Remus John Lupin stood underneath the shower head in his bathroom, letting the hot water run down his aching body. The full moon was a few days prior, but he had spent most of his time underground. Nineteen-year-old Remus never would have imagined that he would be running amongst his werewolf peers acting as a spy for Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. It wasn't a job that he particularly enjoyed, but it was a job that he was made for.

His thoughts drifted lazily to James Potter and Lily Evans and their upcoming nuptials. James had asked Remus to be in his wedding party immediately after proposing to Lily on one of their Order missions but in their excitement the happy couple forgot about the full moon. Remus allowed a twinge of jealousy to pass through his thoughts as he thought about how James asked Sirius to be his best man. To be fair, Lily had asked Remus to stand beside her at the altar but alas – the call of the wolf was strong.

Remus's thoughts shifted once more as he thought about his family. His father Lyall was in good health but his mother had grown very ill over the years. Cancer was a bitch and none of the magic in the world created a cure. Though, Hope was introduced to the magical community, Remus felt as though his mother would have eschewed from the magical remedies. But then his thoughts were brought to his younger sister Margaret.

To the entire family's surprise Margaret had fallen pregnant half-way through her final year at Hogwarts. During their holiday in 1978 Margaret brought her then boyfriend Jude Nickels to the Lupin home. Remus was almost positive that Lyall was prepared to snap the young man's neck upon hearing the news, but Hope, living up to her name, brought the fiery Lyall back to Earth. At least he seemed calm in public. Remus was almost thankful that he was running missions with the Order of the Phoenix just so that he didn't have to hear his parents arguing with each other.

Remus felt at fault for Margaret's behavior as they grew up. Margaret and Remus were practically peas in a pod until the werewolf Fenrir Greyback came to attack him late at night. After that night everything in their family changed. Hope and Lyall grew distant, though they remained loving, but it was clear their relationship was strained. Remus often took solace in spending time with his parents while Margaret seemed to be pushed by the wayside. Everything turned into managing Remus's care as a child and three-year-old Margaret couldn't understand.

Tired of being alone with his thoughts, Remus turned the water off, relishing in the last remnants of the steam. He froze as he heard a shuffle from inside his flat. He knew that he wasn't expecting anyone, but sure enough there was noises being made just outside the bathroom door. Without another moment's hesitation Remus threw a pair of pants on, not bothering to dry himself, and grabbed his wand from the bathroom counter. He held his hand on the doorknob listening for the intruder and as he heard movement again, immediately outside the door, he flung the door open his wand at the ready.

"Hold your fire, boy!"

"Dad?"

"Sorry to scare you, Remy."

Remus was about to lower his wand when his eyes narrowed. He held his wand steady as he glared at the man who he hoped was his father. "What was your cake topper when you married mum?"

"The cake topper was a Boggart, though your mother had it commissioned to look like the man she thought was following her. She thought it would be funny because that was how we met," Lyall responded, his eyes wide. "I know you can never be too careful, but really Remy. You should be able to tell that I'm your father."

Remus finally lowered his wand and let out a sigh. "I should but a Polyjuice potion will change your scent as well. You could be anyone and I would never know." Remus grabbed the towel that he had left on the sink and proceeded to dry the rest of his body off. "What are you doing here?"

"I didn't have the time to send a message," Lyall said, his face brightening. "The baby is coming!"

"The baby? Margaret's baby?"

Lyall nodded quickly, a wide smile crossing his face. "Yes! We need to get to St. Mungo's right away!"

"I don't think that Margaret wants me there," Remus said sadly. He frowned for a moment and tossed his towel on the floor. He would get it later on after he took a nap. "As much as I would love to see the baby, I don't think it's a good idea."

"Remus, son, she asked for you."

Remus froze and then let out a laugh. "Did you just come here to tease me? She would never."

Lyall gave Remus a sly smile. "No, son. In fact, Margaret's exact words were, 'If his sorry arse says he doesn't want to come I want you to hex him and drag him in by his ear.'"

"You're positive that she said that," Remus asked, surprised. It did sound like something Margaret would say, but he couldn't believe it.

"Yes," Lyall said softly. "Come on, get dressed and let's get to the hospital. We don't want to miss the baby being born."

Remus felt strange sitting in the waiting room of St Mungo's. Lyall was pacing quickly waiting for the Healer to tell them the baby was born.

"Where's Jude?" Remus asked, noting that he couldn't pick up on Jude's scent or hear his voice.

Lyall shot Remus an aggravated look. "No one bloody knows. He disappeared a few days ago and hasn't returned," Lyall growled. "Hopefully the fucker is dead."

"Dad!" Remus was surprised as he very rarely heard his dad curse. Death threats on the other hand? A completely different story. "We're in a hospital"

"I suppose you're right," Lyall said, giving Remus a sure nod. "I hope the fucker is dead and can't find his way here to get fixed up."

Remus gave a passing couple an apologetic look as they passed by, appalled at Lyall's behavior. "Dad, you need to calm down or we're going to get kicked out and not be able to see the baby. Sit down," Remus hissed. "I don't like Jude any more than you do but being pissed isn't going to change anything."

"Oh, fine then," Lyall said, dropping into the seat next to Remus still seething. "I'm just saying that if he were to be laying on the ground dead some where I would be okay with it. Now where is this baby? It's taking its sweet time, innit?"

Remus rolled his eyes at his dad and hid his smile. He knew that Lyall had a grudge against Jude for getting Margaret pregnant, but deep underneath that he was excited for a new baby in the family. Ever since Hope's passing a few years ago Lyall had been extremely lonely. Remus was out participating in dangerous missions and Margaret was now living in holy matrimony with Jude and had moved out to a flat outside of London. A grandbaby was exactly what the old man needed.

"Mr. Lupin?"

Both men looked at each other and turned to find a young Healer witch standing at the end of the hallway looking into the waiting room. The young witch paled and cleared her throat. "Mr. Remus Lupin?" she corrected. "Margaret would like to see you."

Lyall inclined his head to Remus. "Well, lookit that, son. What did I tell you?"

Remus gave Lyall a playful shove, feigning annoyance as he stood, but gave his father a smile. He approached the young witch who was fidgeting. "Is everything alright?" Remus asked the witch, growing concerned that the young woman couldn't seem to stop dancing on the spot.

"Oh, no – everything is fine," the witch said with a smile. She lowered her voice and took a step closer to Remus. "I just have to use the loo, but Margaret insisted that I get you first."

"Then I suggest you run off to the loo. I can find my way," Remus said smiling at the witch.

The witch gave Remus an appreciative look. "No, it's okay," she said quickly, already walking away. "Thank you," she whispered as she darted away.

Remus held back a laugh as he walked down the hallway towards the maternity ward. He remembered walking down this hallway as a young boy when Margaret was born. He had never expected to be walking down the ward once more. Pushing through the doors at the end of the hallway he entered a circular room with multiple adjoined rooms. He paused and took in the multiple rooms and was drawn to the cry he heard to his righthand side. Seeing that no one was there to direct him, he took a chance and walked briskly to the seventh room on the right, just past the main desk.

Peering in, he was thankful to see Margaret sitting up in her bed but was surprised to see that she was holding a small bundle in her arms. Margaret spent a few moments cooing at the small bundle in her arms and looked up, almost fearful. Seeing it was Remus she relaxed and beckoned him into the room with a cock of her head.

"Dad's going to be livid," Margaret said with a sweet smile as Remus walked into the room. "He wanted to see the baby first."

Remus walked to Margaret's side, cautious. He couldn't remember the last time that Margaret had smiled at him, but the new life that she held in her hands captured his attention.

"Her name's Emelyn," Margaret said, glancing up at Remus and looked down as the cooing child in her arms. "Emelyn Theodosia."

"She's beautiful," Remus said honestly. He watched as Emelyn's tiny arms swung wild in her mother's arms; searching, feeling, exploring. The babe in Margaret's arms had a shock of brown hair, sweet, puffy cheeks, and the bluest eyes he had ever seen. He was in absolute awe of his niece and smitten. It was love at first sight.

"Do you want to hold her? Sit next to me." Margaret shuffled on the bed carefully, still holding Emelyn. She moved Emelyn to a single arm, laying her in the crook of her elbow and pat the empty spot next to her.

Remus gently took the spot next to Margaret. "I don't know if I should hold her," Remus said, trying to find his words. "I don't think Jude would appreciate -"

"Jude isn't here, Remus," Margaret said, sounding oddly excited at the prospect. She held Emelyn out to Remus. "Hold her, it'll be fine."

"Margaret, I don't want to break her," Remus protested, letting out a yelp as Margaret practically shoved Emelyn into his arms.

"You are not going to break her," Margaret said, throwing her head back with a laugh. "She doesn't even have real bones yet, Remus. Besides, she'll be magical. If you drop her, she'll bounce."

Remus shot Margaret and nervous look; his arms held awkwardly in front of him as he attempted to hold Emelyn. "I don't know what I'm doing," he admitted, giving Margaret a lopsided grin. Margaret couldn't help but laugh even more.

"Here, you prat," Margaret said, smiling at Remus and helping to support Emelyn's head as he adjusted his arms. "She looks comfortable."

"Does she?" Remus asked, his eyes finally leaving Margaret's to look down at the small bundle that he was now holding. He wasn't sure how Margaret knew that Emelyn was comfortable, but he found himself quickly captivated once more in her blue eyes. Her small arms were still swinging wildly, and he placed a finger into her hand, chuckling as her fingers reflectively gripped his. "She's strong."

"She's incredibly strong," Margaret said softly. "Remus, I need to ask you something important."

Remus looked away from Emelyn slowly and looked at Margaret. He was smiling, expecting to see Margaret smiling back but was bewildered seeing that her expression was closed off.

"What is it? Is everything okay?" Remus asked her quickly, the concern growing on his face.

Margaret realized that her face was betraying her feelings and gave Remus a small smile. "Yeah, everything is fine," Margaret said unconvincingly. "I just wanted to know if you would be Emma's godfather."

"Margaret, is that really a good idea? I'm honored, but -"

"Remus, there is going to be a time where I can no longer care for her. I know that things between us have been, well…they've been rough, but I need to know that if something happens to me that she'll be in good hands." Margaret watched Remus carefully, her face grave.

Remus sighed and looked down at Emelyn who was staring up at him. She can't actually see you, Remus thought to himself, finding the idea funny. He nearly let out a chuckle until he turned to look at Margaret and saw that her face had gone from sad to pained. "Margaret…I really don't know."

"Please, Remus," Margaret pleaded. "I can't ask anyone else."

With a glance back down at Emelyn in his arms and another look at Margaret's pained face, he nodded. "Okay."

"You'll be her godfather?" Margaret gave him an anxious smile. "You'll really do it?"

"Yes," Remus said, not entirely sure why he agreed. He looked back down at Emelyn who was falling asleep in his arms and felt the corners of his mouth twitch. As he looked down at Emelyn he understood why.

Margaret wrapped her arms around Remus carefully, trying to avoid disturbing Emelyn who was resting quietly, her tiny fingers still wrapped around his. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Miss Nickels?"

Remus and Margaret looked up at another young Healer witch who stood in the doorway of her room.

"It's still Lupin," Margaret corrected the Healer.

The Healer gave her an exasperated look. "Your father is threatening to blow up the doors of the ward if we don't let him in. Is it alright if we bring him in?"

Margaret smiled back at the witch, her entire face changing as though nothing had happened. "Yes. I think dad's waited long enough." She gave Remus a knowing look as the young witch quickly ran off nervously. Margaret wrapped her arms around his arm, resting her head on his shoulder as she looked down at Emelyn. "I told you she was comfortable."

A few moments later, Lyall burst into the room, but upon seeing his two children sitting together he froze. He couldn't remember the last time that Remus and Margaret sat close together and weren't fighting and he couldn't help but smile at the scene. He had longed for the day that the two would finally stop fighting and was happy to see that day had finally come. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a camera.

"For the family album," Lyall said with a shrug as his children looked at him aghast.

Remus and Margaret looked at each other and laughed. Remus carefully adjusted Emelyn in his arms so that her little face could be shown to Lyall and be seen in the photo. Margaret sat up, keeping her arms wrapped around Remus's. The siblings gave each other another quick look and turned to look at Lyall who was holding his camera up, watching the two expectantly. They both let out a laugh and smiled broadly at Lyall.

The camera flashed.