It was raining.

Tonks stared moodily out of the window in her small flat, watching as couples walked past outside, huddled together under their umbrellas.

She sighed.

It was Christmas Eve. And here she was, sitting in her flat, all alone. Of course she could go to Grimauld place and get drunk with Sirius… but even that had its downside.

Remus Lupin.

There was something strange about him. Other than the fact he was a werewolf. That didn't bother her in the slightest. No… it was the way he acted around her. All stiff… almost verging on the point of rude. He was always so formal, even though she'd seen him have a good laugh with Sirius plenty of times. No, it was only when she was around. And it was very frustrating.

Of course, what as even more frustrating was the way she felt around him.

She was always tripping over something- because she was staring at him. She could never speak- her mouth went dry, her hands were sweaty- and she wasn't stupid. She knew what was happening.

She was stupidly, embarrassingly, and quite literally, falling for him.

If only he liked her back.

There was a knock at the door.

Still thinking, she got up, and promptly tripped over the Christmas lights she had been putting up.

"Shit!" she swore loudly. Hopping to the door, she yanked it open.

Remus was standing on the other side, hair damp with rain drops, looking utterly bemused.

"Err… I tripped."

"I heard." They stood in uncomfortable silence for a minute.

"Oh, um, do you want to come in?" Tonks stood aside.

"Thanks."

He walked in, looking round. "Nice place," he said, as he followed her to the lounge. He raised an eyebrow at the Christmas decorations scattered all over the floor.

"Sorry about those, I've just been so busy with work, I only just had a chance to do them now, and I got distracted…" she trailed off, scratching her head.

"Right. Um, Sirius wanted to know if you want to come round tonight. Or tomorrow. Molly wants to know how many shes cooking for…"

"Oh, well, I'll definitely be there tomorrow." She smiled.

"Right. Well, ill just go then…" he made his way back to the door and pulled it open.

He turned around. "Actually, what it is, I really wanted to say that… even though you trip over everything, and you swear when you trip over, and you never look the same, and you don't care that I'm… well, I just wanted to say… merry Christmas."

He walked into the rain.

"Remus!"

Tonks ran outside after him, knowing that he had been about to say something else.

He turned in the middle of the street. "What?" he sounded almost hopeful.

She caught up with him. "ah… happy Christmas."

"Thanks." He turned.

"Remus!" he turned back. "You weren't going to say merry Christmas before, were you?"

He shook his head.

"Do you hate me?" Tonks asked. He looked taken aback.

"No… I like you very much. As you are."

Tonks blushed. "Oh."

Remus stepped closer to her. "You'll catch your death out in the cold." He mumbled. "You should go inside"

"Right." She turned to go back inside.

"Wait, Dora!"

She turned around, only to find him right behind her. Smiling softly, he kissed her.

Tonks was ecstatic. Remus was kissing her. In the rain. At Christmas.

They broke apart. He grinned. "I'll see you tomorrow then. Merry Christmas."