Chapter I

...

..........

...

There is something about hospitals that makes people uneasy, even if it is the cheerful local clinic, and for some reason people love avoiding hospitals, even if they know they need to be there. John Mars Lupin was no exception. In fact, were it not for his son he would have never stepped foot in a hospital. He had been in a hospital for two reasons now, both for his son. Once for the boy's birth, and then there was this. Wincing, he waited and stood as his friend from Hogwarts stepped out and greeted him warmly. His voice was anxious, worried, as he questioned his friend, "Emily. You're here. Can you take him? Can you take care of him?"

Sighing, Emily Prewett shook her head and said, "I can't. I'm sorry. I haven't been here for over a year now, there's no way that I can catch up on everything and still help him. And with Gideon and Fabian, Mars, I don't even have the time to work with him even if I could. But I know a girl, young, but she's excellent. She has the talent for it, she's adamant in the idea of equal rights for all wizards, and she's wonderful with kids."

Desperately trying to control himself, he nodded and followed Emily into the wing. "If you can't, then just the best. I don't want him to have to deal with this."

"Especially with Sylvia dead?" Emily asked, turning back to look at him archly.

Eyes narrowing, he snapped, "Even if she was strutting around the way she used to I wouldn't want it for him. He's my son Emily."

Holding up her hands in defence and submission, she pushed the door open and watched as a small, brown-haired boy of five flung himself into the man's arms and cried, "Dad! I was scared. They said you'd come, but you weren't coming."

Mars' heart tugged and he held the boy and soothed, "I'm here Remus. You don't need to be scared anymore."

"This man came in, and he said he was the best Healer they had. And he was mean. He was scary. I didn't like him Dad."

Looking up at Emily, Mars Lupin said firmly, "She's good with children? I want her. I don't want my son with anyone else."

Emily Prewett nodded and smiled, "I'll go get her right now."

Breathing in deeply, he looked at his son and said worriedly, "Did they hurt you? Are you okay?"

Trying desperately to be brave for his father, who he obviously adored, Remus pulled himself straighter and said, "I'm okay Dad. But one night, they called it the full moon, it hurt. I couldn't remember what I was doing, and I hurt all over. I've never hurt that badly before."

His eyes stinging, he pulled the valiant little boy into his arms and said, "We'll make it better Remus. You'll be okay. I'll do everything I can to make it better."

Unsure of what to do, and terrified by the fact that his father looked so lost, Remus patted his father's arm and smiled, a tooth missing and making the smile all the more adorable, "It's okay Dad. Everything's going to be okay, right?"

Standing as the door opened again, Mars smiled down at his son and nodded, "I hope so. Yes, Remus, it will."

Emily stepped in and the woman who followed stunned the man. Forgetting that he was a thirty five year old father, he saw her. When he remembered himself, he thought that it should be illegal for a Healer to be so beautiful. Mediterranean looks graced her elegantly, her face a round, fair flattery of large almond eyes and full Italian lips, and a perfect English nose. Swallowing, he shook himself as Emily said, "Mars, this is Rhea Laurenzia. Rhea, this is John Mars Lupin – call him Mars if you know what's good for you. And this is his son, Remus."

Both Emily and Mars watched as wheels clicked behind her transparent eyes. For a moment she stood, her eyes scanning his features critically, as if searching for something beyond his face. After a deep breath she held out a hand to the man, saying with a smooth voice that held no trace of the Italian so obvious in her features, "Rhea Laurenzia at your service sir. And you must be Remus."

She knelt before the boy, who took an instant liking to her pretty features and nodded, "Yes. And I'm five years old."

A smile lit her face, making it even more stunning than before, and she spoke seriously, "I'm sure you are. I've heard about you from some of my partners. A very brave young man from what I've heard. And certainly a handsome one."

Swelling with pride, Remus attempted to be modest and humble, "Everyone says I look like Dad. Did the man with the mean eyes tell you about me?"

Laughing quickly, the woman looked up at Mars Lupin for a moment before turning back to the boy, "Yes. He did. And he may have mean eyes, but he spoke very highly of you Mister Lupin."

Giggling at being called the name he associated with his father, Remus said, "He scared me."

Her guileless eyes twinkling, she leaned forward and spoke in a mock whisper, "Well, you know what? He scares me too." She smiled as Remus laughed, and then she said gently, "Look, there's a counter just outside the room and to the right. If you tell the lady at the desk that Rhea sent you she'll give you a bar of chocolate. Do you like chocolate?"

Eyes lighting up at the thought of chocolate in his little boy's face, he nodded before asking seriously, "Which way is right?"

Laughing again, she knelt behind him and asked, "Do you know you letters?" As he nodded she grinned and said, "Here. Hold up your hands. Hold the thumb and the pointer out like this, so it makes an L."

Obedient, he did so, then frowned at the thought that something was wrong. Lifting his right hand slightly above the left, Remus pointed out sternly, "But this L's backwards."

Her laughter jingling again, she nodded, "Oh, you are a bright boy. The one with the backwards L is your right hand. Think of it this way, the L is the left hand."

Eyes going wide in realization, the little boy looked up at her in awe and said, pointing to the right, "So if I go that way to the counter the lady shall give me some chocolate?"

"Just don't forget to tell them that I sent you. She shan't give you anything if you don't tell her I sent you. Now run along, and I'll speak with your father for a moment."

Giggling, the little boy ran from the room and Rhea Laurenzia straightened, looking levelly at Mars Lupin before saying, "I will not accept charges. I refuse." Eyes going wide, wondering how she had been so excellent with his boy, Mars opened his mouth to argue. Then she laughed and said again, "I'll get your address from the records and be at your house tomorrow afternoon at six, when I get off work. Good day Mister Lupin."

And she was gone. It seemed she for all the tolerance she had with children, she lacked any tolerance for her own age group and elders. Still stunned, he glared at Emily as she said sheepishly, "Did I forget to mention that she's gorgeous, judgmental, tries your temper all the time, and nearly impossible to defeat in an argument?"

Giving up completely, Mars shrugged and walked out, "Well, if Remus likes her, I can deal with her."

He wondered if he would ever be able to get past her beauty as he approached her. She was kneeling before his son, beaming as the boy offered her a piece of his precious chocolate bar. Shaking her head, she laughed, "No, no, it's okay. I can get chocolate from back there whenever I want. I have to go now, but I'll see you tomorrow at six, okay?"

Nodding, Remus turned to his father as she left. Mars laughed at the sight of the boy, chocolate smeared on his face in the way only a five year old boy can manage, and he smiled as Remus held out a chocolate-y hand to his father. "I like her Dad. Do you want some chocolate? There's a little left."

Still laughing, Mars split what was left of the chocolate and tossed a piece into his son's mouth, eating the smaller piece easily. Deciding it was safer than holding the chocolate-covered hand, he picked the boy up easily, smiling at Remus' laughter, and said, "We're cleaning you up before we go anywhere. Now, what do you want for dinner tonight?"

From the corner Rhea Laurenzia watched with a smile as Mars Lupin walked off with his son in his arms. Turning the corner, her long dark hair whipping in its ponytail, she left, a smile on her face that told nothing of the secret she seemed to know.

…

………

…

Up Next: The first full moon