"Now that we've gotten over being homesick, it feels splendid to be out!" Rhia cried, arranging furniture in the new apartment she was going to be sharing with Sirius. They had been out of school for about a month and a half now and Mother and Father had already bought her a rent-controlled apartment. James was away at his final Auror's training, Remus getting ready for his teacher's training, Rhia had started her internship at the Daily Prophet, and Sirius and Peter were starting their apprenticeships in two weeks.

"Absolutely." Lily agreed. "We've passed out N.E.W.T.s, each gotten a place to live and a job, everything's going great."

"Or are training for a job." Rhia added, thinking fondly of Remus. "Hand me that tablecloth."

"Here." Lily gave her the folded piece of white linen. "How is he?"

"Remus? He's wonderful. Visiting his mum and Annie, trying to assure his father that teaching will work for him."

"Poor bloke." Lily smiled.

~*~

"Remmie, hold your Grandmother's yarn, won't you? There's a dear."

Gran handed Remus a large ball of yarn as she began knitting furiously.

"Remus, do you want Cornish hen for dinner or bouillabaisse?" Mrs. Lupin asked, pulling out various pots and pans.

"Um...hen." He replied, organizing a stack of his new teaching books as he rolled out the yarn.

"Remus, I'm not quite sure if teaching is the best idea." Mr. Lupin said, sitting next to his son.

"But, Father, this is what I want to do." He held up a book with his spare hand. "Dumbledore believes I can do it, and you've always said you put your faith in him!"

"You have, Daddy." Annie said as she came next to them both. "Remember when you were trying to decide when to plant the gardenias and Dumbledore said that we'd have an early winter because he could feel it in his fingertips and you-"

"That's enough, Annabelle." Mr. Lupin said. "Remus, it's not that I don't want you to be a teacher. On the contrary, I do. It's just.I don't want you getting yourself or others hurt. There's no denying it, Remus, you are a wolf."

"If he's full, then he oughtn't to have any dinner." Gran called, knitting away.

"Father, I did just fine at school." Remus insisted. "And I'm eighteen, I'm a man now." He pulled himself up to his tallest height.

Mr. Lupin sighed.

"Alright, Remus." He nodded. "If you believe this is the best choice for you, than you may go."

"Thank you!" His face lit up with a smile. "I'm going to go right now, take the Floo Network to my apartment." He said 'apartment' with a great amount of pride in his voice, exceedingly pleased that he was on his own.

"Now, Remus?" Mrs. Lupin looked up from her supper.

"I need to get ready for lessons tomorrow." He replied happily.

"Oooh, Mum, can I go as well?" Annie sidled towards her mother, a pleased look on her face. "Only for one night, and I shan't be a bother!"

"Well..." Mrs. Lupin thought for a moment. A night without the children would be nice after a month with them both... "If Remus thinks it's alright."

"Yeah, she can come." He said a little dubiously.

"Thank you!" Annie threw her arms about her big brother. "When can we leave? Now? Should I bring anything?"

Remus rolled his eyes. It was going to be a long night....

~*~

"Goodnight, Remus." Annie said, settling into the guest bedroom and promptly shutting her eyes.

Many hours later, she was rustled from her light sleep by a gentle tapping on the window above her bed. She nearly screamed when she saw a face peering in at her, wet and shivering.

"Sirius!" she hissed, opening the window. He was sitting on his bike, hovering in midair. "What are you doing?"

"It's your summer vacation before your last year of school." He replied. "I wanted to do something special for you."

"It's also raining at two o'clock in thr morning." She retorted. "Come inside, you'll freeze to death out there."

He clambered off the bike and it floated to the ground as he slipped through the window.

"How did you find out I was here?" she asked.

"Rhia." He grinned.

"Look at you, soaked straight through." She peeled off his jacket, lying it on the desk chair to dry.

"Maybe you could warm me up." He suggested with a grin.

"Sirius." She scolded, blushing madly.

"Just kidding." He replied, wringing his hair out and shaking his head like a dog. "You know, Annie, I-"

"Shhh!" she put a finger to his mouth, listening to the air. When all was still she continued. "Remus will kill us if he hears you."

Sirius smiled and kissed the fingers resting on his lips.

"Control yourself." She snapped, bringing her hand down.

"That's just it, Annie." He reached for her wrist. "I can't."

With one swift movement, Sirius' lips met with Annie's. He put his arm about her waist, one cold body against a warm one as he pulled her close. Annie's heart quickened as his kisses moved to her neck and he pulled down one of her shoulder straps. He wouldn't...he couldn't! Not after what happened with Lucius so long ago.he knew she hated being reminded of that and now...

"Annie?" he glanced up at her and she stilled. His eyes were gentle and trusting, as if he could never, ever hurt her, even if he wanted to. She kissed him fervently and he continued undressing her.

~*~

Remus flipped the last of the pancakes onto a stack, putting one plate in front of Annie's chair and another in front of his.

"Now, to wake her up." He rolled up his sleeves. His sister was not a light sleeper. Mum had to bang pots next to her head occasionally to wake her during vacation. Opening the door to the guest room, he called in, "Annie, you need to-"

He stopped, staring at the scene before him. Sirius, also a heavy sleeper, lay in the bed with Annie's head resting on his bare chest, her naked shoulders poking out from under the coverlets.

Remus just stared, not knowing what to do. He could slip out quietly, make a hell of a racket in the kitchen, and hope it woke Sirius up and he slipped out and no one would have to know he saw. or he could start shouting his head off now and scare the magic out of Sirius. Remus smiled.

"Sirius Malachi Black!" he shouted. Sirius jumped about a foot in the air, tossing Annie off of him as he scurried backwards, away from Remus. Annie woke up, screamed, and covered herself up with the blankets.

"Remus!" Annie cried.

"Annie!" he yelled back, secretly, but fully, enjoying this.

"Remus!" Sirius pleaded.

"Sirius..." Remus snarled.

"Remus!" Annie shouted, astonished.

"Annie," Remus shot back.

"Sirius..." Annie began.

"Annie!" Sirius pouted.

"I, ah...I think I'll leave you two alone..." Remus muttered, and closed the door behind him. He smirked. That was fun.

* * *

"I'm proud of you, Remus!" Rhia laughed. "You didn't kill him, good. I'd have to find a new best friend."

"I tell you, I was jealous." Remus put his arms around Rhia, pulling her closer. They sat on the sofa in Remus' living room, watching the clock toss away the minutes until he had to leave for training. "Its always Sirius this, and Sirius that." He kissed her cheek. "I want you all to myself. I seriously considered it!"

"So, little Annie isn't so little anymore." Rhia murmured, snuggling closer.

"Don't remind me."

"Where are they now?"

Remus shuddered. "Probably off somewhere, sending me to an early grave."

Rhia shifted so she was facing him and smirked. "Oh, gee, maybe we could take your mind off of it?"

Remus chuckled. "And how do you plan to do that?"

"Depends." She grinned. "How long do you have until you leave?"

"Only about five minutes." He replied.

"Tsk." She clucked her tongue, kissing his neck gently. "Will Annie be here tonight?"

"Mmmmm...ah, no, no, I don't think so." He mumbled, getting hot and bothered as Rhia unbuttoned the top of his shirt.

"Well, then." She sat back, buttoning his shirt neatly. "You meet me here tonight at seven, and we'll see how we can fix that."

Remus shivered in anticipation.

"Now, go, before you're late." She pushed him to the door, handing him his books before he left.

~*~

Rhia heard a loud banging noise interrupt her dreams and felt Remus sit up next to her.

"No, don't." She pulled him back next to her, holding him close.

"What if it's something important?" He kissed her forehead and got out of bed, pulling on a pair of pants and going outside. Rhia listened through the closed door as she got dressed.

"Remus, you won't believe it!"

James had obviously stopped by.

"Sorry for bothering you so early, he just couldn't control himself."

With Lily.

"What is it?" she heard Remus ask.

"I did it!"

"Did what?"

"Look! See? That's me!"

"Wow, James, that's really...good for you."

"He's been raving about it all morning."

"Like you haven't been raving about the wedding, Lil."

"Have you set a date?"

"We were trying to have it when everyone could come, but that didn't work out, so we picked Halloween."

"Halloween, Lil? Isn't that a bit frivolous for a wedding?" Rhia said, coming out of the bedroom dressed in Remus's bathrobe. Both Lily and James's faces changed, though Lily's held a look of shock and James one of mirth.

"Rhia!" Lily cried.

"Hello, good morning. Remus, love, aren't you even going to make them sit down and have some tea?" Rhia smiled and busied herself with the stove.

Remus chuckled. "Yes darling."

James smirked. "Go Moony!" he shouted, punching his fist into the air. Lily, who had been staring open-mouthed at Rhia, snapped out of her daze.

"James Malcolm!"

Rhia laughed, and levitated four cups of steaming tea onto the kitchen table. "Sit! Drink! And Lily, tell me why you've decided to make the wedding on Halloween."

Lily smiled and sipped her tea. "Well, we wanted to make sure you all could make it, and we know everyone will be in town for Halloween, so we figured, why not make it then?"

"Good idea." Remus said.

"Now, what is it you were screaming about, James?" Rhia asked.

"Oh!" James pulled a piece of newsprint out of his pocket. "Look at this!" He put it flat on the table.

"'Giant Massacre in Himalayas'?" Rhia raised her eyebrows.

"No, the one below that." James pointed to the article following the Giant one.

"'Overstreet Nabbed for Dark Lord Support'." Rhia read. "And this is important because...?"

"Me!" he cried. "I'm the one that 'nabbed' him. I went out for the first time last night and I helped to get him!"

"Good for you." Rhia said, trying not to notice Lily's worried face.

"I get to go on another one in a month." He rubbed his hands excitedly. "There's rumors that there's a big meeting of 'em then."

"That's enough Auror business." Remus ordered as Lily came close to dropping her teacup.

"Thanks." She whispered, putting her cup down.

"So, can you come to the wedding?" James asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, I'll make sure I keep the date open." He replied.

"Oh, and Rhia, there's something I...we wanted to ask you." Lily said as she took James's hand.

"What's that?" asked Rhia.

"Well, we were thinking about who we wanted to be at the wedding and then we realized we had no best man or maid of honour." She said in amazement.

"We figured out the best man part quick." James added. "Not that you're not one of my best friends, Moony, it's just-"

"I understand." He held up a hand. "Sirius and you are like brothers."

"I knew you'd get it." James grinned. "So, then Lil was freaking out about bridesmaids-"

"I was not!" she interrupted. "Besides, I already knew who I wanted."

Lily took Rhia's hand in hers.

"Rhia, I've been friends with you since the first day of school." She said, smiling a bit. "And I couldn't think of any other think I'd wish more than to have you be my maid of honour."

"Oh, Lily." Rhia breathed. "I'd love to!"