AN Think of this kind of as a story within a story. Draco and Remy deserve their share of the limelight too. A big thanks to Amanda for betaing this for me!

Chapter 3: My Secret Heart

OH, WHY YOU LOOK SO SAD?
TEARS ARE IN YOUR EYES
COME ON AND COME TO ME NOW
DON'T BE ASHAMED TO CRY
LET ME SEE YOU THROUGH
'CAUSE I'VE SEEN THE DARK SIDE TOO
WHEN THE NIGHT FALLS ON YOU
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
NOTHING YOU CONFESS
COULD MAKE ME LOVE YOU LESS

I'LL STAND BY YOU
I'LL STAND BY YOU
WON'T LET NOBODY HURT YOU
I'LL STAND BY YOU

SO IF YOU'RE MAD, GET MAD
DON'T HOLD IT ALL INSIDE
COME ON AND TALK TO ME NOW
HEY, WHAT YOU GOT TO HIDE?
I GET ANGRY TOO
WELL I'M A LOT LIKE YOU
WHEN YOU'RE STANDING AT THE CROSSROADS
AND DON'T KNOW WHICH PATH TO CHOOSE
LET ME COME ALONG
'CAUSE EVEN IF YOU'RE WRONG

I'LL STAND BY YOU
I'LL STAND BY YOU
WON'T LET NOBODY HURT YOU
I'LL STAND BY YOU
TAKE ME IN, INTO YOUR DARKEST HOUR
AND I'LL NEVER DESERT YOU
I'LL STAND BY YOU

AND WHEN...
WHEN THE NIGHT FALLS ON YOU, BABY
YOU'RE FEELING ALL ALONE
YOU WON'T BE ON YOUR OWN

I'LL STAND BY YOU
I'LL STAND BY YOU
WON'T LET NOBODY HURT YOU

I'LL STAND BY YOU
TAKE ME IN, INTO YOUR DARKEST HOUR
AND I'LL NEVER DESERT YOU
I'LL STAND BY YOU
I'LL STAND BY YOU
WON'T LET NOBODY HURT YOU
I'LL STAND BY YOU
WON'T LET NOBODY HURT YOU
I'LL STAND BY YOU

Lyrics from "I'll Stand By You" By the Pretenders.

I watched Remy sleeping in the moonlight. It was hard to believe that I had a lover…not just some one-night-stand or boyfriend. Meeting Remus was like finding out that there was another side of myself. He awakened all of the things that I had told myself weren't important. For the first time, I had to face all of my fears of loneliness and abandonment, of being rejected, of being found lacking in some way. He let me bare my soul to him, and banished all of the worst demons in me. I just wished that I could do the same for him.

It wasn't long after I met Remy that I realized that he was not as happy as he seemed. Despite his smile, I knew that he sometimes feels lost. Those amber eyes of his tell me that there are things that he hadn't told me yet. I saw the scars on his arm and knew that he was lying to me every time I asked about them.

We were sitting on his porch sipping some of his favorite tea when I saw them for the first time. At first, I was shocked. They cut in deep starting at his wrist and working their way up to his elbow. Whatever happened must have been extremely painful, and it hurt me to think that he had felt something like that. But when I asked, he merely shook his head, and told me: "It happened a long time ago. You weren't even born yet. There's no point talking about it now." Since then, he's managed to dodge the question quite nicely. In my heart, I know that it has something to do with Sirius.

Sirius—there is a name that could jolt me from my happy little dreams. If I could have never heard that name again, I'd be happy. I hated him even thought I had never met him. The picture of the three of them sitting on our dresser is enough to drive me mad. I'd studied it when Remus wasn't around. First, my eyes would always land on Remy standing in the middle. He had definitely gotten sexier with age, I decided. Then I would look to James and marvel at how he looked exactly like Harry. Last, I loathingly looked at the handsome black haired boy beside Remus. He was gorgeous, and Idearly hoped that he had gotten fat and bald over the years. I didn't know why MY Remy would devote his life to such an ass. I had heard tales of the bastard and his fuck ups since I got here. What could Remus have seen in him?

That night as I lay in bed staring at Remus, I wondered about all these things. I gently touched his cheek. He was so wonderful to me that I sometimes couldn't believe he was real.

"Mmm," he groaned as he rolled over and pulled me tight to him. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"How could I sleep with you snoring like that?" I teased.

He laughed. "I'm not the one who snores, little one."

"I do not," I claimed indignantly.

"You do," he said kissing my forehead. "And it's adorable."

I bit my lip. "Remus, are you happy with me?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course, I'm happy with you. I love you, Draco."

I shook my head. I never doubted that he loved me. "That's not what I asked. Do I make you happy?"

"You do," he answered seriously. "Now what is this all about?"

Sighing, I snuggled against his chest. "Nothing really. I was just thinking, that's all."

"Then I suggest you stop it and go to sleep." He began drifting back into his slumber before I even had time to protest.

The next morning, we both slept in and we were rushing around getting ready for work. At least we can't get fired, I though wryly as we got into Remy's black Escalade. Working at Zora's with Remy could have been the death knell in our relationship, if we both didn't love it so much, and Remus wasn't infinitely patient. Even when I've made a culinary blunder, he'd aken the time to help me fix it. I never thought I'd actually enjoy my career.

Ellen met us at the door with her usual scowl in place. "I'm not having it anymore, Remus! I'm not!"

Remus rubbed his temples. "Calm down, and we can fix this situation."

"I want him out of here and I want him out of here NOW!" she said pointing to the kitchen. There was no need to ask who "he" was.

"Now, Ellen, Alexander is the best head chef we've had in years. Can't we try and mend fences?" Remy asked gently.

"No. He is absolutely the worst sleeze bag I've met since you brought Sirius here. I won't sit back and let him harass the staff anymore, and I will NOT listen to one more crass comment out of his mouth." She would have continued, I think, but a tall Latin man appeared in the door.

"You won't have to, you old bitch. I quit!"

I rolled my eyes as I watched him storm out of Zora's. I hated to say it, but I wasn't sorry in the least to see him go. The only downside was that I knew it meant more work for Remy until he could find a replacement for him. Even though he claimed he didn't have the talent for it, he was an excellent chef--far better than Alexander

"Well, looks like my days off to a good start," he murmured.

I smiled at him helplessly. "Things can only get better."

Ellen tapped her foot. "And another thing…."