Remus burst through the doors of the children's ward in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Remus spotted Tonks's dark pink hair next to a bed at the end of the ward. He felt a clutch of fear as he ran towards her.

Tonks's eyes were red and she looked exhausted, but all of her attention was focused on the little figure of Rosie, unconscious in the bed. She started when Remus reached them. "Remus! You're bleeding!"

Remus did not care. His only thought was Rosie. There were a few scratches on her face and her arm was bandaged up. Tears filled his eyes as he knelt by her side. He gently stroked her hair as she slept.

Tonks laid her hand on his shoulder. "She'll be all right. She woke up a little while ago, but she couldn't stay awake. She wanted to see you." She paused, gazing at her daughter. "The Healers told me we can take her home in the morning."

"But," Remus's voice quivered as he formed the question he had hoped he would never have to ask. "But she's…she'll be…a-"

"Yes," Tonks said gravely. "She'll be a werewolf."

Remus closed his eyes as his heart plummeted. He took Rosie's little hand in his and squeezed it gently. "It's all my fault," he said quietly.

"No," Tonks said quickly. "The whole thing spun out of control."

"We never should have gone through with it."

"We had no choice," Tonks said, her voice now steady. "What else could we have done?"

Remus shook his head and buried his face in his hands.

Tonks grabbed his shoulders and forced him to looks at her. "Remus, she's alive. We will get to see her go to Hogwarts, we'll get to see her wedding day…In the park, I thought…" tears welled in her eyes and she shook her head. When she spoke again, her voice was firm and forceful. "I don't care what she is as long as she's still here."

She was right. Remus knew she was right. He took her hand in his and turned back to his daughter, still sleeping soundly.

"And she won't be alone, like you were," Tonks added, sitting down on the bed. "She'll have you to help her."

Again, Remus knew she was right; and it was a huge consolation. When he was young, there wasn't anyone who could have helped him through the monthly transformations, or the prejudice he had grown up with. Now he could be there with Rosie and tell her what to expect. He would be there to understand.

♦

ONE MONTH LATER

"Ready, Rosebud?" Remus called, waiting by the front door.

"Coming Daddy!" Rosie called back, trying to navigate her way through her jumper.

Remus smiled and helped her put it on. After a moment, her head popped through the proper hole. "There you are!"

Rosie laughed. "Where are we going, Daddy?"

"Out in the country. It's the full moon. Remember what I told you?"

Rosie nodded. "Yup!"

"Are you scared?" Remus asked anxiously. He remembered how terrified he was on his first full moon.

"Nope," Rosie said, shaking her head, her curls bouncing about.

"You're not?" Remus asked, smiling despite himself. "Why?"

"'Cause I get to be a wolf like you!"

Remus's heart jumped into his throat. His eyes began to sting as he smiled. "You don't think it's bad?"

"No. If you do it, it can't be."

Remus hugged her. It was all he could do.

Daddy," came Rosie's muffled voice. "You're hurting me."

"Sorry, Rosebud." Remus let her go and stood up. "Let's go."

He took her hand and they stepped through the door. Together.