Eleanor stood up quickly as James and Lily entered the room, applauding. The wedding ceremony had just ended and both were glowing with joy. They waved to everyone before taking a seat at a table in the front of the room next to their parents. Once the applause from the party guests died down, Sirius stood up and raised his glass of champagne.

"I just want to say that I couldn't be more proud of my best friend. He's found a wonderful woman who will be an incredible wife. Let's just hope that, by some miracle, he can learn how to be an incredible husband." Sirius smirked, meeting James' eyes. "May you two live many happy years together."

Sirius sat down again, Ally taking his hand with an excited giggle. Eleanor took a deep breath and got to her feet, holding up her glass. She'd been practicing this speech for a month and thought that she had it. With all of those eyes on her, she felt her heart pound intensely in her chest. After a quiet moment, she smiled.

"Lily, we've been planning this one since our first year together at school. The dream wedding with that dream guy. And now, eight years later… here you are. I'm just glad that your dreams have come true. I'm proud of you… and I love you."

She raised her glass before sitting again, putting a hand on Remus's leg to steady herself. He chuckled quietly beside her, placing a hand on the small of her back and leaning in to whisper to her.

"You did wonderfully."

She smiled over to him before diverting her attention to Lily's father. Lily's father was a tall, handsome man with dark, gray speckled hair and brilliant green eyes. Beside him sat his wife, a petite woman with hair as red as fire. She smiled up at him endearingly as he spoke.

"I've dreaded this day coming for years." He laughed. "When I received the letter telling me that Lily had found the boy she wanted to marry, I almost had a heart attack there and then. But, I'm proud of her. She couldn't have chosen a more charming, brilliant, and gifted young man. James, Lily… good luck to you both."

Sirius leaned over to Eleanor and Remus. "I don't think Lily really told him everything."

Eleanor covered her mouth to keep from giggling and motioned with her glass for Sirius to face forward again. He did so with a smile, looking at her from the corner of his eye.

When Lily's father was finished, he raised his glass high. "To James and Lily Potter!"

Everyone in the crowd raised their glasses with a cheer before downing their drinks. Immediately, the band began playing a quick song to bring everyone to the dance floor. Eleanor stood up, holding a hand out to Remus.

"Pardon me, sir. Would you care to dance?"

He laughed, taking her hand and getting to his feet. "I'd be delighted."

She dragged him out onto the dance floor, pulling him close and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Wasn't that fantastic? She looked so beautiful!" Eleanor sighed with a smile.

"She did." He nodded, kissing her gently. "You'll look even better!"

"Hah!" She rolled her eyes, kissing his cheek. "You're too sweet!"

A moment later, Lily came up to them, tapping Eleanor on the shoulder and beckoning her over to greet her parents. Eleanor followed after, grabbing Remus's hand and tugging him along. Lily pulled them out of the crowd to the front of the room where the head table was. Lily's mother turned to them, her smile widening.

"Ah, Eleanor! Look at you… so beautiful and grown up!"

Eleanor laughed, hugging Lily's mother tightly. "Thank you, Mrs. Evans. You're dress is fantastic. You look amazing."

"Oh, thank you, dear." She waved a hand then turned to her husband. "Richard!"

Lily's father turned away from James and his father, his smile widening. He walked over quickly, hugging Eleanor.

"Ah, Eleanor! It's been so long. We miss having you spend summers with us."

"Oh, I miss it, too. Believe me! Mr. and Mrs. Evans, I'd like you to meet Remus Lupin, my boyfriend. Remus… Lily's parents. Mr. and Mrs. Evans."

Remus stepped forward, holding out his hand. Lily's parents eyed him curiously for a moment, their gaze lingering a little too obviously on the scars on his face. They both took his hand with smiles, shaking it gently.

"How do you do?" Remus said, forcing a smile. He wanted to die. Just run away and die.

"Fine, thank you. Pleasure to meet you, Remus." Lily's mother said.

"You too, Mrs. Evans." He nodded.

Mr. Evans smiled and nodded. "If you'd excuse us, Eleanor… Remus. We've got some caterers to deal with."

"Of course." Eleanor smiled politely, turning to Remus as they walked away. "Okay, that was awkward."

"You're telling me." Remus eyed the crowd, wondering how many other people were staring at him.

"Oh, Remus… they'll love you." Lily sighed. "They already like you. You know… for all they know, they think you're a lion tamer."

Lily shrugged with a laugh. Remus couldn't help but smile.

"Ah, yes. Thank you, Lily. I think I've got my new cover."

Eleanor laughed, shaking her head. "My Remus, the brave lion tamer!" She made a claw and pretended to swipe at him. He just smiled. "Aw, come on, sweetie. Cheer up or I'll be forced to get you completely drunk."

"Yeah." Remus rolled his eyes with a laugh. "They'd love me even more then."

Lily cracked up, looking over as Sirius and Ally came to join them. "Hey, Ally! Nice dress!"

"Oh, please." Ally laughed, hugging Lily. "You outshine everyone!"

"Oh, she knows it. Just too modest." Eleanor smirked.

Lily laughed, giving Sirius a quick hug. "You guys should go and dance! Have a good time! I'll be out there in a little bit."

Lily waved to them and then walked back over to James and his parents. Eleanor watched her for a moment before turning to Ally, Sirius, and Remus.

"Shall we dance?" She raised a brow.

"I'm actually going to get a drink." Remus touched her arm with a smile. "Want anything?"

"No, thanks." She looked up at Sirius. "How about you, Mr. Black? Wanna show these kids how it's done?"

"This place could use some livening, Miss Black."

She laughed, taking his hand and turning to Ally. "Promise I'll bring him back in one piece."

Ally laughed, waving them off. Sirius smirked, pulling Eleanor off into the crowd. The music picked up a faster pace, trumpets blaring around them. He stopped in the middle of the crowd, pulling on her arm to send her in a spin in front of him. She stomped her foot down, stopping to face him. A few people around them stopped and turned to watch. She walked back to him, taking his hands and pulling close to him.

"You sure you remember how to do this one?" He raised a brow.

"Pfft. Try and keep up."

He pushed her backward, stopping her at arm's length and spinning her back into his arms where they started in on a swing dance they practiced sometime during fourth year. When the song ended, she stepped away from him with a laugh as the few people, who had stood and watched them, applauded. Remus smirked, taking a long sip from his champagne glass.

"See, I always thought those two made an adorable couple."

Remus looked over quickly and frowned, seeing Lily and her mother watching Eleanor and Sirius on the dance floor.

"Oh, mother… that'll never happen."

"I don't see why not." Her mother shrugged. "It's a perfect match. They'd have beautiful children."

Remus put his glass down and turned away from them, trying to make it seem like he hadn't heard anything. He bit his lip, watching Eleanor and Sirius as they took a bow and started on their way toward him, hand in hand. He had to admit, they did make an attractive couple. He felt a knot in his stomach. Was he seriously becoming jealous of his best friend? He quickly pushed the foolish thought away, smiling as Eleanor came up to him with a heavy sigh. She rested her head on his chest with a laugh.

"I am… worn out!"

"Well, here…" Remus reached behind him with a laugh, taking a glass of champagne and handing it to her. "Maybe this will get you going again."

Eleanor looked up, taking it and kissing his cheek. "Aw, thank you. I think it might just do the trick." She tipped the glass back, finishing it off.

"Whoa now." Sirius laughed. "Don't want to drink it all too fast."

Ally came up behind Sirius, grabbing his hand. "Dance with me!"

"Alright, alright!" Sirius bid Remus and Eleanor goodbye before being dragged back onto the dance floor.

Eleanor turned to Remus with a smile, taking his hand. "What's wrong?"

Remus raised a brow, his eyes widening. "What do you mean?"

"You've got that look… I know that look. You're upset."

Remus shook his head with a smile. "Don't worry about it for now, Nell. I'm not here to start trouble."

"Start trouble?" She got serious. "If it's something worth starting trouble over, then it's something important."

"That I can tell you about later." He looked at her for a long moment before she finally gave up, nodding her head. "Thank you."

"So… dance with me?" She raised a brow, her smile returning.

"I would love to." He took the glass from her, placing it on the table and returning to the dance floor.

Eleanor collapsed on the couch, kicking off her shoes and stretching her toes. Remus continued on into the kitchen to get himself a drink. She watched him, wondering whether or not to pursue the earlier topic. It seemed to be on his mind the whole evening and she thought, on more than one occasion, he had shot Sirius a curious glance when he got close to Eleanor.

"So, what was bothering you earlier?" She called into the kitchen, biting her lip as she awaited a response.

He didn't answer quickly and she almost thought he was ignoring her. But a moment later and he appeared in the living room, looking down at the glass of water in his hand.

"I don't know. Just something stupid that I took too personally, I guess."

Eleanor sat up and motioned for him to sit beside her. She waited until he did and turned to look at him, pulling her feet up under her. He didn't meet her eyes, rather stared at the floor or his cup.

"Well, what was it?"

He sighed, shaking his head. "I just overheard… Lily and her mother talking."

Eleanor raised a brow. "Oh."

Remus looked at her curiously. "Oh?"

"Yeah, oh. While Lily's mother is an extremely sweet and caring woman… I know how she can be when you first meet her. She's a little… opinionated. You've just got to win her over, I guess." Eleanor shrugged. "What'd she say?"

"They were watching you dance… you and Sirius." He looked down again, feeling like an idiot. His voice lowered and he mumbled the rest. "Said you made a good looking couple."

Eleanor smirked, amused. How could Remus even listen to something like that? Her and Sirius Black?

His voice continued at a normal volume after he cleared his throat. "I don't know why it upset me, I just…"

"Remus."

He looked over at her, feeling himself redden slightly. The look on her face made him feel silly for getting upset at the whole thing. She looked as though she'd just been told a hilarious joke.

"I know." He sighed, offering her a smile.

She just watched him for a second. "What else did she say?"

"What?" He looked surprised.

"You've still got that look… you know, when you're thinking about something you don't like thinking about."

"I have a look for that?"

Eleanor laughed, nodding. "You've got a look for everything. Come on… this is entertaining. What else did she say?"

Remus frowned, glad that she was finding his embarrassment amusing. "I don't know… that she couldn't understand why you chose me… and that you and Sirius would have… beautiful children."

He noticed Eleanor's smile falter, but she quickly brought it back.

"Well… I did choose you, didn't I?" She stood up and headed into the bedroom.

He watched her walk away, curious now. Why had she ended the topic so quickly? He stood up and followed behind her, raising a brow.

"Well, yes. You did."

"Exactly." She said simply, reaching into the wardrobe for a nightgown. "So, what're you worried about?"

"Well, I… nothing. Ya know, just sometimes you-"

Eleanor turned to him so suddenly he lost his words. He cursed the words for even thinking of leaving his lips. He couldn't decipher the look in her eyes, but he knew it wasn't good. When he didn't speak, her eyes widened.

"Go ahead… finish that sentence. Sometimes I..?"

"No! Nell, I didn't-"

"Then you wouldn't have started to say it!" She sighed. "Maybe it's some sort of… subconscious fear or something. Well, let's face it. Out with it so I can tell you how ridiculous you're being."

He just stared at her, feeling a little hot under the collar. Subconscious fears? What the hell was she talking about? He wondered why she was so defensive on the subject. Maybe she was facing a few subconscious issues of her own. He shook his head, scratching the back of his neck. No, he had to stop thinking that way.

"No… just… I see that… well, sometimes you…" He stammered, closing his eyes. He could feel her eyes burning into him and he hated himself for starting any of this.

"I, what, Remus?" She asked coldly.

"You look at him differently!" He shouted finally, annoyed. When he looked at her, he saw she was hurt. He couldn't believe her. How could she have the nerve to be hurt right now? "Oh, don't make that face, Nell. I didn't want to say it!"

"But you did." She straightened up, crossing her arms.

"Oh, you're impossible." He sighed, walking past her to his side of the bed, working on his tie.

"What do you mean I look at him differently?"

He sat down on the bed, rubbing his forehead. It seemed as though she was looking for a reason to fight him. She really confused him sometimes.

"Just… differently than you did when we were in school. I don't know, Nell! I didn't want to bring it up…"

"Yes, you did or you wouldn't have said anything at all." She sat down with a huff. "For your information, there is nothing going on between Sirius and I."

She turned to look at him and he forced himself to look over his shoulder at her.

"I love you."

"I know you do." He snapped, looking down again.

"Then don't pay attention to anything Mrs. Evans said. Sirius and I do not make an attractive couple… I would never consider dating him. His scars aren't nearly as attractive as yours."

Remus smiled even though he tried not to.

"And who needs children? They drool, they smell… they're dirty and annoying."

His smile widened. He turned to look at her but was taken by surprise as she wrapped her arms and legs around him from behind.

"I love you. And you love me." She kissed his neck. "And I couldn't ask for anything more than that."

This woman was insane and she drove him crazy. But she sure knew how to work him. He turned his head, meeting her lips. She kissed him with a laugh.

"Sirius Black? Really?"

Remus laughed and rolled his eyes. Eleanor shrieked as he fell backward on top of her.