Epilogue

Hermione wiped her forehead, exhausted from the previous night. She had not yet slept, and it was now early morning. Ginny had given birth to a healthy baby boy. Hermione's eyes had welled up with fresh tears when her friend announced her son's name. Hector. The littlest addition to the pack, and Kieran and Ginny's first, the boy was already topped with the reddest hair Hermione had ever seen and bright green eyes that matched his parents'.

"Alright, mate?" Fenrir looked nearly as tired as she felt. He was sporting a few scratches and bruises himself, but had the same enigmatic grin she fell in love with. The scene brought her back to that day, over four years ago, when Catia had given birth. She had then only just begun to warm up to the werewolf who was now her mate for life.

"As fine as can be expected. Kieran put up a fight?" She inquired, needlessly fussing over Fenrir's rapidly healing wounds.

"As much as they ever do," he grinned.

"I'm still impressed you didn't manage to kill anyone." Hermione laughed good-naturedly, recalling the night of her first labor.

Fenrir had the grace to look mildly sheepish. He had managed to incapacitate not only Mensis and Kieran, but Remus and Jules as well. Hermione had nearly killed him herself when he came barging in halfway through the birth.

"Aw, I'm not that dangerous, love," the werewolf grinned, baring his large canines.

"I know a girl who would disagree," Hermione said, glancing up at him out of the corner of her eye.

"I'd like to meet her," Fenrir quipped back as the two continued to walk back to their quarters.

"Oh, I'm not sure you'd like her. She's quite bossy; likes everything to be in neat little categories. None of this werewolf nonsense, either. In fact, I recall her being quite against it." The witch remarked coyly.

"You don't think she's changed her mind? She sounds like someone I'd quite like to know." The werewolf growled.

Hermione could feel his eyes on her; she grinned, but a thought occurred to her. "Are they up yet?"

Fenrir paused and cocked his head, lifting an ear to hear. After a moment, he shook his head with a grin, "Not even stirring."

Hermione returned the grin, and the couple raced, as quickly as they dared, to their own room.

Fenrir tackled her into their bed, her quiet giggles filling the room. He gave her a quick kiss before nuzzling her neck and snuggling up against her. Hermione giggled as his happy growl.

Wrapped in her mate's warmth and reveling in the blessed quiet, Hermione couldn't keep her eyes open, despite her mate's penchant towards something a bit more energetic. She assumed he relented, as she was not disturbed again for quite some time.

Kieran watched his mate sleep, holding his brand new son. Miraculously, he was sleeping; the werewolf was more than a little surprised, considering how much the boy had kept his mother up. It had only been a few hours since he was born, and he was already as demanding at his Mum. Kieran chuckled quietly as he thought of the fire in his mate's eyes. Their relationship had always been full of fire of all sorts. She had not been easy on him, and she still wasn't. She knew what she wanted, and she always did seem to get it, whether she had his help or not.

The patter of small feet got his immediate attention. Kody ran up to him, slowing only at Kieran's hurried shushing. The new father did not want the baby in his arms to wake up quite so soon.

"Uncle Kieran," the boy, now seven, whispered, eyeing the baby warily, "Will you tell me about Papa again?"

Kieran smiled sadly as he remembered his best friend. Kody loved to hear the stories Kieran would tell about his father. Slowly, with as much dramatism as he dared with a sleeping newborn in his arms, the adult werewolf started into one he hadn't told the boy before; the time Kody was born.

The boy sat, mesmerized at the tale; Kieran talked to the boy until his own son woke up, demanding his attention once more.

Hermione started awake as a familiar weight pounced directly on her legs. A small boy bounced onto his parents, causing Fenrir to groan good-naturedly. It only took a few moments for the couple to realize there was something wrong with their son. Hermione blinked sleepily before she pulled her distraught son into a hug.

"Mummy! Sköll say you no play tonight!" The boy said, the beginnings of tears forming in his eyes.

Hermione immediately understood. It was the full moon tonight, and it seemed that both the boys were upset about her status as a human. "Hati," she scolded patiently, "You know that I can't play during Moonstime. It's dangerous for me."

The boy began to cry and Hermione scooped him into her arms, cradling her second son. Looking up, she saw Sköll peering out from the door, looking nearly as upset as his brother. Hermione could not help but noticed the way Fenrir was eyeing her with a wolfish stare that said far more than anything that would even leave his mouth. He never once pestered her about letting him bite her; but there were times, like this one, that told her that he desperately wanted to. He had kept his promise so far, and Hermione knew he would continue to for as long as it was necessary.

Hermione took a long look at the teary golden eyes of her sons and suddenly and determinedly made up her mind. Fenrir may have understood her reluctance to a degree, and Sköll had just accepted it after awhile; or she thought he had. If this morning was any indication, he really hadn't been any more accepting than he had been before. Her sons would not understand until they were adults, and even then, they may never have understood. They were born werewolves, and would never know anything else. She desperately wanted to play with them like they wanted, while they were still young enough to ask.

"Mum? Are okay?" Hati sounded concerned.

Hermione smiled into her youngest son's golden eyes. She nodded, "I'm fine, love." She glanced at Fenrir, who was still staring at her. As she blinked away her tears, Hermione set Hati down. Glancing up at Sköll, she spoke, "I hope your rooms are clean. You know you can't play with everyone else tonight if it isn't. You'll have to stay in there by yourself."

"If you boys are good tonight, maybe we'll go visit your grandparents tomorrow," Fenrir suggested.

Both boy's eyes lit up. Hermione knew the same look was on her own face. Her parents had not been pleased with her when she and Fenrir had finally found them, however, about ten minutes after meeting their grandson, they had given in. Sköll was as charming as his father when he put his mind to it.

"But, your rooms have to be clean," Hermione repeated adamantly.

Both boys looked suddenly horrified. They scrambled off to do exactly what she had suggested. Glad that the distraction had worked, Hermione turned to Fenrir. She bit her lip; making a life-changing decision, and saying it outloud were two very different things.

Fenrir cocked his head to the side, waiting for her to say something.

Taking a deep breath, she scooched closer to him. "I'm ready," she said quietly.

Fenrir's feral grin of satisfaction almost made her want to take it back out of a small measure of spite. He pulled her close, until she was flush against his chest. "Ask me," he growled.

She pursed her lips, amused at his determined chicanery. He really did love making her do things his way, he always had. He didn't always get his way, but this time she was going to humor him.

She eyed her mate up and down, "Bite me."

Fenrir laughed at her display of sass, as he always did. "That's not a question, mate, but I'll take it," he chuckled before planting a firm kiss on her lips.

A month later, Fenrir stood proudly, observing his family and his pack. His sons were growing up more quickly than he ever thought they would. His mate rubbed her muzzle against his, effectively distracting him as his cubs snuck up behind him and pounced. He let out a good-natured mock roar and began to romp with his young cubs. His mate followed and played with them; her tongue lolling happily as the family played, finally free of worry.

A/N: And that's all she wrote, folks! If you're looking for more FenMione, I just started a new story called Obliquity; check it out if you like!

Cheers~