I am sorry to say the original author has left fanfiction.
However, I am her friend, and she has allowed me to finish this
and any of her other stories for her, so I typed up this chapter,
referring to her
brief and not very detailed outline, and decided
to roll with it. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope that you will like
the way I write in substitute for the way the original author wrote.

Also, if you wish to adopt any of this author's stories, they are up for
adoption, which I shall be running. Thank you to all of Crazy Redd's readers.

Also, this is where T becomes a needed rating, just so you are forewarned.

It was not any old day when Tonks awoke before Remus did, and it was quite a special day as it was. Perhaps it was the fact she was trained, and well trained, might she add, to wake up early today, thanks to her slightly older brothers. They were gone, but their training still remained. She looked with a smile at Remus sleeping peacefully just waiting for him to wake up. However, the peace that he held in his face was much more than he ever showed while he was awake. It was extremely nice to see him happy and relaxed finally. After all, she usually woke up after him and didn't get to see him sleep.

Soon, however, he began to move a little in his first stages of waking up before his eyes slowly fluttered opened, seeing Tonks's eyes right before him. While he seemed to complain about being stuck outwardly, times like this when he could see her next to him every morning made him quite happy. He slowly smiled and watched her back without worrying about speaking.

"Good morning, you," Tonks finally said breaking the silence, but not the gaze, wanting to soak in everything she could see at the moment. Awake, he seemed to be more relaxed than he was asleep at this moment. His eyes, his face, they seemed to be happy, content, and finally relaxed. She didn't even realize that her hand was in his, their attached one, but they didn't hold hands often either way. Yet, she was so lost in his gaze, she didn't even realize it.

"Good morning," Remus replied slowly, watching her steadily, not removing his gaze from her, wanting to soak in everything he could see right now. She wasn't pink haired, even though he liked it, and instead she looked like her parent's daughter. Dark mousy brown hair, much like her mother in appearance, and he quite enjoyed it. It must have been her natural form. He would love the sight of her appearance no matter how she looked, but something about now seemed to entrance him about her natural appearance, having never seen this before. He'd seen her sleeping, but it was almost like she could change her appearance while she slept, but for some reason not today. He didn't even realize that his hand was in hers, their attached one, but they didn't hold hands often either way. Yet, he was so lost in her gaze, he didn't even realize it.

"Happy Christmas," Remus said after some time of the two staring at each other. His smile grew, if that was even possible, and their two faces seemed to slowly approach each other.

"Happy Christmas, Remus," Tonks replied, her smile growing as well. Their faces were very close now, almost touching. The interval between them was about to close, their lips brushing up against each other, a tingling sensation running down both of their spines, before…

"Oi! You two better get out here, the kids are going to have a riot if we don't open presents soon," Sirius yelled through the door, hitting it loudly. The two jolted up, out of the trance the two were both in, looking at the door, before Tonks smiled at Remus, her hair having turned to her normal bubble gum pink. The two got out of their bed, and made their way to the door, still in their pajamas, their hands separating as Remus opened the door.

"You look terrible, Moony," Sirius said, with a laugh, seeing Remus, whose hair was all over the place. self-consciously he immediately went to smooth it with his hands, and Tonks helped him with a laugh.

"How do I look now?" Remus asked.

"Perfect," Tonks replied looking at him with a smile.

"You still have a little there," Sirius said gesturing his head in a circular motion.

"Shut it," Remus said with a laugh, as the three walked down the stairs towards the living room. Sirius entered the room first, followed by Remus and Tonks, who then were immediately trapped in some sort of force field. Sirius began laughing, just as several of the teenagers that were there did (the Weasley Twins high-fived each other). Remus looked up and saw mistletoe above them before looking towards Sirius who pointed at the twins.

"First victims of the day," Fred laughed.

"We have several all around the house," George continued.

"I think you know what you have to do, Remus," Fred finished.

"I'm going to kill you two!" Remus said fairly calmly even though promising the death of two pranksters.

"Don't worry, he says that, but he never does it," Sirius laughed seeing Remus's face watching the twins, "Trust me, if he lived by his word, I'd have died over a hundred times already."

"Well hurry up," George said gesturing the two of them to kiss, "Or we'll stage our riot."

"Riot! Riot! Riot! Riot!" Ginny and the twins chanted, earning a glare from Molly, and a few laughs from the others.

"Fine," Remus grumbled turning towards Tonks and smiled just a tad now. He leaned in, intending a short little peck, but finding himself getting a little ahead of himself. Remus placed his lips upon hers, and his free hand around her middle.

Tonks was expecting a short little peck, but what she got was much more than she thought he would. It was Christmas, maybe he was actually going to be happy today, and accept that she wanted him, and she knew he wanted her too. Oh, that would be fantastic. Her free hand cupped his face, as their attached hand held the other close hand.

The kiss lasted for a few seconds, deepening towards the end, before Remus pulled back, needing air, before his eyes widened, and seeing how he had lost his control, before he turned towards the living room where everyone was watching the two of them, Tonks turning as well. The two of them walked to the couch where their seats were saved next to Sirius, as if nothing had happened.

The twins, in their mighty wisdom began clapping and calling out praises, met with a slap from their mother, and a very tomato red pigment forming on the two attached people's faces. The room was silent for several moments, before Fred held up a present.

"Let's open our presents!" Fred announced, breaking the silence and causing a whole whirlwind of chatter.

"Good job," Sirius whispered in Remus's ear as he went a found a present for him and a few others. They went in a circle opening presents, watching each person open a present, one at a time. Remus and Tonks tended to have pitched in together, and made their gifts or found them around the house. Such as the DADA book they had given to Harry that would help teach him new spells and such. Remus had gotten primarily books, while Tonks had received some chocolate from Sirius (Remus tried to steal it, but she managed to keep it from his chocolate hungry hands). It was a good thing then, that he had received a huge box of chocolates from the Weasleys, though he still tried to steal the chocolate Tonks had gotten.

Throughout the day, Tonks saw a glow in Remus she hadn't seen before. He was actually happy, almost forgetting about his condition. She would have snogged him senseless at one point, but she had controlled herself enough, because he might not appreciate it. The two had a lot of fun wrestling over the chocolate Sirius gave her (she later came up with the idea Sirius had done that on purpose, to get them to wrestle over it and have fun fighting over it). The two had a great laugh with the others, staying with the family in the living room, almost all day, with some occasionally popping into the kitchen to get some snack or drink to have before dinner. Molly left around noon and began cooking. Remus volunteered to help, but she refused (perhaps because his clumsiness was increased tenfold being attached to Tonks, or because he was having so much fun just being with the others that she didn't want to pull him from that).

The whole group migrated from the living room into the dining room when Molly instructed them to, and they sat. Sirius was next to Remus and Tonks, and Molly on the other side of the two.

"And so I said," Sirius said telling a story about a time when Remus pulled a prank, "It was Remus, but they didn't believe me!"

"It really was me," Remus stated after swallowing a bite of potato.

"But Remus denied it!" Sirius said as if still upset after all these years.

"Who would believe you over Remus?" Tonks joked with a laugh.

"Hey!" Sirius said scandalized.

"Being the good boy I was," Remus stated, earning a mischievous grin from Sirius and Tonks, the teens having their own conversation, "I admitted guilt eventually."

"That's because you felt bad for sending us to detention," Sirius stated.

"Actually, I didn't. You two seemed to enjoy it, but it was because I didn't want the professor to think higher of me than I deserved," Remus replied, however, he shut up after that, planning to continue but a hand on his leg shut him up. His and Tonks's attached hands were under the table, his on top of hers, not being used to eat dinner, but Tonks had taken the opportunity to place her hand on his leg and slowly move up and down along his upper leg.

"Something wrong?" Tonks asked, wanting to make sure she hadn't gone too far, and he could always pick her hand up with his and move it off of his leg.

"Why would there be anything wrong?" Remus replied swallowing, before he picked up his drink and took a drink of it.

"Yeah, so anyways," Sirius continued, oblivious to the exchange between the two, "He admitted it, but they didn't even apologize to us."

"I wouldn't either, you're obviously very misbehaved boys," Tonks said, her hand trailing up Remus's leg getting close to a certain part.

"Except me, of course," Remus commented, nearly holding his breathe, "I was always the good one, save a few instances."

"Ha, yeah right! You were part of all of our pranks, you just weren't an active part of it once we pulled it. You were always the one to make our plans work," Sirius replied with a huge laugh.

"Yeah, well…" Remus said not able to think of a way to counter Sirius's statement and still tell the truth.

"The mighty Remus, speechless," Sirius howled happily. True, part of his mind was on the hand slowly getting even closer to a certain part of his body, but the other part of it was not on the conversation, but on controlling himself at the moment.

"Excuse me, I need to go to the loo," Remus said and stood up, Tonks at his side.

"Fine," Tonks muttered and gave a smile towards the table and followed Remus as far behind as she could. Remus led her down the hall towards the loo, before he stopped and turned towards her.

"Were you trying to kill me?" Remus asked furiously.

"I didn't see you complaining," Tonks replied calmly, with a small smile.

"Bu- So- That doesn't matter!" Remus said, lost for words at the start, and indecisive about what to start with, "I wasn't going to say anything in front of everyone."

"You could have moved my hand," Tonks sighed, "Don't worry, Remus, won't happen again." Remus nodded in content.

"You know why we can't be together, Tonks. When you start up work again, you'll see there are plenty of suitable people you can be with instead," Remus said watching her quite seriously.

"And you know, there is no one else I would like to be with more than you, Remus," Tonks replied.

"Nymphadora," Remus said, Tonks not correcting him this time, "Would you really want the hate that I always get? Would you really want to worry about making rent each week because I couldn't support you? Would you really want to not know each month whether or not I will kill you?"

"If it means being with you, then yes," Tonks answered with a firm nod.

"You're too young to understand…" Remus sighed shaking his head.

"TOO YOUNG?" Tonks yelled, and those in the dining room could hear her yelling, "I AM NOT TOO YOUNG! I AM AN ADULT WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE IS DOING!" Remus placed his free hand on her mouth to keep her quiet, she pulled his hand away, ignoring the intoxicating smell of him that had reached her nose.

"Nymphadora," Remus began, but was cut off.

"IT'S TONKS, NOT NYMPHADORA, REMUS!" Tonks yelled tempted to slap him and run away then cry, but she didn't.

"Tonks, I am thirteen years older than you," Remus explained calmly, "That is a huge difference. You were in school less than a decade away, while it's been a decade and more for me. You have your whole life ahead of you, and I'm nearly half-way done."

"So you're thinking you'll only live to about seventy," Tonks said softer, holding in the tears. Remus was quite torn up by the way that she was acting, so cut up about him. About a stupid werewolf who let logic rule his life, forcing emotions down when he felt they would affect his logic, which happened quite often. Why couldn't she see he was not a suitable mate?

"Probably younger, given this war," Remus replied bitterly, "Might not even survive this year."

"Don't say that, Remus," Tonks said looking at him her furiousness gone, and more of a worry.

"It's true, Tonks. How long will it be before they begin executing werewolves? There are enough on Voldemort's side for people to think they all are," Remus explained his previous happiness from before completely gone, "You know how werewolves do not have the same rights as you do."

"So? I'll make an appeal, I'll protest," Tonks said strongly, "They won't kill you. I won't let them. Worst comes to worst, we put you into hiding with Sirius."

"It won't work, Tonks. It's not like they'll warn us that they are coming," Remus replied shaking his head.

"We have people in the ministry, high up," Tonks said, "They'll know, they'll warn you."

"And blow their cover? I don't think so," Remus argued, "I'm not that important."

"Yes, you are," Tonks replied, "You're very important. You're smart, and you show us that even when all odds are against you, when so many people are against you, you still fight for your friends, for what you believe in."

"I don't want others to ever feel the same way as I do, that's all," Remus stated simply.

"That's what is so important," Tonks insisted, "Despite everything against you, despite all that you've lost, you still care for even those who don't care about you."

"Everyone here is like that," Remus said shaking his head.

"Not everyone here has lost everyone they care about, and have people hate them just for existing," Tonks retaliated. The two were silent for a moment, the two studying each other, until Remus sighed.

"Let's just go back, before they think we're up to something," Remus said, "Though you yelling didn't help with that."

"That's your fault, Remus," Tonks muttered walking down the hall shaking her head.

"Sorry," Remus apologized, and Tonks stopped and looked at him, him stopping as well.

"For what?" Tonks asked bitterly.

"For making you angry," Remus replied, thinking it was obvious.

"It happens, you frustrating man," Tonks replied with a small smile.

"I don't live to be frustrating," Remus said.

"Maybe you should act like it," Tonks joked before she kissed his cheek before pulling him back to the dining room, where they were met by stares. The two sat down and Tonks smiled at the crowd.

"What? Remus just needs to not call me young and incapable of standing myself up," Tonks said as a weak excuse.

"Uh huh," Sirius said as the crowd of family slowly began to talk again.

"Now, Arthur, tell me about that rouge television set," Remus said leaning towards the red haired father, which meant leaning towards Tonks as well, his hands folded together, and the hand that had Tonks's attached to it, held her hand nearby his.


"Be sure to watch them, Remus," Molly said pointing to Sirius and Tonks.

"I promise I won't let them be irresponsible," Remus nodded, and Molly left the room saying she was going to sleep, leaving Sirius, Remus and Tonks up. Remus and Tonks were sitting on the couch in the living room, Sirius was standing behind it, and offered them a drink, which they both accepted. After all, just one drink would not be bad. However, Sirius had charmed them to refill themselves with each drink.

After a little while, the three were engaged in a conversation which led to Sirius getting up and going to bed a little bit frustrated. Which left the two by themselves.

"You know, Nymphadora," Remus said not long after Sirius had left, having drank a good amount of firewhiskey, thinking he hadn't drank that much thanks to Sirius's refilling charm, he was blissfully unaware of, "I really like you."

"Yeah, I know. I really like you, too. Why do you try to push me away?" Tonks asked, having the same problem that Remus was at the moment.

"I'm scared," Remus replied, "I don't want to love another, and lose them too."

"I won't leave you, like your friends did, I promise," Tonks said with a small smile.

"What if it can't be stopped?" Remus asked.

"Then it's meant to be," Tonks replied, "But won't happiness now be better than nothing forever?"

"The pain… the pain of losing someone you love is so bad, it kills you. Better get it over now rather than later," Remus answered with a nod.

"Remus… when you try to push me away, it's like I lose you, and it kills me," Tonks said, placing her hand on his, the hands that were attached of course.

"Better to get it over now, when you can find someone else, then later when you get a little old to start another relationship," Remus replied, moving a little closer to her.

"But all I want is you," Tonks responded, moving closer to him.

"Are you sure?" Remus whispered, their faces quite close at the moment.

"Positive," Tonks replied, nearly cut off by a hungry kiss from Remus, pushing her against the couch. After a few moments of passionate kissing, the two found their way up to their room, and the rest faded into darkness.


The next morning, Remus awoke with a terrible headache, as a little light came through the window, making it even worse. It took him a moment to get his bearings, finding himself without his clothes on, and his eyes widened. He moved to get out of bed, waking Tonks up in the process.

" 'S the matter?" Tonks asked, her head pounding as well, before she as well realized the situation the two were in. She took the blanket to cover herself with as Remus hurried and got his clothes from scattered around the room, and putting them on.

"Do you remember what happened last night?" Remus asked once the two of them were completely dressed.

"I-I remember talking about why we can't be together, then… I-I don't remember anything else," Tonks replied.

"I'm going to kill Sirius," Remus sighed, "I don't remember anything, I don't remember anything after… Sirius leaving. Oh Lord… I really hope we didn't do what I think we did."

"Even if it did happen… it's not that big of deal," Tonks said.

"Not that big of a deal?" Remus said his eyes widening at her, "How is it not?"

"Well, we don't remember, and there isn't anything lasting, right?" Tonks answered.

"But… you could be…" Remus began.

"We don't know that," Tonks replied, "Just remain calm, Remus. First, we need to get rid of these headaches. Then we can worry about that." She kissed his cheek, and he turned away.

"That's how all of this started," Remus said shaking his head, "We need to get this attachment off. I need to think alone. I just need to be alone."

"As soon as we get this force away, you can be alone, but until then," Tonks replied, Remus interrupting her.

"I don't mean just being alone, I mean alone in life," Remus interrupted, "I can't have a relationship, I just end up hurting everyone in the end."

"Remus –" Tonks began.

"I don't need to hear it," Remus growled, looking quite angry, but she could see it in his eyes that he wasn't angry at her, but at himself. After a little while, the two headed down to where everyone had been, the living room, and pretended nothing had happened. Though the two had been caught under the mistletoe, which Remus simply pecked her lips to get out from under it. Most people had seen the change in attitude between the two of them, mostly Remus to Tonks, Tonks acting just as normal as before, being much better at acting than Remus was. Remus was fairly quiet the whole day, thinking obviously. He wasn't sure if things would ever be the same, extremely worried and angry at himself, angrier than he had been in his life.