At least he didn't say, "I told you so." The moment I admitted Rory was calling in a favour, Remus reacted with a look of stoic resignation. Not wanting to bring up touchy subjects, like my trusting a dodgy ex-boyfriend to help deal with my ex-fiancé instead of relying on the man I loved, my lips remained sealed. Uncle Morty and I both stared when Remus said, "We'll Floo to her flat directly after breakfast."

"Tonks?" Morty was asking if that was all right with me.

You don't have to handle things by yourself anymore. Let me share the burdens.

Remembering the words Remus told me not so long ago, I nodded. "Ask Bubbles to bring Jimmy up and make coffee."

After Morty Flooed to his own flat, I slanted a sideways glance and tried not to cringe. "Maybe he just needs a check run on somebody?"

The corners of Remus's mouth turned up. "Do you really believe that?"

"No."

Apparently, I sounded pitiably forlorn and in need of a hug. Wrapping my arms around him tightly in return, I buried my head against his shoulder and confessed, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

"About what?"

Sirius had let himself in. While still very lean, his dark good looks had improved dramatically since his escape from Azkaban. The knowledge of the measure of happiness he'd found and Remus's warmth were my only comforts while my guy informed his old friend about the new muddle I was in. Contrary as always, Sirius's face lit up. "Things were getting a bit dull around here. Some action will be just the thing. I'll conjure breakfast, and we can be on our way."

"We?"

While bespelling bacon to crunchy perfection, Sirius teasingly marvelled, "It usually takes couples years before they start saying things in unison. What's next? Matching outfits?"

Removing brown eggs from the refrigerant charmed cupboard, Remus smilingly refused to rise to the bait. I, however, replied blithely, "Do matching jumpers count?"

"No!"

"What if we wear co-ordinating trousers?" It was fun to yank Sirius's chain.

He turned to Remus. "Tell me she's just being a brat, mate."

Light brown eyes twinkled. "The jumpers have red-nosed reindeers on them."

Plunking the bacon onto the table in the nook that served as dining/reading area, Sirius said, "You're taking the piss out of me, right?"

"Right."

Falling into a comfortable chair, my dramatic cousin heaved a sigh of relief. He jerked upright when Remus said straight faced, "Snuffles is the one who's going to wear the reindeer jumper."

"Gods, no, I'll chew it up, use it for…" Finally noticing our grins, Sirius grabbed several pieces of bacon and pointed one at each of us in turn. "Funny, real funny, but if either of you gets the idea to put one of those doggie monstrosities on me, you'll regret it."

Knowing how Sirius felt about my pretty friend from Morty's Blue Moon Agency, I said, "What if Cami gives Snuffles one for Christmas?"

The bacon dropped from his fingers. "No. She wouldn't."

Unable to keep a straight face, I giggled. "Of course not." Waiting until we were almost done eating, I warned, "Unless someone told Cami her beloved Snuffles needed a jumper."

Like the great black dog that was his alter ego, Sirius's hearing was selective. "Beloved?"

I should never have let my pal "dog-sit" overnight after that first time. Camillia Llewellyn had bonded with Snuffles in a way that continued to make me uneasy. The affection between the two had helped the woman cope with the death of her estranged father, but now she wanted to meet Snuffles's master. Kept saying a dog needed more than an absentee owner—another fine mess I'd gotten us into.

Remus responded to my pleading look with a slight smile. He said, "An innocent love, for a dog, not a man."

Sirius was unfazed, waving his hand dismissively. "Yes, yes, but love is love, and if she loves the way I comfort her now, just think of how I could—" He abruptly stopped, narrowed his eyes at Remus and said, "No. Don't think of it, much less do it. It's bad enough, putting up with the two of you exchanging moony looks, if you get to—" Breaking off his thought along with a piece of toast, he mumbled through a full mouth, "My appetite will be ruined forever."

My indignation faded when Remus chuckled. Sirius couldn't help being jealous that we were able to show affection freely. My eyes travelled over the face that I saw in dreams that weren't comforting as much as hot.

"Hot?"

"What?"

"What's hot?" Sirius repeated.

Involuntarily, I glanced at Remus's lips. He gave me a slow smile that made my cheeks heat. "This room." I fanned my face with my hand, avoiding my cousin's sceptical gaze. Sneaking another peek at Remus's amazing mouth, I said, "Really, really hot."

"Merlin save me." Snatching the last of the bacon from my plate, Sirius ate it in two bites and said, "I'm tired of playing gooseberry. Maybe I won't wait until Harry's in the clear to tell Cami who I really am."

Remus sighed. "We've had this talk before, mate. It's not a good idea."

"Yes, remind me of that when you get a kiss and cuddle anytime you like, and I've got damn all." Sirius levitated his plate to the sink and stood. "It's easy for you to preach patience, Moony. When your fur gets rubbed the right way, you know that morning will come, and her hands will be sliding along your skin. Me? I make do with a pat on the head." He strode across the room to stare broodingly out the window.

"Padfoot, I'm sorry."

Something told me this was a pattern held over from Marauder days. Sirius would blow up, and Remus would apologize. I was fortunate to love a peacemaker, being more like my cousin than I cared to admit. Trying to lighten the atmosphere, I said, "Hey, I've seen Cami kiss you on the mouth, you dog."

In one of his mercurial changes of mood, Sirius turned from the window with a grin. "That's how I knew she used brushing/flossing mints regularly." Snickering, he told Remus, "Even in the old days, when a girl's looks were the most important thing, fresh breath was mandatory."

Remus walked over and made my heart race by slipping his hand into my denims pocket. Pulling out mints, he winked at me before tossing one to Sirius and popping another into my mouth. Nipping his finger, I said, "The better to snog you with, my dear."

"That's it. I'll be in the loo, reading the Prophet in peace, and when I get out, we leave, is that clear?"

Remus answered Sirius by saying, "Read the main article. It's the longest."

Growling incoherent aspersions, my cousin stalked out of the room. Once the lavatory door slammed shut, I hurled myself at Remus. He laughingly questioned after coming up for air, "Why the desperation? It's a long article."

Pulling his head back down to mine, I muttered, "Most Blacks are speed readers."

"Really? No wonder he—" The rest of Remus's comment, most likely about Sirius's high marks versus his lack of revising was cut off by my lips. I slipped my tongue along his, and communication became eloquent but non-verbal.

After Sirius returned to the room and threatened to douse us with cold water, we broke apart and prepared to Floo to my flat over the Blue Moon. Transforming into a Newfoundland mix, my now canine cousin waited with Remus as I grabbed a handful of powder and stepped into the fireplace.

.

I exited onto my hearth, blinking at the couple sitting pressed together on the sofa. I'd cleaned the flat recently; there weren't piles of papers or laundry to cause the closeness. They were too wrapped up in their conversation to notice me.

"You make good coffee," Jimmy Durbin said.

Bubbles, my uncle's ditzy blonde receptionist, giggled as she told the man who looked deceptively like a gentle giant, "That's 'cause I made it 'specially Irish." Reaching out a hand currently sporting rainbow tipped fingernails, she tried to wrap it around a muscular bicep. "Especially for you."

Staring in disbelief as he gave a husky chuckle and she collapsed against him in giggles, I accused, "Bubbles, you're pissed!"

Jimmy looked up, baby blue eyes twinkling. "I think she put more whiskey in than coffee."

Blinking like an inebriated sprite, Bubbles said, "Did not. Half and half, with a bit o' brown sugar and heavy cream!" Looking up at Jimmy, her lips quivered. "Don'cha like it?"

Face creasing in a smile that in other circumstances made grown men cry, the big man said, "I like you even more. You busy tonight, Bubbles?"

Remus and Snuffles entered the lounge while the pair made arrangements for later that evening. I was grateful not to have to try and explain why a man and dog had appeared out of the fireplace. When Bubbles noticed them, she beamed. "Look, more friends for you to meet!" She made giggle-filled introductions and returned to work after a final wave of her multi-coloured fingernails.

Jimmy sat on the sofa, patting Snuffles, who he said was his kind of dog—big and friendly. I looked at him incredulously. "Bubbles?"

Wide shoulders lifted and fell. "I always fancied Tinkerbell." Giving Remus the once-over, the part time pizza joint owner and full time enforcer stated, "Doesn't look much like an ancient Roman to me. I'll have to tell the boss he was way off."

I hadn't shared any of Rory's comments. What guy cares about what some ex-boyfriend says anyway? Remus lifted an eyebrow. "Perhaps I should do that myself."

Uh oh, time for a change in topic. "What favour does he need, Jimmy?"

The man replied, appearing almost as soulful as Snuffles, "Melanie's gone missing. The cops think Rory's involved, but they didn't have any evidence, so they let him go this morning."

"No," I said. Rory didn't hurt women.

"Yeah, I went and got him, took him back to the house. That's where he wants you to meet him."

Snuffles gave several woofs. Jimmy patted him on the head. "Sorry, mate, his uncle's not fond of dogs. You stay." All jovial humour gone, he told Remus, "You stay too."

Remus said quietly, "Where she goes, I go."

"Book of Ruth, right? Granny will be pleased, me remembering something Father Davis said." Jimmy added, "You want to help Tonks, good, but nobody goes to Farrell's but her, no exception." He spread his hands. "Orders are orders."

That statement raised the hackles of both Animagus and werewolf. Before things could get ugly, I stepped between the men…and dog…saying, "Fine. I go alone to meet Rory this once," I stressed, continuing, "and after this, anywhere I go, they go too."

"Even the dog?"

Snuffles growled. I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Jimmy, even the dog."

"He got special skills or somethin'?"

I stomped my foot to get the canine's attention and to prevent his hind leg from rising any further. Urinating on trousers was not a skill in my book. The unrepentant gleam in black doggie eyes told me my cousin felt differently.

Remus answered, "We've all got special skills."

"Cool."

That boyish smile reminded me of one of my Auror partners. Jerry Connelly was polar opposite of Jimmy Durbin in ethics, but both Irishmen evoked affectionate exasperation. Shaking my head, I asked, "Farrell got a car waiting for us?"

Jimmy took out his mobile phone and stared at it, mystified. "It's not working." He shook it before pressing random buttons. The building's magical properties interfered with Muggle technology, so I suggested we take it outside and wait for the driver to come round.

While Jimmy headed eagerly for the door, I asked casually, "Where does Melanie live?"

He obligingly rattled off an address. I gave Remus a meaningful look. He'd already scribbled the direction onto a scrap of paper and waved it in acknowledgment. I blew him a kiss. "I'll be back soon."

"I'll track you down if you aren't."

The thought was reassuring and weirdly sexy. Down on the pavement outside the Blue Moon, Jimmy contacted the driver. Once we'd climbed into the luxurious car, he gave a short laugh. "That Lupin bloke, he couldn't really do that, could he?"

I thought of the way Remus had once tracked me across a room by my scent and smiled.

.

We travelled to an area of the city where the neighbours were simultaneously indignant that a man of Farrell's ilk would have the gall to invade their rarefied turf and a secretly pleased that someone so notorious invited them to parties that were the envy of their posh friends. As the car pulled into the drive, I wandlessly cast a spell. If Mr. Farrell was under surveillance by law authorities, my form would be a blur when and if any pictures were taken and developed.

Allowing the driver to assist me out of the vehicle, my shoulder blades prickled as I ascended the steps to the front door. Behind me, Jimmy said, "Hope you don't mind being known as the associate of a suspected criminal."

I was still laughing when a very stiff and correct butler ushered us into the stately home.

"What's so funny?"

I whirled around. I'd expected Rory, but it was Colin. The older man had similar Black Irish good looks, but his eyes didn't smile like his nephew's did. Even in a button down shirt and suit trousers, Mr. Farrell looked dangerous. It probably helped in the line of "work" he was in. Gamblers who thought they wouldn't live to welsh on a bet tended to have a better payback ratio.

"Come into the study and share what you find so amusing, Miss Tonks."

"Please, call me Tonks," I said. Inside the study, he shut the door. Jimmy hadn't come along. "You want our conversation to be private or something, Mr. Farrell?"

"Yes, and please." He waved to a seat in front of his desk. "Call me Farrell."

Plopping down into a leather chair, I asked, "You don't like the name Colin?"

"Do you care for Nymphadora?"

I liked his name better than mine, but maybe he thought it made him sound like an effeminate schoolboy. Point taken, I looked around with interest. Nice place, with all the shiny wood, tasteful art, and everything. He uttered a huff of amusement. "You haven't changed much. I remember that bright-eyed look, back in the days before you broke Rory's heart."

"We dated for a couple months when I was fifteen and he was eighteen. I broke up with him, yes. I might've dented his ego, but I hardly broke his heart."

He leaned forward, and suddenly I believed every rumour I'd ever heard about the man's ruthlessness. Without expression, he promised, "If you let my nephew, my heir, down again, you will regret it, Tonks."

At least he hadn't threatened my loved ones, like my Slytherin ex had, when he'd blackmailed me into doing a job for him. In an odd way, I respected that he cared enough to threaten me, and he did allow his orphaned nephew to call him by his first name. That was almost sweet. I nodded. "Fair enough." I'd call him Farrell if we were talking, but he'd always be Rory's Uncle Colin to me.

Picking up the telephone receiver—I knew from films that land lines were easier to keep from being bugged—he inclined his head and half-smiled. "We understand each other, then. Rory's up in his old room. You remember the way?"

"Uh huh." My affirmation earned a dismissive nod. I let myself out and climbed the staircase. The house still made me feel like I was in one of those old comic books Rory used to read: The Shadow. Uncle Colin was into Art Deco. At the end of the corridor, I raised my hand to knock. The music coming from the other side froze me in my tracks. Was he listening to Queen?

The door opened, and the words to Crazy Little Thing Called Love became loud and clear. Rory grinned at me. "Uncle Colin said you'd be right up. Remember that summer when we danced to this? Let's see if you've still got the moves, Nym."

On the surface, my willingness to be spun around by this bloke wasn't a good idea. He was suspected of any number of crimes. Rory was also barefoot, bare-chested, and extremely fit. Not that I felt more than art appreciation, but this dance wasn't something I was going to share with my new love. I had sound reasons for doing it, though, besides the fact that he was a great dancer.

Rory's dark eyes weren't smiling. They were haunted and sad. The sappy part of me wanted to cheer him up, while the Auror part wanted to make him trust me so I could get the truth. After the song ended, he sat on the bed and winked. "Want to make out like old times?"

"No." Trying to soften the blunt truth, I said jokingly, "Why don't you put a shirt on so we can do what we used to when I wouldn't let you take off mine?"

Pulling on a tee, Rory's smile finally made it to his eyes. "Go make hot fudge sundaes?"

"Yeah."

"A little early in the day, isn't it?"

I smirked. "It's happy hour somewhere."

In the kitchen that any house-elf would approve of, the housekeeper left so "Mr. Rory" and his guest could have privacy. I went to the cabinets that used to hold crystal dishes. They still did.

Rory said, "Not a lot changes in this house, except the people."

I waited until we both sat on stools at the kitchen counter with sundaes in front of us before asking, "How've you changed?"

His spoon played with the hot fudge, but he didn't eat any. He pulled out a small photo from his jeans pocket. Handing it over, Rory watched me scrutinise the face of Melanie O'Neill. She was extremely pretty, with dark red curls. I savoured a large bite of my sundae, wondering humorously if I was the only ex-girlfriend who didn't look like a model.

He said, "I take no for an answer now. The day before Mel disappeared we had a row. Some of the boys heard rumours that she was stepping out on me. I went by her place to tell her if she wanted to see someone else, fine, but I didn't appreciate being made to look the fool." Picking up his cherry by the stem, Rory twirled it. "The corridor outside her flat probably wasn't the best place to argue. Several neighbours overheard."

He offered me the maraschino. I took it, asking what he'd said before popping it into my mouth.

I choked when he admitted, "I told her she was dead to me."

.


A/N: Beware the maraschino! LOL. Yes, I was thinking 'Colin Creevey' with the effeminate schoolboy crack. Almost had Rory put on a Pixies or Flogging Molly tee, too, but didn't know if punk and Queen quite meshed, heh. Although I'm not real thankful to be living in thehinterland of New England right now, I am thankful for the wonderful readers who reviewed and made my week less stressful! 40/16 Bardlover Camillia Vincent Carnivalgirl cupcakeswirl die Loreley eleen ElspethBates Embellished FemmeDraconis FNP Godricgal Grace Richie Kates Master kathaania krumfan liila Lily Dragon MamaLisa Machiavelli Jr NalaravatheRed NazgulGirl Newbie GK Paloma paulalou RahNee rita Slipknot-3113 Siva sunny9847 Verity Weasley and WriterMerrin.