Warning for suggestive scenarios and mild language!

Chapter 51: Little Red Riding Hood

He watched stonily as she covered his hand, which was cupping her cheek gently, with hers and closed her eyes. He smiled when she leaned into his touch, smiling, "It's cold down here, you better go back to bed," Remus whispered and she opened her eyes, nodding. He hid his disappointment when she did as he advised and turned away. She paused after taking only 2 steps away and turned back to look at him expectantly.

To his astonishment, she extended an inviting hand to him, palm down, an inquiring look on her face, "come and keep me warm,"

He blinked owlishly before taking her hand hurriedly. As she led the way up the stairs, he found himself watching her warily as she took every step. Remus sighed in relief inwardly as she made it to the top without a problem. He noticed for the first time that she was wearing one of his t-shirts which was ridiculously oversized for her but accommodated her swollen belly well. She wore loose pants and over it all, she wore black bathrobes.

She opened the door to their bedroom to reveal an unmade bed. The tangled sheets were indicative that she had been sleeping in them. Ridiculously, Remus could feel his palm begin to sweat as he felt nerves from the thought of being near to Dora in that way again.

Dora was oblivious as she let go of his hand and removed her robe. She let them fall to the floor. Remus watched her and in the light, he noticed that she neglected to wear a bra and he fruitlessly attempted to swallow a lump in his throat. She removed her wand and placed it on the bedside table. Afterwhich, she sat down and pulled the sheets over her legs. Then she looked up and noticed he hadn't moved an inch from where she left him.

"Remus," Dora prompted him, an amused look on her face. He unfroze and blinked, "your pyjamas are in the drawer," She reminded him, almost teasingly and Remus flushed, nodding.

'I knew that," he muttered, shaking his head; wondering why he was so slow witted around her in their bedroom. He walked to the drawer, painfully self conscious as he knew she would be watching him. When he turned, he knew he was right. She was leaning against the bedframe, the covers pulled up over her stomach and she was watching him. Remus hesitated for a split second before walking straight into the bathroom. When he closed the door behind him, he wasn't sure but he thought he heard her laugh.

He changed hurriedly, throwing his clothes into the basket for laundry which he noticed was empty, before he walked out of the bathroom. Dora was still propped up against the bedframe and she turned to him when he emerged. Remus placed his wand on the bedside table on his side of the bed and crawled under the sheets. Dora did the same, lying down as he did.

She shifted closer to him and Remus placed a tentative hand over hers, on her stomach.

"I missed you," He blurted.

"How are your wounds?" She spoke at the same time.

"I'm okay, Dora," Remus replied, brushing it away. She nodded and he looked at her to see her eyes already closed and she seemed to be on the verge of sleep. Suddenly, something occurred to him. He shot up, out of bed and out the door.

"Remus?" she had jumped when he had leaped out of bed. By the time she could sit up, he was already walking back into the bedroom, looking rightfully sheepish. In his hand, she glimpsed a book, "you want to read? In the middle of the night?" She frowned.

Remus rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand as he crawled into bed again, leaning up against the bedframe, "yes, I want to read…to our baby if it's alright with you," He muttered, busying himself by thumbing the pages of the children's book he held, "I mean I heard that people read to their babies and it helps them with cognitive development or something-" he stopped himself when he realised his wife was watching him with a raised brow and an amused smile. Remus found himself smiling bashfully as well when he saw a spark in her eyes which were absent this afternoon. He had a feeling it wasn't there for a long time, "what?" he mocked a frown.

She pursed her lips in a failed attempt to stop smiling before replying, "nothing, go ahead. I'm sure this little one's all ears,"

Remus smiled and nodded. He adjusted himself so he was sitting up, facing her swollen stomach. He paused as he noticed what she had said. He raised a brow, "and her mum?"

Dora shrugged, "not so much," She closed her eyes, sighing as she let herself relax into the bed.

Remus chuckled, shaking his head as he opened the book to the first page.

"Tales of Beetle the Bard?" She mumbled in question, her eyes still closed.

He watched her fondly, "no," was his reply as he started reading, "Once upon a time, there was a girl called Little Red Riding Hood, who loved to wear a bright red cape and hood,"

Dora opened her eyes, a brow raised, "really? Out of all the children stories?"

"Hush, it's bad manners to interrupt, mum," Remus smirked.

Dora mocked a scowl before closing her eyes purposefully, turning away from him.

"Anyway," Remus cleared his throat, "what is a cape and a hood? A hood is something to cover your head with. It is joined with the cape, which is a cloth over your back that keeps the wind out," he glimpsed her amused smile but he ignored her and continued, "One day, she set off to visit her grandmother to deliver a basket of food. Her mother called after her, "Go straight to Grandmother's cottage and don't speak to strangers! The forest is a dangerous place,"." Remus paused, "A cottage is like a small house,"

Dora smiled as she shifted, feigning disinterest. Though, truthfully, she's very interested but not in the story. She's interested in the way her husband's soft, gentle velvet voice sounds like and the way his gaze would linger lovingly on her stomach from time to time.

"Little Red Riding Hood was enjoying her walk through the forest so much that she decided to stop to smell the flowers. Being the sweet thoughtful girl that she was," Remus said this with a meaningful gaze straight at his wife, "she picked some to give to her grandmother," Remus paused and pondered before speaking, "A forest is-"

"Don't stop, Daddy! You can show me what a forest is when I'm out," Dora whined, pouting. Her wide stormy grey eyes making her demands undeniable to him. Remus' gaze lingered on her pouting lips, recalling how soft they were on his own, how intoxicatingly they moved against his - "Daddy!" her whine cut through his thoughts. He blinked before looking down at his book again.

"Suddenly, the big bad wolf appeared and asked Little Red Riding Hood, "what are you doing here, little girl?"." Remus deepened and roughened his voice for this and Dora hid a giggle with the covers, "Little Red Riding Hood replied, "I'm on my way to see Grandma who lives in the forest,"."

She held her breath when Remus shifted to lay down beside her, propping himself up on an elbow. His head was right beside her stomach, "Upon hearing her say that, the wolf rushed ahead of her to the cottage and knocked on Grandma's door. "Come on in, I'm too weak to answer the door," Grandmother said and the wolf entered and quickly gobbled her up whole," Dora furrowed her brows but Remus continued, "the wolf got into bed and waited for Little Red Riding Hood to arrive. A moment later there was a knock on the door. "Grandma, it's me!" said Little Red Riding Hood. The wolf smiled and said, "Come in!"," Remus flipped the page again.

Dora couldn't help herself when she reached for him and touched the back of his head fondly. He was concentrating so hard on the story and there was a soft look in his eyes. Remus looked up, surprised but pleased. He turned back to the book.

"Little Red Riding Hood opened the door a crack and slipped in-" Remus read, his word were perfectly enunciated and his voice clear.

"Wotcher Grandmother," Dora interrupted and Remus couldn't hide his smile.

"Little Red Riding Hood greeted," He played along well manneredly, "The wolf, with the blankets pulled over his face, greeted her, "Hello, Little Red Riding Hood,"

But Little Red Riding Hood was confused when she saw her grandmother. She exclaimed, "Oh Grandmother, what big ears you have!"

The wolf replied, "All the better to hear you with, my dear,"," Remus paused when he looked up.

Dora's breathing hitched when his eyes locked with hers upon the endearment.

Remus continued, ""But, grandmother, what big eyes you have!" She said. "All the better to see you with, my dear," "But grandmother, what large hands you have!" Little Red Riding Hood said again. "All the better to hug you with," The wolf peeked over the covers. "Oh grandmother, what a large mouth you have!" The wolf grinned and threw aside the covers-"

Remus stopped, alarmed when Dora sat up, cupped his face in her hands and kissed him full on the mouth. He held her close to him, drawing her into his lap, being mindful of their baby. She ran her fingers through his hair. It was passionate, unlike the sweet and slow kiss they shared downstairs. They kissed till they're both breathless before they parted reluctantly. Remus' eyes lingered on her reddish lips, his throat dry.

"All the better to kiss you with," Dora finished with a smirk, her forehead resting on his.

Remus chuckled, "That's not how the story ends," He kissed her chastely on the lips, feeling her smile against him, "but it can be," He admitted and she laughed, nodding. Remus paused and her brows furrowed slightly, "but the wolf ate your grandmother," he frowned.

Dora rolled her eyes, "aren't you romantic, Remus Lupin," She adjusted herself in his lap to be comfortable.

"I can be when I try," He kissed her forehead and they shifted to lie down under the covers, the book abandoned.

They fidgeted for a longer while than necessary when Dora couldn't snuggle up to him, like she usually could, because of her growing belly. She huffed in frustration and Remus smiled, kissing her to appease her before he stood. He walked around the bed and crawled under the covers behind her. He glimpsed her smile as she realised what he was about to do. She wiggled back, closer to him before switching off the bedside lamp. Tentatively, Remus slipped his arm under hers and palmed her stomach gently.

Dora hummed in satisfaction, placing a hand over his as he pressed his face into the back of her neck, "goodnight my love," He whispered, smiling as he caught her hair shorten and turned a tinge of pink under her head.

"G'night," She mumbled, smiling to herself sleepily.

Dora stirred, her body tensing up before she let out a small scream, her eyes opening wide in the darkness. She was breathing heavily and unsteadily. Her shirt stuck to her body uncomfortably from the sweat. She reached up to rub her eyes and she choked on a breath. Her hands wandered back behind her and she found a warm hand on her hip. Dora took it and clutched it firmly. She brought his arm over her and held his hand in a deathly grip in both of hers.

"Dora?" She tensed from the fright she had when she heard his husky sleep-filled voice close behind her. Dora felt his hand grasp one of hers in return and felt him shift. A small wave of panic filled her and she turned clumsily. She heard a flick of a switch and the bedside lamp lit up the room, momentarily blinding her. She blinked, her hand blindly grasping for him, "Dora, I'm here," She felt a hand on her cheek before she saw the face of her husband before her.

Dora looked at him unblinkingly, letting the fact that he was still here beside her sink in before she visibly relaxed, laying back into bed, her eyes still locked on him. His eyes had traces of sleep in them, half his face still had the sleep lines he had developed from lying on his face. On his head, there was a magnificent mess of bed hair.

"What's the matter?" Remus frowned. Dora's hair was mousy brown and plastered to her sweaty forehead. Her skin was always pale but tonight, she looked white as sheet. Her eyes were wide, drinking in the sight of him obsessively, "Did you have a bad dream?" He eased her back into bed gently, coaxing her into a position to lay her head on his shoulder as he leaned his head back onto the bedframe.

He stroked her hair gently with one hand, the other hand wrapped around her shoulders as he waited patiently for her to speak.

Dora attempted to swallow a lump in her throat before speaking, "I-I think so," she buried her face into his shoulder, breathing in his scent. Her hand on his chest curled up to fist his pyjamas, "I thought y-you left again," Remus cringed, furrowing his brows. He knew this would be something he would live to regret for the rest of his life.

He gently placed a finger under her chin and guided her to look up and into his eyes, "Dora, I would never leave you again. Both of you," She hesitated and Remus felt a sting but he understood. Eventually, she nodded coyly, a small smile gracing her lips. It might take a while for her faith in him to build up again but she was willing to try. Remus smiled at her, kissing her on her nose, "Thank you, Dora, for having me,"

She peered up at him, smirking, and the somber mood was destroyed, "I can't help it, our little one is demanding about having his father,"

He raised a brow, "is she?"

Dora nodded, looking down at her stomach, "He recognises your voice," She took his hand and placed it on the side of her stomach.

"Really?" He gaped in wonder as he felt movement against his palm. And then another and another. Remus looked up, his mouth hanging open and Dora laughed at him, her laughter jostling the baby unintentionally. Remus felt another pronounced kick against his palm but he was staring at her; his beautiful wife who was laughing heartily.

"This little one gets really jumpy when I laugh," She giggled and he was mesmerized. Her laugh became shy when he stared a moment too long, "Remus," she scolded gently.

"I think, she should learn to love your laughs as I do," Remus replied gently. She blushed and he couldn't stop himself from brushing her warm cheeks with the back of his fingers.

"And whoever said he's going to be a girl?" Dora demanded playfully.

"She is going to be a girl," Remus insisted, "beautiful and bold like her mother,"

She pouted, "what if I want our baby to be a boy? Handsome and gentle and kind like his father,"

Remus stared, amazed, "Dora. I did what a man should never do to his wife and child. How can you speak so highly of me still? I'm a coward," He muttered.

"We all get scared once in a while. Only the Gryffindors would be brave and come back to ask for forgiveness," Dora said sombrely, "courage is a choice, Remus. If you don't experience fear, there is no such thing as courage,"

Remus was impressed, again. He had never, by any means, thought his wife to be less clever. In fact she was a bright witch and he knew but it was rare that she choose to speak sombrely and reveal the wisdom she had. He smiled cheekily, deciding to take a jape at her, "Yes, my lady,"

She mock scowled and punched his chest. Remus caught her fist. He'd admit, he was not man enough, yet, to take the punches of the protégée of Alastor Moody straight to the chest. They were the stuffs of legend, as he had experienced once for being her punching bag.

"Dora, you should go back to sleep, you've had so little…" Remus glanced at the clock to reveal that it was 5am in the morning.

She pouted, shaking her head, "I slept so much for the past few days,"

"If you're sure you don't want any more sleep…" He eyed her dubiously but relented, "I could…read to you…" He suggested. Remus reached for the assortment of children stories from the bedside table but Dora caught his hand before he could.

"No," She took his hand in both of hers, kissing his knuckles, "no reading," Her eyes remained locked on his.

Remus smiled, turning his hand over to caress her cheek, "okay, no reading," He nodded, his brows furrowed slightly when he recognised the look in her eyes but couldn't be sure.

"Remus," Her voice was strangled as she leaned over and kissed him senseless for the second time that night. Her kiss was that of desperate want, needing him. She fumbled clumsily with his clothes as he went for hers. Eventually, she drew away and commanded in her Auror voice, "Take off your clothes,"

"So bossy," Remus teased calmly when in reality, her command was whipping up a storm in his pants. He complied when she shot him an intense look of desire. She tore off her own clothes hastily. They leaned closer urgently to seal the space between their lips when Remus paused.

Needless to say, her body was different but Remus had never wanted her more. He had never thought the body of the mother of his child could be so entrancing to him, almost tipping him over the edge. She was oblivious to his amazement as she turned and waved her hand at the door, placing a silencing charm and a click was heard as she locked it.

"Come here," She breathed out as she pulled him in for another kiss, "let's get the blood where it's supposed to go," She whispered against his lips and without warning, Dora pushed him back, hard, so he lay back on the pillows. Remus sucked in a breath as she straddled him. He drank in the sight of her as she moved against him slowly; a sheen of perspiration on her body, her head threw back in sheer pleasure, a moan escaping her lips.

Sunlight was beginning to stream through the curtains lightly when Remus settled behind his wife, spooning her, both of them breathing heavily but sated. He pressed an insistent kiss to the nape of her neck and she moaned at the feel of his lips on her sensitive skin, "James was right about that second trimester love making," He whispered.

"I believe…the common term for it is 'second trimester fuck'," She panted.

Remus raised a brow, "I thought being a mother would tame that filthy mouth of yours,"

"You secretly love it," she countered smartly.

Remus smirked, his fingers tracings over her skin lightly, brushing over her breasts. Dora smiled and he could glimpse her reddening cheeks. Remus smiled, propping himself up on his elbow slightly to kiss her on her cheek.

His hand, resting on her waist under the covers, roamed lower to her hip and he frowned. He had noticed this when he tried to gain better leverage during their love making but he was too…preoccupied to make a matter out of it.

"Dora," He started, "you've lost weight," It hung in the air for a long moment, "it's too much. You should be gaining weight…" he scolded gently.

She was still and quiet before he heard a soft whisper, "I had no appetite,"

Remus cringed, his hand running feather light touches along her hips and down to her thigh. He felt a shiver run through her as his fingers roamed towards her front from her thigh, "and now? Are you hungry?" he asked. She whimpered as his fingers paused.

Dora grabbed his wandering hand by his wrist hastily, pulling it up to palm her heavy breast, "very," She whispered, sounding to be swallowing a moan.

Remus chuckled, "I meant your stomach, sweetheart," He expected her to blush but instead, she craned her neck to have a glimpse of him.

When their eyes locked, he was stunned by her desire for him in her eyes. Her lips was graced by the filthiest smirk Remus had ever seen on her, "You could fill my stomach," Her hand wandered between them and to his groin meaningfully.

He didn't know if he should moan in pleasure or laugh nervously as the prudish side of him nudged him in objection. In the end, Remus stared. At her wink, he blinked, laughing nervously, "Dora…" he gently scolded her.

She laughed, "I am sure you are the first man to hesitate and reprimand his wife when she asks for sex and suggest what I am suggesting,"

It was Remus' turn to blush but eventually, he gently extracted his wife's very distracting hand away and sat up. He turned back to look at her and regretted. He had tugged the blanket down and offered himself a tantalizing glimpse of her heavy breasts. He swallowed purposefully as Dora abandoned the sheets and sat up. Despite spending the night staring at his beautifully nude wife, he still couldn't stop doing so as she straddled him, folding her legs behind his hips.

"Dora," He furrowed his brows, clearing his throat as his voice came out as a small croak. She smirked. Suddenly, there was a sound from the door and both of them stopped and turned to see the handle of the door rattling, being tried from the outside. Remus waved his hand to remove the silencing spell.

"Nymphie?" Sirius' puzzled voice sounded from outside and he knocked, "Why did you lock the door? Are you alright?"

Dora finally blushed but she didn't make to move from Remus' lap, "I'm fine," She called back but Sirius tried the door again.

"Open the door, Nymphie," Sirius' muffled voice was impatient and worried.

Remus gently coaxed her off his lap and onto the bed. He covered her with the blanket before he got up from the bed. Dora stared at his naked body with a smirk and he blushed a deep red, glad Sirius interrupted before Dora got into her ministrations. It would have been an awkward conversation. He hurriedly slid on his pants on the way to the door, stumbling slightly. He heard a soft laugh behind him and couldn't help but smile at that beautiful sound.

He waved his hand over the door to unlock it.

Sirius stood on the other side. He had dressed properly and neatly, unlike the drunk Sirius a few years back. His brows were furrowed, his eyes clouded with worry, which quickly turned to confusion then anger as he saw Remus, "You?!" Sirius growled and he shoved Remus backwards, hard, "I told you to get away from her!"

"Sirius!" Dora hissed from the bed.

He turned to see his cousin on the bed and immediately noticed her state of undress from her bare shoulders. Sirius turned on Remus, looking twice as mad, "How dare you!"

"He is my husband and the father of my child! He has the rights to be in our bedroom, touch me and love me! And that's more I can say for you!" Dora blurted in a fit of anger.

Sirius froze. He turned to Dora, revealing nothing. Something flickered in his eyes before he turned to head out of the door, "I'll bring breakfast up for you in a moment," He muttered, walked out and closed the door behind him before Remus or Dora could formulate a reply.

Dora watched him go, a look of guilt and regret on her face. Tears stung her eyes. Remus slipped into bed by her side and she wordlessly leant into his embrace, "oh Remus…" she mumbled, burying her face into his bared and scarred chest, "this baby is driving my temper nuts," she whimpered.

Remus laughed lightly, burying his nose into her, now, bubblegum pink hair and breathing her in, "Sirius will be alright. Although, a soothing balm, that only his sweet baby cousin can provide, would help," he teased. His smile immediately turned to a wince when he felt a sharp pain in his arm. He looked down, yanking his arm away, to see Dora having a firm hold of his flesh between the crook of her index finger and thumb, pinching his flesh viciously, "ouch!" He yelled and jumped off the bed.

"Come back!" She pouted.

Remus rubbed the reddening mark on his arm, watching her accusingly, 'no!" He feigned a horrified look, "you're an abusive wife!"

Dora had both hands on her belly. She pouted and pleaded with him with large watery grey eyes, which he could've sworn she morphed to be bigger and more watery, "please?"

Remus melted, opening his arms as he stood at the edge of the bed. She smiled, scrambling closer to the edge, wrapping her arms around his waist. He gave her a good tight hug before releasing her, "breakfast time?"

She looked up at him, pondering it for a moment before she nodded with a smile. Remus beamed at her, helping her out of bed. He pointedly averted looking at her nude body as it would surely stir things that would be potentially problematic to explain at breakfast to his mother-in-law and his wife's cousin. He, however, didn't miss the smirk that Dora shot him as she noticed his efforts as she dressed.

Remus buttoned up his shirt and turned to see Dora frowning at her boots as she tried to place her feet into them. She could barely see her boots past her belly. He raised his wand and summoned bedroom slippers. They flew out of the bathroom and into his hand, bubblegum pink in colour to match her hair.

"Where did that come from?" She raised a brow.

Remus knelt before her and gently slid them on her feet, "I bought them when I was shopping for some necessities. I thought you'd love to wear them around the house at Christmas, when the weather's colder. I charmed them to match your hair and the size of your feet…" He ducked his head, "it's supposed to be Christmas present but you need them now…so…"

"Remus," She buried her fingers in his hair and tugged it back gently so he would look at her, "Thank you, you're so sweet to me," Dora tugged him off his knees so she could kiss him.

They parted and she took his hand, letting him lead the way out of the room and down the stairs. As they passed Andromeda's door, the door was flung open and she jumped when she saw Remus and Dora in the doorway.

"Remus," she greeted stiffly before she turned to her daughter, surprised but elated to see her out of bed, "Nymphadora! What are you doing out of bed? Do you need something?" Andromeda took Dora's free hand, watching her with worry. Dora puckered up her face at that name but refrained from attempting to stop her mother, which was futile for over 20 years already.

"I'm out of bed for breakfast, mum. I need food,"

Andromeda looked astounded, "you've not asked for food since…" her voice trailed off as she noticed her daughter's bright pink hair.

"I think she's hungry, Andromeda," Remus said softly. She turned to Remus and nodded before rushing down the steps. Dora watched her mother, amused, "I see you've been a terribly difficult daughter, worrying your mother…" he muttered by her ear.

She feigned an offended scowl, slapping his arm playfully before they continued their way downstairs. Dora, with Remus' soft reminders and careful manuverability of his wife's footsteps, managed to trip only once on her way to the table and was caught by Remus frantically in that one time; although he thought his heart stopped and never did start in that moment.

"Nymphadora, do you want bacon?" Andromeda called from the kitchen.

"Don't call me Nymphadora!" Dora called back from her seat, "and no bacon please…" She almost retched at the thought of bacon, something she used to love, "May I have some eggs instead? And toast sounds great too,"

Andromeda walked out of kitchen with a plate of eggs already ready and a glass of milk for Dora, "I'm your mother and Nymphadora is your name and I will call you by it." She placed the food on the table, "here's the egg and I'll get started on the toast immediately,"

Dora's sigh of resignation was clouded over when her eyes lit up upon seeing the food, "thank you mum! You're amazing!" She picked up a fork and shoved eggs into her mouth. Andromeda looked caught between smiling at the ravenous appetite her daughter had and wrinkling her nose at the unsightly way she was eating

Instead, she turned to Remus, whom she was surprised to catch staring at Dora eat, a fond smile on his face, "coffee, Remus?" Andromeda asked.

Remus blinked and turned to her. He opened his mouth to speak but Dora beat him to it.

Dora swallowed a large mouthful prematurely that made Andromeda cringe before speaking, "He prefers tea, Mum,"

"Yes, Andromeda, thank you for your offer," Remus stood up and before Andromeda could remind her daughter, Remus beat her to it. He placed a gentle hand on the back of her head as he leaned over to whisper a gentle reminder, "eat slowly, sweetheart," Dora nodded absently as she shoved another mouthful of eggs into her mouth.

Andromeda went back to the kitchen, aware of Remus following close behind. As he stopped at the counter and reached for the cupboard which he kept the tea in, Andromeda spoke, "I might not like you, Remus, and more so after how you left my daughter in that state," Remus flushed, ashamed, "but you build her back up better than anyone else in this world can,"

"Thank you, Andromeda," He ducked his head.

"Please Remus," She spoke curtly, "if you want to stay, make this decision the final one, like you should have when you proposed,"

Remus flinched, "I understand. I just want the best for Dora now and I can see I am what's best for her,"

He caught Andromeda throw a not too subtle, adoring, gaze out at Nymphadora. Then she turned to him and said with pinched lips, "Yes, you are,"

A/N: Fluff for the tortured Remus and Dora and my poor readers! Hope you enjoyed it! Thank you to those reviewers of last chapter who inspired this chapter; Moondoll33, remusdora, wotcher98 and guest.