Two
"I haven't been able to find a good time to bring this up," Remus begins with the new day.
"I don't like the sound of that," Tonks says, afraid she's woken up on the wrong side of the bed without even sleeping.
"I don't want you to fight. I want you take Teddy to your mother's," Remus says.
"Oh, you're so silly," Tonks laughs. "Of course I'm not going to argue that. Mother will be a fine babysitter. Whatever made you think I wouldn't agree with having my own mother watch him?" she asks.
Remus pales.
"I mean," he chokes out every word, "that I want you to stay with your mother too. I don't want you to come with me."
Her hair goes dull brown.
"You don't want me with you?"
"Teddy needs you. He needs one of us to survive this thing."
Tonks doesn't look happy. "I want to fight beside you. I want to fight for Teddy. The Weasleys said every witch and wizard is needed." She bristles as if she's the wolf in the family.
"They already know I'm not letting you come," Remus says.
"They already knew, when I didn't? And…you won't let me? Remus, we're a team not a sergeant and a soldier!" She looks hurt. "I have as much a right as you to go fight. I've got Teddy's future to protect and Alastor Moody to avenge, just as much as you have his future to protect and James Potter to avenge. I have every right to kick You-Know-Who's butt, just as much as you do," she cries. "I have to, don't you understand? When Teddy asks me, 'mum, what did you do during the battle against You-Know-Who?' I want to have a proper answer! When I see Alastor after I die, I want him to be proud of me, too!"
Remus knows this is causing him more pain than any injury he might suffer in the battle will.
"You'll be fighting just as hard keeping Teddy safe. That's enough to be proud of. Death Eaters and dementors will be everywhere. He'll need you! And Alastor would never hold you responsible for getting revenge, Tonks. Tonks, listen, it's for the best," he says feebly.
She rises and walks away. She grabs Teddy and packs her things and his things.
"I'm ready to go," she says coldly.
"I was going to take you in the morning," Remus says.
"It is morning," Tonks points out.
Teddy rubs his eyes sleepily as they apparate just outside Tonks's mother's house. Tonks's chin is held high in defiance. She refuses to cry.
"Tonks," Remus says, putting a hand on her shoulder. She doesn't pull away, but she doesn't move any closer, either.
Remus sighs.
"Tonks, please, I don't want to fight when we're saying goodbye."
"Then let's not say goodbye," Tonks replies. "Let's drop Teddy off. Mother is a strong witch, she can keep him safe. Let me come with you."
"I can't, Tonks. I can't bare that," Remus says. "I can't bare this!" he shouts. "You-Know-Who is already tearing us apart and he's all the way down at Hogwarts!"
Tonks begins to cry.
"Tonks, don't cry, please," Remus says, hugging her and Teddy.
"I don't want you to die. I don't want to raise Teddy all by myself," she sobs. "He needs both of us!"
Remus can feel her tears soaking through his sweater vest, through his skin, all the way to his heart. "Kiss me," Remus says.
Tonks kisses him.
"Smile for me," Remus says.
She tries her best.
"Tell me that you'll wait for me," Remus says.
"I'll wait for you," she promises.
They hold each other like they're never letting go.
"You said you'd never leave Teddy and me again," Tonks whispers.
"This is different. You know that, right?"
He can feel her nodding.
"After this is all over, we'll never have to part again. Not because I'm afraid. Not because of you-Know-Who. I'll come home never to leave again. I'll make you an unbreakable vow on that."