CHASING PAVEMENTS ⇒ wolfstar

EPILOGUE I

I KNOW IT'S NOT MUCH, BUT IT'S THE BEST I CAN DO
MY GIFT IS MY SONG, AND THIS ONE'S FOR YOU
AND YOU CAN TELL EVERYBODY THIS IS YOUR SONG
IT MAY BE QUITE SIMPLE, BUT NOW THAT IT'S DONE
I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND, I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND THAT I PUT DOWN IN WORDS, HOW WONDERFUL LIFE IS WHILE YOU'RE IN THE WORLD
-Your Song, Elton John

Remus softly groans from his placement on the velevt sofa, his mousy hair sweeping over his eyes as he struggles to squint upwards at Sirius. "Tell Moody that I'm busy," He waves Sirius off, feeling a new wave of nausea already washing over him. He brings a firm hand to his mouth.

"You're sure? I can stay home too, I'm sure Moody won't need me much-" James is the important one. Sirius won't say it out loud, though. He rubs Remus' shoulder softly, tenderly. "I can stay, with you and Otto," He offers. "You were awfully sick earlier, cold sweats and everything,"

It's true. Remus has spent most of the day at the porcelain toilet bowl's mercy. Sirius was sure it must some sort of freaky full moon symptom. Remus had been spending his full moons differently, slightly. Elliot would stay with Hope while the marauders would remain as Remus' guide. The wolf seemed content with this, Remus was sure it knew he had a child, a cub, that needed to remain safe.

Remus stands slowly, staggeringly. He shakes his head. "No, go. I'll be okay. Just a little flu," He says firmly, Elliot wobbling around their feet. "Elliot and I will hold down the fort, won't we, pretty girl?" Remus glances down at his stumbling two year old, brushing a hat over her hair.

Sirius grins. "Look at you, baby otter, walking! Well, whatever it is you're doing, certainly seems like walking to me, baby," Sirius beams with such pride it makes Remus excited to be left alone to get to what he's been meaning to get to for a few days now. Sirius bends down, hunkering down to her level.

Walking. One might call it walking; it's more tiptoeing around on the very tips of her little toes, stumbling every now and then. But she has two extremely proud and gushing parents fawning over her nonetheless.

Elliot giggles at him, tugging at his still short hair, they'd been cutting it regularly on and off since they'd moved in two years ago. Sirius loves it, and Remus can't deny that he is the biggest fan. James Potter, however, was left shocked upon his first encounter with the short haired version of his best friend.

Sirius laughs, holding her little waist gently; steadying her wobbles. "You aren't my baby otter anymore, are you, sweetheart? Be good for mummy, take care of him for me, eh? Make sure he isn't spreading that flu around," Sirius smiles as he pokes his daughter's little Lupin nose. He kisses the top of her small head, hugging her tightly.

He does this before every meeting. Remus suspect he fears he won't return. Neither of them will ever voice that, though. Remus, himself, often fears every mission will be his last. Every meeting begins with a shaky sigh and ends up a relieved, we've-made-it-through-another-one sigh.