"We're engaged!" I said with a smile showing off the ring around the table.

"Oh, it's lovely!" Lily and Alice said in unison.

"Good job, buddy." Marlene winked to Remus.

"Yeah, nice." All the boys, except Sirius said.

Sirius stayed staring at it, a sadness in his eyes that hasn't left since Reggie passed. I smiled at him and he smiled back, which I could tell was hard for him. I didn't mind that he didn't react to the news, it just meant a lot that he joined us around the potters dining table and didn't remain locked up in their guest room.

James said he'd been doing well. Sirius concentrated on the night feeds and changes for baby Harry, as he couldn't sleep properly at night. Lily said she has never seen him act so gently, as he did with their little one.

You could tell just by looking at him how tired he was. Dark eyes overlaying his pale skin, almost as dark as bruises. Unkept hair and a permanent stubbles, which he once shaved smooth. His clothes were already fitting looser; Lily telling us he was struggling, but finally attempting to eat.

But he was safe and trying, which I was so grateful for.

"Isn't it crazy?" Lily said with a nostalgic smile.

We all looked at her to continue.

"We're all growing up." She completed her sentence.

"Don't remind me." Peter mumbled. Which everyone (except Sirius, again) laughed at; though I could sense something in his voice that suggested to me as if the thought of ageing was actually a problem for him. Which was interesting.

"A new generation of us are here." Frank said, rocking baby Neville as Harry sat Sirius' arms. As if the weight of a baby was grounding him. Lily lingering over both of them.

"And you two are getting married and hopefully will eventually provide a girl to this new generation?" Alice added, with a hopeful wink.

Remus spluttered on his drink.

"We haven't discussed babies." He nervously laughed and I reacted similarly.

"But you'll have one, right? Eventually?" Lily asked, seeming curious too.

Both Remus and I exchanged a nervous glance.

"Remus doesn't want kids." Sirius bluntly said, his voice sounding weak as he hadn't spoken much.

"Oh, really?" Lily seemed disappointed.

"Was hoping Harry would fall in love with a little Lupin. For fuck sake." James rolled his eyes playfully, hoping to change the sudden awkwardness of the mood.

The thought of children never sparked anything within me, either and I could tell all of the girls were searching for a negative reaction to that statement, from me. Surprised to see that I seemed unphased.

"I've never seen myself becoming a mother. Maybe Peter can provide the girl." I added with a smirk.

I could see Remus' shoulders relax and Peter's stiffen.

"He needs to find one first." Frank joked.

"Yeah come on buddy, we're all gonna be moving on without you." James joked too, which caused Alice and Lily to shoot him a disapproving look.

"There's no rush." Lily said reassuringly.

"Don't feel pressured," Marlene began.
"If Harry is anything like this one," she gestured grimly towards James.
"He'll find a ginger girl to embarrass himself in front of for his Hogwarts years. You don't have the ginger gene to provide that for him." She laughed.

"Loving a redhead is in our blood. It's true." James confirmed and Lily laughed at them both.

The subtle panicked look didn't stray from Peters features. Although the discussion moved on from the future, marriage and children.

We all eventually began to leave the Potter residence. Those with babies needing to start settling down as the evening approached.

"We're so thrilled for both of you." Lily grinned as she hugged both of us goodbye.

Sirius moved past us all silently, without saying goodbye. Moving upstairs without looking back.

"He's getting there." James reminded us both, in a hushed voice.

"When do you think I could ask him?" Remus responded.

"Ask him what?" I wondered.

"To be my best man." Remus responded.

"Oh he'd love that." I said sadly smiling, thinking of anything that could boost his mood. Hoping being asked would help.

James didn't seem so sure, his face contorting into an expression I couldn't quite pinpoint.

"Just hold that off for a while, yeah? You guys aren't getting married for a little while. Give him some extra time." James said.

We both nodded, perhaps the news wouldn't be so happy if he was struggling generally, he was right.

We said our final goodbyes and went back home.

"I'm sorry if they made you feel uncomfortable." Remus said as he placed down the keys and began unlacing his shoes.

"What do you mean?" I asked, sliding off mine and kicking them off to the side.

We both sat down on our little sofa and got comfortable, as Remus swished his wand to begin making us a cup of tea; a task he usually liked doing himself, but got too comfortable to get up.

"The whole...baby thing." He awkwardly smiled.

"That's okay, truthfully I'm unsure about that traditional route of things. We don't have to have children for us to be happy!" I said honestly.

"Why don't you want kids?" He asked.

I felt suddenly confused. Why did it matter? If he didn't want them either, surely there was a comfort and peace in our shared decision and vision of our future?

"Why don't you?" I returned the question.

"A werewolf Dad isn't ideal..." he said with a slight shrug.

"Is that the only reason?" I asked.

He nodded.

There was a longing in the back of his eyes, trying to hide.

"You want kids, don't you?" I said out loud. More like a statement than a question.

He shrugged.

"There's many things I've wanted but feel, perhaps it isn't for me. I mean...I'm surprised I'm even getting married!" He said with a smile.
"I feel very lucky that I am and that's enough for me." He said with a little nod.

I zoned out, beginning to question what my reason was. Remus' was fear over his condition. What was mine?

"My Mother never wanted kids. We could always tell. Sirius' never either. Or at least, maybe they did at first but they realised once they were mothers, they never could not be." I said.
"I don't think we're born very maternal. My family." I added.

"Sirius would suggest otherwise." Remus smiled.

I cocked my head to the side, questioningly.

"Well, he wouldn't let go of Harry until James forced him to. He's your blood, Sirius and he loves babies and always is the person to pull a funny face at a kid. Seems like you both just had shitty parents, doesn't mean you two would be. I don't think you'd follow your Mum." Remus observed.

"Once you're a mother, you're never not a mother. I find that a bit daunting, truthfully." I admitted.

"I get that." He said honestly.

A silence started brewing between us until he spoke again.

"If it means anything though, you'd be a wonderful Mum." He smiled.

"You think?" I laughed.

"I know how you care for people you love, first hand. You don't neglect the people you love, as your Mother did to you. Even if we never have kids, I want you to realise that you'd be much better than her." He said seriously.

I smiled at him, a wave of emotion finding itself choked up in my throat.

"Thank you." I said in a shy whisper as our teas began floating towards us, ready.

Remus' thumb soothingly began rubbing my knee that his hand rested upon, as we both began taking hesitant sips of our hot tea.

"I did want kids once. When I was a child, I thought I would, I used to carry around a toy and pretend." I smiled into the tea.

"Oh yeah? Pretend boy or girl?" Remus smiled warmly at me. His hazel eyes gleaming with love.

"Boy." I stated.
"I had all sisters and Regulus was a little baby. I thought he was so cute and so wanted my own baby boy." I laughed.

"What was his name?" Remus asked, amused and nostalgic for me at once.

"Teddy." I laughed.

"Why're you laughing? That's a cute name!" He smiled and said defending my young choice.

"The 'baby' was a teddy bear, it wasn't very inventive." I laughed again.

"Nah, I still think teddy is cute. Why change a name that's so fitting to your fake baby?" Remus said, though he began laughing too.

I playfully gave him a look to stop laughing, sipping my tea again.

"Only I can laugh at my hypothetical child, thank you." I sniggered.

"We'll get a cat." Remus held out his tea.

"We'll get a cat." I replied, cheersing him.

(Little filler chapter for you all, kiddos)