The moon shone like a ghost through their bedroom window. It was a constant reminder of the injustice of the world. Tonks was exhausted from taking care of Teddy all day, but her spirits were substantially higher than her husband's. The full moon was approaching, and it always put him in a sullen mood.

As they lay in the dark, Remus reached for his wife and pulled her into his arms. She kissed him and he savored the moment before pulling away.

"Dora..."

"Hmm?" she said as she placed a kiss on his neck.

"I don't want you to fight. If anything happens, stay here. Your mother will take care of you."

She stopped her kissing and made a face at him.

"Remus, we've been through this! I'm not just going to sit around. If there is a battle, and we know there will be, I refuse to do nothing!"

"I admire your spirit, but I just can't let you."

"I don't need your permission, Remus. Now please, let's not fight. I don't have you to myself like this very often."

She brushed his hair out of his eyes as he closed them in frustration.

"You don't know how much I wish I could change that," he said quietly, almost shamefully.

Tonks sighed.

"It's not your fault, love. And speaking of battles, I'd love to have a go at Greyback."

"Because he turned your husband into a monster?"

"Remus, look at me."

He opened his eyes reluctantly.

"He didn't turn you into a monster. He's the monster."

"I am what he is, Dora."

"No, you aren't! When will you see that? You are so different from that... thing."

"We are both monsters."

"Remus John Lupin! Stop it, now!"

She looked away from him and muttered under her breath. "I could kill him for what he's done to you."

"If he hasn't turned me into a monster, then what is your big problem with him?"

"You mean other than the fact that he's a blood thirsty animal? He's killed your spirit, Remus! He has taken every wonderful thing about you and blinded you to them. You have no idea how much I wish you could see what I see when I look at you. I see a brave, strong man who I love more than anything. And it hurts me that you can't appreciate that."

"I'm sorry, Dora. I've never experienced so much acceptance concerning my... condition. I still don't see why you haven't ran away in terror yet."

"See? This is what I'm talking about! You are so caught up in your differences, you can't see how brilliant you are."

"Lycanthropy is hardly a 'difference'."

"Well it is in my book! Did it ever stop me from loving you?"

"No. But then again, you were never what one could call 'normal'," he teased.

"Well I'm proud of it, proud to be different. And you should be too. I have never loved anyone else, and I never will. I proudly wear the name Mrs. Remus Lupin. I wish you could understand that."

"I'll try. I've never understood why you love me, but please don't think I'm ungrateful or not returning your affections. I love you deeply, Nymphadora."

"Don't call me that!"

He chuckled. Tonks gave him another dirty look before kissing him again, and snuggling up to his chest.

It wasn't too long before Remus' soft snores filled the silence. Tonks looked up at her husband's face.

"You aren't a monster, love," she whispered, "Those who treat you as such are the real horrors. Someday you'll see that. Someday."