Hybrid Witch| ᴿᵉᵐᵘˢ ᴸᵘᵖⁱⁿ

Epilogue

The year was 1996. Almost sixteen years have passed since the death of Rosalice Elizabeth Cullen.

The scene that Remus Lupin found himself in was rather solemn. He stood there in his worn out robes, staring longingly at the tombstone in front of him. A bouquet of flowers in his hand as he talked to the grave.

"I think I've done it." He whispered. Guilt seemed to seep into his features as the words left his lips. "I think I'm falling for someone else, Lizzy. I didn't think it'd be possible, despite what you asked of me."

There was no response. Remus didn't expect there to be, but the admission felt good. Unfortunately, the guilt seeped back into him as he thought of the woman who has now captured his attention.

Tonks held a lot of similarities to his first love. She was an energetic metamorphamgus who had a short temper, especially when it came to people calling her by her given moniker. Tonks was so young and full of life compared to his old and frail self.

"I don't think I can be with her though. I'm terrified of the future." Remus admitted. He could almost hear the faint 'Don't be silly Moony. Everything will be okay' but it didn't change his mind. "A werewolf, Lizzy. I'm a werewolf. I had been so naive to think that I had a chance of any kind of happiness for my future."

"Turning into a howling animal shouldn't limit your happiness." A voice whispered from beside him. "It's been a long time Remus." The voice added, bitterness in its tone.

"I hadn't expected to see you here, Seth." The man in front of him had aged considerably since Remus had last seen him. His true age of being almost 15-years-older than Remus showed, despite Remus himself looking old for his age.

"Can you believe its been 16 years?" Seth asked him. "I feel like I barely knew her, even though I'd gotten four years with her. I had even given up my original intentions after realizing that she only needed a friend. We'd become great friends. Then, she was gone."

"She fought bravely," Remus whispered, unsure of what to say.

"I have a family now," Seth told him, offhandedly. Remus seemed taken back at the confession, considering how the man seemed to hold on to his old feelings. "I have a wife that I met about ten years ago. We got married and had a kid."

"What?" Remus asked as Seth stared at him. The Quileute's gaze poured into Remus' soul as if psychoanalyzing his every thought.

"You can have that too. She wouldn't want you to live life without loving someone." The words made Remus' mind flash back to that day. The day that he held her in his arms and she told him that she wanted him to live and love. Probably the opposite of what he actually did.

He hadn't meant to prolong her wish though. The first year after her death was hard enough. Then, Lily and James were killed. He thought Sirius was a traitor and assumed Peter was killed by him. Poor little baby Harry would be stuck with Lily's horrible sister. Remus just couldn't find it in him to do anything. He had no stable job to top it off and was never in one place long enough to settle in. He had tried to live life like Liz wanted to but then life actually happened.

"That's not the problem," Remus told him. "I'm a monster. I don't want to risk passing that down to someone."

"You were willing to risk that with Liz." Seth pointed out.

"She wanted to adopt more than anything," Remus replied. "Those years without parents weren't always the best. Liz had told me that she wanted to change some kids life, so they wouldn't have to live hers."

"But the woman you are falling for wants a different future."

"I don't know. I don't think I'd be able to do that to a person if that was the case." He rubbed his tired eyes and sighed.

"Stop that." Seth snapped. Remus gave him a confused look and Seth decided to elaborate. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stop worrying about something that might not even happen. Go live the life that she wanted you to live. Go be fucking happy and make someone else happy while you're at it. You doing this isn't only hurting you but also hurting whoever is starting to fall in love with you too." He then pointed to himself. "I have a curse as well Remus. When I was younger getting too angry could've meant someone's head would be getting swiped off. This is a 24/7 thing and my sons or daughters could definitely be stuck like this. I made sure my wife knew that and you know what? She was scared but we didn't let that stop us. Don't let that stop you."

Remus stood there, dumbfounded, and Seth shook his head. 

"Goodbye, Remus. Just think about what I said." 

With that Seth stalked away and Remus' gaze fell back onto the tombstone in front of him. He felt the tears on his face before he even registered that they were falling in the first place. His hand went to cover his mouth as he felt the first sob leave him. He was crying because he knew what choice he was going to make and he was angry with himself for not making it sooner. 

He was going to choose to be happy.