I know I made these chapters a bit shorter than usual... but I believe they needed to be by themselves as scenes and chapters more than most. I hope you are enjoying the suspense!

xoxo

"You will never want for anything. I promise you will always be the most important woman in our lives. Just please come back. Please. We don't know how to work right without you," Remus's voice was hitched as tears ran down his face.

The werewolf was sitting in a chair next to her bedside and Sirius was his furry companion, his face across the werewolf's lap for comfort. The dog was whining and Remus squeezed her hand as he sobbed. They were at St. Mungo's and have been for three days. Christmas was tomorrow and the full moon was the following day.

Harry ran Teddy back to Andromeda's and explained what happened. Hermione saved Teddy's life. There was no safe way of casting anything on the boy, no safe way to cross the vast pond in time. She did what she had to.

The Marauders were nothing short of devastated. They didn't protect her. Their Trills. Sirius had not left being a dog since they got to the hospital. It was too painful for Moony to feel both their sadness and easier for Sirius to deal with his own as a canine.

"Please, Hermione, I am begging you," Remus whimpered and kissed her hand.

Sirius raised his head enough to lick hers and Remus's hand. Remus stroked him with his free hand and the dog rested his head again.

Molly and Arthur came in with blankets and hot cocoa. "Remus, Sirius, here, get some warmth," Arthur told the boys and Molly tucked the maroon and gold blankets around the two marauders, running her hands through Remus's hair and patting Sirius's head. Arthur handed Remus the cup of hot chocolate which he gazed up at them forlorn.

"What if she doesn't come out of it?" The werewolf's eyes were brimming with fresh tears.

Molly ran her hand through his hair, "she will, Remus. She has to," Molly tried to comfort him but he cried harder.

That was one of the topics of conversations had at dinner tonight. The mother and father felt so sorry for the Marauders and their plight and Christmas eve dinner was very lackluster this year. Harry and George had immediately offered up themselves to become animagi for the marauders if it came down to it.

No one outwardly said it, but Ron was being blamed for a good bulk of this. Couldn't the dunderhead make sure a door was shut around a toddler?

Arthur took a seat in the chair closest to Remus, "Son, you have to eat." He told the werewolf.

"I can't," Remus breathed and Molly hugged him.

"Hermione would be out of sorts if you did not try to eat. I brought you dinner, dear." She patted his shoulder and bent down to the dog. "You too, dear. She would be so upset if you did not try to eat something."

Sirius grumbled and stood, pushing himself into Remus. He made the werewolf let go of Hermione's hand and sit back in the chair. The dog nipped gently at the werewolf's neck and licked his face. "Alright, I will," Remus told his pack mate and Sirius climbed off of him.

When Remus stood up, Sirius reappeared as himself and wiped the werewolf's face. "I am sorry, mate. I haven't been the best caretaker these last few days." Sirius whispered and the werewolf hugged him.

They nuzzled each other's necks a moment or two before releasing and sitting at the table. "Good, now you boys are going to eat a nice dinner. I even brought some chocolate cake." Molly declared and left the room only to bring in a few large bags.

The dishes started to appear on the table and Sirius pushed down his sadness so he could help take care of his wounded friend. It was a bugger of a time to lose a pack mate, even if she was just not recovered yet. He started to push food at Remus and force him to engage. "Moony, come on. I am telling you, you must eat." Sirius growled and Remus tilted his head to the animagus.

He did indeed start to eat after that. He needed someone to step up and Sirius would have to, in despair over a loss or not. Moony needed him. They had each other to lick wounds for. They needed to stay together. The lone wolf dwindles while the pack survives.

"Thank you, Molly, Arthur," Remus mumbled.

"Mum and Dad," Arthur corrected him and Sirius smiled lightly.

"Thank you, Mum and Dad," Sirius repeated and the Weasley's nodded.

While the boys ate their food, the mother fussed with Hermione. She brushed out her hair and fixed her pillows. Arthur passed the two marauders a flask and they did not reject it as they sipped it and handed it to each other while they ate. Once her blankets were straightened, Molly went over to the boys while they finished. She fixed their clothes and gave them kisses on their foreheads.

The plates were emptied and no surprise, they ate every bite. "Good, I knew you were hungry. Now, there's a slice of cake right here for each of you. You need to come home for Christmas dinner tomorrow." Molly told them and Remus stared at her with big eyes.

Arthur cleared his throat, "that isn't a request, Remus. You are expected at dinner tomorrow. You can come right back here after, but you must be there."

Sirius reached over and patted Remus's shoulder, "just the dinner. We can come right back." He reassured him and the werewolf nodded.

Molly set out the cake and the marauders ate it, Remus gave her a small smile, "Thank you, Mum, this is delicious." He told her and she smiled and gave him a nod.

"Of course, chocolate is the best medicine." She declared and he gave her a nod.

The chocolate cake was devoured and Molly took the plates away and tucked the bags by the door. Arthur got up and transfigured the chairs into a nice bed in the corner of the room by Hermione's bed. He grabbed a few extra pillows and placed them on it and patted the bed. "Alright, boys. Come get some sleep and we will come check on you in the morning." He told them and Sirius stood and changed into his canine self.

Remus walked over, suddenly very depleted and crawled on the bed. Molly grabbed the abandoned blankets and brought them over, tucking Remus in. Sirius jumped up next to him and curled into the werewolf. Arthur put the other blanket around the large dog and nodded. "Good night my boys," Molly whispered.

"Good night," Remus declared, his eyes heavy.

Molly shut off the light as she left the room with her husband and bags in hand. Remus ran his fingers through Sirius's fur and nuzzled him. "Happy Christmas, Padfoot. Happy Christmas, Trills." He breathed and the dog murmured before sleep took them.