"Sorry about the mess Molly, I'll clean it up." Tonks laughed.
"Cookies?" Ginny asked. She picked one up from the first batch and took a bite, "Mmm these are good."
"Mum's recipe. Tonks was feeling a little stressed about work so I suggested cookies to make her feel better." Ron took one and shoved it into his mouth whole.
"That's disgusting Ron, chew your food." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Well let's clean it up quickly, Arthur can actually make it home to dinner tonight and I want it to be a nice dinner." Molly took out her wand and started putting things back where they belonged. Tonks took hers out also and wiped down the counters and charmed the dishes to do themselves. "So what happened?"
"What?" Tonks turned around quickly knocking a bowl down.
"At work. What happened that upset you?" Molly quirked her eyebrow suspiciously.
"Oh... just... I have a new boss and he's not very understanding. I miss Alistor." Tonks sighed sadly. There was new management in the Auror department since Alistor Moody retired.
"Ah." Molly nodded understandingly and went to the ice box pulling out ingredients for dinner.
An hour later the Weasley family and Tonks were sitting at the table chatting and laughing over a wonderful meal, "I'm glad you finally got to join us Arthur." Molly smiled.
"I'm sorry... work has been so hectic lately. Welcome back by the way Tonks." Arthur smiled.
"Thanks Arthur." Tonks smiled back.
After dinner Ron was in his room drawing when there was a knock on the door, he shoved the sketch under his pillow quickly, "Come in."
Arthur walked into Ron's room and closed the door, "We've got to talk."
Ron rolled his eyes, "This is about Tonks."
"Yes." He sat down on the edge of Ron's bed and sighed, "Look... I know how it is, she's very pretty, and a bit older. It's tempting. But she's still married, and Remus is a good man. He doesn't deserve to be stepped out on."
"Dad... can I confess something to you?" Ron sat up with a serious face.
"Of course."
Ron sighed, "Tonks and I kissed once. Well... I kissed her."
"Ron... I can tell you not to do this... and tell you it's wrong and forbidden but that's only going to make you want to do it more. I was sixteen once, I know." Arthur chuckled, "You have to make your own decisions, and sometimes your own mistakes. So... just be careful okay? I don't want to see anyone getting hurt."
"Uh... Thanks Dad?" Ron looked at his dad confused.
Arthur got up and left the room, closing the door behind him. Ron shook his head and pulled the drawing pad out from under his pillow. He looked down at it and poked his tongue out in concentration. A few minutes there was another knock on the door, "Oh bloody hell! Who is it?" He yelled grumpily.
"Tonks..." She sounded timid. "I just... wanted to talk."
Ron got up and opened the door with a smile, "Of course." He motioned for her to come in.
She sat down on his bed and bit her lip, "Ron... about earlier. I'm still married to Remus. I'm still in love with him too."
Ron shrugged, "I kissed you. It was a mistake, hormones."
"A mistake?" Tonks eyebrows knitted together.
"Well yeah... that's what this is about right? You're here to tell me you're married and in love and I shouldn't have kissed you?"
Tonks sighed and shook her head, "Quite the contrary Ron. I... I enjoyed the kiss very much."
Ron's jaw almost dropped, but he fought the urge seeing as that wouldn't look very cool, "You... what?"
Tonks stood up and came closer to him, "I'm pretty sure you are the only one that doesn't know this by now Ron... I have feelings for you. It's part of why Remus and I aren't seeing eye to eye at the moment. Of course... I haven't told Remus so, I guess you're not the only one that doesn't know." Tonks chuckled nervously.
"So you... I mean..." Ron shook his head in disbelief, "You're messing with me right?"
"No Ron." Tonks sighed and stepped even closer, they were inches apart now, "Will this convince you?" She grabbed his neck and pulled him into a fierce kiss.
When they finally pulled apart Ron had a goofy grin on his face, "Um... yeah that... that was definitely convincing." His smile quickly faded as reality sunk in, "But Tonks, Remus doesn't deserve this... you're still married to him. I'm not going to be a homewrecker."
Tonks shrugged, "You don't have to be. These are my feelings I have to work out."
"So... I'm just here for a good time, not a long time?" Ron smirked.
"Are you saying you have feelings for me too? 'Homewrecker' implies more than a few stolen kisses."
"Of course Tonks... I kissed you first remember?" Ron rolled his eyes.
Tonks looked down shyly and finally noticed the drawing pad lying on Ron's bed, "What's this?" She picked it up for a better look.
"NO!" Ron lunged at her to try and grab it but she held it out of reach.
"Is this... is this me?" She asked in fascination. It was a silhouette of a young woman with long wavy hair lying in a field propped again a tree.
Ron sighed, "Yes... it's you."
Tonks glared at him, "Have you been watching me?"
"No... it's from memory."
