A/N: So my play just ended. I'm super sad. Like seriously there were so many tears yesterday, which was the last show and also the most important. We got to meet the playwright which was super cool. He was really gracious and loved the changes we'd made to the script (this was only the second time his show had been performed).

Anyway, I'm like "what do I do now?" But another show will start up soon. Better find another audition piece!

So here's the chapter. Technically the story could move on fine without this but when I fist got the inspiration to write this, this was the first thing I wrote and I didn't want to throw it out. So here you go!

Chapter 14

"Nymphadora, we really need to talk about this."

Tonks ignored him. What more was there to talk about? What was there to say that hadn't already been said ad nauseam over the course of the past year in so many arguments that occurred as their lives intersected before sending them on their separate ways? She threw the door open and strode quickly into her flat, knowing that he was sure to follow her. If he was going to subject her to another monologue about the trials and tribulations faced by those who fraternized with werewolves, she was at least going to treat herself to a drink.

Tonks threw a couple of spells at the tea kettle which sat on its usual place at the stove and searched her drink cupboard for the firewhisky. She was getting a little better with the household stuff since living in Hogsmeade with a couple Aurors even more useless than herself.

"Nymphadora-"

"Don't call me that, Remus. If you want me to listen to you so damn bad, at least use a name I don't hate." She stood up with the half-empty bottle as the kettle whistled. Reaching to the cabinet above her head, she pulled down a glass and a tea cup.

"Fine then, Dora, er, Tonks, but I am serious about talking about this. You cannot get it into your head that things can just change between us because of what happened to Bill. It's not the same thing." Trying not to roll her eyes, Tonks turned around and presented Remus with a steaming cup of tea.

"Oh," he said, accepting it gingerly. He took a small sip and grimaced. "You spiked it."

"Yeah, well, you need to loosen up," Tonks replied. She took the bottle by the neck in one hand with her glass in the other and arranged herself on her lumpy green sofa. Remus and his cup of tea-with-whisky sat themselves rather more elegantly on the chair across the way. He took another sip as Tonks drained half her glass in one go. Staring at the amber liquid swirling around and around, she wondered exactly how horrible and pathetic she looked.

Remus was staring at her. His green eyes were fixed upon her from above the edge of the tea cup as he took another sip. Tonks was at least pleased that he wasn't saying anything. His eyes were shadowed with dark rings. His robes, which normally looked very poor indeed, seemed to hang off his frame. Tonks furrowed her brow as she looked at him, wondering if it was possible to love and hate someone so passionately at the same time.

After the previous events of the night, Tonks felt much how Remus looked and, due to her damned inability to morph (damn Remus to hell), she thought she must look rather similar to the werewolf. Tonks thought that she had never felt to tired and numb, which was saying something if one were to consider her year so far. She wondered how Remus even had the strength to fight with her tonight. She certainly was losing the strength to do battle.

"Maybe I should have stayed with Harry. He'll be going through a lot right now," Remus murmured. Tonks realized with a jolt that they had left Hogwarts without even thinking of the boy who had just witnessed the death of Albus Dumbledore.

Tonks was still rather shocked about the whole thing. She, like most everyone else, had subconsciously thought of the old Headmaster as an invincible being. His death was an inconceivable event and she was uncertain how any of them would continue on without him. The Order was like a child left alone in the dark. They would have to really rally themselves and push on even harder to have any hope of defeating you-know-who.

"He'll be surrounded by the Weasleys," Tonks said. "They won't let him feel alone." Remus nodded, but Tonks could tell he was unconvinced. He took another sip of tea, but still seemed to shiver. Tonks lit the fireplace with a wordless spell. It was a weak fire- she was too distracted to do much better- but it began to grow. Warmth filled the room as the firewhisky began to warm Tonks from the inside out.

"Are you cold? Do you want a blanket?" Tonks got up. Remus had worried her when the found out about Dumbledore's death. She had never seen him fall apart in public. She had hardly ever seen him display such intense sadness in private either. As that was the case, Tonks had cultivated an image of him in which he was irrevocably stoic and unyielding- a constant force of reason and calm. She knew that Remus had always been exceptionally loyal to Dumbledore, but she was caught off guard by his obviously intense love for the man.

"I'm not sure what I have that's edible since I've been living in Hogsmeade, but I'm sure there'll be something."

"No, no, I'm fine," Remus said. "You should sit down…Tonks." The sound of her last name seemed to roll unnaturally from his tongue. And it was unnatural after so many months of him refusing to use it in lieu of her horrible first name. Tonks had actually begun to like the sound of it when he said it. And she liked hearing him call her 'Dora' even more. But it was his damn fault that the privilege was taken away.

She obeyed him with a sigh and wondered vaguely if she should drown out everything with alcohol now or wait until he became too insufferable to handle.

"Do you really want to go through this tonight?" she asked.

"We have to," Remus said sternly. Tonks could see him clearly in her mind's eye seated at the large professor's desk in the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom, fingers steepled in front of him with his chin perched on top, staring down a student who had turned in an absurd excuse for an essay.

"You know where I stand already, Remus," Tonks said. "You've heard what Molly and Arthur and McGonagall think of everything. Please, astound me with whatever other reason you've concocted for us not to be together because I think I've got the upper hand her now." She raised an eyebrow, daring him to challenge her.

"We're in the middle of a war. This isn't the time to get distracted by things like this. You'll regret spending so much time with-"

"Stop, stop, stop," Tonks interrupted. "For someone who is so bloody smart, you really are an idiot." Remus looked rather taken aback, but Tonks was in no mood to stop herself because of his delicate feelings. She finished off her firewhisky and began to pour herself another glass.

"Yes, we are at war. That means either or the both of us could die at any moment."

"Please don't say that," Remus murmured almost too softly to hear. "Not when…"

"It's true," Tonks continued. "And you seem to be all about telling me the ugly truths of being involved with you. And anyway, like we've just witnessed tonight, no one is invincible. Death does not discriminate." She raised her glass to the mention of Dumbledore and took a long drink. With every sip, the firewhisky burned less.

"Now, with that in mind, I would like to live my life to the fullest. Why put anything off with silly excuses only to regret what could've been if one of us is gone?" She stared at Remus until he looked thoroughly uncomfortable.

"Do you mind passing the firewhisky?" Tonks handed him the bottle and watched as he poured a generous measure into his cup. Tonks smirked and wondered if he even had any tea left in there as he began drink.

"I don't ever want you to experience what I have to go through," he said. Tonks opened her mouth to unleash a retort, but Remus held up a hand and continued with his voice still as level and calm as ever. "You know as well as I that, now more than ever, it is dangerous to be seen with me. The Ministry is not taking kindly to werewolves. You might lose your job. You would most definitely become a social outcast."

"From a shit society," Tonks muttered, angry. "I've told you that I don't care about all that! Look, I'll probably lose my job soon, anyway, as the Ministry goes under further. I'm in love with you." Remus's eyes widened. "And that means I want to help see you through all of this. I don't care what people will think of me!"

"But I cannot support you. I don't have anything to offer."

"Oh, shut up, Remus. I'm not looking for a bloody dowry." Remus opened his mouth to say something, but shut it again as Tonks glared at him.

"I know what you're going to say," Tonks said. She held up a hand to silence him and plowed onwards. "Whatever it is, it's utter rubbish. I can take care of myself and I don't need you trying to keep me safe- especially when the thing you're trying to protect me from is you. Tell me you don't love me and I'll stop bothering you, but I deserve more than someone to kiss me and then tell me all the reason why we wouldn't work. And I deserve nothing less than the truth. Think about it."

She left the room to search out some sort of sustenance from the kitchen, allowing him to think things over.

Amazingly enough, the search for food was unable to keep her mind off of the man in the living room currently deciding whether or not to utterly shatter her already bruised and battered heart. Tonks knew that he loved her. She could see it in his eyes and hear it in the way he said her name. The only thing was, she was unsure of whether he would try to do what he thought was the noble, sacrificial thing, as usual.

One container of old casserole, probably weeks old- yup, with a smell like that, Tonks wouldn't have been surprised if it had grown legs. One black banana in the fruit basket- Tonks used her wand to levitate it to the trash can. In the bottom cupboard, behind some nearly empty carton of garbage bags and an old flask of some sort of potion (Pepper Up, perhaps?), she finally has success.

"Thank Merlin for Muggles and their lazy cooking," Tonks said to herself. She grabbed her prizes and produced a medium sized pot- part of a set that was a flat-warming gift from her mother, which had hardly seen use. She emptied the contents of the can into the pot and turned on the stove.

After monitoring them for any sign of an imminent explosion, Tonks poked her head out of the entrance to the kitchen. She could see Remus sitting there staring off into space.

"How do you feel about soup for dinner?" Tonks asked. Remus jolted and looked at her. "I'm starving and I'd guess that you are too."

"I thought you couldn't cook," he said. She narrowed her eyes at him.

"I can't, thanks for reminding me," she replied. "Luckily my dad introduced me to the Muggle way of things and they have handy cans of whatever kind of soup you want. All you have to do is heat them over the stove- which I am quite capable of, thank you very much- and voila, it's ready to eat!"

"Alright," he said, and from the tone of his voice, Tonks couldn't tell whether he was hesitant because of the prospect of canned soup or her declaration as to the ease of making it.

"Good, well, it's beef stew- nothing like Molly's, I'd guess, but it'll have to do." She returned back to the kitchen to see if she could conjure up something else from the sad selection in her cupboards, and she soon heard light footsteps behind her.

"Can I help?" Remus asked. "Is there anything you need me to do?"

Give in already and love me, Tonks thought. She shook her head.

"Are you still very angry with me?" he asked quietly as Tonks charmed a wooden spoon to stir the stew. It plunged itself into the pot and started jerking around wildly and was starting to cause a real mess.

"Oh bugger," Tonks said. But Remus pulled out his wand and stilled the spoon's frantic movements, calming it to stir nice and gently.

"The firewhisky is kicking in so I'm a bit lightheaded, and effectively that's the same thing as not being angry. Anyway, it would take too much energy to keep being icy to you. It's just not worth it." She wondered why he was so concerned about it if he supposedly didn't love her. Remus pulled down bowls and fished around the clutter of the silverware drawer for suitable spoons. "But don't think you're off the hook," Tonks added as a warning.

"Oh, never," Remus replied with the hint of a smile. There weren't any napkins to be found anywhere, so he folded up a couple paper towels and set them out with the bowls.

They picnicked by the fire together with the bowls resting on their laps and their glasses- Remus was persuaded to have some more firewhisky- perched on the coffee table. Remus rested against the armchair as Tonks leaned against the couch across from him.

"To Campbell and their Muggle soups," Tonks said, raising her glass.

They began to eat in something akin to the companionable silence that they had shared once upon a time, back when Sirius was alive and Remus had less cause to be frightened of himself. It was a welcome change from the more recent silences they experienced in the past year- harsh and angry and guilt-ridden, interrupted only by pleas and feeble excuses. Tonks didn't want to break it by asking what Remus thought of her ultimatum. So she didn't.

"It's very late," Remus said as they washed up.

Tonks stood back and watched as he flicked his wand at the various dirty dishes. They were properly soaked and scrubbed and dried with a precision Tonks could never have with those sorts of spells.

"It's been 'very late' for hours. I think it's 'very early' now." The clock above the sink read almost four thirty in the morning. Tonks wouldn't be surprised if they spent the whole night together. "I'm not going into work tomorrow even if they offer me a bonus," she muttered.

"Maybe I should-"

Tonks gave him a look. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to stay." She softened her expression. Good, he was learning.

"Have you thought about what I said?" Tonks finally asked, knowing she'd have to bring it all back up sometime. Remus nodded slowly, staring at his feet. When he finally did look up, his eyes were soft and he seemed rather nervous.

"Tonks- Nymphadora- I realize that I haven't given merit to your own feelings. I know you don't deserve me to lie to you, as much as I want to save you from all of this." Tonks frowned, but Remus stepped forward and caught her hands with his. "If this is what you want," he murmured to her, "I suppose I cannot deny you." Tonks caught herself before she could gasp.

"So this means no beating yourself up about this and actually talking to me about how you feel, right?" she said. Remus nodded, looking bashful. Tonks let out a sigh. "Wow, we're actually doing this," she whispered, mostly to herself, before she couldn't help herself any longer and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Remus took a step back upon impact, but soon wrapped his arms around her as well, crushing her against him in the best way while Tonks buried her face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent.

"You've been a bloody bastard, Remus Lupin," she murmured. He ran his fingers through her hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I've been worried sick about you."

"I know," he said, "but I'm willing to make it up to you."

Tonks pulled back to look at him. His eyes shone brightly and she watched as their gaze settled on her lips. He lowered his head ever so slowly and captured her lips with his. It was a soft, lingering kiss that made her want to melt into him and simply disappear. She stood on her tiptoes to get closer to him, running her hands up to let her fingers grasp his hair, her nails scratching his scalp. He made a deep noise of pleasure and ran his hands down to her hips, pulling them closer to his as he deepened the kiss.

With her head already buzzing with the liberal amount of firewhisky she had consumed, Tonks wasn't surprised to feel her legs start to give out. She stumbled against him and he caught all her weight in his arms. The pair of them stumbled the short distance backwards to Tonks's bedroom, still entwined tightly with one another. Tonks pulled them both down onto her bed and they parted for a mere second while she and Remus clambered into more comfortable positions beside each other.

"I missed you so much," Remus murmured to her.

Remus pulled her towards him again, crashing his lips to hers, his hands sliding further and further down. Tonks nearly purred at the sensation. She had missed his touch so very much. She let out a deep sigh as Remus moved the attentions of his lips in a path down Tonks's neck. She fell back against the soft pillows and sank in, feeling Remus's warm weight on top of her. He stroked her side gently, kissing her collarbone.

Tonks let her eyes fall shut and completely relaxed, reveling in Remus's light touches- something she hadn't had the pleasure of feeling in so long. She couldn't, however, stop a yawn from escaping her. She could feel Remus grinning against the skin of her shoulder.

"If I'd known I would bore you this much, I would've left," he murmured to her. Tonks yawned again.

"I'm sorry," she said. Her hand rubbed Remus's arm sleepily. "It's just that we've had such a long day and then I felt these pillows and you were so nice and warm and I'm absolutely knackered." Remus kissed her on the forehead.

"Well you need some sleep- Merlin knows we all do."

"There's a box in the closet," Tonks said, "of some stuff you left here." Remus raised an eyebrow and she swatted at him. "It isn't that bad," she said, though that was a lie and she knew it. Her closet was like something out of a horror movie targeted at neat freaks and those who had a phobia of ripped jeans and bright colors. "Anyway, you might want to get it out. I think there're your toothbrush and a pair of pajamas."

Remus got up from the bed and, rather than wading through the mass of junk that was threatening to spill out of the confines of the doors, did a quick summoning charm. A pile of clothes shifted and shuddered like something possessed before the cardboard box burst free and landed at Remus's feet.

Tonks heard him sift through the things for a few minutes before he stilled and was quiet. She didn't think much of it and instead closed her eyes, waiting for him to come back to bed. She was a bit put out by her body's tiredness. After everything, she had wanted to badly to continue and see exactly how far he was willing to go. She was eager to feel him like that again and see him come undone.

"Nymphadora, there's a letter in here that's addressed to us," Remus said. Tonks groaned.

"We'll deal with it in the morning," she said.

"It is morning." Tonks could hear the smile in his voice. She scowled.

"Get changed and come back to bed," she ordered.

Remus stood, a bundle of striped clothes in his hands, and she watched as he stood by the end of the bed and unbuttoned his shirt. She hummed with appreciation of the show as the garment came off and he smiled at her cheekily and turned around. Tonks was afforded a nice look at his back, lean but well-built and covered with the ghosts of scars from childhood transformations when he turned on himself in wolfish anger and frustration.

He slipped on the t-shirt from the box and began to work on his trousers. As he folded them up, clad only in the t-shirt and his boxers, Tonks suggested slyly, "Maybe you could continue and give us a bit of a show?"

Remus crawled up the bed to her, leaving the pajama pants on the floor but leaving his boxers on as well. He lowered himself over Tonks and kissed her deeply.

"I thought you were sleepy," he said.

"Yes, well…" she trailed off. Remus kissed her again with a chuckle.

They settled down together in Tonks's bed, perfectly content in each other's arms. The letter was left in the box…forgotten.

A/N: So there you go! Drop me a review. Next chapter is a continuation of Chapter 1. We're about to come full circle.