Lupin's True Love Returns

September 8, 1996

Veronica stretched slightly as she rolled over to place her head on Remus' bare chest. Remus sighed slightly as he wrapped an arm around his wife and hugged her. I love it when we make up. An owl interrupted their cuddling by tapping on the window pane. Remus groaned as Veronica pulled the sheet over her bare body.

She climbed from the bed and tucked the ends of the sheet under her arms. "It's too bloody early for stupid owls." She kept a hand on the sheet as she pulled open the window. The owl hooted softly as if apologizing and held out its leg. Veronica took the letter and glanced at it as the owl took off into the midmorning sunlight. She stared at the return address as Remus sat up in the bed.

"Who's it from?" He pulled the other blanket up over his lap. "Surely it's not from Dumbledore wanting you back at the castle already? He promised us the whole weekend."

"It's not from Dumbledore, Poppy or even Snape." Veronica stumbled slightly as she started toward the bed. "It's from a friend of mine from the States."

"From the Colonies?" Remus watched Veronica sink down to the plush rabbit skin rug surrounding their bed. "What's wrong, Hon?"

Veronica held the letter tightly to her breast as Remus climbed from the bed and pulled on his robe. "Do you promise me that you'll keep a calm mind and not go off the deep end?"

Remus started toward her tying the sash of his robe. "How can I be upset with you?"

"Because I should have told you this when I first returned."

"What is it, Darling?"

Veronica climbed to her feet and let the sheet drop to the floor. "Tell me something, Remus. Does my body look exactly as it did that night eighteen years ago?"

Remus' hazel eyes skimmed over Veronica's pale body until they reached a scar that rang across the lower part of her torso. "Mostly. The only thing that I notice that's different is that scar."

Veronica turned on her heel, stomped to the bed and grabbed her robe. Pulling it on, she turned back to Remus. "That scar is from the birth of your daughter seventeen years ago."

"My daughter? What are you talking about?" Remus reached toward Veronica. "We don't have a daughter."

"We created her on the night the Memory Charm was placed upon me. I went away never knowing who the father of my baby was." Veronica swiped at the tears running down her face.

Remus growled low in his throat. "Did Dumbledore know?"

Veronica looked up for a moment before turning away again. "If he did, he never contacted us. I knew that Regina was different because when she was one she made the neighbor's dog loose its voice." Veronica moved toward the window. "We never received a letter when she turned eleven."

"This guy who helped you. Who is he?"

"His name is Charles Xavier and we met in New York when I first arrived in the States. He saw that I was alone and confused so he took me to his school. Not long after that I found out that I was pregnant. He offered to help me get through college and raise Regina. She was the pride of his life. She was also the favorite of all the students at Charles' school."

"His school?"

"He runs a school for gifted youngsters. We came to an agreement. He would help me by raising Regina while I found work at various schools around the nation. I even went to Canada for a few years. Regina would come with me for a while until something strange would happen and she'd want to return to Charles." Veronica sighed as she gazed out the window. "Last time I saw her was for Christmas when I went to visit. I told Charles that I had a feeling that I was about to get the boot again so he sent out my resumes for me."

"He helped you and Regina." Remus ran a hand through his hair. "One day I hope to meet him."

"You will." Veronica turned the letter in her hands. "Shall we see what Charles wants? It's probably something about Regina."

"Of course." Remus watched as Veronica ripped open the letter.

Dear Veronica,

I hope this letter finds you well. Regina has graduated with honors from my school so I have decided to send her to you in England. She will arrive at Heathrow Airport on the afternoon that you receive this letter. She is registered under E.R.R. Croft.

I know you heard about the attack on the President and how it was linked to a mutant. You will be pleased to know that my X-Men have taken care of the threat for now. However Magneto is still on the loose as is Mystique.

Remember when I wrote last summer about Chris? He was found alive and Smokescreen has come to the school to train in her powers a bit more. She is going to become an X-Man just as you were when you were here. She also wishes to visit with you and young Potter to apologize for the attack at the school. I'm sorry that we weren't able to attend your wedding but I hope that you and your husband are happy.

Scott and Ororo send their love as does an old friend, Logan. He has been staying at the school for a while now so he knows all about you and your gifts. Please be safe.

Charles Xavier

Remus took the letter from Veronica's shaking hands and reread the line about Heathrow Airport. "Well, I guess we should be going to London and picking up our daughter."

Veronica glanced up at Remus standing over her. "You're not mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad? You have given me a daughter and will be giving me another child in a few months." Remus knelt before Veronica and pulled at the sash of her robe.

"I just thought you might be a little upset about everything." Veronica moaned softly as Remus began to lay her back on the bed.

"I'm not." Remus climbed up onto the bed and pulled Veronica close to his chest. He kissed her lightly almost teasing her as the grandfather clock stuck noon. His tongue slid softly across the seam of her mouth as Veronica's hands slid to his robe from his shoulders. Her nails raked along his tanned and muscular chest and back. He opened her robe as she opened her mouth to allow him access to the interior of her mouth. She moaned as Remus began to nibble down the opening of her robe.

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Veronica barely moved as Remus came from the bathroom, drying his damp hair from his shower. She moaned slightly as he pulled a pair of dress pants from the closet. Remus turned to her and grinned. "Come on, lazy bones." Remus leaned over the bed and kissed her pouting lips. "Time to get up."

"Do I have to?" Veronica wrapped her arms around Remus and tried to pull him back onto the bed. "You could join me."

"What would Regina think if her parents showed up too exhausted to even get her to Hogwarts in one piece?" Remus pinned Veronica's hands to the bed.

"She'd probably say that she was thrilled that I found a man to exhaust me." Veronica gave him a feral grin and nipped his bottom lip.

Remus lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bathroom where a steaming hot bath awaited her. "I think it's time for you to bathe."

"You wouldn't dare." Veronica squealed as Remus pretended to drop her into the tub.

"You're right. I wouldn't...but James and Sirius would dare me to do it anyway." He placed her into the steaming bath.

"I'm going to kill them the next time I see them." Veronica growled at Remus' retreating back.

"You'd best hurry because if you don't I might join you." Remus turned slightly to watch as Veronica dunked her head underwater.

Veronica washed her hair and dunked again to rinse it. She finished her bath quickly not being one to waste her time in the tub. She carefully climbed to her feet, grabbed a fluffy towel, and wrapped it around her body. Remus was rereading the letter from Charles Xavier when Veronica stepped into the bedroom.

"Veronica?" Remus looked up as Veronica rummaged through the closet.

"Hmm?" Veronica pulled out a set of lilac dress robes that looked like a sundress.

"Why is Regina coming under the name E.R.R. Croft?"

"Her full name is Evelyn Regina Rose Croft. I didn't realize it but I named her after my mother, your mother, and Lily's mother."

"Okay." Remus turned back to the letter in his hand. "So who is Logan?"

"He's a guy I met about ten years ago when I worked in Canada. He helped me out with some students that weren't exactly thrilled with a woman for a teacher." Veronica pulled her brush through her damp hair. "Why?"

"Charles said that he's at the school."

"So?"

"What if he comes here to see you?"

Veronica turned slightly and smiled. "Moony, are you worried that Logan might come here and try to hurt you for marrying me?"

"Maybe." Remus watched as Veronica moved toward him.

"Honey, Logan's just a big teddy bear. He wouldn't hurt you anymore than I would."

"That makes me feel a whole lot better." Remus wrapped his arms around Veronica's waist. "Is he a wizard or a Muggle?"

"Neither. He's a Mutant." She rubbed her hand through his graying hair. "Just like Ani was. And Kurt. And..." She growled low in her throat. "...Moonlight."

"You still haven't forgiven me, have you?"

"You, yes. Her...no." Veronica pulled away slightly. "Enough talking. We need to get to the airport."

Remus climbed to his feet and grabbed Veronica's hand. "Okay. Let's Apparate."

They disappeared with twin soft pops and reappeared moments later at Heathrow Airport. Veronica looked over at the arrival sign and frowned.

"There are four flights arriving from the States." Veronica turned to Remus. "How do we know which one is hers?"

"We ask." Remus grabbed Veronica's hand and pulled her over to the counter. "Excuse me."

An extremely cute blonde girl glanced up form her computer and gave Remus a once over. "May I help you, Sir?" She gave him a dazzling smile while ignoring Veronica who was growling at the girl.

"My wife and I are wondering if it would be possible to find out which flight our daughter is arriving on." Remus ignored the girl's flirtatious smile.

"Where is she coming from?" The girl's smile faltered slightly as Veronica smirked.

"Westchester, New York. She most likely left from JFK in New York." Veronica stepped closer to Remus. "The name on her ticket is E.R.R. Croft."

"Let's see." The girl began to type on her computer. "We have an E.R.R. Croft on flight 654 from JFK that landed about twenty minutes ago."

"She'll have to go through customs, correct?" Remus half turned to Veronica.

"Yes. She'll be at gate 45." The girl sighed in disappointment as Remus and Veronica moved away from the counter. "All the good ones are taken."

Remus was busy reading the signs trying to find gate 45 when Veronica heard a metal detector going haywire. She turned toward the alarm and stared at the man in shock.