Author's Notes: Written for bovinecross on tumblr, who requested fanfiction about the night Ted Tonks had to leave Andromeda to avoid the snatchers.
)O(
"You can't go." Tears were welling in Andromeda's eyes, threatening to spill down her pallid cheeks, much as she blinked them back. "Ted, you can't. You can't leave us."
"You know I wouldn't, if there was a choice."
"But Ted, our daughter–"
"Will be safer without me here."
"Ted!" She dashed her cheeks with the back of her hand. "You know that isn't true! I'm not going to let you try to be all honourable by sacrificing yourself out there–"
"I don't intend to sacrifice myself."
"I'm coming with you!" She actually reached for her cloak, but Ted caught and stilled her hand.
"No," he said firmly. "Someone has to stay with Dora, and they won't touch you."
Andromeda let out a small, mirthless laugh. "You think they won't? You think my blood will keep me safe? In case you've forgotten, Ted, my dear sister would probably like nothing better than to see me dead, and when she decides it's time to hunt me down, do you think there's anyone who'll be able to stop her? You-know-who himself is the only one who'd have a chance, and I doubt he's going to advocate to keep me alive. You realize that, don't you?"
"Dromeda…"
"Don't you 'Dromeda' me!"
"I'm only trying–"
"To do what's best for us, I know!" For a second, her face registered pure rage, and Ted's heart sank, for there was nothing he wanted less than to leave his wife with her angry at him. But then the anger dissipated and she flung herself forward and wrapped her arms around him.
"What if-" she whispered, then swallowed and tried again. "Ted, what if this is the last time I ever see you?"
"It won't be," he told her, but they both knew full well that that was a lie.
)O(
Fin