I Will Always Be With You

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A/N: Hello, I am sorry for the wait and for the short length of this chapter, but life is crazy right now and I am kinda in finals and also in the middle of moving back to my country... so I apologize. I promise that the next one will be better.

Remus was cleared to leave a little after lunchtime. He remembered his youth when he was not strong enough. Not used to the pain. He had not been able to move comfortably for days. Years of monthly torture had taken a toll on him and his pain tolerance, so when his school days came around he could bear with the pain after a day in bed.

It was incredible, really, the only pain that he could still feel was his bandaged ankle. Even though the physical pain was minimal, Remus' mind had taken the tool. He couldn't stop thinking about the beast. Even when Severus was helping him walk back to the little family's quarters, with Harry by his side, holding Remus' hand, he couldn't keep his mind away from the beast body. He had to talk to Severus. Not only to tell him about the potion's effects, but also because he felt that he could trust Severus with his worries.

They sat down on the sofa, Harry knelt in front of the coffee table, coloring some pictures in one of his books. Severus took his hand after a moment. It must have been longer than just a moment because Severus seemed worried. His eyes were soft, bearing his soul to Remus, trusting him with his emotions.

"How are you feeling?" Severus asked in a small voice.

"I...I am still not sure... I will need to talk to you about everything..."

"Whenever you are ready." Severus smiled softly, understanding. "Harry, do you want to help me prepare some tea?"

At the mention of his name, Harry looked up from his drawing and nodded to his Dad. He was trying his best to stay as invisible as possible. He knew that Remus was not feeling like himself today, so he tried to stay out of his way. He stood up and walked with his Dad to the kitchen.

"Dad, can I have one of the chocolate biscuits? They are very yummy." Harry asked while giving his best puppy dog eyes to Severus.

Severus chuckled softly, he was incapable of saying no to those eyes. "Sure thing, son, but just one, alright? Take one to Remus too, he hasn't tried them yet."

Severus busied himself with the preparation of the tea, taking the time to think about how to talk to Remus. That morning he had felt hope. Hope for a future with someone he had come to care for. But after all, he had only had a small number of people that dare to come as close as Remus had, one of them was dead... the other is Lucius, who was still putting up with him.

"Severus, have you been hiding the chocolate from me?" Remus' voice came from somewhere behind him, making him jump.

"I am not hiding anything, you never asked for it." Severus smiled to himself, making sure that Remus couldn't see him.

"Outrageous." Remus rested his chin on Severus' shoulder. "are you going to tell me where the rest of it is?"

"Is chocolate all it takes to improve your mood? And don't even try to give me puppy eyes, you have to be a role model to Harry, at least wait until he is in bed. I don't want a hyperactive toddler running around so late in the afternoon."

Remus sighed but didn't back away from his position. He leaned even closer, testing the waters. Once he was hugging Severus from behind he asked, "Is this ok?"

Severus nodded, not trusting his voice. He was nervous, he hadn't had any romantic partners in his life, so he didn't know exactly what he was supposed to do. Severus poured the tea in the mugs and looked up. "Let's...let's go to the living room." He was unsure whether he wanted to move.

Remus nodded, "and for the record, yes, chocolate improves everything." He smirked at Severus and then walked back to the sofa.

Soon enough, Harry was put to bed. The adults, still very much awake, sat down in the sofa. Severus took the initiative this time, handing Remus the chocolate that he had been asking for and leaning slightly against him. Remus smiled softly and put his arm around the man, bringing him closer.

"We have to talk... about last night, I... I need to talk about it," Remus whispered, "it was... rough..."

After a second of silence, Severus spoke, "was it painful? Are you ok?"

"It was... but it was not that bad... I just... I saw it, Severus, I saw the thing, like myself..." Remus was on the verge of crying, "I had to move with those limbs... they were... deformed, long and... how can you look at me... that thing... how could my friends look at me..."

"Remus... I am so glad I ever decided to give you a chance, you are the kindest person in the world." Severus detangle himself from Remus' arms, so he could look him in the eyes. "Tell me... what were you thinking while in that form, what was your main worry"

"I don't want to hurt Harry, or you, I don't want to hurt anyone for that matter... my biggest concern is that... what if the fifth year happens all over again?"

"We are going to work so that doesn't happen, so you don't have to worry about that, but for now... remember, Harry loves you, I... I care about you, you are not alone, and we will work through this, alright?"

Remus looked into Severus eyes that were so soft and full of trust. He nodded before trying to speak again, holding Severus loosely by his waist. Severus' arms somehow, had ended up resting on Remus' shoulders, he was practically in his lap, but it did not feel out of place or weird.

"What I said this morning... I do like you, I don't know how it has come to this, but I do... all I could think about last night when I was alone in that bed... was about you, about having you with me, sleeping and cuddling together." Remus smiled through the tears that were still slipping down his cheeks.

"Harry was right... I couldn't sleep... I don't think I could even if I had tried, you weren't there... it would have felt weird." He looked down embarrassed. "I like you too... but you must know... I haven't... I haven't done relationships, I had had a couple of one-night stands... especially with the death eaters, they liked their 'entertainment', but I haven't... care this much about anyone..."

"We will figure it out together..." Remus was beaming, he leaned closer to Severus, close enough to feel his breath. "Is this ok?"

Severus could only nod before leaning the rest of the way, meeting Remus on the kiss. It started slow and soft. Severus was tense at first, but the taste of Remus' lips and the tongue that lightly swept on his bottom lip encouraged him to take it further. Then, it was desperate but full of everything they felt. It was truly beautiful, or so Severus thought.

Once they broke apart, Remus was smiling like a fool, being happy after the storm. He hugged Severus close, bringing him to his lap. Severus giggled, trying to hide it, he was not a teenage girl, after all, playing with Remus' hair. They were happy, at least at that moment. Remus finally was back with his little family.