Chapter II

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Mars Lupin was, yet again, bent over his work. With a groan he began to stand as he heard the knock at the door. He stood in the doorway of the room as the door swung open and Remus chided, "Rhea! You're three minutes late!"

The little boy had taken to the woman more than even Mars had anticipated, and he smiled as she laughed and closed the door. Still laughing, Rhea knelt before Remus, "Oh, is that so? Then next time I'll have to say I'll come at five after, so I'll be early. How are you?"

Face falling at the thought of her being a whole five minutes later than usual, Remus wrinkled his nose in distaste. However, he replied to her question dutifully, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand, "I'm tired. I'm really tired. I was tired yesterday too."

Cupping his chin in her hand, she turned his face to the left and to the right, disgusted by the pallor in it at so young an age. Rage darkened her eyes and she pressed a kiss to Remus' hair, saying, "I know, believe me, I know. You're going to be coming with me tonight, to the clinic. It's the full moon again."

A bright boy of five, Remus could remember all too vividly the events of the last full moon, and he asked uncertainly, "Will it hurt like last month?"

Holding him to her while he clung to her as he had always wanted to cling to a mother, she shook her head sadly, "Yes. I'm sorry. Oh, God, I'm so sorry Remus. I'm sorry."

Squeezing his eyes shut in hopes it would make the tears in his eyes go away, Remus begged softly, "Will you be there?"

"Yes," Rhea said, standing and placing Remus on her hip as she walked into the kitchen and placed him on the counter. Reaching for a towel, she looked at the boy intently as she dampened it, "I'll be there. Don't worry about that." Pressing a kiss to Remus' hair and wiping his little face with the soft towel, she set him down and said, "Now, go get your things and we'll head down to the clinic."

Nodding, the boy ran off and Rhea turned, finding herself face to face with Mars Lupin. He cupped her chin in his hand and lifted the damp towel, wiping her cheeks with it. "Thank you. You have no idea how much you've helped."

She turned away from him, her eyes closing as tears squeezed out of the corners of her eyes. Slamming her hand, hard, on the counter, she exclaimed, "It's no good! I've been working, we've been doing everything there is! It's no use!"

Turning her face so she was forced to look at him, he stepped closer to her and said gently, "Don't do this to yourself. It's only been a month. And you've been wonderful. Better than I had even dared to hope you'd be. You've done more for him than you know."

"I've done nothing!" Rhea cried. "You've been doing everything, working night and day to make it possible. And I've just been sitting there watching everything fail!"

He took another step towards her and said, "No, you've done more than you know."

She looked and swallowed as her words shrivelled on her tongue, realizing that the silver of Remus' eyes was no side affect of his predicament, but they were exactly his father's eyes. A captivating, devastating silver grey. And he was close, much, much too close, and they were in a completely improper position, especially if Remus were to walk in. She would move away, she told herself, once she was able to breathe properly again, once she was able to breathe at all again. Her body, however, seemed to taunt her thoughts and she stepped towards him. He was tall, taller than she had thought, or maybe she was smaller than she thought, and he was warm and strong. And she tilted her head up to him.

He looked at her and realized her eyes were a brown, almost hazel with the honey they seemed dipped in, and they were even more beautiful than the innocence that framed them. And she smelled entirely too good to be legal for a woman working with a man in his home. And she was close, much, much too close to be good for either of them if his son were to walk in. He was going to back away any minute now, once he stopped staring at her and began thinking again. However, he felt her take a step towards him and his arm moved automatically, curling around her waist. She was small, smaller than he had expected, and he felt large and powerful, and she was firm and lithe against him. And he bent closer to her.

And he would have kissed her. He would have forgotten all codes of conduct and kissed her in his kitchen, had Remus not asked, innocently from the doorway, "Dad? Rhea?"

The two sprang apart, flustered and shocked. Rhea looked back at him with wide eyes and stepped towards Remus, taking the boy's hand and saying, "Come on, let's go. Your father will meet us there."

She walked off with his son and he wondered. What had just happened; what would have happened had Remus not walked in? Shaking his head, he followed them to the clinic.

Twenty minutes later Rhea followed them out of the clinic, wondering what had happened to her resolve and why she was going with them anywhere at all. Mars held the door open for her and Remus and grinned as they walked in. It was a table against the wall, made for two, or three. Rhea slid into her chair easily, her eyes widening as Mars slid into the chair across from her. Bouncing and giggling, Remus sat, thrilled at being able to sit next to both of them. He wriggled and fidgeted until Rhea stood, placed him firmly in the chair, and sat down again, laughing at his childish anxiety. But the little boy didn't hold still until the waitress came to the table and asked, "Mister Lupin? What would you be having today?"

Mars Lupin grinned and patiently ordered for himself and for his son. Turning to Rhea, the waitress asked innocently, "Missis Lupin, what about you?"

Rhea turned scarlet, too stunned to speak. Remus seemed ecstatic at seeing her flustered, and Mars chuckled and saved the shocked woman further self-embarrassment. "She'll have the same as me. Thanks very much."

The waitress nodded politely and left, whispering to Remus as she passed, "Your mum's a quiet woman, isn't she? Pretty too."

Delighted at the thought of Rhea being his mother, Remus nodded. He was unusually perceptive for a five year old boy, perhaps his premature love of books and observations had done more than his father suspected. Playing easily the role of the innocent five year old, he kicked his father. Mars' head jerked up and he kicked his son back lightly, wondering what had caused the calm little boy to be suddenly so jumpy. A plan forming in his head, Remus reached under the table and kicked his father's foot into Rhea.

Mars stared, terrified, at his son, wondering if the boy had any idea he had just initiated a game of footsie he was much too old to be playing at dinner. However, he repressed a laugh as Rhea's head snapped up, eyes wide and shocked. And he couldn't contain the chuckle as she kicked him back. Remus sat back, pleased with himself, and began to play with the menu, fully aware that there was a game of footsie going on, all because of him.

Then the food came, and Rhea's sense of place, time, and manners returned to her. Without thinking, she reached under the table and placed a hand on Mars' knee, saying quietly, "Mars. Not now."

Subconsciously repeating her gesture, Mars placed a hand on her knee in return, his thumb running idly over the fabric of her robes just above her knee. Just as naturally as it had come, his hand left and Rhea, mind whirling, touched her knee where his hand had been and wondered why his hand was so large and warm, and why his touch was so gentle.

And she ate in silence, and followed the playful Remus and the laughing Mars back to clinic without a word. And silently she left Remus alone in the room and looked up at Mars. Looking at her, and wondering if she had any idea how gorgeous she was, he said, "Rhea, don't worry about staying up if he sleeps. He'll wake you up, no problem. Don't exhaust yourself; he's a deep sleeper. You don't need to stay up if he's asleep. Don't exhaust yourself."

Rhea nodded, and Mars took a closer look at her. Instantly he realized she was already exhausted. Without even thinking of what he was doing, Mars pulled her into his arms, stunned as she rested her head against his shoulder and clung to him. And she smelled much too good, as her scent was currently clouding his senses. He pulled her closer, closing his eyes and resting his cheek on her hair. Her eyes fluttered closed and she leaned into the strong, solid chest that was rising and falling ever so slowly. She stood, not thinking about anything save the extreme relief to be leaning against him. Then her senses came back to her and she pulled away, saying, "Let's go back inside. Remus will be exhausted, and he'll want you to say goodnight."

Mars nodded and watched as she swept back into the room. Remus was asleep within moments, and smiling fondly, he tucked his son in the way he knew the boy wished to be tucked in. He began to leave, and turned back to where Rhea stood, watching Remus. Turning back to her, he placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed slightly, repeating the words from earlier gently, "Don't exhaust yourself Rhea. Go to sleep."

She turned to face him and he saw the deep fatigue glazing her eyes. Engulfing her in his arms again, he bent to kiss her forehead as she tilted her head up to look at him. Their lips met and shock overwhelmed them both, but it melted almost instantly. His hands went to her neck, playing the bare and exposed slender neck and cupping her face. She clung to him, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she strained against him.

It was Rhea who broke away, shocked and appalled. "We can't do this," she said, her voice soft.

Arms wrapping around her, Mars looked down at her and begged softly, his silver eyes pleading, "One more. Just one."

It was a battle of the eyes, silver locked on brown, and then her resolve melted. Eyes fluttering closed, her fingers dug into his shoulders as he kissed her again. She felt her feet lift off the ground and she wondered if he even realized he was holding her. Then he deepened the kiss and she forgot to think. Her fingers tightened on his shoulders as one of his hands cupped her neck and the other pressed her taunt against him. This time they broke away naturally.

He looked down at her, at her cloudy eyes, flushed face, and lush lips. And he saw it instantly, the bone-deep fatigue that was hindering her reasoning. And that, under any other circumstances, she would have never permitted that exchange. And that, with her current lack of thought, she would permit much more than a kiss.

It took all of his self-control, and much of the self-control he didn't have, to pull away from her, pressing a last kiss to her forehead, and leave. Feeling as if shell shocked, Rhea lowered herself onto the chair and curled up, holding a finger gingerly to her lips before letting it fall as she drifted into slumber. And it was in that position that Remus would wake her.

And it was in that same position in that same chair that she would sit up the next night, her extreme fatigue driven away by anxiety. It was the full moon, and she was waiting worriedly for the moment to come that she could run to Remus. It came, much later than she would have liked, and she darted across the empty clinic. Flinging the door open, she saw Remus instantly, curled up in a little ball, crying. Heart ripping out of her chest, she felt tears sting her eyes and she wrapped a blanket around him, lifting him into her arms and cradling him.

He didn't like to cry. At the age of five, Remus Lupin understood that crying would do him no good. But at the age of five, there was no other way to deal with the pain. Clinging desperately to Rhea, he managed painfully, "It hurt. It still hurts."

Understanding that, apart from the physical pain, there were emotional wounds that would strike deep and hard, and that there was nothing she could do about them, her grip on the little boy tightened and she nodded into his hair. "I know Remus; I know. But it's over now, you're going to be okay."

"Promise?"

Feeling her heart shatter, she rocked him and nodded, "Yes, I promise. You're going to be wonderful, the best little boy of your age. It'll be okay."

Now slightly reassured, and slightly comforted, Remus looked up at her through tear-filled eyes and asked, "Where's Dad? I want my dad."

Wondering why on earth she agreed with the statement so wholeheartedly, Rhea wiped his dampened cheeks and nodded, "I know. They kicked him out; they said he couldn't stay, or he would be here. He wanted to be here. And he'll be here tomorrow. Don't worry."

Lifting up the arm he had been holding to him, he said softly, "I'm bleeding Rhea. It hurts."

Stiffening, Rhea stood, Remus tight in her arms, and swept out of the room, hating it with a passion she couldn't even begin to explain. Placing the boy lightly on the counter, she cleaned it first, a Muggle method that she, as a Muggle-born, never forgot to perform. Remus clamped his mouth shut, though tears squeezed in the corners of his eyes. Closing her eyes softly to hide her own tears, she healed the wound quickly, wishing it was as easy to heal whatever it was that was hurting the little boy most. Taking him in her arms again, she dressed him easily, knowing the little boy was exhausted, and placed him on the bed. She had hardly set him down when his little hand clamped on hers. Looking up at her with shining silver-grey eyes, he begged in the way only a five year old could, "I don't want to be by myself Rhea. It's scary."

Melting instantly, Rhea slid down beside him and held him, only allowing herself to fall asleep after she felt Remus relax and tumble into his own world of slumber. They slept, curled up, even more beautiful than any picture could have ordained.

Mars stepped into the room and felt the breath leave him, and he stared, unable to do anything but. He had seen her pictures of Mother Mary with her child, and he thought instantly of the Madonna as he looked at the woman with his son. Something stirred in his gut and he turned to leave, to leave them in peace. Then he remembered the words of the medi-wizards, that they should be retain a diurnal schedule, even if it tires them for a day or two.

Mars reached out for Rhea first, shaking her awake slightly. She turned her head, her arms still firmly around Remus, and purred softly. Biting back a moan, he brushed her hair from her face, realizing it was the first time he had ever seen it down. "Rhea," he said softly, bending to brush a kiss over her forehead, "wake up. It's past ten."

Rhea eyes fluttered open and she looked up at Mars, whispering thickly, "Mars. Remus asked for you."

A great bolt of pain shot through him at the realization that it had been his son's greatest time of need, and he hadn't been there. His jaw tightened, but he stopped and looked at Rhea as her hand touched his cheek gently, soothing him immediately. She sat up and felt a wave of compassion, understanding his feeling of having done nothing when he should have done everything. Neither of them spoke, but Mars' hand fisted in her long hair and brought her to him, kissing her gently. They were close now, and she could smell his scent again, as she could two days ago when he kissed her before. Eyes falling shut, she wrapped her arms around him and let him kiss her.

Opening one eye cautiously, Remus grinned. He too had woken when the hushed conversation between the two had begun. Maybe these adults weren't quite as clueless as he took them to be. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, then managed to open one eye slightly enough that he could see, and still look like he was fast asleep. Watching, he suppressed a smile as his father pressed a kiss to Rhea's forehead and asked, "How is he? How was he?"

"Beautiful," Rhea said softly, turning to brush the little boy's matted hair from his forehead, "like always."

Smiling now, Mars bent down and whispered in his son's ear, "Remus. Guess who?"

Just remembering how much he had missed his father, Remus forgot about looking sleepy and jumped into his father's arms, burying himself in them and saying, "Dad!"

Absorbed in his son, Mars did not turn back to Rhea until Remus ran at her, jumping into her arms and burying his face in her shoulder. Her hair was pulled back again, Mars noticed, and wished, fleetingly, that she would have left it down, free. Rhea smiled, giving Remus a large, smacking kiss that had the little boy laughing and wriggling in her arms. Becoming serious now, Remus looked up at her and said, "Are you going to come see me today?"

Smiling, Rhea placed Remus down, bending so she looked directly at him. Her voice was soft, serious, but her words brought a smile to Remus' face, "Of course."

Remus loved her dearly, Mars realized, and wondered how much longer it could be that they expected Rhea to come by everyday, and to take Remus to attempt after attempt to do something about the lycanthropy that would haunt him forever if they didn't. Pushing those thoughts from his mind, he looked down at Remus and said softly, "Alright, Remus, you get all your stuff together. I'll be waiting for you outside. Come on Rhea."

Smiling as Remus went, humming idly, to his work, Rhea followed the tall man outside and gasped as Mars turned quickly and pinned her against the wall, kissing her fiercely. Her gasp became a shuddering moan as she dug her fingers into his shoulders, stunned by the fiery passion. She clung to him, though it wouldn't have mattered since his body was pinning her tightly against the wall. Then, exactly as Remus opened the door, he let her go. Running his lips along her neck, he murmured, "I'll see you later."

And he left, swinging Remus up into his arms and walking out with his son at his hip. But he stopped and turned as Rhea grabbed a pair of white robes and rounded the corner out of sight. But he didn't see as she sank to the ground, shaking helplessly. And he didn't see as a veil fell over her eyes, hiding the emotions she always let show. Because she knew she had to work. Because she had her priorities. And because of him.

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