Chapter Summary: Luna makes a decision regarding Nicholas while Remus makes a decision regarding his future.
Disclaimer: See chapter one for full disclaimer
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! =)
Chapter Eight - Family
St. Mungo's was never a favourite of Luna's. She hated the smell and she hated the plainness of it. She could never understand how she could ever consider taking a job there. It would have never fit her personality.
The Healers had looked Nicholas over and told her he'd be all right. He was a bit small for his age and they found the injuries on his neck. They assured Luna that whoever fixed the wounds had done a fine job and they were healing properly.
After the Healers left, Luna went into Nicholas' room. She hadn't a clue to what she was going to say to him; he probably didn't even know whom she was. Yet, she felt drawn to him. He was, after all, her cousin and she wanted nothing more than to get to know her "other" family.
He was sitting on his bed, studying his small hands, when she stepped in. She cleared her throat, which caused him to look at her. He looked better than he had when she first saw him. His cheeks were finally getting their colour back.
"Who are you?" he asked. Luna gave him a curious look. "When I told you who I was, you gave me a strange look, like you knew me."
Luna slowly nodded her head and stepped further into the room. She went over to the edge of the bed and sat down. "I'm your cousin," she said. "Your father and my mum were siblings."
"Were?" questioned Nicholas, raising his eyebrows. "My father isn't dead!"
Luna was taken aback by his miniature outburst. Perhaps he knew where his missing father was. "I never said your father was dead, Nicholas but my mother is," she quietly said. "Speaking of your father, do you know where he might be?"
Nicholas kept his brilliant blue eyes fixated on her and thought. He didn't quite know where his father was and was afraid if he said so, he'd be sent to one of those dirty Group Foster Homes.
"I don't but I'm taking care of myself just fine!" he cried.
Luna reached over and pushed a piece of his blonde hair out of his eyes. She sighed and asked, "When's the last the time you saw your father?"
He pondered her question for a moment. "A few days before September's full moon. He went out to the forest to pick some plants," explained Nicholas. "He never came back and I was... I was attacked."
"By what?"
Nicholas shuddered. "I don't know."
"Was it the same thing that attacked Morgan and Ginny?"
"Yes."
Luna clicked her tongue and calmly crossed her arms. "Is that how you got those nasty injuries to your neck?" she asked, staring at him.
Nicholas flexed his small hands and ran them over his neck before nodding. "This old lady healed me but I left her house when she started going on about sending me away," he said. "Are you going to send me away?"
"Well, you are family and I couldn't really do that to family," said Luna. "Until we get this sorted out and find your father, you can stay with Morgan and I."
Nicholas softly smiled before wrapping his arms around his waist. "Thank you," he whispered into her robe.
"Don't thank me yet," laughed Luna, ruffling his hair. "I haven't a clue about minding a child!"
Remus' brown Oxfords, hitting against the tile floor, was the only sound that could be heard in the corridor. He wished the Healers would just hurry up and tell him Morgan was going to be all right.
"Mr. Lupin?" He turned and looked at the young mediwitch standing there. "She's going to be all right."
Remus released the breath he was holding.
"She's going to be a bit sore for a while but the bump on her head isn't life-threatening. And you'll be happy to know that the baby is fine also."
He felt his mouth fall open. Baby?
"Baby?"
The mediwitch nodded and looked down at the chart she was holding before blushing. "You didn't know, did you?"
"No," he choked out.
"I'm so sorry. I figured you knew and ---"
"It's all right," said Remus, gaining his composure back. "May I see her?"
"Of course," said the mediwitch. She stepped out of the way and let Remus into Morgan's room.
Remus stepped in and shut the door behind him. Morgan was sitting up, her knees drawn to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs.
"Hi," he said.
She didn't look at him. Instead she sniffed and rubbed her hands over her eyes.
"All right, Morgan?"
She took a deep breath in and whispered, "I'm sorry."
Remus turned and pulled a chair up to the bed. He kept his eyes on her. "What are you sorry for?"
"I forgot the spell. It was the night when Luna came home, upset. It's my fault. I don't want you to think I did this to keep you," she quietly said. She raised her hands back up and covered her eyes with them.
"No. I don't think that," said Remus, placing a hand on her back. He felt her tense under his touch. "What's wrong?"
Morgan turned and looked at him. Her brown eyes were bloodshot and filled with tears. "I can't have a child with a man who doesn't love me." Remus took a deep breath in. "It wouldn't be fair."
"Do I not get a say in this?" he asked.
She wiped the tears from her eyes and pulled on the bed's blankets. "Of course. You can say whatever you like," she dryly said.
"What do you want from me? What can I say to make this better?"
She shook her head and tore her eyes away from him. "Do you love me?" she finally asked.
Remus knew that everything rested on his answer. He turned away from the bed and looked at himself in the room's mirror. He examined his features as he wondered what he wanted.
He started to remember when he was Morgan's age. All those times he would go to James and Lily's flat, before they moved to Godric's Hollow. Sirius, Peter and him would sit on their orange sofa and snicker as Lily and James fought over the proper way to change Harry's nappy.
That's when he knew he wanted what they had. He wanted a wife and children; he wanted a family. Yet, within weeks, things changed and his dream faded. And now he was being offered a second chance.
Remus turned his attention back to Morgan and watched her as she continued to pick at the blanket. He'd known her for a while and they knew each other's mannerisms and needs, something that had spilt over from work to her bedroom.
He remembered the feeling of hopelessness he had felt when they walked into the sitting room. He knew he never wanted to be without her and that he, indeed, did love her.
"Yes," he said.
Morgan's snapped up and she looked at him. "You love me?" she asked.
He nodded. "I don't know why but I do," he said, giving her a cheeky grin.
"It's because I shag you senseless," she countered, a small smile creeping over her lips.
Remus let out a loud laugh. "I suppose that's it!" he said before standing from the chair. He leaned over and pressed his lips against hers. "I love you."
"I love you too," she whispered as he rested his hand on her stomach. "Are you sure ---"
"Shh," he muttered before kissing her. "Everything is going to work itself out."
Morgan smiled against his lips and gave him a curious look when he pulled a way. "What is it?"
"Do you remember anything about your attack?"
The smile faded and she gave him a terrified look. "I don't want to talk about it," she said, fresh tears coming to her eyes.
"You don't have to," he said. She leaned forward and pressed her face against his shoulder and cried.
Harry stood in the Weasley's living room and watched all of them. Arthur had to pull Molly from the room when her crying became hysterical and now Harry was left with the rest of them.
He couldn't imagine what they were feeling at the moment. Ginny had been his friend and at one time they had dated. The pain he felt for all of them was almost unbearable since he was like a son to Molly and Arthur.
"D-did she suffer?" asked Fred, sniffing.
"We don't think so," answered Harry.
"Don't think so!" roared Ron as he stood from the sofa. "What does that bloody mean!"
"Ron," said Bill, grabbing for his younger brother.
"Don't!" hissed Ron, glaring at Bill. "This is our sister we're talking about! I want to know the facts, not some story the Ministry is telling us!"
"I'm telling you what I know," assured Harry.
Ron didn't believe him though. "You aren't. You've become one of them," he scoffed.
"Ron!" exclaimed Charlie as he stood. "You're going to have to settle down or you're going to upset mum more."
"Bugger this!" cried Ron before he stalked out of the house.
Harry bowed his head and sighed. There was so much more he wanted to do but didn't know if it'd be welcomed. "I guess I should go," he finally said, looking up at the rest of the family. "If you need anything, please floo me."
"Thank you, Harry," said Bill, standing to shake his hand. "Thank you for coming out here to tell us."
"You're welcome," he said before Disapparting out of sight.
It would take Morgan threatening a mediwitch before they agreed to release her. While she was getting dressed, Remus snickered and made a joke about how she was suddenly acting like Severus Snape. That comment earned him a kick in the shins and a deathly glare from her.
At the same time, Nicholas' Healer was discharging him. Luna was grateful because she didn't want to stay there any longer. She took her cousin's hand, musing on how he needed new clothes, and led him out of the room.
When they arrived at the flat, Harry was in the living room, pacing. Luna could tell by the pained look in his eyes that he'd just gotten back from the Weasleys.
"Who's that?" asked Nicholas, pointing at Harry.
"That's Harry," said Luna.
Nicholas eyed him and then hid behind Luna's leg.
"Where are Morgan and Remus?" asked Harry. "Is everything all right with them?"
Luna shrugged and sat down. "I didn't see them after we went to St. Mungo's. I wanted to stay with Nicholas. Maybe later one of us can go check on them," she said as a loud popping noise came from the fireplace.
"Hi," said Morgan, dusting herself off. Nicholas ran over to her and hugged her.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
Morgan was taken aback by Nicholas' concern and show of affection. "Never better," she said, looking toward Harry. "How are the Weasleys?"
"Upset and angry," he said. "Hardest thing I ever had to do."
Remus patted Harry on the back. "I'll go out and see them tomorrow," he said.
"And you? How are you?" asked Luna, looking to Morgan.
"I'm fine but I think I'm going to bed," she said.
"Good idea," said Luna, looking down at Nicholas. "You can sleep with Harry and I until we find someplace else for you to sleep."
Nicholas nodded and watched the adults say goodnight before following Luna to her room.
Coming Soon: No one sleeps as nightmares and planning fills the night.
