Note: My sincere apologies for the long wait for this chapter. I have been trying so hard to post as much of my other story as possible before term begins that I rather lost track of this chapter. I hope that it doesn't disappoint. I have greatly appreciated the support and kind reviews throughout.

Chapter 30

Remus ran his finger along the edge of the faded photograph in his hand as he watched his wife and son playing on the threadbare old carpet of their sitting room. He had been a father for almost four months, but the fact that he had a son was still completely surreal. He had never, not in his wildest dreams, imagined that this would be his life. He had never allowed himself to hope for anything so domestic, so normal, and so wonderful.

His son, Romulus, kicked his foot as Edwina tickled it and then laughed hysterically when she blew on his belly. Remus looked down at the old picture of himself and his twin, Romulus, after whom Remus had insisted on naming his son despite Edwina's reservations. He and his twin were both playing on this same carpet – only slightly less threadbare - with a pile of blocks. Their father was kneeling beside them, helping Rom to stack the blocks in a tower, whereas he could see himself watching Romulus and Father. Mother had once told Remus that he had followed Rom in everything. Rom had walked first and talked first. Rom had been stronger and faster at everything and Remus himself had been the faithful shadow. Therefore Rom's sudden and quick death of an aneurysm at 14 months had been a startling tragedy.

Remus looked at his son and thought how little he had understood what must have been his parents' anguish at losing one son only to later watch their remaining son suffer through lycanthropy. Remus had once thought that he could not care more for anyone or anything than he did for Edwina, but the deep, feral love that he had for his son was beyond description. Right and wrong simply didn't matter if his son's well-being were at stake. And unfortunately, this might become an issue.

Despite the comfortable tidings that the foetological healer had given Edwina before the baby was born, Romulus was not a normal human boy. At birth he had an abnormally dense crop of hair, which had gotten thicker and curlier as he grew. He was also overly large and bulky. He had already gotten seven of his teeth, which was quite unusual for a fully human child of four months, and the teeth were atypically sharp.

However Remus' greatest concern was that Romulus was an aggressive baby. Signs of abnormal forcefulness and a temper were already evident. Often the only thing that could calm Romulus from a tantrum was his mother. Their son was unusually attached to his mother and seemed almost afraid to upset her. Remus hoped that this attachment would continue, since he foresaw serious behavioural problems as the boy aged if there were no tempering influence.

But for the moment their son was happily squealing on the rug and Remus could see the contentment in his wife's face. Edwina had suffered greatly after the birth of Romulus. Her frail Breochaidie body had not been able to withstand the birth of a 12 pound baby without sustaining major damage. Healer's spells and potions were restricted to the barest minimum, since she was already so weakened from the birth that she could not survive significant amounts of magic. Remus considered that as angry as they both had been at the Ministry's decision, perhaps it would be better for Edwina now that he could no longer have children.

The first three weeks after Romulus' birth had been terrifying for Remus. He had been unable to spend much time at the hospital, since he had to care for a newborn son with almost no previous childrearing experience, so he had been forced to rely on Aldebaran's reports and brief daily visits whenever Molly Weasley could watch Romulus. As Remus watched Edwina bend down to kiss Romulus' face, he muttered another prayer of thanks. He knew that he would have finally lost the plot, gone utterly mad, if she had died. Now that he had seen the effects of the Mens Rasura curse first hand, he was inexpressibly glad that his jealousy and need had not caused him to give in to Sirius' offer to help him perform the curse on Edwina to restore any possible remnants of her memory. As he felt the familiar pang of loss he always did when something reminded him now of Sirius or James, Remus looked up from his tightly clenched hands and saw his wife smiling up at him.

"Aren't you going to join us? Rom is in a wonderful mood. He seems to be giggling at everything."

Remus smiled and said in a husky voice, "I'm just happy watching you two."

Edwina smiled wryly at him and then turned to the baby saying, "Your Daddy is very silly, isn't he? Do you agree with Mummy? Go ahead and laugh at Daddy." Edwina ticked the baby again, causing him to squeal delightedly.

Remus laughed aloud at the teasing grin that his wife turned on him and got up from the chair. He then knelt beside the carpet and began crawling towards his son and growling.

Edwina leaned over and said softly, "Who's going to get Rom? Hm? Is that big, bad Daddy coming?"

Remus made a pouncing move with his hand and said, "Got you!" As he rolled over on his back and held his son up in the air above him he heard Edwina's delighted laugh and thought that no matter what happened in the future, he would never lose this memory.

He sat back up and leaned his chortling son against him as he said quietly, "Do you think he'll manage me bathing him?"

Edwina tilted her head to the side and said, "Well you're the wizard, clever clogs, cast another calming spell, Remus."

Remus nodded, but he hated the idea that he had to force his son to anything. But Winnie needed a rest. The baby's constant demand for her attention was wearing her down terribly.

"Molly is coming this week, you know. She wore me down."

Remus was pleased. "That is wonderful, darling. You know you need a chance to get a rest. You haven't left the house without Rom since you got back from hospital."

"That isn't true. You know that Sophie sits with him when we go to mass."

Remus frowned and said, "I meant that you haven't been able to do anything away from the home. Going to St. Aconius' is not quite the same, Winnie." Remus laid his hand on the baby's head and thought how amused Sirius would have been that Remus had been attending Edwina's church now for six months straight without any curse or spell forcing him. The thought made him smile, pushing away the initial stab of grief.

At first he had gone with her to church because he was still so lost after Sirius' death that he had simply done anything Edwina requested. The first time he had gone with her he hadn't even known where he was until the organ blared loudly, shocking him into standing with his wand raised in the middle of the processional hymn. However, once he had begun attending he had found it difficult to explain his reluctance to Edwina. Eventually, after she had deftly manoeuvred him to the church doors enough times that the vicar warmly greeted him by name, Remus had accepted that Sunday morning was reserved for the foreseeable future.

"I know what you meant. Angelica is taking me for a day at her favourite salon."

Remus grimaced and said, "Is she now?"

Edwina nodded and sighed wearily, "She's such a bore. I can't imagine what Aldebaran was thinking."

Remus replied with a smile, "Can't you?"

Edwina laughed briefly and reached to take Romulus from Remus' lap. "Yes, well, her looks will fade, Remus, but she'll never grow a personality."

Remus raised his eyebrows and said, "That is rather harsh, Winnie. Not that I don't entirely agree. Aldebaran may regret his decision."

"You're right. I'm just finding it tiresome to deal with her. She tries so hard to make me like her. I'd like her more if she were just normal and didn't make up to me."

"Darling, she knows the influence that you have on Aldebaran. Most women would resent it. It shows some intelligence, at least, that she has realised that she cannot afford to alienate you."

"Oh, that's silly, Remus. Aldebaran wouldn't care what I thought of his wife."

Remus pulled their son back from Edwina's arms into his lap and stood up to walk with him around the room. As he lifted the little boy up into the air, he said, "Aldebaran Shipley cares very much what you think. He might not care if you like Angelica or even approve of her, but if Angelica made you even slightly unhappy, Aldebaran would not stand for it."

Edwina had also stood up and was watching him with an unhappy expression, "He must love her, Remus. He wouldn't put my happiness above his wife's."

"If that is what you believe, Winnie, than you do not know your cousin very well."

Edwina did not respond, but Remus knew that she was tacitly agreeing. Remus turned his head so he could look at her and said, "Speaking of Molly, she sent me another recipe for blended foods. She's concerned about Rom not having a balanced diet."

By the way that Edwina jabbed her wand at the rug to summon the baby's stuffed erumpent from the floor, Remus knew that she was irritated. "Well, you know that I've talked to two healers, Remus. Both of them say that if Romulus won't eat vegetables then he just doesn't eat vegetables. The specialist says that since you are a werewolf that some wolfish tendencies have to be expected."

"I know darling. I am not criticising. Molly's recipe is for a mixture of lamb and rice. She thinks that Rom may eat them if they are well blended. She wanted you to look at the recipe and if you approve, she'll make some for you to try."

"I've already tried lamb and rice."

Remus bent down and kissed his wife's forehead and said very gently, "She means well, Winnie. She just wants to help you."

"I know. She's trying to mother me and it is very kind. She has been wonderful to me."

Remus leaned in for a better kiss, holding Romulus tightly in one arm. "I love you, you know."

He saw Edwina's quick smile and kissed her again. She said slowly, "Mmm, that's good, since I'm mad about you, you silly wolf. I think I'm going to lie down. You want to put him to bed?"

"If he will let me."

"Somniculosus. Trust me, it works every time."

"That's a new one."

"Mrs. MacDougall says it is the only way that Elspeth lived to her first birthday, because Mrs. MacDougall would have committed infanticide if she'd had to put up with Elspeth's colic one week longer."

"I shall try it. Go get some rest, love."

"Good night, angel boy. Mummy loves you." Edwina kissed her baby's forehead several times and then moved as if to go. Then she turned around once more, planted a final kiss on the baby's head and smiled at Remus before finally leaving.

Remus could see that Romulus was staring after where Edwina had just disappeared, so he said softly, "Don't worry, son. Daddy is going to take you for your bath. You'll like that, won't you?"

The baby gurgled as Remus tickled behind his ear, a secret trick he had not taught Edwina. Remus smiled as he pressed his son against his shoulder and walked purposely from the room.

FINIS