Thanks to all who have reviewed this story. It's nearly over now but there will probably be a sequel kind of thing about the boarding house - if I'm not too lazy to write it. Thanks to everyone that has given this idea support. I love the quote on this chapter. Enjoy.

WARNING: Sex again. That should tell you how the morning after goes :-)

Thanks to Vanse for your review. Sorry I couldn't get back to you personally!

Love is everything it's cracked up to be. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more.

Lido Anthony "Lee" Iacocca

Chapter Twenty Five

'Fuck.'

The muttered curse slipped from his lips as the sun pierced his cornea like a razor, sending slicing pain through his head.

'I will never drink again,' he swore, sitting up and putting his spinning head in his hands before the events of the night before came back to him. The pain in his head forgotten, he twisted around and saw that Ashlin was gone. He hastily slid off the Transfigured couch, trying to find his underwear in the tangled blanket.

'Ashlin?' he called, tugging the boxers on. 'Ash?'

He walked through to the kitchen and found a note on the counter, telling him she'd be gone for the day. That was it. No destination, no time of return, no thanks for the incredible sex... Nothing.

He cursed again, crushing the parchment into a ball, then went to the bathroom, finding a pain potion and noticing, after he drank it, there was another vial missing.

'God,' he thought suddenly. 'She'd had a lot to drink last night. Maybe I took advantage…'

But he couldn't make himself feel sorry or guilty. Despite his own inebriation, he remembered single every detail of what he and Ashlin had done together and knew that she had been a willing, participating partner.

What had happened last night…it had been perfect. Passionate and fiery and so very right. His eyes closed for a moment as he recalled the taste of her lips, the scent of her hair, the sensation of his body sliding into hers, joining them, and her moan as she tightened around him.

'Jesus,' he whispered, his body hardening. He had wanted that badly. Wanted it for longer than he'd realised until right now. And he wanted her…all of her.

'But what does Ashlin want?' he wondered, frowning down at the balled up parchment in his hand.

Ashlin didn't know what she wanted. She was hiding right out in the open at Diagon Alley, trying to tell herself she needed supplies; that she hadn't really just run away like the worst kind of coward.

'How the hell did I let this happen?'

When she woke up this morning, pain in her head, naked as the day she was born, with Remus' arm over her and the dried evidence of their indiscretion on her thigh, she'd panicked. No, actually, if she was being honest, the first thing she'd felt was a deep contentment that she could vaguely recall feeling a long time ago.

Then the panic had hit.

She had just had sex with Remus. Her friend, Remus. Her rock, Remus. Her dead lover's best friend, Remus.

And worse than that, she'd kissed him. Not a peck or a brush of her lips over his, but she'd kissed him with abandon and passion and a heat that she never dreamed she was still capable of; she'd kissed him in a way that one kissed a lover, a partner and, even with all the wine in her system, she had been completely aware of what she was doing when she did it.

'Shit!'

She'd extricated herself from Remus' loose embrace, praying to anyone who'd listen that he didn't wake up as she dressed and scribbled a quick note to him before apparating away. Needing space, she had no idea where she was going and ended up here, in Diagon Alley, where she was now drowning her sorrows with the biggest ice cream sundae she'd ever seen. She poked at it with the spoon then sucked the chocolate fudge sauce off the utensil.

It would be different if she had an ounce of regret about what had happened. Then she could just tell Remus it was a drunken mistake and that she never wanted to happen again.

'Problem is that I do want it to happen again,' she thought irritably, stabbing at the sundae viciously. 'And again and again…'

It had been many years since sex had involved any kind of emotion for her. But last night, there had been hunger and passion as well as a gentleness, a tenderness to every touch. She'd been stripped bare in front of him and her feelings had been right there for all to see. This was the stupidest thing she could have done. She'd fallen in love with her best friend and the worst of it was that it didn't feel at all wrong.

And that was what scared her to death.

It was close to dark when she finally found the courage to go back to her house, half hoping Remus had decided she wasn't worth the trouble and left. So such luck - the man quietly appearing in the kitchen doorway just a minute after she arrived home.

'Wow, you think you got everything?' he asked, seeing all the bags she was unshrinking.

She jumped a little then turned towards him, unable to look at his face. 'Yeah, I thought I'd stock up,' she said, feeling herself flush when he came up beside her. 'I'm not sure how often I'll be able to get to the shops once the kids arrive.'

'Mmm,' he agreed, pulling some canned food from the bags and putting it away in the cupboard.

She grabbed the bags of toiletries and backed away. 'I'll take these upstairs,' she muttered, beating a hasty retreat, hating herself for her cowardice.

Remus watched her go and sighed, quickly stowing the rest of the kitchen goods away. When he'd finished, he put both hands on the counter in front of him and leaned over, resting his head on the over head cupboard. He didn't think this was going to be easy, but he had hoped it wouldn't be this awkward. Ashlin couldn't even look at him, like she was ashamed of what had happened between them.

'God if she tells me it was all a mistake, I think I might just completely embarrass myself and cry,' he thought, understanding now how his wife had felt and feeling as guilty as hell for what he'd put her through. Now he knew exactly what it was like to love someone who may not be able to love him back….and it hurt. Badly.

He felt her rather than saw her, the burn of those green eyes on him for several moments before she turned to leave the room.

'I just need to know if it was a mistake for you,' he said in a low voice before she could disappear. He was still in the same position - he didn't want to see her face. 'Because it meant something to me; it meant a lot to me, but if it was just sex, just a drunken mistake, I'd rather you told me now before I read too much into it.'

Ashlin frowned. She could hear the hurt in his quiet voice and it cut deep into her soul. She walked across the room to stand next to him, touching his hand lightly.

'I never wanted…I didn't want you to think it didn't mean anything to me,' she said softly. 'I…I haven't kissed anyone like that in a very long time. It wasn't the wine…I wanted to kiss you. It meant a lot to me too, Remus.' He turned his head to look at her, seeing the truth in her eyes. 'I just needed some time to absorb it,' she continued. 'But I don't regret it.'

His hand moved and he closed his fingers around hers as he turned to face her. 'So, what do we do now?' he asked and she bit her lip.

'I don't know,' she whispered, distracted by his thumb gently moving back and forth over the top of her hand. His touch was making heat swirl inside her again; she was drowning in his eyes and suddenly what she wanted to do now was very clear.

'Would you…?'

She stopped, unable to ask him to come to her bed, to make her feel like he'd made her feel last night. Instead, she shifted closer and hesitantly, leaned in to brush her lips over his.

Remus' heart sped up and he forgot to breathe as he let her lead, let her set the pace.

Ashlin wondered if she should stop when he didn't immediately respond, but when she felt his lips tremble and his hand tightened around hers, she took that as permission to keep going. She took her time, exploring and tasting the firm but supple lips and revelling in the intimate touch she'd denied herself for so long. Her teeth scraped lightly over his bottom lip before she took the flesh into her mouth, sucking gently and drawing a strangled sounding moan from him. His restraint was fraying rapidly and, when the tip of her tongue traced his upper lip, the teasing, tickling touch became too much.

He caught her lips firmly with his, taking back control, and as their arms moved around each other, they kissed as though they'd been parted for years - deeply, passionately and with an intensity that made both of them tremble. Not breaking their lip lock, Remus lifted her against him, helping her lock her legs around him before making his way back to what was going to be the cook's bedroom, Ashlin melting into him as he lowered her to the bed.

'I'm all sweaty from shifting the furniture upstairs today,' he whispered, self conscious now as the fresh, clean scent that clung to every inch of her skin filled his nostrils.

'Are you?' she murmured, distracted by her quest to remove his shirt as quickly as possible.

'Mmm,' he said, nuzzling his nose in her blonde hair. 'I should shower…'

'Remus, if you do this properly, you'll be sweaty again very soon,' she interrupted, tugging his shirt out of his pants and fumbling with the buttons. 'Both of us will be.'

He smiled and kissed her fast, sliding his lips over to her jaw. 'I want to make you sweaty,' he murmured, kissing under her chin.

His mouth moved down her throat, sliding his shirt off as she got the last button undone. 'I want to make you as hot as you make me,' he continued, tongue licking the hollow of her throat and hearing her moan.

He tugged her shirt aside and his tongue traced her collar bone, his actions and words arousing her so completely she could barely move, lying limp under his hands and mouth. Remus grasped the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head in one quick motion, a smile playing on his lips when he saw she wore no bra.

'I want to make you scream my name,' he whispered, kissing her mouth again then quickly moving it to her breast, tracing the underside with his tongue.

Ashlin had a moment of panic as she recalled another man saying those words with a far more menacing intent but it passed quickly as Remus ran a gentle hand up her arm.

'I want to make you come for me again and again.' He licked her nipple then sucked it deep into his mouth, making her cry out and arch up.

'Remus,' she moaned, knowing how close she was to giving him what he wanted. His voice aroused her beyond reason and his touch was making her slowly lose her mind.

When he moved his mouth to her other nipple, giving it the same treatment as the first, she pushed her hips up to him desperately, pleading with him. Realising how near she was to climax nearly drove Remus to the end of his tolerance and he closed his eyes, trying to remember how much he wanted to know every inch of her to stop himself from slamming into her now. Instead, he slid a hand up her skirt and into her knickers; Ashlin crying out when his long fingers entered her. He pumped them almost lazily then, when he circled her clit firmly with his thumb, she shattered instantly, Remus watching her intently, his blue eyes dark with desire.

Once the tremors eased, she took a shaky breath and looked at him, letting out a little laugh when she saw his grin.

'Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are when you come?' he said softly, kissing her gently as he pulled off her skirt and knickers.

'I want to see what you look like now,' she mumbled and he smiled against her lips.

'All in good time, Ash,' he whispered. 'I'm nowhere near finished with you yet.'

His words made her quiver in anticipation and he chuckled. Hands ran up her thighs and over her stomach, his mouth and fingers moving lightly over her ribs, tracing each one and smiling when he made her giggle with the tickling touch.

'Third rib is ticklish,' he murmured, kissing her stomach. 'I'll remember that.'

She smiled and let out a breath of laughter then made a small, surprised noise when his mouth shifted to her leg. He followed a long scar up her leg then moved his lips to her inner thigh, biting it gently. She moaned loudly, then louder again as she felt the warmth of his breath against the entrance to her body. His tongue stroked, tasting her then he circled her clit lightly. When it slid inside her, Remus groaned along with Ashlin as he felt the warm, wet tunnel clamping down. Ashlin grasped his hair as the thick, soft muscle drove her higher, raising her hips frantically and saying his name over and over, begging him to give her the release she needed. Remus lifted her legs over his shoulders and they locked around him. He moaned then sucked her clit into his mouth hard.

She screamed for him, screamed his name, Remus watching her face again as she writhed under his mouth.

When the spasms eased, his hand fell to his pants, tearing the fly open. He didn't bother to pull them all the way off, just pushing them down enough to release his throbbing cock. He couldn't wait any longer to feel her around him but Ashlin stopped him.

'No,' she said, sitting up. 'Get up here.'

He grinned and did as she demanded, falling down next to her and pulling her on top of him. He grasped her leg, trying to pull her over him so he could bury himself inside that soft body but she smacked his fingers away, shifting off him.

'There's no hurry,' she admonished him, kissing him hard. 'Lay back and relax while I look after you.'

His smile widened then he bit his lip as her mouth took a similar path to the one his just did, moving nowhere near as fast as he wanted her to and driving him insane with need and anticipation. Her lips and tongue tasted every part of him, finding every sensitive spot. Her fingers gloried in exploring his skin and tracing each scar, each muscle, loving how they tensed under her touch. By the time she pulled his pants completely off and kissed up his legs, Remus was shaking uncontrollably.

He felt her breath hot on his weeping cock then her mouth closed around him, sending his hips arching up off the bed. It was his turn to bury his hands in her hair, to whisper her name and plead with her to end this unbearable tension. And she did, scraping her teeth lightly over him then sucking hard. Coloured bursts of fireworks flashed behind his eyelids as he exploded, calling her name to the heavens.

For a long time, he lay still, vaguely aware of Ashlin shifting to lie down next to him, stroking his hair until he turned his head to look at her, unable to even try to hide how he felt.

'Come here,' he whispered hoarsely, pulling her into his arms. 'Kiss me, Ash.'

Her mouth curved into a smile and she did as he asked, kissing him softly and letting it grow as their bodies turned to each other, fully embracing each other. Their mouths were gentle, moving slowly, teasing and tasting each other thoroughly. Hands traced over faces and necks, learning every subtle nuance of each other's skin, memorising it.

When their heads swam and they had to draw breath, they parted, mouths now following the same path their fingers had taken and Remus' hands moved into her hair, letting the soft strands fall through his fingers like rain. It felt like hours that they were content to just touch, to explore before Remus moved over her, lips finding each other again as he entered her slowly, pausing once they were joined, savouring the sensation of being together, of finally feeling whole.

He began to rock against her slowly, languid movements soon bringing them to a peak then they whispered each other's names as a overpowering release shook them, leaving them spent.

Lips brushed over sweat slicked skin, hands stroking, as they came down from the peaks from which they'd driven each other. When he could no longer hold himself up on his shaking arms, Remus rolled them over onto their sides and pulled the brand new sheets up around them.

'You kissed me,' he murmured, mouth against her temple and she chuckled.

'Took you a while to pick up on that,' she teased and he shifted, smiling at her as he stroked a finger down her face, over the long scar that she hated but that he believed made her more beautiful than she'd ever been without it.

'You told me a long time ago that you weren't kissed anymore. That you were…fucked.'

She nodded slowly, recalling the conversation held long ago.

He paused then his eyes held hers as he said, 'I'm completely and utterly in love with you, Ash. I don't want to be a fuck. I want to be the man that kisses you. I want to be the man you want to kiss.'

Ashlin stared at him, unable to make a single noise let alone put together a coherent sentence as three words whirled around and around inside her head, making her dizzy, making her heart race.

'He loves me.'

'I don't expect you to profess your undying love for me right now,' he continued softly. 'I know you're going to need some time to deal with this and work out how you feel. But I want all of you, honey. I want everything.'

She was quiet for a long moment. Was she ready to give herself entirely to another man? Could she give herself so completely ever again; risk getting her heart irreparably smashed this time?

'I don't know if I am ever going to be able to give you that,' she whispered and he nodded.

'I know. I know that, if your choices had been different, we wouldn't be here. If it hadn't been for some twists of fate, it would be Sirius here with you right now instead of me.'

Ashlin opened her mouth but Remus put his fingers over her lips. 'I accept that, Ash. I know that Sirius is always going to hold a piece of your heart…But I'm prepared to share with him as long as you can give me the rest. I want your heart, Ash. Are you willing to give it to me?'

Yes, alright, I'm a bitch...Review to tell me just how much of a bitch :-)