A big thanks to Pamela RR!

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The cocoon of blankets around his naked body was only providing him a false sense of comfort. He was wide awake within their warmth, an unknown fact to the woman next to him. A woman he knew, without a doubt, was also awake.

He could hear the change in her breathing, perhaps both trying to avoid what was bound to happen (yet again), but it was of no use. They were both players in this unwinnable game that has lasted for too long. But this time, he thought to himself, would be the last.

Remus got out from beneath the covers to approach the large window that overlooked the rocky cliffs and the quiet sea. He closes his eyes to let the view imprint in his memory, how the blue of the water mimics the color of her eyes. But he will no longer daydream about such things. Any second now, she will play her hand.

"Remus?"

"Yes," he replies, hearing the change in her breathing and readying himself for the oh-so-familiar talk.

"I can't do this any longer."

And so it begins, he thinks as he moves about the room, collecting his clothing. He no longer wants to stand in her gaze stripped of everything.

"We are both aware this doesn't work, not with the lives we both live. I have my duties. You have your child…your…affliction." The tone of that word caused Remus to look at her, then look away as he continued to dress. The reality is, Remus does understand. Their world sees him as a monster, even three years after the war nothing has truly changed. Losing his wife, being a single father, fighting for the Order. Not even a bloody Order of Merlin First Class was enough to change the wizarding world's view of him or his kind. And regarding this relationship, wasn't he the one who always took her back?

"Keeping you a secret is a weight on me. I'm sure you feel the same way."

"Fine," he replied.

"That is all you have to say?"

"Well, who am I to keep you down?" he replied with a sad smile. "You're Lady Malfoy. You can have the pick of any wizard. You're beautiful, rich, and ready for a new husband. If the burden of being with me is too heavy for you. I give you freedom."

Narcissa's blue eyes stare at him as though she had only come to realize he was no longer naked. Instead fully clothed and ready to leave. She moved to get out of bed but stopped when Remus raised a hand.

"Please, don't let me keep you from your lie-in," he said with a tone even he found a bit patronizing. "I'm sure from all your duties you need the rest. I'll leave." He watched her irritation darken her cheeks.

"You know I'm right about this, Remus," Narcissa said, tight-lipped.

"It's only right that you should play the way you feel it."

"This isn't a game, Remus!"

"No, no it isn't. But I do know that it feels as though I'm the one being played and I don't want to play anymore, Narcissa. I thought we made each other happy. I thought my love for you was good enough. Our dreams would be revived. We helped heal each other after losing a piece of both our hearts." Narcissa turned away from him. Her eyes would not meet his.

"I'm no longer going to keep my arms nor my heart open, so you can step in and out whenever you feel works best for you. Wizards will come and go," he continued. "Then once you wash your hands of them you will know."

Her reaction, a huff with false amusement.

Walking toward the bedroom door, Remus stopped himself and made himself look at her just once more.

"It may not be tonight or tomorrow night, perhaps not even a quiet night a year from now," he smiled sadly once again. "The loneliness in your heart will make you wander in your memories. And in the stillness of remembering what you had. And what you lost. And what you had. But lost for good."

The closing of the door echoed through the quiet room.

Prompt:

Any Pair

Song Prompt: Dreams by Fleetwood Mac