I. Reality Check

There were moments when Remus wondered whether it was all in his imagination.

Then, Dora would snap her fingers impatiently, and Remus would release a breath of relief.

II. Absolutely Alone

Remus divided his life into sections, each falling into one of two categories: "alone" and "not alone."

The three days he spent underground after leaving Dora had their own distinction. Absolutely alone.

III. Prince Charming

Remus wasn't a Prince Charming, and Tonks didn't want him to be.

Years of tribulation may have damaged Remus, but there was strength in all the places he was broken.

IV. Virgin

Remus was a virgin, and it showed. He gladly let Dora take the lead on their wedding night.

Four weeks later, she told him she was pregnant.

V. Good Question

"Dora, how are we going to raise a child right now?" he croaked one morning.

"Good question." She gazed steadily at him. "Together."

VI. Can You Hear Me?

Sometimes, when he couldn't sleep, he would rest his hand on his wife's enormous stomach.

"Can you hear me?" he whispered one night. The baby kicked.

VII. I'm Telling

They broke apart, both blushing furiously.

The smirk on Ginny's face made Remus's chest constrict.

"Oh, I'm telling."

VIII. Out of Control

One night, Remus's self-loathing spiraled out of control.

He sat up in bed. He knew what to do. On some level, he always had.

Eyes stinging, Remus fumbled for a quill.

IX. I Love You

After one last, harrowing glimpse of Dora's sleeping face, Remus slipped out of bed and left, leaving nothing behind but five words on parchment.

I love you too much.

X. Willingness

It wasn't her love for him that stunned Remus.

It was her willingness to love him unconditionally that shook him in a way nothing else ever had, or ever would.

Author's Note:

Hi, everyone! This is a story I'm writing for MioneWazlib's "30 Words or Less" Challenge (which, for those of you looking for a major writing challenge, is one the hardest, yet one of the most enjoyable, challenges I've EVER participated in). Teehee. :)

Basically, you're given 100 prompts, and you have to write a little story for each prompt, in thirty words or less. It took me a few attempts to get the ball rolling, but once I got started, I just couldn't stop. Remus/Tonks are infectious. Anyway, I've got the whole story (ten chapters of ten prompts each) written out already, so updates will be daily. A brief note: the snippets aren't meant to be chronological in any way, with the exception of "Out of Control" and "I Love You" in this chapter, which do go together.

Hope you all like this!

Ari