Aftermaths, Part 143

by Geri ([email protected])

Rating: Mostly PG-13, but NC-17 for overall story

Pairing: Snape/Lupin, Theodore/Blaise

Warning: AU; events that occurred at the end of Order of the Phoenix were significantly altered from the book.

Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, and Phoenix Rising.

Summary: The various characters deal with the aftermath of the war, and Snape and Lupin try to build a family together with Theodore and Dylan. However, some people are unable to let go of the past...

Author's note: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts.

Disclaimer: Characters belong to J.K. Rowling, except Hob, who belongs to William Mayne; no money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.
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"Would you prefer 'handsome,' 'good-looking,' or 'gorgeous,' then?" Aric joked in an attempt to cover up his nervousness as Takeshi pulled a privacy screen around the bed and helped him undress. He found himself blushing like a virgin schoolgirl, and Takeshi said in an amused voice, "Don't worry, Aric. I doubt that you have anything I haven't seen before."

Which of course made him turn even redder. Aric told himself that he was being silly. He had never worried about being naked in front of the other guys in the Durmstrang Quidditch locker rooms. But Takeshi wasn't just one of the guys; he was Aric's lover-to-be. His very beautiful and very clothed lover-to-be. Being naked while Takeshi was fully clothed made him feel vulnerable and embarrassed. Come to think of it, he had never seen Takeshi in anything other than his lime-green St. Mungo's uniform. He wondered what Takeshi would look like in casual robes. He wondered what Takeshi would look like wearing nothing at all...

Aric shook his head slightly; no, he definitely should not be thinking about such things, especially now! "Relax, Aric," Takeshi said in a much kinder and gentler voice, as if sensing his discomfort. So Aric lay back and tried to relax as Takeshi ran a warm, damp washcloth over his body, wiping away dirt and sweat and flecks of dried blood. It felt good.

It felt a little too good, actually. The gentle touch of Takeshi's hands on his body caused a certain portion of his anatomy to spring to attention, and it was impossible to hide his arousal in his current state of undress. He felt his face grow hot as Takeshi raised his eyebrows and smiled.

"Well, it's a pity that we can't do something about this," the mediwizard said in a low, sultry voice that Aric had never heard him use before. "But the Healers did say that you shouldn't be doing anything strenuous right now. So consider this a promise of things to come." Takeshi leaned forward and kissed Aric on the mouth, a soft, lingering kiss at first, that slowly deepened as Aric parted his lips to let Takeshi's tongue slide into his mouth. He let out a muffled groan as all the blood in his body seemed to rush straight to his groin. He wanted to push Takeshi down on the bed and take him right then and there, but his little jaunt to the bathroom had left him feeling too weak to do anything but lie there and accept the kiss.

And then Takeshi's glasses slid down his nose and struck Aric in the face--which didn't really hurt, but it startled him and broke the mood.

"Oops, sorry," Takeshi said with a grin, straightening up and pushing his glasses back into place.

"Why don't you fix your glasses or get a pair that fits?" Aric asked, feeling a bit disgruntled about the interruption.

"Oh, actually they do fit, or at least I can charm them to stay in place," Takeshi said casually. He touched the bridge of his wire-rimmed glasses, chanted a brief incantation, and they settled on his nose more securely. "But it seems to disarm my patients, make them laugh a little, and set them at ease. Many people find hospitals slightly intimidating, and most of my patients are already frightened since this is the Creature-Induced Injuries ward, which means that everyone here has been the victim of some sort of attack."

"Huh," Aric said, feeling more than a little surprised. So that absent-minded scholar bit was all an act. Takeshi was a bit more devious than he had realized. "Do you even need to wear glasses at all, or are the lenses just plain glass?"

"I really am a bit farsighted," Takeshi said with a smile. "I need them to read and see things up close, although I can see quite well from a distance."

It occurred to Aric that the exotic vision he'd seen yesterday contrasted sharply with the image of the mild-mannered mediwizard standing before him. "The glasses and the braid, they're a disguise, aren't they?" Aric asked thoughtfully. "They help make you look normal. Because without the glasses, with your hair unbound, you're so beautiful that people might suspect that you're not fully human."

Takeshi blushed, his cheeks turning a very becoming shade of pink, and he laughed, sounding embarrassed but also flattered at the same time. "It's very kind of you to say that, Aric, but you're not exactly an impartial observer. The ones we love always look beautiful to us. I wear glasses because I need them to see and I'm too squeamish to get contact lenses, and I wear my hair in a braid because otherwise it would get in my way when I work, and I'm too vain to cut it."

"You ARE beautiful," Aric insisted. "And don't cut your hair; I like it long."

"Then let me repay your compliment with another kiss," Takeshi said playfully, and bent down to kiss Aric again. This time his glasses stayed where they were supposed to.

When they came up for air, Aric said, red-faced and a little breathless, "You know, this isn't helping that--" He gestured at his crotch. "--to go away."

Takeshi laughed again. "Here, let me help you cool down." He laid his hands on Aric's chest, whispered a charm, and that flushed, overheated feeling ebbed and gave way to a sense of coolness that slowly spread through Aric's body, like a cool breeze easing the heat of a hot summer day. His breathing and heart rate slowed, rendering him calmer. He also felt his erection rapidly wilting, and he wasn't sure whether to be alarmed or relieved.

"Well, you're certainly capable of fending off unwanted advances," Aric joked a little nervously, also recalling the way Takeshi had hurled him across the room at the clinic.

"Oh, don't worry," Takeshi said with a grin. "Your advances will be most welcome, once the Healers give you a clean bill of health. And once we're in someplace more private than a hospital room." He asked almost shyly, "You'll move in with me once you graduate, won't you?"

"Of course," Aric said happily, and suddenly his family's rejection didn't hurt quite so much. "It was worth being turned if it means that I'm able to be with you, even though that's not why I did it. I'm not the heir anymore, and I doubt that the Tierneys would want a werewolf for a son-in-law, anyway."

"That reminds me, I have some news to share with you," Takeshi said. And as he finished bathing Aric, he explained how Miranda had eloped with Pye.

"Well, good for them!" Aric laughed.

"So you don't mind?" Takeshi asked, looking relieved.

"Of course not," Aric said. "I never wanted to marry her in the first place, so your friend Pye is welcome to her." He grinned. "Maybe we can all double-date sometime." Then his smile faded. "Although I guess my family is probably disappointed about losing the alliance." Takeshi suddenly frowned, looking troubled. "But I don't regret what I did," Aric hastily assured him.

"It's not that," Takeshi said, still frowning.

"What is it, then?" Aric asked. The mediwizard hesitated, remaining silent as he helped Aric slip into a clean robe. "'Keshi," Aric said, beginning to grow worried, "what's wrong?"

"Perhaps I shouldn't say anything," Takeshi said reluctantly. "Since it doesn't really matter now. But I can see that it will worry you if I don't tell you. I believe that your family lied to you about your grandfather's illness, Aric. I believe that they used it as an excuse to convince you to sign the betrothal contract."

"Grandfather didn't really have a stroke?" Aric asked, feeling stunned.

"He did have a stroke," Takeshi replied. "St. Mungo's wouldn't participate in a hoax like that. Your grandfather was seriously ill when he arrived at the hospital, but from what I can gather, the Healers were able to stabilize him relatively quickly. Which means that your family probably knew that he wasn't dying when they asked you to sign the contract."

"They tricked me?" Aric whispered. "They lied to me?"

"I believe so," Takeshi replied in a gentle voice. "Although you would have to check with your grandfather's Healers to be absolutely certain."

"It sounds like something they'd do," Aric said with a bitter smile. "Grandfather threatened to disown me if I refused to go through with the marriage. I'm sure he wouldn't hesitate to tell what he'd consider a harmless white lie in order to convince me to do my duty. All for the good of the family, of course."

"I'm sorry, Aric," Takeshi said quietly.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Aric demanded.

The mediwizard gave him an apologetic and slightly guilty look. "I was afraid it would seem like I was trying to turn you against your family. I was afraid that you wouldn't believe me. And even if you did believe me, I knew you would be hurt by it. But my brother convinced me that it wasn't right to keep the truth from you, so I was going to stop by the school and talk to you after the game, but, well...obviously with everything that happened, I never got the chance."

"You've never lied to me, 'Keshi," Aric said, reaching out to clasp the mediwizard's hand in his own. "You may not have told me the entire truth about a few things," he added dryly, and Takeshi smiled at him sheepishly. "But you've never lied to me. I would have believed you. It's all too easy for me to believe that my family could have lied to me."

"I'm sorry," Takeshi repeated, and Aric could see the pain and compassion in his eyes. He could have used that information to his own advantage, to try to turn Aric against his family. That was what a good Slytherin would have done. But he hadn't, because he had wanted to spare Aric pain, because Aric's feelings had mattered more to him than his own.

"I'm not," Aric said firmly. "My family wouldn't have hesitated to slander you, if the situation had been reversed. I was a fool, Takeshi. You're the only one who's ever loved me without expecting anything in return. Well, except for my Uncle Rafe. I should have chosen you. I shouldn't have waited until a werewolf bite rendered me worthless as heir."

"It doesn't matter," Takeshi whispered, tears spilling from his eyes, but he was smiling at Aric joyfully. "All that matters is that we're together now." And he leaned down and kissed Aric again. This time the kiss was more tender and sweet than arousing, but it still left Aric feeling a little dizzy. Of course, that could just be an aftereffect of the poison, but Aric didn't really think so.

Then the door opened, and Lupin called out, "Hello? Is it all right for us to come in?"

Takeshi hastily straightened up and pushed back the privacy screen. "Of course, Remus," he said, blushing just a little. "Aric's doing well, and I'm sure he'd love to have some visitors."

"And are you taking good care of Aric, Takeshi?" Lupin asked, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Of course, Remus," Takeshi repeated, his blush deepening. "Well, I'd better get back to work. And I'll bring you some breakfast, Aric. You need to eat to keep up your strength." He quickly gathered up the basin, towels, and dirty clothes, and exited the room.

Lupin entered the room, along with Snape, Theo, and Dylan. Lupin and Snape were carrying stacks of books, and Theo and Dylan had their arms full with boxes and baskets and bags of candy.

"What is all that?" Aric asked.

"Get-well cards and gifts," Theo announced with a smile, as he and Dylan deposited them on the nightstand next to Aric's bed. "You're a hero in Slytherin now, you know--in the whole school, actually, since you saved Master Diggory."

"He seems to be quite a popular teacher," Dylan added. "Considering that most of the students leave his classes feeling bruised and battered."

"I thought you might be bored," Lupin said cheerfully. "So I brought you some books to read." He placed a stack of books on the nightstand; they appeared to be novels by Ariel Zoltaire, the romance author who was so popular with the Slytherin girls. Aric shook his head slightly and smiled; somehow it didn't really surprise him that Lupin read romance novels. That wasn't really Aric's cup of tea, but he thanked the werewolf politely. As Lupin set the books down, he accidentally dislodged a white feather, which floated down to the floor.

"Sorry, what's this?" Lupin asked.

"Oh, that's mine," Aric said hastily, trying not to blush. It was Takeshi's feather, which Aric had set on the nightstand for safekeeping after he woke up. "It's a...uh...quill pen."

The end of the quill had not been trimmed, and was unstained by ink, but Lupin just smiled knowingly and did not contradict him. "I'll put this away in the drawer, then, so that you won't lose it."

"Thanks," Aric mumbled, losing the fight against blushing.

"And here, Dietrich," Snape said briskly, handing him two fat, heavy textbooks. "School is almost over, but there's no need to let your mind rot while your body is recovering. These are texts on healing herbs and potions, which you should be studying if you still intend to apply for a job at St. Mungo's."

"Thank you, Professor," Aric said, feeling surprised to get a gift from Snape, even if they were only textbooks. "But will St. Mungo's be willing to hire a werewolf?"

"It seems that Arthur Weasley will retain his position as Minister of Magic, after all," Snape said. "Which means that the equal rights bill is still in effect. Not all of the department heads are as open-minded, but it seems that the head of this ward, Hippocrates Smethwyck, is willing to take you on. I spoke to him on the way in, and he seems to think that werewolves might feel more comfortable being treated by one of their own, so he seems to regard your condition as an advantage rather than a liability. Although it does mean that you won't be able to work during the full moon, but he says that he can schedule your days off around it."

Aric was too stunned to reply with anything more than, "Oh." It seemed that his dreams had come true, in a roundabout way: he would become a mediwizard as he had wanted, and he would be with Takeshi. This wasn't exactly the way he had planned it, but he wasn't really unhappy. The loss of his family still hurt, but he had known all along that he would have to choose between them and Takeshi. And it had been they who had abandoned him, not the other way around, which made him feel less guilty about it. Although perhaps his grandfather thought that Aric had abandoned his duty to his family by allowing himself to be turned--or by putting himself in a position where it was necessary to be turned. But while Aric had been willing to sacrifice a great deal for his family, including his own happiness and a possible future with Takeshi, he could not have let someone that he cared about die, not even for the sake of his family's honor.

"Well then," Snape said curtly, "I need to consult with the head of the Spell Damage ward, and deliver a potion to him."

"You go on ahead, Severus," Lupin said cheerfully. "We'll visit with Aric for a little while."

Snape nodded and left the room, looking a trifle embarrassed. Maybe he was worried that he was ruining his reputation by showing even a little concern about one of his students. Meanwhile, Aric had many questions for Lupin, who patiently answered them and explained the events leading up to yesterday's attack, and what had happened afterwards.

Aric sighed with relief when he learned that Master Diggory would not be punished for turning him. "I'm glad," he said. "Because it would have been my fault if anything happened to him."

"It would have been Williamson's and Amos's fault," Lupin said firmly. "But the point is moot now, anyway."

"You gave me and Blaise such a hard time," Theo told him. "But you and Kimura were an item all along, you sly dog!" But he was grinning, and didn't look angry.

"Sly wolf," Dylan laughed.

"We weren't really an item," Aric protested, feeling his face grow hot. "I mean, we were only friends...I didn't think of him that way...not until my parents decided to marry me off to Miranda, but by then it was too late..."

"They're just teasing you, Aric," Lupin chuckled.

"But I am sorry that I gave you a hard time," Aric said, feeling ashamed of himself as he remembered how he had taunted Theo in the past, and not just about Blaise. And yet his cousin had still stood by him and pleaded for his life.

"It's okay," Theo said, smiling. "I forgive you. I'm just glad that you're all right."

"You were a real git all year," Dylan said. "But since you saved Master Diggory, I'll forgive you, too." He gestured at the pile of gifts on the nightstand. "And so does everyone else in Slytherin. There's even a few gifts from the other Houses. Hermione and Allegra sent you get-well cards, and Tristan sent you a box of Chocolate Frogs. And he wants to thank you and apologize to you in person when you get back. Seeing his uncle nearly kill his cousin really shook him up. He's a brat, but he does love Master Diggory."

"It's shook up all the Hufflepuffs, to learn that one of their own nearly became a murderer," Theo said, looking more serious now. "Since they place so much value on loyalty. And Amos Diggory was trying to kill his own nephew, which makes it even worse in their eyes."

"Loyalty isn't always a virtue," Dylan said softly. "Not if you give your loyalty to the wrong person, the way my father gave his loyalty to the Dark Lord."

"Sometimes a single trait can be both a strength and a weakness at the same time," Lupin said gently.

Aric wasn't sure how to reply to that, so he was relieved when he saw the door open, thinking that it was Takeshi returning with his breakfast. But instead, it turned out to be his sister Erika, carrying a large bouquet of flowers.

She smiled, but looked ill-at-ease. "I stopped by last night, but you were sleeping," she said to Aric, then nodded at Theo. "Hello, Theodore."

"Hello, Erika," Theo replied politely. "This is Professor Lupin, my foster father. And Dylan Rosier, my foster brother."

"How nice to meet you, Erika," Lupin said brightly. "Dylan, Theo, why don't we go find a vase for those lovely flowers?"

Aric knew that Lupin was trying to give them some privacy, and he appreciated the gesture, but he felt a little nervous about being left alone with his sister, not knowing what her reaction to his lycanthropy would be. "We'll be back soon," Lupin reassured him with a kind smile, as if sensing his misgivings, and the three of them left.

Aric and Erika just stared at each other for a minute or two, until Aric said, "Well, you'll be the heir now," just to break the silence. "I guess you've got what you always wanted."

"I won't lie," Erika said quietly. "I did want the heirship. But not this way. I'm sorry, Aric."

"It's okay," Aric said, feeling a little ashamed of himself. He hadn't meant for those words to sound so accusing. "It's not your fault. And to be honest, I'm kind of relieved. I didn't really want to be heir, anyway."

"Since when?" Erika asked, looking surprised. "I know you didn't want to marry Miranda, but surely she's not so repulsive that you'd willingly become a werewolf and give up the heirship just to avoid marrying her."

"It's nothing personal against Miranda," Aric said, nervously glancing away from his sister. He was tempted not to tell her, but she was going to find out the truth sooner or later, anyway. Gossip always traveled fast in the wizarding world. Even if he and Takeshi were discreet, eventually people were going to figure out that they were more than roommates. He was just glad that his conversation with his parents and grandparents had not gotten this far.

"It's just that I'm in love with someone else," Aric finally said. "Otherwise I'd have agreed to the betrothal sooner, even if the idea of marrying a total stranger isn't exactly appealing."

"Really?" Erika exclaimed, looking shocked and then curious. "Who is it? Not that Deveraux girl, surely."

"Yvonne?" Aric said, shuddering with feigned horror. "I'd never have another moment of silence for the rest of my life if I married her! I swear that girl never stops talking."

Erika laughed, then smiled at him shrewdly. "Hmm, then it must be someone completely unsuitable. If your secret girlfriend had been a pureblood of high rank, then Grandfather would at least have considered the idea."

"He'd never have considered the idea, because it's not a girl that I'm in love with,"Aric said, flushing. "It's a guy."

"What?!" Erika cried, her eyebrows shooting up into her forehead. "Well, that's rather unexpected!" But although she sounded shocked, she didn't seem disgusted. "So who is he? Do I know him?"

"I don't think so," Aric said, feeling relieved although he was still blushing. "But maybe you might have passed by him on your way in? His name is Takeshi Kimura; he works as a mediwizard in this ward."

"The one with the glasses and the long braid?" Erika asked. "He was here when I came to see you yesterday. I thought he seemed to be a little more concerned about you than a mediwizard normally would be about a patient." She smiled slyly. "He's a pretty boy, although I didn't realize that he was your type." She laughed as Aric blushed harder. "So that was why you wanted to become a mediwizard!"

"It's not just because of Takeshi!" Aric protested. "I wanted to become a mediwizard before I...before we...that is..."

"I was just teasing, little brother," Erika said, bending down to kiss his cheek. "Does he make you happy?" Aric nodded, his face still beet-red. "Then I'm glad for you," Erika said. "I'm glad that you have something to compensate for what you're losing. Although I never thought that you were the type to give up everything for love." Then she saw Lupin's books on the nightstand and added, "Never thought you were the type to read those kinds of books, either, but that might explain a few things..."

"They're not my books!" Aric said indignantly. "Professor Lupin brought them!"

"Did I hear my name being taken in vain?" Lupin asked cheerfully, as he entered the room carrying a vase and a pitcher of water.

"Thank you, Professor," Erika said, arranging the flowers in the vase. "I'll come visit you again as soon as I can, Aric, after I take care of a few business matters."

"Back in Germany?" Aric asked. "I guess you must have been called away from work pretty suddenly."

"I need to finish up the project I'm currently working on and see if I can arrange a transfer to the London branch of Gringotts," Erika said. "Because..."

Her voice trailed off, and Aric finished, "Because Grandfather wants the new heir to be closer to home. I understand. I don't hold it against you, and I don't envy you. You know that Grandfather will probably try to arrange a marriage for you soon."

"I don't mind," Erika said. "I don't have my heart set on anyone in particular, and I'll do what is necessary to ensure the succession. And I don't intend to just marry the first man that Grandfather picks out. I am willing to make an arranged marriage alliance, but my husband must be someone that I can respect. He must be worthy of fathering the future Dietrich heirs, after all."

Aric smiled. His grandfather would probably find it much harder to run roughshod over Erika. As much as he hated to admit it, his sister was much tougher than he was; she always had been, even as a child. He felt a little sorry for her, though, that she probably wouldn't love her husband the way that he loved Takeshi. But Erika had never been much of a romantic, unlike the Slytherin girls who sighed over Ariel Zoltaire's novels. Her deepest desire had never been any man or boy, but the heirship of the Dietrich family, and she was finally getting her wish. He hoped that she would be happy. And hopefully, her husband would turn out to be a nice guy, someone that she could at least like. But he had no doubt that Erika would be able to keep him in line, whoever her future husband turned out to be.

"And don't feel guilty about breaking the marriage alliance," Erika added. "Grandfather lied to you when he said that he was dying."

"I know," Aric replied. "Takeshi told me." He smiled ruefully. "I guess I was the only one too stupid to figure it out. But as it happens, Miranda broke the alliance as well. She ran off and eloped with Takeshi's coworker when she heard that I'd been turned." Erika looked startled, and Aric said, "It's kind of a long story. I'll tell you about it later."

"I look forward to hearing it," Erika said. "This is starting to sound like one of Zoltaire's novels." As she left, Aric heard her whisper to Theo, "Please look after him, Theodore," although she clearly hadn't intended for him to overhear that. Theo nodded solemnly in response.

Snape returned shortly after Erika left, and said that they should be getting back to Hogwarts. "We should let you get some rest, but we'll come visit you again in the afternoon," Lupin promised. "Is there anything you'd like us to bring you?"

"Yes, actually there is," Aric said. "If you wouldn't mind getting me something from my room, Theo?"

"Sure," Theo said with a grin. "So long as you don't have any nasty wards set up to trap me."

Actually, Aric did have a few protective wards set up to guard his belongings, so he explained to Theo how to disarm them, and what he wanted Theo to bring. His cousin raised his eyebrows a little, but said, "All right, I'll bring it by when we come back," without asking for an explanation.

Snape lingered behind as the others left the room, and Aric gave the Potions Master a puzzled look as he cleared his throat, looking a little uncomfortable. "It seems that you will not be returning to the Dietrich estate when school ends," Snape said stiffly, "and, well...there's plenty of room at Snape Manor. Although I'm sure Diggory would let you stay at the werewolves' townhouse since you're part of his pack now, but I just thought that the Manor might be...ah...a somewhat less traumatic transition..."

"Did Theo ask you to do this?" Aric asked, feeling a little dazed by the unexpected offer.

Snape coughed again, looking embarrassed. "Not exactly, but I know that he was worried about you. And Lupin's always picking up strays; I suppose one more hardly matters. It seems that we're adopting a dog, as a matter of fact. At least you're already housebroken."

Aric stared at Snape in amazement. Had the Potions Master just made a joke? "Thank you, sir. But...um..." Aric blushed. "I'll be moving in with Takeshi after I graduate."

"Oh, of course," Snape said, looking relieved.

"But feel free to stop by and visit anytime!" Lupin called out, poking his head through the doorway.

"I told you to wait outside!" Snape snapped, but Lupin just grinned at him. In a very formal and dignified manner, Snape said, "You may of course visit your cousin at the Manor, if you wish." Then he turned and stalked out of the room, his black robes swirling around him. Lupin winked at Aric and waved goodbye before following Snape.

Takeshi returned as Snape and Lupin left, bearing a large, steaming bowl of soup, and the savory aroma caused Aric's stomach to rumble. "Sorry," Takeshi said apologetically. "I know you haven't had anything to eat since yesterday morning, but I saw your sister come in, and I thought you might want some time alone with her."

"That's fine," Aric said. "I wasn't hungry up until now, but suddenly I'm starving." His hand trembled slightly when he tried to lift the spoon, so Takeshi took it and began feeding him spoonfuls of soup. "I'm not an invalid," Aric complained, but secretly he enjoyed having the mediwizard fuss over him, although he felt a little embarrassed as well.

"Actually, you are an invalid right now," Takeshi said sternly. "So if you want to regain your strength, you have to eat."

"Yes, sir," Aric said, with an exaggerated air of meekness. The soup did taste very good; it was thick and rich and meaty. But it wasn't normal breakfast fare, which puzzled Aric slightly.

"The newly-awakened wolf craves meat," Takeshi explained. "And a meat-rich diet will also help you replenish the blood that you lost. But your body is still recovering from the poisoning, and I don't think that your stomach could handle anything stronger than soup right now. If you can keep down your breakfast and lunch, we can try some solid food at dinner."

"I really am an invalid," Aric sighed, swallowing another spoonful of soup. He hadn't been craving anything until Takeshi mentioned it, but now his stomach rumbled again at the thought of a nice, juicy steak.

"Count your blessings," Takeshi said. "There's a patient in the next ward who can't eat anything but rice gruel."

"Soup is just fine," Aric said hastily.

Takeshi smiled. "I'll fix you a home-cooked meal after we move in together," he promised.

"I'll hold you to that," Aric said. "Er...you can cook, can't you?"

"Of course I can, silly," Takeshi said. "I practically grew up in the kitchen of the Sakura."

"That's good," Aric said. "Because I can't. So otherwise we'd have to eat out every night or starve."

"It's not that hard," Takeshi laughed. "If you can brew a potion in Snape's Advanced class, you're certainly capable of following a recipe."

By the time Aric finished the soup, he felt full and sleepy and content. "Get some rest, love," Takeshi whispered, kissing him on the forehead. "I'll come see you again after I check on my other patients."

"Fine," Aric yawned. "So long as you don't kiss any of them."

Takeshi laughed softly and kissed Aric again, this time on the mouth. "No, you're the only one who gets that kind of specialized care, my wolf."

"Good," Aric said smugly, and closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 144

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