When Forever Isn't Long Enough
lone astronomer
Summary: Sequel to that last piece of fluff, Chemical Reaction. Beware, it's mostly plotless rambling, but that's what C.R. was, and people liked that. So this is not-quite-as-fluffy fluff, but it's still Charmin soft. Christmas at the Lupin residence, fluff, and stuff. But not a lot of stuff, because it's short. So enjoy it.
Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns it all, but notify me if she decides to have a yard sale, won't you?
I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy,
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love
Be everything that you need
I'll love you more with every kiss
Truly, madly, deeply do
I will be strong I will be faithful
'Cause I'm countin' on a new beginning
A reason for living
A deeper meaning, yeah
I want to stand with you on a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down over me
And when the stars are shining brightly in the velvet sky
I'll make a wish send it to heaven then make you want to cry
The tears of joy for all the pleasure in the certainty
That we're surrounded by the comfort and protection of
The highest powers
In lonely hours
The tears devour you
I want to stand with you on a mountain
I want to bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down over me
-Savage Garden, Truly Madly Deeply
Her laughter just barely subsided, Allya managed to summarize what Remus' father had just told her. "You mean he actually- at the grad party- he…" she digested this information, and only the occasional hiccup punctuated the silence. "You were an underage drinker, you bad boy," Allya said, eyes glinting. "Grad party…" Remus had gone red after 'bad boy' and his parents had noticed, but by then the color was fading. "That was partly my fault then, wasn't it?" she mused, thinking of the huge fight they'd had the day before.
Remus nodded; Richard Lupin got curious. "What did you do?" he asked.
Allya sighed. "To make a rather long and complicated story short, we had a big fight over nothing and we decided, mutually, not to speak to each other afterwards."
"Ah," said Mrs. Lupin, seeing by the looks on their faces that this was not a safe conversation topic.
By this time, dinner was long over and the dishes were in need of washing- the magic way. "Remus," Mr. Lupin said, standing and sending his dishes to the sink with the flick of his wand, "I wonder if I might have a word with you?"
Remus' expression said 'busted' and Allya noticed.
Uh-oh.
In the living room, Richard Lupin wasn't wasting time. "You love her," he said without preamble. "I'm sure you do." He gave Remus the calculating look that Remus himself had inherited. "Do you love her?"
Remus' eyes met his father's. "More than anything."
"Then don't let her go," the older man said, focusing on some point behind Remus' left ear. "Not again. I mean it. You two have had more than your share of problems, we both know."
"Only too well," Remus agreed. He thought back on their chaotic romantic past.
"You slept with her, didn't you?" It was hardly a question, and certainly not one Remus was prepared to answer.
"I beg your pardon?" he said, but was stopped by a more masculine version of 'the look'. (Y'all know it… the one Paps gives you when you crash the P.C. and lose his latest novella attempt.) Reeje sighed. "Is it so obvious?"
Mr. Lupin shrugged. "Only an educated guess. You're nearly nineteen, after all, and it's plain to see how much you care for each other."
Remus shifted a bit uncomfortably. "Oh," he said, unable to think of a better reply.
Unable to bear the 'responsible parent' role further, Richard put on a less solemn look. "Don't let that one get away, kid, if you know what's good for you."
When the women exited the kitchen a few moments later, it was plain to see they'd had a similar conversation. Remus, seeing Ally was a bit shaken, wrapped his arms around her contentedly. "Merry Christmas," Remus said to no one in particular.
"Merry Christmas," came three replies. One small, happy family celebrated into the night.
"Wake up, sleepyhead," Remus said, walking into Allya's bedroom in the Nightrunner mansion late one afternoon shortly after Christmas.
Allya rolled over and promptly fell out of bed. "Ouch. Good morning, sunshine."
Remus pulled her to her feet and kissed the top of her head. "That's my line."
"Mind if I borrow it?"
"Not at all, Sweetcheeks."
"Don't call me that."
"Sorry, Doll-face."
Allya grinned. "Brush up on your American accent, Reeje."
"Ouch. Can we start this morning over?"
She grinned wider. "Now you sound like an American." Remus, too, smiled at that. "Yes."
"Good morning, sunshine."
"Good morning, Remus," Allya answered, suddenly acutely aware of how much she cared for him. I'm turning into such a softy. Remus' arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her near. If it could last forever… what am I thinking? She berated herself mentally. I'm turning into such a sentimental freak…
But the sentimental freak side of her- the side that was all hormones and teenage fantasies, kept nagging her. It said, What happens when forever isn't long enough?
And so ends the sentimental slush for another day.