Chapter Text
Remus awoke to the soft, warm light of dawn filtering through the curtains. He stretched, the familiar aches of a long day’s work already beginning to creep into his muscles. Glancing at his alarm clock — 6AM sharp — he knew it was time to start preparing for another day. Rubbing his eyes, the alpha gets out of the bed with a grunt and moves slowly through his morning routine.
He showers, brushes his teeth, dresses another variation of a cardigan with elbow patches — the only thing he ever wears as the stereotypical teacher — and loose jeans. Since it’s winter, he also grabs a gray coat and a scarf. Next, he prepares Teddy’s backpack and clothes for the day and goes to his sons’ room
Teddy wasn’t particularly difficult in the mornings, he just needed a little more time to fully wake up — which is fair. So, Remus gently shakes him awake and greets him with a kiss on the forehead and a soft ‘good morning’, then, heads to the kitchen to start on breakfast while the kid gathers enough energy to leave the bed.
The meal is very simple: scrambled eggs, fried bacon strips, toast with marmalade and orange juice. Of course, since Remus is the worst cook alive, the eggs are oversalted, the bacon and the toast are burnt and the orange juice is perfect — because it is store bought. Trying to save breakfast, the alpha covers everything in ketchup and melted cheese and hopes it’ll be enough to get Teddy to eat a couple bites.
Remus plates a bit of everything in a plastic tray and, just in time, he hears the pitter-patter of small feet across the wordboard floors. Teddy comes from his room rubbing his eyes and sits at the table.
“Hungry, cub?” Remus asks, placing the tray and a cup of juice in front of his son.
Teddy shakes his head and glares at the food. Remus lets him take his time while he makes a plate for himself and starts eating.
“Hmmm! So delicious!” The alpha exclaims with fake enthusiasm, but he’s not fooling anyone.
Instead of glaring at the food, now Teddy glares at Remus. Still, he grabs his little spoon and takes a few bites of the egg. While, of course, making sure Remus knows he’s not enjoying it.
After breakfast, Remus loads the dishwasher, makes sure Teddy brushes his teeth and dresses him up. Within minutes, they are ready to start the day.
“Can I bring my dinosaur to school?” Teddy asks as they prepare to leave.
“As long as you don’t forget it there again, cub.” Remus answers as he puts on his shoes.
“I won’t!” The toddler exclaims and darts around the living room with his stuffed — and historically inaccurate — T-rex.
Remus laughs at his son, grateful for the newfound space since moving into their new apartment. They did it a few months ago, right after Remus got a higher paying job as a literature teacher in a high-school nearby.
Moving with a toddler was a nightmare, but the trouble was worthed. Their new building was much nicer than the last one, with large windows, new flooring and plenty of space for Teddy to spend his endless deposit of energy. Not a leak in the ceiling or a crack in the walls like their old apartment was full of. The new neighborhood was nice too, with playgrounds, supermarkets and, of course, Remus’ job and Teddy’s school in walking distance.
Remus was really glad he could afford a better place for them. He loved his job, but the pay was not great. God knows it wasn’t easy conciliating his dream of being a teacher with the ability to afford a good environment for his child. The alpha did his absolute best to give Teddy everything he needed to have a happy and fulfilling childhood.
Still, Remus passed the last five years, since his late wife passed away, hearing how an alpha couldn’t raise a child without an omega— nevermind Teddy’s mother was a beta in the first place. But Remus thinks he’s doing fine on his own. Despite not having much money, he raised an angelic child. Teddy is polite, well-mannered and obedient. He’s smart and perceptive for his age, he doesn’t ask for new toys and candy all the time like other kids and he’s very loving with his papa. Now, that good behavior doesn’t apply to meal time, but that’s probably because Remus’ food is barely passable as food at all.
“C’mon, cub!” The alpha calls his son and the two of them leave the apartment.
On the way out, Mrs. Maisel, an elderly lady who lives on the second floor and the only neighbor they had met thus far, sees them and inconveniently spends fifteen minutes talking to Remus about her apartment’s leakage. So, as it happens each day, they are late despite the early start.
The five minute walk to Teddy’s Primary School is pleasant and the kid makes sure to hold Remus' hand all the way there. When they reach the entrance, the alpha kneels down and gives his son a tight hug. “Have a great day, cub. Remember to listen to your teacher and be kind to your friends.”
“I will, Papa!” Teddy beams, returning the hug with equal enthusiasm before scampering off to join his classmates. Remus watches him go with a smile.
Leaving the Primary School, Remus is greeted with a chorus of "Good morning, Mr. Lupin!" which he replies politely. The omegas — teachers and parents dropping off their children — send him heated looks, admiring the tall, handsome alpha who is so gentle with his child. The pattern follows him to the school where he works at. But Remus, ever focused on his responsibilities, is not even aware of the attention he receives. He nods with a small smile, thinking the lingering gazes are simply politeness and makes his way to his classroom, ready to start another day of teaching.
***
A few hours later, Remus finds himself sitting in one of the uncomfortable chairs at the teacher’s lounge. He’s already exhausted, even if there was still a couple hours of work ahead of him. Just then, the door swings open and in walks Lily, a bright and lively beta woman with fiery red hair that frames her soft face and kind, emerald-green eyes. She carries two paper cups holding coffee, the steam rising and filling the air with a rich aroma.
“Tired?” Lily asks, offering Remus a cup. It’s real coffee from a cafe nearby and not whatever comes out of the lounge’s unsanitary coffee machine.
“Very.” He answers with a yawn, gratefully taking the coffee. “I don’t know what they gave those teenagers for breakfast. I swear they were more animal than human. I had to take apart three fights. Three! An alpha girl ripped a handful of hair from another one in the hallway.”
“Jesus!” Lily exclaims. Even after seven years as the school nurse, she could still be surprised.
“I spent hours talking with their parents in my office.” Remus sighs and takes a big gulp of his burning hot coffee. Between his breakfast and the canteen’s criminal food, it was the best thing he had the whole day. “It was the time I was going to use to finish grading the papers.”
“Sorry, love. If it helps, I also had an awful day.” Lily rolls her eyes at the memory. “Caught a couple of teenagers doing a bit more than making out on the infirmary’s beds.”
“Ew.” Remus scrunches up his nose.
“Their naked arses will be forever engraved in my mind.” She shakes her head and takes a sip of her latte. “And after I interrupted them, I had to look in their eyes and talk about safe sex.”
Remus looks at her with pity. “Okay, yeah, your day was worse. You win.”
Lily laughs, throwing her head back. “Thank you. I feel like a champion.”
“Well, you deserve it.” Remus chuckles, his voice carrying a warmth that contradicted his tired eyes.
Lily stops laughing and pats the alpha’s back. “How’s Teddy?”
“Good.”
“Still wants to dye his hair?” Lily asks, grinding as she remembers the kid’s insistence.
“Yes. He talks about it every other day.” Remus chuckles. “I told him when he’s 15 I’ll think about it, but he’s not very happy.”
“He’s a riot.” Lily chuckles too. “And the neighbor? Still making your life hell with their cooking?”
“Yeah.” Remus nods. “Same as ever.”
Ever since they moved in, Teddy and Remus were tortured every day, by the rich aroma of food wafting from their neighbor’s apartment across the hallway. Remus hasn't met them yet since their paths never crossed in the corridors of the building before. Yet he knew they were always cooking by the time he arrived with Teddy from school and, judging by the aroma, they must be an excellent cook. Remus and Teddy were always welcomed in their floor by something different, but equally mouth watering: the sweet fragrance of caramel or dark chocolate, the delicious aroma of braised meats and vegetables, the creamy smell of melted cheese or something they couldn’t even identify but still made their stomachs rumble.
It made it so much sadder to get to their own home and have a pathetic peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a bland boxed mac’n cheese for dinner. Teddy was already a difficult child when it came to meal time, but with the amazing aroma from next door wafting through their apartment, he was ten times worse. Most days he would throw a tantrum, refusing to eat his papa’s sorry excuse of a dinner. He would stamp his tiny foot on the ground and cry, ugly fat tears falling from his eyes as he begged for the food that smelled so good.
Remus almost ended up crying too. He had half a mind to knock on their neighbor’s door and ask them for some of the whatever they were cooking, but, besides the embarrassment, he knew what it would look like. It would look like Remus was a pathetic excuse of an alpha who couldn’t provide to his cub a decent meal.
So Remus stood his ground each time and winned by fatigue. Eventually, Teddy would tire himself out and grumply eat the food he was given, still with a runny nose and tear marks on his face.
“Well.” Lily says. “You should knock on their door and make some friendship. Guarantee some free dinner for you and Teddy.”
“Teddy sure would like that. He might’ve suggested it himself once or twice.” Remus chuckles. “Maybe they are a nice old lady.”
“If they cook as well as you say they do, the chance is that they are a nice old lady.” Lily says.
“I’d say that’s a fair assumption.” Remus shrugs. “If I catch them in the hallways, I’ll do my best to befriend them. I promise.”
“Good.” Lily watches Remus’ face closely for a second and takes another sip of her latte to mask her curiosity. Of course, the alpha notices her eyes burning the side of his head.
“I know you want to ask me about Emmeline.” Remus finally says, tone resigned.
Lily jumps at the opening. “Yes! I’m dying to ask about Emmeline! How was the date?”
“It was… well… I don’t think she knew about Teddy.”
A year or so ago Remus started to get back into the dating scene thanks to Lily’s insistence. Not because she doubted his ability to raise a child alone, mind you, but because she believed he deserved to love and to be loved again. He had a few flings and first dates since then, but nothing seemed to stick, always circling back to the same issue: he was a single parent.
“What? No, she knew. I told her you had a child and she said it was fine.”
Remus shakes his head. “I don’t think she really meant it, then. Because things were going fine, but when I started talking about Teddy, she clamped up.”
“Ah. Did you spend the whole date talking about him again?”
“No, I promise!” Remus says quickly. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. “I genuinely made an effort to get to know her, but Lils, when it comes to me, I am a single father and a teacher and that’s it.” He says, sad. “I don’t have much to offer. I don’t have time for hobbies, my only friends are you and Mary, the only place I ever go out to is that same pub every week and the only interesting stories I have to share are of my students or my son.”
“I think you have a lot to offer, Remus. No wonder you have a community of people who love you.” Lily says, laying a comforting hand on Remus’ shoulder. “If Emmeline couldn’t see that, it’s her loss.”
“Emmeline is too young, like I told you she was.” Remus shrugs. “She might have been okay with the distant concept of a child, but when she realized Teddy was the main part of my life and would be a regular part of hers if our relationship progressed, she got intimidated.”
“Well, that sucks.” Lily sighs, guilty settling in. She was the one who arranged the date and insisted to Remus that they would be compatible. “But don’t give up, okay? I still have a whole list of people who asked me to arrange a date with you.”
“Hm.” Remus grimaced. “I’m not sure if I want to go on any other dates for a while.”
“Okay. I’ll give you some time.” Lily pretends to ponder for a moment, tapping her chin with a finger. “One month, max.”
Remus laughs. “Fuck off! I want at least three months!”
“No way! That’s too much time.” Lily grins.
They lightly banter for a little more before having to get back to work.
***
Remus let out a sigh of relief as he crossed the entrance of their building that late afternoon. After enduring a hellish day at work, he looked forward to a shower, a meal, and some sleep. Holding Teddy’s chubby hand, he made his way with his son to their floor and that’s when the smell hit them both. Again, their neighbor was cooking something that had an amazing aroma.
Remus enjoyed it for a second before grimacing, remembering what it would do for Teddy’s dinner. Fortunately, the cub seemed to be in good spirits and didn’t even comment about the delicious scent of melted butter and spices in the hallway, so Remus was a little hopeful that today was gonna be one of the rare good nights when Teddy complained just a bit before eating his own food.
They walked into their apartment and Remus dropped his and his son’s bag on the table and took off his coat. Teddy shot off his shoes, sending them flying across the floor.
Remus shook his head. “Hey, cub, remember when we talked about putting things in their proper place?”
“Sorry, papa.” Teddy rushed to put the shoes in their spot by the front door. “Can I go play now?”
Remus studied his son. Teddy was jittery with excitement, bouncing up and down as he waited for permission. Letting him play would help burn off some energy, making bedtime easier, he reasoned.
“Yes. But just for a bit though, then, it’s bath time.” Remus answered.
“Thanks, papa.”
Teddy shot off to his room and Remus chuckled, amused by his son’s enthusiasm. Enjoying the opportunity to finish grading his papers in peace, the alpha grabbed his laptop in his bag and settled on the couch.
He managed to grade about three tests before the fatigue caught up. Blinking slowly, he struggled to stay focused, but his eyelids grew heavier. Thinking it wouldn’t hurt to rest his eyes for five minutes, Remus set his laptop aside and sank deeper into the cushions. Just a few seconds later, he was asleep.
“Papa?” Teddy’s small voice broke the silence. He entered the living room and spotted his father on the couch. In an instant, a plan formed in his mind.
Deep in sleep, Remus had no way of noticing his toddler opening the front door and slipping out.
***
Remus woke up with a start. It was much darker outside than when he had dozed off, the apartment covered in shadows. And it was quiet. Way too quiet.
Confused and barely awake, Remus called for his son. "Teddy? Teddy?"
The lack of response made his heart race. Panic surged through him as he called out louder. “Teddy!” Still no answer. He sprang up from the couch, stumbling over his own feet, frantically searching the apartment. Teddy wasn’t in his room, the bathroom, or anywhere else. Every room he checked deepened the dread in his stomach.
Then, breaking the heavy silence, came an incessant knocking on the front door. Each knock felt like a hammer striking Remus’ heart, the sound echoing through the dark apartment. His breath quickened, and his hands shook as he reached for the door. His mind raced with terrifying scenarios — had something happened to Teddy? Who could be at the door? What if it was bad news?
With a heart pounding so hard he could hear it in his ears, Remus yanked the door open in a hasty movement. And there stood his cub, being held by a stranger. Relief flooded through Remus and he immediately reached for Teddy, pulling him from the man's arms and checking every inch of him for any signs of injury or discomfort. Tears of relief pricked at his eyes as he clutched Teddy tightly.
“Oh my God, Teddy! Where have you been?” Remus asked loudly, his voice echoing through the hallway. “You made me worried sick!”
Teddy looked fine, no visible injuries in his tiny, chubby body and no signs of uneasiness in his expression. If anything, he looked slightly amused. A bit calmer, Remus turned to the stranger by the door, who was waiting awkwardly for Remus to stop panicking.
“And who are you?” Remus asked him dryly. There were so many questions going through his mind. Why did this stranger have his son?
“Ah. I’m Sirius, your neighbor.” The man replied, pointing to the door across the hallway. “I live right over there.”
Remus, for the first time, truly paid attention to the man in front of him. He was tall — just a few centimeters shorter than Remus — and slender, with shoulder-length wavy black hair that framed his high cheekbones. His large gray eyes were accentuated by long lashes and his lips were naturally pink and slightly pouty. A tattoo adorned the center of his chest, nestled between his collarbones — a black symbol Remus couldn’t identify. He was wearing a white linen shirt and sweatpants under a flowery apron and holding a large purple food container. Remus couldn’t smell any pheromones on him, but it was obvious he was an omega by the red collar around his neck. Probably on suppressants, then.
“Sorry. The kid knocked on my door asking for some food. Ah! But I brought him straight here, I promise you.” He explains, voice sincere and a bit apologetic.
Remus gaped, realizing his neighbor’s explanation made perfect sense. His face flushed red, and his first instinct was to apologize profusely. “Oh my God! Im’ so, so sorry.”
“Hey, it’s fine.” Sirius assured him with a soft smile.
“No, it’s not. Teddy knows better than to run off and inconvenience others.” Remus says, turning to his son with a stern expression.
At that, all the amusement vanished from the toddler’s face. “I was hungry and I didn’t want PB&Js for dinner again! It’s all we ever eat!” Teddy screams petulantly, crossing his arms.
The neighbor looks at them with pity and Remus thinks he’ll die of embarrassment. All he ever wanted to avoid was looking like a failure of a father, and look at him now. The fact that he’s being made a fool of in front of a pretty omega doesn’t help it either.
“Teddy, we will talk about this later.” Remus says firmly to his son, who’s still glaring at him, then turns to the omega. “Again, I’m sorry. I ended up falling asleep on the couch and he must’ve snuck out then. I swear he has never done this before.”
“Really, it’s fine. I get how children are.” The omega says sincerely. “I have a godson who’s about Teddy’s age. If I told you half of the stories...” Sirius smiles fondly.
Remus unconsciously smiles back. “Well, Teddy and I can smell whenever you’re cooking from our apartment.”
“Always smells delicious!” Teddy interjects.
“Probably why he went to your door looking for food instead of simply waking me up.” The alpha explains.
“Ah. Makes sense.” Sirius chuckles. It’s an angelic sound. “I’m a chef, so I’m always trying new things for the bistro. Mrs. Maisel from the 24 says I make the place smell like a buffet.”
Remus blushes. The pretty omega is a chef? That explains a lot. Also, that’s so attractive.
“I see.” Remus says, feeling tongue-tied.
Sirius met Remus’s eyes, his own cheeks a bit pink, though it might have been from the cold. “So, you’re not much of a cook, I take it?”
“Hm. Most days I’m too tired to cook. And I’m awful at it, anyway.” Remus explains.
Teddy, the little traitor, nods in agreement. “Papa burns everything!”
Sirius chuckles. “I see.”
“Well, thank you for bringing him back.” The alpha says. “I don’t know what I would do if something happened to him.”
“You’re welcome.” Sirius says, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. “Look, I didn’t give him any food before talking to you because he might have allergies or restrictions, but I prepared this.” He extends the Tupperware he's been holding towards Remus. “It’s beef stroganoff and rice I was cooking earlier. There’s onions, mushrooms, dairy and meat, of course.”
Remus really, really is going to die of embarrassment. “Oh, there’s no need for it.” He tries to refuse, shaking his head. “It’s not like Teddy and I don’t have food here.”
“But I want it!” Teddy wails and there’s tears pooling in the corners of his eyes already. “Sirius gave it to me!”
“Teddy, please.” Remus sighed, wondering why his son chose today of all days to be so difficult.
“I know you have food.” Sirius looks at the alpha with a sympathetic expression. “But accept it, please. I’ve made way too much anyway.”
And How could Remus refuse his crying pup and an attractive omega? Cliche, but he was still an alpha, after all.
“Okay.” Remus takes the container and shows it to Teddy, calling his attention. “Look, papa’s going to give the food to you in just a second, cub.”
“Okay.” Teddy mutters, voice thick with unshed tears.
“Thank you.” Remus says to Sirius.
“Oh, I should be the one thanking you. You saved me from eating reheated stroganoff for the rest of the month.” The omega smiles brightly and Remus feels faint.
“Is that so?” Remus managed to say.
Sirius hesitated for a moment, his smile faltering slightly. “Hm. I’ll let you guys eat now.” He said finally. The omega waved goodbye to Teddy with a gentle warmth that was so natural and sincere.“Bye, Teddy!”
“Bye, Sirius!” Teddy responded cheerfully.
“Bye!” Remus echoed softly.
Sirius gave a tentative wave to Remus before turning and walking back to his apartment. As soon as he disappeared from view, Remus let out a deep breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He glanced down at Teddy, who was now eagerly eyeing the Tupperware in Remus’s hands. Guilty settles in. He let his cub go so hungry he had to ask a stranger to feed him. Maybe he should take some cooking classes.
“Let’s go eat.” Remus says quietly.
***
Remus settles Teddy at the table and grabs his plastic tray. The food is still warm, so he serves a generous portion of the stroganoff and the rice. Teddy lights up, grabbing his spoon with his chubby hands and beams at his father.
Remus can’t deny that the food looks as good as it smells. His son digs in, filling his mouth so much in the first bite he looks like a chipmunk. It’s the cutest thing in the world, as far as Remus is concerned.
“It’s good?” He asks the boy.
“So good, papa!” Teddy exclaims between bites, his mouth full. “It’s my favorite food in the whole world!”
“Ah, favorite already, uh?” Remus can’t help but laugh, throwing his head back. “Do you mind if I have a bite?”
Teddy shakes his head. “Eat some too, papa.”
Remus grabs a fork and takes a piece of beef from Teddy’s plate. He bites it and the flavor explodes in his mouth. The beef is tender and perfectly cooked, melting in his mouth, and the sauce is creamy and rich without being overpowering. No wonder Teddy is eating with so much gusto.
Remus’ stomach rumbles, reminding him of his own hunger, and he looks at the Tupperware. It’s big enough that the food will be more than enough for them, but, no , the gift was for Teddy, not for him. And Remus’ son is always his priority, so, resigned, he goes to the kitchen and starts making a PB&J for himself. If eating such a bland thing before was torture, doing it with such delicious food right in front of his eyes is hell.
Teddy surprises Remus by eating a lot more than his usual portion. He even eats all the caramelized onions and the mushrooms he usually hates so much. By the end of the meal, his face is plastered with stroganoff sauce and his belly has a perfect half-circle shape. If Remus didn’t taste the dish himself, he would be worried Sirius fed his son crack.
Remus stores the remaining food in the fridge for Teddy’s lunch the next day and washes Sirius’s container, intending to return it soon. After giving Teddy a bath and tucking him into bed, where they talked once more about Teddy sneaking out from home, Remus finally takes his own shower and prepares for bed.
As he lays down to sleep, gratitude washes over him that the day is finally ending. Closing his eyes, he can’t shake the thoughts of the charming omega from across the hallway, whose gray eyes left a strange feeling of yearning in his heart.