Aubrey stood in the living room, her hands smoothing down the black dress Cho had shoved in her hands that afternoon. "I still don't understand why I have to get all dressed up. Remus and I aren't fancy people."

"You have to get all dressed up because it's Valentine's Day, a handsome man has invited you to dinner, and you've got yourself a live-in babysitter. That should be all the excuse you need to get out of the house," Cho replied, messing with the older woman's hair.

The blonde batted the other woman's hands away. "It took me way too long to charm my hair into this shape, I don't need you undoing all my hard work."



Cho held up her hands. "Alright, alright. If you want to look terrible, that's fine." She sent her friend a look the show that she was kidding and backed away.

"I ought to hex you," Aubrey muttered under her breath as she slipped on her heels. Remus was due any minute and she would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous. This was her first time out in what felt like forever. When the doorbell rang, the sent a slightly panicked look toward her friend before making a move to answer it. The younger woman shooed her back and answered the door herself.

"Hullo Remus, you're looking rather dapper. Come in," she said, moving back into the house.

"Thanks," Remus said, stepping into the entry. "It's a bit different to my usual, but it's a special occasion. How has Aubrey been?" He was genuinely interested how much trouble his date had caused for Cho this afternoon.

She rolled her eyes. "She's been a pain in my arse. She's lucky I love her, let me tell you."

Remus grinned. Yes, he could definitely imagine Aubrey being stubborn. "Sorry she's been a pain. And thanks so much for helping me get this together for her." He and Cho hadn't spent a lot of time together and it was important to him that he had the all clear from the best friend.

"It's not a problem. She needs to get out of the house more, and I'm more than happy to help shove her out the door." She was only partly joking.

"Well let's get her going before she backs out then, hey?" Remus said with a chuckle. "Where is the nuisance?"

"She's in the living room. I'm going to go check on Dominic, you know your way through, right?" she asked, walking toward the stairs.

Nodding, Remus headed to the living room. He held his breath as he entered, Aubrey facing away from him. She was beautiful.

"You don't scrub up too badly, you know," he said as he walked up to her, taking her hand in his. "You look amazing."

She kissed his cheek. "Thanks. So do you."

Putting Aubrey's arm through his own, and trying not to fidget in his new shirt, Remus led his date towards the Apparation point at the end of the street.

"Ready?" he asked nervously. He hoped that everything would go smoothly, it was their first date since... in a while. And being Valentine's Day, Remus was out to show Aubrey exactly how much he thought of her. Aubrey nodded in response, and in a gut-wrenching instant they were standing in the Apparation hall at The Blue Owl. It was enormous, and intricately decorated.

"I hope you're hungry. I've heard they do incredible dishes." Remus tried to fill what he could only assume was stunned silence.

Aubrey's eyes eyes widened as she took in the sight before her. "Remus," she hissed, her voice just above a whisper. "This is the Blue Owl."

Raising an eyebrow and feigning surprise, Remus quietly gasped. "I'm sure I had the Apparation coordinates correct," he muttered, diving his hands into his pockets. Pulling a pale blue, glittering card from his trouser pocket, he looked at it and nodded. "No, I did have them right. The Blue Owl, Valentine's Day, seven p.m., Mr. Remus Lupin, with guest."

She narrowed her eyes. "Ha bloody ha." She began to look around. The place reminded her of some of the restaurants she had visited in New York, with Christian. Ignoring the small stab of pain in her heart, the blonde turned her attention back to her escort. "You didn't have to do this, Remus. Honest. I would have been happy with the bakery in town or the 'Sticks."

"I know," Remus said, puzzled at her reaction. "But this isn't any other date. It's Valentine's, and I wanted to do something special for you."

He needed to do something special for her. The hole that formed in his heart when she was taken was then refilled to overflowing when she was returned, and he needed to show her that. He'd spent far too much time not paying attention to those he loved, and he didn't want to lose her for lack of trying.

"But, but, but." Aubrey stuttered, trying to come up for a good reason reason as to why they should leave right that second and spend the night in.

Wake up you idiot, Remus is trying to do something nice for you! Don't let your stubbornness get in the way! her inner voice, sounding suspiciously like Cho, shouted.

"Fine." She took Remus' offered arm. "But I'll get you back for this. Just you wait."

"I'm waiting," Remus whispered as they approached the front desk. "Table for two, Remus Lupin," he said, handing his reservation card to the tall gentleman. He tried not to stare too much as they were shown to their table, pulling himself together in time to pull Aubrey's chair out for her. The Blue Owl was immaculately decked out for a Valentine's Day event, soft pinks and reds in flowers, lights and foods.

Taking a menu and nodding thanks to the waiter, Remus looked across the table to Aubrey. "What are you thinking?" he asked. "Too much?"

She looked up and shrugged. "It's been a long time since I've come to a place like this. I'm afraid I've lost the taste for," the blonde took a quick peek at the menu before her, "snails." She shook her head. "The fish should be a safe bet though. Or the chicken."

"I admit, Casu Marzu is not on my list of foods to try before I die, but I'm sure that there's something tame enough for a simple man such as myself," Remus agreed. "The Eggplant Gratin looks tasty, though. Still feeling a little off the red meat at the moment." He winced inwardly, despite expecting that no one would be listening too closely. The Blue Owl could be one of two ways: either werewolves were well below standard for a restaurant as formal, or if a werewolf could pay his way it was none of their business. He hoped it was the latter.

Aubrey nodded and went back to perusing the menu. If Remus wanted to go vegetarian, perhaps she would join him. The French Onion Soup looked simple enough, especially if she paired it with a salad. It was also less expensive.

She took a quick peek at Remus from over her menu. She adored how he looked in a suit and tie. It took all her effort not to reach over and brush a hand over his lapel or straighten his collar. She was being honest when she said that she would have been happy at someplace in Hogsmeade, though Aubrey would have been lying if she had said she didn't miss some of the glitz and glamour that her life in New York City had brought her. Taking a sip of her sparkling water, she let the bubbles fizz on her tongue as she thought about and evaluated her life.

She was happy, she realized. Her son was healthy and growing by the day. Cho was amazing, playing both friend and nursemaid, even when Aubrey didn't want to be coddled. And then there was Remus. She blushed and looked down. What other man would stand beside her while she was pregnant, not caring if the baby wasn't his, and still be there after...after the Camp. Aubrey wondered what she did to deserve a man like him.

Continuing to browse the menu although he was sold on the Gratin, Remus caught Aubrey looking at him over her menu. He quickly checked that he didn't have anything out of place, hoping that his movements were hidden by his own menu. How on earth had he been able to catch Aubrey's eye, let alone keep it, when she had come from the razzle-dazzle of New York?

Suddenly realising all that Aubrey had left behind in New York, the werewolf tried not to panic. Of course she'd be concerned about being at a restaurant that would remind her of the past.

"I'm sorry if I sprung this on you," he said, putting his menu down on the edge of the table.

"No, it's okay." She panicked slightly, wondering if Remus thought she was upset with him. "You're lovely." She winced slightly after she said it, that wasn't exactly something someone usually said to a bloke.

Noticing Aubrey squirm, Remus shook his head. "Thank you. But it's the lovely woman in front of me that this effort is for. I'm really glad..." he paused, unsure of how what he wanted to say would sound. "I'm really glad that you are who you are, Aubrey. Your strength, your passion, it's what drew me to you and it helped to save you. I just wanted you to know how much I love you and appreciate having you in my life."

Aubrey blinked back tears that were forming in the corner of her eyes.

Remus leant forward in his chair, reaching a hand across the table to take Aubrey's own. "I mean it. I'm so grateful that you came back, and that you came back to me."

Noticing a waiter making the way towards them, he clasped Aubrey's hand. "Are you ready to order, or should I do something fantastically snobbish like wave him away?"

She smiled at the idea. "Be snobbish for once."

Remus' jaw dropped, but he held the mischievous smile of an adolescent planning a prank. "I don't know if I can be. Do I really have to?"

"You suggested it." She ran a thumb over the back of his hand. "Don't stay in the kitchen if you can't stand the heat."

Remus turned his head, and noticing that the waiter was still far enough away for it not to be considered too rude, he extended and open palm towards him and waved him away, shaking his head in a gesture to say that they were not ready to be interrupted.

"I can't believe I just did that," he said with a whisper, trying not to laugh.

"I like it when you smile." She matched his tone. "Do it more often." She paused. "You helped me to survive, you know."

Remus sobered a little, but tried to keep the light atmosphere. "I'm sure you did a great job of surviving all on your own. But I'm glad I helped, in whatever way I did." It was fading, but he still felt resentment towards himself for not going after Aubrey the minute he knew she was gone.

"I fought for you. For Dominic. Other suggested I give up. But I wouldn't. I couldn't." She gripped his hand. "They had to hex me into submission. Because of you."

He gripped back just at tightly, taking a deep breath. "I don't like the idea of anyone hexing you because of me," he said, a quirk of a smile working its way onto his lips. It was either smile or cry at this stage; the very idea of anyone hurting Aubrey sent shivers of rage down Remus' spine.

"Well," she tried to return his smile. "My stubbornness had a bit more than a supporting role. And I promise," she stood slightly and pecked him on the cheek, "to try my hardest not to get hexed in the future."

"I'd appreciate that," Remus said, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. "Although I suppose that means I'm not allowed to when you tell me that you're going back to school. I'm sure that no matter when it is, I'll still worry about you."

Aubrey's smile faltered. "I want to go back," she confessed. "That place holds only good memories. Besides, you'll always be welcome in the library. Perhaps after school one day we can sneak into the stacks and snog like randy teenagers. Of course," she paused, considering, "we'd have to be on our knees. The stacks are so high you see."

Remus tried not to choke on his suddenly dry mouth. "I see," he managed to get out. "I'm glad that I'm still somewhat in shape, then."

Aubrey snickered.

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Summary: Remus takes Aubrey somewhere she doesn't expect. Aubrey suggests something Remus doesn't expect.