Disclaimer... No, they are not mine. *Sigh* I wish they were, but they are not. They are JKR's and I'm just having a play. I'm making no profit either.

Dedication... To JK Rowling. Because, let's face it, if it wasn't for her none of us would be here!! And to my new wife Bally.

~ Chapter 11 ~

Remus sat watching the woman on the stage, but really concentrating on the contact with Sirius beneath the table. That was not to say that the displays on the stage did not affect him, but that served only to make him want to take Sirius back upstairs and test out the dingy bed again. From the way Sirius' ankle rubbed against his own it was clear the feeling was mutual. The lights and music on the stage intensified. It was obvious a kind of finale was approaching. In the guise of anxious anticipation Remus shifted his chair closer to Sirius'. The other man grinned at him as their arms came into contact.

Suddenly all the lights went out and the music stopped. A single spotlight appeared, shining on a woman who had not been there a few seconds before. Smoke crawled over the stage and drifted over the edge like a slow, misty waterfall. The woman was frozen in a semi-crouch. She wore a leopard skin bikini and a cat mask. Her hair was dark and fell like beautiful water across her smooth shoulders. Deep music began to throb from hidden speakers, the woman on the stage moved to its beat. Her motions were feral, animal. The entire bar was silent, watching with awe. Remus knew why. He tore his eyes away from the lithe body to look at Sirius. His eyes were wide as the lights began to brighten slowly over the stage, revealing others dressed in Amazonian attire, carrying spears. Remus managed to get Sirius attention and mouthed one word. Wolf. Sirius glanced up at the cat-woman and nodded once. She was a werewolf.

Remus could feel himself drawn to the woman on stage. She was using every animal ability at her disposal to wow the audience. She could have no doubt as to her action and their result. Remus shook his head and turned his eyes from the stage. Never before had he been so attracted to another wolf while not in wolf form. Only Sirius' presence stopped him from climbing onto the stage. He watched the floor for what seemed like hours as the chase continued on stage, only looking back up when a collective gasp went up from the audience. The cat-woman had been caught and was being carried high to the front of the stage, mere feet from where they sat. The Amazonian women were now all naked, but the leopard skin was still all but covering the cat-woman, making a play of being caught and cowering on the floor.

As the naked Amazonians danced around the woman on the floor she looked up straight into Remus' eyes. Her shock was palpable and he knew she sensed his lycanthropy. As the dance ended the cat-woman reached up and, as a dramatic finish, removed her cat mask, tossing back her head to reveal a stunning, dark eyed face. Remus gasped and almost got to his feet. He and the woman stared at each other and there was no doubt in his mind that he knew this woman very well indeed.

*

The bar was basically empty, but still Remus sat at the table. He knew Sirius wanted to leave and search for the woman, but Remus knew she would come to them. The barman was cleaning glasses and watching them suspiciously, no doubt wondering why they didn't retire.

Finally the dark-haired woman stepped out from a side door and walked over to the bar. She now wore a cream trouser suit, but the tame clothing only seemed to enhance her beauty. She spoke briefly to the barman who lost his scowl. She then walked towards the table, a broad smile on her face. Remus stood to greet her and she took him in a tight embrace.

"God Remus, it's so good to see you." Remus hugged her back, aware of Sirius' confusion. They stepped back and Sirius came towards her, hand out to shake.

"I don't believe we've met. I'm Steven." The woman took the offered hand with a smile and before Remus could think of a way to introduce her she spoke.

"Hello. I'm Joanna Lupin, Remus' wife."

*

Joanna sat elegantly on a chair with her legs crossed. In one hand she swirled a double scotch, the other at her mouth as she absently bit a nail on one of the fingers not holding the cigarette. Remus remembered the habit well.

"How long have you been a wolf Jo?" Remus needed to know what was going on. Joanna inhaled from the cigarette and blew out the smoke confidently.

"Getting on for five years now." She paused, thinking. In fact, it must be nearing six now!" She laughed. "God, how time flies."

Remus heard Sirius growl slightly, low in his throat. Before he could stop him he leaned forward. "So how long have the two of you been married?" Sirius was clearly not happy.

Joanna smiled pleasantly at Remus. "It will be seven years in October." Sirius scowled but Joanna seemed not to notice.

"Wow. Seven years. That's a long time to be married to someone. Amazing what you can forget isn't it." He looked pointedly at Remus who squirmed when he saw Joanna frown slightly at Sirius' tone.

"Well, Remus and I won't have seen each other for seven years this November, unfortunately." She smiled again.

It was Remus' turn to frown. "'Unfortunately' Jo? It was you that left me if I remember rightly." Remus tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice for Sirius' sake, but could see by the other man's face he had failed.

Sirius sat back. "So can I know the full tale? Or is this just a couple thing?" Remus sighed at the anger in Sirius' voice and saw Joanna frown again.

"I met Jo about eight or nine years ago." Remus began. He had not thought about all of this for a long time. "I was working in a bar in Bristol and had been for a long time. I was trying to forget everything to do with James, Lily, my heritage and everything. I met Jo there."

Joanna cut in. "I started working there too while I was between other jobs. I was confronted by this gorgeous man who everyone assured me never dated. Most were convinced he was gay!" Jo laughed lightly at the memory but Remus made a small distressed sound in his throat while Sirius' scowl deepened.

Remus continued. "Jo and I got together and we decided to get married. I never told her about my lycanthropy though. I was too afraid that she would leave me." Joanna looked troubled. "But when we got married I knew I'd have to tell her. I knew I was mating to her but I couldn't commit to her without her knowing. So about a month after we got married I told her, and she left." Remus looked at her. "I believe your exact words were that I disgusted you?"

Sirius looked perversely more pleased but Joanna hung her head slightly. She reached out and took Remus' hand. "I'm so sorry Reem. I had no idea werewolves even existed and suddenly the man that I have married tells me not only that they do, but that he is one and wants to mate himself for life with me! I freaked out." She sat back and lit another cigarette." It took me a few months to realise how stupid I had been. I searched for you everywhere but you seemed to disappear off the face of the Earth. I read up on werewolves, but there was only myth available so I hunted for someone to fill me in. Finally I found someone willing to bite me."

Remus' eyes shot open wide. "You became one on purpose?"

"Of course! I wanted to show you that I wanted to be with you too, and to mate with you. And it was amazing! You made it sound like such a curse, but I could feel the life pumping through my veins." Her smile became a grin. " I love it. I love the sexuality it gives me."

Remus shook his head. "It is a curse." He said quietly. Joanna reached out and touched his arm again.

"Remus, I've looked for you for six years. I hoped so much that you wouldn't be mated and I can feel on here," She held a hand to her chest, "that you aren't." Remus looked into her eyes.

Suddenly Sirius' chair was pushed back with such a force that it toppled, breaking in the eye contact between the two. His face was a thundercloud. "No, your not mated are you 'Reem'?" He echoed the nickname Joanna had used and understanding finally flooded her face. She looked from Sirius to Remus and then back again.

"Oh! Are you two..." Remus jumped in before she could finish. He could not bare the thought off this woman who had judged him before and left him, judging him again.

"No no, nothing like that." Sirius stared at him; the anger in his face drained and was replaced by hurt. Remus felt his heart contract.

"No." Sirius agreed, looking straight into Remus' eyes. "Nothing like that." He picked up the chair and placed it gently at the table. He wished Joanna a goodnight and turned to walk towards the stairs.