Here is the third chapter of "Legally Binding" I didn't really want to post too frequently (because then you expect them frequently… and frankly I'm super busy) but I decided since I had a little backlog, I'd just post…

The dates for the full moon are accurate according to the lunar calendar that I found, if you have a serious issue with any of them for some absurd reason… just remember this is a fanfic. It doesn't need to be entirely accurate…

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Literally.

December 25, 2007

Remus Lupin hobbled slowly down the abandoned lane, the cold burning his already sore muscles. It was snowing and peaceful, almost picturesque, but all of that was lost on Remus, for he was more concerned with getting to his destination. The moon last night had been a hard one, and it had left his head foggy and his body aching deep in his bones. The wolf had become restless as of late, howling long into the night and tearing at its own limbs in desperation. It desired something, and it would not rest until it got what it wanted.

Remus wearily trudged onwards through the gathering snow, bunching his scarf up around his neck to fend off the night's chill. He walked towards a cozy looking home with windows glowing warmly in the dark, hoping that Lilly would have a fire roaring in the hearth and a hot chocolate with his name on it. He reached the heavy gate, his gloved hands fumbling shakily with the latch. After a moments struggle, the gate swung open on well oiled hinges. Remus dragged his heavy body up the stone steps to the house, leaning heavily against the door frame as he knocked.

The door swung open, spilling warmth and light onto the cold stoop. Lilly caught a glimpse of a haggard looking Remus and gathered him up in a warm embrace, pulling him inside and shutting the door firmly against the icy wind. Remus's eyes slipped shut and he swayed on his feet. Lilly examined him appraisingly, worry apparent in her eyes. She sighed softly.

"Oh Remmy." Her voice sounded thick and heavy. "Let's go sit down darling."

Her voice changed pitch as she called out to her husband, carrying a slightly urgent tone. He came to her call, rushing to her side when he saw Remus half standing, half leaning on Lilly's small frame. James pulled Remus's body towards him, supporting nearly all his weight as they made their way to the living room. James helped Remus slide down into a large armchair where he landed with a pained grunt. Lilly rushed in with a thick wool blanket and wrapped it firmly around Remus, tucking it under his body. He chuckled weakly.

"Lil" he whispered. "I'm fine. It happens all the time… you know that"

Lilly and James shared a significant look. They both knew that this was the worst they had ever seen Remus after a moon, although they were both too afraid to voice that to him when he was in a state like this. A crashing sound from somewhere behind them alerted them to another presence in the room with them. Lilly turned around and saw Sirius standing in the hallway, mouth agape with a broken mug on the floor by his feet. His mouth open and closed soundlessly as he struggled to find the words he was trying to say.

"wha… who…. Wha… what the hell happened to Lupin?"

Remus groaned from his blanket cocoon. He didn't even open his eyes, but a deep frown slid across his face, recognizing the voice immediately.

"Sirius is here?"

Lilly glared at Sirius in the doorway and gestured for him to leave the room. He obliged, confusion clouding his judgment. The wheels in his head were turning, trying to figure out what was wrong with the nearly comatose man in the other room. Lilly turned back to the semi-conscious man in her living room, moving to sit beside him. She gently stroked the sweaty hair away from his pale face.

"Honey, what happened to you?" she whispered gently.

Remus stirred slightly, his golden-brown eyes sliding slightly open to look at her. He sighed.

"It was a bad one Lil. The thing" the last word was violent, and hateful, "was angry… the last few times have been really bad… really, really bad."

James slipped back through the doorway, carrying a steaming mug of hot chocolate and pressed the hot beverage securely into Remus's shaking hands. He inhaled appreciatively and took a huge sip of the thick liquid. Almost immediately colour started to return to Remus's face and he glared up accusingly at James.

"There are healing potions in here."

"Yep." James chuckled at the indignant look on Remus's face. A low growling started in Remus's chest.

"You tainted chocolate with healing potions."

Lilly couldn't help but giggle at Remus in this state. He was always a little testy after the moon. She pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead and instructed him to rest up and drink his potions.

"Dinner in an hour Remus"

/

"Everything smells delicious Lilly" Remus smiled charmingly at her, a genuine look of happiness on his face.

The table was spread with more than enough food for the four of them, looking more like it was set for a Hogwarts feast than a simple Christmas dinner between friends. They all dug in, eating far too much, laughing over wine and Christmas ham. They recounted stories of their youth, James and Sirius's antics had Lilly and Remus rolling their eyes good naturedly, while Lilly and Remus's stories had James and Sirius yawning in mock boredom. Sirius seemed to be tiptoeing around the slightly volatile and sickly man that he usually enjoyed baiting so much, and it hadn't gone unnoticed in the atmosphere, an easy almost comfortable feeling settling around the table. Lilly glanced quickly towards James, before a large, radiant smile spread across her face. James grabbed her hand reassuringly and squeezed it gently. Lilly cleared her throat.

"James and I have something to tell you both." She blushed slightly under all of the gazes at the table. "You two are the most important people in our lives, so we wanted you to be the first to know." She took a deep breath before continuing. "We're having a baby!"

June 18, 2008

"Holy shit Lilly! You're enormous!"

"Tactful Black, really tactful." Remus rolled his eyes in annoyance at the inconsiderate man, inwardly smirking, knowing that Lilly would likely tear off his face for a comment like that.

Lilly growled and turned around to glare at Sirius. Remus couldn't help but think it was rather comical, the short redheaded woman viciously reaming out the massively tall Sirius Black as he cowered in fear and backpedaled as fast as he could.

"You look beautiful! You're glowing!"

Sirius by now had resorted to spewing out nonsense to try and placate the furious redhead. Remus tried in vain to hold in a chuckle. Lilly, spun around impressively fast for a woman as pregnant as she was and fixed her deadly stare on Remus.

"You think this is funny?" she hissed.

Remus edged forwards slowly, and then closed the final distance pulling Lilly into a secure hug. Her anger deflated as quickly as it had occurred and then she dissolved into a fit of giggles herself. Remus led her to the big white couch and sat her down, her swollen feet in his lap. He rubbed her sore feet as Sirius looked on in bafflement. He was uncomfortable with such an open display of affectionate caring. Sirius Black was not a man who cared unless he thought it was going to get him laid. He shifted uncomfortably and then left the room, hearing the sounds of Lilly and Remus's laughter and banal chatter fade as he got farther away.

July 31, 2008

Lilly's screams could be heard clearly from the hallway at Saint Mungo's. Interns and nurses edged by her room, clearly uneasy with the amount of noise coming from within. Remus and Sirius sat, not look at each other in the hallway, having been banned from the room because they weren't "family". The hard plastic of the chairs dig into their spines as they waited impatiently. A particularly loud scream tore through the doorway.

"I DON'T CARE IF THEY ARENT FAMILY! GET THEM IN HERE! NOW!"

A distraught healer came barreling out the door, frantically beckoning them into the hospital room, which was in shambles from the raw magic crackling around Lilly. Sirius went to stand with James in the corner, out of the way of the wild magic, while Remus went directly to her side. The magic calmed at his touch, bending in such a way that it didn't hurt him. She grabbed onto his hand like it was an anchor, with a grip that would have broken an ordinary wizard's hand. Remus just squeezed reassuringly back stroking her forehead and murmuring things reassuringly at her.

Sirius shifted in the corner, he and James still under direct threat from the crazed magic. The healer shifted the coverings on Lilly's lower half and Sirius averted his eyes quickly. But not quickly enough.

"OH MY GOD! I really didn't need to see that…" He was clearly panicking, beginning to hyperventilate. "THAT is why I'm gay. That is why I'm GAY."

James dissolved into laughter at his friend, while the healer triumphantly held up a screaming baby, quieting the room.

"Good job Lil!" Remus laughed and squeezed her hand one last time.

James exhaled in disbelief, all the blood rushing from his face.

"Holy shit. I'm a dad."