Disclaimer: The original characters of Remus Lupin and Sirius Black belong to the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling.
Warning: Buckle your safety belts it's going to be a bumpy night…
The apartment the girls and Jack shared was laid out in a quite peculiar manner. One of the major selling points of it had been that kitchen looked out over the front room and was surrounded by a half-wall that formed a breakfast bar. The upside of this arrangement at the time had been, if one was cooking in the kitchen one had a clear view of the front door yet there was enough space that conversations in the kitchen or at the front door wouldn't be easily discernable. The high counter at the time was viewed as good cover, ensuring that someone in the kitchen could hide and/or take cover from an attack coming in the front door. Needless to say, it sounded like a great idea at the time…
Chapter 20: It's the Crazy Remus Show…
When Sirius and Paige entered the front room, they could see Remus rummaging through the kitchen cupboards and preparing a tea kettle. He was wearing the same plain oxford shirt and slacks from that afternoon, his hair slightly disheveled from the wind and running his hands through it too many times. Occasionally, he would glare towards the far end of the living room in between banging cupboard doors and slamming things into the counter.
Kate was curled up on the couch in the corner of the living furthest from the kitchen. She looked pretty much how she did when she had left that morning, her face was scrubbed clean of make-up and her hair had returned to its original length. She sat quietly reading a thick book, posed as if preparing herself to meet an executioner. She looked up at Sirius and Paige, and inclined her head towards the kitchen. "He said he didn't want to talk until I was decently attired and he had made some tea. Evidently, civilized people discuss major crises only after drinking enough to fill Boston harbor.", she said quietly with a hint of acid in her voice.
Paige nodded. "Well, my parents always discussed these things over a hundred eighty decibels."
Kate sighed. "Wonderful.", she said flatly before returning to her book.
Sirius looked towards the kitchen. "Hey Paige, should we make dinner?", he asked hopefully, trying to get out of the line of fire.
"Let's wait until Remus is out of the kitchen.", she whispered.
On cue, Remus looked up from the tea set and acknowledged Paige and Sirius with a nod. He entered the far end of the living room and set the tea set down on the table in front of Kate, who set her book down on the coffee table. "Good, I thought I heard you come in.", he chirped in a brittle tone. "I'm quite glad you came home actually.", he continued handing a cup to Paige and Sirius.
"And why would that be, Remus?", Paige asked hesitantly staring at the tea leaves floating in her cup.
Remus glanced at Paige. "I just figured that between the two of you, I might be able to get a few honest answers." He turned and glared at Kate. "Since it seems that I can't get more than the precise time of day out of Kate.", he growled.
"Remus, I said I was sorry. I wish there was something more I could say and I wish I could take it back but I can't. I'm sorry.", Kate pleaded.
Sirius looked between the two and then at Paige, who had moved to speak. "Bad idea, bad idea.", he quietly chanted and Paige nodded in agreement.
Remus clenched his tea cup and shattered the handle. He set it down on the table and turned to her. "Sorry…Sorry, Kate. You're sorry, well how nice for you.", Remus spat. "Well, I'm sorry you're sorry. Perhaps you should discuss this with Ashley since he seems so keen on you. Would that make you less sorry, Kate? Perhaps, it would make you more talkative? Because from where I am standing that was a hell of a lot more than just going to the park."
Kate curled into a tighter ball and tucked her head into her chest. She began to whimper before he advanced on her and pulled her chin up. "Look at me!", he snarled. "What did you think you were doing out there?"
Paige cleared her throat and put a hand on Remus's shoulder. He jerked away and she gestured towards one of the chairs across from the couch. "Why don't you sit down in this chair and we'll go make dinner."
He sat down hard in the chair and scowled at his intended. Paige and Sirius took this for a good sign and went into the kitchen, where Sirius began cooking and Paige kept a watchful eye on Remus and Kate.
Kate looked up at him. "I am so sorry. I felt awful about not telling you…I really did want you there and I didn't think Ashley would actually do anything.", she stated docilely.
"What did you expect?", he snapped, causing her to flinch. "You paraded yourself for the whole world to see."
"But I didn't…I don't want the whole world to see me…", she started.
"Well, for someone who doesn't want to be seen, you sure did a bang up job of showing yourself off this morning.", he interrupted.
Paige threw a knife down on the cutting board. "Yep, it's sharp enough.", she said as she cast a warning glance towards Remus, who got the message and sat back in the chair.
Kate straightened a bit. "I was covered with the exception of one routine, which lasted all of three minutes. I really don't see why you are getting so upset about all this. I didn't show myself to anyone."
Remus stood up and stalked over to where Kate sat. "Can't see why I'm getting upset? Can't see why I'm getting upset? I will bloody well tell you why I'm upset. In front of a group of strangers you danced like a harlot and flaunted yourself like an ordered bride on the auction block to married to the highest bidder."
Kate moved to stand up but Remus pushed her back down. "Don't touch me.", she growled and leaned away from him.
He leaned in closer to her face. "Then who would you rather have touch you?"
'Accio wands" Sirius called out and Paige turned to him. "Just in case.", he whispered with a sheepish grin.
Paige nodded. "Remus go sit back in your chair.", she called from the kitchen over the counter. Remus glared at the pair and snorted but sat back in the chair.
Moving to the edge of her chair, Kate stared Remus in the eyes. "I'm sorry for not telling you. I'm sorry if how I dressed threatened you in some way and I'm sorry I wasn't able to dance for you. However, I will not be sorry for dancing and I will not be sorry for looking the way I look, especially after last night. Far from popular belief, I wasn't trying to provoke anyone."
Remus stared back into her eyes. "You could have fooled me.", he growled.
"Maybe I'm not sorry then. Maybe the book was right. Maybe you are too irrational at the moment to see past your own petty bullshit or perhaps it is something more sinister and you can't bear to see me as anything more than an object, a warm body to sleep with.", she growled in response.
Paige gave an exasperated sigh and called out, "Both of you behave!"
"Yes, Kate. Why don't you behave? Oh wait, you haven't all day so why start now. Did you even think of the consequences of your actions?", he said accusingly.
"Yes, Remus. I did think through the consequences of my actions and I didn't want to hurt others beyond myself so I did it.", she proudly responded still holding his gaze.
"Really, Kate? And who exactly did you help by providing masturbation material to the masses? I'm truly sorry I didn't realize that Americans could achieve sainthood by gyrating in front of a bunch of horny men.", he spat.
"Either you two behave or I will send you to separate rooms.", Paige warned from the kitchen.
Remus ignored her. "Please forgive me, Saint Kathleen, our lady of the bump and grind. Perhaps you could tell me, why it is supposedly irrational that I would be upset by all this? Why you would turn to a book instead of the man you supposed love for answers?", he growled before intensifying his gaze.
"Maybe because the man I do love decided to become a jealous control freak overnight, who would rather have a Stepford wife than a life mate.", Kate snarled meeting his eyes.
"Maybe I wouldn't be jealous if you could manage to not seduce everyman within twenty yards of yourself every time you leave the bloody house.", Remus snarled back.
'Name three men outside yourself, I have supposedly seduced. Name three…", she growled as her cup of tea shattered on the table between them. "Lockhart wants me because I'm something he can't have and he thinks that I will make a good accessory. I'm pretty enough to draw attention but mousy enough not to draw the spotlight away from him. Ashley wants just wants someone to be Zoë's mother and complete his image as family man. A nanny with sexual benefits, who will allow him to climb the Las Vegas social ladder. So Remus, what do you want?", Kate said in hushed voice as the lights began to flicker.
"Katie, you're gonna short out the microwave like last time. Please calm down.", Paige said emphatically and the flickering stopped.
Remus broke eye contact and glanced at Paige and Sirius in the kitchen. Returning his gaze to Kate, he gave her a pained smile. "I want you, Kate. I want all of you but for some reason you don't want to share that with me.", he said his voice slowly climbing as the dishes on the table began to shake. "Do you actually want me Kate or is this some twisted game to you? You just tease some poor bloke into desiring you…craving you…needing you but never really let him see you."
"Sorry, Remus you've got the two of us mixed up.", Paige piped in from the kitchen.
Remus glared at the witch. "Why don't you bloody well stay out of this?", he snapped.
"Why don't you get a goddamn brain?", she retorted.
"Shut it, you meddlesome chit.", Remus paused for a moment as dark realization crossed his features. "You told her not to tell me didn't you?", he growled accusingly.
"Yes, I did actually. Though I can't really see why since your acting every inch the thoughtful gentleman.", she said sarcastically. "Oh wait, did I say gentleman? What I meant to say was dumbass."
"You squalid voluptuary harpy, how dare you try to keep her from me? Who the fuck do you think you are?", he bellowed. Both Kate and Sirius grimaced at this last comment.
"Dark Arts Security, specializing in lycanthropy. You overbearing pigheaded zealot.", she spat back.
Sirius grabbed Paige's arm. "Paige, let's go.", he said calmly.
Paige pulled away. "Sirius, I've got a knife, don't touch me again if you want to keep yourself intact." He pulled the knife from her hand and moved to speak but Remus interrupted.
"Wow, threatening the masses now. No wonder you work for the Ministry. Why don't you just chain Kate up and give her some nice silver earrings while you're at it?", he said in a dangerously low tone.
"Maybe I will, if it means she doesn't have to hear you, Remus the super-psycho!", she yelled.
"Maybe if everyone just let us alone we wouldn't be fighting. Have you ever thought of that, Miss. Pierce?", Remus growled as he stood up and crossed in front of the couch, taking a protective stance between Paige and Kate.
"Have you read the books on lycanthropy, Remus? Have you ever sat in on one of Moody's lectures? First, you'll rape her. Then you'll tear a chunk out of her shoulder with your teeth and beat her into submission. And if she just happens to make it through the night, you'll not let her out of your sight until you've successfully knocked her up and her spirit is so broken, it wouldn't even cross her mind to do something without your permission.", she hissed.
Sirius forcibly turned Paige to face him and said the first thing that came to mind. "Paige, I don't have a gag reflex. Wanna see? In fact, I think you should this…outside."
"No, Sirius. I would rather not. For future reference, not having a gag reflex is only beneficial for sword-swallowers and deep-throaters.", she responded.
Sirius nodded. "Well, come for a walk with me. These two need to work this out on their own." Paige shot a death glare at Remus but nodded and left with Sirius.
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Sirius pulled Paige out of the apartment and down the stairs, starting for the walkway so she could cool off. She stopped however, and looked up at the apartment. "Do you think it's safe to leave? He's acting very strange right now."
Sirius smiled and put his arm around her shoulder. "He's gentle as a kitten, that one. Wouldn't hurt her for anything. Kate is a strong person, he won't hurt her."
Paige looked away, the wind blowing her hair into her eyes. "I know, but I'm just worried about her. She's never had a guy she cared about so much for before and I don't want her to get hurt. Besides, Remus is acting a little off his rocker right now, no offense."
Sirius chuckled and laced his fingers through hers, tugging her down the walkway. "Come on, luv. You'll feel better after a good stroll."
Paige took one last glance up at the balcony window before grudgingly starting down the leave strewn path. Sirius seemed to really enjoy himself, sniffing the air with a big smile on his face. Paige gave him an amused smile and nudged his side. "Having fun?"
He glanced down and nodded. "Well, this is the first walk I've gone on in fifteen years. It's amazing how much you miss this kind of thing when the option is taken away from you."
Paige giggled and took off running down the path to a little trail behind the storage shed, causing Sirius to follow out of curiosity.
He followed her retreating form around a corner and stopped, there was no sign of her. Walking warily forward, he called out, "Paige?", and was promptly tugged back into a big clump of bushes. He lost his balance and fell on the ground where laughing brown eyes met his startled grey ones as he stared up into Paige's face. "Don't do that to me, I almost pissed myself!", he shouted.
Paige burst into giggles and extended a hand, helping Sirius back to his feet. "Well, I wanted to play a little joke on you. I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy my little sneak attack. I'm also glad that you kept your bodily functions in check, cause that would totally ruin the mood that I'm trying to create."
Sirius chuckled at her and asked, "What mood would that be, luv?"
"Well, doesn't it seem a bit odd to you that there's a bench right behind you in the middle of a big patch of honeysuckle bushes?", she asked. Sirius glanced back and nodded. "I put it here because a bed would be too obvious."
He furrowed his brow and sat down on the bench, noticing Paige doing the same and sitting rather close. "What do you mean?"
She put her arms around him, rubbing her leg up against his. "I mean that I planned on shagging you tonight and upstairs wouldn't be a very good spot for it right now because I would get in a fight with Remus before we could do anything. Do you like the idea of shagging outside?"
Sirius gave her a wide-eyed stare, drawing in a shaky breath before nodding. He decided to make the first move and kissed her neck, bringing a soft moan from her and fumbled with the buttons on her shirt. He looked up into her eyes, noting the dark brown shade of them had grown ever darker from passion. Now they looked almost black, reminding him somewhat of Snape.
The effect was instantaneous upon him. He grimaced, not wanting this to make Paige think he's too old for her because his erection had gone down. He kissed her, probing her mouth with his tongue, hoping something would happen so that she wouldn't find out that he thought of Snape when she wanted sex. He traced small circles down her arms, trying to prolong the inevitable, and kissed the hollow of her neck. He smiled when he felt a shiver run through her and tugged on her shirt.
"Sirius?", she asked, gasping as he nibbled on her ear.
"Hmm?", he asked, cringing at the thought of revealing his current state.
"Why aren't you putting your entire body on mine? I want to feel you against me."
Sirius sighed and was about to answer when Paige suddenly bucked him off. "I saw police lights. Let's go see what is going on."
Sirius silently thanked whatever deity was suddenly being so nice to him and followed after.
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As the door closed behind Paige and Sirius, Remus returned to his chair and the room fell silent. The werewolves sat across from each other, silently challenging the other to be the first to speak. Kate shifted in her chair and uncrossed her legs.
Remus leapt off his chair and stood beside the coffee table. "Don't you dare think about leaving.", he spat causing the lights to flicker.
Kate leaned further back into the couch. "I had no intention of leaving yet." The last word stung Remus in more ways than Kate could imagine.
He cringed, and shifted on the balls of his feet. "Yet? So you do plan on leaving me then?", he said in a raised voice. Don't let her go, ordered a young voice in Remus's head.
"Remus, I don't plan on leaving the apartment and I don't want to leave you.", she said in a soft voice.
"You don't want to leave me? But you never said you wouldn't leave. You'll probably run the first chance you get, leave me alone and heartbroken like they all did. Is that what you want Kate?", he whispered next to her ear.
"What are you talking about? I am not leaving, unless I have an urgent reason to leave.", she declared pulling away from him, causing him to step back.
"Well Kate, it isn't like you haven't tried to leave in the past." His words thrusted at her like a sword. She pulled her legs under herself and clasped a throw pillow to her chest. "A little late for modesty now, Kathleen or should I say Durga.", he spat at her as if the words were poisoned, before forcibly taking the pillow away from her.
Kate grimaced, before straightening in the chair and meeting his eyes. "I told you before I was covered for the entire performance.", she growled and the remaining tea cup shattered. She startled at the noise and grabbed another pillow. "It doesn't really matter, the only one I want is you.", she said softening her tone.
Remus paused for a minute, but as he tried to collect himself the voice chimed in again. She'll leave you if you let her. She'll leave and never come back like the others. She'll be taken away from you like James and Lily.
He shook his head for a moment but couldn't stop himself. Standing in front of Kate, Remus towered over her. "But it does matter to me, it matters that you are flaunting yourself in front of other men. It matters that you let them see you, be near you, touch you.", he growled just as the bookshelf collapsed on itself.
She curled into a tighter ball. "No one touched me, Remus. I didn't want anyone of them to touch me.", she whimpered.
He grabbed the pillow from her and tossed it across the room. "Look at me, Kate!", he bellowed causing her to flinch. "Look at me.", he repeated in a quiet growl. "I saw you. I saw him kiss you. I saw the perfect little family he has planned for you.", he said in an almost whisper as the television exploded.
Kate pushed him away and stood up, meeting his eyes. "I don't want Ashley and he doesn't want me, Remus."
"Funny, Kate!! That's not what I saw. I saw a man kissing you on the lips. He wants you and I won't let him have you.", he growled as he pressed her against the edge of the couch.
Kate swiftly maneuvered herself so that she could back towards the door. "Remus, listen to me. I don't want him, I never have and never will. He is just a friend, who is confused after the death of his wife.", she said as she backed away.
"I don't care if he is confused because his last partner was a fucking llama.", he whispered as all the light bulbs in the room exploded leaving only the moonlight to illuminate the room. Make her see, she has to see that she can't leave, you can't let her leave, the voice in Remus's head pleaded. He grabbed her shoulders, bruising her with his fingertips. "He signaled that he wanted you and he can't have you because you are mine." As he said the last word, Remus pulled her into a crushing kiss.
Kate broke away and stumbled back towards the door. "You're not in your right mind. Remus, please listen to me. I don't want Ashley, I only want you. And I won't fight you, please don't make me.", she pleaded.
Remus matched her step for step. "You are not leaving me.", he said physically shaking with each step.
"I'm not leaving you, Remus. It is just better if we both cool off before this gets anymore out of hand. You need to calm down. Please Moony, I don't want to hurt you and I trust you don't want to hurt me.", she said trying to calm him.
Remus shook his head and his eyes changed from amber to a glowing gold for a second, as concern flashed across his face. "Run.", he whispered as he tried to throw himself backwards but whipped around to face Kate instead. His eyes were now more hazel in color with a fair sprinkling of green. "I don't want to hurt you, Kate. But I cannot let you leave, it hurts just too much.", he said his eyes bright with unshed tears.
Kate's heart went out to him, but Luna was strongly urging her to flee so that he could cool down. She took a hesitant step towards the door. Remus tackled her pushing her to the floor, his weight dislocating her hip. Kate let out a blood curdling scream.
Remus flinched at the sound and covered her mouth. "Shh…it will be alright, darling. I'm sorry, love, but I can't let you go.", he cooed, trying to comfort her. Tears streamed down her face and he brushed kisses on the top of her head. "It's alright. I didn't mean to hurt you, sweetness. I'm sorry.", he said as if talking to a small child.
After she stopped struggling for a few minutes, he moved his fingers and she bit down on them. She shrieked and clawed at him, still unable to push him off her. After struggling for several minutes, Remus pinned Kate securely to the floor. He held her arms away from her, so that her palms laid flat on the floor. "Calm down, you are going to hurt yourself if you don't stop struggling.", he admonished in an eerily gentle voice.
She sobbed into the rug. "Let me go, Remus. Please just let me go."
Remus kissed the back of her neck. "I can't let you go Kate. I've lost too much, I will not risk loosing you."
She screamed again and began to thrash about wildly. Unable to restrain her any other way, he bit down on the back of her neck, drawing blood. Kate's body stilled and she fell silent.
The metallic taste of blood snapped Remus back to the reality of what he was doing. A deep growled sounded in his head. You promised to protect her you bastard. You promised not to harm her, how could you. You love her, Moony shouted at him.
He released his jaws and sobbed into her curls. "Please stop making me hurt you.", he pleaded. "I'll let you up. I'll give you everything I have and am, just please don't leave me. Please Kate, please just stay with me. You don't have to be mine just let me be yours. I love you so much I just …I'm so sorry, please don't leave."
If she wasn't pinned to the floor, Kate would have kicked herself. Fucking hell Kate, why the hell didn't you see it before? Why didn't you see it at the Faire? How many cases have you had where the client just wanted to gain the promise that you wouldn't leave? How many times did they just not want to be left alone, she thought, chastising herself. If the two greatest motivators in the world were fear and love, the greatest human fear was the loss of love. And if his words were any indication, Remus had lost a lot of love over the course of his lifetime.
"Remus, I love you. I wanted you, and I mean all of you to be my mate ever since that first night.", she said quietly. Pausing to take a deep breath, she heard him take a shuddering one. "I am yours, I told you that in the forest. I don't want anyone else, I only want you."
Remus whimpered and licked the wound on the back of her neck. "I'm so sorry, Kate.", he whispered as the front door came crashing down a few inches away from the pair. As the dust cleared, Las Vegas Magical Metropolitan Law Enforcement stormed the room with their wands and guns drawn.
A/N: Happy Christmas!!! Don't say we didn't warn you.
Hornhead: We didn't warn you. Ha, hahahaha… ha!
Also we are terribly sorry we didn't bring this up earlier but the apartment is laid out with a front door that leads to a large living area with open kitchen. On the North side of the living area is a door that leads to the dining room which contains to the door to the balcony and a fireplace. On the Westside of the living area is a hall that leads to the bedrooms. Kate's room is the first room on the right, Paige's is the second room, and the guestroom is the third room. The guestroom is magically expandable and collapsible as is the dining room. Across the hall from the guest room is a bathroom, and a Southward hall that leads to the master bedroom where Jack and Rose stay.
Hornhead: So here's our Christmas/Yule present to you all. A chapter that will make you all sad. Ha-ha! The next chapter will piss you all off. Especially at me, as Paige is my character. Hehehe, none of you know what is going to happen and what Paige is going to do to piss you all off. So, there's my personal present to you all, a great big nagging suspicion.
Sassafras: Do you think Remus is still mad? We don't know, we can't decide. Please tell us so we can sleep at night! By the way, you really picked up fast on that whole Jack thing. Good job!
Thebeautifulletdown: hehehe, he's a dog and we had to put that in somewhere. Since this is FFN and not AFFN and I don't really feel like writing a lemon with peanut butter, this seemed like the better choice.
Jen: WOOHOO! We actually have someone reading this who's of age to even go see a rated R movie, much less read our story. That makes us happy. We're not corrupting you. The peanut butter myth is something I hadn't heard of either, but Prof told me about it. I think those women must be pretty desperate… icky!
Katrina McGonagall: We'll see about the little room idea. The sad part about the girls' friends in the tent is, those are all based on our friends. We stuck very close to the original people, too. They aren't usually on anything, that's just the way they act. Raven and Oak are Prof's roommates and they will be showing up in future chapters, still as crazy and seemingly tripping as ever.
For those of you who would like to give us something in return, please review and put us over 100. (Multiple reveiws of chapters don't count)
Next chapter will be out Boxing Day. See you then.