Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters etc.

A/N: Basically the story of Remus and Tonks' relationship, I started thinking about this whilst writing my Ali and Kel stories. Which if you don't know are Remus and Tonks' twin daughters; they only appear once at the end of this but are mine so please don't use them without my permission.

01

Nymphadora Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt were walking slowly up the track towards the Burrow. The two Aurors had just come from the ministry where they worked having managed to get the afternoon off. Tonks was fingering her jaw length bright bubblegum pink hair.

"Do you think he'd prefer my hair long or short?" she asked her colleague who looked at her sceptically then shrugged.

"I'm not exactly the best person to ask, besides he can't keep his eyes off you anyway," he said and Tonks looked at him her eyebrows raised, "Don't pretend you haven't noticed, everyone else has, why don't you just ask him out already?"

"I don't know, I guess I'm worried he'll say no… or go all noble and refuse just to protect me," she sighed, really she was just too nervous, it wasn't as if she was worried he'd say no just that he'd laugh at her.

"You won't know unless you ask, but seriously if he says no then he's got no chance, I know there's more than one member of the Order who'd take you out, me included," Kingsley laughed and Tonks joined him, at least she wasn't alone in this. They reached the house and were about to knock when the door opened revealing a woman with flame red hair.

"Kingsley, Tonks! Glad you could get time off, we're eating out back, Remus is here already and the kids have gone out to play Quidditch whilst they wait," Molly Weasley grinned letting them in.

"Great, hey Molly do you want a hand?" Kingsley asked and Molly beamed at him.

"That would be wonderful, Tonks why don't you go help Remus, he's setting up the table, Kingsley can you come peel the potatoes for me?" she said and Kingsley let himself be dragged off grinning at Tonks. With a sneaking suspicion that she was being set up she walked straight through the house to the back garden where Remus Lupin was attempting to control two tables that were hovering mid air.

"Need a hand Remus?" Tonks asked whipping out her wand and taking control of one of the tables. He shot her a grateful look as they arranged the tables end to end then Remus waved his wand again and two table clothes and a load of cutlery flew from a bench to arrange themselves on the table. Putting their wands away they sat down on one of the benches.

"Thanks Tonks, you got time of work then?" he asked as Tonks stretched and relaxed, she closed her eyes partially against the glare of the summer sun.

"Obviously, me and Kingsley both, we have to work at the weekend though," she replied and Remus laughed softly, "What about you, doing okay?" she asked glancing at him; she ignored him quickly looking away.

"As well as can be expected, which isn't very well, I just can't get used to being the last marauder again, it just doesn't seem to fit… I just can't believe he's gone… again," Remus replied he looked at her and she could see sadness in his eyes. She hated to see him so hurt.

"Is the poor little werewolf lonely," she grinned trying to wind him up, or at least cheer him up. He gave her a playful shove which knocked her off the bench.

"Don't patronise me Tonks," he said grinning as he helped her back up. They paused when she was part way up their eyes meeting. This was the moment Tonks had been waiting for, just one kiss and it wouldn't matter what he said.

"Remus…" she whispered as they got closer, their breath mingled and they kissed, Tonks could feel her heart leap in her chest. Remus pulled away and looked away from her almost as if he was ashamed.

"No… I can't do this Tonks… I have to go…" he said and stood walking into the house. Tonks heard him making his excuses to Molly and the crack as he apparated out. Why had he done that? It was one kiss, it didn't mean anything. Tears started to stream down her face, she screwed up her face and her bubblegum pink hair changed to a dull mousey brown briefly glimmering to the ginger that was her natural hair colour. Molly came out and saw her sat on the grass crying her hair limp and sad, she knew immediately what had happened.

"Don't worry Tonks dear, he'll come round," she said pulling the younger woman upright and took her into the house.