Remus is having another nightmare.
He always is, after that horrible night. He wakes up screaming and he won’t stop. He won’t stop until the monster is gone, but there is nothing there. It pains Lyall to see him like this. His beautiful boy. He wishes he could help him, take his pain away, but he knows all too well that there’s nothing he can do.
He’s seen far too many cases like this before. People being attacked by the werewolves. It changes their life completely. They go from a person to a beast. It’s even worse when it happens to children, they don’t even get a chance to be a person. They’ll always be known as a beast.
He should have expected this to happen, with all his work against the werewolves. He never thought it would happen, not to his boy. How will Remus ever be accepted? His life has barely even started - he hasn’t gotten a chance to live. He’s only five years old. A five year old shouldn’t have to wake up screaming every single night, make his parents double check, triple check that the window is closed before he sleeps. He shouldn’t have to go through this.
Lyall doesn’t know how to help his boy, but he tries.
“Remus?”
Lyall peeks into Remus’ room. His screaming stops and turns into sobs. Lyall calls his name again and walks into the room. Remus looks up at him, his eyes full of tears and his cheeks reddened. There’s a red scar there from the last full moon. Oh, how Lyall wishes he could take his pain away.
“Da.”
Remus’ voice is small, like its barely even there. Lyall rushes over to Remus’ side. He’s still crying. He takes his hand, gently, to not scare him. To assure him he’s safe, the monster won’t get him. Remus grips his hand back, holding on tightly.
“Da.”
Remus is looking up at him, still crying. Oh, his beautiful boy. His eyes are big and wet, and they’re looking up at him, seeking comfort. Lyall gently squeezes his hand.
“It’s okay, Remus. I’m here.”
“Da, can you sing?”
Remus can barely get his words out, but Lyall hears him. He nods. He will do anything for his boy.
“Close your eyes. Have no fear.”
Remus closes his eyes. His crying seems to have stopped and his breathing isn’t as heavy anymore. Lyall squeezes his hand and continues.
“The monsters gone, he’s on the run and your daddy’s here.”
Remus seems to be calming down. His breath is getting lighter and his hold on Lyall hand is looser.
“Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Beautiful boy.”
Lyall moves his hand up and strokes his hair. His beautiful boy.
“Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Beautiful boy.”
Remus’ breath evens out. He’s falling asleep. Lyall doesn’t dare move away just yet and continues singing, his voice below a whisper.
“Before you go to sleep, say a little prayer. Every day, in every way. It’s getting better and better.”
He’s so proud of his boy. He’s a true fighter. He barely survived the attack, but fought trough it. And here he is, fighting through it all. His life has been changed - all of their lives have been. But they’re not ruined. Despite Remus’ pain, he can still manage to find joy in the smallest things. He’s so smart, his little boy. He loves books and is always asking Lyall to bring him books back. He always does, doing just anything to see his boy happy.
“Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Beautiful boy.”
Remus doesn’t yet know of the magic that’s in him. His kind of magic is his parents and his books. He doesn’t really know, or need, anything else.
“Darling, darling, darling. Darling boy. Goodnight, Remus. See you in the morning.”
Lyall kisses Remus’ forehead and squeezes his hand one last time before letting go. He looks peaceful where he sleeps. Lyall knows he will have nightmares again next night, but he will do the same every single night just to see him like this. Peaceful.
Lyall quietly leaves the room. He leaves the door open, just a sliver, just how Remus likes it.
His beautiful boy.