A/N: Wow, I am so sorry this took so long. I have been in Virginia getting things ready for our move and away from a computer, and yours truly alsohad a birthday this past week as well which helped the Chaos along. Wahoo. I'd also like to thank every-one of you for the wonderful reviews! They were the best birthday gift! (Wink) And I'd like to apologize for a couple of mistakes I made… most of them my sister pointed out. Darn you CM! (shakes fist) Among the many small typos there is the most important. Please note. Lupin and Roberts were going to dinner. Not Lunch.

Phenoixtear19- Thanks! I'm sorry this took so long!

Wandless Don't go into the detail about Elijah and Tonks breaking up? Now who said they were going to do that? (Evil grin and laugh) I'll let that simmer a moment. (wink)

Immi (hides from your shaking fist) I promise the next installment will be out sooner?

CaptainCrash I originally had Tonks with Kingsley Shaklebolt who was in the Order, but it seemed wrong. So Elijah came to mind. A for how they met… just wait my dear one, just wait.

Weird-and-wonderful What's happening indeed. Sometimes even I don't know. :D Thanks for the review.

Grindylow07 (grin) Now I feel bad for waiting so long. You still into it?

TrinityDD Thank you. I debate for quite a while on whether to make Dr Lauren Roberts a woman or not, so I'm glad you like him as a male. :D

Galenturiel We must be on the same brain wave or something. When I made Elijah's character I went back to my Elijah Wood days when I was helplessly enamored of the star. Ah, a guy with blue eyes and dark hair. (Sigh) My dream. (wink)

Thesupernugget LOL, Don't worry. Your suggestion is well noted.


Paper Moon

Chapter Four- Setting the Stage

"... the moon gazed on my midnight labors, while, with un-relaxed and breathless eagerness, I pursued nature to her hiding-places. – Mary Shelley"

I.

Remus looked at the tall broad shouldered man in front of him, as the muggle waitress set two steaks before them, and a beer. Roberts downed a large gulp of his while Remus asked for a glass of water instead.

"I've always preferred Muggle beer over Firewhisky. Goes down easier." Robert's said, winking.

Remus nodded, a small smile crossing his face, "Not much for Alcohol… but you know that." He thanked the waitress as she brought his glass of water.

"Perks of being your doctor…" Roberts grinned, "Enjoying your steak?"

"Nice and rare…" Remus said, saluting to the other man with his fork, "But I'm almost certain you didn't bring me here to discuss the steak… Something is bothering you, Roberts. Those wheels are turning in that over active brain of yours, when it would be much easier to just ask."

"So you can tell me no?" Roberts retorted around a mouthful of steak. "No, Lupin, I'd much rather see if I can get you to slip a bit of information…"

Remus grinned cutting up his steak, "I don't slip…"

Roberts nodded, "Not consciously… but your test scores have shown me more than anything."

Remus's head come up slowly, as Roberts took another drink.

"You wouldn't understand the medical lingo…" Roberts said in between bites, "But I noticed something rather interesting during today's tests… Your stats were way off today, like right before you transform. You've told me in the past that your mind right before a transformation is a jumble of memories, pictures from both past and present… The only other times I've seen your stats like this is the week before Halloween which you've told me is the time your friends the Potters died, and in June… when another dear friend of yours also died. Understandable… Mourning might contribute to it." Roberts downed the rest of his beer.

Lupin nodded, his eyes guarded. "Your point, Roberts."

"Don't look at me like that Lupin. I feel like prey for an oversized lion…" Roberts took a bite of his mash potatoes before continuing, "It's not Halloween for another six weeks, and June was two months ago. Something is up, and I'd like to know what could be bothering my test subject so much."

Lupin sighed, setting his fork down, "Suddenly I don't feel so hungry."

Roberts grinned, "I win. So…What's going on, Lupin?"

II.

Ginny had woken to complete chaos, with Fred's twins flying down the hall on their toy brooms, Ginny's mother scolding after them. Blinking, she looked up to see Harry leaning in her doorway. She ruffled her red bed head, and pulled off the covers, and slid off the bed taking her pillow with her as she shuffled across the floor, muttering about loud houses.

"Good morning, Sunshine…" Harry said cheerfully as she passed by. She hit him with the pillow as she passed, knocking his glasses askew, and causing him to laugh.

"I really hope your not going to be chipper like this every day…" She said, groggily. Harry hugged her from behind, as she tried to make her way to the bathroom. She leaned against him, and closed her eyes.

"You'll get used to it. Besides…" He kissed her cheek, "The decorators will be here in an half-an-hour to set up for the party…"

Ginny's eyes snapped open, "What! I thought they were going to be here at noon."

"Gin… You slept in. It's eleven-thirty."

"Gah!" Ginny tore herself from her fiancé's grasp and bolted to the bathroom

Harry shook his head with a laugh, and picking up tiny Rosalee, Bill and Fleur daughter, who was running from the twins, went down the stairs whistling.

III.

It was already mid afternoon and Tonks still wasn't ready. Tonks pulled out her green sundress, and set it on her bed, before trying to find her shoes. She had been putting off getting ready for thirty minutes, and now she only had ten.

"Bloody shoes!" She cursed, standing up a little to quickly and hitting her head on the shelf. She winced and rubbed the sore spot on the back of her head. "Bloody shelf!" She said darkly before spying the shoes under her bed.

"Gotcha!" She grinned scooping them up with one finger, and spinning toward the window. Her foot becametwisted in the rug, and she tripped, crashing intothe trunk at the end of her bed, when popped open. She lay there a moment, then gave asort of sarcastic chuckle,

"Something tells me this is going to be a long night…"

At that second, a midnight blue owl, pecked rather hard on her bedroom window.Standing andtossing the shoes on her bed with her dress, she crossed the room and opened the window.

"Galaxy… What are you doing her, pretty bird?" She cooed to the owl, slipping the note off his leg. "Here ya go…" She said absent mindedly, offering Galaxy a treat. He nipped at her hand and flew out the window as she open up the letter,

"Tonks,

Sorry Love, but there has been a rush at the hospital. They need my help tonight. Babies don't seem to have the need to check with my secretary for an opening in my schedule. Give Harry and Ginny my regards.

Love, Elijah."

Tonks sighed, placing the note on her desk.

"So much for going to the party with an escort…" She muttered scooping up the dress in her arms and heading quicklyfor the bathroom. Silence settled down onto the house for a few moments before a loud crash sounded from the bathroom.

"Bloody bathtub!"

IV.

Remus knocked lightly on the door to the burrow, and a tiny auburn headed boy opened it.

"Hello…" He said simply.

"Hello." Remus replied, smiling down at him.

"Are you here for the party?" He asked seriously.

Remus nodded, going down so he rested on his heels, "Yes. Are you here for the party?"

The boy shook his head, "Yes, but I can't stay up… Mum says I have to go to bed at Seven. Don't you think that's silly?"

Remus nodded solemnly, trying to keep a straight face at the thought of debating bedtime with a four-year old. "Very Silly… What time would you want go to bed?"

"At least eight." The boy said promptly, nodding his head. Before Remus could say another word, the door opened the rest of the way, and a bushy-haired woman picked up the boy,

"Albus…" She smiled, "Are you bothering, Mr. Lupin?"

Albus shook his head, as Remus stood. "No Mum… I didn't even know this was Mr. Lupin. We were talking."

"Debating really…" Remus offered, "Hello Hermione."

"Professor…" Hermione beamed, "How are you?"

"I've been better." Remus grinned, "And you? Arthur wrote me you and Ronald were expecting again."

Hermione nodded, beaming "Five months next week. But, come inside, everyone else is out back, setting up the last of the things."

Remus walked inside, as Hermione set little Albus down. He looked up at Remus with curious brown eyes. Remus raised his eye brows in question. They stood there for a moment, before Albus' face broke into a soft smile.

"I like you." He said simply, and walked toward the back yard.

Remus gave a chuckle and fallowed.


I apologize for this un-exciting chapter.