Sorry for the late update; life has been hectic again. This is more of a filler. Time will jump around a bit as we get closer to things happening. I don't think anybody would want me to detail every week in Matilda's life.

Thank you for reading! Reviews are much appreciated, ta x

As long as we're together,

does it matter where we go?

-Gabrielle Aplin, "Home."

Tonks jolted awake, her whole body coming up off the bed and pulling on all the muscles that were still slightly tender after giving birth a month ago. She groaned and lay back against the pillows, rubbing a hand over the soft expanse of her belly.

She hadn't had such a vivid dream since she had given birth to Matilda. Throughout her whole pregnancy she had experienced some of the craziest dreams of her life, but they had vanished almost immediately after Matilda was born. Most of them had been happy, filled with weird magical creatures and magic; with the exception of the exploding stomach dreams that Tonks had had when she first found out that she was pregnant, she hadn't had any nightmares.

This one was different. Tonks had found herself unable to move, her baby just out of reach as a giant wolf crept closer and closer to them. It hadn't reached them, but Matilda had been screaming, and Tonks still felt sick thinking about it now. She had no idea what it might mean, but didn't particularly want to find out.

She was about to close her eyes again before she realised that she hadn't heard Matilda all morning. She sat again, ignoring the twinge of pain in her stomach, and swung her feet over the side of her bed, almost falling over twice on the way out.

Tonks rubbed her eyes, trying to scrub away the remnants of her nightmare. The TV was on in the lounge, the volume softened. Matilda's basinet was beside the couch where Tonks had decided to leave it; Andromeda had recommended keeping it out of the bedroom, explaining that babies made all kinds of noises throughout the night. Tonks had agreed only because her mum seemed to know everything and a good nights sleep was what she desperately needed.

Tonks felt her heart stop as she peered into the basinet and found it empty. She had fed Matilda earlier in the morning, not too long ago. She moved the blankets aside, fingers skimming the edge of the mattress as though the baby was tucked away in the corners. She couldn't breathe.

'Matilda?' Tonks said, as though her daughter might respond. She rushed into the kitchen, stubbing her toe against the edge of the door as she went.

Andromeda was standing beside the oven, Matilda cradled securely in one arm as she fried bacon with the other hand. Tonks ran a hand over her face, feeling relief crash over her as the air returned to her lungs. It was okay. Her baby was okay.

'Morning' Andromeda commented, turning to Tonks.

Tonks crossed the short distance between them and scooped Matilda into her arms, bringing her face down and breathing in the unique baby smell that she had fallen in love with.

'Hello Foxx' she cooed, peppering her daughter's face in kisses. 'Did you have a good night? You were very hungry. Mummy had a bad dream but it's okay because it wasn't real. No it wasn't.'

Tonks sat down at the kitchen table. 'Sorry. Morning mum. Was she crying? I didn't hear her.'

'She woke up when I was halfway through making breakfast' Andromeda answered. She transferred the bacon to a plate and cracked an egg into the pan. 'She didn't cry, but when I offered her the bottle she didn't seem to be interested.'

Tonks smiled down at Matilda as the little girl yawned and stretched. In the past month Matilda's dirty blonde hair had darkened significantly, and was no darker than Tonks' own natural colour. The baby was focusing on faces more often now, though grew tired of it easily. Tonks was absolutely smitten; there was nothing that Matilda could ever do wrong.

Her first month of motherhood had been difficult. Matilda had only just begun to settle into a sleep routine, and as a result Tonks was in a perpetual state of exhaustion. Andromeda had helped Tonks through nappy rash, projectile vomit and dry nipples. Though she appreciated every little thing that her parents did for her, she knew that she couldn't live like this forever.

'I fed her earlier' Tonks explained, and smiled as Andromeda set a plate of eggs and bacon in front of her. 'She just wanted to spend time with you probably.'

Andromeda ran a finger down Matilda's nose. 'She can spend as long as she wants with me.'

Tonks swallowed the lump of toast in her mouth and pretended to distract herself with Matilda's tiny fingers. 'Actually mum. I love everything you do for me and I'm so thankful but I said I would do this on my own – and I really, really appreciate the past month, don't get me wrong – but yea, I think I need to go home now.'

Andromeda raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. Tonks shifted uncomfortably and transferred Matilda to hold against her shoulder. The little girl squirmed for a minute before falling asleep, her cheek against Tonks's chest.

'I feel like I need to go home, to my house, and do things on my own' Tonks tried to explain. 'I wanted to do this on my own. I want to show Matilda that I can do this. I need to learn.'

'Okay' Andromeda agreed. She poured herself a glass of orange juice and regarded her daughter with kind eyes. 'I believe in you. I know that you've always been independent, and I've been waiting for you to say something for days now.'

Tonks blinked. 'Oh. Well, I was thinking, maybe… today? Is that too soon?'

Tonks noticed the slight hesitation that flickered across Andromeda's face, but it was gone a second later. The older woman nodded and turned back to the pan on the stove. 'That's fine. We'll need to start packing your things soon.'

'Thanks' Tonks murmured, though she felt slightly uneasy. She had expected her mother to tell her she was being ridiculous. She almost wanted her to tell Tonks to stay an extra month or so. However, she also knew that this was her decision, and that she wanted to do it on her own.

They ate breakfast in comfortable silence, Tonks spooning mouthfuls of eggs into her mouth with her free hand at an alarming rate. She remembered sitting in this same spot months ago, choking down eggs as she worried about her future.

The sound of the toilet flushing interrupted the silence; Ted appeared in the doorway moments later, scrubbing his hand over his face and yawning. Tonks knew that if she wasn't getting much sleep then her parents wouldn't be either, and couldn't help but feel guilty.

'Miss Tilly' Ted cooed as he entered the kitchen. Tonks relinquished hold of her daughter and watched fondly as her father cradled his granddaughter carefully. Matilda didn't stir at all throughout the exchange, which Tonks was grateful for.

'Thanks for breaky' she said, discarding her plate in the sink. 'I'm gonna have a shower now, while she's quiet.'

Andromeda hummed her acknowledgment. Tonks disappeared quickly, pausing only to accept a kiss on the cheek from her father. In the safe confines of the bathroom she stripped out of her pyjamas, trying to slow her racing heart. She gauged herself in the mirror, skimming her fingers over the stretch marks that were beginning to fade on the side of her stomach. She had lost some of the weight that she had gained during pregnancy, though still had a fair way to go to get back to her pre-Matilda shape.

She didn't care; she was proud of her body and everything that it had accomplished. Even though she was still bleeding occasionally and her breasts were beginning to really ache, it was all worth it to wake up to Matilda every morning.

Tonks showered as though in slow motion, taking the time to wash her hair and savour the help that her parents provided. She shut off the water, wrapped a towel around herself, and kicked her pyjamas down the hallway and into her bedroom like she had done when she was a teenager.

The room was messy. Tonks glanced around at the clothes that she had tossed aside after collapsing into bed each night. The suitcase that she had brought from her own house had been completely overrun with Matilda's stuff; dozens upon dozens of clothes, nappies, toys and blankets, amongst other things. The baby was only a month old and already had more clothes than Tonks herself.

As she was mustering the energy to get dressed her gaze caught the glint off a photo frame, which was almost submerged beneath jumpers on her desk. She frowned, confused, and worked to unearth it.

The photo made her stop breathing. It was of her and Remus, taken in the months before he left for Russia by Sirius. She couldn't remember the occasion, but the three of them had been drunk and in the picture Remus was staring at Tonks like she was the only thing to ever exist in the history of the universe.

Without thinking she crossed over to the suitcase and shoved the frame underneath several blankets. She stared at the suitcase for what felt like years, trying to make sense of what she was doing. Shaking her head, she dressed before she could change her mind and left the bedroom.

Matilda was awake and laying on her blanket in the lounge, Ted stretched out beside her. Tonks joined them on the floor, watching Matilda kick and wave her fists jerkily. She had discovered her hands, properly, for the first time a few days ago and had been infatuated ever since.

Ted shook a rattle and smiled when she turned towards the noise. 'She's getting big, isn't she?'

'Yea, she's back to her birth weight now. Gemma was happy. She likes to have cuddles.'

'Who doesn't love Tilly cuddles' Ted cooed. Matilda gripped his finger and gurgled softly.

'She's already got so many nicknames I'll be surprised if I ever have to call her Matilda' Tonks said.

Ted glanced over at her. 'Mum told me you were going home today.'

Tonks avoided his gaze and smiled as Matilda turned back to her. She would probably be tired soon, which would give Tonks a chance to pack. 'Yea, was planning on it.'

'Dora,' Ted sighed. 'Don't feel that you're being a burden. You and Matilda are welcome here for the rest of your lives.'

'No, dad, it's not…' Tonks struggled into a seated position and lifted Matilda from the floor. The baby was warm against her chest. 'I just need to go home. I made the decision to be her mother and I want to take her to our home. I need to readjust my life.'

'I understand, honey. Your mother and I can't help but worry sometimes. You're still young…'

Tonks groaned. 'Dad, let's stop with that shit, okay. I think we all know it by now.'

Ted frowned and sat up too. 'We're not trying to patronise you.'

'Sometimes it feels like that's all anyone's trying to do' Tonks snapped. 'I'm sick of being treated like I'm made of glass. I know I'm young, but I'm also a police officer and a mother and I'm smart, okay.'

'I never said you weren't smart' Ted said, taken aback.

'I know that dad, but I'd appreciate it if you spoke to me like you used to, before I was pregnant,' Tonks said softly. 'You used to talk about anything to me and now it's like you don't think I'm gonna understand it. Just because someone has a baby doesn't mean that they can't do the same things they used to.'

Ted gaped, momentarily shocked. He tried to think of something to say in his defence but drew a blank as he realised that she was right. He cleared his throat. 'When you first moved into your place, I told you I'd do the heavy lifting.'

Tonks accepted his offer for the olive branch that it was. She could understand his confusion; she herself had yet to truly accept her new identity, but she was glad that they had made this start.

The next few months would be trying, but she believed that she could make it.

With Matilda fed, changed, and sound asleep in her carrier, Tonks managed to pack the last few things that she needed to take home with her. Andromeda had filled half of the car with meals to be frozen, having spent most of the day quiet in the kitchen.

The basinet from the lounge and the suitcase fit perfectly in the car boot. Tonks had managed to stuff toys and bottles into every available space left, even allowing herself some legroom in the back. All in all, she was proud that they had worked so efficiently together to prepare for her departure.

Ted swung the carrier onto his arm and walked Matilda out to the car, Tonks hovering by his side as she watched him attach it to the base of the car seat.

'Is it on right?' she asked, and triple checked the straps. 'Maybe we should get the manual out, just to be sure.'

'Dora, this isn't the first time I've loaded a baby into a car' Ted assured her, steering her by the shoulders to the other side of the car. 'Trust me honey, Tilly isn't going anywhere.'

They piled into the car, Matilda oblivious to everything going on around her. Tonks let Charlie and Lena know that she was moving back so that they wouldn't keep going to her parent's place to visit. She leant back in her seat, pocketed her phone, and closed her eyes for a five-minute power nap.

Tonks was jostled awake what felt like seconds later. Andromeda leant across and undid her daughter's seatbelt, holding out a hand to help her out of the car.

'We're here?' Tonks mumbled, disoriented. There was half an hour's travel between her house and her parents', but she couldn't remember any of it.

'We've been here for nearly fifteen minutes' Andromeda said. 'We thought we would let you rest a little longer.'

'Foxx?' Tonks asked, turning back to try and peer into the car. The baby carrier was not attached to the base.

'Inside, in her cot. She woke when we arrived, grizzled, and then went back down' Andromeda explained. They made their way up the front path and entered the house. 'We unpacked everything except her suitcase.'

Tonks breathed out deeply as she surveyed the space around her. The basinet was set up in the lounge, beside the couch, and she could see Matilda's bottles already lining the bench in the kitchen. She made her way down the hall, pausing briefly by her own bedroom to see that Andromeda had cleaned it, and then continued to the nursery.

Matilda looked tiny in her cot. The blinds had been partially closed, allowing a slither of light to shine along the ground. The suitcase sat beside the dresser, still zipped.

Tonks carefully left the room, leaving the door open until she had time to set up the monitor. Andromeda was packing toys into a small laundry basket that was going to double as a toy box until Matilda was old enough to have a proper one. Ted had gone outside to survey the garden.

Tonks let herself stretch out on the couch, smiling gratefully at her mum. She closed her eyes again, trying to fight the exhaustion she felt. She felt Andromeda take a seat by her head and took comfort in the fact that her mother was by her side. She slowed her breathing, only wanting to relax.

She awoke for the third time that day to the smell of lasagne wafting in from the kitchen. Ted had Matilda and was watching the news. Andromeda brought over a steaming plate of food and offered it to Tonks wordlessly.

'I'm sorry' Tonks moaned, accepting the plate. 'I didn't mean to fall asleep. Again. I didn't mean it the first time, either.'

'You need all the sleep you can get' Andromeda murmured. She sat with her own lasagne and bumped her shoulder against Tonks's. 'We wanted to stay for dinner, anyway.'

Ted placed Matilda in a bouncer that had seemingly materialised from nowhere so that he could eat too. The baby gazed around at her new surroundings curiously, waving her fists. Tonks ate quickly as she realised just how hungry she was. Andromeda hummed when she spilt tomato sauce down her shirt but otherwise didn't comment on her daughter's eating behaviours.

It was late by the time her parents were ready to leave. Andromeda had insisted on doing the dishes, and Ted had wanted to give Matilda a bath. Tonks had squeezed a rubber duck in front of Matilda's face and almost screamed when she appeared to smile for the first time. Logically Tonks knew that it was probably from wind, but she didn't care.

With Matilda snug in bed and the kitchen clean, Tonks stood at the door to say goodbye to her parents. It felt almost like she was leaving home for the first time, even though it wasn't. She had lived alone before, albeit briefly after Remus had left. She knew that she could do it, but it didn't make her feel any better.

She kissed and hugged both of them, making them promise to visit whenever they wanted and vowing that she would be over at least once a week. They started the car and she waved until they were at the end of the road, and then suddenly feeling insecure, stepped back into the warmth of her home and locked the door.

Tonks checked the back door, double-checked the front door and walked through every room making sure that the windows were closed. She switched all the lights on as she made sure that there weren't any last minute things that she needed to do. There were at least two bottles in the fridge, and the breast pump was in her room so that she could pump before bed. There were nappies in the lounge and in her bedroom, just in case.

She reluctantly turned the lights off and made her way to Matilda's room. The baby was exactly where Tonks had left her, fast asleep in her warm room. Tonks noticed the suitcase again but couldn't be bothered unpacking it until she remembered the photo frame stuffed at the bottom.

Pulling it out felt surreal. This was the closest that Matilda had ever come to her father in her short month on Earth. Tonks ran her fingers over the photo delicately and then placed it on the bookcase, facing Matilda's cot. She didn't really know what she was trying to do but was too tired to care.

This is it, she thought, taking one final glance around Matilda's room. Nothing was out of place and everything was just so peaceful. This is home.