A/N: A little Remus/OC for the most part and a sprinkling of our favorite couple at the end.
*******Vonn*******
This was it. This was all about getting Remus to see her as a possible lover. So, following Hermione's advice, Vonn showed up at Lupin's home looking like a whole meal. Last year for her birthday dinner she bought a red dress that hugged her curves. Unfortunately she was called on an assignment that lasted weeks and she never got a chance to wear it. Now; however, she had an even better reason for wearing it. She added red stilettos and a bit of perfume and she was ready. Remus wouldn't know what hit him.
So here she was, standing on his doorstep, a pan of lasagna in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. She knocked on the door, butterflies fluttering in her stomach as she waited for him to answer it. This was risky. He could laugh at her, reject her. Maybe showing up like this would just confuse him and ruin the friendship they had developed. It was entirely possible that all of her feelings were completely one sided and that she had manifested this attraction between them completely in her mind. Or maybe…
"Vonn! I uh…..um…." Remus stared at her for a moment, gobsmacked. He had dressed up as well and even added gel to his hair. Although Vonn privately preferred his messy professor look, she smiled at the extra care he put into his appearance this evening. It was a good sign. "You look amazing."
She grinned, "Why thank you Remus, and you don't look too bad yourself," she winked. After a moment of him just staring at her, Vonn decided to take the lead. "Here, put those muscles of yours to use and open this wine, I'll go warm this up," she directed, slipping past him and entering his home. She made sure to brush past him and add an extra sway to her hips as she walked. They both walked to the kitchen, Remus went left to fetch something to uncork the bottle and Vonn turned on the oven. "Top or bottom?"
Remus coughed, "Excuse me?"
"Do you want it on the top or bottom? The lasagna I mean. I don't know the best rack to place it," Vonn explained, a twinkle in her eyes as she looked at him. The way he was caught off guard….what was he thinking about just then? He motioned to the bottom rack and Vonn noticed how his eyes stayed glued to her. Even without facing him, she knew he was looking at her ass. "Well, it shouldn't take long for it to heat up. Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me by the way," she added, moving to stand next to Remus as he poured them both a glass of wine.
"Don't mention it. I've been meaning to thank you for all the help you've given me," Lupin acknowledged as he handed her a glass. Their fingers brushed and Vonn felt some warmth traveling through her body. "You were just supposed to help us fight, but you stayed to help with the aftermath. As well as personally helping me, and helping me with my son. And he has bonded to you in such an incredible way. I…."
"Yes?"
"I have something for you," he finished, much to her surprise. She nodded for him to go retrieve whatever it was, taking a hearty sip of her wine as she waited. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she was certain whatever he brought out she would like. However when he returned with a small, flat square box, she was puzzled. "I thought about simply owling it to you, but giving it to you now, in person, seems like the best idea."
When he opened it she gasped, her fingers drifting towards the box. Inside was a dainty gold necklace, with a delicately carved flower as the pendant. "An orchid. My favorite."
"Yes, I know," he nodded. "It's not too much….is it?"
She shook her head, "No. It's perfect. Thank you so much."
"May I?" He offered, and Vonn nodded. He lifted the necklace from its case and gestured for her to turn around. In a matter of seconds the necklace was clasped around her neck, and Vonn was facing him again. "Lovely," he remarked, reaching out and stroking the pendant that rested just above the crease of her breast. "So lovely," he repeated this time, meeting her eyes.
Vonn could tell that he was waiting for something. A sign or a word before he made his move. This was the moment. Either she gave him the green light or not and whatever she did now would determine the future of their relationship. So bravely, she took a step forward, reaching up to cup his cheek; their bodies pressed together. "This is quite possibly one of the best gifts I have ever received," Vonn admitted. "And yet, I find myself yearning for something much more precious."
"So do I."
And then he kissed her with reckless abandon.
*******Hermione*******
"Please tell me we are not about to have three of these…..things, around the house," Severus groaned in the background and Hermione giggled.
"Why yes we are Severus, and I suspect you to be even more of a pushover than you're being right now," she pointed out. Still, her heart went out to her poor fiancé. As she promised Vonn, Hermione and Severus were watching Teddy Lupin this evening. It seemed the Weasley's had a date night which Hermione thought was very sweet. What was not sweet was the way the tiny toddler screamed and cried whenever he didn't get his way. Teddy seemed to love it when Severus carried him around on his back, his chubby hands grasping at Severus's long, inky locks. Hermione could see that Severus was dog tired, but he was such a softy.
"Come here love, Uncle Sev has had enough. Plus it's getting late and your Daddy made it clear that we should stick to your ritual," Hermione cooed, maneuvering the fussy child in her arms. He wasn't quite walking just yet, although he could crawl with lightning speed. Both Hermione and Severus spent hours chasing him around the mansion. Severus was stuck doing most of the work seeing as her belly often got in the way.
"That's it. I'm gonna need to get back to my workout regimen if I'm meant to keep up with triplets," Severus huffed after they finished up Theodore's routine and put him to bed. Both he and Hermione were sprawled out in bed and Severus's hand was grazing her stomach fondly. It was a habit he had picked up once she revealed her pregnancy and honestly Hermione found it incredibly endearing. Plus the gentle motions helped to put her to sleep.
At his declaration, she smiled in the dark room. "Me too. But admit it, you had fun today didn't you?"
"Too much fun really. I can't wait to be a Dad," Severus admitted.
Hermione covered the hand on her belly with one of her own. "You already are one, my love."
