A/N: I love this chapter. It's just so angsty. And ironic. And teenagery. All right, it's just good. It's short, but sue me.

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

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Chapter 13: You Have Me

The cold didn't matter, the snow didn't matter, and the discomfort didn't matter. She followed him across the grounds in her velvet dress, holding her shoes in her hand, toward the Womping Willow, not noticing anything but him. Where is he going? She didn't know. She just knew he couldn't be alone. Not on Christmas Eve, not the day before the full moon. He couldn't be alone now. She loved him, so she ran bare foot through the snow after his retreating figure.

He stopped in front of the tree, at a loss of what to do. Peter wasn't there to touch the knot to freeze it, so there wasn't much he could do. Lily nonverbally immobilized the branches but he didn't even notice, he just crouched down and slid through a gap in the roots, disappearing. She waited for a second to check that no one was coming before slipping in after him, tearing her dress up her thigh, but she didn't care. It was a dark tunnel, one he knew by heart and could walk in the dark, but she took her time, not lighting her wand in fear of startling him, but walked slowly. Occasionally she would walk into a wall, and gained a cut or two and several more tares in the process, but eventually her head hit wood, a trap door. She slowly pushed it back, before climbing through.

It didn't take long for her to realize where she was. The decrepit furniture and cracked windows were an obvious clue. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she was in the Shrieking Shack. It all made sense now. Why did Remus come here? It was where he transformed, she realized with a start. His mask lay forgotten on the dusty floor and she bent down to pluck it off the wood, brushing off the dust. Where is he? A bang from upstairs answered her question. There was a rickety staircase to her right, which seemed about ready to collapse, but she slowly climbed the steps, her dress snagging on the banister. Another loud crash came from a doorway, and she hesitantly peered around the corner. It was a bedroom, with dusty and torn curtains, and an ancient wooden four-poster bed sat against the wall. Remus had apparently kicked one of the legs and the bed had crumpled over, leaning onto the floor. He himself was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, his head in his hands, and for the first time, Lily saw him cry.

She sunk down next to him and pulled his hands away from his face. Shame prevented him from looking at her, and instead he looked at the floor. Cupping his chin in her hands, she tilted his head so she could see him. Tears dampened his skin, and he refused to meet her gaze.

"Look at me Remus," she said sternly, but he didn't obey. "Please, baby, look at me." Another tear dropped into her open hand, as he closed his eyes, trying to force them away. "I understand." That statement showed that she didn't blame him, and that he hadn't done anything wrong. He slowly opened his eyes and navy met green. "I love you, Remy." She pulled him closer and rested his head on her neck.

"Why does it have to be this hard?" he stammered as she stroked his back. "Why can't he just let us be?"

"Because that's who he is, Remy, we just have to ignore him." The tears were slowing, and Lily realized that she was his rock, just as he was hers.

"Why does he have to have everything?"

"But he doesn't have everything. Remus, you have so much that he doesn't." He pulled away and wiped his face off on his sleeve, like a vulnerable little boy.

"What do you mean?" She smiled weakly, and pushed a stray hair behind his ear.

"Because you have me." She lent in and kissed him softly. "You will always have me."

"I can't believe you followed me here," he said, the words brushing across her lips as he pulled away, leaning his forehead against hers.

"I'd follow you anywhere." He fingered the tare in her skirt, grazing her thigh with his thumb. She shivered, and became aware that she was wearing nothing but a torn up dress and underwear.

"Are you cold?"

"Not really, no." She didn't really realize what she was implying, but Remus did. Since he didn't really know what to do about it, he just left his hand on her leg and leant over to continue kissing her. She allowed his tongue entrance to her mouth and carefully slid her hand to her side, pulling her wand from a hidden pocket along the hem of her dress. He didn't notice as she nonverbally repaired the crumpled bed behind him. He was, after all, too innocent for his own good.

"I love you so much, Lily, you have no idea," he whispered through their kisses. She smiled against his lips and pulled away briefly. He moaned at the loss of contact.

"Oh, I think I do, sexy Remy." He would have laughed, but he was far too distracted by the heat between them. Slowly she stood up, pulling him up with her, their contact never breaking. He was hardly surprised to find the bed she backed him up into was upright; she had always been full of stealth. "I really do."

"Oh you do, do you?" he said sarcastically as he lay down on his back, with her crawling on top of him. She pushed his robes off him so he was left in his oxford button down shirt and black dress pants.

"I know I do." He picked up his head to kiss her again, praying to any deities that were listening that he correctly remembered a certain incantation Sirius told him just might come in handy one of those days. Now he knew what his friend had meant.

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A/N: Aww, say goodbye to innocent Remus and say hello to the confident and sexy Remy. Next time: more dreams, a very annoying and in denial James, and a singing Sirius. Just as an extra teaser, Chapter 14 is called "You Lie". It's short but funny. Now for a real teaser:

"I want Lily to have to deal with the guilt that comes with her date punching me."

Heh heh, James is such a git, at least in this fan fic. REVIEW! Toodles. Final Word Count: 1123