The uncomfortable and disorienting feeling of side-along Apparition ended. Remus caught Tonks round the waist before she fell on her rear in the wake of their hasty trip through space. She leaned into Remus as he steadied her and quickly surveyed their surroundings. They'd landed amongst a small copse of trees next to a long wall made of haphazardly stacked gray stones. The sound of waves breaking against the rocky shore could be heard nearby, and the beautiful rolling green hills that had been part of the backdrop of the bed and breakfast were all around them.

"We're going to see my father."

Of all the people Remus could have said they needed to see—an informant, an old contact, another werewolf, even a bloody ex-girlfriend, for Merlin's sake—his father hadn't even remotely crossed her mind. In fact, she'd just assumed both his parents were dead since he'd referred to his mother in the past tense and had never mentioned his father—a fact that she quickly pointed out.

"You thought he was dead because I let you think as much," Remus said as he slid his arm from her waist and began walking.

"But…" Tonks was rooted to her spot, unable to push through her confusion to think of anything better to ask except, "Why?"

He stopped abruptly. "There is no need for me to burden my father with the realities of my condition."

"Burden?" Tonks stared at him incredulously. She realized she had yet to meet his father and knew virtually nothing about him, but she couldn't help but ask, "Do you let your being a werewolf ruin every relationship?"

Remus' eyes narrowed and his hands clenched into fists. "Even though we've grown close, there is still much you don't know about me."

"Yes. Because you won't tell me," Tonks said, raising her chin and meeting his gaze that had darkened.

Rather than respond, Remus jerked his head towards a gravel lane about twenty meters away. "There's an entrance around front."

Tonks barely resisting stomping her foot in frustration. She felt...well, she wasn't quite sure how she felt. Hurt that she'd thought them close enough for him to confide in her? Confusion over why they were heading to meet a man—informant or not—that was apparently so terrible Remus had allowed her to think him dead? She put aside her hurt and decided to deal with the easier confusion for now.

"Is he as awful as some of my relatives?" Tonks asked, deciding against playing her part as wife for the moment and fought the urge to reach for his hand while they walked the length of the stone wall.

Remus huffed and shook his head. "He certainly does not compare with your dear aunts and their husbands. Nor your great aunt, for that matter."

"Then—"

Tonks was left speechless when Remus reached down and threaded his fingers through hers and tugged her towards the iron gate facing the lane. The gate was half propped open.

"Charmed to repel Muggles and properly warded, of course," Remus said as he lead her through the gate. The sensation of a strong yet brief burst of wind brushing over her body told her they'd crossed over a magical barrier of sorts. "His wards recognize me, but you must be invited to be allowed entry."

Questions flitted through Tonks' head. At an uncharacteristic loss for words, she found she was too flustered to focus on which one she wanted to ask first. She was so distracted she nearly didn't notice the man standing on the front stoop of the adorable white cottage that stood at the end of the short gravel drive. The man was undeniably Remus' father. Their similar tall frames and brown hair flecked with grey—although Remus' was far shaggier than his father's—were dead giveaways.

"Remus!"

Tonks couldn't help but smile at both the surprise and joy on the man's face. He was obviously happy to see his son. So much for awful. When they reached the house, the two men engaged in a brief hug, clapping each other on the shoulder before stepping back.

"And you've brought a friend."

"A colleague," Remus said, hastily dropping her hand that he'd still grasped even while hugging his father. "Nym—"

Tonks cleared her throat pointedly.

Remus sighed. "This is my colleague, Tonks. Tonks, this is my father, Lyall Lupin."

Tonks smiled sweetly up at Remus before extending her hand to Remus' father. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Lupin."

"Lyall, please," he replied, looking back and forth between her and Remus. "Come in, come in."

Lyall stood back and opened the door fully, allowing them to step inside the tiny foyer of his cozy cottage. With a flick of his hand, the Wireless sitting in the corner switched off.

"Now I know Remus will never say no to tea," Lyall began as he shut the door. "Would you also care for some, Miss Tonks?"

"It's just Tonks, sir."

Lyall waved his hand. "As long as you drop the 'sir'. It's just Lyall."

Tonks grinned and shrugged out of her jacket and scarf. "All right, Lyall, tea would be brilliant."

After hanging their coats, Lyall lead them through the small parlor that had a large sliding glass door showing off the view down the hills to the rocky coast.

"I see why you kept him a secret," Tonks hissed as she snagged Remus' jumper and held him back for a moment. "He seems absolutely terrible."

"I never said he was terrible," Remus whispered.

Lyall turned. Remus straightened and pulled his jumper from Tonks' grasp.

"I think I've still got a tin of your favorite tucked in the cupboard."

Remus cleared his throat. "Erm, yes. That'll do."

Tonks rolled her eyes in a way that would have earned her a reprimand from her mother as she followed Remus into the next room. The kitchen and dining area were small, but serviceable, with room for a table and four chairs in addition to the usual appliances and cupboards one would expect in a kitchen.

"Tonks, hmm?" Lyall said as he Summoned the kettle.

"I doubt she'll grant you the same privilege of her name," Remus said sulkily as he pulled out a chair for Tonks. "There are very few allowed to call her anything but Tonks."

"Oh?" Lyall said, his eyebrows raised as he filled the kettle. "And who might these few be?"

Tonks resisted the urge to tell Lyall that Remus had once held the privilege. If she had to guess, she was quite certain he hadn't seen his father in months, which meant Lyall knew nothing about her. "My mother, of course. But after that there's only a grumpy Potions professor who enjoys winding me up and the greatest wizard of all time."

Lyall smiled broadly as he placed the kettle on the cooker. "Ah, yes. Dumbledore does have a habit of making his own rules."

Tonks couldn't help but notice that although their smiles were nearly the same, Lyall's smile was somehow different. Lighter, easier, less shadowed. The realization was heavy on her heart and made her both sad and frustrated; there was nothing Tonks wouldn't do to make Remus smile more often. She loved his smile. The slow, shy grin he gave her during the evenings they'd spent quietly on her sofa working and kissing; the mischievous smile he wore when he was teasing her or Sirius; the wide smile and husky laughter she'd been rewarded only a few times. Lyall's easy grin was what Remus deserved to have all the time.

In an attempt at distraction, Tonks stood and walked to the wide windows that offered another view of the ocean of the ocean while Remus and Lyall pulled tea things from the cupboards and chatted quietly. It had certainly been fun to tease him a bit over the past day, but it was equally easy to let the sadness and frustration over their break take over. Learning that his father was alive and well, yet he'd made her think otherwise showed just how far they had to go.

But it wasn't the time to dwell on such things. They were, for all intents and purposes, on a mission—even if said mission currently had them visiting over tea. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to remember waking up that morning with him wrapped around her body. Even if it hadn't been intentional, it was still a comforting thought. Tonks took a deep breath and swallowed her emotions for the time being, turning from the lovely scenery.

"Your view is fantastic." Tonks returned to the table where the men were setting out the tea things.

"Isn't it?" Lyall replied, flashing his warm smile. "I'm glad there's someone here besides me to enjoy it—at least for the afternoon." He took a seat and gestured for them to do the same before pouring tea into three heavy mugs. "My favorite Wireless program is hosted by a Ted Tonks. Any relation?"

Tonks nodded and grinned. "My father."

"I'm always impressed with how widely read he is. And he speaks on a variety of fascinating topics," Lyall said approvingly.

"He's always got his nose in some book. Muggle, magical, fiction, history—he'll read nearly anything." Tonks pushed away the thought that her father and Remus would probably get along swimmingly. "He says that between reading and my mum's cooking, it's why he's gone to fat."

Lyall chuckled. "Never underestimate the power a home-cooked meal has on a man."

"I suppose I'm at a disadvantage, then, since I've still not learned to cook. But I can warm my mum's leftovers brilliantly."

Remus cleared his throat. "We've stopped by for more than tea," he began as he pulled a mug towards him and added a touch of milk from the pitcher.

"I'd gathered as much," Lyall replied. "If you were here for a social call, you'd have come ages ago and not with a colleague in tow—not that you don't seem lovely," he said to Tonks.

Remus shot his father an inpatient look—earning a flicker of a smile from Lyall—as he passed the mug to Tonks before sliding a second mug across the table. Tonks raised her mug for a sip as Remus fixed his own tea and found Lyall watching her shrewdly, his eyebrows raised slightly. She couldn't help but wonder what he thought of Remus' habitual gesture of fixing her tea.

"There are rumors of anti-Ministry talk in these parts," Remus said.

Rather than address the rumors, Lyall asked Tonks, "What's a young thing like you doing mixed up in this Order business?"

Lyall's question would have irritated her but for the grin he wore. She placed her mug on the table and held Lyall's gaze steadily. "Reckon the old buggers needed some help from a young thing like me."

As Lyall chuckled again, Remus said, "Tonks is an Auror and has been essential to the Order since Dumbledore called us back together in the summer." He avoided his father's gaze and stared instead into his tea before taking a sip. "Have you any thoughts on these rumors?"

Lyall hummed in response. "Since Remus wants to talk business, tell me, what have you learned since you arrived."

"That we're no friends of Teague McHenry," Tonks replied.

"Ah." Lyall nodded and stirred two teaspoons of sugar into his tea. "So you've been to McHenry's. I would have advised you proceed with caution had you stopped here first."

Remus' scowl was less pronounced now they were speaking of the business at hand. "Why?"

"With the visits they've received in the last few months—Ministry and otherwise—I don't imagine they're happy to see strangers in the pub." Lyall sighed. "I was in having a drink with a friend one night when one of them stopped by."

"Just one?" Lyall nodded to Tonks' question. "What'd he look like?"

"Tall, thick build, dark hair."

Tonks thought for a moment and glanced at Remus. "Our wizard on the inside said Avery was often on business out of the country in the fall."

Remus' mouth tightened at the mention of the man who had tortured her as part of their mission to the Poison Quill.

"Do you know why the Death Eaters are bothering him?" Tonks asked, turning back to Lyall.

"His father, Tate, as I'm sure you now know, is the Ministry representative here, which is reason enough for their attention." Lyall stared at Tonks for a moment. "Tell me, Auror Tonks, what you know about Igor Karkaroff."

"Karkaroff?" Tonks gazed at Lyall, surprised. "I'd have thought he'd met his sticky end by now."

He smiled and shook his head. "They've not caught up to him yet. He's rumored to be hiding out in these parts. Has he not reached out to Dumbledore for protection?"

"Not that Dumbledore's revealed to us," Remus said.

Tonks shook her head. "He won't." Both men looked at Tonks and she smiled at their similar expressions. Remus really did look like his father. "He's a fool and a coward. He'll think he can outrun the Death Eaters because he fancies himself clever—especially after he gave up some of his friends and got himself pardoned by the Ministry."

"You seem to know a lot about Igor Karkaroff," Lyall said.

"Mad-Eye Moody was my mentor. He must have forced me to read the case file on his arrest and trial dozens of times," Tonks said with a smile. "Mad-Eye always said we needed to remember who'd slipped away unpunished."

"Well, he's slipped away for now, but they'll catch up to him soon enough if he keeps showing up in wizarding communities." Lyall stopped to refresh their tea. "That man has been back a few times to speak with both McHenry men."

Tonks crinkled her brows and shook her head. "Teague McHenry seems like a bloke that can look after himself. He also doesn't seem like one to let a prat like Avery push him around."

"Correct on both accounts," Lyall agreed. "But he's been pretty vocal about who he thinks the real criminals are, and his thoughts certainly don't align with the Daily Prophet."

"Vocal to whom?" Remus asked.

"Anybody in his family's pub who'll listen."

Tonks glanced at Remus before turning her gaze back to Lyall. She was sure he wouldn't like the plan quickly forming in her head. "Would it be odd for you to pop into the pub this evening? Perhaps with a friend."

Lyall smiled widely and said, "I'm a bit out of practice, I'm afraid, but are you asking me on a date?"

"No," Remus said sharply.

Tonks raised her eyebrows and grinned at the glower on his face. "No to him or no to me?"

"Him—you—both of you," Remus said, leaning back and tipping his head to the ceiling with a heavy sigh. He thrust both hands through his hair before he lowered his head to look at Tonks.

If they'd been alone at that moment, Tonks wouldn't have been able to stop herself from straddling his lap and snogging him senseless. As much as she loved his smile, intense and brooding was even better. She swallowed and grudgingly pushed the thoughts aside for a more appropriate time.

"I rather thought you'd grown tired of our time as Mark and Holly Kettleburn and would fancy a break," Tonks said.

"I hardly pretend to understand Dumbledore's intentions most of the time, but I'm quite certain this isn't what he had in mind for us this weekend."

Tonks opened her mouth to ask if he really wanted to look too closely at what Dumbledore had had in mind for them that weekend, but Remus must have sensed something of what she was intending to say and shook his head slightly.

"Nevermind," he said quietly.

She grinned cheekily. "Won't it be fun to tell him our plan was more brilliant than his?"

Remus' expression softened into a near smile. "You're not staying long."

"Only as long as it takes to have a drink and let your dad point out anybody interesting," Tonks agreed.

"You said you'd already met Teague," Lyall said.

Remus nodded. "We did."

"Being an Auror, I'm sure you're spellwork is quite good," Lyall said, "but for someone as suspicious as Teague it'll have to be a hell of an Appearance Charm to fool him."

Tonks closed her eyes in concentration and morphed her hair from the black chin-length bob of Holly Kettleburn to Lyall's tidily trimmed brown and grey. "Have you got a picture of the friend you mentioned?"

She opened her eyes and giggled at Lyall's surprised grin.

A/N: Hello! I made it to my goal of posting by Wednesday—with an hour to spare, no less! Thank you for all the love through reviews, favorites, follows of this and "Ungentlemanly". I'm so glad readers are enjoying the stories.

Stress is running high in our household with an unexpected job change for the hubs, spring sports/activities taking over our lives, and the end of the school year, but I'm gonna try to keep my updates as frequent as possible:). Enjoy!