Albus sat in the chair next to the bed. It had been almost a day since he was able to visit his friends, but he was staying now. He had told those who wanted to know where Harry Potter was to search for him for themselves. Not that he blamed Harry for leaving. There was very little he regretted more than the way he forced James and Lily's son to be the hero of the Wizarding world. Their ghosts would never forgive him and he wasn't sure that he would ever forgive himself. He didn't even blame Harry for leaving in such a dramatic way. If the boy was smart, he'd stage something that would be taken for his death and take on life for himself.

He definitely didn't let anyone who wanted to talk about the politics of the situation talk to him anymore. It was more than obvious that Fudge was incompetent and Albus had a sneaking feeling that once they finished going through the evidence, also a death eater, but he had no desire to get all tied up in that until and unless he absolutely had to. Nothing good came of the messy side of politics.

He also didn't let himself think of the many funerals that were coming. The battle had been necessary, and they had done their best to minimize the losses. And who knew how much greater their losses would have been without the valiant sacrifice the pair before him had made. But there were still a depressing number of people who would never see their families ever again. Voldemort had been an expensive evil to destroy.

No, Albus had eventually had enough and left everyone who wanted to talk to him. He sat at the bedside of the two who had turned the tide and laid in a coma for their efforts. There had been enough ambient magical energy still in the room where they had been found to burn the skin of an unwary person and Albus still wasn't sure why their bodies were still intact, much less alive. But the two slumbered on in a deep coma. All efforts to awaken them had failed, even those of the two children whom Poppy had not had the heart to separate from them and who even now slept in a pile on the third bed in the room.

Even though they had refused to be separated from the two adults, the children had been the most confident out of everyone who had seen the pair. Poppy had been sympathetic about it, but her most delicate and extensive tests hadn't shown any sign of mental activity in either man. The expert from St. Mungo's had not been as polite and now had bruised shins and at least one bite from the children. Poppy had promptly sent the pompous idiot on his way, but the children were still distraught. They had spent several hours begging and pleading with the pair, but they were still unconscious. Poppy had had to give them a calming potion mixed in with their supper.

Albus stayed at the side of the bed, silently wishing that wither of them would turn over and open their eyes. It had been a long day, so it was unsurprising that he fell asleep. He woke up, but didn't open his eyes when he heard childlike voices behind him.

"shh, Selene. He's doing the legi-helping thing. We can't interrupt him."

"no he's not, George. He's sleeping. I heard him snore. Remus didn't snore when he was doing the legilmency thing."

"he's older than Remus. Maybe he needs to snore when he's doing the legilmency thing."

Albus decided that now was the time to open his eyes. "No children, I don't need to snore when I'm helping people. Selene was right, I was asleep. But please tell me more about this helping thing. Did Remus use legilmency?"

The two children looked at each other. Albus held his breath, hoping they would talk to him. Neither of them had talked a lot since they had been rescue other than to protest being separated from Remus and Severus. Albus hadn't even known for sure what the little boy's name was and now he was hoping that they help him. They were looking even more uncertain now and Albus risked speaking once more.

"I only want to help them. If you want, I can do everything right here in front of you so you can be sure that I don't hurt them."

"That won't help for this. Legilmency only happens in your head. That's what Remus did to fix Severus. That's what George says you need to do to fix them now."

Now Albus was sure he understood what Remus had done before. "Yes, legilmecy happens in the head. How's this, I'll give you my wizarding bond. I promise that I will not harm either Remus or Severus in any way."

The two children looked at each other. George shrugged, then Selene spoke up.

"Remus said that Severus was using occlu something to protect himself from the pain, only he didn't know when to stop protecting himself so he wouldn't wake up all the way. So Remus did the legilmency thing and went in to help Severus wake up, only it took him a really long time and he got really hurt."

"I see. That makes sense. And don't worry about me getting hurt or it taking a long time. I've done it a lot longer than Remus has so I'm better at it. I'm going to try."

"We'll be lookout." George said softly and Albus' heart ached at the sight of two young children taking up defensive positions between him and the door. But Albus didn't weant to disappoint so he took a deep breath and focused. {Severus first. He may have more defenses but he'll also be more coherent. Then the two of us can work on Remus.}

Touching the Severus' mind was like touching a live wire and Albus automatically pulled back. But he didn't give up. With a determined grunt he plunged back in and ignored the energy that was singing down his nerves. Severus' mind was just like when Albus had touched it before and he took it as a good sign. The energy flow hadn't driven Severus insane, it had only overlaid a fine layer of energy over the whole. As soon as Severus' body managed to equalize the levels, Severus would wake up.

Albus was about to pull out and go check on Remus when he noticed that the energy that was overlaying Severus' mind seemed to be flowing from a particular direction. Albus followed the flow, ignoring the increase in energy and suddenly found himself in Remus' mind. Remus' mind was not as well organized as Severus' and Albus could see many places that were burnt or disordered. But he also saw that these places were healing. When he touched one, he didn't just feel Remus, he felt Severus as well and he now understood why Severus was not awake.

Albus opened his eyes and smiled. Selene saw the smile and piped up.

"You weren't in there very long. You really that much better at it than Remus?"

"Yes."

Selene crept closer. "They're not awake yet."

"They will be soon. Severus is fixing Remus."

"See Selene! I told you that Severus loved Remus back! I told you!" George was doing a little happy dance all over the room.

Selene scowled briefly, but Albus could see that she was happy as well.

"You love them?" Albus asked.

"Of course we do." Selene replied, glaring at Albus. "They helped us."

"Then, we have much to talk about."

Five nights after the final raid on the death eaters and Voldemort, two of the heroes of war woke up for the first time. The room was dark, but Remus could see Severus with his werewolf enhanced vision so he looked his fill. Severus didn't let him have the advantage for long, carefully concentrating and managing a "Lumos" without having to hold his wand. The spell worked, but much to both their surprises, it was very bright.

"Um, Severus, you weren't going for small sun level, were you?"

"No… and that was way too easy…" Severus was staring at his hand and his expression was so odd that Remus had to ask.

"Are you ok, Severus?"

Severus blinked, then in a low, growling voice spoke. "Why don't you come over here and see."

Remus almost laughed, but seeing that Severus was serious, he carefully got up and walked over to Severus bed. Severus scooted over and Remus lay down next to Severus. Remus could see Severus' nerves, so he began gently, exploring Severus' face with his fingers and stroking his hands over Severu's loose hair. Severus was tense at first, then he relaxed as Remus stroked his hair more. They had obviously been cleaned when they arrived and Remus was delighted to discover that Severus' hair was smooth and slick without being truly oily. Once Severus had truly relaxed, he became more daring, stroking down to the robe that was covering Severus' shoulders and exposing more of Severus' body. When Severus allowed this, Remus took heart and leaned forward for his first taste of Severus.

Remus knew from his wanderings in Severus' mind that Severus had never done this before before, so the stiffness of the lips was expected. But Severus was a fast learner and Remus found that whatever action he gave, Severus returned with a precision and passion that stole Remus' breath away. Remus had to pull back and rest a moment and he saw Severus' smirk at this need. Remus smirked back and began to teach Severus other things about lips that were pleasurable.

Severus' glare at being kissed on the end of his nose was changed into a moan as Remus continued down and nibbled down the line of his chin. The sound that Severus made when Remus nibbled at the hinge of his jaw made Remus shudder. But tempting as it was to stay there and hear the sound again, Remus was determined to make this first encounter as pleasurable as possible so that when Severus' inhibitions and reasoning caught up with him, he would have a memory of paradise to tempt him.

Remus' hands explored first, then his mouth bent to the task. He couldn't resist leaving a hickey on Severus' neck and another on the tender skin near Severus' bellybutton. Severus tried to tense up again when Remus dared lower, but then Remus bent to take Severus cock between his lips. The sensations that Remus was creating were too intense and Severus surrendered to them. Severus was so caught up in the sensation that when Remus released him, Severus actually sobbed. Remus comforted him.

"Hush Severus. It's ok. I'm not stopping, I just wanted to ask you what you want. Do you want me to finish you off like this, or do you want something more."

"More…?"

"Yes… do you want me?"

Severus woke up at this and his cock got even harder at the thought of this. Remus laughed slightly at the look of avid hunger that crossed Severus' face.

"I take it you want option number two."

"Definitely… but how?"

"I'll show you. First, you need to get me loose." One of the things that Remus had noticed in Severus' overachieving spell attempt was that there was a jar of liniment was sitting abandoned on the table by the beds. He reached for this and coated Severus fingers. Then he drew Severus' hand around to his backside.

"Slowly, one at a time to loosen and stretch me three fingers worth."

Severus moved catiously, but steadily and soon Remus had two fingers in him. Severus did something with his fingers and all of sudden Remus was unbelievably hard and whimpering in the back of his throat. Severus grinned and did it again. It was only by sheer act of will that Remus prevented himself from coming and he informed Severus of this fact. Severus grinned, but took mercy on Remus, avoiding that spot as he slid in the third finger. When Remus sighed, they rolled till Severus was fully on top of Remus. Severus paused.

"Are you sure you're ok with this? I don't want to hurt you."

"As long as you move slowly at first you won't hurt me and I trust you not to hurt me."

Severus slowly pushed forward slightly and they both groaned at the sensation. Inch-by-inch Severus sank into Remus, pausing when Remus tensed, until he was flush. Severus' hands stroked Remus hair with one hand and with the other stroked his cock until Remus relaxed and was pushing back eagerly. Then he began to cautiously move.

Remus permitted this at first, but then Severus successfully changed angles and once again stroked that spot within him. Remus shrieked his pleasure and locked his ankles and arms around Severus, forcing him to move faster and harder. Severus complied with the request and it wasn't long before both of them were stiffening and crying their pleasure.

Severus pulled out carefully, then with the last of his control flopped to one side. Remus immediately moved to pull Severus closer and Severus did not protest. Remus spoke softly.

"This has always been my dream. I suppose you know that by now, but I need to say this out loud. I have always loved you Severus. Dying for you would be an honor. I love you."

Severus did not respond out loud, but if he pulled Remus any closer, they'd be in one skin and Remus was content with that.

Then Remus was the one to stiffen. This dragged Severus out of his stupor enough to speak.

"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"

"No, no. I'm fine… better than fine actually."

"Then what's wrong?"

"I was just thinking about what would have happened if Poppy or Albus had come in while we were doing this."

"Don't tell me you didn't notice the privacy shield around the room? Some defense teacher you are."

Remus blinked and looked. Sure enough, there was a privacy shield around their room, preventing most sounds and people from entering. Remus blushed, but replied anyway.

"I must have had someone distracting me."

Severus' blush joined Remus'.

"But why did they put a privacy shield up? We were unconscious… were our nightmares that bad?"

"They may have been, but I think I sense the meddling hand of Albus here."

"But how would he have known?"

"We have to have been unconscious for some time. Albus probably chatted up the kids."

"The kids!" Remus erupted from the bed and started frantically cleaning up and putting clothes on. Severus sighed at the loss of his cuddle and followed suit, albeit at a more relaxed pace. Remus waited impatiently for Severus, then stormed out of the room trailing Severus. The change in their normal positions was so funny that Severus could not prevent a bark of laughter from erupting from him. He managed to snag Remus' sleeve before Remus could escape the room.

"So we're keeping them?" Severus asked.

"What?"

"We're keeping the children. I know you want to."

Remus stood still, then slumped. "Yes, I want to. I've always wanted kids."

"I know. I just want to be sure that you know what you are doing."

"I won't loose you if I try to get them, will I Severus?"

"An heir would not be amiss… but I warn you now that you are responsible for noise control and temper tantrums."

Remus smile was blinding. "Agreed."

Then they both walked down the hall to collect their children. The world would invade eventually, but for now, this was most important.