Chapter 1, Darkness. (Remus)

Remus watched on in horror as his wife fought for her life agents her deranged aunt, defending the crib behind her as their son cried scared by the spells and his mother's yelps of pain as she took spells left and right.

He tried to move to help but the body binding spell and Greyback's wand to his neck kept him from being able to do anything.

"Let's finish this quickly, I'm getting bored of playing Nymphie."

Tonks leered at her, one hand gripping the crib side for dear life the other held her wand it's tip trained on her aunt.

"Avada Kedavara!"

Both women said at once making Bellatrix growl and put more force behind her spell as did Tonks, in a blast of bright light the spells clashed again and again but Remus seen his wife bite her lip and quickly drop the spell blocking her aunts before casting a darkness spell on the room turning to face the crib.

Remus' heart all but shattered in his chest as he heard Bellatrix bark the curse again the flash of green hitting the wall behind the crib, once the darkness spell cleared he had a hard time believing the scene in front of him as Bellatrix left with Greyback after he undid the body bind leaving Remus as he fell to his knees.

Remus looked at the window blankly as the sun rose in the sky turning it a pale pearly pink, he hadn't slept in over three days every time he closed his eyes her face would flash behind his closed lids, her laugh would drift to his ears and their son, who was so young, his hair mimicking his mother's as they both smiled at him.

His chest felt hallow and his muscles were soar as he rose to his feet from where he was sitting on the bed he had once shared with his wife and on occasions their son when he was fussy or Tonks fell asleep holding him, the screaming of his muscles was nothing to his numb body as he made his way down the steps of the small flat the trio shared.

He looked over at the kitchen where he could normally find her feeding Teddy as she read the paper sleepily her hair a tousled pink mess but she would always smile when she heard him come down the stairs though she'd pretend she hadn't heard him.

The hallow spot in his chest where his heart was ached as he remembered the normal morning scene, he walked past the empty kitchen grabbing his coat off the rack pausing when his hand brushed over the rough and heavy maroon leather of her Auror robe and again his heart gave a painful twist which he tried to ignore as he left the flat.

The cold air bit at his face as the winter wind blew but he barely felt it as he made his way to apparition point before with a loud crack he apparited to Grimmauld Place.

As he opened the door he heard voices but didn't bother to listen as he entered the room, he'd given up on hopping to find her sitting in her place at the faded wooden table holding Teddy or smiling and watching as Ginny or any of the others held him , he took his place at the table not bothering to look up and see who was in the room, he could already hear Molly in the kitchen barking orders at her kids as they helped her.

He glanced to his left when Sirius sat beside him placing a hand on his shoulder.

"It's been two months Moony, I may sound insensitive but I think it's time you picked yourself up and tried to move on."

Remus didn't say anything for a long moment as the others began to file in, he knew Sirius was right he had to move on even if it tore his heart to shreds to push his beautiful, stubborn and clumsy wife and their beautiful son who was only a few weeks only when they had been attacked, to the back of his mind but he had to.

The meeting seemed to keep him distracted from his poisonous thoughts as long as it lasted, the meeting hit a snag once that had the group quite for a time allowing the painful memory of Tonks breaking the silence by doing something to make someone laugh or tripping over something.

It took the others around him turning to the door for him to realize the tripping sound and the yelp that fallowed wasn't in his head, he felt himself get up with the others making their way to the door, as he made his way behind the others his heart ached again but once he got to the door way it twisted even more painfully as he seen a glimpse of dark red hair but heard nothing as Molly helped the red head up.

The girl was slender and pixie like, her hair was a deep red as it curled down the back of her black robes as her back was to him, he seen Sirius move to Molly's side with a cross look.

"How did you find your way in here?"

There was a growl in his voice though it seemed not to faze the girl before him as Bill walked in behind her putting his wand away.

"I found her sitting on the steps outside but she wouldn't tell me why she was there, hasn't said a word at all."

The girl seemed to cross her arms looking at them.

"I came to find some one, I was told I'd find him here."

Sirius looked at her easing up a bit as he looked her over.

"Who?"

His voice was still untrusting as she turned to look at the others before looking back at Bill.

"Remus Lupin."

Remus' eyes snapped up as the girl turned to look at him her cold grey eyes locking on his, her red hair framing her soft slightly angled face in a way that made her seem child like but her eyes dismissed the idea that she was, he swallowed the lump in his throat stepping to her and she closed the space handing him an envelope that was sealed but otherwise blank.

He took it hesitantly from her getting nothing emotion wise from her as she turned away the scent of lilac was dominate from her hair but there was a soft and painfully familiar to him.

"A young women with mousy brown hair told me that I'd find you here and give you that, she seemed broken hearted but before I could ask her why for any of this she was gone."

Remus managed a nod as he watched her turn and leave with a small glair at Bill before she slipped out the door, though it pained him Remus waited until after the meeting was through and he was sitting in the empty kitchen of the flat to open the letter.

He pulled out the folded piece of paper and opened it recognizing Tonks' loopy hand writing as soon as he seen it and it shot a new arrow of pain through his heart as he read it.

"Remus, I love you to no end and I always will, i don't know how to say it any other way than that but I try every day to show you that I would do anything for you and that where everyone including yourself sees a monster who could never be loved by anyone I see the kindest and gentlest man I've ever met as well as the best father any child could ask for, I'd be lost without you pointing me down the right path and I would probably be put in a padded room because of how clumsy I am without you there to catch me when I fall. I love you Remus for your heart, your gentle ways and your loving nature don't let the wolf inside you forget that it has no control over you any more then a dog has control of it's master so please, for me, don't let him control you should something happen to me."

Remus could imagine her sitting at the desk in the corner writing this and nearly pulling her hair out as she struggled to get it all down on paper and probably swearing a few times as the ink would drip onto the paper in spots he could clearly see, he felt more things in the envelope and so carefully setting the letter on the table he took out the next object.

He carefully took out a small group of pictures, the top one he recognized from when he had visited her parent's home Andromeda kept it framed on the mantle, it was of Tonks' 5th year in school she was standing with the rest of the herbology fifth year Hufflepuffs as well as the Fat Friar and professor sprout, her hair was bright pink and short as it stuck out in all directions, she was laughing in the picture as she looked to the class around her before back to the camera her eyes happy as she smiled.

The one behind it was of her in flying lessons, she was hovering above the ground waving at the camera smiling from ear to ear her hair shifting from pink to yellow as she held the broom tightly, Remus couldn't stop the smile that spread over his lips seeing her and remembering that she was a better flyer than she was at walking or anything else involving her feet.

He looked at the next and the last one, it was of her Bill and Charlie the younger two smiling at the camera as each draped an arm over the seventh year's shoulders, Tonks on her tip toes to be able to reach and before Bill turned to her she nearly fell over and pulled the boys down with her so they were leaning forward all laughing now even the previously stone faced Bill as he looked at the pink haired girl to his right.

It didn't take long for Remus to find his finger tracing her heart shaped face in the picture, her smile yet again made him smile before he place the trio of images on the table taking out the last object in the envelope his fingers gently clasping the thin and cold chain.

As he took it out he was surprised to see it was the golden necklace she favored when he had first met her at an order meeting, she had kept clasping it in her hands as she sat between Sirius and Mad-eye at the table her eyes flicking from the table to him now and again as she listened.

He looked at the charm on the chain and with painful realization he seen it was her wedding ring, she had been found of the simple silver band though it wasn't anything special but she called it her most treasured item though he couldn't see why and when he'd asked her she simply told him it was because he had given it to her and sealed their love forever with it.

He could feel a tear roll down his cheek as he held the band close to his heart, he let out a quick growl standing as he heard a soft noise outside the door, hesitantly he made his way to the door and opened it to find an owl sitting on the ground a note on it's leg.

He bent down and carefully took the note before putting a sickle in the pouch on it's other leg before it flew off, he closed the door as he opened the note looking it over and yet again recognized his wife's hand writing.

"Remus come back to Grimmauld tonight alone I need to talk to you, I know we've only met once but it's important please come."

It wasn't signed at all but he knew her hand writing without a doubt as he read it over and over again, there was a soft knock at the door making him jump as he was yanked from his thoughts to open the door, he slowly pulled it open reviling the red haired girl from earlier that day, the one who had painfully reminded him of her.

She looked up at him a little breathless her grey eyes laced with tears and sweat clung to her forehead.

"I'm sorry! The owl wasn't to bring the letter to you!"

She looked down for a moment before looking back at him and with a shock he seen her eye color change from grey to blue and back, he stepped aside to let her in, she stepped in looking around letting out a tiny whimper.

"You didn't change anything here."

He looked at her confused but before he could say anything all changes that had been done melted away and what he faced left his knees wobbly and his stomach in a knot, his wife, his stubborn, hot headed, clumsy and beautiful wife now stood before him her heart shaped face streaked with tears and her eyes misty with them as she looked at him.

Remus closed his eyes for a moment opening them expecting her to be gone but there she stood the robes she was in now half a size to big for her natural form and now her hand was out stretched to him as her lip quivered, he couldn't help himself, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms holding her tight amazed when her form was there solid agents his as she wrapped her arms around his waist burring her face in his chest.

He couldn't say anything, there were no words to describe how he felt as he released her to gently cup her face in his hands as they shook when she looked up at him.

"How? How are you here? I thought for two months you were dead."

She looked at him placing a hand over his as she kissed it's palm.

"No love, I got away with Teddy, barely but I did and when I apparited away with him we landed roughly somewhere near Godric's Hollow I-I bashed my head on a stone when we landed and was out cold when I came around I was in a bed somewhere I had never seen my head pounded and I couldn't remember anything, a women came in the door holding Teddy some how I knew him, his cry as she handed him to me. She explained how she heard him crying and fallowed the sound finding me bleeding but still holding him tightly."

She chuckled but it was broken.

"I couldn't remember who I was when she asked me my name she asked about Teddy and I was able to tell her that he was my son but nothing more. After a few days I tried to trigger my memory but it didn't work nothing did but this place kept flashing at me in my dreams Grimmauld Place then you, you kept showing up to holding me, kissing me all things I didn't understand so once I got power over my abilities again I transformed myself into that girl from before and began to watch. I watched you for the first month from a distance slowly things came back to me the first was you being a werewolf then slowly I remembered our wedding and everything else once I did I snuck in while you were away grabbed that letter from where I'd hid it and brought it to you, it took a good deal of concentration not to drop the transformation and run into your arms sobbing but the owl, bloody stupid thing took the note on it's own so I fallowed it though I knew it was coming here."

She trailed off looking at the floor now as she let him think it over but was shocked when he tilted her face up and kissed her deeply, it was something she hadn't felt from him before a kiss full of longing and pain.

She kissed back wrapping her arms around his neck fresh tears streaming her face, Remus broke the kiss only when the thought of there son crossed his mind but before he could even open his mouth to speak she smiled cupping his cheek sweetly a smile dancing on her lips and shinning in her eyes.

"He's with Molly, I went to her first with him she knows all of the Weasleys do he's fine."

He relaxed his arms finding their way around her waist holding her close as he lightly pressed his lips to her forehead.

"If I'm dreaming please never wake me up, if I'm dead never revive me."

Tonks stood on her tip toes pulling his face to hers and kissing him again.

"Your not dreaming and your sure as hell are not dead and neither am I, if I was you wouldn't be holding me so close that it's sweetly painful to breath and you wouldn't feel this."

She took his hand and placed it over her heart and under his palm he felt the sweet rhythmic beat that he for so long thought had gone from his world, he loosened his hold on her slightly but she just nuzzled closer at him the warmth of her body on his only made what she said truer, he couldn't explain it but some how he felt ice cold compared to her but by the way she held close to him he knew he wasn't.

Tonks looked up at him her eyes shifting to match his making him smile slightly and brush his fingers over her cheek.

"Don't, your eyes are perfect as they are just because most of your family has them doesn't mean they aren't yours, your eyes are full of light and happiness that spreads to anyone who you get close to, your eyes are the pools that make my heart hurt because even after you agreed to marry me and gave birth to our son I don't see how you could want me over someone younger."

She shifted them back hugging his neck her heart skipping a beat.

"Remus John Lupin don't you dare think that I could never want you, it's always been you and it always will be."

Remus felt himself wrap his arms around her small frame as he closed his eyes taking in the scent of vanilla and a light perfume of lilac that he loved so much, she pulled away to look at the table where her letter and pictures laid but she didn't see the chain with her wedding ring.

"Where's my ring love? My finger feels bare without it now."

Remus had nearly forgotten he was still wearing the chain on his wrist hidden in his shirt sleeve, he slipped it off and carefully put it around her neck clasping it for her.

"Keep it like this, it's closer to your heart this way."

She smiled at him her hair turning the bright pink he missed so much over the past two months and it was fallowed by a teary giggle as she clutched it close in her hand taking his in the other.

"Let's go her Teddy, he's been wanting to see you I know he has, on both full moons he didn't sleep unless he could see the moon and I bet he's kicking up a fuss for Molly he hasn't been away from me for two months."

Remus nodded and fallowed her out the door and wasn't far behind her in appariting to the burrow and no more then a second latter she was next to him holding his hand as they made their way to the door, Tonks had just put her hand on the nob when it flew open and she was nearly tackled to the ground by a hug to her waist from Ginny.

Remus watched with a hand on the small of his wife's back so she wouldn't topple over as she looked down at Ginny.

"Guess I forgot to tell someone, urg Ginny sweetie to tight can't breath and I think you already broke a rib."

Ginny let go quickly looking at the woman in front of her with a deathly glair though tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Why didn't you come back sooner?! Didn't you know we were all scared for you?! That we all thought you were dead!?"

Tonks looked at the girl shocked for a moment before she pulled her into a hug letting her sob into her shoulder.

"I'm sorry Ginny, I really am. I didn't think you would miss me that much and even if I wanted to come back I couldn't have I wouldn't have known who you were, I wouldn't have even known my name for a month and a half the women who looked after Teddy and myself called my Metomorphagus because I didn't know my name until about a week ago I looked at her and said plan as day that my name was Nymphadora Lupin, I called myself Nymphadora."

She chuckled but it was watery with tears as the girl sniffled her sobs stopping for now and Remus let a small smile form on his lips that she wasn't grumbling to herself about using that name a loud.

Ginny pulled away form Tonks looking up at her before looking over her shoulder as George came into view holding Teddy keeping him entertained and not crying by letting him play with a fake wand from the joke shop as Molly yelled for Ginny and Ron.

After giving Tonks a soft smile Ginny hurried over into the kitchen with Ron on her heels, Tonks stepped into the living room and Teddy whined reaching for her making George look at her and with a soft smile hand Teddy over kissing her cheek in a brotherly way before going to the kitchen as Ginny yelled for him.

Remus watched as his wife kissed their son's head her hair shifting to a soft lilac color as his turned pink as he giggled putting his little hand to her cheek, she made her way to him still smiling and once Teddy caught sight of his father he reached for him his fists closing around the air making Tonks giggle as she handed him over.

Remus held him unable to keep the smile off his face as his son babbled at him his bright grey eyes looking him over, Remus glanced at Tonks as she leaned into his side glancing at their son as he yawned falling asleep, he smiled kissing her head lightly happy that his two reasons for living were back with him alive and well.