Author's Note: Naturally we all know that I have no ownership whatsoever of Harry Potter and his fellow wizarding mates, or of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Original characters are mine.

Thank you Trickster32 for your review. Nope, they won't give up easily.

Chapter Seventeen

Words

"What are you thinking?"

Remus felt his husband's arms snaking around his waist and drawing closer to him.

"Whether what we're doing is the right thing to do," Remus says.

It was the very next morning, day after their daughters' birthday, all was still very quiet, possible indication on some were either still sleeping, or if awake quietly just lying where they were or sitting up doing a quiet activity.

"Hmm, doubts are normal," says Severus reasonably.

"You're taking this well," said Remus, turning his head a little, just seeing the outline of his other half from his peripheral vision.`

"Because you and I both know the girls, while still not being exposed to the wizarding world because of the ironclad protection we placed on them, where even if people learn of them, they still won't be able to touch them."

Remus rests his head back down, feeling a soft pair of lips on the back of his neck, doing a pretty good at comforting him.

"That's just it, people do know of them," he points out.

"True, but they haven't ever seen them, now have they?"

"Well... no... you won't take them to Hogwarts with you, even for a day visit, because of the obvious. I won't take them to Diagon Alley or anywhere else that could cause people to figure out who they are within the community, putting even more risk on to them," Remus counts off what they have done in the past. "But this is still causing unease."

"I believe that it's your fatherly nerves talking, you know that this is a risk worth taking," Severus says, tracing a finger along Remus's ear.

"And yours aren't?"

"Oh, they are, trust me on that," said Severus. "Considering that they have been attending since they were just over three years old, because it was what was recommended and needed. We knew that this was the possible chance to happen."

"I'm still not sure about it, Sev," Remus exhales.

"Hey," Severus gets Remus to look at him, "All they're going to be doing is dancing and acting on a stage in front of other parents and guests. They're not exactly promoting a blockbuster or a smash hit."

"Oh, since you put it that way!" Remus says amused on how devoted Severus was to this whole thing now, compared to how he was when it was first suggested that the girls may fully benefit from going into dancing or acting classes for kids their age.

While it was a little disheartening that their friends, the Turtles, wouldn't get the same opportunity as Freya and Athena, the Turtles, (and Apollo) were willing participants in helping the girls develop their skills better, which in turn actually helped their own Ninjitsu skills. Seemed that dancing and, plausible acting, and Ninjitsu went hand in hand.

Severus was once against the very suggestion of having the inkling chance of having them seen, even by Muggles, though it was Minerva McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey who both recommended it, given the girls seemed to have this energy that needed some containment, or need for some confidence building. But once he saw that the two women were right to have recommended the few selected schools that had minimal chance of the Wizard Ministry, regardless of where the school was located, being able penetrate, and most of seeing how the girls were enjoying it, he warmed to it more and more to where he looking forward to this recital that the girls were both given roles to do.

Not that they hadn't had any roles before, but this was the first time Athena and Freya were getting a little more stage time.

"Yes, well, Alice in Wonderland was one of my favourites growing up," Severus admits.

"Who knew you'd be into Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum," Remus quips, knowing full well he was baiting.

Severus wasn't stupid, he knew what his husband was doing, but played right into it anyway, just taking it to his own advantage.

"Mmm, more into the Mad Hatter than anyone, as he reminds me of a particular, charming, extra talented tea and beverage maker I know too well," he purrs, kissing deeply and creeping a hand down.

"Are you saying I'm like the Mad Hatter?" Remus coos in return.

"Well, you're certainly not The Queen of Hearts."

"No, that'd be more you."

"Woo, I'll teach you a little respect, my dear Hatter!" Severus says with deep amusement, as found his target, Remus let out this soft deep throated sound.

It had taken a good amount of healing and just as much support to help get Severus to where he was now, the confident man Remus knew was deep and buried within, especially when he remembered this side to him from back in Hogwarts, little bits of him during their time in their cell in EWA and not long after their daughters were born. Somewhere along the way of the fucked up hurdles they've faced, that side ebbed away to not being there as much, or at all.

Remus loved Severus deeply, he knew that he had his lapses, still had the occasional nightmare, but this is what he enjoyed the most. Being playful, taking turns in either being equal, dominate or submissive during their intimate moments, such as now, where Severus had the slightly upper hand at this moment, roughly, yet gently, fondling him.

Remus also knew how strongly Severus loved and cherished him in return. Rejecting and ignoring any and all suggestions of leaving the man who had helped him so much, truly respected him as a person and gladly shared the equal role of rearing their daughters. Some people in the Wizarding world just didn't, nor wanted to, understand as to why two completely different men, from just as different Houses, would want to stick with each other. Didn't matter on whatever rumoured, or factual, reasons on how they became as pair. A belief that Severus could do so much better than the low class, no job keeping ruffian that was Remus Lupin.

Severus usually didn't say anything in return, unless he had to. But he did, at times, let his powers do that talking for him. The most funniest was when Lucius Malfoy copped a mysterious rogue snowball to the face when he went to walk away after one particular nasty insult that was delivered toward Remus. Followed by a sudden ambush of even more throw themselves snowballs where Malfoy was near on buried, Severus just turned and walked away, pretending he didn't notice.

"Severus," Remus mutters, as he felt himself being coaxed right on to his back.

"Mmm? Yes, my dear Hatter?"

"As much as I want us to continue, my dear Queen," earning him a slightly extra tighter, but just as endearing squeeze, "we really ought to get up and out of bed and start getting ready."

Severus gave this look of, 'do we have to stop?' which Remus chuckle, as he shared the similar to same feeling.

Just then the door burst open, really making the two separate as quickly as possible before either one of their daughters saw what they've been up to.

"Morning Daddy and Dad! Can we have pancakes?" Freya asks, completely oblivious to what she and Athena had just barged in on, as they hurried over to spring on to the bed and hug their fathers.

"One way to kill the mood," Severus mutters under breath.

Remus just pats his husband's shoulder with some form of amused sympathy.

"Is everyone else up?" he then asks them.

"Everyone, except Kimika, she went back to sleep, as she seems to do a lot," said Athena.

"Okay, we will be down very shortly. Do make sure you have everything ready for us going to the recital, though," said Remus.

"Okay," said the girls, quickly giving each of their fathers an extra hug before scooting on off the bed and out of the room.

"Now... where were we?" Severus turns back to instant purr.

"Get up and out of bed," Remus laughs, bopping Severus lightly with a pillow.

"I had to try."

"We can play Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts later, right now we have a pair of Alices who need to get to their recital."

Remus was quick off the bed before Severus could get him back, (playfully) for the Queen of Hearts remark.

"Off with your head!" Severus banters.

"Go suck on one!"

That got Severus charging right off and after Remus right into the bathroom, catching up to him, pinning him against the shower wall.

"If you say so... Mad Hatter!"

###

"Too bad the others couldn't be here," Athena says, a little sad in knowing Splinter and the rest couldn't join the Lupin-Snape family for the girls' recital at their acting, dancing and music school's auditorium.

"You know why they couldn't. But we know that this is being recorded for the families of the participants to the play... musical... whatever this is meant to be," said Remus.

"Musical play?" Severus supplies, shaking his head a little.

"Uh, there you are!" said the Head Dance Teacher, Ms Yulia Vetrova, comes on over when she saw them entering the prep area of the backstage.

"We're not late are we?" Remus asks.

"No, no, plenty of time to get Freya and Athena ready in their complete costumes and remember what they need to do," said Ms Vetrova, assuredly, as she and the two fathers allowed a couple of the School assistant teachers to take the girls away to get ready. "No, I needed to have a bit of a word with you in regard to the girls and their continuum within the school."

"They're not in trouble are they?"

Ms Vetrova shook her head. "No, they're among a handful of promising students who will be continuing on after this concert recital, that is why I wanted to ask to see whether you might consider allowing us to see have they have any potential in attending auditions for various roles in real commercials, shows or other that may fit their suitability."

"But they've only just turned five, is that even possible or allowed?" Severus did his best to keep calm on this.

"You will be amazed on how many children start off as no more than just babies."

"We'll think about it!" Remus speaks up before Severus could comment. "Especially if we have a little more information."

Ms Vetrova spoke with full understanding, something two fathers have picked up that this was something she encountered a lot when it comes to promoting the idea of path suggestions for the students of her school. "Of course, it was something that I believe was worth mentioning now to discuss a little later and provide the greater details of the possibilities. There is no pressure, whatsoever, here, I don't believe in forcing a child into something they may not be comfortable with, but I will always suggest it if there is a chance they might be, your two daughters might have that will, they might not. The decision is ultimately yours, but I do think talking it over with Freya and Athena would be a good idea, those two are a heck smarter than people seem to give them credit for, for a pair of just turned five year olds."

The mentioned compliment pleased the two fathers.

"I'll let you get to your seats and enjoy the productions, and will see to try and get in a meeting date and time either afterward or tomorrow."

"Thank you," said Remus, encouraging his partner to come along and not start anything that might draw attention.

"Please tell me you aren't seriously considering allowing it?" Severus mutters quietly, in French.

"Right now, I am not going to have us discuss it, as it'll only get you more worked up than necessary, and we're yet to learn of the bigger details with Yulia," Remus replies just as quietly, also in fluent French.

"But... exposure...?"

"Again, we can talk about it after this, can we just find our seats and enjoy our daughters' version of Alice in Wonderland?"

Thankfully once the show started, Severus was able to be distracted by the whole notion of their daughters' faces being shown in public. Well... more so than they were now that is.

While the audience all thought that Alice was being played by the same girl, Remus and Severus knew who was who the moment they stepped out to take over from the other when their double walked off.

Freya and Athena were identical as ever, but they still had their differences in the eyes and also the shading of their hair now that they're getting older. Freya still had the darker flecks within her blue eyes, compared to Athena's amber and violet flecks against blue, (not that one can tell from the audience of course), but the hair, that was the more telling if people knew how to look more closely. Both were darkish blonde, though Athena's was few shades lighter in the blonde, compared to Freya's seeming to lean more toward darker.

However, they were identical wigs, dresses and everything for their shared role as Alice. So, for Severus and Remus, it was simply just knowing who was who, more in the tone and mannerisms of which "Alice" was on stage. Freya had a little bit of a cheek in her stride, especially in the scene with the Mad Hatter and Marsh Hare, where she had the audience laughing with delight 'accidentally' pouring the tea on the boy who was playing Mad Hatter, thankfully nothing was in the actual pot, but the concept was enough. Whereas Athena really made people pour their blooming hearts out in the Alice getting upset in the woods scene, where she was lost and wanting to go home.

When the curtain was closed and the applause came, Freya and Athena hand in hand walked out with the rest of the cast of characters grinning from ear to ear, surprising a number of people who hadn't caught on that there were two.

Ms Vetrova ushers the children to the prep area where everyone held it together until that point where excitement over a job well done was felt.

"We have to celebrate!" said one of the girls, an eight year old who played the White Rabbit. "My parents are holding a big party at their place for everyone who was in the production."

"That sounds like fun!" Freya speaks out with enthusiasm.

But the girl looks at her, smile wiping from her face.

"You wouldn't want to go, Freya," she says.

"Why not? You said everyone who was in the play!" Freya frowns.

The girl does her best to be nice. "My family don't allow people like you to associate with us."

"What do you mean people like us?"

"People who live in sin..."

"Huh?" Athena now frowns with confusion. "What is sin?"

"You're living without a mother, and your so called fathers should be ashamed of themselves for exposing you to the filth they do."

Before either twin could respond to this;

"Christina!"

"Oh, hi Mother," 'Christina' grins at the sight of her mother.

The girl's mother was an ultra skinny woman with the same platinum blonde coloured hair as Christina had walked in and went right over to where the children were.

"Mother, these are the twins I've told you about, Freya and Athena," she says.

"The ones who stole your rightful role as Alice, you mean?" Christina's mother's piercing eyes goes upon Freya and Athena, who didn't know what to think or do, feeling rather intimidated, even Freya, who was the more bolder of the pair.

"We didn't steal anything," Athena then says in a quiet tone.

Christina's mother shakes her head. "Yulia is losing her marbles for letting Faggots to allow their disgusting sinful bastards into her school."

"Mrs Fields? Nice to see you again!" said Ms Vetrova, she had been sidetracked in chatting with one of the stage hands in what needed to be done, so didn't get to catch any of the words that were said.

Mrs Fields turns around and sees the Principal and owner, flashing a rather toothy grin.

"Yulia!" she says pleasantly. "I just came by to pick up Christina and to congratulate you on a job well done!"

Ms Vetrova blushes a little. "It wasn't all on me, it was the wonderful talents and hard work of the students of this school. I just help guide them, along with my respected crew of assistants."

"And my Christina was a real gem out there, wasn't she?"

"She did a very top notch job, yes," the Principal nods with small agreement. "I can see her being ready for the slightly more advanced classes in a few more months."

Mrs Fields didn't seem to look as though she liked this; "Surely she's ready for auditions for something more than just given more advanced classes? I mean... I overheard you talking to what are their names? The parents to those two," flicking a hand toward the still utterly confused twins, "if you can call them parents about moving them on to such an opportunity my Christina should have more qualification and much more deserving?"

Ms Vetrova does her best to maintain her poise. "I am willing to discuss this at a later time, Delilah," she says.

Freya and Athena both lit up when they saw their fathers and rushed right over to them.

Both their fathers had noticed something was off.

"What's wrong?" Severus asks, getting to their level.

But neither of the two spoke a word, unsure how to even voice what just happened.

Ms Vetrova goes over to the family of four.

"Ready to discuss what we spoke about earlier? Or would it be best to schedule a different, more suitable, time?" she asks.

Remus looks at Severus, wanting him to respond.

'Gee put me on the spot!" Severus telepathically sends to his partner, before answering Ms Vetrova. "We can discuss the suggestions you've made now if you are able."

With that the family of four were led to Ms Vetrova's office.

Freya and Athena both saw fingers and eyes pointing and looking at them, not just from Christina and her mother, but from those who were clearly friends with the two.

"Is everything okay?" Remus asks, seeing that the girls were still standing where they were, not following, he swept over to where they were looking, only to see that none of the fingers were being pointed at them, nor eyes directed at them.

"I guess..." was all Athena could say, still not understanding why.