"Was that Sirius?"

I'd fought zombies and sent my Animagus cousin off to explain why the dog Cami loved was also the Wizarding world's most wanted. Hysterical laughter seemed a natural response. "As Sirius as he gets," I choked out, before breaking into giggles again.

Uncle Morty raised an imperious black eyebrow. I cracked myself up over the pun. Black. Ha-ha. He said, "Look in my coat pocket. There's a bar of chocolate. Eat it."

I wiped the rain out of my eyes and took a shaky breath. "I'm OK, really, I…" Noticing where he was lying, I pointed to the headstone. "That guy can say 'somebody stepped on my grave'…literally!" I started laughing again.

"For Merlin's sake, eat the ruddy chocolate!" My uncle held out the bar with a grimy hand. I took it, brushing grave dirt from the wrapper, trying hard not to snort with macabre humour. I failed. He frowned. "Chew."

The chocolate wasn't the best. Morty was such a cheapskate. Poor as he was, Remus always carried a good brand. Swallowing a mouthful, I said, "You know, Jan carries some bars that aren't that expensive, and I bet Lisa would enjoy creamy chocolate kisses a lot more than—"

"How do you know we've been kissing?"

I finished casting the Reficiere charm I'd accidentally practised on Prissy to heal his ankle. "You've been whistling in the mornings."

He took the hand I extended and slowly got to his feet. "Thanks, but maybe I whistle because business is good."

"Def Leppard's Pour Some Sugar on Me?"

Morty flushed and then rallied. "Hey, I asked you a question. What the hell was Sirius doing here? Does he think those posters all over the city mean he won Witch Weekly's sexiest wizard alive contest?"

I smirked. "He made the top ten." The rain had become a mist and fog was beginning to roll in. The cemetery resembled something from a classic horror film. I wanted to leave. "Let's talk about this back at your place."

He ran a hand over his spiky hair, making it stick up. "Uh, that might not be such a good idea. Lisa's there making dinner."

I had to look away. The mental image of my friend chopping veggies while singing for Morty to sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet, was threatening to bring back laughter. "My flat, then. I used sound proofing spells on the outer walls."

"Fine."

Returning to the Blue Moon and my flat, we each performed Drying and Warming Charms while I put on a pot of coffee. Handing my uncle a sturdy beaker, I sat across from him at the bistro table. There was no easy way to explain, so I blurted, "Sirius is worried about Harry. He needs to be close enough to go to him if something happens."

"Why did he come to you instead of…other family?"

I realised he felt hurt to be excluded. "Sirius didn't come to me, I just happened to be with Remus the morning after the full moon when…"

"You spent a full moon with a werewolf?" Morty asked in an overly calm voice.

"He's on Wolfsbane and harmless. Biscuit?"

"No, thank you. Does your mother know?"

Selecting one of Jan's triple chocolate masterpieces off the plate between us, I took a big bite and nodded.

Uncle Morty leaned forward. "About you spending the night with a werewolf?"

I took a long drink of coffee. "I told you he's harmless."

"That means no. Has Sirius gone to see Andromeda?"

I shook my head. "It's too dangerous."

He chuckled. "That man used to laugh in the face of danger."

"He's changed."

Morty shrugged. "Haven't we all?" Releasing a noisy breath, my uncle sipped his coffee, looking deep in thought. He said reminiscently, "Andie and I hated Black family gatherings—not that I was invited to many, being Orion's bastard and all—but Sirius always thought up the best pranks to play. Helping the little devil carry them out was our relief from hours of boredom."

"Sounds like fun."

His smile was bittersweet. "Yeah. Aunt Walburga would shatter glass with her shrieks, before she'd curse the hell out of the cheeky blighter. When he was older, Sirius would drop by and play poker occasionally. My mates would talk about him for weeks afterwards. He made 'em laugh their arses off while he took their money. Dung used to say the boy would either be famous or infamous, but the world would know the name of Sirius Black." Glancing at the wand I held, he met my regretful gaze and smiled wryly. "Don't need to ask what that's for. You know I'd slip and tell somebody. I've got a good poker face, but something like this is too hard to hold in." He winked. "Don't feel bad, but do let my favourite cousin know the blokes still think highly of him…and so do I."

"I will."

A few minutes later, I followed my uncle to the door and made him laugh by giving him smacking kisses on both cheeks. Thanks to a Memory Charm, he thought we'd saved Cami from zombies and he'd been escorting me home. I leaned back against the door after he was gone and tried not to cry. Reaction was setting in. I wanted to be with Remus so badly. I needed to feel his arms around me and hear him say everything would work out. That life had meaning and a purpose, even if we couldn't see it right now. I raised a hand. It was shaking. I headed for the shower.

A half hour later, I pulled on a bright red jumper to match my hair. Slipping on a pair of denims and some flats, I made a decision. I couldn't wait until Remus knocked on my door to share what had happened. I was going to Floo to his place. I wouldn't bother him at work. I'd just wait for him to return. Feeling like a weight was rolling off my shoulders; I grabbed a handful of powder and walked into the fireplace.

.

Stepping onto Remus's hearth and into his lounge, I was hit by the urge I'd been fighting since he'd caught me examining the bedroom wall's invisible door handle: the desire to snoop. It wasn't suspicion that made my fingers twitch. It was overwhelming curiosity. That, and a schoolgirl need to touch his belongings.

I flopped into a chair in the dining/reading nook. A book on the table looked interesting. Maybe I'd read. I opened the cover; it was in Latin. I set it down again. I'd do something else. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a list. Without touching it, I leaned over to read.

Albus- warm socks

Andrew- flameproof kitchen mitt

Patils- fruitcake with marzipan

Dunnes and Rochers- wine (Jenny Dunne prefers white, Jan Rocher red)

Tonks, Mr and Mrs- gift basket from Chocolat

Sirius- darts board

Nymphadora- ? (must be unique)

The childish part of me pouted over not seeing what Remus planned to get me for Christmas. The rest was thrilled that he was putting consideration into the gift. I didn't expect anything lavish, I just wanted something thoughtful. Of course, that went both ways, and I was uncomfortably aware that I still had abso-bloody-lutely no idea what to give Remus.

Resting my head against the back of the arm chair, I looked up at the ceiling and said, "If I took a quick peek through my guy's stuff, I might get an idea."

Put that way, prying was almost a selfless act. After all, I was doing it for Remus. Conscience muzzled, I used a sealant spell so I wouldn't leave a trace…of a smudge…on valuable parchments.

I searched the kitchen first. It looked like Remus ate sandwiches when he had to shift for himself. Good thing he spent almost every evening with me. I was brilliant at simple conjuring and takeout. The counters were bare except for a tin of tea. No sugar. I smirked, thinking I'd pour some sugar on him anytime he liked. Pulling open the drawers, I was taken aback to find there wasn't one to hold odds and ends. Didn't everybody have a junk drawer? My eyes slid to the table. Within minutes, two extra quills, a menu for Lee Ho Fook's, a couple of sickles, and three rubber bands resided in a previously empty space. My work there done, I sauntered into the lavatory.

"What are you looking at, witch?" my reflection asked cheekily.

I flashed a vulgar hand gesture.

The young woman in the mirror pretended to be shocked and then affected a "Sirius" tone. "Save it for Remus."

I grinned wickedly. "Oh, I will."

Waggling my fingers to end the mental but amusing conversation, I ran a hand over a tidy stack of threadbare towels and then opened the medicine cabinet. Several apothecary bottles lined the top shelf. Herbal remedies along with a couple of Morning After potions…was the hangover cure for Sirius or for after the full moon? I'd have to find a way to ask casually without revealing my Christmas reconnaissance. There was a pot of liniment, for sore muscles after a change, I'd bet, and a box of brushing/flossing mints. I took one, just to be minty fresh when I kissed my sweetie in…I checked the time. No worries that he'd be home too soon.

In the next room, I enviously speculated there had to be a special spell that made the bed so precisely. Impulsively, I took a sickle out of my pocket and tossed it down on the coverlet. Sure enough, it bounced.

I hugged the pillow, closing my eyes and breathing in his scent. Weirdly, the thought popped into my head that I'd never done that with Evan's. It wasn't that I'd never had the opportunity. There were plenty of evenings I'd ended up taking a nap on my fiancées bed when one of his meetings ran late. Pressing a kiss to the fabric, I replaced the pillow. Maybe I just reacted more physically to Remus. My gaze flickered down the bed and lingered before I dragged my eyes and mind back to the task at hand.

His bedside table was small and contained only a paperback novel in the drawer. It was Call of the Wild, by Jack London. Although tempted to kiss the wolf depicted on the cover, I restrained my inner mushy schoolgirl and moved on to the wardrobe. Hidden behind a wall panel, it was much smaller than mine. My guy didn't have that many clothes. It didn't matter to me, and I hoped he felt the same way about the extensive wardrobe I did possess.

He only had three jumpers. I counted them again in disbelief. Black. Brown. Roll neck gray. My frown became a smile. That was one present I could buy. Thinking about a shopping trip with Julia, I returned to the lounge and began to look through the parchments on a worktable. It would've been more productive if I read Latin, but I liked Remus's handwriting. Impishly, I wondered which parchment was the list of Roman pickup lines he'd whispered in my ear one evening. Hilarious to think I'm new in town, may I have directions to your house had been used back then.

Taking out books at random, I read the inscriptions. There were loads from Andrew and his parents. Padfoot and Prongs had each given him several. Noticing a collection of Shakespeare's Sonnets, I opened the cover. Inside, the inscription To Remus, Love Dorcas made me want to incinerate the book to ash. I was going to be mature and calmly replace it when I caught a hint of a floral scent. I saw red and threw it against the wall by the door. It almost hit Remus.

He stood in the open doorway, looking from me to the book. "Not a fan of Shakespeare?"

I crossed my arms and turned to the window. He shut the door and came over to gently stroke my face. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, Remus." I turned into his waiting arms and then stiffened in disbelief and pushed him away to demand, "Who the hell made you smell like cheap perfume? Dorcas Meadowes?"

His stare softened into understanding. "Aashi Patil wanted me to 'smell pretty' for my girlfriend." Seeing me bite my lip at the mention of the five-year-old, he added, "Dorcas gave her life for the Order long ago, but we'd parted ways before that. I couldn't give her the love she wanted, and she couldn't accept that I was a werewolf."

My surge of relief turned to shame. "I'm so sorry, I…" Misery overwhelmed me. I couldn't stop crying to answer his questions. I could only cling to him as he lifted me into his arms and carried me into the bedroom.

Wrapped in Remus's warm embrace, I eventually quit crying and got hold of my emotions. Sniffing, I tried to covertly morph my face while using his handkerchief to mop up the evidence of my tears.

"You don't have to do that for me."

It was hard to meet his eyes. "I guess I'm vain on top of being selfish and distrustful."

He raised my chin. "You've been hurt badly. I know it's hard for you to trust. And it's not selfish to want the person you love to love you more than they've ever loved anyone else. It's human…and I feel that way too."

I scooted up to kiss him, whispering, "I do love you more." Trying to show it, I kissed him deeply. His hands caressed down my back. I twined my fingers in Remus's hair and teased his lower lip with my tongue. He had the most incredible mouth, hot and sexy. Our kisses became wild. I pressed closer as his tongue plunged in a rhythm that made my hands clench. I wanted to sink into his skin the way he sank into my mouth. I wanted . . . .

"Nymphadora…stop."

I froze, staring down into Remus's set face. Every muscle in his body was tense. My face burned along with the rest of me. He was holding back for my sake, and I wasn't helping. I tried to roll off him. He stopped me, shifting us to lie on our sides. I said wretchedly, "Are you tired of hearing me say I'm sorry?"

"Don't be sorry. I'm not. Uncomfortable, perhaps, but I don't regret one moment."

Tears filled my eyes. "I didn't mean to get so…it's just that after the zombies, and Sirius, and Morty, and finding that damned book."

"Tell me."

The words gushed out. The story of my fear for Cami, the events in the cemetery, and what happened afterwards with Sirius and Morty, spilled in a rush. He listened intently. When I paused, Remus said, "Sirius always manages to land on his feet. He'll come back over the moon and more in love than ever, but what about you? How are you doing?"

I tried to smile. "I thought I was coping." Determined to be honest, I confessed, "I looked round your flat and had fun snooping until I found that book and went round the twist." He smiled when I admitted, "I would've probably gone mental with jealousy even if I hadn't already been a bit…erm…mental."

Remus's hand was warm against my cheek. "Wolves aren't the only territorial creatures?" I gave a watery laugh, hearing the words I'd once told him. I kissed his palm. He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, saying, "I'm glad."

"That I'm mental?"

"I prefer to think we're crazy about each other."

I wanted to snog his brains out for being so wonderful, but I didn't trust myself to behave. Instead, I kissed him briefly and said, "I love you…and I'd also love some food. I'm starved."

He chuckled and led the way to the kitchen. After preparing roast beef sandwiches that weren't so rare I couldn't eat one, he lit a tall candle and placed it in the middle of the table with a flourish. "I would pull out my lady's chair, but it's already backed to the wall." Playfully, he took a linen serviette and folded it into a swan. I smiled in delight when it "flew" from his hand to my lap before unfolding. Attempting to reciprocate, I waved my wand. The candle rose out of the holder and floated mid-air. I was congratulating myself on creating a romantic glow when the wax suddenly melted at an alarming rate and began to splatter.

Remus grabbed what was left of the taper, wincing as hot wax burnt his skin. Placing the stub back into the candleholder, he said apologetically, "I can't afford wizard-made and, as you discovered, cheap Muggle candles don't react well to spells."

I used a Healing Charm on his hand and tried to look on the bright side. "At least the wax didn't drip onto our sandwiches."

His smile was wolfish as he pointed to the shortened candle between us. "The better to see you with, my dear." Remus's eyes gleamed amber. "Candlelight becomes you."

I fluttered my eyelashes, joking, "Moonlight becomes me too."

He stared for several moments before replying with a funny little half-smile, "It always has."

Feeling shy, I mumbled, "Thank you," and darted over to the coolant cupboard to grab drinks. Affecting a French accent, I presented him with a bottle. "Une bière for Monsieur."

"Merci." When I sat down, he asked, "May I read your palm?" Curious to see what my guy was up to, I held out my hand. Rubbing his thumb across my skin, Remus murmured, "These lines say you have Christmas spirit and like beer." He pressed lightly. "This pad says you like your steak à point, medium, and your mousse au chocolat." Tracing from the tip of my index finger down to my wrist, he finished, "And this tells me you don't need fancy dinners, you just want to spend time with the man you love."

I felt a shiver of anticipation go down my spine. "You already knew all that, so why are you talking like you just realised it?"

Remus brought my hand up to his lips before releasing it with a loving smile. "After we eat, I have a story to tell."

.


A/N: I'd originally planned for Remus and Tonks to go over to Jim's this chapter, but realised reaction would be setting in and Tonks needed to deal with everything that had happened before moving on. And if she could snoop through Remus' flat and grow closer after sharing…and snogging…that would be brilliant too! I want to give special thanks to reviewers who wondered if Remus would ever or had ever figured out Tonks was the mysterious "lady in red" in Moonlight Becomes Her. You inspired me to show that he did…now! This chap's title came from lupinsgirl thinking of Anne Murray's song while reading the one shot. Thanks for mentioning that and thanks to WriterMerrin for being a fab beta! Next chap, Tonks goes snooping at Cami's, and there's an interview with a MegaMaggot, lol! The readers who inspired me to whistle while I worked last chap were...… 40/16 AAMLrox alix33 Arilla Rossi Bardlover Carnivalgirl cassie89 cupcakeswirl die Loreley eleen ElspethBates Embellished Es FNP GraceRichie Hebi R. ishandtwofourths Kates Master krumfan Lerie Libeku Taganashi Machiavelli Jr MamaLisa missindependent1127 NazgulGirl Nessime Paloma Quicksilver Foxx RahNee rita Sivaroobini Lupin-Black Slipknot-3113 Slytherin Love Goddess and sunny9847