I made a promise to you guys that I will finish this story and I intend to keep that promise. Sorry it took so long but I hope this chapter was worth the wait!
When Tonks opened her eyes the first thing she saw was Remus looking down at her. She watched the relief overtake the exhaustion in the deep depths of his eyes. The relief was quickly replaced with love and to Tonks' confusion sadness. She felt the weight of the four blankets on her slide away as she slowly sat up trying not to show Remus just how sore and in pain she was.
"How are you feeling love?" Tonks smiled at the question but also at the nickname she had long since wished to hear come from his lips, but thought she may never again. She closed her eyes and smiled as Remus pushed a lock of her still brown, but slightly lighter, hair out of her face.
"Bloody gross." Her voice had become hoarse from lack of use. "I feel like I need a shower and a big bowl of Molly's cooking." Remus laughed.
"I would imagine so. You have been unconscious for about two days." Tonks' eyes widened.
"That long, wow. I bet everyone is right worried about my sorry arse." Remus shook his head.
"Don't worry about anyone but yourself, you need to keep your strength." Tonks looked Remus right in the eyes.
"But I do worry, especially about you." Tonks had not meant for the last part to slip out but she was not sorry it did.
"Tonks…" Remus never got to finish what he was going to say, Tonks could tell it was something serious, because Sirius came busting through the door.
"Dora! Thank God you are awake. Molly was about to come up here and drag Remus to the kitchen because it seems this silly git made a pact not to eat until you did too. Thank God you didn't die or Remus would have starved to death." Remus rolled his eyes as Tonks gave him a look. She could tell he had not been taking care of himself.
"And how did you know she was awake or did you just get lucky?" Remus asked helping Tonks off the bed.
"I could hear voices," Tonks snickered and Sirius glared, "So I came to investigate and heard my lovely cousins' voice."
"Well could you please go tell everyone that Remus and I will be down in a little." Sirius gave Tonks' a funny look and left the room. Tonks' turned to Remus blushing. "I want to take a shower but need um," Tonks looked away feeling her face get red as her blush rose up her body, "I um need some help." Tonks felt Remus grab her face and gently turned her face to his.
"Of course." Tonks closed her eyes and leaned into his hand sighing.
"And I will need to borrow some clothes; I can't wait to get out of these. I feel so… disgusting." Tonks heard Remus scoff and move closer to her leaning in.
"You will never be disgusting Nymphadora, especially to me." Tonks nodded, eyes still closed. She only opened them when Remus grabbed her hand, tingles still there, and lead her to the bathroom attached to his room.
Tonks stood still as Remus started the bath, filling it with her favorite bubbles. Tonks noticed her favorite shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were still in his bathroom, even after all this time. In fact upon looking in the room all her stuff was still there from her many nights and days. Her brush, toothbrush, and toothpaste all where she left them last. He still wanted her in his life; he didn't erase her or forget about her.
Tonks locked eyes with Remus. He had finished filling the bath and was now walked slowly towards Tonks who was leaning against the door frame. When he reached her he took her hand and slowly led her next to the tub. He grabbed the bottom of her shirt and Tonks raised her arms as he pulled it off of her, their eyes never straying from each others. He slowly unbuttoned her jeans and crouched down to drag them to her feet. Once all her clothes were off Remus helped her into the tub, the hot water instantly soothing her sore muscles and aching body. Tonks closed her eyes and only opened them when all the lights were turned off and Remus lit dozens of candles.
"I will be in the other room, call me when you are ready to get out." Remus turned to leave when Tonks stopped him.
"Stay." She watched in anticipation as he stood with his back to her. Then slowly, to her relief, he turned and sat next to the tub. "Thank you." Remus nodded as a silence that both were comfortable with overtook the room.
Tonks took her time soaking in the tub, slowly cleaning the close encounter with death from her body. At one point Remus stood and helped wash her back and hair.
"You kept everything." Tonks simply stated after he had finished helping wash the conditioner from her hair.
"Of course." Remus stated as if she should not be surprised by his actions or lack thereof. Tonks could feel the air thick with tension. Fighting within herself with what to say versus what not to say, not wanting to scare him off. Remus took charge, like always. "I thought I was going to lose you." If it weren't for the lack of noise Tonks would have missed what he said since he practically whispered it.
"When?" Tonks asked needing to know if he was talking about a couple days ago or a couple months ago that horrible day at St. Mungos.
"When I walked out of the hospital room, when I left like a bloody coward." Remus wouldn't look at Tonks but she was staring at him.
"Remus, look at me, please." Tonks' voice was pleading; she needed him to look at her. Remus closed his eyes, took a large breath, sighed, and looked to her.
"You never lost me, not then not now." Tonks was serious, Remus could tell. "I will always love you not matter how much of a stubborn arse you can be." Remus smiled slightly and chuckled a little. Tonks smiled at the sight. "Now can you help me out of here before I become even more of a prune."
"Of course." Remus stood, went into his room to retrieve the clothes he pulled out for her.
Working at a steady pace Tonks dressed, with the help of Remus, and started to make her way down the stairs. When they reached the bottom Tonks was swarmed with concerned friends. Molly was the first to reach Tonks pulling her into one of her famous bear hugs, forgetting Tonks' injuries.
"Let her go before you do her more harm, Molly!" Sirius yelled. Molly stepped away looking sheepish.
"Sorry dear. We were so worried about you."
"It's ok Molly. I really do appreciate all the concern, I am feeling fine." Tonks said looking at everyone in the room: Mad Eye, Molly, Arthur, Fred, George, Sirius, Bill, Fleur, Kingsley, and Remus.
"Sure you are. I would be too if I took an hour bath and was in Moody's clothes." Sirius, Fred, and George snickered as Tonks' blushed. Molly hit the three on the back of their heads.
"You need some food my dear, come on into the kitchen." Molly took Tonks' hand and led her into the kitchen. Molly warmed a bowl of beef stew for her and everyone else. On one side of her was George and the other held Fred. She looked at them with a look of concern on her face at the smirks their faces held.
"So Tonks," Fred started, "if it hurts to move so much how did you change your clothes by yourself?" George finished. Tonks started to choke on a piece of carrot.
"FRED and GEORGE WEASLEY!" They immediately ran from the room with their bowls as Molly ran after them. Remus quickly takes Fred's spot.
"Are you ok?" Tonks nods as Remus starts to rub the small of her back in a soothing pattern.
"One day those boys are going to get it." Tonks said with a smile, everyone laughs.
"Those boys are amazing! Absolutely amazing, great job Arthur!" Sirius said patting Arthur on the back.
The rest of the meal went by with the occasional comment on the quality of the stew. Soon the group moved into the parlor. Tonks was seated in the most comfortable chair. She was saddened by this because she wanted Remus by her side but instead he was across the room on the couch with Mad Eye.
"So how are Harry and the kids? I much preferred being at Hogwarts where I could keep an eye on them myself." Tonks asked the group.
"They are being their normal selves, getting in trouble, neglecting their schoolwork." Molly said with a sigh.
"Harry has himself convinced he has to find You Know Who right this very second." Sirius said. "That boy is going to give me a heart attack one of these days."
"Welcome to parenthood." Arthur said. Tonks looked down thinking of the baby she never knew. Looking up she saw Remus' eyes on her, he was thinking the same thing.
"Are they getting in trouble with Draco again?" Tonks asked thinking of the fight she broke up between the two school boys.
"He is extremely suspicious of him." Remus answered. Tonks nodded.
"I would be too. That boy is up to something." Everyone nodded in agreement.
The group talked about various topics for the rest of the night. The Avangel family was attacked by Death Eaters for helping a "mudblood" hide in their home. Voldemort was supposedly spotted by Hogwarts along with Bellatrix.
After sometime Tonks decided she wanted to visit her apartment to get some stuff. To her delight and the amusement of other Remus was the first to volunteer to go with her. Minutes later they were stepping out of the fireplace dusting themselves off.
"I just want to grab some clothes." Remus nodded and Tonks started to her room the stops. "Bloody hell here I am assuming that I can just stay with you without even asking. What is bloody hell is wrong with me!" Tonks was so into her rant that she never heard Remus approach her and takes her into his arms, her back to his chest.
"I wouldn't want you to stay anywhere else love." Remus leans in and kisses her neck. Tonks smiles and goes into her room, Remus following her. Tonks goes through her drawers while Remus looks at her stuff. It felt amazing to have him back in her flat.
"You still have this." Tonks looks over and sees Remus running his finger over the rim of the pensieve.
"Of course. I want to show you something, something I watched many times in here." Tonks said moving next to Remus. Tonks found the memory in question and watched Remus emerge himself into her memories, soon joining him.
Tonks was sitting in her room, playing with a tiny broomstick and a doll. She was racing the two around the room with her hands, playing her one person quidditch match.
"AND TONKS CATCHES THE GOLDEN SNITCH! HUFFLEPUFF WINS THE HOUSECUP!" Tonks cheered.
"How many times do I have to tell you dear cousin, Gryffindor is the best house." Tonks looked to her door and saw her favorite cousin standing there.
"SIRIUS!" Tonks ran up to him, almost tripping as always, and gave him a big hug. "I have been waiting for you to come for forever!" Sirius chuckled.
"Well my dear cousin, I come here when I can." Tonks started to pout.
"Why can't that be more often?" Sirius smiled.
"Because Dora, I have school and friends of my own." Tonks pouted even more.
"I don't like your friends." Sirius laughed loudly at this which upset the young girl even more.
"You don't even know them Dora." Tonks folded her arms and gave Sirius an upset look.
"I don't care! They make it so I can't see you as much! I hate them!" Sirius bent down to her level.
"Well I want you to meet them, you will like them, I promise."
"They are here!" Tonks looked like she was about to hit him.
"Yes they are. Your mom is talking to them. She likes them." Tonks' scoffed.
"This is the same woman who likes that horrid name she gave me." Sirius chuckled and grabbed her hand.
"Come on Dora. I promise you will like them, I wouldn't bring them with me if I didn't think you would like them." Sirius started to feel Tonks volunteerly walk with him towards the stairs.
"How many are there?"
"Well there is James, Remus, and Peter." Tonks nodded and could hear voices as they went down the stairs.
When Tonks entered the living room she saw her mom talking to three boys. One looked rat like, she didn't like him already. The second had crazy hair and glasses. The third had scratches on his face, like he got in a fight.
"Awww here they are. Tonks, I thought you were going to be rude to our guests." Andromeda said to her daughter.
"Never Andromeda. Tonks just needs someone to coax her." Sirius said. He once again got to Tonks' level and pointed to each of his friends. "This is James, Peter, and Remus. Guys this is my favorite cousin the world Nymphadora Tonks."
"I hate that name! Call me Tonks!" Tonks' hair turned from pink to red in her anger. She looked at all three boys. "I like you two, not you." Tonks pointed to Remus and James, sticking her tongue out at Peter.
"NYMPHADORA TONKS! YOU APOLOGIZE NOW!" Andromeda yelled while Sirius was on the floor laughing.
"Why you do like saying what is on your mind, don't you?" Remus said. Tonks loved the sound of his voice. Tonks moved over next to him.
"Yes I do. I don't like lying so I say what I want." Remus chuckled as Andromeda sighed. Tonks sat on the couch and grabbed Remus' hand and made him sit down next to her. "What happened to your face?" Tonks watched Remus look to Sirius and James.
"I got in an accident some time ago and it resulted in a scar." Tonks nodded though she knew he was leaving out some information.
"Are you smart in school?" Sirius snorted.
"Mr. Perfect at school. Heck yeah he is. Bloody brilliant." Remus rolled his eyes.
"Can you help me with my school work? She is making me do it even though it is during the summer!" Tonks gave Andromeda a dirty look.
"Sure I can." Tonks grabbed his hand and led him up the stairs and into her room.
Tonks looked to Remus, smiled and chuckled.
"You should have ran away while you could." Tonks joked as Remus smiled.
"Never." Remus took a step towards Tonks and grabbed her face. "I love you Nymphadora, don't you dare ever forget that." Tonks leaned forward and finally did what she has wanted to do for months, she kissed Remus.
It felt like coming home. It was as if the last few months had melted away into nothing and it was only them in the world.
"I am sorry for everything I did love. I am so sorry." Remus said to Tonks, touching foreheads. Tonks looked into his eyes.
"We both said and did things that were horrible. We have to move past them. Who knows what could happen any day. You Know Who is out there killing and Bellatrix is determined to kill me. We need to and deserve to enjoy life and live it to its fullest. I love you and want to be with you until I die, whether its tomorrow or hopefully 80 years from now." Remus nodded.
"What did I ever do to deserve you?" Remus asked once again pushing a piece of her now bubblegum pink hair away from her face.
"I could ask you the same thing." Tonks leaned in and kissed Remus again. "As much as I would love to stay here and make up for all the lost time we had but we should get back to Grimmauld Place before Sirius barges in on us."
"Yes love." Remus grabbed her hand and led her back to Grimmauld Place and back where they both belonged, together.