A/N: Sorry for the long-ish wait between chapters. It's an extra long one to make up for the wait!


When Remus awoke one Sunday morning in late June, he was surprised to find an empty space beside him. He rolled over to see Tonks walking into the bedroom, a piece of toast in her mouth and a cup of coffee in each hand. He chuckled and she blushed when she realized he'd been watching her.

"What are you doing up so early?" he asked as he sat up and took a cup of coffee from her.

Tonks pulled the piece of toast from her mouth and carefully sat down with her own cup. "I promised my parents I'd have brunch with them."

Remus nodded and sipped his coffee.

Tonks looked at him sideways and said in a voice that was a bit too casual, "You could come with me. They'd love to meet you."

Remus snorted. "I'm closer in age to your parents than I am to you, I have no money, and I'm a werewolf. I think it's safe to say that your parents definitely would not love to meet me."

Tonks rolled her eyes and sighed. "My parents don't care about that kind of thing, Remus. And even if they did, it's my opinion that counts, not theirs."

"Of course they care! How could any parent not care that their daughter is sleeping with a monster?" he shouted, feeling angry all of the sudden.

Tonks stood up, spilling coffee down her front in the process, but she didn't seem to notice. "Why do you insist on being so self-deprecating? You know I don't see you that way, I never have."

Remus set down his own cup and stood to face her with the bed between them. "Maybe you don't, but the rest of our world does. You don't see how people react when they find out what I am. Most can't even look at me, they won't talk to me, they hide their children from me. Why do you think I keep to myself? If people found out you were shagging a werewolf, they'd shun you the same way they shun me."

"Because that's all this is, right? We're just shagging, there's nothing more between us. Never mind the fact that I love you. Never mind that I thought you loved me. And when have I ever given you the impression that I give a flying fuck about what other people think of me?"

Remus felt like she'd slapped him. "You know that's not what I meant, of course there's more between us than sex. That's why I can't let you lose your family because of me," he said, walking around the bed. "I couldn't live with myself."

"You're not listening to me! My parents wouldn't care. My mum turned her back on her pure-blood family to marry my Muggle-born dad, because she loved him. Do you really think they're going to judge me for loving you? Do you think, after what my mother went through with her family, they'd do the same thing to me?" Tonks shouted, poking him in the chest.

"Even if you're right about your family, that's not how the rest of the world will see it. You just don't understand-"

Remus staggered backwards. This time, she really had slapped him.

"You seem to be under the mistaken impression that I'm either too stupid, or too immature to understand you," Tonks hissed. "I understand why you're afraid, Remus, but it's you who doesn't seem to understand that I care far more about you than I do about what anyone else thinks. And until you can wrap your head around that, and treat me like the woman you love, instead of just some girl you're shagging, I don't want to see you. I can't promise I'll wait forever, either."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked out. She slammed the front door of his cottage behind her on her way out.

Remus was too stunned to follow her. Logically, he knew she was right; the people who mattered wouldn't care. But he couldn't seem to banish the fear that he couldn't bring himself to vocalize to her: that when she realized how people would treat her for being involved with him, she'd leave him. The thought of losing her was like physical pain, he couldn't bear it. And yet, he was going to lose her if he didn't make a commitment to her. He collapsed back on the bed, unsure what to do.


Remus rummaged in the back of his closet, looking for a small black box his father had given him many years before. He wondered if he should be thinking about Bill, whose face would never be the same, or if he should be grieving for Dumbledore, who had just died hours before, but somehow, there was something far more important in that moment. He ripped open a box full of photographs and spotted a photo of himself with Sirius and James in their fifth year at Hogwarts. Would they approve of what he was about to do? He felt certain they would have. In fact, they probably would've been berating him for not doing it sooner. Finally, at the bottom of a box of old clothes, he found the tiny box he'd been searching for. He opened it and pulled out his mother's engagement ring. His father had given it to him years ago, after his mother's death, but he'd sworn he'd never use it. He smiled as he remembered his father's reply. "Someday you'll meet a girl who won't fear your lycanthropy the way you do. When you find her, don't let her get away, son." Remus muttered a spell to polish the ring, and placed it back in the box and pocketed it.

He rushed out of his cottage and Apparated to Tonks' flat. It was past midnight, but he felt certain she'd be awake. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Seconds later, the door was flung open and Tonks stood before him, looking beautiful, even in her sorrow. He could see she'd been crying, and he stepped forward to try to take her in his arms. Tonks stepped back and he was hurt, but knew he had to earn her forgiveness. Until earlier that night, he hadn't spoken to her since their fight the week before, and he knew he'd been horribly cold in the hospital wing earlier.

"I'm not in the mood to fight with you, Remus. I have no energy for it tonight."

"I'm not here to fight with you, Nymphadora," Remus replied calmly, "I'm here to tell you I love you."

Tonks looked at him hopefully, but he could see she was reluctant to believe him.

"I've been an idiot, I know that now. I've let my fears dictate my life, but I'm done with that now." He lowered himself to his knee and pulled the little black box out of his pocket. He saw the look of shock on her face, but continued on. "Nymphadora Tonks, I love you more than I thought it was possible to love anyone. You make me happier than I've ever been; I want to spend the rest of my life trying to make you as happy as you've made me. Will you marry me?" He took the ring out of the box and held it out to her.

She looked completely dazed, staring at him with her mouth hanging open. He wasn't sure if he should be amused or terrified. What if she said no? He hadn't even thought about it, but it was certainly a possibility after everything he'd put her through. His thoughts were interrupted as she stepped towards him.

Tonks held her left hand out to him and very quietly said, "Yes."

"Really?" Remus said, hardly letting himself believe it.

"Really," she replied with a smile.

Remus slipped the ring on her finger, stood up, and snatched her up in his arms, kissing her passionately. He pulled away and looked deep into her eyes.

"No more running," Tonks said.

"I promise," Remus said earnestly.

Tonks led him to her bedroom, they stripped off their outer clothing, and lay down in the bed together and slept.

The next morning, Remus awoke to the sunlight shining on his face. He blinked to adjust to the light and saw Tonks lying beside him, her hand hovering above her face, admiring her ring. He smiled and watched her for a few moments. She turned to him and saw him watching her. She flushed and rolled to him, pressing her body along the length of his.

Remus rolled her onto her back and kissed her softly, teasing her lips and mouth with his tongue. He gently sucked her lower lip before moving down to her neck. He brushed the thin straps of her tank top off her shoulders and kissed over her collar bone. She pulled her arms out of the straps and Remus pushed the tank top down to expose her perky breasts. He took one already hard nipple into his mouth and teased the other with his fingers, rolling, gently pinching and pulling it. He could hear Tonks' sighs of pleasure and it only aroused him more. He continued down her body, and he could feel her trembling as he kissed over her flat stomach.

When he reached her panties, rose up on his knees between her legs. She lifted up and he pulled her panties over her hips and down over her legs. He tossed them aside and nudged her thighs apart. He caressed her legs from her knees up to meet at her pussy. He rubbed his thumbs over her outer lips, then dipped one into her wet pussy. Tonks moaned softly and arched into him. He pulled his thumb out and brushed it over her lips. Her tongue snaked out and licked his thumb and he groaned as she sucked it clean.

Remus lay down between her legs and kissed all around her pussy, before slowly licking from the entrance of her pussy up to her clit. He felt Tonks run her hands through his hair, pulling him closer. He repeated the motion several times, enjoying hearing her moan, before focusing his attention on her clit. He licked in circles around the sweet little bud as Tonks' hips lifted off the bed, thrusting against his tongue. Her moans grew louder as he sucked her clit into his mouth, rubbing it with the flat of his tongue. She shuddered against him and cried out. Remus continued licking her through her orgasm until her tremors ceased and she pulled him up to her.

She kissed him and whispered, "I love you."

Remus grinned. "I love you, too."

Tonks reached up and ran her hands over his chest, then pushed his boxers down over his hips. He kicked them off, then Tonks slid one hand down to his hard cock. She guided him to her pussy. "Make love to me, Remus. I need you," she murmured.

Remus slowly entered her and moaned as her hot, wet pussy engulfed him. He moved slowly inside her, listening to her moan. He'd never felt anything so right. He'd been with several women in his life, but he had never felt such an intense connection with anyone. He kissed her deeply as he started thrusting faster. Tonks wrapped her legs around his waist and was clinging to his upper arms.

Her moans, her tight pussy around his cock, and her petite body beneath him were making him lose control. He slowed his thrusts and withdrew from her. He sat back and pulled her up to sit as well. He lifted her into his lap, settling her back onto his cock. She wrapped her legs around him once more and rocked back and forth against him. Her head fell back and she placed her hands back on her knees and he took one nipple into his mouth. He had one hand on her back, guiding her against him. The other hand drifted between them and he began to rub her clit with his thumb.

Tonks cried out when he made contact with her clit. She moved faster on his cock, gasping and moaning as he continued rubbing her clit and teasing her nipples with his mouth.

"Oh. Oh. Oh." Tonks moaned in the rhythm of her thrusts. "Remus, I'm so close!"

Remus rubbed her clit faster and bit down on her nipple. He was rewarded with a scream from Tonks and her pussy clenched tight around his cock. It was enough to send him over the edge as well. He thrust up into her one last time and came deep inside her. Tonks collapsed against him and they rested, wrapped around each other, for several minutes.

After recovering somewhat, Remus lifted Tonks off of him and laid down behind her on the bed. He curled his body around hers and breathed in her sweet, heady scent. He thought to himself that he would never grow tired of her. Tonks rolled over in his arms and kissed him softly.

"You are so wonderful," she murmured.

Remus smiled. "Well, who are you planning on running off and telling first?"

Tonks stuck her tongue out at him, but replied seriously. "My parents, of course." She looked at him anxiously.

Remus remembered their argument from the week before, but didn't want her to be afraid to talk about her family. "I'd like to come with you and meet them." Tonks beamed at him.

An hour later they were showered and dressed. They Apparated to Tonks' family's home. Remus took in the big house with the beautiful fields surrounding it. He gulped as he thought about his tiny cottage. He reminded himself that Tonks knew about all that, and wanted him anyway. She squeezed his hand and they walked to the front door.

Tonks knocked on the front door and called, "Mum, Dad, it's me!"

The door opened and they stepped inside. Remus blinked to adjust to the dim kitchen and heard a woman's voice.

"Nymphadora, we've been so worried. We heard about Dumbledore, what on earth happened? Oh!" She pulled up short when she spotted Remus. "Hello…"

"Mum, this is Remus Lupin. Remus, this is my mother, Andromeda," Tonks said, gesturing to him after embracing her mother briefly.

Remus saw a flicker of recognition on Andromeda's face when Tonks introduced him. He shook her hand. "It's really nice to meet you," he said quietly.

"Where's Dad?" Tonks asked her mother.

"He's upstairs in his study. Why don't you go get him and I'll get some tea for us."

Tonks squeezed Remus' hand and hurried upstairs.

Andromeda turned to the stove and set some water to boil. She spoke with her back to Remus, "How do you and Nymphadora know each other?"

"We met in the Order two years ago."

"You must have known my cousin, then."

"Sirius? Yes. He was one of my best friends from the time we started Hogwarts together. He always said you were his favorite cousin."

Andromeda turned around and opened her mouth to speak, but at that moment, Tonks came bouncing back into the room, followed closely by a short, round man. Tonks slipped her arm around Remus' waist and he wrapped his automatically around her shoulders. Remus saw Andromeda's eyes narrow slightly as she watched them.

"Dad, this is Remus."

"It's nice to meet you, sir," Remus said, shaking Tonks' father's hand.

"Call me Ted," he replied, then turned to Tonks. "So, Dora, you said you have something to tell us. What's going on?"

Tonks smiled up at Remus, then looked at her parents. "Mum. Dad. Remus and I are engaged." She held out her left hand, upon which the engagement ring Remus had given her sparkled as she wiggled her fingers.

If he weren't so nervous about the whole situation, Remus could have laughed at the looks on Tonks' parents' faces. They looked utterly bemused, as if they thought their daughter might be playing a prank on them.

"Well? Say something!" Tonks exclaimed.

"I – but – how?" Andromeda stuttered.

Ted cut in. "I think what your mother is trying to say is that we didn't even know you were involved with anyone. You've given us a bit of a shock."

Remus turned to Tonks. "Why don't I let you talk with your parents privately?"

"Remus, you don't have to go."

"I'll just have a walk outside while you talk," he said, and kissed her cheek. He slipped out the door and around the corner, then, feeling rather ashamed of himself, he pulled one of Fred and George's Extendable Ears out of his pocket. He threaded it out and under the door and popped the other end into his ear.

He heard Ted speaking, "Dora, you can't just announce that you're getting married and expect us to be over the moon for you! We've never even met the man before today. Why didn't you tell us you were seeing someone?"

"It's…complicated," Tonks said.

"Nymphadora, don't be evasive," said her mother, sounding exasperated.

"Mum, I'm not being evasive; it's personal and a very complicated situation."

"Darling, I know what he is, so you may as well just be honest with us."

"What are you two not telling me?" Ted asked, obviously confused.

Remus heard Andromeda say, "Remus is a werewolf."

In the pregnant silence that followed, Remus wondered if he'd done the right thing. How could he live with himself if Tonks' parents disowned her because of him?

"How did you know, Mum?"

"Sirius talked to me about his friends before I married your father and the family disowned me. I remember him mentioning that one of them was a werewolf. It obviously wasn't James Potter, and you mentioned Peter Pettigrew is a Death Eater, so it couldn't be him either. I put two and two together. The real question is why on earth did you get involved with a werewolf? I can only assume you didn't know about his…condition until after you were already involved."

"I knew from the day I met him," Tonks replied. "He wouldn't lie about it and fool me into getting involved with him. He's a good man and if you'd give him a chance, you'd see that. He loves me and I love him."

"I have no doubt he's a good man, if you love him so much, Dora," Ted said, "You've always been a good judge of character. I'm more concerned about your safety. He could be the nicest person in the world, but he still turns into a dangerous…creature once a month."

"He takes the Wolfsbane Potion, which makes him perfectly safe."

Hearing this reminded Remus that he would have to find another way to get the potion, now that Snape obviously wouldn't be brewing it for him any longer. The next words he heard snapped him back to the present.

"Well then, I'm happy for you sweetheart," Ted said.

"What about you, Mum? You married for love and your family disowned you. Would you really do the same thing to me?"

"Of course not!" Andromeda replied. "All I want is for you to be safe and happy. If Remus makes you happy, and you're sure that you're safe with him, then I'm happy for you."

Remus tugged on the Extendable Ear and quickly walked further from the house. He figured Tonks would come out to get him momentarily, and he didn't want her to know he'd been eavesdropping. He felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He was sure her parents weren't really thrilled about Tonks marrying him, but at least they wouldn't shun Tonks for it, and that's what really mattered to him.

He heard the door open and Tonks called his name. He jogged back around the house.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

"Everything's wonderful," she said, and kissed him. "Come back inside, my parents want to get to know you."

She took his hand and led him inside, and Remus felt that whatever obstacles they might have to face, they'd be fine since they'd do it together.