"You bastard." The words dripped out of Dora's mouth, venomlike, and biting. Remus cringed upon hearing those words. He had expected her wrath and rage after confessing his feelings – yet again – the night before, when he had told her they would just be friends. As he studied her face and expression, absolutely set in rage, he reflected on the past several hours of his life and came to the conclusion that he had severely underestimated Dora's feelings. Again.

He had been foolish, really. Her confession of love in the Hospital Wing had taken him completely by surprise. He knew she cared for him, but so shamelessly? Wanting him publicly and openly? His idiocy was on display for all to see. He had avoided everyone's eyes out of his own humiliation over failing her repeatedly. He had put up his usual excuses, only to be sternly told by no less than three of his friends – Molly, Arthur, and Minerva – that he was being foolish.

Remus, less than twenty four hours ago, had offered her only friendship. She clearly wanted more; he desperately wanted more. But, upon seeing her shameless confession of her love for him, he realized he had been daft. He'd been idiotic. He'd been a coward.

Dumbledore was dead. Bellatrix and Fenrir were long gone. They each could have killed her just last night, but they didn't. They tried to torture her and kill her, but she had survived. He had intervened, but she had survived. He had helped her to survive. How could he be so stupid? He would defend her with his life, no matter what came his way. He would defend her with every fiber of his being, and he didn't need to be mated to her to do so. She wanted him – only him – and he had fled from the Hospital Wing as soon as he noticed she was no longer there.

Remus had run after Dora, who was running away from him. Of course she had run away from him! He was a monster. Not because he was a werewolf – not this time. He was a monster for breaking each of their hearts repeatedly in the last year. She had only ever offered her love to him, and he had rejected it out of mistaken nobility. They could have been happier in the last year, but he had prevented it for both of them. He was a monster.

He didn't want to be a monster anymore.

Remus ran after Dora until she turned the corner for the Hog's Head. When he reached the corner, he stood, momentarily paralyzed. What would he say? She would be angry. She would be furious. She would throw him out. He was certain of it.

He ran again, towards the Hog's Head, not bothering to greet Aberforth in the process. He was going to see her, now, and nothing would stop him.

He began by knocking on the door politely. There was no answer. He knocked more insistently. Still, no answer. He began pounding on the door in his impatience, hungry, wanting, needing to be with her. A feeble "come in" came from the other side of the door, and his heart fell out of its cavity when he saw her crumpled in a heap on her bed, sobbing violently into the pillow.

He comforted her, but she didn't recognize him, not right away. She thought he was a hallucination, no matter what he said. He tried to ground her. He tried to make her realize that he was real – his love was real – but she was far too emotionally drained to notice the truth of his words. She had fallen asleep, face-first into his chest, clearly exhausted by the evening's events.

Remus had taken her boots off. He spent the next hour cleaning and tidying her room, finding and feeding Ophelia, and cleaning all the clothes she owned so that she might be more comfortable. Still, Dora did not wake. He slipped into the bed beside her, becoming intoxicated with her scent. When the first rays of sun shone in the morning, he had woken and rushed downstairs, eager to speak with Ab. The old barkeep had allowed him to make Dora's favorite cinnamon rolls, and he waited. Remus waited for Dora in the pub, and breathed a sigh of relief when she had finally come down, clean and in fresh clothing.

His heart leapt in its chest at seeing her. She continued thinking it was a hallucination. Had she hurt her head? He looked her over, but then she spoke those two words: "You bastard."

Dora was shaking with rage. Remus could see the wrath in her eyes. He wanted to leave and spare himself the embarrassment of another few moments of fear with her, but he stayed rooted to the spot. He owed this to her.

"Say what you need to tell me," Remus said evenly. "I want to hear everything you have to say."

Dora eyed Remus suspiciously. "Come with me, then," she ordered.

Remus agreed and stood, letting Dora lead him out of the Hog's Head, cinnamon rolls in hand, and towards the Shrieking Shack. Why there?

Once they were safely inside the dusty, grimy, ramshackle house, Dora set several silencing charms and privacy charms on the property. Confused, but willing, Remus sat down on a broken settee and awaited Dora's wrath.

"What the fuck, Remus?" she said angrily.

"You tell me you just want to be friends and then confess your love to me? How is that fair to me? How am I supposed to believe you? How did you change your mind? How am I supposed to trust you, after everything you've done to me?" The questions came tumbling out of Dora's mouth.

"I…" Remus began.

"Not yet," Dora said. "I've made myself perfectly clear, Remus. If you intend on walking out on me again, do it now, before you break my heart one last time. It's now or never, Remus." She waited, arms crossed against her chest, looking down at Remus with a scowl.

Remus stayed on the spot. He had no intention of leaving. Not this time – never again. He would never leave her again, not after all that he'd done to the both of them in the last year.

"You are not leaving?" Dora asked, her brow raised in confusion.

"No," Remus said. "I am not leaving you again."

"So what does this mean, then? You want to be friends, or what?" Dora was fuming. "I've tried to be reasonable with you, Remus. I've tried not to pressure you into a relationship you don't want. I've offered myself to you, over and over, as a friend or more, and somehow you've broken my heart each attempt. I can't be friends – or more – with someone who breaks my heart this many times. It's not fair. I can't do it, Remus. A whole fucking year of this has been unbearable."

"I want to be more than friends," Remus said steadily. "That's all I've ever wanted from you, Dora. I've never wanted anything less."

"So explain to me why just yesterday you were telling me we could only be friends," Dora demanded. "What changed?"

Remus looked at his hands, thinking back on everything Dumbledore had said about love in the last several years – it was supposed to be the most powerful source of magic, of life. Embracing love without fear was what made one strong. Allowing oneself to love freely and deeply – that was bravery.

"I thought, at the time, it would be best," Remus said, after a pause of hesitation. "I thought it would be brave to avoid my love for you. I couldn't see past my own insecurities. But, Dora, you are so brave. You confessed your feelings for me in front of our friends. I felt so ashamed at what I had done to you. You are braver than I ever thought. What real bravery is…is love."

"My bravery changed your mind? I don't believe it," Dora spat. "Tell me the truth."

"You showed me how to be brave, Dora. I've been a coward. You are braver than I could ever be. Yesterday, when we were battling with the Death Eaters, my two biggest fears were there, both Bellatrix and Fenrir. I realized I'd give my life to fight them and keep you safe. I can be happy and fight against them. I can be happy with you and fight against them. I never realized it before last night, when we were fighting together."

"That can't be it," Dora said slowly. "We fought in the Department of Mysteries a year ago and you spoke rather differently about it afterwards. Are you only saying this because I didn't get tortured?"

"No," Remus said quickly. "I'm unbelievably happy you weren't hurt. I realized I'd rather die trying to save you than live a life apart from you. I'd rather die trying to be with you than live a half-life without you. Dora, you've given me hope. You've given me reason to hope for a better future for myself. I would rather die trying to make that happen for us, than to continue living the lie I've been putting on myself."

"But it's also love," Remus added passionately. "I spent the last year loving you in the way I thought was best, by avoiding you. That's not real love. I look at you – at me – and I see what I've brought upon us. Love isn't supposed to destroy us like this. If we are killed because of love…it shouldn't be like this, when we're both so miserable. If we died tomorrow because we loved each other, I don't want us to spend our last days miserably apart. Real love is brave…you are brave. What I offered you was cowardice." Remus looked down at the floor, and then back up to meet Dora's dark, intense eyes.

"Fine bloody speech you've made there," she replied sarcastically. "How do I know you're serious about this?" Dora asked, her eyes narrowed again in suspicion. "How do I know the next tragedy won't make you run for the hills? Will it take near-death experiences to get you back to me? I can't live like that, Remus!"

"Dora, I'm begging you to have faith in me again," Remus said. "I want to build back the trust you had in me. How can I do that?"

"Don't leave again," she spat. "Promise me now you won't leave again."

"What if I absolutely have to?" Remus asked anxiously. "What if you're in grave danger?"

"We're all in grave danger now," she retorted. "Dumbledore is dead and the Death Eaters infiltrated Hogwarts. We are all in grave danger, whether you like it or not."

"What if my wolfish instincts take over? What if I leave?" Remus asked.

"I thought that would only happen if we mated properly, which you've told me is not a possibility," Dora said disbelievingly.

"I thought it was impossible outside a mating bond too," Remus said. "But last night, every time Bellatrix or Fenrir got near you, I had an overwhelming urge to protect you. My wolf has always known you're its mate, even if our bond hasn't been fully…consummated." Remus shuddered slightly at the language, but continued.

"I cannot promise the wolfish instincts won't take over, especially if I do see that you're in mortal danger, and I can prevent it—"

"—Then you have to promise me you will always come back," Dora said forcefully. "If you can't promise you won't leave, whether out of cowardice or your own instincts, you have to promise me you will always come back. Can you do that?"

"Yes," Remus whispered. "I will always come back."

"No matter what, you promise me you will always come back," Dora repeated.

"I will always return for you, Dora," Remus promised. "I will always come back for you."

"And, if you can't come back immediately, you must communicate with me to tell me that you're alive and when I should expect you," Dora insisted. "I can't live the rest of my life knowing you're in mortal danger."

"The rest of your life?" Remus asked confusedly. "Is that what you want?"

"It's what I've always offered you," Dora said quietly. "You knew this."

"Marry me," Remus heard himself say. "This is how I will commit to you. I want to marry you, Dora."

"You're mental," Dora said with a huff. "You went from 'just friends' to 'marry me' in a day. You haven't thought this through."

"I want to marry you, Dora," Remus insisted.

"Ask me another day, when we haven't just fought," Dora said, after a long silence. "I want to make sure that you are sure of what you're asking me."

"Is that a yes?" Remus asked, his heart thumping erratically.

"It might be," Dora sighed. "I'm having a hard time trusting that what you're saying is real."

"Is there no way to convince you, Dora?" Remus asked.

She scratched her chin, obviously deep in thought. "I want the Blood Magic pendant returned to me so I know if you're alive and well," she said suddenly. "It only works if your life is in danger, yeah?"

"Yes," Remus said. "You can only Apparate to me if the pendant is warm or burning."

"I don't plan on using it to track you," Dora said firmly. "Knowing you're alive is more than enough."

"I will return it to you," Remus promised. "I will need to see your mother first."

"Fine. You should probably talk to them too, if you're serious about asking me to marry you," Dora said quietly. Remus' heart was hammering away again, this time more forcefully.

"You might say yes?" Remus asked, his eyes growing wide with the possibility.

"I have to know it's something you're sure about. I'm not a traditional witch, Remus. I don't need my parents' approval or permission to marry anyone or date them. But if you're willing to let go of your insecurities and talk to my parents about this, I might take you more seriously," Dora said solemnly. "It's easy to ask me in the heat of the moment, but if you're going to ask me seriously, you should tell my parents about it."

"I can do that. I will do that," Remus vowed.

"And, if we are to date or marry – it won't be in secret. I don't need expensive dates or an announcement in The Prophet. I don't need a big, white wedding, but I'm done hiding this relationship. If my bravery is what led you back to me, bully for me, but I need you to be brave too. That means talking to my parents to show me you can stand up for us."

"Now. I will do it right now," Remus said, standing abruptly.

"Remus," Dora said, placing her hands on his shoulders, and sitting him back down on the battered settee. "This doesn't help your case. Think on it. I don't want this to be a decision you rushed through."

Dora clapped her hand to her mouth. "I sound like you now!" She laughed, one of the most beautiful sounds Remus had heard in months. "Is this what it's like to be you? Always worried?" She kept laughing, a genuine laugh from her belly.

Remus started laughing too. He had been the impulsive one who had proposed marriage, and she was the one stopping his impulsivity. He looked up into her eyes – still dark, puffy, and red-rimmed, and his chest hurt to see the damage he'd inflicted upon her. Seeing her smile and laugh provided him with one of the rarest moments of joy he'd experienced in the last year.

"Aren't you supposed to be working?" Remus asked suddenly. Had his idiocy led her to skive off work?

"No, Kingsley gave me the day off because of the battle last night. I'm to be back at work tomorrow at 8 am."

"What are you doing till then?"

"Whatever I'd usually do on a day off. Maybe visit my parents, or hide in my room and sleep the day away."

"Would you like to meet my godsons?" Remus asked. "I'll need to write their mother first, but I think she would be open to the idea."

"I've met them, haven't I?"

"Yes, but I'd like them to know you as my girlfriend," Remus said boldly. "If that's what you'd like to be again, that is."

Dora stood there, mouth open, staring at Remus.

"Are you sure, Remus? You do realize that you're asking for a committed romantic relationship with me, yes?" Dora asked, looking downright flabbergasted.

"You're all I've ever wanted, Dora."

"But you're asking me to be your girlfriend," Dora asked, as if looking for confirmation. "It's what I've always wanted, too, but I've never seen you so…sure of yourself. It's almost unsettling."

"I've never been more sure," Remus said. "If you'll have me, I'd like to be your boyfriend again, and maybe more than that one day."

"This is giving me whiplash," Dora said softly. "Now we'll have to take it slow for my sake. I don't want to be hurt again. I also can't promise I won't be angry with you again. You've done a lot of damage in the last year. I want to forgive and forget, but that's going to take time."
"I've already promised I won't leave," Remus said firmly. "If I do leave, come what may, I will always come back to you."

The corners of Dora's lips began to curl, as if she were preventing a smile from gracing her face. "Really? You're sure?" she asked gravely.

"Merlin, is this what it was like to be with me?" Remus chuckled. "No wonder I infuriated you."

"You don't know the half of it," Dora said with a sigh. "And, this is your last chance with me Remus. Don't fuck it up. I'm willing to be your girlfriend again, but you can't fuck it up this time."

"I won't," Remus promised.

"I am happy you're back, Remus," Dora said softly. "I think it will be harder for us this time…we're not so innocent anymore." She had a shy, crooked smile. "But if you're going to give it your best – and mean it this time – so will I."

Upon hearing those words, Remus' heart exploded in his chest with affection for the young Auror standing before him. He stood from the broken settee and took Dora into his arms, embracing her against his chest, and kissing the top of her head.

"I'm not leaving, Dora," Remus said. "I'm here now and this is the only place I want to be."

"It better be," Dora said, in a muffled voice. "Let's go see your godsons, yeah?" She looked up to him, smiling weakly, and the two of them left the Shrieking Shack to see the Wakefields.

…..

Remus spent a chaste night with Dora in her room at the Hog's Head. As badly as he wanted to be with her physically, he had an enormous task ahead of him. They hadn't even kissed – after Dora's chastisement of his behavior and actions, it made sense to wait.

Remus had been serious, he realized, when he asked Dora to marry him. He would ask her again, but this time, it would be with a ring, and it would be after he was certain she was ready for it. The next time he asked her, it would also be with her parents' knowledge (and hopefully, their blessing). He wouldn't be physically intimate with her until she was ready, and wouldn't ask her to marry him, unless he had sought out her parents.

Dora had an 8 am Auror meeting that day, alongside a full day of patrolling at Hogsmeade. If all went well, he would have his first major task done by the end of the day. He had sent a letter to Andromeda and Ted, asking if he could meet them for lunch at their home that day. When they had replied in the affirmative, he set out to his cottage to seek a fresh set of clothes, and the desired family heirloom.

Lunchtime approached, and Remus nervously but resolutely Apparated to the Tonks family home. He felt a fresh wave of shame wash over him as he approached their front door, but Dora had been right – if he had been serious about spending his life with her, he was going to do it the right way. He would tell her parents and ask for their blessing, even if Dora didn't care for it. He would prove to her, and to them, that he was serious in his commitment.

It was with some trepidation, then, when Andromeda answered the door with a peculiar, guarded expression.

"Hello Andromeda," Remus said evenly. "Thank you for having me."

"Follow me," she ordered. Remus took his shoes off and followed her into the dining room, where a simple lunch was laid out, with Ted already seated.

"Ted, it's nice to see you again," Remus said softly, offering his hand to the man.

"You're looking better now," Ted remarked. "We were surprised to hear from you so soon, son. Is it true about Dumbledore?"

"It is, unfortunately," Remus said sadly. "Dora and I were both at Hogwarts the night he died." Remus felt the lump in his throat again, at a loss for words to describe the loss of one of his biggest supporters.

"You weren't the only ones," Andromeda said, showing Remus the copy of that morning's The Daily Prophet. The article listed a few of the Death Eaters, but failed to include Bellatrix or Fenrir.

"Your sister was there," Remus said softly. "So was Fenrir Greyback."

Ted and Andromeda both gasped. "They didn't hurt Dora," Remus said firmly. "Every time either of them got anywhere near her, I helped protect her. I'm done fighting against the instincts."

Andromeda and Ted's eyes both widened. "Care to explain, Remus?" Ted asked, still dumbfounded.

"I realized I can't live my life without your daughter," Remus said decisively. "I want to be with her for the rest of my days. I've come to ask for your blessing to marry her."

Ted and Andromeda looked at one another, and back at Remus, each with their own faces of shock.

"Remus, are you sure about this? What if Nymphadora refuses you?" Andromeda asked, with her brow arched.

"I spoke to Dora yesterday. She told me to face my fears and ask you both about it, although she said she didn't care if you approved. She may not care, but I do, and so I have come to ask for your blessing."

"Did she say yes to you?" Ted asked, his eyes wide as saucers.

"She agreed to be my girlfriend," Remus said. "She told me to think over what I had asked and to be serious, as she didn't want her heart broken again."

"How will we know you won't do this, son?" Ted asked in concern. "How will we know you won't hurt her again?"

"I spoke to Dora about this as well," Remus explained. "I told her I won't leave again unless my wolfish instincts take over. If they do, I promised I would always return. I will never fail to return to her. I give you my word."

Andromeda looked at Ted nervously. "How do we know to trust you, Remus?" she asked him softly.

"I have two requests of you, if you don't mind," Remus said quietly. "First, the Blood Magic pendant. Dora would like it returned to her so she knows if I am alive and well. I promised I would do so. If not, I will find a way to make another." Upon hearing this, Andromeda took the pendant and unclasped it, handing it to Remus.

"Thank you, Andromeda." He took the pendant and quickly took away a few key enchantments, before re-enchanting it to be keyed to Dora's magic.

"The second request is to give me your blessing to marry Dora," Remus repeated. He reached into the pocket of his robes, and pulled out a faded velvet box. He opened it to reveal an engagement ring; it had a delicate, yellow gold band and a petite, central yellow diamond, surrounded by little white diamonds to make it appear like a flower.

"I plan to ask her to marry me with this ring," Remus explained, as Ted and Andromeda's jaws dropped upon seeing the delicate engagement ring.

"May I ask where you procured a ring on such…short notice?" Ted asked incredulously.

"It was my mother's," Remus said. "Before then, my Grandmother Lupin's. It's one of two family heirlooms. The Blood Magic pendant is the other. I thought Dora should have them both."

"Don't you think you're jumping into this a bit too quickly, Remus?" Andromeda asked slowly. "Just last week you were unsure of what you wanted from her."

"I've never been unsure, not really," Remus said ruefully. "I've been unsure that it was a good idea. I've been unsure that she truly wanted me. I've never been unsure that she's the one and only love of my life."

"If Dora will have you, after all this time, you have my blessing, son," Ted finally said, after a few moments of silence. "Dora knows what she wants. If she chooses you, I hope you stay with her for good."

Remus exhaled a deep sigh of relief. He had Ted's blessing; now, he turned to Andromeda, who was wiping a tear from her eye.

"Do not disappoint me again, Remus," Andromeda warned. "If you are certain this is what you want, then ask Nymphadora. If she accepts your proposal, then my only request is that you keep your promises. Never fail to return to her."

"I promise," Remus vowed.

"When will you ask her?" Ted ventured.

"I'm not certain," Remus said. "I sort of asked her already." Andromeda and Ted stared at Remus incredulously.

"It was an in-the-moment thing," Remus explained. "I realize now that Dora will need more time, and I want to give it to her. I wanted to make sure I had your blessing first, and do it correctly this time."

"Best of luck then, Remus," Ted said. "If and when Dora says yes, I hope you stick to the promises you make."

"I will, Ted," Remus promised. "I will."

…..

Remus was jittery. He was at the Hog's Head, waiting for Dora to return from her day of patrolling. He had a plan for the evening, and he was resolute in seeing the plan through. He was sitting nervously at the pub as Aberforth watched him curiously.

The door to the Hog's Head swung open, and with it, a disheveled young Auror by the name of Nymphadora Tonks. Remus heart fluttered upon seeing her. No matter what she looked like, she never failed to make him want her. Today, she wore ripped jeans and a t shirt underneath her askew Auror robes, and trotted gracelessly through the pub in her combat boots.

"How are you?" Remus asked breathlessly upon seeing her.

"Long day," she sighed. "I'm knackered and hungry. D'you mind if we eat at The Three Broomsticks? Dumbledore was Ab's brother, and I wouldn't want to impose on him, y'know?" she whispered the question to Remus.

"I've a better idea in mind," Remus said with a smile. "Come with me?"

"In my robes?" Dora looked down at her present clothing and frowned.

"You look just fine, Dora," he insisted.

"Wait," Dora said, looking at him curiously. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise," Remus smiled nervously.

"O-kay," Dora said slowly. "Can I change out of my Auror robes? I don't want to feel like I'm working."

"Go ahead, I'll be right here." Remus nodded at Dora and she went upstairs to her room to change. Remus looked down at his feet, wondering what had led him to this point. He was taken aback with his own recent decisions, but with Dumbledore gone…the war looming larger than ever…what sense did it make to wait any longer? He could die tomorrow, and spending one more day without the brilliant witch at his side…he had made them suffer enough. Never again.

Dora came down from the steps in what he assumed were new robes Andromeda had sent her; Dora appeared…nervous?

"Hi, Dora," Remus breathed. "You look lovely."

"I'll let my mum know. She just got me these robes."

"Ready?" Remus asked. Dora looked nervous and apprehensive, but she let Remus lead her by the hand outside the Hog's Head.

He Apparated them to the forest outside Cardiff where they'd first gone on a date.

"Cardiff?" she asked.

"I thought we could have our second first date in the same place," Remus said anxiously. "Is that alright?"

"Yeah," she said softly. "Let's go."

They walked, hand-in-hand, until they reached the pub they'd once shared a first date in. They found a table, and sat down. Remus felt nervous, but wanted the date to go well.

"How was the Auror meeting this morning?" he began tentatively.

"New assignments coming," Dora sighed. "After Dumbledore's funeral, I'm expected to be back at the office, on paperwork."

"You'd rather do something else."

"After the last year at Hogsmeade, I'm almost happy about it. I'll have more people to talk to than Alfie, Proudfoot, and Dawlish. Scrimgeour won't put me in the field with Bellatrix on the loose though," she sighed sadly. "It's for the best."

Remus swallowed the lump in his throat. He was secretly thankful that Dora would be back in the office, but bit back the concern over Bellatrix.

"Maybe things will change come fall," he suggested.

"I doubt it," she exhaled heavily. "With my luck, I'll be stationed back at Hogsmeade in a month and a half."

"Where will you be staying between now and then?" Remus asked, feeling the anxiety build in his chest.

"Probably with my parents. Doesn't make sense to get a flat for that time, and I don't want to stay here if I don't have to be."

Remus braced himself. "Dora, would you like to spend the rest of the summer with me at my cottage?"

"Why?" she asked warily. "Are you asking me to move in with you?"

"N-not permanently, yet," Remus stammered. "But I assumed you'd be available for the rest of the summer, and you can stay with me as long as you'd like. If you'd like, that is."

"This isn't too fast for you?" Dora asked suspiciously.

"It wouldn't be forever, unless you wanted it to be," Remus said nervously. "But it has an added benefit for me, which is also a leap of faith for me."

"Okay?" Dora looked at him in confusion.

"If you stay with me, I would like you to be there every day…including the full moon," he said apprehensively, as he saw Dora's jaw drop.

"You want me…at your cottage…at the full moon…when you are a fully transformed werewolf…with or without Wolfsbane Potion?" Dora emphasized each syllable in shock.

"Without, for now," Remus said. "I'll be in my cellar, with all the enchantments and charms. You would be in my cottage. The day before, the day of, and the day after."

"What's gotten into you?" Dora asked skeptically. "Did something happen to your head?"

"Dora, I've been wondering the ways to show you that I want you in my life. You asked me yesterday how you could trust me. I'm placing my life in your hands. I'm trying to show you that I trust you, and I want you, even when I don't want myself."

"Besides," Remus added. "I really was serious when I asked about you marrying me some day. I'm not asking you tonight," he added hastily. "I want to make sure we're both ready. But when I realized what marriage would mean…it would mean you being with me every day, which includes the full moon. I suppose I'm trying to say that I want you there, even if it scares me. I am trying to be brave for you, as you were brave for me."

"I'm willing to try," Dora said, after a few moments of silence. "You can stay with me in the meantime, if you'd like, I think."

"Really?" Remus asked in disbelief.

"You're not quite forgiven yet," Dora said. "I'm getting there. You placing all this trust in me is overwhelming me, and confusing me, if I'll be honest with you."

"I understand."

"Again, Remus, you don't," Dora said bitterly. "You don't understand because you haven't been around for the last year. You might understand better if you're with me, and I'm giving you that chance. It's why I told you that you can't leave me again. And, if you do, by whatever wolf instincts you think you have, you promised to come back. You won't understand what I've been through if you leave me. So I'm giving you a chance too."

"I will stay with you," Remus said. "I will be around as long as you want me around."

"You said that the first time," Dora said flatly. "But, things are different now. At least, they appear to be."

"Speaking of which," Remus interjected. "I have something for you." He pulled out a faded velvet box and opened it to reveal the Blood Magic pendant.

"I re-keyed the enchantments for you. It will work for you now, and you only."

"Thank you," Dora said softly. "I half-expected you not to follow through."

"I'm working on making it better. I promise."

"I think that's enough of the relationship talk for now," Dora said with a weak smile. "Why don't we talk about how precious your godsons are?"

Remus grinned, and began telling a smiling Dora about his new godsons. As he talked, he noticed Dora's expression softening, and the hope in his heart grew for a better, stronger relationship than what they'd had before.