All That's Required

When Remus reached the Shrieking Shack, he instantly set about making a final check of all the security wards. That task complete, he slipped off his clothes and folded them neatly, before stowing them away safely in a cupboard along with his wand. All the while, he couldn't erase the image of Tonks pale face as she'd clung to his hand as long as possible. Letting go and leaving her had been one of the most difficult things he'd ever had to do.

While he greatly admired Poppy Pomfrey for the natural talent she possessed for healing, he was concerned about her ability to alleviate some of Tonks' fears. Having witnessed the ease with which she'd dismissed Tonks' need -- and indeed his own -- to be together during the birth, he had to admit that he thought the Healer's brusque and matter-of-fact bedside manner was not what Tonks needed.

Remus fingers and toes pricked with the pull of the moon. He glanced out the window to see the moon slipping up the horizon. He'd spent too much time thinking and not enough time doing, and so he made an instant decision.

The dusty old floorboards rough on his bare feet, Remus dashed to the cupboard in which he'd stored his belongings, he tore open the door and rifled desperately for his wand. The second his seeking hands found purchase, he thrust his wand in the air, and conjured his Patronus. He hesitated slightly on how to word his request, but then shook himself; now wasn't the time for debating etiquette. He spoke the words and sealed the message.

In the next instant his wand clattered to the ground and he fell to his hands and knees as the last slither of the moon separated from the horizon, its power ripping through his body. Face contorted in pain and body rigid, he watched the silvery bird soar gracefully through the window.

ooOOoo

His transformation complete, Remus stood panting as the ghosts of pain left his body. He felt helpless, utterly helpless, In a way that he'd rarely felt before. Something was happening; one of the most important events in his life -- in his and Tonks' life -- and he couldn't be there. He wanted to scream in frustration, but he couldn't; it would be released as a howl, a wolfish instinct he never gave into. So instead, he paced, marking out the tracks of time with the dull pat of his pads on the wooden floor.

Over the course of his relationship with Tonks, his condition had become almost a normality, just an irritation that kept them apart for one night each month. It was never the pain of transformation that affected Remus' perception of his condition; he'd accepted that long ago. What bothered him - and it had been Tonks who'd made him realise - was his own prejudice against his kind, reflected back on himself.

Their first stab at a relationship, the year the Order of the Phoenix reconvened, had been a dream. He'd barely had a moment to think clearly for wondering over the beautiful, amazing woman who'd quite literally stumbled into his world. It had been a year of intoxicating kisses, nighttimes swathed in blankets and passion, ending with a hard landing to reality when his mission to the wolves had cut a sharp path through dreams straight back to his old prejudice.

And it had intensified.

Witnessing first hand the despicable practices of his kind, their bitterness and hatred, he'd startled with revulsion at their behaviour. But as he'd tried to convince them of other ways, his loathing had hardened into self-hatred as he considered that this was what he would have become by nature had he not been sent to school.

Grief had set him straight. The keen strike of pain he'd felt when the news of Dumbledore's death had been delivered to him set him on the road to peace. He'd refused her once again, yes, but it was habit by then, a measure to protect himself, to distance himself from what he knew he'd find in her eyes: welcome, love and belief.

An hour of solitude after all the commotion had receded had allowed him to realise that not a single one of the creatures he'd spent a year calling fellows could possibly be capable of feeling the pain that he felt for the death of his mentor; they took help and guidance and felt no gratitude. Remus took and Remus gave. He loved and could be loved.

He'd needed time, of course, to adjust his reasoning, to fully accept everything that a full life with another person had to offer. But his condition slowly became a less defining factor of his life. Her love and vivacity took so much space at centre stage that it couldn't help but be pushed to the edge.

Even now, as he paced back and forth across the old oak floor of the Shrieking Shack, bathed in moonlight, it wasn't his condition that he cursed.

It was timing.

The image of Tonks' small, frightened face was burned in his mind's eye. She was never one for helplessness, but this was a new, unknown experience, and fear for their baby contributed to her vulnerable state to no minor extent. He wanted to hold her hand, stroke her face as she laboured to bear their child; encourage her, reassure her, begin to play his role as father. That was nature. Human nature; to protect his wife and child and he could not deny it.

How she was doing? Were the contractions lasting longer? Coming closer together? He desperately wished he'd asked to be kept informed; though if he had news, it would only feed his frustration. Was Tonks alone? Did she have someone to hold her hand? She had almost been in tears when he'd left; he'd had the sense that she was holding back for his sake.

His thoughts were interrupted by a glowing light; he recognised it instantly as Molly's whale Patronus. He watched as it floated towards him, tail and fins bobbing, then opened its yawning mouth to speak the words of its message.

"Tonks is doing well. Her labour's moving on slowly, but she's comfortable enough for now. She says to tell you that she loves you and to get some sleep, because regardless of what happens while you're away, you will need your energy tomorrow. I will look after her until you return."

Remus breathed a deep sigh of relief. Molly had come. Tonks wasn't alone. She was doing okay.

And thinking of him.

Sleep. He needed to sleep. Tonks was right. All this pacing wasn't going to do either of them any good. He had to be at his best tomorrow; whether he made it back in time or not, he should be in as good a physical condition as he could be.

He was going to be a father.

He padded to the dusty bed in the corner, and leapt to lie upon it. As he rested his head on his paws, he tried to clear his thoughts of the present, and instead allowed himself to think of the most defining moments of the last nine months.

He remembered their joy when the Healer had told them yes, she was pregnant, finally after almost a year of trying. He remembered how each day she'd stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom trying to decide if she'd grown since the previous day, and her delight the day her jeans had not buttoned over her tummy, and she'd Flooed to the Burrow so Molly could let out all her robes. He remembered how each and every day of watching their tiny little miracle grow bigger and stronger -- the baby sometimes felt like it was playing Beater inside Tonks-- had drawn them closer.

Finally, with the moon high in the sky, he drifted off.

ooOOoo

To describe what she'd felt when Molly had swept into the Room of Requirement as incredible relief would have been an understatement. Tonks liked Poppy, but the Healer's less than informative updates on her progress and professional detachment were more than a little frustrating. Molly was experienced enough in these matters that surely she could let Tonks know what to expect. And Molly would be able to make small talk, help the time pass more quickly, and most importantly, understand how much of a wrench it was that Remus was not here.

Molly bustled about, making tea and tucking Tonks more tightly into bed. Tonks' gaze constantly drifted to the Lunascope, thankful that she could watch the moon's progress in this windowless room and she wouldn't be constantly asking Molly for the time and having to work out the calculations in her head.

Contractions came and went at long intervals, and in the meantime Tonks walked around the room to ease her tensed muscles and work out some of the restless energy that was building inside her. Molly rubbed her back in slow soothing circles, and spoke reassuringly when questioned.

By five am, the contractions had started to come more frequently and Tonks was constantly checking the Lunascope, pleading silently to the baby to please wait for Daddy.

She need not have worried; an hour later, panting, and with beads of perspiration on her brow, she watched with relief as the moon disappeared into the box. Remus was in his own body once more. He would be here in time.

The next contraction over took her, and she squeezed Molly's hand but did not allow her eyes to close; they were trained steadfastly on the door.

As the last waves of pain washed through her, the door flew open and Remus was there. His eyes found hers immediately, he was still straightening his shirt, his hair was in desperate need of a comb, but a huge grin spread across his face, and she knew that it was mirrored on hers.

ooOOoo

Remus crossed the room and took his place at her side, taking her hand and placing a kiss on her forehead. "You made it," she whispered.

"I did," he replied, squeezing her hand. "How has it been so far?"

"Not too bad, so far. Molly's been fantastic. I'm tired though." Suddenly, her expression changed and she frowned at him in concern. "How are you? I'm not the only one who's had a rough night."

"I'm fine, love. Don't you worry about me," he glanced up at Molly briefly, smiling broadly, and then shifted his gaze back to Tonks. "Apparently the prospect of seeing your child for the first time is a miracle post-transformation cure."

"Well don't expect me to give birth every month, will you?" Tonks said dryly.

Over the next two hours, Remus found himself fulfilling all the duties he'd prepared to do over the last seven months, and he brimmed with pride all the while. He was proud of Tonks, of her strength and endurance for their baby and for him; and he was proud to find himself in this situation, at the brink of fatherhood.

In the final moments, he bent his head very close to hers, held her hand tightly and whispered encouragement as tears streamed down her face. It hurt desperately to see her in such pain, but soon it would all be over and they would be parents, and that thought carried him through. The sound of the baby's cry was the most beautiful thing he'd ever heard. He took Tonks' face and kissed it as she gasped for breath and then together they watched as Poppy placed the tiny, red faced baby on Tonks' chest.

"A little girl," she pronounced.

Remus was stunned, his mouth fell open slightly, and a powerful emotion rose in his chest. A little girl. He had a daughter…They had a daughter, and she was the most perfect thing he'd ever seen. He marvelled at her tiny little fingers, with perfect little fingernails, her head was covered in soft downy hair, her perfect little nose; she was beautiful.

Tonks looked at her, speechless and reached to touch one of her tiny hands. "Oh Remus," she breathed, looking up at him in joyous wonder.

"She's beautiful," he whispered, reaching out with a shaking hand to touch the baby's cheek. "Just like her mum," he added, leaning in to place a kiss on Tonks' forehead.

Just then, Poppy stepped up take the baby away to check her over and wrap her up. Tonks protested slightly and then watched until Poppy's body obscured their little girl.

"I'm so proud of you," Remus said, pushing her damp fringe off her forehead and kissed her lips. He pulled back to look at her, and though her face told of exhaustion, her eyes were lit with joy.

When Molly walked over to the bed, Remus was startled; he'd forgotten she was there, having taken a seat in the corner of the room when he'd arrived.

"Congratulations," she said, a wide smile on her face and tears shining in her eyes. She reached up and gave Remus a quick hug and then turned to Tonks and cupped her cheek briefly.

"Now then," she said, in her best mothering tone. "Let's get you cleaned up before little Miss Lupin gets back." She took her wand from her robes, and cast a Scourgify on Tonks, and another on the sheets, tucking them back in at the bottom. While Molly worked, Remus took a flannel from the bedside table and ran it softly over Tonks' face. Then he sat her up gently and rearranged the pillows behind her, helping her to sit up a little more.

Just as she'd finished, Poppy returned with the baby, now wrapped snugly in a pristine white blanket, and placed her in Tonks' arms. "Does she have a name?" Poppy asked.

Remus looked down at his daughter, and then at Tonks who nodded to him, "Eva," he said with a grin, "Eva Jane."

-To live is gracious-

The End

The MetamorFicMoon Christmas Moon Fic Advent is still taking sign-ups, so if you fancy getting in the Christmas sprit with a little festive R/T writing, do come and join us. If you're more of a reader than a writer, posting starts on the 1st of December so look out for some super Christmas fic! You can find a link to the community in my Live Journal, the link to which is my homepage in my profile.