A.N—Blech back to school after a long weekend. WHY CAN'T I GO TO HOGWARTS?! Just some fluff.

Disclaimer—Do I look like the greatest writer of the 21st century?

OoOoO

Chapter Thirty Seven
Worry

Belle paced the living room, biting her nails and running a hand through her hair. It was well after midnight and Remus was still not home from the Order mission. She had heard no news and she was afraid, so deathly afraid that she had lost him after only just getting him back.

The door opened and Belle whipped around, looking pale as Nearly Headless Nick and ready to faint. She stumbled towards Remus, whose hair was messy and his lip was cut but he was otherwise unhurt. She fell into his arms, half crying, half laughing with relief.

"You're alive. You're alive." she muttered. "Remus, love, you're alive!"

Remus had a hand on the back of her head, his other arm snaked around her waist, holding her close, swaying her slightly. She stepped back.

"Are you hurt? Are you alright?" Belle said, frantically searching every inch of his face and patting down each part of him that she could reach. Remus chuckled lightly.

"I'm fine, Belle, really." he assured her with a smirk. "I didn't know you cared so much."

Belle's face contorted but before she could start yelling, he enfolding her into his arms. She physically relaxed, practically melting. He felt the tension ease out of her then and he knew that he had managed to escape a row.

"I'm just glad you're home safe." she said quietly into his shirt. Remus stepped back and she frowned, tracing the cut on his lip with a troubled expression. "You go and make yourself comfortable." Belle said, "I'll make some tea."

She glided into the kitchen, tapping the kettle with her wand while Remus sat down in the living room, peeling off his shoes and socks and rubbing his tired eyes, his back twinging. She returned a moment later with his drink and sat down next to him gingerly, her purple eyes wide. He sipped at his tea gratefully, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles as he held her hand.

"Were you really that worried?" he asked, setting the cup down and pulling Belle into his lap, cradling her.

"I was so scared." she admitted softly. "I thought I'd never see you again."

"I'm here, now, so put your worries aside." he assured, caressing her cheek with his hand.

"But what happens when you go on another mission and I'm left to worry about you all over again? I'll probably spend the next twenty years of my life worrying about you."

"I seriously doubt the war will go on for that long." Remus snorted.

"But what if—"

"Shut up." he murmured, pressing his lips against hers and crushing her to him. She kissed him back, winding her arms around his shoulders and pressing down on his back. He winced and she pulled back.

"I thought you said you were fine!" she said crossly. Remus started protesting when she practically climbed over his shoulder and lifted up his shirt to examine the long scratches that ran down his back and the black and blue bruises there. Belle's eyes widened in horror as she watched blood run down his back.

"Sweet Circe," she breathed, crouching down looking him in the eye. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't want you to worry." he replied lamely and Belle glared, jumping over the back of the couch and landing as quiet as a mouse, disappearing for a moment and then returning with a wash cloth, a green ointment and a bowl of steaming water. She set this all down on the table, tying her hair back.

"Shirt off and then lie down on your stomach." she ordered, sitting down on the edged of the couch next to his hips, dipping the wash cloth into the water and then wringing it out. Remus did as she bade, propping his chin on his folded arms. He felt Belle's warm and delicate hands trailing his injuries and she grimaced before wiping the dry blood away, being as gentle as she could. Remus grit his teeth at the stinging and for a while she worked without speaking, humming one of the many songs from the ballet she was currently working on.

"What happened?" she asked suddenly, not really eager to hear the details, but it was more for his benefit, to take his mind off the pain. Remus was jolted out of his mediation, Belle's humming lulling him into a doze.

"It was a raid on an army gathering. I'll spare you the details, but I ran into old Greyback. He wasn't in a good mood." he replied, eyes closed.

Belle swallowed, once again wringing out the cloth, the water already red and bloody. "And the bruises?"

"He threw me pretty roughly." Remus said ruefully. Belle sniffled. "You knew that this would be hard."

"I know." she muttered. "I suppose that it just takes some getting used to."

She set the cloth aside and reached for the ointment, smearing it onto his back generously. He hissed as the ointments stung, blue smoke rising up as the germs were killed. She got up, rushing to the bathroom to retrieve bandages and then coming back. She helped Remus to sit up, then bound his chest and back with the gauze before using magic to hold it in place.

"There, now." she said, gathering up the bowl and going into the kitchen. "Keep that on for a few days, and it should be healed up fine."

Remus got to his feet, following her. "Belle?"

She sniffled again, rinsing out the bowl and then turned around, throwing her arms around Remus's neck, kissing him soundly and with every ounce of love she had in her. Remus staggered a little at the sudden impact, but kissed her back, running his hands through her hair. He reached down to swing her up, but she backed away.

"No, you mustn't. Your back." she protested. Remus rolled his eyes, picking her up anyway and kissing her cheeks, her eyelids, her nose, every part of her face that he could reach.

"I don't really care." he murmured before crashing his lips to hers. She really weighed next to nothing, but he didn't know if it was because he liked having her in his arms and the joy that made him feel took the effort away, or if it was just because she was a ballerina. He walked them into the bedroom, laying her down on the mattress before climbing on top of her. He nuzzled her neck while he kissed under her jaw, leaving a trail of wet kisses in his wake.

"You shouldn't be doing this." she whispered. "With your back and all."

"I really don't give a flying frig about my back." he murmured against her skin. "All I care about is you."

Belle rolled her eyes, wrapping her legs around Remus's waist and using the momentum, flipped them over. Remus frowned a little in pain.

"You know, knowing you're a ballerina explains why your legs are so strong." he smiled, hands running up her thighs. Belle shook her head, her hair falling about her shoulders.

"You're hurt, you need your rest, so stop being such a Marauder and go to sleep." she tutted. Remus watched as she got up off him and watched her walk into the bathroom. He sighed in frustration, flopping back onto the bed and throwing an arm over his face while he muttered under his breath. Belle chuckled as she brushed her hair.