A/N: Thanks for the beautiful reviews, they are always such a treat to read :)

The last third of chapter 2 was expanded. With some major help from FourHouses, I added some more detail to Remus' perspective and I think it adds some nice depth. Worth another read before reading this chapter.Anyway, here's the last chapter. Thanks again for reading & reviewing :)

Three Years Later

Hermione bustled around her small bookshop, preparing to close up for the day as the late, fall sun began setting, filling the small space with brilliant, warm light. She carried one last box to the back room, to store with all the other boxes of unsold books. She wearily returned to the front of the shop to dust off the now empty shelves and took in the sight of her surroundings with a good bit of sadness.

Everything was packed up and cleaned, all ready for the new owners to take possession of the next morning. She had bought the small shop just two years ago and had loved owning this beautiful space. Nestled in a small, seaside town, the shop had been a quiet refuge for her as she indulged in her favorite books and made new friends with the friendly locals, all the while quietly healing and moving on with her life. But as satisfying as owing her own business was, it was hard to make ends meet selling rare books and thus circumstances caused her to lose her beloved shop.

She walked reluctantly to the front door and flipped the 'open' sign to 'closed' for the very last time, feeling so very lost and defeated, losing, once more, that which she held most dear.

As she headed to the back room to grab her purse and keys, she heard the bell to her shop door tinkle lightly, indicating that she had one last visitor for the day.

"Evelyn? Is that you?", Hermione called out.

But her question was met with a masculine, "No," in response.

Her heart clenched tight at that the sound of that voice. Her mind must be playing tricks on her, she thought, her feet suddenly rooted to the spot. That voice simply couldn't belong to the man she thought it did.

Taking the precaution of dusting off her faded jeans and ripped sweater, smoothing her wild, frizzy hair, she slowly stepped out from behind the counter to see who had come to visit her and the sight that greeted her truly stole her breath away.

For she knew that voice too well to not know it by heart. Her last visitor of the day was none other than Remus Lupin.

He looked gorgeous, just as breathtakingly handsome as that fateful day three years ago when she last saw him. Standing before her in jeans, a white button down and a navy blazer, he looked so familiar and yet slightly changed, everything about him softened ever so slightly.

His sandy blonde hair had grown out slightly and was now a bit shaggier, giving him a sweet, unkempt look. He had also grown a nice beard, the sandy hair sprinkled liberally with grey and auburn flecks. He still stood tall and proud but his stance no longer bore the rigid posture she was so accustomed to seeing. His shoulders now looked relaxed, like a heavy burden had been lifted from him. Framed by the soft glow of the setting sun, he seemed to have a lightness surround him and yet it also seemed to emenate from within him. It was obvious to her that he had found some kind of peace in the wake of their anguished parting and that alone brought her joy.

He held a small bag in his hands and as their eyes met, he gave a wide, easy smile. He looked so relaxed and at ease, the exact opposite to the acute, sharp nervousness that suddenly flooded her whole body.

"Hello, Hermione," he said, his warm smile lighting up his lovely face.

"Hi," she said softly, her mouth as dry at the desert as her voice suddenly felt thick with so many complicated emotions. Surprise, elation, anxiety and joy all swirled together to have a heart stopping effect. She could barely catch her breath.

The pair seemed too stunned to move or speak for several beats. They settled for staring at one another from opposite sides of the small space.

With the store completely empty, she felt totally exposed in front of him, no books to catalog, no displays to straighten, no armor to shield her heart. She felt so raw and unguarded in front of him. They were just a man and woman alone together and she knew she couldn't trust herself alone with him. She knew her foolish heart would betray her any chance it was given.

"I'm sorry to show up unannounced. I tried calling first, but the number didn't seem to be working," he offered with a warm smile.

"The, um, the phone has been shut off," she said, as way of explanation while her heart beat out an erratic, wild beat.

He smiled slightly, his lovely eyes drifting across her, just taking in her beauty, like a pilgrim finally arriving at the promised land.

"You look well," he offered, still firmly planted next to the front door, unsure if she wanted him to venture any further into her personal space.

In truth she looked stunning. Her messy, lovely curls were piled loosely in a topknot. A few strands stubbornly refusing to be tied down, gently caressed the delicate skin of her pale neck. Her body was fuller now, curvier in all the right spots, and it added to her considerable beauty. She no longer resembled a girl but rather a grown woman and it suited her.

Her cinnamon brown eyes were warm and lovely, as always, like melted pools of caramel. As lovely as she looked, though, he noticed with a good bit of sadness that her kind eyes and delicate mouth were now framed by the faintest of worry lines, etched ever so lightly into her sweet skin. Worry and trouble had obviously graced her life in the years since she had married and it saddened him to think he had added to that burden.

"What are you doing here, Remus?", she asked, finally finding her voice, watching him with open curiosity.

"Looking for you, actually," he said, with a smile, shifting his weight slightly, his nerves finally making an appearance.

He's here, he's here, he's really here. This is actually happening, she thought over and over again. Her mind swirled with possibilities as to why he would show up, uncertainty gripping her heart and mind, making rational thought a challenge.

"I must confess, you are the last person I ever expected to see again. How did you find me?", she asked, her arms crossed over her chest to hold in the overwhelming emotions fluttering through her heart.

"That took a bit of work, actually," he said with a tentative smile.

"Well, first I tried looking at all the Catholic parishes throughout France but I couldn't find you listed there, neither under your maiden nor married name. I then tried asking your parents but they had moved away not long after you did. Luckily, they registered with their new church and I was able to track them down that way. I spoke with them just last week and they told me the last they spoke with you, you were living here."

Hermione nodded mutely in response, trying desperately to breath normally.

"They, um...they said they hadn't spoken with you in over a year. You had some sort of falling out?", he asked carefully.

"Yes," Hermione answered, her voice quaking slightly with emotion.

"We had a difference of opinion on a few things, feelings were hurt. They mean well, of course, but I'm a grown woman, they can't control me forever," she said, her words carrying more meaning than she was willing to share.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Remus replied, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, his eyes locked onto hers.

"It's really nothing to worry about," she offered quickly, resuming a poker face.

Silnce fell once more, the pair smiling nervously at eachother.

"Um,...how have you been?", Hermione finally asked, grasping for something to say.

His smile momentarily faded as his gaze settled on her. "It's been a hard few years," he answered honestly.

"I can imagine. I'm sorry you've been through so much," she replied, shame rising within her once more at the thought that her impetuousness had caused him such grief.

"Don't be sorry, I had a lot of things to work through," he vaguely offered.

"I'm surprised to find you still living in England," he said. "I thought you and Jonathan we're moving to France. You both must've had a change of heart," he said with a friendly smile.

"No, we didn't. Just me," she answered, looking down at her worn sneakers, avoiding his comforting gaze.

"I don't understand," he said, confusion playing across his face.

"Yes, well...Jonathan and I...we divorced. Actually, I guess...'annulled' is a more accurate description. I told him on our wedding night that marrying him had been a mistake. We, um...we never even consummated the marriage," she said, blushing at the admission and averting is gaze.

"We had the marriage annulled a few weeks later. As you can imagine, my parents were a bit upset, they couldn't understand why I was walking away from him. They always thought he was such a wonderful man and they thought I was being ridiculous, giving up so easily. I tried to tell them...that I didn't love him but they dismissed my concerns. They never did understand me," she said with a small shake of her head.

"I didn't know all of that. I'm so sorry you had to go through so much...heartache. I made things so much harder for you, Hermione."

"Marrying him was my mistake, Remus, not yours. I just...I wasn't thinking clearly that day and I made a poor choice. Jonathan's a good man, I never set out to hurt him, truly I didn't. I never wanted to hurt anyone," she said, her eyes full of sorrow at the pain of guilt and shame that dwelled deep in her heart.

"But I simply couldn't live in a loveless marriage. My parents did that and it was a horrible thing to witness, I knew being on my own would be better than living without love. Jonathan deserved more than that and so did I," she said.

"That's an incredibly brave thing you did, being honest like that. You should be proud of yourself. Courage is such a rare thing to find," he said, his eyes downcast.

He looked up then and stared at her for a long moment, he looked as if he might say more but opted for silence. She knew he had come here to talk but he didn't quite seem ready yet to say whatever it was he came to say.

She watched him glance around her empty shop, taking in the empty space that was filled only by fading sunlight.

"So, this is your shop, then?", he asked smiling.

"Well, yes, but not for too much longer," she smiled sadly.

"We vacationed in this town when I was small and I always loved it here, it's so beautiful and peaceful. I came here after I left Jonathan, just to think things through and I fell in love with this place all over again. I had only been here a few days when I saw the shop owner was getting ready to sell and retire. I had saved up just enough for the down payment, and I bought it two years ago. But sales were never amazing and I had some unexpected expenses pop up and I've unfortunately lost it. The new owners, um, whomever they are, take possession tomorrow," she said sadly, tears welling in embarrassment.

"Oh, Hermione, I'm so sorry," he said, anguish and contrition clear in his rich, comforting voice.

He stepped forward to embrace her but she instinctively stepped back, knowing all too well to always protect her heart.

"It's fine, really. I already have another job lined up doing some editing work for an online magazine and some freelance writing for a few travel magazines. I've enjoyed my work here, but it's time to move on. All good things must come to an end," she said with a forced smile.

She wiped her eyes dry and stepped away from him, pretending to be busy dusting an already spotless shelf.

"I saw you finally had your poetry published," he said, smiling. "I happened upon your book recently. It's really quite amazing. Your writing has always been so heartfelt and honest and beautiful. I'm so glad the world gets to relish in your talent," he said, watching her.

"I can't believe you actually saw it," she said, genuinely surprised. "No publishing house would buy it so I paid for a small printing myself. In hindsight, I should've saved that money rather than wasting it on such frivolity," she said, still turned away from him, pretending to be busy.

"How could such beauty be a frivolity?", he said sincerely, stepping closer to her.

"I wouldn't call it beautiful, Remus. They're just a few silly words," she offered matter of factly.

She resumed her dusting, trying to be strong despite being so very close to could feel her pulling away, distancing herself from him.

Since his words weren't having much of a noticeable effect on her, he chose to use her own words instead.

"His eyes bore no lies, only truth,

For they could see all the cracks and scratches.

Yet he leaned in anyway, chancing it all,

Her heart lay bare, open only to him.

She breathed out and fell in,

He caught her just in time," he said, with a small face on his face.

She blushed and looked downward, her heart catching in her throat.

She smiled despite herself at the warmth he infused into each word of her poetry, her heart fluttered at the effect his voice was having on her. She turned and smiled at him. She always loved the sound of her poetry coming from his sweet, perfect lips. She was so touched that he not only read it but remembered it.

"I love all of your poems, but I think that one is my favorite," he offered quietly, smiling shyly at her.

"Thank you," she said with a reluctant smile.

She could feel herself being pulled into him and knew she had to do everything within her power to resist. She couldn't let her heart be hurt once more, she had to keep things at the surface.

"Well, um, enough about me. How have you been?", she asked looking to change the subject. "The last time I spoke with my mother, she mentioned you had been elected to bishop. That's such an incredible acievement. You certainly earned it and I'm so very..happy for you," she offered, trying hard to feign that actual happiness.

"I was never elected to bishop. I'm not sure why your mother would think that," he said genuinely confused.

"What? You weren't elected? But my mother said you were, why would she say...", Hermione began, but her confused look quickly changed to one of anger, as understanding slowly dawned on her.

"My mother lied to me," she said with a wry smile.

"Why would she do that?", he asked.

"After I left Jonathan, I...I admitted to her that it was you I...loved," Hermione said, her throat seizing at the word. "And she didn't approve. She obviously wanted me to think you couldn't possibly return my affections. She made up this story as a way to convince me that you had recommitted yourself to the church," she gave a mirthless laugh.

"She always was controlling. It really doesn't matter," she offered with a sad shake of her head. "I wouldn't have contacted you anyway," she said defeatedly.

"Well, since you're not a bishop I can assume you're still enjoying the parish then? How is everyone? How is Father Smith?" Hermione asked, hoping that sticking to pleasantries would see her through this tense exchange.

"I honestly wouldn't know, I quit," Remus replied.

"What? You...you quit?", she asked, her voice barely louder than a whisper.

He nodded, "Yes, I quit the priesthood not long after we...not long after your wedding," he said softly, his eyes averted from hers.

"You really left?", she said, shock apparent on her face.

"Yes, I've traveled a bit and I recently began teaching religious studies at a small college not far from here. It's been good to step away a bit and think about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life."

"That's...that's, um, wonderful, Remus. I'm happy for you," she said, her mind still reeling from the sudden shift.

"Thank you," he offered.

"I just can't believe you're not a priest anymore. When I left, you seemed like...Well, like you had firmly made up your mind. Like nothing on this earth could change it," she said, with a sad shake of her head, anguish apparent in her eyes.

He nodded. "I thought I had made up my mind. But I soon realized that I couldn't stay there and pretend anymore."

"You always seemed quite sincere and devout to me," she offered.

"I was. I was a good, devoted priest. For a long time I was. That is until I realized just how much I loved you."

Her breath caught at his words, her heart aching at the hope that swelled through her chest. She shook her head and turned away to hide her tears.

"Why are you here, Remus?", she asked tearfully, not being able to bear the uncertainty any longer.

"I'm here today for three reasons. The first reason is that I would like to apologize to you," he said.

"To me?", she asked disbelieving, turning to face him.

"Yes. I'm sorry I hurt you the way I did. You know I...I foolishly thought I had all the answers. When I awoke that morning, with you in my arms, I felt such uncertainty. And I thought that I had made a grave mistake and I didn't want my poor judgment to cost you a happy future with a good man."

"After you left, I realized how much I gave away that day. Your heart is a special thing. The most precious thing I've ever had in my whole life. The way I acted, it was out of fear. I was afraid, of so many things. Of hurting you, ruining your future, screwing up your life. Leaving behind the familiarity of my world to live with you in yours. What we shared was beautiful, Hermione. It was the most amazing thing to ever happen to me. And I repaid that by hurting you. I'm so ashamed of what I did to you. I shouldn't have pushed you away. So I'm just here to say that I am so very sorry. I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you. I hope you can forgive me someday. Because I've realized that it was never god's forgiveness that I needed, it was yours that I needed. I still do in fact."

Hermione hugged herself tight as the tears she had fought back for years came freely now.

"Remus, you did nothing wrong. You are asking for forgiveness and I'll give it freely but know that I never blamed you. It was me, don't you see? I'm the one who ruined everything. I was foolish to expect you to up and leave you entire life just for me," she said, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm the one who is sorry, Remus. I've cost you everything you held dear. Your job, your faith, your life's work. I'm to blame for everything," she said, as sobs wracked through her body and her head bowed in shame.

"No, no, don't you see. I walked away, Hermione, I chose that, you didn't cause me to lose anything. I left because my heart simply wasn't in it anymore. I couldn't give my lifelong devotion to the church because...because my heart was already spoken for," he said, stepping forward and gently taking her in his arms. She nearly swooned from the contact.

He held her, staring right into her, seeing past her brave front, the one she had always held up to guard against all of life's many disappointments and sorrows. He looked right into her very heart and seeing her tremendous strength and beauty, he took a deep breath and bared his own soul.

"This brings me to the second reason, I'm here today," he said, swallowing hard at the pure joy and divine pleasure that flowed through him at getting to hold her so close.

"I came here to tell you, that I love you, Hermione. Desperately, horribly, heartbreakingly, so."

"I loved you when you planted tulips with me each spring around the church garden, even though I always insisted we start too soon and it was always still freezing out. You did it anyway, always with a smile on your lovely face."

"I loved you when you let all the children chase you around the parking lot each Sunday, playing tag until you absolutely collapsed from the joy of it."

"I loved you when your sang heart out to calm them all down when I couldn't."

"I loved you when you laughed and cried with me. Shared your thoughts and dreams and incredible wisdom with me."

"I loved you when you saw me as a real person. No one had granted me that in such a long time. You don't know how much that meant to me."

"I loved you when you risked your brave, beautiful heart on an old fool like me."

"With all my heart and soul, I love you. I always will," he said, his eyes boring into hers with pure, unwavering devotion.

These were words she had dreamt of hearing for three years and they could not have possibly sounded any sweeter or felt any more amazing to finally hear. And yet as extraordinary as they felt to finally have, she hesitated.

"Oh, Remus, you shouldn't...please don't say that," she said, her eyes full of tears, trying uselessly to pull from his comforting grasp.

"Why? I've waited long enough, too damn long. I love you, so very much, more than I ever thought possible," he said, enjoying how divine she felt in his arms.

"If you don't love me, if things have changed I understand, truly I do. I know I've taken my sweet time getting here and if...if you're in love with someone else I could hardly blame you. I never expected you to wait for me. But if you still do, love me, that is. Know that my heart is and always will be yours," he said, his own eyes filling with tears at the love that surged through and threaten to overtake him, body and soul.

"Could you find it in yourself to love me once more?", he asked, his eyes full of hope.

"Oh, Remus," she said, cupping his face. "I've never stopped," she whispered against his lovely lips.

He heart began beating once more, suddenly springing to life as happiness flooded his old, broken down heart. He smiled and leaned in to kiss her but she pulled away, still looking anguished and defeated.

"Remus, I truly do love you, but...so much has happened. You might not...that is to say, your feelings might change when you know everything...", she offered cryptically.

"Dearest, nothing could ever change how much I love you. Nothing at all. Do you understand? Nothing," he said resolutely.

"Don't say that. Don't promise me your heart. I don't deserve it," she said sadly.

"It's me who's undeserving, Hermione. Let me prove how very much I love you. Trust me, tell me everything. Jump and I'll catch you, I promise," he said, holding her small hands in his own.

"Oh, Remus, I...", she began but just then the front door to the shop opened once more to reveal an elderly woman walking in with an excited little girl.

"Momma, Momma!", the little girl happily cried as she ran to Hermione and gave her a huge hug, wrapping her small arms around Hermione's legs.

At this, Remus stepped back, shock clear on his face.

"Monkey! How was your day? Did you have fun with Miss Evelyn?", Hermione asked, her voice full of forced cheer as she tried valiantly to hide her tears as she bent down to sweep the child up in a tight hug.

"Yes! Yes! New car!", the little girl squeeled as she produced a shiny, red toy car from her coat pocket.

"Oh, my! How nice!" Hermione said smiling, her face flushed red from crying, holding the girl tight.

"Oh, forgive me," Hermione said, remembering that they weren't alone anymore. "Evelyn, this is Remus Lupin, a dear friend of mine."

"And Remus, this is Evelyn Ryder, my nanny. And this here...is my daughter, Joanna," Hermione said with a small smile, tucking a stray curl behind her daughter's ear. "But I call her 'Jo'," she said with a small smile.

Remus' breath caught at the sight. The little girl was probably two years of age, if his guess was correct. She was small, with beautiful, curly, sandy blonde hair. She looked like a tiny version of Hermione, except for her eyes. Instead of caramel brown, they were a lovely shade of blue-gray and they shone bright with warmth and joy.

Still stunned, Remus turned shook the older woman's hand, trying to remember his manners although his mind was reeling.

He then turned to the little girl still happily cradled in her mother's protective arms.

"Joanna," Remus said, softly, marveling at the child before him,"it's so nice to meet you. My name is Remus," he offered with a smile. Jo smiled back at him.

"Did you know your name is very special?," Remus asked her. "It means 'gift from God'. My grandmother's name was Joanna, in fact," he said with a small smile, tucking a stray girl behind the little girl's ear.

"Yes, I remember that," Hermione said softly, her eyes meeting his with a sad recognition.

The moment seemed to stretch on, the air hung heavy with tension, the pair unable to take their eyes off of one another.

A gentle cough from Miss Evelyn and squirming from Jo brought the pair out of their revere as Hermione set her daughter down to run off and play. Hermione ducked behind the counter once more and extricated several bills from her purse with which to pay her nanny, thank her for her help as always and show her to the door.

The shop once more to themselves, Hermione watched as Remus knelt down and took in the sight of the small child. He watched her with wide, open curiosity, amazement plain in his eyes.

Jo was sitting crossed-legged on the floor, busy doing the business of two-years olds: pulling every single thing out of her mother's purse.

As she pulled out a variety of small cars and lined them up, she caught Remus watching her and smiled at him. She slid a blue car across the old wooden floor and he caught it while smiling at her.

"Vroom, vroom," Jo whispered as she smiled at him.

"Oh, yes, it's a lovely car," Remus said, tears prickling his eyes, as he gently rolled the car back to Jo who caught the car between her purple sneakers and giggled at her new friend.

Time seemd to stop for the moment as Remus and Jo passed the cars back and forth, the sound of giggles and metal tires gliding across wood echoing around the empty store.

As Hermione knelt next to Remus, he finally pulled his eyes from the little girls' as Hermione gently took his hand.

"Hermione...is...is she...?", he began to ask, his voice breaking with emotion.

"Yes," Hermione answered immediately. "She's yours," she said as tears welled and fell with ease.

"She looks just like you," she said with a small smile, watching their daughter play happily.

At this Remus felt tears trickle quietly down his face, as he clutched Hermione's hand dearly in his own. Surprise, elation, anxiety all swirled through him but none were greater than the incredible, singular joy he felt at looking at his daughter.

"I didn't know if...with how we left things. I assumed you wouldn't want to be involved with her. So I didn't tell you. I'm so sorry, Remus. I should have," Hermione said, clearly distraught.

"When I broke things off with Jonathan and I found out I was pregnant, I felt so overjoyed. I knew that no matter what I would always have a piece of you and that brought me such joy."

"I told my parents that the baby wasn't Jonathan's and they were quite upset. They didn't want me to keep it, but when I told them that wasn't an option, so they disowned me. Didn't want me disgracing the family name. That's a big reason they moved, they didn't want to have to explain why I was single with a baby."

"You have had to go through this all alone. I wish I would've known," he said, pulling Hermione into his lap for a crushing hug, her heart breaking at the embrace.

"I should have told you, you deserved yo know and be involved, but I just... I didn't want to force you into something you didn't want out of honor or obligation," she said, pulling back slightly to look him in the eye.

"I love you dearly, Remus, but I don't want you to stay if...if it isn't for the right reasons," she said, tears streaming down her face.

He gently brushed her tears away and gently offered her his lips, his kiss full of tenderness and love.

"Hermione, I'm so, so very sorry I ever gave you reason to believe that I wouldn't love you and our child. I will always love you both," he said, clutching her dearly.

"But you've just met her and we've been apart for so long. How can you be so sure?", she asked, doubt clear in her eyes, still not believing the depths to which his love for her would go for both her and her child.

"How could I not love you both? She's half you and half me, of course I love her," he said, smiling.

"I've been on my own for a very long time, Hermione and I know that I don't want that. I want you and Jo, forever. I want to be selfish, in fact and ask for it all. Every little thing that involves you and Jo, I want it," he said, pulling her hand to his chest, to rest over his heart.

"I'm not afraid of what's to come. Truly, I'm not. I'm only afraid of living with out you. I want a chance to love you and raise our child together. Believe me, Hermione, trust me," he said, his voice full of adoration.

"But we've already missed so much time together," she offered, still looking unsure.

"We've got all the time in world, love," he said, tenderly cupping her face, running his fingers along her smooth skin.

She smiled as she remembered the words she had uttered to him so many years ago.

He leaned in took her lips once more and this time she felt her heart lighten and warmth envelop her, as she finally let her guard drop and embrace the man she had loved for so long with all her heart and soul rejoicing.

Their kiss was breathtaking and passionate. The pair could've quickly become lost in one another but it was soon broken as Jo came bounding over to the happy pair, dragging her mother's now-empty purse in her wake, and unceremoniously dropping it by their side.

"Momma, hungry," Jo said plaintively, pointing to her lips, as the pair pulled apart and giggled at their sweet girl.

"Oh, yes, of course. Sorry, sweet girl," Hermione offered as she pulled the wiggly girl into their lap and covered her in sweet kisses.

Remus looked at his love and at the sweet, giggling child in his lap and he knew that this unparalleled happiness was something he could definitely get used to.

"What do you say we lock up for the night and go have some dinner? You can show Remus all of your cars and dolls at home and I can make some spaghetti. Sound good, monkey?", Hermione asked Jo, as Jo gave an enthusiastic nod of approval.

"I hope you like spaghetti, it's the only thing she'll eat," Hermione said smiling sweetly to Remus as the pair shared one more lingering kiss.

"That sounds perfect," he said, tucking a stray curl behind Hermione's ear, joy finally sliding and clicking into place deep in his heart.

The trio quickly cleaned the toys up and as they left the shop, Hermione locked the front door one last time with a heavy sigh.

"Well, I guess that's that," she said, smiling sadly up at Remus.

"I'm so sorry I didn't arrive sooner," Remus said, "I could've helped you unpack boxes."

"Unpack them?", Hermione asked questionly. "Don't you mean pack them?"

"How can you run a bookshop without your books on display?", he asked with a smile on his face as he pulled a thick envelope from his bag and handed it to her.

"What is this?", she asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Well, this here is the third reason I am here tonight," he said, looking expectantly at her.

"Open it," he said smiling at her as he knelt down to zipper up Jo's jacket and give the small child a gentle kiss on her head.

Hermione looked confused. She pulled the flap back and reached into reveal a stack of business papers, with the top sheet being the deed to her bookshop. Hermione's name was written as the owner and operator of the store.

"Oh my god, you didn't!", she practically yelled, as realization dawned on her.

He only smiled in return.

"I found out from your parents that you were losing the shop and I just couldn't have that. I know how much you always wanted to do this, so I bought it for you," he said, nerves suddenly seizing him, unsure of how she would take the gesture.

"I hope you're not angry," he said, biting his lip, trying to gauge her reaction.

"Oh, Remus," she said, her eyes filling once more with tears as she launched herself into his waiting arms and kissed him with all her might.

"Thank you," she said, clutching him tight. "This is...so unbelievable. I can't properly put into words what this means to me. What it means to us," she said, picking Jo up and pulling Remus in close so that she could properly hug and hold her dear, sweet family.

"You've already given me so very much," Remus said. "It's the least I could do," he said, holding his love and his daughter tight.

"We're in this together now, forever," he said with a smile.

"Forever," Hermione said warmly, as the trio set off down the street, happily heading towards the lovely future that awaited them.

All the fear and worry that had lived so deep within her suddenly was pushed out by overwhelming peace and happiness. Her heart full to bursting, she smiled and breathed in the salty air. She had her daughter, her love, her shop, and a long life ahead of her full of joy.

They were finally as one, finally a real family. And she couldn't ask for anything more.