Chapter 8: Epilogue: Resigning

The two landed stumbling into the Burrow's dormant kitchen, not talking about what recent events had just occurred. Remus stood motionless with his arm resting around Tonks' waist. She turned into the contact and wrapped her arms gracelessly around his neck. He fell backwards into the elongated table and struggled for balance of any kind. The reality of her lips crashing against his, the hungry force building in his gut, he couldn't take it. His forcefully pushed her back away from him.

"This does not mean I'm staying here. I still have to go back—" He was cut off immediately.

"You're not going anywhere, Remus Lupin. After what happened tonight, I'm sure that you won't be going anywhere near Greyback again." Her voice was just a whisper, but still, that did not stop Molly from bustling into the kitchen. She seemed confused, elated, and surprised all at once. Her face could have torn in two from the beaming smile that was suddenly pasted on her face.

"Nymphadora, dear, oh Merlin, we were so worried when we left. We weren't even sure where you had gone. If you had just told Arthur and me, oh but that's nothing now, doesn't matter. What happened? You're both bloody and staining my kitchen table. Remus, dear, sit down and I'll help you." The both of them blinked in reply and Tonks hesitantly moved back to lean, with her arms crossed, against the kitchen counter in front of the sink, "Look out, dear." Molly ushered her out of the way and out of the kitchen where a seated and waiting Arthur looked up knowingly at her flustered presence.

"Have a seat," Arthur invited. Tonks sat comfortably down next to him, relaxing as she did so, settling down after everything that had just happened. "So, as I've just heard and by the looks of you, something happened at the camp. So what has been the goings on of tonight?" Arthur asked with a slight curious smile around his lips.

"The camp was infiltrated, there was a man, he… he," she faltered and Arthur raised his eyebrows, encouraging her to continue, wanting to hear the rest. Swallowing and readying herself for what she was about to say, Tonks muttered softly, "Killed himself."

"He killed himself. Why did he do that?"

"Greyback ordered him to kill the two of us. He couldn't do it. I'm not exactly sure why, but he couldn't. So he killed himself. Basically all hell broke loose. I think this has made Remus think about things. I could have lost him, we could have both died and I think that's made him see something, anything, I hope." Arthur nodded at her words, waiting for her to continue. When she didn't he affirmed her suspicions.

"Yes, I think this could've helped him. Just hope for the best, Tonks. It'll get through to him one of these days." Patting her knee, he stood up and began to mount the stairs when her voice stopped him in his footsteps.

"Arthur, do you think Dumbledore would send him back there after what's happened tonight?" There was a formidable amount of silence before she began to think Arthur hadn't heard her and left to the darkness of his bedroom, but as she began to think this, he finally answered.

"I don't think so." And with that, the creaking whining of the stairs returned to silence as he finally reached the landing. His padding footsteps on the hallways rug faded to nothing with the click of a shutting door. Tonks stood triumphantly and walked into the kitchen with a slight smirk claiming her lips. Her eyes glittered lavender and mysterious as she stepped around Molly and next to the seated Remus. Molly was apparently finished and all the cuts that were clotted and dried on his arms, neck and face were gone completely. There was a slight red tint to his skin from the smeared blood, but a shower would clear that up.

"Guess what?" she asked cheekily. He raised his knitting brow in question as he remained silent. He just knew this was going to be fun. "You are never going back to that camp."

He sighed in mild defeat. "I didn't think Dumbledore was going to send me back there, but I'll put in for another mission and," Tonks' forefinger on his lips hushed him. Molly stood faded in the background smiling at the two. They would be very happy together if the war wasn't screwing up their relationship. She chimed in once Tonks politely told Remus to shut the hell up, were her thoughts.

"It's very late, you two, why not go upstairs. Bill's room has been cleaned out and his bed is made up. It should be big enough." Tonks seized the opportunity, grasped Remus' wrist and dragged him to the stairs. She turned in silent thank you with a glance and wink at Molly. Smiling, Molly returned to the remaining dishes that were soaking in the sink. If the war wasn't interfering . . .

. . . Upstairs . . .

"Remus," Tonks called through the darkness. He stood looking silently out the window. The blue of the sky was filtering through the room, inking the walls in midnight haze.

"I'm sorry," he replied vaguely. "I should have never agreed to that mission, I know. I do love you; I just don't want my love to hurt you in any way. My being away on missions, you working for the ministry," his voice faded into the darkness as he sat on the bad. He searched for her hand, found it, and clasped it tightly in hers. "I want this to last for the both of us."

"I love you, too," she whispered.

A smile curled around his lips, "I want to make you happy."

"You do make me happy, Remus, you just have to quit running. That's what makes me said, can't you see that. It's not the war, it's not the death. It's not being with you. When I'm not with you, I feel so weak and vulnerable." She shook her head at the words and continued. This wasn't an argument. He was breaking and she wanted to make sure that is was steady and painless. She was winning. "I just want to be with you."

His hand fell gently on her hip and they softly kissed. It was his way of giving in. She smiled against his lips and, pulling each other into the embrace, they resigned themselves to the clutches of sleep.

. . . Nine Months Later . . .

Remus stood silently next to her. He looked completely drawn and worn out, maybe even more than she did. She smiled at the sight of the bundled baby held in his arms. People had begun to file quietly out of the room to leave them in peace. That day had been a complete blur, and as she looked around she forgot about everything but the two most important people in her life.

"Remus," she whispered quietly. Her arms were outstretched. Smiling, yeah, she had finally been able to get used to seeing him smile.

"What about Teddy? After your dad?" Remus asked thoughtfully.

"Teddy Remus Lupin," Tonks said with a smile of her own. "What about now, are you still sorry?" she asked quietly, recalling a night that had happened what seemed like forever ago. He had apologized for being a dimwitted idiot.

With his eyes glinting intensely, he answered her softly, "Not at all." Cradling her newborn son in her arms, Remus kissed her deeply and gently. The nightmares of war and Remus being in danger were far, far away. He was safe her with her. They were married. They had a son, Teddy Remus Lupin. And they were together. He whispered to her finally, a lone tear tarnishing his grinning face, "I have everything I've ever needed."