Title: Six Geese A Layin'
Series: 21 for 21
Author: jmaria
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: J.K. owns them, I just play with them.
Pairing: Tonks/Lupin
Three Words Prompt: Christmas, mistletoe, snow
Word Count: 692
Summary: Some holiday spirit to lighten Remus mood.
Notes: 21 for 21 is my insane plan to write 21 ficlets for my birthday. . . except that people on lj give me a pairing and three words.
Count: 6/21
Dedication: to vikingwriter for the characters and the three words
Six Geese A Layin'
Nymphadora Tonks had an arm strewn over Charlie Weasley's shoulders as the two former schoolmates tried to sing The Twelve Days of Christmas through their drunken stupor. They'd started the celebration at 12 Grimmauld Place a little earlier than anyone, taking shots of Ogden's Firewhiskey and singing Christmas carols. That was how Remus found them, fumbling to remember what came sixth.
"Six gobbers droolin'?" Tonks asked.
"Six goblins - Lupin, wha's that sixth t'ing?" Charlie called, noticing the man before Tonks.
Remus smiled tiredly at them, wishing he could be that young and carefree again. It reminded him a bit of the Marauders. He sighed.
"It's six geese a laying," he replied. "Where's Sirius got to?"
"Bed - was a bit depressed that we drank him under the table," Tonks said proudly.
"And with that, Nymphie, I think I'm gonna turn in too."
"Bloody bunch of wimps!" Tonks swatted at Charlie as he pushed his chair back. She grinned over at Remus, "You'll keep me company, won't you?"
"I suppose I could spare a few moments."
"That's the spirit!" she grinned, pouring him a drink.
"You're just like your cousin," Remus mused.
"Sirius? Nah, he's too tame," Tonks laughed, sipping at her drink.
They spent the next half hour talking about their day and some funny drinking stories. At one point, she was laughing so hard that she had to lean on him to keep from falling out of her seat. Remus stiffened a bit in his seat at the casual contact. It had been a long time since someone had touched him. The werewolf stigma and all.
"Look at that, it's snowing!" Tonks nearly knocked her seat over trying to get to the kitchen door.
"Nymphadora, you haven't got any shoes on," Remus laughed, catching her by the waist before she could even cross the threshold.
"That's half the fun, Moony," she said breathlessly turning towards him.
For a moment, their eyes caught, held and refused to be budged even though the icy wind was blowing tiny flakes of snow through the open doorway. Tonks smiled up at him, which made him frown.
"What?"
"Mistletoe," she said pointing.
"Oh, erm, well, I -"
"Its tradition, Moony," Tonks grinned, standing on her tip-toes in order to put her mouth on the same level as his.
Her lips were soft but insistent, coaxing him to relax. Her hands had gone up around his neck and her body was pressed tightly to his. Remus pressed one hand to the small of her back to keep them balanced, but somehow she'd managed to back herself against the doorframe for support. When he finally broke away for a gulp of the icy air, he began admonishing himself. She was half his age, and his best mate's little cousin, and she was inebriated to boot.
"Nymphadora -"
"Its Tonks, Moony. You can call me Tonks, you know."
"We shouldn't have done this -"
"We haven't done much of anything, Remus. We kissed -"
"It was highly inappropriate of me to let you go on in your state," Remus ran a hand through his sandy hair, and caught Tonks frowning at him. "What?"
"I think you should go up to bed -"
"What?"
"You look dead tired, Remus. You didn't think I was suggesting I go to bed with you? I'm half sober, wouldn't be much good anyway." Tonks shrugged, closing the door behind her. "It was a Christmas tradition, Remus. Don't let it weigh on you so."
"I - I think I should go up to bed, then?" he was very confused.
"I'm gonna clean up these bottles."
"Good night, then?"
"Night."
She waited until he'd been gone for five minutes before groaning and dropping her head in frustration. The kitchen door creaked back open, and Tonks head snapped up a bit too quickly. She groaned again when Charlie walked back in.
"Didn't go as well as you'd hoped?"
"If it did, I'd be snuggled into his bed right now doing a various amount of sinful things to him," she sighed.
"So the mistletoe didn't work then?" he said sympathetically.
"No, it worked. Just not enough."
