(AN: welcome to all new subscribers! And old! If you're still reading feel free to drop me a review, so I know you're still enjoying the story! The beginning of this chapter is a a retelling of lasts chapter, but from perspective of others.)
James Potter and Sirius Black sat stewing in the afterlife over their friend's current plight.
"This isn't good." James Potter commented, as he and Sirius Black sat on his couch, watching the events unfold through the tv looking screen on the wall.
"Thank Merlin, Lily isn't here. She'd be a wreck." Sirius rubbed his face in anxiety.
James gasp. Greyback was taunting Remus
"That bastard?!" Sirius roared. Waving an impatient hand at the screen.
"They'll get out of this. They have to." James said concerned.
"Oh, I'd kill that scum if I was there, defiling my house." Alastor Moody growled from the doorway.
"Good, Mad Eye it's you. C' Mon in." James told him instructed.
"Lupin and Weasley are really in trouble now. What's happening?" Alastor asked.
"They have them trapped at your house." James explained, shaking his head wearily. His glasses slight askew. "We don't know much else yet."
"That fucker!" Sirius yelled, as the werewolf taunted Remus more, and Arthur yelled in protest.
"Moony will be an awesome dad. Fuck you!" He continued.
"Shhhh." I want to hear him." James waved a hand at Sirius.
Mad Eye watched intently not saying anything.
When the werewolf burned the baby's picture all three of them began yelling.
"I swear, the worst part of being dead is not being able to do anything." Sirius groaned.
"Well, it looks like Grayback has grown bored with them. I want to check on Tonks." Mad Eye explained.
Suddenly, the screen changed.
Tonks and Molly Weasley appeared. They were in The Burrow's kitchen.
The men sat silently as they watched.
Tonks had her hands gripping the counter, staring off out into the yard.
"We should do something, send a message or something? I mean, it's been too long." Tonks looked at Molly stricken.
Molly looked worried too.
"Yeah, we probably should." Molly agreed, Before Tonks waved her wand, sending a message instantly.
Tonks suddenly looked tearful.
"Oh, dear it's alright. They're okay." Molly said, helping Tonks into a chair.
Tonks rubbed her small, albeit growing baby bump.
"Yeah. Yeah. I just want him to come back." Tonks nodded.
Molly surreptitiously looked over the younger women's shoulder to the wall where her clock stood.
All the hands were still pointing at 'moral peril' but that's what they were always pointing at these days.
But, he was alive. It wasn't yet pointing at 'dead."
"That clock is fairly peculiar." Mad eye grumbled on the other side.
"It is." James nodded.
"Jeez. What the ruddy hell is gonna happen next." Sirius shook his head.
"Let's just hope Mollys fancy clock doesn't change positions." Mad eye explained.
He cared for Tonks like she was his own blood. He didn't want to see anything bad happen to her husband.
After a while they, after the three had watched Tonks and Molly fret over the fate of their husbands, they switched back to Check in on Arthur and Remus.
"My God. What's happening?" James jumped to his feet.
Sirius and Mad Eye stood staring at the screen.
Something was happening. Both Remus and Arthur were both back on their feet now. Both looked stricken.
In that moment. The world stopped.
Remus stood in the basement of Mad Eyes old house. Ready to die to protect his wife and son. But.
There was a noise. A small noise upstairs. It immediately caught his attention. It was a peculiar sound.
Arthur looked at him.
Suddenly, they heard several feet run across the floor.
Grayback laughed.
And then another voice spoke. This was a voice Remus knew.
"I don't think you and I have ever met." Ashlee said.
Grayback chuckled again.
"I'd have to agree. I think I'd remember you." The werewolf crooned..
It seemed his fellows had abandoned him.
Remus grimaced.
Arthur looked at him confused, clearly unable to hear what was being said.
"Where are they? Are they dead?" She asked.
She was talking about them.
"Ashlee!" Remus yelled.
Ashlee chuckled now..
"Those two belong to me. I'll be taking them now." Ashlee said.
"Ha, is that so? You and what army?" Grayback sneered.
"Oh, you dont really want to fight me?" Ashlee chuckled in a deadly tone.
Suddenly, there was a scuffle and a crash above.
A door cashed loudly. Then footsteps could be heard echoing through the house. They came closer and closer.
Remus sighed a huge sigh of relief when Ashlee emerged at the top of the stairs.
She rattled the bared door with her hand, then forced it open, breaking the latch.
Remus grimaced. Perhaps that door hadn't been his best choice.
"You've both got two irate wives at home. Let's go." She raised a brow, pursing her lips a little.
Neither wasted a second hurdling up the stairs.
Remus and Arthur with Ashlee in tow, reappeared a short walk from The Burrow.
When they walked over the hill, The Burrow was finally in sight.
The sun was just rising over the horizon, and there was a red hue lighting up the morning sky.
Grayback had kept them there all night long.
Ashlee looked out over the horizon at the sunrise. She put her hand up, shielding her eyes.
"Let's get inside." She murmured.
As they got closer to the house, the front door swung open. Tonks emerged from the door and threw herself into Remus' arms..
"Remus." She yelled.
"What happened, where were you two? We've been fucking terrified!" She screamed and raged at him, hitting him in the chest.
"I'm so so sorry." He grabbed her.
He held her close and she stopped fighting and yelling at him.
"I'm so sorry." He reiterated, feeling her pregnant belly pressed against him. He silently reminded himself his son was safe. They were both safe.
He could feel his wife trembling in his arms. She felt about as bad outwardly as he did inwardly.
He sighed, finally feeling like he could finally breathe after hours of holding his breath.
"It's a long story. We wanted to come back. Trust me." He whispered to her.
"Come inside, both of you, you both look awful!" Molly exclaimed.
Tonks and Molly ushered both of the into the kitchen.
Molly quickly gave them both food and drink which Remus was appreciative of.
Arthur took out a bottle of fire whiskey and Remus couldn't blame him as he poured himself a tall glass.
Both told them the story about what had happened. Leaving many parts out.
Molly and Tonks gasped when they saw the burnt photo of the baby.
"He's evil." Was all Tonks could say as she sadly lamented over her son's destroyed photograph. Tears welling in her eyes. She sniffed.
Molly patted her arm and poured her a cup of juice.
Later, they walked into their flat, and Remus immediately deposited himself onto the sofa.
He felt drained. He felt like he had aged 10 years in one day.
"Remus?" Tonks questioned.
Remus turned to her.
She sat down next to him, hugging him.
"Are you okay?" She asked him now that they were alone.
Remus nodded.
"I'm alright, just tired." He admitted.
He put his hand protectively on her growing bump.
"I-I just, worried last night for the first time ever i wouldn't get to meet him. Really worried. More than ever before.
I always face death as a werewolf, but this was more. Much more."
Tonks looked at him.
"What? You guys escaped?"
"Barely." Remus' voice broke slightly.
Tonks touched his arm.
"They poured kerosene all over the house. They would have killed us if Ashlee hadn't showed up." Remus told her truthfully.
She shook and embraced him, she cried on his shoulder at this moment. The information had been overwhelming of course.
"You didn't say this earlier?" Tonks asked, sniffing.
"I hadn't even processed it earlier." Remus shook his head.
"I want to be around. I want my son to know me. I'm scared he won't." Remus' voice quivered just slightly. His second near death experience in such a short period of time had rattled him horribly.
Tonks nodded.
"You're gonna meet him. Soonish actually." She chuckled tearfully. "In 19 weeks or so."
Remus smiled wryly, but good natured.
"I love him, you know." Remus told her, seriously.
His voice full of emotion. Obviously, indicating the baby boy growing inside her belly.
Tonks could have cried but she swallowed hard, holding it back.
She nodded, nostrils flaring. "I know. I know you do." She mused.
They embraced for a long time. Not saying anything.
Nothing else needed to be said.