Author's Note: Thank you to all my reviewers! You keep me going!! This chapter includes a lovely smutty scene – I hope it's still an R rating. Padfoot wrote that Cassius seemed to be getting friskier with each chapter…well, this time it's Remus' turn. I think I need more of a life – but this made me very happy. :-)
Ch 14 - A Year in the Life – Part 2
"Remus, dear, you need to go to Saint Mungo's – you don't look at all well." Aspasia fussed over him as he sat at his desk.
"No – I'll just go home…Tabby…she'll take care of me." Remus said, shivering, he was starting to feel lightheaded.. Aspasia knew that he lived with Tabby. She remembered when Tabby had worked as an auror and assumed that Tabby had taken Remus in because he was a werewolf, knowing that Tabby was a softhearted witch, in spite of her blustery exterior. Remus never corrected her assumption.
"If that's what you want." Aspasia didn't seem convinced. Remus knew Cassius would have a fit if Remus were in hospital since Cassius wouldn't be able to visit him. Tabby was very good with potions. He'd been all right if he just got home.
"I'll just go then." Remus stood up. Suddenly the world went fuzzy and he felt like he was floating. After a time, Remus felt a soft mattress underneath him and two voices seemed to be coming from far away.
"Must have caught it from Turnipseed, in Accounting. He got back from Egypt two days ago with this same thing. Gave it to half the Ministry." Aspasia was saying. "Although Remus' case is the worst."
"Remus isn't that strong…as you know." Tabby replied crisply.
"He wanted to go home but when he collapsed – well, Sam is the best healer there is – silly not to come here."
"Absolutely." Tabby said firmly. Remus struggled to open his eyes. "You're awake now? How are you feeling?" Tabby's hand rested on his forehead for a moment.
"What happened?" He whispered, his throat dry. He felt Tabby put her arm around his shoulders and lift him up so he could take a drink of water. He laid back against the pillows, still feeling like he was floating.
"You fainted, so I brought you to Saint Mungo's." Aspasia said. "Now Tabby is here, I'll be off. Get better soon, Remus. Don't worry about work."
He nodded weakly, not really comprehending what she had said. Sam, Aspasia's son, entered the curtained area a moment later. Tabby looked over at him, seeming to think something over. She waved her wand and did a silencing spell around the area.
"You're sworn to secrecy about patient information, aren't you?" She asked intently.
"Yes. I will treat any information you give me with total confidentiality." Sam answered calmly.
"Remus is a mated werewolf. Am I right in thinking that he would recover more quickly in the company of his mate?"
"You are." Sam nodded. "My mother didn't mention he – "
"It's not public knowledge. Werewolves are discriminated against, as are their mates." Tabby said curtly.
"Of course. I will not say anything, you have my word as a healer." Sam paused. "Is the mate female?"
"No." Tabby answered
"The potions he will be taking, they will heighten his…drive. I was going to caution you about it…I only ask because his mate needs to be able to control him – to some degree." Tabby nodded briskly. Sam took a step towards the curtain and turned back. "I will fill out the necessary scrolls, he'll be released within an hour. I will downplay the seriousness of this case so that no one thinks anything amiss."
"Thank you." Tabby said, turning back to Remus as Sam exited. "Just rest, dear. You'll be home soon."
Two hours later, Remus and Tabby Apparated to the front door of Windy Corner. Before they could open the door, Cassius wrenched the door open, gathering Remus into his arms.
"Careful, he's fine, don't worry." Tabby said quickly. "Cassius, you're getting blood all over him."
"Blood?" Remus asked weakly, worried but unable to summon any energy.
"Take him upstairs. I'll deal with you in a moment." Tabby said, pushing at Cassius. Cassius took the stairs two at a time.
"Where's the blood?" Remus asked again, trying to lift his head from Cassius' shoulder, but it was too heavy. He took a breath in and was flooded with the scent of Cassius. He felt a vague arousal start to course through his veins.
"It's nothing, Remus." Cassius set him down on the bed. Tabby came into the room a moment later.
"Hands." She ordered. Cassius held both his hands out to Tabby. Remus could see that the fingers were bloodied and torn, not just the tips of them but the knuckles and the whole length of them. Tabby waved her wand and the fingers were repaired.
"Here's a potion for you, Remus." Tabby held the potion to Remus' lips, supporting him with one arm. Remus could barely keep his eyes open. Tabby gently lowered him back on the bed. Remus felt Cassius' hands on him, taking his clothes off and putting his pajamas on. "He'll be…wanting you. The healer said it will help him to get better. He might get hard to handle, so be prepared. Your wand." Tabby set Cassius' wand on the nightstand. "Best course of action would be to give him what he wants."
Remus thought he heard Cassius reply. "I always do." Remus smiled to himself.
He awoke some time later, it was dark outside but the room was made bright by the firelight. He shivered and turned in Cassius' arms.
"Mmm." Cassius groaned. "Your nose is freezing."
"I'm cold." Remus nuzzled his cold face against Cassius' neck. He could feel Cassius' hands start to rub his back and one of Cassius' legs covered his hip, drawing him closer. Arousal flared. "I need you inside me." He murmured, placing kisses along Cassius' jaw.
"What?" Cassius' voice cracked in surprise. Remus had never said such a thing before.
"I need you to fuck me." Remus nipped at the tender skin on his neck. Cassius felt himself getting hard as Remus whispered desires into his ear.
"Remus, you need rest." His voice trembled as Remus licked the shell of his ear.
"I need you." Remus growled, tightening his arms around his mate. "I love you."
"I…"
"Give me what I want." Remus stroked his hand down Cassius' side.
There was a knock at the bedroom door.
"Remus needs to take another dose of his potion." Tabby called through the door.
Cassius practically jumped out of the bed, Remus watched his mate possessively as he opened the door.
"Here." Tabby handed Cassius a bottle with a glass resting on top. "He gets one of these every four hours." She handed him an alarm clock. "This will let you know when the next doses are due." She turned and walked away quickly. Cassius shut the door and walked back over to the bed. Remus unbuttoned his pajama top.
"Come back to bed, love." He demanded.
"You need this dose first." Cassius said quickly, setting down the clock and pouring some potion in the glass.
"I don't want it." Remus shook his head, he had a faint memory of how foul the potion tasted and didn't want to do it again.
"I won't get in bed if you don't." Remus struggled to sit up, Cassius had to support him. He reached out weakly and grabbed the glass, gulping it down quickly. Cassius put the glass on the bedside table and let Remus lay back against the pillows.
"Now get undressed." Remus ordered, his amber eyes glowing golden. Cassius stripped off his pajama pants and climbed back into bed next to Remus, about a foot away.
"What do you want?"
"You inside me." Remus pulled at his mate, his strength was diminished by the illness so Cassius didn't budge. "Please. I'm so cold." Cassius tilted his head, looking at Remus strangely for a moment.
"What else do you want?" His long fingers reached for Remus, pulling off his shirt and pants.
"Kiss me here." Remus pointed to his bite mark. Cassius complied without a word. "Touch me." Remus grabbed Cassius' hands, moving them onto his body, Cassius immediately started touching the places he knew Remus loved best. Remus groaned with pleasure. "Mate with me."
"I'm already going to do that." Cassius kissed Remus' mouth, then moved along his jaw, pressing kisses to it.
"No… mate with me, bite me." Remus arched upwards seeking more contact with his mate. Cassius had pulled back. Remus' skin froze where Cassius wasn't touching him and burned where their bodies met. He felt like he would go mad if Cassius didn't mate with him now. "Please!" Remus writhed on the bed. He felt drunk – like he had when he was a 7th year and James had smuggled Fire Whiskey into the dorms after final exams had ended - the world was spinning around him. He was only anchored because of Cassius. His body tingled, he could feel every nerve and every nerve ached for Cassius. He knew Cassius was aroused, he could smell it in the air. "Please, Cassius."
"You want me to bite you?" Cassius didn't look happy about that idea.
"I'll taste good, I promise." Remus whispered, trying to move Cassius to where he wanted him. "Please." He reached one hand up to his mate, pulling on the ring on his chest. Cassius took in a sharp breath and moved between Remus' legs. Remus felt like he was flying apart from the strength of his craving. Cassius was going too slow. Remus whimpered. He moved his hand down Cassius' side, trying to pull his mate's hips closer. His other hand sought out his own bite mark, trying to satiate his rising need. Remus stroked over the bite mark on his shoulder, feeling arousal jolt through his body. He watched as Cassius' eyes dilated with desire. "Please, husband." He panted.
"Remus." Cassius wrenched Remus' hand away from his shoulder and started to lick the bite mark. Remus cried out happily as he felt his whole body start to burn. He was lost in a sea of sensation as Cassius took over, moving him, controlling his limbs. He could hear a stream of words issuing from his mouth, begging, cajoling, ordering. Cassius did everything he desired.
"Now! Please! Now!" Remus pleaded. Cassius turned him over swiftly, rejoining their bodies, bringing them both to climax and biting down hard on Remus' shoulder. There was a muffled murmur and Cassius started swallowing the blood greedily. Remus suddenly thought he knew what it was like to be a vampire's victim. He shivered as Cassius licked over the bite to catch the last few drops of blood. Remus collapsed in a dreamless sleep before Cassius even rolled off of him.
For three days, Remus was delirious with the illness. As he got his strength back, he became more and more dominant, his werewolf drive asserting itself. He claimed Cassius over and over again in all sorts of ways. Remus kissed every inch of Cassius' body. Remus' mouth and hands discovered all the places that caused Cassius pleasure. Cassius' face was often flushed as Remus spoke his needs into Cassius' ear, accompanied by licks and strokes.
"Mmm." Remus stretched, rolling off of Cassius. He opened his eyes and blinked at the bright sunlight that streamed into the bedroom.
"How are you feeling?" Cassius' voice was rough with sleep.
Remus thought about it for a moment. "I feel fine. Wonderful, in fact." He turned his head and looked over at Cassius who was smiling lovingly at him.
"I'm glad." Cassius' left hand smoothed over his hair. "I was worried about you for a while there."
Remus propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at his mate. He smiled into the green eyes that had dark smudges under them. "How long have I been sick?"
"You collapsed at work four days ago."
"And you've been with me the whole time?" Remus smiled. "You look tired."
"I wonder why." Cassius said wryly, moving to put his right arm behind his head and winced slightly, but Remus caught it.
"What…" Remus leaned over and looked at Cassius' right shoulder. There were three bite marks along his collarbone. Remus looked at Cassius' left shoulder, there was a new scab healing over the mating bite mark and another bite next to it. "Did I do all that?"
"You forgot which shoulder to bite – then you forgot where exactly it was." Cassius said with a smile, "I thought I had a bad memory…"
"I'm so sorry." Remus pressed a kiss to each bite, when he reached the mating bite mark he felt Cassius' shudder.
"It's all right…they didn't happen all at once."
"They…they didn't?" Remus asked.
"Uh uh." Cassius pulled Remus close. "Now that you're better, I can finally sleep. You wore me out. Insatiable, you were" Remus felt his face get hot. "Now that's a sight I haven't seen in a while. You were making me blush."
"Really? Why?"
"Because of the things you said…and did. I think I'll be finding my old pensieve from the attic so I can relive the past few days – they were brilliant." Cassius grinned, causing Remus to blush more.
Notes: I hope that was ok – I had an idea and I tried very hard to get it on paper. :-)
A Year in the Life will continue into another chapter because I still have 7 months to go…and THEN Remus gets a job at Hogwarts and Sirius escapes. Cue the drama, the angst, the jealousy!!