𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. ʀ. ʟᴜᴘɪɴ

thirty-nine

December rolled around quickly.

Evangeline and Remus were slowly but surely rebuilding their relationship, but they had yet to establish anything.

Sirius was, in fact, ecstatic to see Mary. The three spent hours catching up at Sirius' home, Remus being the first to leave when Evangeline yawned at one in the morning from the couch.

"A Christmas baby shower sounds like a good idea," Evangeline said as Remus fumbled with the parts of the crib.

The two invited the Weasleys to the shower, Molly bounced off the walls when she got the invitation. The two decided to wait until Harry was home to have the shower, Sirius said he wanted to attend but they had a feeling he was fibbing.

"This is bloody impossible," Remus grumbled.

After clearing out the spare room in his home, they began to plan decorate with little trinkets and decorations they bought. They had a blast shopping at antique stores, Remus insisted on buying every little thing Evangeline looked at for a little too long.

"Shall I fetch your wand?" she asked, smiling as she leant up against the doorframe, popping an orange slice into her mouth.

"No," he quickly said, "I want to do this the old-fashioned way."

"Magic is fashioned, Remus."

He groaned, "you know what I mean."

"Alright then."

As Remus put the crib together and let out strings of curse words, Evangeline decorated the room. Sirius had already bought clothes for the baby, despite them telling him to save it for the shower and him responding with, "what, you don't think I won't be buying more? I'm giving this child everything."

"Bloody hell!"

She chuckled, "need help?"

"No."

He sat up on his knees, staring down at the parts of the crib that were scattered. He picked up the directions, "do you think they make it complicated to prepare us for parenthood or do they just think it's funny to stress us out even more?"

"Maybe consider taking a break," Evangeline said, "you've been at this all afternoon."

"And not one single bit is put together. Maybe handiwork just isn't my thing, it should be my thing."

"No shame in using magic, Remus."

He sighed and stayed on his knees, hands resting on his thighs. She smiled and walked to him, placing her hands on his shoulders. He looked at her stomach, poking it carefully, "you better be worth it."

"She absolutely is," Evangeline said.

He kissed her stomach, "she is."

Remus was anything if not stubborn. He eventually got the crib together, with no magic and when he was finished he looked so tired like he was the one carrying a child. He laid on the couch on his stomach, face buried into the pillow.

She sat down on the edge of the couch as Fleetwood Mac's Rumors played softly on the record player in his living room, chuckling as she rubbed his back.

"Good job."

He gave a huff in response, moving his head so that he could look up at her. He placed a hand on her stomach, "baby's kicking."

"Trust me, I know. She's been quite active recently."

"It's because she knows she's already a pain in my arse," he whispered, mostly to Hope.

"A pain in your arse? Which one of us is pregnant here?"

"Oh, I know you get the brunt of her fury."

"That I do."

He weakly sat up and Evangeline sat further onto the couch, kicking her feet up on the coffee table.

"Hungry?" he asked.

"Can you even get up to cook a meal?"

"I can get up long enough to phone that takeout restaurant."

"Hmm..."

"Sound good?"

She nodded, brushing her hand over his cheek gently, "you know the way to my heart, mister Lupin."

He blushed and turned away from her, letting out a small groan as he got up. After he called the restaurant and ordered half the menu, he walked back to the couch. Evangeline had moved so she was lying on her back, and he lifted her legs so he could sit down with them in his lap. He massaged her calfs lightly, "how're you feeling?"

"Alright," she said.

"That's good," he said, continuing to massage her legs as he gazed over at her. 

She smiled lightly, "what?"

He shook his head, "nothing, just thinking about how incredibly lucky I am. I've got a beautiful woman with her legs in my lap carrying our child."

"I'm pretty damn lucky as well."

Songbird flooded into their ears as they gazed at one another. Something that came with knowing Remus was knowing how much he loved Fleetwood Mac, and how much he adored this song.

"Dance with me?" Remus asked. 

"I thought you were tired?"

He stood up, holding out his hand for hers to take, "never took tired to dance with you."

She took his hand and he gently pulled her up from the couch. He stepped close to her, placing a hand on her lower back while the other one held her hand. She placed her free hand on his shoulder as they gently swayed.

"What happened to you having two left feet?"

"I don't think I do, I was just dancing with the wrong people."

"Is that so?"

"Quite so."

They continued to sway gently, to Evangeline's surprise he was the one leading the dance. 

"You know I've always loved this song, but the first time I listened to this song after meeting you I instantly thought of you. I wanted to feel the love these lyrics held for someone, and I found it in you. I really do love you like never before, Evangeline."

"I love you," she answered, resting her head on is chest. 

His chin went to rest on the top of her head, feeling perfectly content. 

'Cause I feel that when I'm with you
It's alright, I know it's right

"No matter how much I try to push you away and tell myself that it's wrong that I've let myself get so close to you because of my condition, my heart truly sings when you're near and it never feels more right. You have managed to completely rewire my brain and nervous system to the point that I never feel right when you're not around."

She kept her head on his chest, turning on her other cheek so that she was looking up at him, "then don't push me away. I'm right here."

He picked his chin up off her head and looked down at her, dipping his head so that he could kiss her. She tightened her hold on his hand, a silent plead for him to never let her go. 

Their lips parted, but he kept them brushed against hers. 

"I want you," he whispered. 

"You've got me."