Warning: Sexual Content!!!! Hope you all aren't easily shocked. Enjoy...

January 25, 1996 10:30 p.m.

Tonks staggered into her flat in exhaustion after a long night of trouble. There had been a possible Death Eater sighting outside Hogsmeade and an alert had been sent to every Auror. The Ministry had forced the Aurors to sign a contract of silence. Cornelius Fudge was working very hard to make Harry look like he was mental, which was really starting to piss her off. She hadn't seen any of her friends from the Order in days and had hardly slept in weeks. In fact, she was feeling a bit under the weather if truth be told. Her head hurt, her body ached and she was so congested, she could barely breathe. Opting to take a bath, she started running the water as she discarded her filthy Auror robes.

Truthfully, she felt detached from her friends. Caught between work and her own beliefs. It was disgusting what the Ministry was doing, denying the truth and putting thousands of people at risk. As she began to climb into her tub, her foot slipped on a puddle and she hit her head against the side of the tub. Slowly, her bathroom faded out of her vision as she heard the sound of a child crying. It wasn't a baby, but it couldn't have been older than five or six. She turned and found a little boy sitting on his bed, crying. She sat beside him.

"Are you alright? Where are your Mum and Dad?" She asked kindly. He looked up at her with scared brown eyes.

"I don't have no Mum or Dad…they're dead." He answered quietly.

"I'm sorry. What is your name?" She inquired.

"Teddy." He replied. She smiled.

"I like that name. You know…my Daddy's name is Ted." His eyes lit up.

"Really? What's your name?" He asked.

"I'm Tonks…" She said. He reached out and touched her hair hesitantly.

"I like your hair. It's pretty." He said. "I can make mine turn too!" His brown hair turned the same vivid shade of pink as hers as her eyes widened in surprise.

"I've never met anyone else who can do that!" She cried, impressed. "I think you and I are going to be great friends Teddy." This seemed to make him happy for a moment, but sadness flickered in his eyes.

"You have to go now Tonks…someone is looking for you." He said, throwing his arms around her. "I'll see you someday soon. I promise!" He cried running out the door as the bathroom came back into focus.

"Merlin, you gave us a scare!" Mad-Eye was crouched over her as she realized in horror, that she had been naked. Someone had wrapped her in her robe.

"Who's all here and how did you find me?" She asked groggily.

"Molly heard you weren't feeling well and made soup for you, but when you didn't answer the door, we panicked. And a good thing we did. Poor Remus had to drag you out of the tub. You could have drowned!" Mad-Eye's voice was gruff and her head was throbbing, but she suddenly realized that her head was cradled in someone's lap. She swallowed hard as she realized who it was.

"Did you put my robe on me?" She asked weakly. Remus nodded silently. He seemed to be fighting his own emotions.

"You're very lucky." He said in a voice that was calmer than he looked. She wanted to smile, but she was too tired.

"Can't stay awake…" She mumbled, but Remus shook his head.

"You have to sweetheart," He replied, causing Mad-Eye to look at him suspiciously. "You might have a concussion…just for a bit longer, I promise."

Fifteen minutes earlier

Remus stood with Mad-Eye as they rang the bell of Tonks's flat. He'd known she was sick, she owled he and Sirius every day. It had been strange, not seeing her very often since the New Year and life was dull without her. Not that he would ever admit that. In fact, that would go against the very thing he was trying to do: Discourage her. Still, nothing could compare to the terror he felt when she hadn't answered. Images had gone through his mind of her being killed by Death Eaters, or something else. Sure enough, once they'd got the door opened, the sound of running water came from the bathroom and they'd found her lying in the tub under the water with one leg draped over the side. She'd looked positively white. Thankfully, she had responded quickly and was revived without a problem, which meant it had just happened. He dared not even think of what could have happened had they not come. He'd ignored her nakedness, the task at hand being more important and managed to lift her out easily and wrap her robe around her. She'd lost weight in the past month, yet it didn't detract from her attractiveness.

He hadn't meant to use the endearment with her, but it had slipped and Mad-Eye had noticed. Thankfully, he made no mention of it as he left.

"You coming Lupin?" He barked. Remus shook his head.

"Someone needs to stay with her." He replied. Mad-Eye raised his eyebrow.

"You're in love with her, aren't you?" He asked. Remus laughed nervously.

"Of course not! She's thirteen years younger! She's very dear to Sirius and myself. We feel responsible to watch over her." Remus's voice didn't sound like his own.

"Hmmpf." Mad-Eye grunted. "Make sure to give her some of Molly's concoction and a potion for congestion." Nodding, Remus turned his attention back to Tonks as the retired Auror left. It was a bit strange to see how much Mad-Eye cared for the girl. He treated her as any man would treat his own daughter. Tonks was looking at Remus, he noticed, her eyes red with exhaustion.

"You can go if you want." She whispered. He smiled and poured a bit of potion into a cup for her to drink.

"Here. For your cold. And then you need to eat. You're too thin." He replied, ignoring her.

"Remus…you don't have to stay." She said again. He gave her a stern look.

"Quiet. Of course I have to stay. You may have a concussion and I can't leave you alone on good conscience."

"I'm fine…" She protested, sitting up now. He quickly warmed up Molly's soup and placed two bowls on the table. "How is Harry doing with Snape?" She asked, taking a ravenous bite.

"I'm not sure…Sirius hasn't said anything." He said. "We've miss you around the house." He admitted, hating himself for saying it. The surprise in her eyes made him smile.

"Thank you…work has been hard. The Ministry is working really hard to make the Order look like the bad guys. It's getting harder to hide the fact that I'm in the Order." Her mouth was full as she talked, making her all the more adorable. Panic struck him. It was getting harder for him to stay away from her. Soon, it would be impossible if this kept up. He'd ask Dumbledore as soon as possible to send him on another mission.

"Really Remus…you don't have to stay." Tonks repeated. "You've gone sickeningly pale!" She quickly reached across the table to feel his forehead. He flinched at her touch as if she'd burned him. In truth, she had. She'd burned his soul.

"I'm not going anywhere…tonight." He said quietly finishing his food. She hugged her arms around herself.

"So you're still going to run from me." She said, a tone of anguish in her voice that pierced his heart like a knife.

"I'm not running from you!" He said desperately. "I can't be with you and you know that! We've discussed this!"

"No Remus, you've discussed this!" She stood up, flushed and moved around the table. "I don't even get a say in this! You've made the choice for both of us."

"I didn't want this!" He replied, his heart beating against his chest as he stood up.

"You think I did? If I could just turn it off I would!" She cried, getting into his face. "But I can't." Her voice had become quiet and sad. "Tell me you don't want me and I'll never bring up the subject again." She challenged. He stared down at her, unable to speak.

"I…this is ridiculous!" He protested, looking away.

"Say it…it should be simple for you." Crossing her arms, she stared at him.

"I…I can't! I can't say it alright?" He sighed. "Are you happy?"

"No." She whispered, her dark eyes glistening with tears. "I'll never be happy until you admit that we should be together."

"Tonks…Dora…" He said, feeling horrible as he wiped away the traitorous tear that had begun to fall. "Don't cry." He whispered and before he could stop himself, he'd kissed her. Remus wasn't sure what he was doing, but the kiss quickly progressed from soft to urgent. Straying from her lips, he let himself move on to her neck, but only long enough for her to catch a breath before he returned to her lips.

"I can't control myself when I'm with you." He gasped, pulling away and turning from her. She stood confused, watching the rise and fall of his back as he struggled for breath. His hair was wild and to his shoulders. He hadn't shaved in days and he had never looked more attractive to her.

"Then don't…Remus! I don't want you to." She begged, reaching out to touch his shoulder. He jumped at her touch, trying to keep her from seeing the front of him. "Remus…what's the matter?" She asked, worried that something was really wrong with him.

"You don't know what you do to me…what I could do to you. What I wish I could do to you!" He shook his head. "Oh Merlin…" She still had no idea what he meant until he turned back toward her. She noticed. Merlin, did she ever notice.

"Oh." She replied. "Oh my." Tonks had known she had been in love with Remus for a bit now, but she'd never known real desire until this night. To see his obvious arousal made her burn with a raw need to possess him. She had no idea how to do it, but she wanted to seduce him.

"You see? Do you see how I want you? But I can't have you! Find someone else…please…and do it soon or I'll go mad." He begged. She shook her head.

"Never. You're the only one." In one step she had his shirt clutched in her hands. "I want to make love with you Remus."

"No. I won't…as much as I want to, I won't." His mind was set and he was stubborn, but she was more determined.

"Remus. I am an adult. A fully grown woman…" He looked desperate, but did not try to stop her as she pulled at his coat and began to unbutton his shirt. She stopped and stared intensely at him. Taking his hand, she brought it to the tie of her robe and made him pull it loose. He wasn't looking at her as she let the soft terry cloth fall away from her body. "Look at me Remus." She said, feeling too confident for someone who had never done this. Slowly, his eyes for their way back to her body and he stared at her in a mix of despair and need with his shirt hanging open. With a gulp, she took his hand and led him, dazed into the bedroom.

"I can't make any promises to you." He said after a long moment. She nodded.

"I just want to be with you. Trust me Remus." There was a tenderness in her voice that she couldn't hold back. He shrugged off his shirt and reached for her.

"It's been so long since I've been with a woman…I hardly remember how." He said huskily.

"I've never been with anyone…" She offered. To her surprise, he reached up and took her face into his hands and guided her to his lips.

"You taste like perfection." He murmured against her lips, his hands roaming down her naked back and over her bottom.

"Yeah right." She replied dryly, a smirk crossing her lips and she couldn't hold back a laugh.

"This is not even close to funny Nymphadora, and if you think…"

"Remus?" She interrupted.

"What?" He asked in confusion.

"Shut up and help me pull off your knickers." A huge grin spread over her face as he lifted his hips to pull both his pants and underwear down. His cheeks turned a deep pink as he was finally fully naked. Knowing she shouldn't stare, she tried to avoid looking down but was unsuccessful.

"Oh my goodness." She heard herself say. His eyes were worried.

"Do you want to stop?" Leaning forward, he touched her bare shoulder. "I won't do this if you don't want to." Looking straight into his pale eyes, she shook her head.

"I want this. I want this more than I've ever wanted anything Remus. This is right." Standing between his legs, she pressed a chaste kiss to his lips and brought his hand to her hip. "Do you want this?" He looked pained as he lightly squeezed her hip looking up at her.

"More than anything." He admitted, and within seconds, he'd pulled her down onto the bed and was lying beside her.

"I don't know how to do…anything." She admitted.

"I'm not very skilled either, I'm afraid." He said with a small nervous smile. "Sirius was the ladies man." She rolled her eyes.

"No thank you…I find you much more appealing. And besides, Sirius is my cousin. That's just…wrong…" She giggled, eyeing a small shadow of a scar beneath his ear. In fact, his whole body was marked with scars, but it only made him more attractive to her. He seemed embarrassed of it and tried to cover a few of them with his hands. "Don't." She said, stopping him from covering himself. "They're nothing to be ashamed of Remus, they're you."

"I don't want to be this." He said, a tone of devastation in his voice.

"We can't change who we are…don't you think some kids thought I was a bit of a freak? I mean, look at me Remus…I'm not exactly the most normal person in the world…but I don't care. Fuck all of them." She watched a small smile twitch at his lips. A wicked thought came to her mind as she leaned forward and licked the spot under his ear that had fascinated her so. He let out a surprised groan. "Do you like that?" She whispered. He only nodded. This time, she kissed his earlobe, feeling the stubble from his jaw against her cheek. He moaned again.

"Yes…" He managed to get out, his eyes closed. Feeling rather adventurous, finally looked down at his throbbing desire. With a gulp, she reached down and wrapped her fingers around him. His eyes flew open as a loud sound of half need, half surprise left him. She did not get a chance to keep doing it, however, for he turned and set about kissing her collarbone lightly.

"I had to stop you…it would have been over before it began." Her eyes widened at the sensations coming from him just touching her skin with his lips. One of his hands cupped her breast, tentatively touching her nipple. She'd always been a bit embarrassed of her body. She was not a tall woman and she was voluptuous to say the least. Hardly anyone knew though, as she always hid it under her robes. Rowan had stared at her breasts longingly while they were together, but she'd ignored what that meant. A gasp emerged from her lips as his tongue circled her hardened nipple. She could feel him laugh low against her skin as his hand explored her free breast before roaming down her stomach and lower into the dark curls.

"Remus!" She cried, jerking as his finger touched something she hadn't known was there.

"It's alright love, it's what will make this enjoyable…of course, I'm sure my hands are like sandpaper." Quickly, he wetted his finger with his mouth and repeated what he'd done before, moving in soft, light circles. Unexpectedly, her head lolled back and her eyes closed as she whimpered in pleasure. Her hand gripped his arm as her abdomen tightened. Another thrill of surprise went through her as she felt one of his fingers enter her. Her head began to move back and forth and her breath slowly digressed to panting.

"Remus! Oh! I can't…I have to…"

"Let it come." He whispered, kissing her forehead soothingly as her body relaxed with the release of her climax. She lay in bliss for a moment before opening her eyes.

"Are…are we done?" She asked, looking up at him. He smiled, a distant wicked gleam in his serious eyes.

"Hardly…sweetheart, open your legs for me…" She did so as he moved so that he was between them, poised at her entrance. "This will hurt." She arched in desire as he touched her again where he had before.

"J-just do it…please…" She begged, as he slowly began to fill her. He stopped again, propping himself on his elbows above her so that his face was just above hers.

"I'm sorry sweetheart. Kiss me." He said and as he kissed her, he pressed forward quickly breaking her barrier. Her eyes opened in shock and pain as tears filled her eyes. He soothed her kissing her forehead, brushing a few strands of pink hair that were molded to her forehead with sweat back. After her body had begun to relax and her breathing had returned to normal, he moved again within her, reaching between them to rub her again. As he took one of her nipples into his mouth, she arching in pleasure again, forgetting the pain as he worked on her. Within moments, she felt herself tensing with orgasm again and, crushing his lips to hers, he too released inside of her before falling against her and laying his head against her chest. She entwined her fingers in his long hair.

"Where do we go from here?" She asked, after a minute. Feeling him sigh against her, he moved to her side. "Are you willing to try with me?" Reluctantly, he nodded.

"I will…but I won't put you at risk. If anything at all happens…"

"It won't." She replied and again. "It won't." He kissed her again before studying her for a moment. She yawned deeply, remembering her exhaustion.

"Dora…you need to sleep and…damn!" He looked down frantically. "We didn't cast the contraceptive charm!" She smiled lazily.

"I take a potion Remus…I have for a long time. You know…Constant Vigilance. You never know what could happen." He relaxed, falling against the pillow and taking one of her hands.

"Let's sleep." He begged her. She nodded, her eyes already half closed, a smile on her face.

January 26, 1996 2:43 a.m.

He was walking through the orchard at the Burrow. It was summer again and the sky was blue. Looking around, he realized he was alone. With a sigh, he reached out to touch one of the flowers on the tree and nearly fell over as a young boy swung down from one of the branches.

"Sorry Mister!' The child said as he fell rather less than gracefully to the ground.

"Careful there." Remus said, kneeling to help the boy up. He looked to be around seven or eight years old with shaggy brown hair and a charmingly mischievous smile.

"Thanks!" The boy said cheerfully.

"What are you doing out here all alone?" Remus asked, thinking of his former students.

"Just looking at the sky." The boy replied. Remus frowned.

"Where are your parents?" He asked. The boy shrugged.

"They died when I was a baby." He said quietly. "I live with my grandmother!"

"Do you know the Weasleys?" Remus asked, wondering if the poor grandmother of this boy was worried that her small grandson was missing.

"Of course!" The little boy said as if it were common knowledge. "My name is Teddy, what's yours?"

"Remus." He replied. The boy raised an eyebrow.

"I've heard that name before." He said, but didn't say where. Remus knelt down to look into the boys face. "Want to see what I can do Remus?" He asked.

"Sure." Remus replied. To his astonishment, Teddy's hair turned the exact color of the sky. "How did you do that?"

"My grandma says I'm a meta-something…a…um…" Remus was almost afraid to say it.

"Metamorphmagus." He answered. The boy nodded enthusiastically.

"That's the one!" Teddy cried excitedly. "Well, I better get inside, Granny Weasley is cooking dinner and the babies are probably waking up from their naps!"

"Wait, I'll take you inside…" He said but for some reason was unable to keep up with the child.

"I'll see you soon Remus!" Teddy cried, disappearing into the trees.

Remus's eyes shot open as he gasped for breath. He looked to his left, seeing Tonks curled up under the covers, a content smile still on her face. It took him a moment to realize that it had only been a dream. Nothing more than a dream.

And yes, I know Remus and Tonks don't REALLY end up together until 1997, but the depression stems from somewhere and I'm going my own route. Bear with me.