Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harry Potter. I wrote this because of an inspiration.

Nymphadora Tonks sat curled up in a ball on her chair. Her legs were pulled up in front of her, her arms wrapping around them, pulling them closer to her body, as if seeking comfort. Her chin rested on her knees and she stared at her fireplace. She was in her sweatpants and tee-shirt pajamas that she had received from her mother last Christmas.

Tonks' eyes started to water, but she refused to let the liquid leak out. She looked up, breaking her trance from the fire. When she could no longer keep herself from blinking, she did. As soon as the tears escaped from her eyes Tonks brought her hand up to wipe them off, taking her chin off her knees. One tear down each cheek was all it took. All of a sudden, she was crying and couldn't stop, no matter how many times she told herself to. Her eyes became red and puffy, and her make-up was smeared. She finally gave up trying to wipe her tears away and just let them flow freely. After a few minutes, whenever a tear would flow down her cheeks, it would burn. She set her chin back onto her knees and whimpered.

She had been isolated for no more than five days, and it was already getting to her. She went to work. That was the only thing she had done. No shopping, no Order, and no fun. She Apparated to work, then back as soon as her shift was over. She hadn't been able to sleep since the night before she became isolated.

All of a sudden there was a knock on her door. Tonks jumped at the sound breaking the silence. She slowly started unraveling herself from her position. Feeling the silk of the furniture brush against her back as her shirt pulled up a little when she stood up made her shiver. She didn't want to leave that spot. Ever. She pulled her shirt down and walked towards the door. Then, realizing she was still crying, she reached for the tissue box and realized there weren't any. She cursed under her breath, her nose full of excess snot. She reached the door after what seemed like half an hour. Oddly enough, there hadn't been another knock. She was hopeful to think whoever it had been had left.

"'Oo if eh'?" Tonks asked the door.

"It's Charlie," The voice replied. Tonks sniffled and slowly unlocked all the bolts on her door. She turned the knob and pulled on it slightly. She stepped to the side and the door opened the rest of the way slowly. Sure enough, Charlie Weasley stepped into the threshold wearing a sweater, jacket, jeans, and sneakers. His hair was askew and stood up at odd angles on the top of his head. He took one look around him until his eyes settled on Tonks, standing on his left.

Before she knew it, Tonks was swept up in a soft, caring hug. She wrapped her arms around him cautiously. She tried to breath in his scent, but because of her stuffy nose, was unable to do so. He pulled away slowly getting a good look at her, while holding her at arms length, holding onto her shoulders. "Tonks," He seemed to sigh with relief.

" 'arlie," was her sophisticated response. She looked into his eyes.

"Where have you been?" He asked her with an uncanny resemblance to his mother.

"Righ' 'ere," she said and shrugged as he took his hands off her shoulders. Charlie shook his head and reached into his jacket pocket.

"Here," he said pulling out a handkerchief. "You need this more than I do." She took it gratefully. It was a solid olive green, his favorite color. She put it up to her nose and blew as hard as she could. She repeated the process until she began to feel light-headed. Then, she used the parts not covered in boogies to wipe her eyes.

"Thanks," she said clearly.

"Why weren't you at the last Order meeting?" Charlie asked her, ignoring her thanks and shrugging off his jacket. He set it on the coat rack.

"You mean the one yesterday? Or the one three days ago?" She asked slowly making her way back to her chair.

"So, you did get those owls? I was under the impression you didn't," he scoffed putting his hand to her back and steering her towards the couch instead. She reluctantly let him lead her to the couch and was barley aware of herself sitting down. She curled herself into a ball once again, facing Charlie, on the other end of the couch.

"Oh, I did," Tonks said spitefully. "Now, you can run and tell all your little Order friends that Tonks doesn't need help. She can do just fine all alone. Forever. Run along and scamper off." She said looking at him.

"Why didn't you come then?" Charlie had a knack for getting to the point and getting answers out of people. Tonks had always thought he would have done well in the Ministry. Although she knew his tricks and wouldn't give in.

"What's the point? All we do is gather around a table and talk about stopping death eaters. I get enough of that at work thank you," she looked at him fiercely.

Charlie frowned. "Nymph what is your problem?"

"I don't have a problem!" She found herself yelling out. She let her arms loosen from her legs.

"Calm down Nymph I just came to ask you a simple question," Charlie said raising his hands in surrender.

"So far you have asked more than one question if I do recall," Nymphadora said calmly.

"Don't be a smart arse Tonks," Charlie sighed. "Now, what are you doing? Did… did his… death really effect you that much? Now you won't attend Order meetings?"

Tonks looked at him with confusion. "What?"

"Sirius' death," Charlie said as if stating the obvious.

"Ugh!" she was annoyed. Tonks let her arms release her legs and they fell to the floor.

"Dora," Charlie said getting a fierce glare from Tonks.

"Don't ever call me that," she said sitting up straight and looking him in the eyes. "And what the hell is with all these nicknames? What do you want from me? What does anyone want from me? Why doesn't he want me?!" she cried exasperated before she even knew what she was saying.

It took a second before Tonks saw that Charlie had realized what she had said. "Who?" he asked, confused.

"Nobody," she said, wondering how she had managed to turn the conversation around.

"Is he someone I know?"

"No."

"So there is a someone!"

"No Charlie! Just shut up!"

"I gotta know him… I will try to guess."

"Shut Up Charlie!!"

"Oh, is he in the Order?"

"SHUT UP CHARLIE!!" Tonks stood up with surprising speed and looked down at him on the couch angrily.

Charlie looked up at her apologetically. "I'm… I'm sorry Nymph… I didn't… think…"

She slowly sat back down on the couch. "It's fine. I didn't mean to… Snape like that."

Charlie grinned slightly at their childhood joke. "Is that why you won't come?" he asked hoping she wouldn't blow a fuse again.

She just sighed and nodded in response. He wanted to ask who, but knew better; instead he just scooted to her side of the couch. He wrapped her in his arms, and was glad she returned the favor, putting her head on his chest. "I love you Nymph, I want you to know that."

"I love you too Charlie," she said snuggling in his embrace, taking a deep breath and inhaling his scent of dragon and campfire smoke.

--

I hope you liked it. Please review.