The days following Ted's death were hazy. Remus spent most of his time caring for his wife and mother in law. Andromeda wavered between silent stillness and shutting herself in her bedroom. She was careful to place charms on the door, as Remus heard nothing when Andromeda was there. Dora was more expressive in her sorrow; between bouts of quiet tears she sobbed violently upon seeing anything that reminded her of her father. Only Ophelia, the cat, remained entirely aloof.
Remus was sorrowful as well. His father in law had been sympathetic towards him throughout most of his relationship with Dora. As soon as he'd Apparated to the Burrow to find Ted's body, Remus vowed that he would name his son after the man who had raised his wife and welcomed him so kindly to the family.
The funeral had been a tiny, discreet affair. Only Arthur and Kingsley had attended, and they were partly there to provide additional protections on Remus, Dora, and Andromeda. Molly had stayed behind at the Tonks home to keep an eye on the property. Upon their return to the house after the simple funeral, Molly had showered them with food for the next three weeks, and the promise to return whenever Dora went into labor.
Lottie and her sons had sent their own cards of condolences. Wally and Denys each had drawn pictures of Ted and their own father, Lorcan, together. Their simple caption, "Best Dads," had brought the first genuine smile to Dora's face since her father had died. The pictures hung proudly in the kitchen.
Dora's pregnancy kept Remus and Andromeda as stable as they could be. Dora was fast approaching her due date, and her grief over losing Ted was only barely outmatched by her annoyance that their baby had not yet arrived. Remus worked tirelessly to care for both women in their mourning, as well as preparing everything Dora might need when she did go into labor.
Remus was organizing the supplies for Dora's labor when Andromeda interrupted him.
"Thank you," she said softly, looking over at Remus, who had just placed a basket of fresh linens in their bedroom, where Dora was expected to deliver their baby.
"You're welcome," Remus said awkwardly. Her thanks had been the first two words he'd heard from her in nearly a week.
"Nymphadora and I are lucky to have you," Andromeda continued. Remus turned around and found his mother in law, puffy eyed and tear stained, at the threshold of the door.
"Thank you?" Remus ventured.
"I do like you, you know," Andromeda murmured. "You're not who I expected my daughter would fall for and marry, but I am glad it is you, after all."
Remus opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a syllable, Andromeda had already turned around and returned to her own bedroom, closing the door and locking it behind her.
Bewildered, Remus descended the stairs to find Dora staring absentmindedly at the pictures his godsons had made for her.
"What happened?" Dora demanded. "You look like a ghost."
"Your mum said she's glad you married me, after all," Remus said, still in his own disbelief.
"That's all?" Dora looked at Remus quizzically.
"That's all," Remus replied. "She went back to her room."
"Bold of my mum to say what she feels so plainly," Dora mused. "You really must've grown on her."
Remus was silent for a moment, collecting his thoughts. He looked up to see Dora, her own eyes red-rimmed and puffy. Forgetting his mother in law's comments, he asked, "How are you, love?"
"Fine as I can be," Dora muttered.
"Do you need anything?"
"Other than my dad alive and well?"
"Err," Remus stammered.
"I know, it's impossible," Dora sighed. "I'm sorry I've been tetchy with you."
"No need to apologize, Dora," Remus said. "You're grieving."
"I'm also uncomfortable."
"How's our baby?" Remus couldn't help but smile when he said 'our baby.' Every time he heard himself mention his impending fatherhood or child, he couldn't stop himself from feeling giddy at the prospect.
"It's charming how in love with this kid you already are," Dora said knowingly. "I think I'll like it more once it's out of me."
"Can I get you anything?"
"How d'you feel about ripping this kid out of me?"
"…no," Remus said firmly.
"Should I just wait for it to do the ripping itself next full moon?" Dora waggled her eyebrows at Remus.
"This is no laughing matter, Dora," Remus said sternly. "We still don't know if it's going to be…like me."
"Remus, I haven't felt anything out of the ordinary at any of the full moons since I became pregnant," Dora sighed. "I doubt this kid is a werewolf."
"Maybe it needs to be born first?"
"What if it's born on the next full moon?"
"I might cry," Remus said truthfully. "I don't want to miss it."
"Couldn't you just watch as y'know, Moony?"
"Absolutely not. I will not risk our child's life, even if the Wolfsbane is perfect."
"What are you going to do once the baby is born then?"
"At full moons?"
"Yes," Dora replied tersely. "I'm not locking you up, especially not with Fenrir still out there. You're a more effective guard dog when you're not stuck in a bedroom."
Remus rolled his eyes. "Then I'll ask you and your mother to stay with our baby in a heavily warded bedroom while I transform and roam the house."
"What if the baby is a little wolf cub? You'll leave my mum alone with a tiny howling cub?"
Remus was exasperated. He wouldn't be at his child's birth as Moony. When the first full moon after their child's birth did come, didn't like the idea of leaving his wife or mother in law with a tiny werewolf baby. He also feared that he, even with the Wolfsbane, might harm his child.
"We don't need to decide anything today," Dora said suddenly. "Why don't we wait till the baby is born to see if it has any signs of lycanthropy?"
"Okay," Remus relented. "We'll wait." He stared at Dora, sitting puffy-eyed, now grown round with his child, and his heart clenched, hoping that when his child did arrive, it would be free of lycanthropy.
…..
"This is torture," Dora complained. She was sitting on their bed, clad in a loose nightgown, and groaning loudly.
"When did the contractions start?" Molly asked. Dora began feeling twinges and pains in her midsection two hours prior. Remus had panicked and sent a Patronus to Molly to ask for her help in identifying whether or not Dora was in labor.
"Two – hours – ago," Dora huffed. "They're – not – regular."
"Have any of you been timing them?" Molly asked, looking between Dora, Andromeda, and Remus.
"Sixteen minutes since the last one," Andromeda said briskly. Remus felt Andromeda was slightly annoyed at him for calling Molly so soon; while Molly meant well, she had a habit of bossing others around.
"You've got a long way to go, dear," Molly sighed. "These early contractions are milder than those you'll have later on, I'm afraid."
"Are there any potions we can give her?" Remus asked. Seeing Dora in pain was gnawing at his heart. He let out an involuntary whine upon seeing her face scrunched up in agony.
"No, but there's something you should take," Andromeda said curtly, handing him a large vial of what he could only assume was Calming Draught. He gulped it in three swigs, and began to feel its effects immediately.
"Can I get some of that?" Dora asked irately.
"No, dear," Molly sighed. "You can have this." Molly handed Dora a goblet full of a steaming liquid. Dora took one sip and spat it out, a disgusted look on her face.
"What the fuck is that?" Dora asked.
"Language, Nymphadora," Andromeda said impatiently.
"I don't see you trying to give birth to an overexcited pumpkin," Dora huffed. Remus smiled, despite himself. It wouldn't be his Dora without her colorful attitude or language.
"What are you smiling about?" Dora snarled.
"Nothing, sweetheart," Remus said gently, pressing a kiss to her sweaty forehead. "I'm just excited to meet our baby. I hope it's exactly like you."
Dora attempted a smile but another contraction came. She scrunched her face and wailed in pain. Remus felt a stab of anxiety, but it was soothed from the effects of the Calming Draught.
"Can't I start pushing yet?" Dora moaned, as she clutched her side.
"Drink the potion," Molly ordered, giving Dora the steaming goblet. "It tastes terrible, but it will ease the pain. It's stronger than Pain Relief Potion, formulated for pregnancy only."
"Fine," Dora said, exhaling forcefully through her nose. She took the proffered goblet and plugged her nose with one hand while attempting to guzzle the steaming liquid down her throat.
Dora sputtered violently upon finishing the liquid. Remus already had a goblet of pumpkin juice at Dora's lips to take the taste out of her mouth.
"Thank – you," Dora gasped, drinking the juice with fervor.
"You won't be able to drink or eat much for much longer," Molly warned.
"Fuck," Dora hissed.
"How is the pain?" Andromeda asked, fussing over the birthing supplies.
"A-A bit better," Dora said. "How fast does it work?"
"Just a few more minutes," Molly said.
Remus sniffed at the remains of the pain relief potion. "What's in this?" he asked.
"It's my own making," Molly said. "After the first three, I knew I had to make something stronger. It's a Pain Relief Potion that's been enhanced with a Strengthening Solution and tempered with milder ingredients to make it safe for pregnancy."
"Molly, you're a genius," Dora said. "I feel so much better."
"You'd have been an excellent potions master," Remus remarked.
"It was never my best subject," Molly said, with a smile. "I had plenty of time to experiment with seven children to raise." She looked at Dora, her eyes studying the younger witch. Molly muttered a few incantations and waved her wand over Dora's midsection and pelvis.
"I'll be back tomorrow," Molly said, after a few moments of thought. "You won't be ready until the morning."
"That's…twelve hours away!" Dora complained. "I have to endure twelve more hours of this?"
"At least," Molly commented. "I expect you'll be ready to push by nine in the morning. I'll come at eight."
"That's fifteen hours away!" Dora screeched.
"Your contractions would indicate a faster birth, but your baby is going to be stubborn," Molly said. "I think you'll be stopping labor soon and starting again sometime in the night."
"That's…" Dora groaned, unable to finish the sentence.
"I'm only a Patronus away," Molly said. "I'll come back with breakfast."
"Thank you, Molly," Remus said. Andromeda nodded politely at Molly, and the two older witches left the bedroom.
"Remus, you'll stay with me?" Dora asked, her eyes wide.
"Of course, love," Remus said. He began rubbing her feet, which were also swollen.
"Thank you," Dora said. "I hope this kid is really fucking good, to make me go through this."
"If it's anything like you, I'm sure it will be worth it, Dora," Remus said, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile.
"You're just saying that so you'll still get to sleep with me after this," Dora grumbled.
Remus grew pink and stared at his wife. "If…if that's what you want," he said awkwardly.
"I'll think about it," Dora said, through a grimace. Remus continued rubbing soothing circles on Dora's legs and feet. She was smiling weakly under his touch, and he hoped the next several hours would pass quickly, if only for her sake.
…..
"WE – ARE – NEVER – HAVING – SEX – AGAIN!" Dora screamed, as a contraction tore through her midsection.
Remus looked at her sheepishly, and grew warm, feeling the crimson blush across his face.
"She doesn't mean that, dear," Molly said. "I said that with each of ours and obviously that hasn't stopped Arthur and I from having our fun." Molly winked at Remus, and he felt, if possible, even more awkward as his wife experienced contractions.
Deciding to avoid the matter of sex altogether, Remus asked, "Is it possible to give her more of that pain relief potion?"
"She's already had as much as is safe," Molly replied tersely. "Now we wait."
"Nymphadora, it's nearly time," Andromeda said. "Your contractions are close in time now."
"FUCKING FINALLY!" Dora screeched. "GET – IT – OUT!"
"Pushing will feel better than you imagine," Molly said. Andromeda joined Molly in arranging the linens on the bed. Remus looked at the scene, feeling awkward.
"Err, Dora," Remus said tentatively. "Where would you like me to be?"
"Wherever you fucking want," Dora growled. "You are not leaving me now."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Remus vowed.
"You're not squeamish, are you, Remus?" Molly asked, as Dora uttered several almost-intelligible profanities under her breath.
"No?" Remus said, unsure. "I've seen a lot of blood and injuries in my lifetime."
"Stand here next to me and your mother in law," Molly ordered. "If it gets to be too much, hold Tonks' hand."
Andromeda was seated in front of Dora's legs, spreading them apart herself. "As wide as you can, Nymphadora," she commanded. Dora groaned but moved her legs as far apart as they would go.
"She's ready to push," Andromeda said, looking up to Molly.
Molly took a glance at the space between Dora's legs. "It's time, Tonks," Molly said, with a smile. "Ready?" Dora nodded through the pain, and she began grunting with the effort.
Remus was standing to the right of Andromeda, staring intently at the tremors of his wife's body. Dora, for her part, continued moaning as she strained every part of her body to push the child out of her body.
"Can you see the head, Remus?" Molly asked excitedly. Remus looked down to see a mass slowly emerging from his wife's womb.
"Our baby's on the way, Dora!" Remus shouted. His own emotions had ranged from guilt to anxiety all morning, but now that he could see his child's head, he was quickly growing overjoyed at the prospect of seeing his child for the first time.
"GOOD," Dora replied loudly, still straining.
Remus' eyes grew wide as he saw the baby slowly making its way out of Dora's body. Its head was nearly out of her, and Andromeda took no time in placing her hands underneath it to cradle it on its way out.
"A few more pushes, Nymphadora!" Andromeda ordered.
"Just a bit more, Tonks!" Molly encouraged, a huge grin on her face.
Dora strained and screamed, and Remus kept his eyes locked on the little body emerging from his wife's. Andromeda's hands were unseen, as the child's shoulders emerged.
"A little more, Nymphadora!" Andromeda cried.
Dora grunted, her face scrunched up with fierce determination. The final push was successful, and Andromeda was able to take the child out of its mother's body.
To Remus' surprise and joy, a fully human baby boy began wailing in his grandmother's hands.
"IT'S A BOY, DORA!" Remus shouted, his heart now flooded with happiness and love.
"Nymphadora, would you like to see your son?" Andromeda asked, as she and Molly worked to clean the little boy and wrap him in a blanket. The boy was still crying loudly, but Remus thought it was the most wonderful sound in the world. It was living proof that he was now a father.
"FUCK YEAH I WANNA SEE MY BOY!" Dora cried.
"Language, Nymphadora," Andromeda said, bringing the boy up to Dora's chest. "You're a mother now."
Remus' eyes were watering at the sight of his son on his wife's chest. The little boy had calmed considerably now that he was snuggled under Dora's chin.
"Remus," Dora called tiredly. "Would you like to hold your son?"
"Our son," Remus corrected, a huge grin on his face. Dora smiled too, despite her exhaustion, and slowly lifted the baby off her chest.
Remus took the baby in his arms, cradling its little head on the crook of his arms. Andromeda adjusted Remus' arms slightly so that one of his hands was cupping the baby's bum, holding him up with more support.
"Does he have a name?" Molly asked, eyes twinkling at the sight of Remus holding the boy.
"Edward Siri—" Remus began, but Dora interrupted him.
"His name is Edward Remus Lupin," Dora announced proudly.
"Are-are you sure, Dora?" Remus asked, his eyes watering at the sight of his son. He was touched that Dora wanted to name their son after both her father and himself.
"He should be named after the two most important wizards in my life," Dora said. "His daddy and his granddad." Dora beamed at Remus, who was blinking back tears of joy.
"We're going to call him Teddy," Dora said. "After dad." Dora's own eyes were teary, as well as Molly and Andromeda's.
"Hi Teddy," Remus said softly, looking down at his son. Remus' heart was thumping loudly, as if it were making room for the overwhelming love he felt for his son. He didn't think it was possible to love anyone as much as he loved Dora, but this little boy, his child, now occupied his heart with a strength he thought was impossible.
Teddy began fussing in Remus' arms, and Remus looked up with panic.
"He's likely hungry," Molly said knowingly. "Tonks, you're ready to feed him?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," Dora snorted. Andromeda began unbuttoning the top of Dora's nightdress, so Teddy could eat. Andromeda then helped Remus adjust Teddy on Dora's chest, and the boy began feeding greedily at Dora's breast.
"Is this normal?" Dora asked, looking up at her mother and Molly.
"It's not unusual for babies to be hungry after all that labor," Molly chuckled.
Remus stared at his son, latched onto his wife's breast, drinking enthusiastically.
"Is he – do you think?" Remus said, slightly panicked.
Dora waggled her eyebrows at Remus. "You'll have to be more eloquent, dear," she said airily, as she looked upon Teddy's chubby, sleepy face.
"Werewolf?" Remus whispered, unsure if he should look at his child any further.
Dora looked down at Teddy again.
"I think he's a different sort of shapeshifter," Dora said, stifling a giggle. Remus, Andromeda, and Molly all looked up at Dora to see Teddy's hair shifting from its sandy brown – Remus' natural shade – to a soft turquoise.
"He's – he's a Metamorphmagus!" Andromeda stammered, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Nymphadora's hair did the same on the day she was born, but hers went pink!"
"Teddy, you brilliant, beautiful boy," Dora cooed. "Just like mummy!"
"Not at all like me," Remus said, deliriously happy, while Dora scowled.
"He has your natural hair," Dora mused. "Look at his lips, that's all you, Remus. He's a gorgeous boy, just like his daddy." She smiled at Teddy, who had finished eating and was now slipping into slumber. His soft turquoise hair changed again to a pale yellow, and Remus' face hurt from smiling.
"I think that means he's happy," Dora beamed.
"He'll have his own set of colors as he grows up," Andromeda added. "Yellow was happy for you."
Remus sat on the bed next to Dora as Andromeda and Molly cleaned up the mess that remained from the birth and afterbirth. Remus refused to leave Dora's side, especially now that Teddy was sleeping contentedly upon her chest.
"You should get some rest, Tonks," said Molly, as she finished cleaning the mess. "Your mother can keep an eye on Teddy."
"I'll do it," Remus said vehemently. "He's my son. I'll take care of him."
"You should rest, too, Remus," Andromeda said. "You were up all night with her, weren't you?"
"Yes," Remus mumbled. "I can stay awake."
"You both should sleep," Andromeda insisted. "I'll have Teddy across the hall with me. When he's hungry I'll bring him back. Both of you need rest while you can get it."
"Can we just have a few more minutes with him?" Remus asked defensively. "He can stay with us. I've got good hearing." Remus felt an instinctual protectiveness over the new life now resting on his wife's chest. This little one was part of his pack. Teddy was his cub, just as Dora was his mate. They were both his – to protect, care for, and love. They were simply his.
Andromeda sighed. "In a few days, when he's worn you both out, you'll be glad I'm here. I'm keeping the door open."
"Fine," Remus said, as he looked upon his sleeping son in Dora's arms. Dora was clearly exhausted and half-asleep, and her grip on Teddy was loosening slightly. He carefully extracted the boy from Dora's arms. The baby wriggled slightly, but Remus placed his son against his chest.
Teddy's hair shifted again from its pale yellow to a brighter turquoise.
"Is that your favorite, Teddy?" Remus asked softly. "Your mum liked turquoise when you were growing in there."
Remus looked at his sleeping son and inhaled Teddy's scent deeply and slowly. Teddy's scent was a curious mixture of his own and Dora's, but there was something uniquely Teddy there. Remus felt the pack bond thrumming in his veins. He felt a completeness about the matter…he had never felt so whole before. He felt a new kind of belonging, stronger than he had ever felt before. This little, blue-haired infant sleeping soundly on his chest made him feel complete.
As he looked upon Dora's sleeping frame, his heart felt as if it could burst with happiness and joy. Dora had given him the greatest happiness he had ever known. She had given him herself. She had given him a home. She had given him their son. As he looked on her exhausted, sleeping face, tears sprung to the corners of his eyes. This moment – holding his son, cuddled up to his wife – was one of the greatest he had ever experienced.
…..
It was late afternoon and Remus' eyes were fluttering open. He hadn't remembered falling asleep, and his son was no longer on his chest. Panicked, Remus sat up abruptly, only to have Dora's arm pressing him back into the pillows.
"I'm feeding him, Remus," Dora said gently. "Mum brought in the cot and put Teddy in there when we both fell asleep."
Remus let out a relieved sigh upon seeing his son feeding at Dora's breast. Teddy's hair was back to pale yellow.
"I'm thinking this yellow means he's full," Dora said, as Teddy unlatched himself. Dora brought him up to her chest again and pressed a soft kiss on his head.
"What color was it before you fed him?" Remus asked.
"Neon orange," Dora chuckled. "I think that means hungry."
"Thank you, Dora," Remus mumbled. "For him. For everything."
"You're welcome," she grinned. "You were both worth the wait." Dora stroked her finger on Teddy's chubby cheek. Remus sat there, quietly, gazing at his little family with a huge smile.
"He's going to need a godfather, I think," Dora whispered. "I think it should be Harry."
"Harry Potter?" Remus asked incredulously.
"Of course Harry Potter," Dora said. "What other Harry do we know?"
"Are you sure?"
"He's the reason you came back to us," Dora said softly. "There's no one better."
Remus smiled widely at Dora's suggestion.
"I think it's brilliant. Harry will be his godfather," Remus agreed. "How should we tell him?"
"Start at Shell Cottage, maybe?" Dora suggested. "Bill and Fleur will want to know Teddy's been born, and if they come across Harry, they could tell him?"
"I should write a letter to Lottie, too," Remus added. "I'll write that letter and then get to Shell Cottage."
"Is there anyone else we should tell?" Dora asked. "Kingsley should know. Maybe we can ask Molly to tell him if she sees him." Remus nodded, and bent his head to kiss Teddy's head, and then kiss Dora's cheek.
"You look younger," Dora said, in a bemused voice.
"Younger?"
"Happiness looks good on you."
"Happiness feels good," Remus admitted. "This might be the happiest moment of my entire life."
"Not our wedding?" Dora asked, feigning offense.
"Not with all those anxieties I had," Remus said truthfully. "This, being with you and our son, is the happiest moment I've ever had."
A soft rapping at the door interrupted their conversation. Remus looked up to see Andromeda at the threshold, holding a clean nappy.
"Remus, have you changed a nappy before?" Andromeda asked.
"No," he said uncomfortably. "I never, um, had the opportunity."
Andromeda chuckled and helped Remus up from the bed. Remus held Teddy gently against his chest and laid his son down on the changing table, as Andromeda taught Remus how to properly change a nappy. Though awkward at first, Remus vowed he would perfect his skills to better care for his son.
"Andromeda, do you mind if I write a short letter to Lottie to let her know of Teddy's birth?" Remus asked. "I'll be going to Shell Cottage next."
"Go. I need to check on Nymphadora to see how she's healing, and Teddy might be hungry again soon," Andromeda said rapidly. "Your son and wife will be well cared for."
Hearing the words son and wife filled Remus' heart with love and affection, and he slipped out of the bedroom to find parchment to write a letter to Lottie and his godsons.
Upon finding parchment, he began to write:
Dear Lottie, Wally, and Denys,
Dora and I are pleased to share the news of our son's birth. He was born this morning, 7th April, at half past nine o'clock. We've decided to call him Edward Remus Lupin, after Dora's father. Dora insisted upon my name for his middle name.
Teddy took his time to come into the world. Dora's labor began yesterday afternoon. Andromeda and Molly both helped to deliver him.
We were pleased to learn that Teddy takes after his mother and is a Metamorphmagus. His natural hair is similar to my own. Within an hour of his birth, it changed to turquoise, then yellow, orange, and back to turquoise. We couldn't be happier with our son.
We won't know if he displays any signs of lycanthropy until the next full moon. I do not believe he will exhibit any symptoms of lycanthropy. His scent is too human. Perhaps the boys will understand. I am hopeful Teddy will be able to meet Wally and Denys soon.
Dora is doing very well. She had many colorful things to say during labor. She and I are both besotted with our son. We aren't certain when we will see you all next, but we hope it is sooner rather than later.
Hoping you are well.
Most sincerely,
R.J. Lupin
Remus signed and sealed the parchment and called for his owl, Lyra, to deliver the letter to the Wakefields. He was still in shock that he was a father to a little Metamorphmagus. His son was just like his mother. It was all he could ever want or dream for himself and for his son. Grinning broadly, he stepped outside the Tonks household to Apparate to Shell Cottage and share the happy news with Bill and Fleur.