CHAPTER 13

Saturday, May 9 – 7:30 am

The bright sunlight poured its way into the room and fell upon Katie Lupin's sleeping face.  She turned away from the light, and stretched her arms out over her head with a slow, languid yawn.  Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the brightness of the light.  One glance to her right told her that Remus was still sleeping.  As carefully as she could manage, she pulled herself out from under the covers and got out of bed. 

She hated disturbing him on these mornings.  The irony of it all was that he hated disturbing her as well.  She asked him many years ago to wake her for the transformation.  In sickness and in health is what she vowed to, and she wanted to be there for him when he needed her.  But month after month, he would slip from the bedroom before dawn and return once the transformation was complete without ever bothering her.  He could get away with it in the summer time more easily due to the sun's early rising.  Katie hated it when he wouldn't wake her up, but she also understood.

She quietly ran a comb through her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail.  She slipped on a robe and gave one last glance at her husband before exiting the bedroom.  The house was very still with no children at home, and Katie found herself nearly tip toeing down the stairs to the kitchen. 

She put on some coffee and wondered wandered over to the farthest cauldron.  She learned from Remus that while he was at Hogwarts, Madam Pomfrey made him a special soothing potion from time to time.  Over the years, Katie tweaked the recipe until she was able to brew something that was not only helpful but tasted good, too.  Some mornings, when the transformation had been especially painful, she would use more valerian or calendula and, of course, chocolate.  Quite apart from the innate healing powers of chocolate, it tasted good. A few marshmallows sprinkled on top served to mask the bitterness of some of the more potent ingredients, without diminishing their effect a bit.   

As the cauldron bubbled, she headed back into the kitchen table for her usual cup of coffee.  She poured herself a mug full and sat down at the table to read the Daily Profit.  Footsteps on the stairs alerted her that she wasn't alone.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Remus said joining her at the table.  Only Katie would have noticed that he moved the slightest bit more slowly and stiffly this morning. 

"Because you need your sleep."

"Yes, but had you awoken me, I would have told you that last night really wasn't that bad."  His voice was tired and scratchy.  "And then you wouldn't have come down here to make that potion.  We would still be curled up in bed together."

Katie smiled over her mug at him.  "Who said I wasn't planning on coming back to bed?"  She sat down her drink and took Remus' hand across the table.  "Really, Remus-love, you should go back to bed.  I'll be up with your hot cocoa in a few minutes."

He closed his eyes and sighed.  "I'm not an invalid, Katie."

"I never said you were."

"I just…you…I don't want you to have to do this every month."

"Nor do I want you to have to go through this every month."  She squeezed his hand lovingly.  "Has it ever occurred to you that I enjoy doing this?  That I need to do this for you?  It's the only way I know how to help."

"Just the fact that you're still here, after all these years, helps more than you will ever know."

"Then it's a good thing I don't ever plan on leaving."

Remus stood up and kissed her gently.  "Since I know you will pester me until I do so, I will return to our bed.  However, you must promise to join me as soon as possible."

"Agreed."  They kissed again and Remus vanished back up the steps.

Katie took a few sips of her coffee and returned to check on the potion.  From the smell, she knew it needed a bit more cocoa.  She went to collect some from the pantry, but stopped in surprise to find Roarke helping herself to a cup of coffee.  "Goodness!  What are you doing here?"

"Good morning to you, too, Mum."

"I'm sorry but I just didn't expect to see you today, let alone this early in the morning."  She retrieved the cocoa from the pantry while Roarke offered her explanation.

"Well, I thought since I didn't have to be at work for a few hours, I would come by and see how Daddy was doing."

"He's the same as he usually is – no better or worse."

Roarke pointed at the box in her hand.  "Are you making Dad's Cocoa?"

"Yes, of course.  I always do."  She walked back to the cauldron, curious as to why Roarke was following her.

"Do you need any help?"

"No, it's nearly done.  You know it's a fairly easy and quick potion."  Katie added the chocolate powder to the brew and stirred slowly.

"Actually, I don't know.  You never showed any of us kids how to make it."

Katie looked up at her wryly.  "I could never get any of you out of bed early enough to brew it."

"So, it's not difficult?"  Roarke stepped up next to the cauldron with a smile.  "Why don't you show me now?"

Katie's thoughts shifted back a few weeks to Easter…and the very handsome guest they had over for dinner.  "Why do you need to know how to make this all of a sudden?"

"I don't need to make it.  I just thought that it might be nice to learn."

Katie nodded and hummed knowingly.  "And when will you ever use this potion?"

Roarke shrugged.  "I don't know.  Maybe when I have children of my own and one of them falls off a broom and is injured.  Or something."

Katie gave Roark a sternly disapproving look.  "You would give a child valerian?" 

Roarke looked obviously flustered for the first time that morning.  Katie had to give her daughter credit; she certainly had a good plan.  It just wasn't good enough. 

"I don't know about that…I mean…you haven't even told me what it was made of.  No, I certainly wouldn't give that to a child."

Katie looked back down at the portion.  "Roarke, dear, I wouldn't advise giving this to anyone who hadn't suffered through a very painful transformation of the bones.  Now, why don't you tell me why you really want to learn how to make this potion?"

Roarke swallowed.  "There's – there's no real reason.  I was just curious."

"Curious about whether Liam would enjoy it or not?"

Roarke looked started at the mention of Liam's name.  "What?  Liam?  How did…why would I want…I mean…well…"  Katie met her daughter's eyes and smiled.  Roarke exhaled and slumped back against the wall.  "How did you know?"

Katie laughed softly.  "I have eyes, sweetheart.  How long have you been seeing him?"

"Not very long.  Not really.  We've known each other a while, but it's been just as friends."

"So, what you told us at Easter wasn't true."

"No.  It was true.  We met a few months ago at a meeting and a few other random times.  Nothing was planned.  And then…well…"

"But you are seeing him?" Katie asked pouring some of the cocoa into a mug for Remus and adding a handful of marshmallows.

"Yes.  It's only been over the last few days though."

"Were you with him last night?"

"No!" Roarke protested, eyes wide.  "No, I swear.  I wouldn't – I wasn't…"

"It's all right, Roarke.  I'm not angry with you."

"You're not?"

"No."

"What about Dad?"

"I don't think he knows.  I had my suspicions when I saw the two of you together in the living room, but I don't think your father saw what I did."

"What did you see?"

"Two people trying to stay as far away from each other as they could, even though their eyes never left the other's face."  Katie spoke from years of experience.

Roarke blushed at the comment, but it was the truth.  "Are you going to tell Daddy?"

Katie frowned.  "Is there a reason why I shouldn't?"

"I just think that he might have a hard time with this.  And it's all so new right now.  I don't want to get him upset for no reason."

"What makes you think he would get upset?"

"Because he doesn't like Liam."

"Oh really now, that's not true.  Just the other day he was commenting on how calm Liam seemed the last time they met.  He even said that Liam was making some great improvements."

"That may be, but mum," Roark's voice grew very soft.  "Liam is a werewolf."

Katie blinked.  "Really?  I had no idea.  In that case, you should shun him and never speak to him again."

"Mum!  You know what I mean.  Dad is such a worry wort.  He'll have a panic attack if he finds out."

Katie poured another goblet full of the potion.  "That might be true, but I'm not going to keep this a secret forever.  In fact, I think you'd be better off explaining things to your father sooner rather than later."  She handed the goblet to Roarke.

"What's this for?"

"Didn't you come over here to get some of this for Liam?"

Roarke pursed her lips and looked down at the potion in her hands.  "But I wanted to learn how to make it."

Katie put an arm around her daughter and led her back to the front of the kitchen.  "Why don't you just take that to him.  I'm too sleepy to brew another batch and I'd like to go back to bed.  Next month, if you still are still interested, I'll show you what you need so you can make it at your flat.  All right?" 

Roarke nodded and looked up at her mother with a smile.  "Thanks, mum."

"You're welcome.  Now get going before it gets cold."

With another nod, Roarke charmed the goblet so the potion wouldn't spill and Disapparated.  Katie sighed and picked up the mug she filled for Remus.  She returned to the bedroom and nudged her husband on the shoulder tenderly.  Remus opened his eyes and sat up just a bit before taking the cup from her.  She tossed her robe aside, pulled back the covers, and crawled into bed.

"Who were you talking to downstairs?  I heard voices," Remus asked taking a sip of his cocoa.

"Roarke popped in for a moment."

"What did she need?" He took a larger drink.

"Just to talk."

"I would have come down if you asked me, Katie love."  He took one last drink and set the mug on the nightstand next to the bed. 

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Remus, but sometimes a girl just needs to talk to her mother.  You know, girl talk."  She snuggled up against him and kissed his cheek.

"Girl talk?  Oh dear.  Don't tell me some beast of a man is breaking my little girl's heart."

Katie laughed and wrapped her arms around him.  "I don't think she's at that stage just yet." 

Remus turned his face to hers.  "I can understand her not wanting to talk to me about it, but just promise to warn me if this goes badly."

"And what if it goes very well?" Katie asked, raising her eyebrows.

"You're right.  You'd better warn me about that, too."

Katie smuggled closer to him and kissed him deeply.  "Consider yourself warned."

8:00 am that same morning

Roarke Apparated outside Liam's door and knocked lightly.  She waited for a while before knocking again.  She heard the click of the lock and placed a firm smile on her face as the door opened. 

Liam looked at her through squinted, tired eyes.  He wasn't wearing a shirt, only loosely fitting sleep pants.  His hair stuck up at all angles, and a thick stubble covered his chin.  "What are you doing here?"

Roarke's smile fell.  "Now that's twice this morning someone's said that to me.  Whatever happened to a simple 'Good morning, Roarke'?"

"Good morning, Roarke," he mocked.  "What are you doing here?"

"Fine, if you don't want my company…"

Liam groaned, "Good lord.  I'm tired, I ache, and you expect me to be charming?  I only opened the door because I knew it was you.  Now will you please tell me why you felt the need to wake me up at such an ungodly hour?"

"It's eight o'clock.  That's not ungodly."

Liam rolled his eyes and retreated back into his flat.  "I'm lying down.  You can come in if you want."

Roarke followed Liam for a moment until she realized he was heading for his bed.  Liam stopped just inside his bedroom to turn and face her.  "What's wrong?"

"You're going back to bed?"

Liam looked at her incredulously.  "I'm not even going to answer that."

"It's just that I brought you something."

"Did you bring my robe back?" he asked, crawling into bed. 

"No, I forgot."  She blushed at the memory of wearing his robes home the other evening, and reminded herself to take her own clothes back home with her.  She glanced down at the potion in her hands and returned to the purpose of her visit.  "I have something else."

"Just put it on the table.  I'll get to it in a while."

"But I wanted you to have it now," she said from the doorway of his room.

"Then give it to me."  He pulled the covers over his legs and flopped back against the pillow with his eyes shut.

Roarke pursed her lips in contemplation.  He was in bed – and to get to him, she would have to be next to his bed.  After a week of maintaining a relatively safe distance from the bedroom, she wasn't quite sure she was ready to cross the threshold.  Even sitting together on the couch had become dangerous a few times.  After all, two people could very easily fit on a couch together – especially when one was slightly on top of the other one.  They found that out just a few nights ago. 

Roarke blushed at the thought of how mush more comfortable a bed would be.

"You can come in here, you know.  And if you're worried about what happened the other night, I promise you, I'm too tired for that today."

She smiled, amazed at how in tune he was with her.  "I know.  That's partially why I came over."  Without further hesitation, she crossed over to the edge of his bed.  "I have something that I think will make you feel better."  She held out the goblet in front of her, expecting him to take it.  He didn't.

"What is it?" he asked looking up at her.

"Cocoa."

"Right, and what's in the cocoa?"

"Chocolate."

"And…?"

"And…a few other little things that will help you feel better."

Liam closed his eyes again.  "Roarke, I'm not an invalid," Liam whispered. 

She furrowed her brow.  "I never said you were."

"Then why are you bringing me a heal potion?"

"It's not a healing potion.  It's just something to ease the ache and help you sleep."

"I was asleep when you woke me up to give me the potion.  You'll forgive me if I don't see the point."

"The point is that I want to help you!

"By drugging me?"

"It's not a drug."

"Then what's in it?"

"I don't know.  I know it has valerian, but other than that…"

"Rory, the last time I drank something whose ingredients I wasn't too certain about, I ended up being bitten by a werewolf.  So if you can't tell me the exact contents of the potion, I'm not drinking that."

"For Heaven's sake!  My mother made this for my father!  Do you honestly think she would poison him?"

Liam lay very still for a moment.  "You're giving me your father's potion?"  Roarke froze at the seriousness in his eyes.  "You went to your parent's house and brought me the same stuff your mother makes for your father?"  Roarke nodded and Liam sat up articulating his next comment very slowly.  "I am not your father."

"I know that."

"Do you?  Because I seem to hear you comparing us all the time."

"Comparing the condition, yes, but not comparing you as individuals.  I have watched my father take this potion for nearly all my life.  I know that it helps ease whatever discomfort he is feeling."  She placed the cup on his nightstand and continued her rant.  "For some reason that I can't quite fathom, I happen to care about you, and I thought that you might have some pain this morning.  Out of the goodness of my heart, I decided to bring you something that just might help you feel better.  But I see now that I was wrong for assuming that you would even want my help, let alone accept it!"

"Now hang on, just a moment!  I didn't mean to imply that I don't appreciate your help, because I do.  I know that you want to help, but what you don't realize is that I don't want another potion!  I take potions seven days out of the month.  I'm sick of them.  I can never learn to adapt to this curse if I kept drugging myself up.  And what happens when I go home?  Who's going to bring me a healing potion then?  I certainly am not going to brew them myself.  It would be better if I had never become used to them at all!  That way I won't feel as if I need them."

There was a long silence as they simply stared at one another.  Roarke took in the full weight of his words.  He would be going home – he wanted to go home.  Deeper still was the implication that Roarke wouldn't be with him when he did return home.  Her heart felt very empty at the thought of not having Liam in her life.

"Look," he said very softly, taking her hand in his.  "Just you being here helps me more than you will ever know.  I'm sorry I yelled.  I shouldn't have jumped at you like that.  I'm just tired and cranky."

"It's my fault.  I shouldn't have woken you up so early."

He smiled and pulled her hand to bring her closer.  Without even realizing it, she sat down on the edge of his bed.  "Rory, we've got to stop contradicting each other."

"We don't always contradict – " Roarke stopped, suppressing a laugh.  "All right, so maybe we do."

"May I be allowed to make a peace offering?"  Liam turned and picked up the goblet next to him.  "I'll drink it this time, just for you.  But you have to promise…"  Liam looked into her eyes with such concentration.  She felt that familiar shiver run through her body. 

"Promise what?"

Liam didn't answer her.  He sniffed the potion and took a drink cautiously.  He licked his lips, reflecting on the taste.  "It's good."

A smile formed on Roarke's face.  "You like it?"

"Tastes like hot chocolate."

"That's the point.  Now what do I need to promise you?"

He took another drink and set the goblet off to the side again.  He took her hand and stroked his thumb over the back of it soothingly.  "That you'll stay here until I fall asleep." 

"I have to be to work at nine."

"So stay until then."  He brushed her hair away from her face, resting his hand on her neck. 

She touched the hand on her neck with her own and brought it to her lips.  "Ok," she said though a kiss.  She looked up at Liam to find his eyes glued to her face.  Boldly, she leaned into him and kissed him tenderly on the lips.  Liam sighed and dropped back against the bed.  Roarke fell with him, placing her hand on his chest for support.

When the kiss ended, Liam's eyes remained closed.  Roarke sat up and stroked his arm affectionately until she was certain he was asleep.  She kissed his cheek one more time before Disapparating.