A month later, Nymphadora had not yet returned to work. Rodolphus was still in Azkaban, his case still an issue in the Auror Office—in Britain, in fact. Harry had warned her to be extremely careful if she left her home, for news of Rodolphus' exploits had somehow been spread to the people. He was afraid that Tonks would become a target if she went out by herself, especially since she was pregnant with the man's child.
Nymphadora threw herself heart and soul into caring for Teddy and Belle as her twin babies continued to grow inside her. She would soon be six months along, and she could feel her sons move within her stomach, quite active little ones. Belle was already crawling, and Teddy had discovered that if he lay on the floor, Belle would crawl on top of him and fall asleep, one of her favourite napping places.
Rabastan was in constant danger because Rodolphus was his brother, and George had had to tell Rabastan to either disguise himself, or be fired. George wanted Rabastan to be safe, knowing that whatever his brother had done, Rabastan didn't belong to that anymore. Neither brother did, actually, but Rodolphus' sins had merely been revisited so strongly that the world would not ignore them as they did Rabastan's.
Shaul and Mordor came by to visit Nymphadora and her family every so often, Mordor bringing Merime nearly every time. Mordor and Merime were to be married on the twenty-first of June, and Nymphadora and her family had been invited to attend. The couple had been very gracious to add wards to the place, keeping out those that had not been specifically invited.
Nymphadora stepped into the building, walking to her seat with her mother and children, sitting quietly, Belle on her lap, Teddy seated between his mother and grandmother. The woman next to Nymphadora looked at her sharply, then spoke to her quickly in French. "Sorry," Nymphadora murmured. "I don't speak French."
"I was saying, 'You are Nymphadora, aren't you?'" the woman asked. "Yes, I see your children."
"Yes," Nymphadora agreed quietly.
"I am Merime's mother, April Siguard," said the woman softly. "I'm pleased to meet you. Merime and Mordor have told me of you: both of them think very highly of you."
Nymphadora looked down as Belle reached out for the other woman. "Merime's a very decent girl," she told Madam Siguard. "She's very sweet, but quite strong."
The mother smiled proudly. "She will do well with Mordor, I am sure."
"Ma!" Belle said sharply, still reaching out for the other woman.
"Belle, darling—" Nymphadora sighed, then asked Merime's mother, "Would you like to hold my demanding daughter?"
April took Belle into her arms just as the wedding began, and the little girl quieted down, her little hand pressed against her cheek as she watched the other people. When the time came for the bride's parents to give her away, April stood with her husband, Belle in her arms as the man said, "Her mother and I do give her to him."
Belle grinned and said, "Yes!" making most of the people stare at the child, and Nymphadora wished she could hide.
Teddy hissed up at his sister, "Belle, be quiet!"
The two Siguards sat down, and before Nymphadora could lean over to apologize, April turned to her, laughter in her eyes. "I hope my daughter's children are as full of life as this one," she chuckled to the younger woman, who smiled in slight embarrassment and relief.
They turned back to watching Mordor and Merime take their vows. When the priest gave Mordor permission to kiss his new wife, Teddy grinned and shouted, "Yeah, 'tiss her, Mor!"
A soft blush suffused Merime's cheeks as Shaul openly laughed at his brother and Merime. Mordor looked over and winked at Teddy before turning to Merime and kissing her lightly on the lips. He turned to the other boy that was there, bearing a ring on a cushion, then looked over the crowd. "Come here, Teddy," he said, motioning to the brown-haired child.
The instant Teddy heard, he glanced up at his grandmother and mother for permission, then darted down the row of people and out into the aisle. The boy hurried up to Mordor, not shy at all with him.
"See this?" Mordor said to Teddy, pointing out the ring. "This is for Merime. Do you want to put it on her finger for me?"
"Okay," Teddy grinned up at Mordor, who helped him untie the ring from the cushion.
"Here," Merime said, the couple kneeling down before Teddy as Mordor pointed the child to the correct finger.
Teddy carefully slid the ring onto Merime's finger, and Mordor helped him turn the ring carefully so that the diamond sparkled in the light. "Thank you, Teddy," Mordor said softly, and Merime said the same. The little boy headed back down the aisle, joining his mother and his grandmother again, leaning against his mother's side shyly.
The couple stood, and Mordor drew a small chain from his pocket. Stepping forward, he fastened it carefully at her throat, and Nymphadora began to cry, recognizing the necklace that Rodolphus had given her when she'd promised to marry him. She'd forgot that she'd given it back to Mordor to give to his wife, and wept, thinking of Rodolphus.
Her son reached over and squeezed her hand, and Dora squeezed it back, trying to wipe her tears away. She saw April look over at her, but didn't look back, or say a word. Nymphadora wasn't jealous of Merime, but the necklace reminded her of everything that Rodolphus had meant to her, had been to her, and she ached for him desperately.
When the wedding was over, Nymphadora and Andromeda gathered Teddy and Belle together, Andromeda making sure that Teddy's hand was held firmly in hers. They joined the crowd that was heading out of the building to the reception. As they came to the new husband and wife, Merime just caught Tonks in a tight hug, whispering her thanks.
Mordor hugged her carefully, murmuring, "Thank you for everything. I love you, Mum." More tears ran down Nymphadora's face as she replied in kind, and Mordor added quietly, "There are no wards on the reception hall, but the wards up at the Lestrange Manor are open to you and your family. You're welcome to visit any time, after we arrive home in ten days."
Nymphadora squeezed him tightly, wishing that the boy's father could have been there to see and hear how his son had grown up in the last year or so. "I love you, Mordor," she whispered, and he gently wiped her tears away with the back of his hand before she stepped back from him, letting Teddy come forward.
"Teddy!" Mordor grinned down at him, lifting him up so he could see over the crowd. "Tell us what you see."
"People!" Teddy said. "Put me down, Mor!"
Mordor lowered the little boy until he was holding him in his arms. Merime smiled at the boy, and Teddy grinned at the girl. "Mor 'tiss Merry," he teased her, and she blushed again. "But this—" Teddy pointed to her cheek "that's Teddy's." Merime leaned closer, and Teddy planted a kiss on her cheek, making some of the wedding party laugh.
Andromeda smiled slightly, congratulating the couple before grasping Teddy's hand again and hurrying after the child's mother. Catching up to her daughter and granddaughter, Andromeda said, "We aren't going to the reception, then?"
"No," Nymphadora replied. "We should just go home. Mordor said the wards of Lestrange Manor will be open to us to visit them after they return from their honeymoon."
"Wonderful," Andromeda said, catching her daughter's hand after she set Teddy on her hip. She disapparated back to the Tonks house, hurrying to open the door and get her family inside.
Nymphadora sat down on the couch, carefully letting Belle slide down her legs onto the floor. Belle crawled over to Teddy, who rolled over onto his back and allowed his sister to lay her dark-haired head on his chest. "'dy," she said firmly, clutching part of his robe in her hand. Her mother made a sudden sound, and she looked up at her mother, who had her hand over her stomach.
Andromeda hurried over to her daughter in alarm. "Are you all right?" she asked in concern. "You're not—"
"No, the twins are just kicking," Nymphadora breathed, gasping a little.
"Ma?" Teddy said quietly. "Mum okay?"
"Yes, Teddy," his mother answered, closing her eyes, her hand still on her stomach. "Teddy, I'm—I'm going to have a baby."
Teddy stared at her, looking at his mother's round stomach. "Baby? Sister?"
Nymphadora gave a little laugh. "No, Teddy. The twins are going to be your little brothers. Like Cor."
"Oh," Teddy said thoughtfully. "Ma, Teddy don't want loud baby."
"Babies are loud, darling," his mother told him with an apologetic smile.
"But Cor quiet," Teddy nodded wisely. "Teddy want baby like Cor."
His mother laughed again. "We'll see what the babies are like, okay, Teddy?"
Teddy nodded again, then closed his eyes, one hand on Belle's back like he usually did. The two children fell asleep quickly, and Nymphadora sighed in relief, lying down on the couch to take a nap.
Andromeda sat down on the other couch, watching over her daughter and grandchildren. They'd all suffered with Rodolphus gone, but they all still seemed strong. They'd even been through another full moon with Teddy, and the two women had researched as much on the subject as they could in order to help the child with his pain. Belle had watched Teddy cry during the full moon, clinging to her grandmum. After the moon faded, Belle had comforted Teddy by crawling up beside him and putting her arms around him. Andromeda marveled at the intelligence of her six month old granddaughter.
Teddy was coming up on the third full moon since his second birthday, and Andromeda and Nymphadora were worried, understanding that it was supposed to be the largest moon so far that year. The child didn't understand what made him hurt, and that made it all worse for him. It was during the last full moon that Teddy had sobbed brokenheartedly for Rodolphus, making Nymphadora cry with her son. The two women were dreading the next full moon.
When Merime and Mordor had found out that Teddy had such a terrible time, they told Nymphadora that they would come help her and Teddy if she needed them. She told them not to worry about it, but both of them showed up on her doorstep the afternoon of the full moon.
Andromeda led them into the nursery where Nymphadora was seated, her arms around her little boy, who was crying softly. "You didn't need to come," Tonks said quietly.
"Mor," Teddy whimpered. "Merry. Teddy hurt."
"Hi, Teddy," Mordor said softly, sitting down next to Nymphadora, Merime on her other side. "We've come to stay with you until you're better." He reached out and took Teddy's hand in his. "Okay?"
Teddy nodded, squeezing his friend's hand as he looked over at Merime. "Merry?"
She reached over and patted his knee. "I'm staying too, Teddy."
They stayed true to their word, sitting on either side of Nymphadora, their focus on the suffering child. Teddy was a lot more calm with his hand in Mordor's, looking into the older boy's reassuring, firm gaze. Still, Mordor knew when the child's pain was increasing, for Teddy was squeezing Mordor's hand more tightly than ever.
"Dora," Mordor said softly, "I was thinking that if Merime and I shared magic through Teddy (not with him, of course) that it would sooth him. We would be more than willing if you would allow it. It is getting closer to the fullest point of the moon."
"Ow," Teddy sobbed, his eyes closed, his head against his mother's robe. "Oh, Mummy!"
"Okay," Tonks relented, her throat dry.
Mordor slipped his other arm behind Nymphadora, Merime doing the same, and they clasped hands behind her back. Mordor continued holding Teddy's hand as Merime placed her other hand on the child's back. The Lestrange looked into Teddy's tear-streaked face and said quietly, "We're going to do something to help you, okay, Teddy?"
The child choked on a sob, then whispered, "Okay, Mor."
Merime gently began the flow of magic through Teddy to her husband, and Mordor kept looking into Teddy's eyes as Mordor's magic sang through Merime, the two magics combining as it flowed in a circle. Teddy's eyes cleared in wonder as he looked at Mordor in surprise.
"Don't let go of me," Mordor told Teddy as the child shifted on his mother's lap. "And Merry's got to keep her hand on your back. It's going to be okay."
"Okay," Teddy sniffled, tears still running down his cheeks. He calmed enough to merely sit there after a moment, and leaned against his mother completely, closing his eyes tiredly.
The child fell asleep finally, but Mordor and Merime didn't stop, knowing that the pain would wake Teddy if the magic left him. The two continued sharing magic, Nymphadora feeling it crackle, but knowing it wouldn't hurt her or her son.
Mordor eventually fell asleep, his head on Nymphadora's shoulder, and Merime gave Tonks a tired smile. Tonks returned the same kind of smile and helped Merime shift Teddy and Mordor so that Merime could get comfortable as well. Thankful, the young woman leaned her head on Tonks' shoulder and fell asleep too. Moments later, Tonks leaned her head against Mordor's dark-haired head and fell asleep, marveling that the young man and his wife could consciously share magic while they were sleeping.
In the morning, the three adults were awakened by Andromeda, who came in and found the little family clinging together, all sleeping. Teddy yawned himself awake, then crawled onto Mordor's lap, giving him a hug. "Teddy love Mor," the child said sleepily, rubbing his eyes.
Mordor held the child close, Teddy clinging to him. "I love you too, Teddy," he told the little boy.
"Where Belle?" Teddy asked, looking from his mother to his grandmother.
"Belle's in her playpen," Andromeda answered. "She wanted you, but I had to tell her you were asleep."
"Mor?" Teddy said, looking up into the other boy's face. "Take Teddy to Belle?"
The Lestrange boy looked at Nymphadora, then nodded at Teddy, lifting him up as he stood. "Coming, Merry?" he asked.
Merime nodded slightly. "I'll join you in a moment," she told him, and he left with Teddy. "Nymphadora," she said to the woman quietly, "if you wish us to, Mordor and I will come help you with Teddy every full moon. It didn't seem that bad, but I wasn't here for the other times, of course."
Tonks sighed, turning to the girl. "You helped a lot," she said. "Teddy usually screams for about an hour and a half at the fullest point of the moon. He didn't scream at all this time. I'm grateful to you, Merime, and to Mordor."
"We want to help you and your family as much as we can," Merime said softly, reaching over and giving Nymphadora a small hug. "Mordor and I feel that you are our family, even if you aren't part of his House."
"Oh." Tonks hugged the girl tightly. "Thanks."
The two got up together, Andromeda already gone out of the room to oversee Teddy, Belle, and Mordor. They found Mordor and Teddy sitting on the floor together as Mordor let the little girl crawl over them. When the two women came into the room, Belle grasped Teddy's robe for support and looked up at her mother. "Ma!" Belle said happily.
Tonks smiled. "Hi, baby," she answered softly. "Good morning."
Teddy grinned up at his mother. "Belle happy," he said. "Teddy scared Belle."
"Did you?" Nymphadora asked her son.
"Yes," Andromeda agreed. "Belle knew that something was going on, and she wanted to help, but I thought since Mordor and Merime were here that Belle would be in the way."
"Belle never in way," Teddy scolded his grandmother sharply, then turned to hug the baby. "My Belle. Dada's Belle." Belle patted Teddy's cheek softly, and Teddy looked at her with an adorable expression. "Teddy love Belle," he said quietly.
Merime smiled down at the child. "Dora, they're so sweet," she sighed quietly.
Tonks bit her lip to keep back her emotion at the exchange between her son and daughter. "I'm blessed," she murmured. "Very blessed. Mum, did Belle get her breakfast already?"
"I fed her a little this morning, in order to keep her happy, but she hasn't had her entire breakfast yet," Andromeda replied.
"Okay," Tonks said. "Mor, may I have Belle?"
"She's your daughter," the young man answered with a grin, then helped Teddy lift the little girl into Nymphadora's arms. "Now, Teddy, Merry and I've got to leave, so tell us goodbye now."
Teddy pouted, then hugged his friend goodbye, hurrying over to Merime. She took the child up into her arms, and he kissed her cheek. "Bye, Merry," he told her. "Teddy love Merry too."
Merry smiled and answered, "I love you too, Teddy. Be good for Mum, okay?"
"Okay," Teddy promised. "Teddy be good."
"You came here, and you two are supposed to still be on your honeymoon!" Tonks suddenly realized.
Mordor gave a little shrug as he stood and slipped his arm around Merime. "We decided making sure Teddy was all right was more important at the moment," he told Tonks. "We were concerned for you and your family, Dora."
Tonks sighed, then hugged Mordor and his wife before they left. She sat down to feed Belle a bottle that Andromeda had prepared, and Teddy climbed up beside her to watch. They sat quietly, Andromeda joining them after a moment. The older woman smiled at Belle and her mother before setting some knitting needles to clinking.
"What are you making, Mum?" Dora asked.
"Sweaters for the new babies," Andromeda answered immediately, glancing at her daughter, who blushed and touched her stomach. "I intend to be prepared for when they arrive."
"We've got time," Tonks chuckled, cuddling Belle. "I'm almost at six months, Mum."
Andromeda eyed her daughter sternly. "Remember what the Healer told you, Nymphadora."
Tonks bit her lip. "Mum, what if they are—"
"Dora, they will be wizards," Andromeda told her softly. "Rodolphus told me that he already knew they were wizards. He said that even if their magic is disturbed, they will merely be normal instead of having Metamorphagus abilities. Rodolphus knows his magic, dear; trust his judgment. It's going to be all right. The twins will either be normal wizards, or Metamorphagi."
"And they're definitely still alive," Tonks said, wincing, and pressed her hand to her side. "Ouch. Their kicking hurts."
Teddy reached over and placed his hand on his mother's stomach. "Be good," he said sternly, and both women laughed at his expression. "Mum, Cissa said—!"
"I know what she said," Tonks laughed, leaning over and kissing Teddy's forehead. "Thank you for telling them for me." Teddy grinned at her, and scooted down onto the floor to play with the magic puzzle pieces.