Chapter 17

Krista's POV

A loud crack echoed through the near-silent house and after jumping a nearly a foot in the air, I rolled my eyes. There was only one person who would apparated into my home unannounced.

It had only happened twice before, but I was getting tired of him popping in unannounced. I missed the days when he would knock, or better yet, just always be than get up and try to find him, I waited for him to find me. 'I'm in the living room,' I called, lying back on the sofa. I propped my book back up on my stomach and continued reading.

He appeared a minute later, still wearing his dirty and patched robes. 'Krista,' he said, crossing the room in a few steps. He knelt in front of me on the floor, a smile on his face. Iwas surprised, to say the least, to see such a happy look on his face. I hadn't heard anything on the news about him being declared innocent, surely that would be breaking news. Why else would he be so happy?

'Why are you smiling?' I looked up from my book and met his eyes. They weren't sparkling like they used to, but they were a bit lighter than the last time I saw him. Hedidn't have the heaviness that was so prevalent before.

'I almost had him.' He held up two fingers. 'I was this close to being declared innocent but the damned rat escaped.'

Sticking the bookmark in the book to mark my page, I closed it and set it on the coffee table before sitting up. 'I still don't understand why…'

'Harry knows,' he interrupted, still smiling. 'Harry believes me and so do Moony and Dumbledore. It's not just you and me now.'

I couldn't hold back my smile anymore. If Remus and Dumbledore believed him, surely he really was telling the truth. I'd be able to believe him and not worry about what other people thought, right? 'Well, that's exciting. But what happened to Peter?'

'He got away at the last minute. Moony started to…' he trailed off, biting his lip before rocking back on his heels.

'Moony started to what?' I asked curiously.

He shook his head. 'I can't tell you. If he hasn't told you yet, he will. I'm running away, I have to.'

'Where are you going?' This time, I swung my legs around, placing my feet on the floor. Ididn't want him to leave, not now that I was this close to him again, not now that I remembered everything, not now that other people knew him to be innocent.

'I don't know. Somewhere out of England. I can't stay here if the Ministry is going to still be searching for me. They've at least removed the Dementors from the school, which is good for the kids.' He reached over and took my hand in his. 'I wish I could stay with you. I was so close I could almost feel it."

'Me too. I actually thought for a moment…' I trailed off, shrugging my shoulders.

Squeezing my hand lightly, he smiled sadly up at me. 'I know, love. I asked Harry to move in with me, when I was innocent. You wouldn't mind that, would you? He doesn't have anyone except that old hag.' A grin broke out across my face as I remembered that day so many years ago. 'What are you laughing at?'

'That day James and Lily came to visit me, after you rescued me from Michael. James called Lily's sister a hag. I don't know why that popped into my head.' I shook my head, still smiling. 'I don't mind Harry living with you, why would I?'

'Well,' he said with a nervous glance. 'I was hoping we might be able to pick up where we left off. It won't be exactly the same, but maybe…'

I nodded, surprised by my sudden need to keep him in my life. What was wrong with me? 'I think I might like that. We have to worry about Grace though; I don't know how she's going to react to this.' I bit my lip, trying to force out the question I needed to ask. 'Are you sure you're okay with having a daughter? I know we never really talked about kids, at least not seriously.'

'Krista, I'm definitely okay with having a daughter. I just hope she's okay with me. I am a criminal who escaped from prison.' He shrugged, the smile now gone from his face.

I wasn't sure what to say to that, so I settled for taking his hand and holding it tightly in mine. His fingers were crusted with dirt and mud and I could only imagine what my nice tan carpet was going to look like when he stood up. 'Do you need to take a shower or something? I even have some of your old clothes lying around if you want. I found them a few months ago.'

'A shower would be great. Where did you find my clothes?'

I stood up, still holding his hand and led him back to the bathroom. 'When I moved out of the flat, Mum, Kate and I packed up everything. Kate got rid of most of your things, but I managed to keep a few shirts and a pair of jeans. I don't know why.' I paused, reaching out and taking his other hand. 'I'm glad you're here, even if it's just for a few minutes, hour at most.'

'I'm glad I'm here, too. Someday, we'll be together again. Until then, we'll just have to get used to the separation thing.'

'I'm already used to the separation thing. It's been twelve years since I've been able to kiss you, to hold you, to fall asleep in your arms. I suppose I can wait a few months, or years more.'

He brought my hand to his lips, brushing his rough, chapped, dirty lips against my fingers. 'I love you, Krista, I never stopped.'

'I know. I love you, too. Now go shower so that I can kiss you.'

He nodded and dropped my hand, pulling the bathroom door shut. When I heard the water start, I went to the back of my closet and pulled out the box with his clothes. I grabbed the pair of jeans and an old tee shirt, knowing they would be much too big for his small frame. He had lost so much weight in prison, I barely recognized him.

I knocked lightly on the bathroom door. 'Sirius? I've got clean clothes for you.' I turned the handle and opened the door, bombarded with steam.

He pulled the shower curtain back, revealing his head and upper torso. My breath caught in my throat as memories of him naked flashed through my head. I felt my cheeks grow hot and bit down on my lip to keep from smiling. 'I'll just place them on the loo.'

'Sounds good. You don't have a razor by any chance?'

'Ha! Not one that you could use. I can run to the store if you want and get you one.'

'No matter. What are you staring at, love?' He grinned at me and I rolled my eyes.

'Finish your shower. Oh, by the way, there should be an extra toothbrush under the sink if you want to use it. And I do suggest you use it.' I stepped back and pulled the door closed behind me, committing the sight of him to memory.

Twenty minutes later he emerged, his hair and body clean and wearing his clean clothes. The jeans hung off his thin hips and the shirt off his shoulders, but he was Sirius again. 'You look much better.'

'Thank you,' he said with a grin. He sat next to me on the sofa and turned to face me. 'I missed you.'

'I missed you, too, more now that I remember everything.'

I watched as he bit his lip, a frown fixed on his lips. 'I really am sorry about that. If I had known you were pregnant, I might not have done it. I just really wanted you to be safe, even if I wasn't there to protect you.'

'I understand,' I said, looking down at my hands and waiting for the tears to fall. 'I may not agree with it and I certainly don't like it, but I understand.'

'I love you, Krista.' He reached out and held my chin, forcing me to meet his dark grey eyes.

He leaned in slowly, giving me plenty of time to turn away. His lips brushed against mine, his whiskers tickling my upper lip. I closed my eyes, letting myself get lost in the feel of his lips. My hand came up, my fingers running through his long hair.

Leaning me back, he rested my head against a pillow I had by the armrest. His lips never left mine as he slowly climbed on top of me, his hips nestling nicely in between my legs. My heart pounded in my chest and my breathing quickened. I hadn't been this close to him, hell to any man, in over twelve years.

'Sirius,' I whispered as his lips moved from my lips to my neck. 'Sirius, you need to stop. We can't do this now.'

If we didn't stop now, there was no telling how far I'd let him go. It had been far too long since I'd kissed him and I couldn't ignore the aching feeling in my heart for much longer. 'I don't want to stop,' he whispered, his breath tickling my neck.

'But you need to. You need to go and I…' I trailed off, closing my eyes and trying to gather my energy to stop him.

'You don't want me to stop.' His breathing came heavier and I couldn't help but wonder about his health. Being stuck in a cold prison wasn't good for your health. Oh the things I think about during a snogging session!

'No, but you need to.'

With one final kiss, his lips left my skin and he sat up, pouting. 'Do you know how long it's been?'

'Yes, actually, I do. Twelve years, seven months and nineteen days. Exactly as long as it's been for me.' I caught the surprised look on his face before he could hide it. 'What? Did you think I'd actually dated someone? I have been on exactly three dates since you were thrown in prison, and one of them as Remus.'

'That's not still going on, is it? You two aren't together?' His voice shook with nervousness and I couldn't help but smile. He sounded just like when he asked me to be official. He was nervous, scared of my answer. It was sweet.

'No, not since Christmas actually. We decided it wasn't working. It was too awkward, especially since I had my memories back.'

I sat back on the sofa and he pulled me in close. I rested my head on his shoulder and my hand on his knee. 'I need to go,' he whispered, his lips brushing against my forehead.

'I know. Do you know when you'll be back?' Sitting up, I shifted on the sofa and turned toward him. 'Are you going away until they find you innocent?'

Sirius shrugged, 'I don't know. It'll be for as long as I can. But don't worry; you'll be able to write me. Do you have an owl?'

"No, but I'm going to get one. I wanted one to write Grace at school.'

'I want to meet her. Are you going to tell her about me?'

Was I? How was I going to tell her? How did you tell your daughter that her father is a convicted murderer who escaped from Wizard prison? 'I don't have a choice, do I?'

'You don't have to. It'd probably be easier not to tell her.'

He looked so distraught by the idea, I couldn't agree, even if I wanted to. 'No, I need to tell her. She needs to know.'

A smile slowly spread across his face, making him appear younger than he had in, I'm sure, years. 'Thank you.'

Leaning in, he gently pressed his lips to mine just as a knock sounded on the door. 'I need to get that.'

'And I need to be going. I'll be back as soon as I can.' He pulled me up with him and kissed me one last time before vanishing with a loud crack.

I stared at the empty air where he had stood and shook my head. How everything had changed in just an hour!

'Remus,' I exclaimed as I opened the door, surprised to find him on my doorstep. 'What are you doing here? The term doesn't end for another week, doesn't it?'

He looked even more tattered than usual, and thinner as well. 'Do you mind if I come in?'

I stepped aside and gestured for him to come in. After he stepped inside, I shut the door behind him and curled up on the sofa. 'What's wrong?'

'You haven't heard yet?' He asked, sitting on the edge of the sofa.

'Heard what?'

Remus sighed and sat back, dropping his head to the back of the sofa. 'I should have told you earlier. You're going to be furious with me.'

'What are you talking about?' I was getting scared. The tone of his voice had changed, and it looked wearier than before, if that was possible. What could he possibly have to tell me? I couldn't even imagine

'I… Kris…' He sat forward and leaned his elbows on his knees. 'I'm so sorry. I'm a…' He straightened up, looked me in the eye and took a deep breath. 'I'm a werewolf. I completely understand if this changes how you think of me. I'm sorry I never told you to begin with. You trusted me with Grace and I've betrayed you…'

I stared at him, my mouth hanging open. A werewolf? Again, it was like everything I knew had changed. First magic I real and now werewolves. I didn't know anything about werewolves. 'Remus…'

'You trusted me…'

'Remus…'

'You probably want nothing to do with me. I'll be going…' He moved to stand up but I grabbed his hand to keep him down.

'Remus!' I finally shouted, pulling him from his train of thought. 'You know I haven't a clue about what you're talking about, right?'

He looked up in shock before falling back against the sofa. 'Just… I'm dangerous, Krista.'

'Remus,' I said softly, moving from my seat over to where he was sitting. I took his hands in mine and held them tightly. 'I've been alone with you countless times and you've never hurt me. Professor Dumbledore let you teach children, and I'm assuming he knew. Stop worrying.'

'I'm dangerous. I was loose on the grounds last night, and I could have hurt someone. I could have hurt Grace.'

I bit my lip. 'But… you didn't, did you? Everyone is fine.'

'I am so sorry, Krista. I should have told you months ago. I should have told you before, when you remembered everything. I should have told you when we were together. But I was scared. I didn't know how you'd react and I didn't want you angry with me. I resigned this afternoon. I could have hurt someone last night. And Severus let it slip to the Slytherins this morning about what I was. The owls would have been flying in before noon.'

'Remus,' I started before pausing. I wanted to say I didn't care, but that wasn't the truth. I needed to borrow one of Grace's books and read up on werewolves now.

But the truth was, he hadn't changed. The only difference between now and five minutes ago was that I knew his secret. He wasn't any different. He was still the same Remus Lupin I was friends with twelve years ago and the same one who took me on that date. 'You are still the same person to me that you were five minutes ago. You haven't changed. The only difference is that now I know. Don't worry. There is nothing you can do that would change my opinion of you.' I squeezed his hands tightly and brought them to my lips, gently kissing them. 'You are still a wonderful man. And you're only dangerous on the full moon, right? Not now?'

He smiled sadly and I saw his eyes well with tears. 'Yeah,' he whispered. Looking away, I pretended not to see the tears. I didn't want to embarrass him anymore than he already was. 'There's something else I need to tell you as well. About Sirius. He's innocent, Kris. He didn't do it. You were right. Peter was the one… Peter was the Secret Keeper and betrayed them. I saw him… we almost had him. If I hadn't changed…'

'I know,' I said softly, 'he was just here. He left right as you knocked. He wants to meet Grace, and I want him to, but… I don't know.'

'They need to meet. And she needs to know the truth. Especially now, now that we know the truth. Harry knows about Sirius, and I'm sure that his two best friends do as well. He'll know about Grace, too soon, and it wouldn't be fair to keep this from her.' He was so adamant about that, about telling her, I couldn't say no. I couldn't come up with a reason not to tell her.

'I will. I'll tell her when she gets home. And we'll set something up so that they can meet.'

Remus smiled and squeezed my hand. 'I'll be there, if you want me. But I still understand if you want nothing to do with me. I'm dangerous, Krista.'

'Stop that right now. You do not get to tell me what to do. You are my closest friend and the only one I can talk to about all this. You are not going anywhere.'

He smiled again and visibly relaxed. 'Okay, when do we want to set up this meeting? I'm thinking sooner rather than later…'

We planned and set up a meeting for June 20th, a few weeks away. That gave me plenty of time to tell Grace and him plenty of time to get Sirius out of London for a while.

I wasn't sure how I felt about all these new changes. Sirius was innocent and people actually knew it. I wasn't alone and I didn't have to feel guilty about believing him. Remus was a werewolf. I was going to tell Grace about her father and they were going to meet. Oh goodness.

AN: Well, Krista knows (almost) everything now! That's kind of nice :) Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!