AN: Sorry about the lack of posting this yesterday, I was uber sick and writing was the last thing on my mind. However, I'm back and better then before. I've done a bit of research on the soul-mates idea, and wow…wait until you see what I come up with. Or rather, what Dumbledore comes up with (I.e.: The reason he keeps pushing them together.) Seriously, I have mad love for Dumbledore.

Anything else to note? Nothing as of yet, still happy about the reviews and keep 'em coming they really keep me writing. .

So on with the chapter.

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Chapter Thirty-Three

(Winter Holiday's)

-1976-

Waiting was the hardest.

That's what Remus had decided when four hours had passed since they arrived at St. Mungos. Waiting was the hardest because he could see her blood all over Mr. Potter. Waiting was the hardest because he could still see her tied up to her kitchen table if he shut his eyes. Waiting was the hardest because he had no idea what was going on. Nobody seemed to want to tell him anything.

Eventually Sirius and Peter left, they had stayed far to long and their parents wouldn't be happy if they were any later to get home. Lily would have to leave soon for the same reason, after all whose parents wanted their kids to spend the night in the hospital? His parents didn't mind…after all, they knew how he felt about Kit. He had wrote about her in letters home (his parents were proud that he finally got a girlfriend) and he talked about her nearly non-stop during the first part of the holidays, answering his parents questions about if he thought he was really 'in love'.

They would be there soon no doubt, taking a moment to glance up at a clock from where he sat on one of the benches it was easy to see that it was almost time to put his little brother down to sleep. They'd be there when the eight year old was sound asleep.

He didn't like waiting. Crossing his arms across his chest, hugging himself close as he glanced around the hall they sat in, it was easy to see that he wasn't the only one that hated waiting. Mister and Misses Potter were both talking in hushed voices, Mrs. Potter looked on the verge of tears. Tears for a girl she'd never met, it caused a small smile to flash across Remus's face…that woman was too damn kind for her own good.

James and Lily were sitting on the bench across from him, both knew all to well that he didn't want to talk about it. He just wanted Kit damnit! Lily, bless her heart had been crying when she found out about what happened, even now she looked like she might burst any moment now. James was whispering to her, probably saying that everything would be okay.

But would things be okay? Remus wondered. Why didn't she tell him how bad her life was at home?

No wait…that's not fair, she didn't have to tell him anything. He should have known! Thinking back on it there were so many clues, namely how badly she reacted to the letter that told her she'd have to go home for the winter holidays. When she had cried in his arms then, he figured it was just because of her mother…but she had said then, that she didn't want to go home. He should have seen it then…but he didn't. Not to mention how she was on the train…she had clung onto him so close he would have thought she would try to crawl into his skin and use him as a coat.

She had been terrified.

And he didn't see it.

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Another hour had passed and they were finally allowed to see Kit. According to the medi-wizard, things had taken so long due to the fact that Kit had been very close to death. In fact, the medi-wizard told both Mr. Potter and Remus that if they had waited just another five minutes, Kit would have been dead.

The room Kit was in was small and only had one bed in it, a private room; most likely thanks to Mr. Potter who seemed to have ties with people everywhere…including St. Mungos. Kit was tucked into a hospital bed, and her skin was almost as white as the snow white sheets that surrounded her. The medi-wizard continued to speak in medical speak that Remus really didn't understand, nor pay much attention to. Something about how there had been a lot of internal damage, and how they had to take so long to heal her because there was so much damage on the inside.

However, she was healed…and she just needed to wake up.

Remus was shedding tears, and he didn't know it until he seen the room blur thanks to the salty tears that were in his eyes. He blinked them away, who cared if he was crying! Did that make him some sort of wimp because he cried when he saw his girlfriend laying in a hospital bed?

HE DIDN'T CARE!

Why didn't I notice sooner…

Mrs. Potter pulled up a chair for him to sit in as he held onto Kit's hand, trying to will her to wake up. He could hear people talking around him, he could hear Lily crying into James' shoulder…but it didn't matter…nothing mattered except for Kit. It was almost funny…they had only known each other for a few months…and yet…

A sigh escaped his lips, and he let his gaze fall onto their hands. His was so much bigger then Kit's own pale hand that seemed cold to the touch. She was so small and fragile…he should have been there to protect her! He should have…

"Remus honey?"

He jumped, being jolted out of thought so suddenly by a voice he wasn't suspecting. His mother, and father both standing behind him with concerned looks on their faces. He looked back towards Kit. "Hi mum…dad." He greeted, half-heartedly.

They tried to talk to him, but he didn't listen. They wanted him to leave, go home and rest, but he wasn't about to leave Kit's side. He WAS going to be there when his Kitten woke up, he'd be the one to tell her that everything would be okay, he'd be the one to tell her that her father would never touch her again, he'd be the one that could protect her.

Lily had been the first one to leave since they were let in to see Kit, she gave Remus a hug and told him to 'hold in there'. His parents left next, only a short while after Lily had left. They needed to get back home just incase his brother woke up, he could understand that…besides he really didn't need them looking over his shoulder while he tried to stay strong and keep his emotions together while he sat next to Kit's hospital bed.

Mister and Misses Potter had been the only two that stayed, sending James home due to the fact he was falling asleep where he stood due to the late hour. He didn't need to wonder why the Potters stayed, in fact he really didn't care who stayed and who left…the only thing that mattered was his Kitten.

The midnight hour passed and Mister and Misses Potter told him that he should think about going home, but he answered them the same way he answered his parents…he wasn't going home until he knew that she was awake and until she knew that nothing would happen to her again. After awhile the Potters left, to do what Remus wasn't sure of; although he figured they probably went home as well.

When no one was left in the room but him and his unconscious Kitten, he finally started to sob. No longer was he crying silent tears, now he was crying like a small child.

"Why couldn't you tell me?" he begged her unconscious form, holding onto her hand tighter then ever before now. "I could have saved you."

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Unlike what Remus had thought, the Potters most certainly didn't go home. Both of them were as anxious for the girl to wake up as Remus was. However, it was silently agreed by the two of them that the boy needed time alone with Kit. Now they walked through the halls, speaking in hushed tones so that no one would over here their conversation.

"You heard what the Aurors said…she doesn't have anybody now." Mrs. Potter told her husband as they took up residence on a secluded bench.

"I still don't know, how would James react?"

"Does it really matter? I'm sure he'd love to have a sibling anyway…but that poor girl…"

"I know darling, she doesn't have a family now…"

"It's not like she had one to begin with." Mrs. Potter pointed out with a frown firmly set on her face.

"I--" Mr. Potter started, tilting his head from side to side in thought. He knew very well that they would adopt this girl, his wife already had her mind made up (and when that happened he knew better then to argue with her). Besides, it wasn't like he was against it…the girl needed a stable home life, but there were just those thoughts in the back of his head, what if it didn't work out, what if James didn't like the idea, what if the girl didn't like the idea…but, his wife had her mind made up. "Okay, we'll do this…I can go down to the Ministry tomorrow and fill out the paper work before it closes up for the holiday."

"I knew you'd see things my way."

"I always do dear." He chuckled, "I always do."

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When Kit started to come around, the first thing she noted was that smell that was often found in hospitals. It made her stomach lurch at the thought of it, the next thing she noted was that it was very clear she wasn't dead…due to the fact that the afterlife wasn't usually spent in a hospital.

When her other senses came back to her, there was very little pain and that was something to rejoice about, but then there was something else…someone was crying. Slowly her eyes opened, adjusting to the dim light around her, to see that it was Remus crying in a chair next to her bed.

Why was he crying?

What happened?

She moved her hand slightly, wanting to brush away his tears but found that it was held down in place…by his hand. This little movement caused Remus to glance up at her, his hazel colored hues were red and puffy from crying, he gave a small sniffle. It was cute…but why was he crying?

"Hi." She said, her voice cracking a little bit as she spoke.

"H-hi." Remus said, a small smile forming on his face as he used his free hand to wipe away his tears.

"What happened?" Kit found that it hurt to talk, so she kept her voice to a whisper so low she had to wonder if he even heard her.

"You don't remember?" He asked, brows raising in a confused expression.

Kit let her eyes drift shut…she remembered her mother dying…she remembered being handcuffed to the table…

The more she thought about it.

The more she remembered…something she seriously regretted doing.

"I'm sorry." She said to Remus, as one of his hands swept Kit's hair out of her face. He shook his head slightly, clenching his jaw for a moment.

"I'm sorry too."

A silence fell over the two, one sorry because she didn't tell him and the other sorry because he didn't notice the signs in time. After a few minutes, a yawn escaped from Kit's lips…

"You should go to sleep…" Remus started, getting up from his chair; "I should tell one of the Medi-Wizards you woke up."

Kit held onto his hand steadfast though, she didn't want him to leave her. With a small painful groan she moved herself over to the side of the bed, until her left side touched the cold metal of the guard rails that kept her from falling down to the floor. "Stay?" She asked, tugging on his hand gently; "I don't want to be alone."

He gave a nod, quite frankly he didn't want her to be alone either. Letting go of her hand for a moment, he took the time to remove his shoes before crawling into the bed with her as gently as possible. Once in the bed, Kit moved slowly, but eventually managed to get into a pain free position, using his chest as her pillow as Remus wrapped his arms around her.

"I was really scared." She told him, whispering into his chest as she let her eyes shut.

"I know…" Remus started, using one of his hands to gently comb though her hair. "You don't have to be scared anymore. I'll protect you."

"I love you." Kit said, surprising them both with her words. She let out another yawn, and Remus in turn closed his eyes as well…sleep sounded good, he could rest peacefully knowing that she was okay now.

Before either of them fell asleep, he whispered back, surprised at how easy the words came, "I love you too."

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AN: Awe, isn't it cute? I couldn't resist having Remus crawl into the hospital bed with Kit, I know it's cheesy…but I had to do it.

Okay, I'll go now and start on another chapter because my muse seems to think I'm his slave…

Next Up in the Past: James gets a sister! Kit get's a family! And really…who was that guy in the photo?

Toodles.