished dream into more than just a dream. I never expected you to do such a thing and despite my initial concerns, I found myself wanting to accept your offer… After James and Lily died and Sirius went to Azkaban…. I became quite used to the idea that I would live the rest of my days alone. But when you began spending time with me…. When I'm with you……"
He brushed his fingertips across her cheek.
"That night when you came to confront me….You told me that I should take a wife and have children, if I wanted. I found myself wondering if you would be that wife, if you would give me those children. And then when you told me your fantasy…. The idea sort of became cemented in my mind."
"You really thought, ….but that was ages ago…."
He had been thinking about a family with her all this time…..?
"I know."
"And the fantasy….when you asked about it later….You seemed so unhappy…." She frowned.
"Not unhappy, just….unprepared. Your little stunt did nothing to help my nerves."
She blushed slightly.
So he had figured her out…..
But by turning so that his arm was draped over her abdomen had been genius, in her opinion.
"Caught that, did you?" She asked and he nodded.
"Very well played." He told her.
"So, you really do…..?" She asked, getting back to the issue.
"Mhmm." He smiled.
"And Scrimgeour? I know you said he isn't important, but he is, Remus. If he found out…."
There was no telling what kind of things he would do….
"You are a grown young woman who wishes to start a family. Not even the Minister of Magic can interfere, no matter what he threatens. He holds no power over such matters. And thank Merlin he doesn't or there would probably be arranged marriages left and right and ridiculous marriage laws."
"But if he thought that werewolves were breeding…. He might even hurt…."
He looked her straight in the eyes as he spoke.
He knew what she was thinking. He himself had had similar thoughts cross his mind and he wouldn't put it past Scrimgeour to do something deplorable, even to an innocent child.
"I won't let anything happen to us, Dora. Or our family."
Something in his voice had changed. It was stronger somehow. And she couldn't help but believe him.
She smiled up at him and leaned closer, brushing her lips against his.
"We're getting ahead of ourselves, Remus. We're not even expecting yet…." She chuckled, her tears finally having subsided.
He chuckled too.
Then he leaned his forehead against hers and smiled.
"I believe that situation is easy enough to rectify, love."
She smirked at him.
"Would you like to?"
He laughed.
It was good to have her back to normal.
"Perhaps we should eat supper and discuss that matter a bit more first, hmmm?"
"Spoil sport."
Yup, she was back to her old self, alright …..
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"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Healer Sicarius."
Sicarius gave a small bow and smiled.
"Not at all, Minister. How can I be of assistance?"
"Today, you examined Miss Tonks, correct?"
"The Werebitch?" He asked and at Scrimgeour's nod said, "Yes, I did examine her."
"Do you believe that she poses a threat to the community at large?"
"Any werewolf is a dangerous werewolf in my book, sir."
"In your opinion, do you think she is capable of breeding more disgusting creatures?"
"Other than the fact that she is a Lycanthrope, she is in excellent health. If she has a ready mate, I believe she is more than capable of producing healthy progeny, Minister."
Scrimgeour scowled.
"I suspect you were hoping for better news, sir?"
"Indeed. I don't need a pair of werewolves repopulating the country with their monstrous brood and biting every Tom, Dick, and Harry they meet."
"Has the Daily Prophet been informed? They could spread word of her and her mate and…."
"And scare every witch and wizard that reads the paper. I'd have a full blown panic on my hands before I'd finished my morning tea." Scrimgeour interjected.
"What are you going to do then, sir? If you don't mind my asking…."
"I've no idea. Holding a seminar on the dangers of associating with werewolves has its appeal, though…."
"That will hardly stop the Werebitch from breeding, Minister."
"If you have a better idea, I'd be very glad to hear it, Sicarius."
Sicarius smiled and took a seat in front of Scrimgeour's desk.
"Minister, before I became a Healer, my line of work was….somewhat frowned upon."
Scrimgeour looked at him, waiting for more of an explanation.
"I took up my family's business and have continued it in my spare time as a bit of a hobby."
"Get to the point, please."
He didn't feel like wasting time. He was not a patient man.
"Theron Sicarius, werewolf assassin and hunter for hire, at your service, Minister." He said, giving another slight bow.
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"Remus, how many carrots did you put in here?" She asked him, looking into the pot on the stove.
"Three. Why? Too much?"
"Not if you're the Easter Bunny." She told him.
"Don't mention the Easter Bunny."
"Why not?"
"Because when I transformed in the Forbidden Forest I usually caught and killed rabbits."
"Oh… sorry…" She said, looking away.
"And the soup needs more than just noodles and broth, Nym." He told her, trying to veer her thought to a more positive subject.
"Says you."
"Yes, says me." He laughed.
"That just spoils it…" She pouted.
"How so?"
"Now I can't put ketchup in it." She grumbled.
"Ketchup?"
"Mhmm."
"You really like it like that?"
"Yep. I've always put ketchup in my chicken noodle soup, since I was little."
He shook his head and sighed as he stirred the pot.
"What? It's good. If you tried it you'd like it."
"I don't doubt it. You just….you have such peculiar tastes sometimes…."
She arched her eyebrow at him.
"And that means what, exactly?"
"Well, besides the fact that you seem to have a fondness for werewolves?" He asked.
"Werewolf, not werewolves. There's only one in particular that I fancy." She corrected.
He smiled.
"I can't wait to see the kind of cravings you have when you're pregnant." He chuckled.
Her eyes narrowed.
"At least I don't like chocolate on everything, like some people….."
"That's not true. I don't like chocolate on everything…."
"Damn near."
He sighed.
"Alright, you win."
"Thank you."
"Hungry?"
"Yeah…. I could do with some warming up. Is the soup ready?"
"Mhmmm."
"Good. I'll get bowls and spoons…" She told him and she turned to get a pair of each out of the cabinets and drawers.
"Nym, what was the name of the Healer you saw at St. Mungo's?" He asked her once they were sitting down at the table.
"Sic….Sicari….Something like that."
"Sicarius? Theron Sicarius?"
"I guess so. I didn't hear his first name, but the last name sounds right. Why, do you know him?"
"I know of him." He told her, his features darkening.
"How…?"
"Some of the people I know that have been in hiding…. They told me stories about what he's done. The Ministry of Magic in Rome banned him from Italy for his crimes and he relocated here and took up Healing."
"What did he do…?"
He looked up at her and frowned.
"He and his entire family were infamous assassins. Generation after generation trained to kill."
"That's horrible."
"That's not the worst part."
"What…?"
"The family was very secretive about their business, but Theron….He wanted everyone to know what he was doing."
"He came out and told the public that he was assassinating people?"
He shook his head.
"He said that he was purging the Wizarding world of monsters that were a threat to the safety of society."
"You mean….he was killing….werewolves?"
"Mhmm. His family made a point of only killing dangerous werewolves that endangered communities, ones that the Ministry asked them to kill. Theron was not as discriminatory as his kin."
"So he just killed all the werewolves that crossed his path?"
"That's what I'm told, yes."
"And he was my Healer…." She said; revulsion evident in her voice and a shiver ran through her.
"An obvious problem, to be sure…."
"You…you don't think he would….?"
"His family's services were retained by the Italian Ministry. When he killed werewolves that did not pose a threat, even some employed within the Ministry itself, he was immediately forced to flee or face a punishment that would have undoubtedly killed him before it was completed. When the Italian Ministry discovered that he had left the country, they banned him and washed their hands of the whole bloody business." He told her.
He looked at her pointedly before continuing.
"He has taken matters into his own hands in the past. I don't doubt that he will want to do it once again." He added.
"But….the Ministry….."
"You know yourself how Scrimgeour is. Merlin forbid Sicarius and Scrimgeour ever have a meeting of the minds."
"Jesus…… And all of my information is in those medical files…."
"Not all of your information."
"What?"
Of course it was. She had filled half of the file out herself.
"They don't know that I'm the one who infected you, do they?"
"No…."
She wouldn't put that in the file.
"And they don't know that you are here, do they?"
"No…."
She never would have put that in the file either.
"Then that's something." He smiled.
"But they know where my flat is. I can't go home."
All well in good that she could stay someplace safe for the night, but…..
"Dora, you are home."
"Remus….?"
Did he just…?
"Stay with me. Not just for tonight."
Damn! The look in his eyes…..
Her knees went weak and she felt delightfully lightheaded at the moment.
"You realize, we're probably doing things all backwards…and you should have asked me that first, don't you?" She managed.
He smiled at her.
"Stay with me?" He asked, his eyes shining.
"Damn it! Why do you have to do that?"
"Do what, love?"
"Look at me like that! It just….it makes me melt every time."
"So, does that mean that you'll stay?"
She chuckled at him and shook her head.
"Do you really need to ask me that?"
"No." He smiled. "I already know your answer."
And she smiled at him.
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"I hope you don't mind…I assumed hot chocolate would be alright." He told her as he sat down beside her on the sofa and handed her a mug.
"More than alright." She smiled as she accepted the mug and took a sip.
"Mmm. That's much better." And she put in down on the coffee table beside his mug.
"What is?" He asked her.
"Having chocolate in my system." She said, as if it should have been obvious.
"Are you warm enough?"
"Eh….." She said, gesturing a 'sort of' motion with her hand.
He smiled at her, understanding her meaning, got up and started a fire in the small hearth, then sat back down beside her and pulled a blanket off the back of the sofa and draped it over her.
"Better?"
"Almost." She told him and she snuggled up to him and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Now?" He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Perfect."
"Not hard to please, are you?" He smiled down at her.
"Nope." She smiled back.
They sat in companionable silence for a time, watching the logs in the fire burn, the only sounds to be heard were the crackling flames and the slow and steady breathing of the sofa's two occupants.
It was the most relaxed either of them had been all day.
"This is nice." She said quietly.
"It is." He agreed.
"Remus?"
"Hmmm?"
"I know we can't do this every night, but….. Can we do it as often as we can?" She questioned.
She really liked just sitting with him on the sofa and enjoying the quiet.
"I think so." He smiled and pulled her against his chest.
She smiled too.
"Dora?"
"Hmm?"
He looked down at her and her turquoise eyes sparkled up at him in the firelight.
"Can I keep you?"
Someone's been stealing lines from Casper….. And he doesn't even know it. He's probably never even heard of Casper….
"Only if I get to keep you." She bargained
"Deal."
She leaned closer to him and smiled.
"Deal." She whispered and she kissed him soundly on the lips.
He returned the kiss and deepened it, just slightly before pulling away, making her sigh at the loss of contact.
"Ready for bed?"
She shook her head and snuggled closer, burying her face in his sweater.
He smelled like fresh rain. But the hazelnut scent had changed…. Now it was more like cinnamon. Still very rich, but much sweeter.
"Not yet. I want to stay out here a bit longer….." She whispered, her arms tightening about him as she spoke.
"Then I think a change in seating is in order…." He whispered and he turned his body to face her.
She smiled and turned her back to him and he wrapped his arms around her from behind and pulled her against his chest and she snuggled back against him into his hold, his legs on either side of her.
When she closed her eyes, she felt like she was home. He had said that she was home, but she didn't believe it until that moment when he pulled her against him and wrapped her in his arms.
Her flat.
His apartment.
They were just buildings, rooms that they occupied.
He was her home.
"Better?" She asked.
He rested his cheek against her temple and smiled.
"Mhmm."
She could feel the gentle rumble of his reply ripple through her back.
Now that was a pleasant sensation……
Having her there, in his arms…..
Everything was right in his world for the moment and he was home, with her.
"Good." She whispered and she draped the blanket so that it would cover him as well.
He sighed and inhaled the scent of the shampoo she had used.
It was odd to smell his shampoo on her hair, but he found it strangely intriguing. He liked the mix of smells- hers and his together. There was just something…..extremely comforting about her sharing his smell…..
And the feel of her in his arms…..
As far as he was concerned, nothing could top that, not even chocolate.
"Mmm….I could get used to this." She murmured, leaning back against him a little more.
"Me too."
She chuckled.
"What is it?"
"We're acting like a couple of love-sick teenagers." She giggled.
"I don't think so….."
"Why not?"
He leaned closer to whisper to her.
She turned her head to look at him and their faces almost touched.
"Because I don't have to wonder if I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you."
I will.
That was the one thing she loved most about his eyes. She could read them, always.
"Sure you can handle me?"
He chuckled.
"I seem to recall asking you that very same question."
She smiled.
"Are you sure, are you certain?" She was serious now. "Because I'm not likely to change anytime soon. I'm a klutz and I mess up a lot and I talk too much and…."
"And I love you." He interjected, touching the tip of her nose with a finger and she quieted.
"Quirks and all?"
She stayed with him and loved him in spite of his quirks, and even because of some of them. It was the same for him. He had grown accustomed to many of her quirks and had come to love them, because they were part of who she was. And he loved her.
"Quirks and all." He smiled.
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A/N: Finally! Sorry about the delay. I unfortunately started my Fall semester last Tuesday and my schedule's been a bit tied up lately. Plus I managed to catch a cold that's been going around, so I haven't been writing as much because of that and I had to go to Bike Night on Saturday, so...yeah, been busy. Okay, now onto the good stuff! Theron Sicarius-translates to Hunter, Assassin, Murderer. I thought it was appropriate. He's a right piece of work, ain't he? And chicken noodle soup! I could use some now, lol. And yes, before you ask, I DO put ketchup in it (but only when it's just noodles and broth- and not that stuff from Campbells!). It really is good and I totally recommend trying it. I really couldn't help myself with this chapter. So fluffy! But I especially like the end. All cuddled up together on the sofa... I'm jealous! Tonks is a lucky girl... Thanks for reading and reviewing this story so far. I hope you enjoyed this latest bit of cavity inducing sweetness!