Hello everyone! I'm introducing my own character in this chapter. She is by far my favorite to write about! Hope you enjoy this chapter. There are some mature themes and perhaps some triggering moments. If that is the case, I apologize in advance. Please read and review.

Thank you to all those that are following. I do this for all of you!

Enjoy

Remus had taken a job at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. He was a basic custodian, but it was a job and it was mostly nights. He would leave in the mornings just after patients started to come in for their appointments. He was tired this morning though. The full moon was only one day passed and his body ached. The scratches on his arms and torso burned. He really just wanted to lay down. He focused on the task at hand: replacing linens and restocking exam rooms. He was zoned out as he stacked tubes and jars when he realized there was a feminine voice behind him trying to get his attention. He turned when there was a hand on his shoulder.

"Hello? Oh excuse me, I'm so sorry to interrupt you. But have you, by any chance, the smaller gloves? They run out so quickly and they never seem to be stocked. I would like to carry some in my pocket." He looked down into a pretty pale face, bright green eyes and long blond hair that curled at her waist. She was wearing lime green Healer robes and smiling up at him expectantly. She just barely came up to his chin. He blinked, trying to shake his head clear of his previous thoughts and focus on the words she was saying. She had an accent he couldn't place.

"I'm sorry, can you say that again." He said, feeling a little stupid. She smiled at him, her eyes glittering.

"Of course." She said with a little chuckle. "It has been a long night for you, no? I was asking if you had small gloves on your cart. They never seem to have them when I need them."

"Oh, erm, yes." He leaned over the cart and reached for the box of small gloves, the sleeve of his robes catching on the cart, hiking the sleeve over his fresh scratches. By the gasp, he realized she had seen them. He cringed.

"Du bist verletzt! But you are hurt." She reached for his arm, but he withdrew from her, taking a step back.

"I'm alright, had an accident is all." He passed her the gloves but she was still looking at his arm, not taking the box from him. She reached for his arm again and for some reason, he let her take it. She pushed up the sleeve, inspecting the wound. He hissed as she pressed around the edges of it. She looked up at him in concern.

"Come with me, please. This needs to be treated." She pulled him into an exam room and shut the door. She turned to him, concern in her eyes.

"I really need to get back to work. It's fine. Honest." He protested but she was already going through the vials in the cupboard and pulled out a jar and a bottle. She waved her wand and a bowl of hot water appeared before her and a cloth. She poured the contents of the bottle into the bowl and dipped a gauze pad into it and reached for his arm. He let her take it and she led him over to the chair.

"Hush, this is needed. What is your name?" She sat him down and started to clean the cut. He hissed as the hot water touched it, but she was gentle.

"Remus Lupin." She gave a small smile while she worked.

"I'm Healer Adelaide Morgen." She didn't ask any more questions as she cleansed the wound. She spread some of the salve onto his arm, and instantly the burning went away and a cooling effect took its place. She noticed his face relaxed a little. She wrapped the wound in a bandage, her cool fingers working deftly. He stood up, hoping to just leave.

"There are more?" She asked and he looked at her.

"I– no. There are no more. That was it. I really must go. Thank you." He was getting nervous, his instincts to flee starting to take over. He just started this job. He didn't want to have to move on again so quickly.

"I'm not an idiot, nor am I cruel or judgmental. Please, sit down. Lass mich dir helfen. Let me help." The look she gave him was sincere, but this was a part of him he avoided sharing at all costs. But the look she was giving him, it was concern, true concern. He slowly sat back down, his fight or flight instinct calming slightly.

"It is alright. I know what this is. My brother has the same affliction." She said softly, her hand on his arm, her eyes on his. "I know it is not easy, but I can help you. So let me. I will tell no one. Please." He sighed and cleared his throat, trying to avoid her gaze. As if to punctuate the moment, his side twinged painfully. He waited a moment, and his gaze returned to hers. He sighed in resignation and he stood, making a decision, and pulled his robes off and then unbuttoned his shirt, sliding his left arm out of it and turning so that she could see it.

To her benefit, she didn't wince or flinch or even really react. She placed her cool hand against his rib cage and he slowly took in a breath, trying not to flinch away. She took a clean cloth and pressed it to the wounds, a hiss coming from his mouth at the heat of the cloth.

"I am sorry that this hurts you." She said in the same soft voice. She spread salve and again, the relief was instant. She placed a bandage over his ribs.

"Are these self-inflicted?" He did not answer her, but she guessed the answer for herself and he felt her fingers touch the older scars, and at this he did flinch away. She looked up at him, shock and apology on her face. He didn't want to see the pity in her eyes. He shrugged his shirt back on and then his robes.

"I– thank you… for this." He had his hand on the knob of the door when she spoke again.

"Do you transform alone?" She had stood as well. He didn't want her pity or unsolicited advice about something that she knew nothing about. "It is better not to. Wolves are not meant to be separated." He turned, flinching at the word wolf and looked down at where she stood. Her face was open and sincere and it made it worse.

"I don't need advice from you. Thank you for helping me. I have to get back to work." He turned around again and this time left the room, pushing his cart down the corridor before she had exited the room. As she stepped from the room, her foot made contact with something. She looked down at her feet. There was a box of small gloves there. She smiled a little and watched as he rounded the corner and out of sight.

Remus went home and collapsed on the bed, groaning. He would have to leave this job. He had only started a month ago. He didn't want to move on this quickly. It was too suspicious. But if she said anything, it would be more suspicious. He rolled over and waved his wand at the curtains and they snapped shut over the window. He fell into a fitful sleep.

He woke up later in the afternoon. Still tired and sore. His arm and his ribs still burned, but it felt a lot better. He got up and stretched. He pulled off the bandages. The wounds looked better, only slightly red around the edges. He let the hot water wash over it and he gritted his teeth as he washed them with soap. He got dressed and grabbed a book and settled in until it was time to leave for work. He was apprehensive as he walked through the doors around midnight. He went to the maintenance office and to his cubby. He saw a jar of the salve sitting on the shelf with a note.

Meet me for tea tomorrow? I have the day off. Merristers Tea Room. It is just a few blocks from the hospital. 8 o'clock

~Adelaide

He smiled a little and spread some of the salve on his arm and his ribs, the relief instant. He placed it back on his shelf and stared at the note, knowing he wasn't going to go, and got to work. As much as he hated it, he thought about the healer from the day before and he found himself smiling the rest of his shift anyway.

He was intrigued that she would want to talk to him. And a little skeptical. He stood on the walkway staring at the tea shop, his robes over his arm as his breath misted into the air around him. He had almost turned around several times just walking here. He saw her sitting by the window, her golden hair shimmering in the weak morning light. He felt drawn to her. He took a breath and walked in.

Lily's morning sickness was worse than it was when she had been pregnant with Harry. She was nauseous most of the day for almost a month, choking down a potion twice a day so she could eat. She was glad to wake up one day and the feeling was generally gone. Sirius stirred next to her and wrapped his arms around her, his face buried in her hair, his hand rubbing small circles on her belly. She placed her hand on his and twirled the ring around his finger. It was onyx with a silver scroll pattern. Their wedding had been quiet. Just the three of them and Remus. It had been a nice and relatively warm afternoon in January in a quiet office in the City of Charleston.

She snuggled back into him and he pressed against her in response, mumbling something into her hair, his hand moving up to cup her breast, still half asleep. Not asleep enough to get frisky, though. His legs wound their way through hers and he pressed himself against her bum and stretched out, groaning at the feeling. He slipped her underwear down and she pushed back against him as he then lowered his own, his lips on her shoulder. He pressed himself against her and she sighed, tilting her head back against the pillow, giving him better access to her neck. He nipped lightly, his breath coming quicker as he ground his hips into hers. He ran a hand down her stomach and between her legs.

She hummed at the contact and he felt her respond to his hand. He spread her thighs and rocked himself into her from behind, groaning at the sensation, their breath quickened together as he began to thrust. He kept his fingers on her all the while, feeling her come undone beneath them. He followed shortly after, his teeth making small, temporary indentations on her shoulder. He held her hips to his as he finished, fingers digging in slightly. Wrapping his arms more securely around her, he snuggled back into her, closing his eyes. She made to move away and he held her fast.

"Sirius, we have to get up." She said quietly and with a small chuckle as he tightened his hold.

"No." He replied, his face buried in her hair. She wriggled a little, pulling at his arms, only making him tighten even more, eliciting a frustrated sound from the back of her throat.

"Let's just stay here." She could hear the smile in his voice.

"We can't. We have work. Harry has school…. We can't stay here." She rationalized. He nuzzled his face closer to hers, she could feel his smile as his cheek pressed to hers.

"Fine. You win. You can get up." He rubbed his cheek against hers, the stubble on his chin making her squirm again and make a noise of complaint. He released her then and she rolled out of bed as he watched her, smirking. She walked around to the other side and pulled the blanket off of him and his smile dropped a little. She pulled on his arm and dragged him out of bed and into the bathroom. She started the shower and let it warm up while she brushed her teeth. Sirius mimicked her but came to stand behind her instead of at his own basin. He pressed his chest to her back. She tried not to smile, thrusting her elbow back and catching him in the ribs.

He winced, but didn't move, his own smile gracing his lips as he continued to brush his teeth. She leaned forward and spit and Sirius's smile grew bigger.

"Oh stop it! You're being a child." She rinsed and then stepped back, pushing him back. He smirked as he also spit and rinsed. He watched as she pulled off her shirt and got into the shower. He followed behind her, wrapping his arms around her again, his hands on her belly. She hadn't grown much in the last month, but he seemed obsessed with running his hands over her stomach.

"Sirius…. You are making this harder, not easier." She complained.

"You wish it was harder. And you're hogging the water." He turned her away from the warm spray. She sighed as he ran his hands through his hair. She reached around and grabbed a cloth and the soap and washed as they swapped spots again. Eventually, they stepped out and got dressed and ready for work.

Lily stepped out of the bedroom and went towards Harry's room. He was brushing his own teeth and Lily grabbed his clothes for the day. She helped him dress and then waved her wand once she entered the kitchen. He sat down and began to eat the cereal that was before him. Sirius was standing at the counter, drinking coffee. Lily poured herself one and Sirius took it from her hands and replaced it with a glass of orange juice. She grimaced but drank it anyway and bit into the toast on the plate.

"Go get your jacket and shoes on, little man." Sirius ruffled his hair as Harry dropped his bowl in the sink and ran to get his shoes on. Lily stole the mug of coffee back and took a large gulp and then grabbed her coat and Sirius mimicked.

"I'll drive you this morning. It's cold out there." He said as Harry struggled to get his own jacket on. He reached out and held it up so he could slide his arms in. Lily handed him his backpack and a lunchbox. "Go get in the car, Harry."

"Thank you, Sirius. Glad to see you are now acting like an adult." Lily teased.

"I'm always acting like an adult, you just don't agree with how I act adult at times. Besides, I've had my coffee." He swatted at her bum, but she sidestepped him and stuck her tongue out. They climbed into the car and Sirius took off down the street towards the school. He pulled up to the front entrance and got out. He had intended to open the door for her, but Lily was already getting out. He opened Harry's instead. He quickly hugged Sirius's leg and then took off, waving behind him. Sirius stepped up to Lily, looking over her shoulder and smirked. He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a deep kiss.

"Have to entertain my fans." He wiggled his eyebrows at her exasperated look and then waved to the other teachers who had been eying him. "I'll see you at home." He stepped back and watched as she walked away from him.

"Honey, that man watches every step you take away from him like it's painful." Shondra said as Lily walked up to join her as children made their way into the school. She was originally from Georgia and her accent was thick and languid. Lily looked up and saw Sirius was still standing there, leaning against the car. He waved and then got in the car and took off.

"He's impossible, really." Lily rolled her eyes, but waved back as he left.

"You're the envy of every married and single lady here, you know. Him on top of how stunning you are, it's an insult." Lily smiled and just shook her head, walking into the school with Shondra.

Remus and Adelaide met for tea most mornings. Their conversation was easy and comfortable. She was funny and outgoing and she loved what she did. She didn't bring up his condition after that first morning, and he was grateful. He found himself to be happier on the days he met her for tea. But as the month wore on and the full moon got closer, he started to pull away slightly. Withdrawing into himself. It was just another reminder of why they really shouldn't be friends. She let him pull away, but was always there in the tea shop, even if they didn't say much.

With the full moon close at hand, Adelaide noticed how Remus started to pull away. She let him. Her brother did this same thing. He got quiet, introspective, as he prepared for it. But he had a small pack he could turn to. People who really understood what it meant to be in his position. She knew Remus didn't have this, and it worried her. They were friends, maybe a little more than acquaintances, really, but she worried. The morning after the full moon, she wrote in to work saying that she would be running a few hours behind.

With his address in hand, she made her way by taxi to his residence in a London suburb. It seemed a little daring a choice. It was a quiet, sleepy neighborhood. 'Must be protective spells on the house' she thought as she walked up to the door and knocked. Nothing. She knocked again and still nothing. She pulled out her wand and unlocked the door and slipped in, her worry increasing. She had never seen her brother after he transformed. He was several years older than her. By the time she actually grasped the concept, he already had his own support system, his own pack. He stayed with them for days. She closed the door behind her and called out for him.

"Remus?" She walked around the downstairs. Maybe this was silly. Of course he wouldn't be here, but as she walked around, she passed a door that looked as if it was ready to fall off its hinges, held in place only by magic. She raised her wand and whispered an unlocking spell, sighing when it didn't work, obviously. She didn't want to break it down. Spell breaking wasn't her strong suit but after several tries, the door finally clicked open, she caught it with a levitating spell before it made a sound. There were deep gouges in the wood of the door and on the stairs. She took a deep breath and started down the stairs.

"Remus?" She called again. She heard a small groan and hurried down the last few steps. In the corner on a tiny little cot, curled under a threadbare blanket in the cold basement, was Remus. He was pale and shaking slightly. She let out a small gasp and rushed forward at the same time his eyes flew open and his nostrils flared. His eyes flashed at her and he scrambled into a defensive position. She pulled up short and held out her hand.

"It's alright Remus. It is just me, Adelaide. I'm here to–". She wasn't expecting him to lunge for her, and she gasped as his face was only inches from her own in a flash, his eyes were still wild, still wolfish. She blinked as his hand wrapped around her throat. She looked down, turning her head away from him, exposing her neck, submitting and at the same trying to avoid looking at his lack of clothing. He was pressed against her and she could hear and feel the rumble in his chest.

"It is just me, Remus." She reached out tentatively, as she would a wild animal, and stroked his arm. The hair on his arm stood on end at her touch, she could feel it as she slowly petted it. "It is just Addy." His hold loosened and she looked back into his face, her head still turned away from him, her chest heaving as she tried to calm her own nerves. She saw his eyes start to dim and his face change from caged animal to human panic. She flicked her wand and the blanket flew to her hand just as he dropped his hand from her skin as if she were fire. She kept her face averted as she held out the blanket for him. He snatched it immediately from her hand.

"Wha–what— what are you doing here?" His voice was hoarse and panicked. He was backing away from her, wrapping the blanket around him, a look of horror on his face as he looked down at the hand that had betrayed him. "Why would you come here!" This was louder, angry, he backed into the cot and sat down. "Get out!"

"I was worried." She picked up the medical bag she had brought, eying some nasty looking bruises on his arms and the splinters embedded in his hands. She took on a clinical manner immediately and stepped forward and reached for his hand. He was still looking at her like she was crazy and under that, there was immense guilt in his eyes. He pulled his hand out of reach.

"I told you to leave." He said, his voice still holding anger.

"Let me patch you up, please." She replied back. She held out her hand, waiting, looking into his angry, panicked face, his eyes a swirl of color. She blinked. The wolf was still very much affecting his actions. She should be afraid, she should have left the moment he had released her, but still she stayed and waited for him to place his hand in hers. His leg started to jitter up and down but he held out his hand. She waved her wand and the splinters slid out one at a time. He didn't flinch. His eyes were locked on her face, unblinking. She continued to work steadily, soaking his hand in a solution that smelled awful but healed the wounds on his hands instantly. She rubbed bruise lotion onto the darkening bruises and was just handing him a pain potion when she stopped.

He was as tense as a bow pulled taut. His leg was still jittering up and down, he had his hands wound into the blanket at his waist, his breathing had gone slightly shallow. His face was drawn tight and he was clearly very uncomfortable. She understood immediately, the way his hand balled into a fist over his groin. He cleared his throat.

"I…. I need you to leave…. Right now. Please?" His eyes pleaded as well. She stood slowly, not knowing what he would do. She was blushing so beautifully, he didn't know how much longer he could stay seated. He watched as she grabbed her bag.

"I'm s-sorry." Her face got even more red and he wanted to touch her face so badly. "I-I'll see you tomorrow." She was avoiding his gaze as she made her way swiftly up the stairs and he heard the door close behind her. He released the breath he had been holding, trying to calm down. Even moving was impossible, his erection getting painful. He barely lasted a dozen pumps before he came, gasping. He was even more embarrassed because it was because of her presence. He could still smell her in the room, on his skin and it was intoxicating. He tried to throw the wolf from his mind as he got into the shower, the water so cold it shocked him. He scrubbed at his skin, trying to wash away the very wolf that he loathed.

But he couldn't help but smile at the memory of her blushing so beautifully when she finally grasped what was going on. He found he was still smiling when he woke up later that day and made himself something to eat and repaired the basement with a wave of his wand. He was still smiling when he walked into work a day later and worked his shift and met her for tea and listened to her apologize.

"You–you really shouldn't have been there. It takes time for it… for it to… wear off. I could have– I could have…. You could have been seriously injured. You cannot do that again. I mean it. Promise me." The guilt had come back into his voice and his eyes. They were steady and ocher in the morning sunlight and they fascinated her. She found herself agreeing and then the subject was changed, but she still smiled. She didn't think he would have hurt her, even if he thought he could have. But she would keep that promise. She would not go back the morning after a full moon. If only for her own sanity.

Of course, Sirius noticed his changed mood and the smiling and he made a comment shortly after dinner.

"You're all smiles lately. Work going well? A girl that you aren't running from?" Sirius saw he had hit the nail on the head with the last one by the slight wince. "What's her name?" Remus rolled his eyes but he didn't see the harm in mentioning Adelaide. She was, after all, just a friend. And he would keep it that way.

"Her name is Adelaide. Don't make it a thing because it isn't a thing. She's just a friend."

"I find that hard to believe, but ok. Let's go with that. You met her at work?" Sirius asked. Remus nodded.

"She's a healer. Maybe a year younger than us. She is from Germany. Went to Beaubatons." He listed off.

"Beaubatons? Impressive. So she is drop dead gorgeous, got it. Your argument is getting weaker, mate. And what drew you into this 'friendship'?" He emphasized the word friendship as if it was just a pseudonym for something else.

"She knows what I am. She figured it out the first time she talked to me. She… she saw a scratch and treated it. She's seen them before– as a healer." That sobered Sirius up immediately. His face got serious as he looked at him. Not seeing the panic that would normally accompany him saying something like this, Sirius relaxed into his seat on the porch.

"She just put two and two together. Just like that? Impressive. She's pretty though, right? I bet she's pretty." Remus felt his face get a little warm and Sirius barked out a laugh. "You're predictable. Just– just don't run away from this one. Even if you are only 'just friends'. I like this smiling version of you." Sirius clapped him on the shoulder. It was at this moment that Lily came out onto the porch as well.

"Why is Remus smiling?" She asked, sitting next to Sirius.

"He met a girl." Lily's eyes lit up. "Adelaide. They work together." Needless to say, Remus was glad to get out of there that evening. It brought everything forward in his mind. He wouldn't fall in love. Even if he did, he would walk away before that ever happened anyway. He was glad that they didn't know all the details about their friendship. He was mortified by the comments Sirius would make if he learned that Adelaide had seen him as naked as the day he came into the world or what had happened after she had left.

I figured that Remus would need some romance in his life, but I always felt that Tonks was a little too young for him. 13 years is a pretty big age gap, especially for a 20 something witch and an almost 40 year old man . I still 'ship them, but I changed it for my story because I just like it better!