A/N: I'm so sorry for the long wait. Real Life got crazy on a whole new level for me. Just...WOW...that about sums up how crazy it got in the last few days since I last posted. I've learned that apparently you can't trust all your friends. Kind of crazy, no? Anyway, there are five more chapters after this one so I'm going to try to post one chapter everyday until it's done. A heads up when I originally wrote this & posted I realized that I had put an American holiday (Thanksgiving) in the story but I switched it around a bit so that it makes sense has to why it's there. I needed a reason for everyone to gather together & to have the dramaz come in. So please, I'm aware that Thanksgiving is not celebrated in the UK, just go with it. Thank you all for baring with me with the lack of updates lately & if you ever want to know where I am at on a story hit up my twitter page, link on my profile page. Now on with the story.
Disclaimer: All characters that are from the Harry Potter series, along with locations & other things recognizable to Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling.

Chapter 20

"Remus… Remus is alive?" Severus whispered. He had always wished he could have been closer to the man. He had a feeling if it had not been for James and his stubborn ways it could have happened. James for being a cruel bastard in school, and himself for holding onto the grudge for so long, even after the man died.

"Yes, Severus. When word finally traveled to America that you had not died I decided it was finally time to come out and contact Albus." Remus walked out from behind Albus and saw Hermione on Severus's lap for the first time. "Hermione?" His eyebrow rose in question.

"Oh, Remus. I've missed you so much." Hermione said, but she didn't move herself from Severus's comforting embrace.

"I've missed you too sweetie. But what's this? I thought you were with Ronald?" He was a little concerned. He knew that Severus had a kind side; other wise Lily never would have been a friend with the man for so long. But he never thought that Severus would get over his broken heart enough to fall for another woman. And I sure as hell didn't think it would be for Mia! He thought to himself.

"Ron and I are better as friends. Well, maybe I should say 'were' since he's been a total prat since I told him no to getting married and came out as Severus's girlfriend." She held her hand up when she noticed Remus was going to say something. "Remus, Severus and I have been a couple since the middle of the first semester of my sixth year. Now we're engaged and going to have triplets." She could feel her cheeks heating as she blushed.

"Wow." Remus walked over to the couple as he let the information sink in.

"Remus, when you're done with your reunion with Harry and Teddy, would you come to our chambers. There's something I want to talk to you about." Severus said, not a hint of his usual snarky attitude present.

"That would be nice." As he stopped in front of the bed he held his arms open for a hug from Hermione. She rose to her knees on the bed and hugged him close. "Congratulations know-it-all." He said as he kissed her atop her head, much like her father did when ever she did something that made him proud; which was very often if her habits at Hogwarts was anything to go by.

"Thank you, Remus. Is…" Hermione paused; she didn't know how to ask the question that was burning inside of her. She didn't want to upset the man that was like a father to her when he taught at the school and after she had obliviated her parent's memories.

"No, sweetie she didn't make it. They aren't entirely sure why I did, but they think it has to do with me being a werewolf." He said, he missed his wife very much but he had made peace with it and knew that she would not want him to wallow in despair and he needed to be there for their son.

"Oh, Remus. I'm so sorry." Hermione pulled him into a hug as her tears renewed.

"It's quite alright. She knew the risks of fighting in the war and as long as I am there for our son, she will never be forgotten." He said as he let Severus take her from his arms. He could tell she was exhausted and that she was in good hands with Severus. "I'll come by before dinner."

"That should be fine. It's good to see you, Remus." Severus said as he shook the man's hand before he left. "Alright, love lets get you into bed. You need your rest."

"Yes, I could use a nap." She said behind a yawn. He handed her, her hoodie and then wrapped his arm around her shoulders, keeping her close to him as they walked out of the hospital wing towards their chambers on the first floor where all the other teachers' chambers were.

"I love you, Miss Granger." He said as they walked into the common room and back towards the stairs that led down towards the dungeons. Since he was the Slytherin head of house he still needed to be close to their dorms in case he was needed. Hermione was going to take the Gryffindors but since she was going to be having triplets he knew that she wasn't going to be able to juggle that responsibility just yet. Maybe Remus will take it until she is able to take over, he thought to himself. I'll have to ask him tonight when he stops by.

"I love you too, Professor Snape." Hermione said as she rose up onto her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. Soon they made it to their king size four-poster bed with its sheets pulled down by a house elf, a fire blazing as well. Today the sheets were gold with a deep red down comforter.

Three hours later found Severus, Hermione, Remus, Harry, and Ginny in the common room of the teachers' dorm. Teddy was sleeping in Remus' room. They were hoping to get Teddy use to being in his company. Harry agreed to come on, as the DADA teacher for the fifth years to the seventh years and to also take the classes that Remus was unable to do when the full moon was upon them.

"Oh my god, you're having triplets?" Ginny gasped.

"That was pretty much my reaction as well, Gin." Hermione said. "Why don't we go into my chambers and leave the boys to their talk?" She could tell that Severus wanted to talk about something but didn't want to do it with an audience. She kissed him on the cheek and told him to get them when they were ready to head to the Great Hall for dinner.

"Harry, would you mind going with the girls for a bit?" Severus asked quietly. He was nervous. He wasn't sure how Remus would take this.

"Sure Severus." Harry squeezed the older man's shoulder as he walked by him. Leaving the men sitting across from each other.

"Remus, I want to apologize for how I treated you. If I hadn't held on to that grudge with James for so long and placed it at your feet after his and Lily's death, I think we could have actually been friends." Severus never broke eye contact with the man. He wanted him to know that everything he was saying was true and that he meant it all.

"I accept your apology, but really Severus you have nothing to apologize for. James and Sirius bullied you for so long, I would have been surprised if you were open to more then a colleague relationship when I first worked here. Especially because I never did anything to stop what they did to you." Remus was however surprised that Severus would take this step. He too had thought they would have been good friends if it had not been for James.

They continued to make amends for any transgressions that they had. There wasn't much, which wasn't a surprise to the nosey women that were eavesdropping in the hallway while Harry had excused himself to the restroom. Hermione was happy that he was making a friend his own age. He deserved it and she loved both men. After so much loss and heartbreak they deserved having a friend who could understand what they had and would go through.

"So what was life like in America? And why America?" Severus asked.

"It was rather different. First I was in New York, but that was just… too different and not for me. I like being able to see the stars at night and where I was at the lights from the buildings and the streets were just so bright. Then I lived in South Dakota but the police were starting to poke around after a couple of months of too many dead cows. The last few months I lived in California. I would stay in forests that were vacant during the week of the full moon and then I'd move to another part of the area. Travelers are a little more accepted in that part of the country and state. They are a state with many people that are hikers and mountain climbers and such."

Just then Severus held up a finger and turned his head slightly to the left to listen. The hallway that led to the rooms were behind him, and that just happened to be where Ginny and Hermione were hiding.

"Granger." Severus snapped playfully. "Have you not learned that eavesdropping is rude?"

"Sorry, Professor." Hermione said as she and Ginny walked out from the hallway. Hermione's cheeks red from embarrassment and the memories of him inside her when she screamed out his title.

"Come here, love." He held his hand out for her, and then pulled her into his lap after she took his hand. "Remus I have something to ask you." He said as he turned his attention back to the man sitting across from him. "I was wondering if you would be one of my groom's men?" Hermione turned her head towards Severus in shock. She never expected him to ask that of the man. "Draco's my best man and Harry accepted to be one of my groom's men this morning."

"I would be honored, Severus. Thank you." Remus answered. He never thought he would have gotten to a stage like this with the man but he was grateful for it. He was also grateful that Severus was part of why his family was going to be growing.

A/N: Again I'm so sorry for the long wait. I hope this made up for it. Reviews? Also the little posted thing is just to remind me of when I last posted & all that, so no need to pay attention to it ^_^
Posted 3/07/12