The Werewolf's Child

Epilogue: Three Years Later

It was the Easter Hols, so Amanda was home from Hogwarts on the afternoon of Gavin's game. Gavin played chaser for the Nettington Nargles in the Niffler Scouts Junior Quidditch League and his team had made it into the semifinals. The day was springlike but still chilly. Sev insisted that Oakley wear his winter jacket and a hat. Normally Oakley would have put up more of a fuss about this, but he was so excited about the game that he stood still and tolerated his father as he zipped and buttoned him into his winter clothing, a look of forbearance for the follies of adults on his three year old face.

Remus, who'd had a stomach bug he couldn't shake, came out of the downstairs loo looking pale but determined. He knew it was important to Gavin that he be at this game. He brushed off Sev's efforts to get him to do the sensible thing and stay home. Sev was really quite concerned about him. He had that drawn look about the eyes that he usually only got just before the moon, and Sev was fairly sure he'd lost weight.

Still, Remus insisted on going, so Sev made him wear two sweaters and his winter cloak. And a hat. He fussed over him almost as much as he had over Oakley and they nearly missed the start of the game.

They all piled into the old Ford Anglia, which Arthur Weasley had lured back from the wild. He'd lovingly restored it, then lent it to Remus and Sev, saying they needed it more they he did, with all their kids. All of his were old enough to apparate by now, he'd added, a bit wistfully. Sev was deeply suspicious of the car, but Remus actually enjoyed driving it, and it was a convenience.

They arrived at the quidditch pitch just before the players were announced. Gavin raced off to join his team. Dudley and Draco, who had gotten a place of their own by now,  joined them at the last minute. Draco rarely missed Gavin's games. They were looking relaxed and rosy, as if they'd just tumbled out of bed, thought Sev ruefully.

The sun came out and the wind died down and it really seemed like spring at last. Sev ended up holding onto a big pile of the extra sweaters and hats he'd made everybody put on. Gavin was an excellent chaser - intense and focussed. He scored three goals in a row and Sev knew he'd be elated afterwards - elated and hard to settle down. Oakley watched the game with huge eyes, jumping up and down at every goal, his whole three year old frame wriggling with excitement, his chunky body pressed to the chain link fence that divided the spectators from the playing field, clinging tightly to Amanda's hand.

The Nargles won, catapulted into the finals largely due to Gavin's three goals. His face shone with happiness. Draco and Dudley hung around long enough to congratulate Gavin and they disapparated - off to a Saturday afternoon of the gym and the pub and more sex, probably, thought Sev as he watched them go.

Sev and Remus took the children into the village for ice cream. The day was so nice they decided to take a short hike through the woods to a small hill where there was a vista of the surrounding countryside. The children tumbled up the trail ahead of them "Don't get too far ahead," Remus called. Oakley's small legs were pumping hard to keep up with the other two but they were patient with him and stopped and waited for him frequently along the trail. Sev and Remus followed behind at a leisurely pace, enjoying the glorious sunshine and the beautiful day and the general sense of peace and contentment that they both felt.

Except suddenly Remus veered off the trail and into the bushes. He was puking again. He stood up, pale, wiping his mouth. He asked Sev if he'd thought to bring any water. Of course, Sev hadn't, but he cast Aguamenti . Remus gratefully rinsed his mouth with the stream of water from Sev's wand.

Remus sat on a rock in the spring sunshine to catch his breath. Sev looked him over critically. It was odd that he was still sick. They'd all had it but that had been weeks ago. Why wasn't he better?

"You should be getting over this already," Sev said with concern. Remus had definitely lost weight, and there was a familiar full look to his lips .... as if...... but no, that couldn't be....

"Sev," said Remus, looking him in the eye. Sev's growing suspicions were suddenly confirmed. He felt as if a huge chasm had just opened up inside him and his stomach had dropped neatly into it.

"No," said Sev. "No.... how could it?"

"I think I am," said Remus.

"No," said Sev again. "How is that even possible?"

"I feel exactly the same as last time," said Remus.

"It's not possible," said Sev again. "It's......impossible." Maybe saying it enough times would somehow make it true. "I thought you were.......all boy again."

"Well, so did I. But what if....the.....birth canal never really closed," said Remus slowly. "What if...... remember that night a couple of months ago? We'd been drinking? It was Draco's birthday, remember? And afterwards, we got kind of sloppy and sort of .... exploded all over each other? Maybe things got kind of mixed up, then..... and...." Remus trailed off.

Sev did remember. He remembered vividly. It had been sexy as hell. He had been so grateful, at the time, for what they shared. He sat down in the middle of the trail and put his head in his hands. "Fuck!" he said. "Merlin's hairy tits! You don't really think....?"

Remus looked at him and shrugged.

"Remus....I can't......we can't....go through that again."

"It'll be your baby," Remus said quietly. "Yours and mine."

"That doesn't matter," said Sev at once. "That's never mattered to me. I don't want....I can't risk....losing you again."

"It was all right last time," said Remus. "We got through it."

"Barely."

"It'll be easier this time. We know what to expect. And we're not at war." Remus reached out and stroked Sev's cheek. "Aren't you a little bit happy about this?"

Sev grasped Remus' hand. Through the waves of panic that were engulfing him he started to feel a small tingle of excitement, of hope. A baby! Another child to love!

"Maybe," he said cautiously. He gave Remus a tiny smile.

"MoonyPapaMoonyPapaMoonyPapa," came Oakley's familiar chant in his lilting voice as he ran back down the trail and hurled his compact body into Sev's lap. Sev held him tight, put his nose to his soft brown hair. He breathed in his little boy smell, sharp and clean. Every day of his life felt like a miracle, like a gift he wasn't supposed to get, and loving Oakley was at the center of it.

"There's tadpoles in the pond! Real tadpoles! And they gots legs!" Oakley said, with excitement. He stood up and tugged at Sev's hand. "Come an' see!"

Sev rose. He gave Remus a hand up from where he sat on the rock. "Let's go see the tadpoles," he said, with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. He pulled Remus close, just for a second and whispered in his ear. "We'll stop at Tescos and pick up a test on the way home."

Remus nodded in agreement and they went off down the trail, with Oakley pulling impatiently at Sev's hand, to look at the tadpoles.