June 5, 1978
While Remus, Althea and Lily had all thought that going on a vacation especially now was stupid, it didn't surprise any of them when Sirius managed to sway James to his side and convince them all to somewhere. Althea dug her toes into the sand, wrapping her arms around her legs as she watched James and Sirius horsing around in the ocean. That was how they all found themselves on a small island off of the coast of Ireland; it was so small that it didn't show up on any maps and the only person that had known about it had been Dumbledore. Honestly, Althea wasn't even surprised that Dumbledore had agreed with Sirius and practically ordered them to go on a vacation.
She would admit that it was nice to get away from the stresses in England, yet at the same time she felt guilty because everyone else was still having to deal with it. She still appreciated the thought and it was nice to hang out with just the Marauders (sans Peter) and Lily. As expected, Peter had declined to go on the vacation saying that he had other work to do and while Althea did find it quite odd (she had never thought the boy was particularly hard-working) nobody questioned it and just wished him well in whatever he was doing. The sun was shining brightly high in the sky, and Althea looked down at her arms. She hoped that she didn't burn.
At her side, Lily groaned closing the book that she had been reading. "Where's Remus?" Lily asked, turning to said man's girlfriend.
Althea shrugged, "How am I supposed to know?" She looked around, "I'd bet that he's getting us something to drink."
"You'd bet right," a voice said from behind the two girls causing both Lily and Althea to jump. Remus smiled handing Lily and Althea glasses of lemonade. "I was bored while horsing around with Sirius and James and it doesn't look like they are going to stopping anytime soon."
He settled beside Althea on the sand and she happily curled into his side, taking a sip of her lemonade. "They are just like children, aren't they?" she murmured, flushing as Remus's arm wrapped around her bare waist.
"I suppose," Lily agreed hesitatingly. "Remind me why I like James again?"
"No idea," Althea chirped.
"I suppose it could be due to the fact that he eventually wore you down after asking you out nearly every day for at least five years," Remus quipped. He shrugged his shoulders, "But really, who knows?"
Lily shook her head with a smile. "Honestly, not all of us can get together like the two of you did." At their blank looks she elaborated, "Being friends first and then becoming a couple."
"Isn't that what people should normally do?" Althea looked at Lily quizzically. "If anything, you and James are the abnormal ones."
Remus barked out a laugh, tugging Althea closed to his side, his thumb absently rubbing circles into the skin at her waist and causing a delighted flush to spread up the girl's neck and across her cheeks. Lily huffed out an irritated breath, watched the two fondly for a moment and then returned to reading her book. Althea smiled, sipping contentedly at her lemonade as the trio watched James and Sirius horsing around. While, she still didn't think that the vacation was the best idea and she felt bad that no one else could come along, she was glad that Sirius had suggested going on a vacation.
Plus, it was nice spending time with Remus without having to worry about him leaving on a mission or her leaving on a mission. It would be nice to relax for a few days, and spend time with the people that were quickly becoming her family.
"Remus!" James shouted, waving over to the werewolf and his girlfriend. "Come on!"
"Yeah Moony! Have some fun!" Sirius cheered, trying to goad him into leaving Althea.
Remus glanced down at Althea, who was watching him carefully. She could see that truthfully, he didn't want to go. From the way, his grip tightened on her waist, she knew that he'd much rather sit here with her and relax but he also wanted to spend time with his friends. She smiled, brushing a kiss across his jaw her smile widening when she his eyes dilate and darken. Althea watched him carefully, and ducked her head when he shook his head and James and Sirius began to whine quite loudly. Remus didn't answer, instead electing to ignore them as he turned his attention back to his girlfriend.
She grinned up at Remus, "Are you sure you don't want to shove James and Sirius into the water?"
"I can always do that later," Remus answered. "We're going to be here for three more days."
"If you say so."
He didn't answer, just merely rolled his eyes before leaning closer and pressing a kiss to her forehead. Althea glanced toward the ocean where James and Sirius were still roughhousing. She was pleased that James and Lily had gotten together, and she was also happy that her and Remus were still together but she worried a little bit for Sirius. She wanted him to find someone, and she always felt a little bad because he was always surrounded by couples. Lightly, Remus stroked his fingers against the skin of her arms drawing Althea's thoughts away from Sirius and back to the man sitting beside her.
Althea sipped her lemonade, eyeing Remus. His hair had grown longer since school had ended and he seemed to have filled out a little more, but physical changes aside he was still her Remus. She still wanted to be more than just his girlfriend, but she wasn't going to push him. Althea knew that he was still insecure about being a werewolf and she didn't want to push him into something that he wasn't ready for. For now, being his girlfriend was good enough for her. Remus leaned closer to her and she tilted her face up, fighting back a smile as his lips brushed against hers in a chaste kiss.
The kiss wasn't chaste for long. He squeezed her waist, causing her to gasp and quickly deepened the kiss. She was briefly aware that his lips were slightly chapped, but the thought was soon banished from her mind as he pushed her back onto the sand, coming to hover over her on his forearms his lips never once parting from hers. The empty glass fell from her hands into the sand. With her hands now free, Althea twined her arms around Remus's neck holding him close to her. His hands brushed against the soft skin of her stomach and sides, causing goosebumps to dance over her skin and she shivered.
Remus chuckled against her mouth, his thumb stroking the soft skin of her stomach. A flush crawled up her cheeks, and reluctantly she broke the kiss looking away from Remus. He frowned, brushing a kiss across her cheek and trying to coax her into looking at him. Her stomach had always been a sensitive spot for her; it had always been just a little bit pudgy and while she knew Remus didn't mean any harm it caused her to feel self-conscious, something that he seemed to pick up on.
"Thea," Remus groaned, lips trailing from her cheek to the corner of her mouth. "Look at me." She pouted, her eyes darting to him questioningly before just as quickly looking away. "Tell me what's wrong," he coaxed, his hand brushing teasingly against her stomach. She tensed and he sighed. "Is it your stomach?"
No answer.
"Thea," he sighed.
Finally, she muttered, "Yes."
"Don't be self-conscious," he lightly scolded her, rolling off of her. He glanced at her, his eyes showing his displeasure. "You're beautiful." He turned his attention to the sky. "You keep telling me to not be self-conscious because I'm a werewolf, so don't be self-conscious because of your appearance."
Althea sighed, sitting up and staring at Remus but he didn't look at her. She had to admit that he did have a point. She really should take her own advice. With that thought in mind, she crawled over to him, straddling his hips. Instinctively his hands rose, holding onto her waist as if he was trying to keep her balanced.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
A small, crooked half-smile appeared on his face then. "You don't have anything to be sorry for. I just wish that you wouldn't doubt yourself."
"I'm working on it," she said with a smile. Her eyes softened and she leaned closer to him, "Love you."
"I love you too."
For the remainder of the day, the two remained on the beach talking about whatever they wished. Eventually, Lily, James and Sirius headed into the beach house but Remus and Althea stayed outside even as darkness began to fall. It was only until after the sun had set, that the two decided to head inside. The two slowly clambered to their feet, and headed to the beach house which looked to be dark and silent. Remus squeezed her hand, and she grinned stepping closer to him as he pushed open the screen door. She slowly slipped into the house, letting out a squeak when suddenly all of the lights flickered on revealing James, Sirius, and Lily. In the center of the dining room was a table with only two places set, candles and rose petals. It was a little too cliché but it succeeded in making the whole atmosphere a romantic feel.
Remus's hand at her back, startled her into action and on shaky limbs she moved forward, her eyes darting toward James, Sirius and Lily but the expressions on their faces gave nothing away.
"Remus, what is going on?" Althea asked, sitting hesitantly at the table. She felt far too underdressed in just her swimsuit.
He smiled, his eyes glimmering playfully. "It was supposed to be a secret, but you don't really like secrets. So, I guess the cat is out of the bag so to speak."
"Stop with the Muggle phrases and just tell me what's going on," she laughed, smiling at him.
The smile quickly faded, to be replaced by a stunned and hopeful look when he knelt beside her digging something out of his swimming trunks. Her eyes fell on the velvet box in his hand and her eyes widened, when he opened it revealing a ring.
"Originally, my plan was to ask you while you were reading. But, Lily and James found out and they insisted that I try to make it something spectacular and romantic," Remus murmured with a good-natured glare in the direction of his closest friends. "Anyways, that isn't important. You've been my best friend for a long time, Thea, and I love spending time with you. I'm a monster…I'm a werewolf and you still accepted me for who I was. You don't fear me, even though I am nothing but a monster and I find it hard to imagine life without you." At the end of his speech his cheeks were bright red. "Will you marry me?"
"Of course I will, Remmy," Althea murmured her voice soft as she stared at him.
He slid the ring onto her finger, but her eyes never left his. The calm, euphoric happy atmostphere was interrupted by James and Sirius whooping, and Lily letting out a sheer scream.
"Congratulations!" The redhead shot forward, tackling Althea into a hug. "So, how does it feel being the future Mrs. Lupin?"
"Give it some time to sink in," Althea scolded her half-heartedly glancing down at the modest ring. She grinned, "But right now it feels pretty great."
"Yay!" Lily squealed.
James laughed, walking forward to pull his overexcited girlfriend away from Remus and his fiancée. "Give them some time to enjoy it, Lily. Let's go. Come on Sirius!"
Then the two were left alone. It was hard for Althea to fight a smile, and Remus's cheeks were still red. But, the dinner was enjoyable and with the absence of their closest friends the awkwardness faded and they began talking as they normally did. There was no hiding how the two of them felt deliriously happy though, or the euphoric feelings coursing through their bodies. Getting married while Voldemort was still terrorizing the wizarding community, perhaps didn't sound like the best idea, but they were going to. If Althea were to die during this war, she didn't want to die as Althea Morgan; she wanted to die as Althea Lupin, Remus Lupin's wife.
"I love you, Remmy."
"I love you too."
This chapter was inspired by Red Velvet's song "Red Flavor". Originally, I never intended for Remus and Althea to get engaged (at least this soon) but before you know it, I had written the scene and I found that I couldn't cut it out because I thought it fit in this chapter. Anyways, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter and feel free to leave a review. Also, in a few days I will be publishing a Hunger Games fanfiction that I've been working on so be on the look out for that as well.