Thank you to all the lovely people who took the time to review my last chapter! I haven't decided if I like this chapter or not so please, come at me with opinions! I hope you enjoy!

Fleur Weasley pulled the curtains across the window, shutting out the sight of the full moon that hung low in the sky. She rubbed her swollen stomach slowly as she made her way towards the lounge where Bill sat, staring grimly into the fire. He shifted slightly as she approached and reached up his hand to help her down.

"Remus?"

Bill nodded sightly.

"He will be fine," Fleur leaned into her husband's arms.

"This whole business with Tonks is stressing him."

Fleur snorted. "This whole business with Tonks is exactly what he needs!"

"Maybe. But not this close to the full moon."

Fleur shook her head. "No. It's not terrible timing. There will always be something. Full moon. Headaches. Pain. There is always something. He needs Tonks. They are good together. She is older, more stable now."

"Maybe."

"No. Not maybe. She is. They are good, Bill. You need to make sure Remus knows that. He has this foolish idea that he doesn't deserve happiness. She is persistent."

"You've been talking to her more haven't you?"

"Yes. This last few months. She's trying to connect the dots, I suppose, of her former life."

"Is that wise?"

"Honestly! Whose side are you on?" Irritation flooded her soft voice.

"Yours, always yours," Bill spoke hastily. "I just think she needs to be sure of what she wants. Remus doesn't have it easy. I think only Harry and Severus know how hard Remus has it."

"Remus is not a weak man. He is stronger than you give him credit for."

Bill rolled his eyes. "Feisty," he muttered. "I know he's a strong man. But… his health."

"And if she understands the limitations he suffers then surely you will support them!"

Bill shifted so he could look into her blue eyes. "I would like nothing more than for Remus to find happiness again. And you are right, the only person he will find it with is Tonks. He has never stopped loving her. What I mean, my dove, is, Tonks needs to be absolutely sure that she can be with Remus. Wheelchair and all. Because if she goes back to him and makes him realise how happy he could be… Well, then it would break him."

"You think your mother and I haven't told her that? I love Remus. I don't want him hurt. She knows she has to be sure."

Bill nodded. "Then I hope it works. But I'm still on his side."

"Stubborn." Fleur shook her head.

"You knew that when I married you." Bill grinned. His hand spread across her stomach. "Now, Little One? When are you going to make an appearance? Can you arrive before Christmas? I think Grandma Molly would like a visit."

"So would the mama!"

"Well," Bill's voice was a slow drawl. "Us Weasley men were doing some research to help discover how to induce labour."

"Oh, so you are going to make me some raspberry tea? How sweet!"

Bill snorted. "Not quite what I had in mind, Dove. I was more thinking we should sojourn to the bedroom. Put a locking spell on the door. And try to get this baby out!"

George was sitting on the floor of their nursery, staring at the pale yellow walls that had been freshly painted only a week before. The furniture was both new and old. Angelina's mother had turned her attic upside down and George had found Bill and Harry perfectly willing to sand and paint the wooden furniture until it looked new. Remus had delighted them by charming a mural on the wall and the animals only needed a simple spell before they would begin to dance, soft lights glowing from the wall. Remus had promised that, in the first few weeks of Teddy's life, he had been fascinated by it and, even now, the child's Hogwarts room had charmed murals that Remus was begged to add to with each visit.

The room was perfect. Pale yellows, soft blues. Perfect for a baby boy. Their baby boy.

"George?" Angelina paused in the bedroom door. "Are you all right?"

George turned and half smiled. This baby. Their marriage. It had lifted him from the worst of his depression. He had his bad days. But he found he was able to smile.

"Charlie sent an owl."

The young woman crossed the floor and folded herself down beside the young man. "Oh dear?"

George chuckled. "Yes. It was a bit." He pulled a small box forward and drew a small, stuffed toy dragon from inside. "Apparently you can charm it to spit fire."

"Oh, that sounds ever so safe!"

"Charlie writes that it isn't actually a hot fire."

Angelina shook her head. "Merlin. You poor, poor baby! You will have no hope of a normal life. George Weasely as your father. Charlie, Harry and Ron as uncles. Thank goodness Bill has some sense."

George huffed a laugh and laced his fingers with the young woman beside him. "Don't believe it. Percy was the only boring Weasley."

"Then let's hope you take after Uncle Percy, baby boy."

"Let's hope you don't." George muttered. "You are going to take over Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."

"What about young Rose?"

Rolling his eyes George kissed his wife. "Do you honestly think that Hermione would let her daughter take over a joke shop?"

"She likes Ron working there."

"She likes it better now that he's not there at all hours because I am actually making an effort."

"No one hated you for what was happening. You know that."

"Yeah. I know."

"How's Remus? I know you were talking with him the other day."

George sighed. "Every woman in this family has an opinion about this."

"Of course we do. I like Remus. He was a damned good Professor, the best we had in Defence. And Tonks made him happy. He worships Teddy. But he is lonely."

"He's—"

"Lonely. He is so happy for all of us! But, George, he misses Tonks. He misses her, so much."

"How do you know that?"

"You are such a man. We should invite him to dinner next week. Once he's recovered from full moon."

"He probably won't come. Winter is pretty hard on him."

"Floo?"

"He hates the floo."

"If he used the car and could drive it right to the door you could help him?"

"I'll ask. It would be good to see him." George brushed his hand over the soft rug. "Maybe… Maybe we should… Maybe instead of inviting him for dinner here we could invite ourselves to Hogwarts?"

Angelina cupped George's face with her hands. "Are you sure?"

"Remus' rooms. They weren't really directly affected by the Battle." A ghost of a smile. "Baby steps?"

"We can floo him in a few days. Once he has recovered from the full moon."

"I never paid too much attention to full moons, you know." George admitted.

"I don't think anyone does. Until they know someone that is affected by them."

"Yeah."

"Now! Who are we going to have as godparents to this delightful baby?"

"Oh, Merlin. Now there's a conversation."

"Do you…. Would you mind Alicia being Godmother?"

"Of course not. I know how close the two of you are."

"And godfather?"

"Remus? He got me through a lot. But…"

"But?"

"I feel like he might refuse. He would say use someone else."

"And? What do you think?"

"Charlie? Bill? I don't know…"

"You could ask Remus. See what he says?" Angelina pointed out. "Pull me up. My back is aching and I need to look over the flower order before work tomorrow."

Tonks hugged her arms tightly and bounced on her toes. She was outside, despite the cold, her grey-blue eyes locked on the brilliant golden moon above her. Teddy was asleep, his mild temperature breaking almost as soon as the moon had risen. It was ironic, really. The child who had inherited traits from his father had the worst of the symptoms vanish when his father's agony began. She had watched Remus fall asleep, curled against his side, her fingers running soothing circles through his hair until some of the strain had eased from his eyes and he had finally allowed sleep to claim him.

She hated full moons. She hated the fact that Remus' body was being torn apart while she stared up at the golden orb high above her head. There was a noise behind her and she turned. "Mum?"

"Come inside, Nymphadora! It is far too cold out there!" Andromeda was frowing dissaprovingly and Tonks sighed softly before stepping off the balcony and entering the warmth of her townhouse.

"What are you doing here, Mum?"

"I wanted to see how Teddy was." Andromeda was making herself at home in the kitchen.

"He's sleeping. Settled off to sleep with a few bedtime stories."

"You shouldn't encourage stories. It prolongs bedtime."

"He likes them." Tonks argued as she took the cup of tea from her mother. "And it doesn't hurt him. Remus does the same thing when Teddy stays there."

"Well, no wonder Teddy is forming bad habits."

Tonks frowned. "Mother. You really do have to stop."

"Stop what?"

"Being so bloody awful. It's upsetting Teddy! And it's upsetting me!"

Andromeda's lips thinned. "I didn't make my position well enough known when you first dated that man."

"Remus. It wouldn't matter if you had anyhow. I wouldn't remember."

"It's not something to joke about."

"You think I don't know that? I don't remember my father's last years. Or my son's birth. Or my marriage! So don't think I find it all amusing. You need to stop. You need to leave Remus alone. You need to accept that my dream is that Remus and I can be a family again. I love him, Mum. I don't think my soul ever stopped loving him it was just my head that took a while to catch up. David saw it long before I did and it broke his heart but he accepted it. You have to accept it."

"He walked out on you when you were pregnant!"

Tonks nodded. "So you keep telling me. I spoke with Molly about that. Hermione too because she was there when Harry gave him what for. He was scared. He was terrified that him being a werewolf would make me and our unborn child bigger targets than we already were. He was terrified that he had cursed his child."

"And he has!"

"No! Teddy is fine. The chances of him transforming into a proper werewolf are negligent. Remus left us but he came back, Mum! He came back to us."

"He left and you were devastated. I will never forgive him for that!"

"That's bullshit." Tonks spoke bluntly. "It's your excuse. Dad left us. To protect us. He left, Mum, and you don't hold that against him. Neither do I. I wish he hadn't. I think it was stupid. He did it to protect us."

Andromeda had paled.

"So don't use that excuse. You hate Remus because he is older than me. You hate him because he is a werewolf."

"He's dangerous!"

Tonks scoffed. "He isn't dangerous. He's never killed a soul while he was transformed. He takes the most ridiculous precatious! Fleur told me that Bill would patch him up before bringing him home to me some months because Remus refused to transform anywhere near me while I was pregnant. That's not dangerous. That is sweet and considerate. You hate him because despite being the disowned Black sister, despite marrying a Muggle-born you are still biased and it is horribly cruel. If I have it my way he will be your son-in-lw again."

"And him being crippled?" Andromeda's voice was cold, her aristocratic upbringing evident in her tones. "His helplessness? Does that not grate on you? You would never manage, Nymphadora. Being chained to a sick bed."

Tonks' hair flamed red. "A sickbed? That's how you see him? Chained? He would never let me be chained. And as for helpless. That man is the most stubborn and independent man I have ever met. Things you and I take for granted might be a struggle for him but he is proud and indeptendant. I truly think he's one of the strongest men I know! Yes, he lives through hell. But, in his words, it's a controlled hell. We could be happy together. Maybe he can't shag me senseless at the drop of a hat anymore but seeing we have a son I don't know how often that is meant to happen anyhow! He makes me laugh! I want to be near him when I am sad. He makes me feel safe! Right now, all I can think about is Remus, and tomorrow, when I finish work, I will be going to see how he is. So you need to stop. You need to stop hating him and start accepting him because I truly, truly hope that he will cave. That he will give into happiness and that we can maybe, through all the tangle of emotions and fear and pain, find our true happiness again. I swear, Mum, if you don't stop. If you say one word to him that is cruel or unjust then you won't see Teddy or me for a long, long time!"

Andromeda stared at her daughter. "I will never like him!" The words were finally spat out.

Tonks shrugged. "I couldn't care less if you like him or not. I love him. Teddy adores him and we will be family. You had best start getting used to that fact."

"This will only bring you grief. That is all that werewolf is good for, causing grief."

Tonks sat in the armchair, her legs hanging over the arm. She was chewing on the end of a quill as she regarded the sheef of papers resting on her knee.

"Dora?"

She rose instantly and placed her papers on the seat she abandoned. "Hey. Water?"

Remus nodded slightly and Tonks carefully held the water to his white lips.

"How are you feeling?"

"Tired." Remus admitted. "What time is it?"

"Nearly ten pm." Tonks confessed. "I got off work at seven and Harry said you had woken once."

"Mmm." Remus nodded. "I usually wake about seven and then fall straight back asleep."

Tonks laughed. "I wonder why. Go back to sleep."

Remus shook his head slightly. "No. I'm not tired yet. How long have you been sitting there?"

"About two hours." Tonks confessed as she settled on the edge of the soft bed. "How's the hand feeling?"

Remus flexed his fingers. "Better," he sounded almost surprised. "Where's Teddy?"

"With Harry and Ginny. They were talking about eating ice-cream in bed."

Remus found a smile sliding across his face. "Funny lad."

"I think so." Tonks laughed and laced her fingers through his. "Would you like some tea?"

Tired green eyes watched her closely. "I don't have an answer."

"That's ok." Tonks' smile was warm in the dimly lit room. "I didn't really expect you to decide just yet. I am going to spend every spare minute convincing you that we are perfect together. Right now, I am here to ply you with tea and toast and then make sure you are comfortable when you go back to sleep."

Remus nodded slightly. "Thank you."

"So," Tonks watched as the werewolf slowly manoeuvred himself into a sitting position. The house elves had made speedy work of bringing tea and she handed him the cup, their hands brushing. "We think we are closer to finding out who sent you that silver box. I have to trace another lead tomorrow."

"You'll be careful?"

A smile flashed across the young witch's face. "I do this every day you know."

"Yes but these people…"

"Are targeting you so therefore I would like to slaughter them."

"Violent."

Tonks laughed. "Yes. Where people I love are concerned I am always violent."

"I know."

"Teddy and Victoire spent the day at Molly's. He couldn't stop talking about the new baby that Bill and Fleur are having."

"Harry said Fleur had gone into labour." Remus murmered.

"Oh good! Fleur was desperate to have this baby. She was complaining she felt like a whale."

Remus smiled. "Daft girl. She is the furthest thing from a whale."

"I know. She's the epitome of perfect when pregnant."

"That was—" Remus broke off. "The moon didn't affect Teddy?"

"No. A sniffle. He was fine. What were you going to say?"

"It's nothing."

"Remus." Tonks raised an eyebrow. "What were you going to say? You know I m stubborn. I will just keep asking and asking."

A faint huff of tired laughter. "You were the epitome of perfect when you were pregnant."

"Biased."

"No. You were gorgeous. You used to complain to me that you felt so terrible but you were gorgeous."

"Do you have photos?" There was an odd vulnerable note in her voice.

"You've never seen photos of when you were pregnant?"

"Mum doesn't have any."

Remus' frown deepened. "I… Will you take this?" He handed her the empty cup. "And hand me my wand?"

Tonks fingered the worn wood as she handed the old wand to the werewolf.

"Accio grey photo album. Come sit with me?"

Tonks shifted so she was curled against Remus' side and she rested her head on her shoulder.

"Persistant aren't you?" Remus muttered. A spell had the thick album hovering above them.

"I have to make sure you know that I love you. Besides, your shoulder is very, very comfortable. Bony, but confortable."

Remus shook his head slightly. "Daft lass. These ones are from Grimmauld. Before Sirius was killed."

Tonks peered closely at an image as Sirius flung a bread roll at her and she ducked behind a laughing Remus. "We were having fun."

"Yes. Some of my happiest memories are from this time."

Tonks squeezed his hand gently.

"You were crushed when Sirius died. And then I was hiding from you."

"Because you are stubborn?"

"Not as stubborn as you." Remus reminded.

"Oh. Where did we live? It's adorable!"

"A tiny cottage. It was under Fidelius." Remus admitted.

"What happened to it?"

"It was sold after the War."

"Why?"

"It had stairs that were impossibly steep. We always said it wouldn't be safe for Teddy once he started crawling."

"We were happy."

"Yes."

"We could have that again."

"I was… different."

"Idiot. Oh." Tonks was staring at the first image of her pregnant self.

"We were putting up Christmas decorations. You insisted that I sit there and no do anything. It was two days after full moon and transformations had been brutal because I didn't have wolfsbane."

Tonks winced.

"You were so happy and singing. Merlin, I couldn't stop laughing at you."

Tonks smiled. "And this one?"

"Eight months then. You were healing me up after I came home from… I don't know, some Order business. You were angry with me and you were gorgeous."

"I wish I remembered."

"Here. This was the day before you went into labour with Teddy. You were so beautiful, even when you were about to have our son. You were so, so beautiful."

"I d-d-did it!" Ian's triumphant cry made Remus glance up from the letter he was writing. He smiled.

"So I suppose this is where I finally get to hear your marvellous plan?"

Ian laughed. "Yes," he agreed. "I c-c-convinced my f-father to l-l-let me stay with h-him the s-second w-week of h-holidays."

Remus' lips twitched. "And how did you manage that?"

"T-t-told h-him I w-would spend the f-first w-week w-with Mother. Then I t-t-t-t-t—" Frustration crossed the young face.

"Ian, slow down. Relax. It is just you and me."

Ian nodded and closed his eyes for a moment. "I said t-to Mother I w-would c-c-come home for the first w-week if I could go to see Dad the s-second!"

A quick laugh. "Very well done. Are you excited about your holidays now?"

Ian nodded. "I am g-going to see James Turner during holidays."

"The Ravenclaw chaser?"

Ian nodded. "M-most of our c-classes are together. He and s-some of the other Ravenclaws h-have b-b-been nice."

"I've seen you with them in the Great Hall."

"They d-don't m-mind m-me s-s-sitting with them."

"Why would they? You are not the only student who has questioned his place in Gryffindor. Though… Is there not a student that came from Australia who is in your dorm?"

Ian nodded slowly. "He k-keeps to himself."

Remus nodded slowly. "He's a nice lad. You should talk to him."

Ian studied his professor's face closely. "I…"

Remus rested his hands on his desk. "He is a nice young man, Ian, but he doesn't know anyone."

"I d-don't l-like…"

"Talking to make new friends. I know that and I know that you will do what's right."

Ian nodded slowly. "I s-suppose I d-didn't think of that. That h-he's l-lonely. Stupid really."

"Not stupid. Sometimes you forgot what it's like to be isolated. Or you find yourself friends and you forget that there are others out that that are equally as lonely." Remus' eyes had lifted to the doorway. "You make mistakes, that is life. You, however, are far more intelligent than I was at your age, Ian."

The younger man snorted. "I d-doubt that." He flushed as Severus swept into the room. "Professor Snape."

"Doyle," Severus' lips curled into a sneer. "Professor Lupin tells me you excel at potions. I am glad to hear you are not incompetent. I will wait in your rooms, Lupin."

Ian shook his head. "I m-might ask Professor Anstruther t-t-to f-fail me."

Remus laughed. "You will not. You will continue on with potions because you told me once that you wanted to learn to brew the Wolfsbane potion. That is the most complex potion that can be brewed. You will follow your dream."

"Yes, sir!" Ian saluted. He rose. "I h-have t-t-to g-go. Study s-session in the l-l-library."

"Enjoy your study. Come and see me before you leave, I know it's in a few days, but I would like to see you before you leave for Christmas."

Ian nodded. "I will."

"You were talking about me, weren't you?" Severus' was leaning against the hearth. He half turned when Remus entered. "Giant brought tea."

"Excellent." Remus flickered a glance at the clock. "I hadn't realised it was so late."

"Dinner will be in half an hour. How many students have you seen today?"

"A few," Remus reached for the tea cup.

"You were talking about me? When you spoke of mistakes?"

"Yes." Remus agreed. He was frowning at the blazing fire. "Yes, I was. Bullying you during school is one of the things I regret most in my life."

"You did not bully me. Not directly."

Remus shook his head. "Perhaps not directly. However, I allowed it. I could have objected, argued. But I would hide behind my book. I told myself that if I ignored it, it wasn't happening."

"I was not an innocent."

"No. That fact, however, does not lessen my guilt."

Severus folded himself into a chair. "Well, perhaps it should. Did I hear Potter talking to Filius about travelling to New Zealand for Christmas?"

"Yes. He and Ginny planned to go and Ron and Hermione decided to join them. Ginny says that she doesn't care if she's so pregnant that she needs something other than snow this Christmas."

"Will you be joining the rest of the Weasley clan?"

"No. I join them every second year. I like to give them a year to themselves."

Severus scoffed. "Do the red-headed hoards know that."

"No," Remus acknowledged with a reluctant smile. "I make up some appropriate excuse and they let me alone."

"Will Teddy be here?"

"No."

"So, other than a handful of students and a few professors you will be alone."

"Hardly alone. Are you staying?"

"No," Severus was frowning. "I need to go to Europe for research. I am meeting up with Ophius Seville about some of my research. If I had realised you were going to be here alone…"

"Hardly alone," Remus objected. "There are plenty of people who stay over the holidays."

"Does Nymphadora know?"

"She does not." Green eyes narrowed. "And you will not tell her. Or Harry. You will tell none of my friends. I am happy, Severus. Let the people I love celebrate without fretting themselves over me."

"You are a martyr."

"Pot calling kettle."

"I almost wish that I was staying here during the holidays." Severu muttered. "Seeing that woman will be away."

"Lia?"

"Who else do I refer to as 'that woman'?"

Remus chuckled. "I think she is probably just as glad to be away from you, Severus," the mild reproof was not lost on the potions master.

"You will miss the company."

"Ah, Severus, I do wish that you would show your true colours more often. You are actually nice."

"Don't be smug. I know that you and Mr Anstruther have struck up quite the friendship."

"He's proving to be an excellent teacher. The children love him."

"Hmmm."

"And if you got over your hatred of his sister I am quite sure you could enjoy his company. He is extremely knowledgeable of the wizarding world, and his background as a muggle chemist means he has quite a strong grasp on potions."

"It is a pity then his sister is such an incompetent doll. Have you seen her? It is well she isn't teaching seventh years! The male students would simply stare at her. Not that you can learn anything from that creature. A more useless potions mistress I have never seen. And the way she teaches! Disgraceful!"

"The students appear to be doing well under her."

"For Merlin's sake, Wolf, side with me on this one or I will poison the Wolfsbane."

Remus was settled comfortably on his long couch. The room was quiet, the fire crackled brightly in the hearth. It was snowing outside, the storm making having the curtains open redundant. The Christmas lunch at Hogwarts had finished two hours ago and the handful of students who stayed over the holidays had drifted away to their common rooms. The house elves were having their own party, and Remus had insisted that elves that attended to him not enter his rooms until their party was over. There was a large pot of tea and several pieces of cake beside him and a small pile of books.

The small Christmas tree that Harry had insisted on was brightly decorated by Teddy and there were several brightly wrapped gifts for both his son and…. The woman who was quickly becoming the centre of his world once more. He turned the page of the book he was reading, it was a book on the various laws that were in place in the wizarding world. Kingsley had visited him again only the week before with another plea to help the werewolf community. He was frowning as he turned another page. There was so much prejudice in the wizarding world that he needed to pick through ever law every reason that would be given as to why an organisation to support those infected with lycanthropy could and would be rejected.

Remus had just finished a third cup of tea when the floo roared and Tonks stepped through.

"Remus John Lupin! You are in so much trouble!" Her hair was carefully constructed red and green curls. Her eyes flashed as she approached.

"Aren't you meant to be enconsed in your mother's loungeroom?" Remus asked carefully.

"Well, I was, until a very interesting Patronus came to me informing me that the love of my life—"

Remus sighed loudly and was ignored.

"was alone. On Christmas!"

"Who sent you that patronus?" There was deep suspicion in his voice.

"Lia." Tonks sounded smug. She settled herself onto the edge of his couch and tangled her hands in his. "And Chris is apparently quite annoyed with you because you assured him several times that you had plans for Christmas."

"And how did Lia…?"

"Oh, easy." Tonks laughed, before remembering she was meant to be angry with him. "Snape contacted her!"

"What?"

"I know. It was such a Slytherin thing to do. Apparently you had forbidden him to tell any of your friends that you would be alone. You idiot. So, he was at lunch with someone or other and discovered a solution. He loathes Lia, but he is truly fond of you, and so, he knew, that if he told her, she would tell me."

"Bastard."

"Oh, my, Remus, was that as close as you ever get to swearing?" Her teasing faded and she tightened her fingers over his. "Why didn't you tell me? That you were alone?"

"I didn't want to spoil your Christmas."

"You idiot." Tonks tugged a hand free and gently traced a scar that ran the length of his face. "You couldn't do that. But you could have joined us. Or Teddy and I could have come here and joined you."

"Your mother dislikes me enough, Dora, I'll not ruin her Christmas but stealing your company."

"Teddy is quite distraught at the idea his father is alone."

Remus winced. "So was I." Tonks admitted. "Mum is going to have to get used to you, Remus. You mustn't let her put you off."

Remus searched her face for a long time.

"So, seeing you look quite comfortable, why don't you let Teddy and I invade your quiet? Please?"

"Invite your mother," Remus spoke finally, unable to argue with the warm blue eyes that pleaded with him.

"Are you sure?"

"Perfectly. I will feel entirely less horrible if she isn't abandoned completely."

"You are the most wonderful man that I have ever met." Tonks kissed his cheek gently. "I will be back soon. Your son is quite put out, just so you know."

Remus smiled. "I will distract him with gifts."

It was only a matter of five minutes after Tonks had vanished that a small boy hurled himself at his father.

"Happy Christmas, Daddy! Why were you on your own? I thought you were at Grandma Molly's?" Teddy was glaring at his father.

Remus laughed and hugged his son tightly. "I… I thought it might be fun to have Christmas on my own. But then Mum came and showed me that it was silly to think that."

Teddy nodded energetically. "Really silly!" He informed bluntly.

Remus looked up slowly. "Andromeda. Merry Christmas. Please, sit down."

"Thank you." Andromeda's voice was brittle. The last time she had been in this room it had been a cruel, harsh encounter, one that neither of them had forgotten.

"We have Christmas presents for you!" Teddy crowed.

"Really? But I don't have any for you!" Remus was frowning.

Teddy regarded his father for a brief moment before he rolled his eyes. "You are silly. I know you have presents for me!"

"Are you sure?" Remus' eyes twinkled.

Teddy laughed. "You are silly!" He repeated.

"Yes, perhaps I am. Why don't you go and have a look under the tree."

"Wait, Teddy!" Tonks had placed a pile of presents on the floor close to Remus' couch. "Why don't you and I bring the presents over here and then you can sit with Daddy while you unwrap them?"

Teddy nodded, already bouncing with excitement.

"There is one for you there, Dora," Remus spoke quickly. "Be careful with it."

"You didn't have to get me anything."

"It's not much." A dull flush coloured the werewolf' face. He turned to Andromeda again. "I'm afraid I have nothing for you. I did not anticipate…"

"That we would be spending Christmas together. No. I did not anticipate it either."

"Mother."

Teddy glanced uneasily between his father and grandmother.

"Which one are you going to open first, Cub?" Remus questioned. "Uncle Harry said you can't open his until he and Aunty Ginny get back from their holiday."

Teddy groaned. "That's unfair."

"Teddy." Remus raised an eyebrow. "Pick one of your presents."

Teddy obliged before settling against his father's legs. The child's eyes were bright with excitement as he began to rip the paper off the long, thin box.

Tonks folded herself onto the floor beside them and Remus frowned. "Get a chair, Dora."

"Hush," she was leaning against him. "I'm comfortable."

"Oh! It's a wand!"

Teddy's shriek of excitement made his parents attention turn to him again instantly.

"A wand?" Tonks eochoed uncertainly as she took in the excitement on her son's face.

"Can it do magic, Daddy?" Teddy's hair was bright turquoise blue and his eyes, the mirror of his father's, were bright with excitement.

"It can. Only a little though," Remus was smiling. "Professor Flitwick helped me charm it. We can start teaching you some spells."

"This is so cool!"

"Seems a rather dangerous gift," Andromeda's voice was frosty.

"I carved the wand myself, well, my wand carved it," Remus addressed Tonks as Teddy inspected every inch of the smooth wood closely. "It's only very basic, it will only cast a few of the most basic spells but it is a start. To teach him wand care and safety. He's always wanting to help me with spells. Teddy's a bright boy, he will learn quikly. But," Remus turned to his son and held his hand out. Teddy's small, perfect fingers curling into his father's instantly. "Teddy Bear, your wand has to stay here and you are only allowed to use it when I say, all right?"

Teddy nodded seriously.

"Good lad," Remus flicked his son's nose. "Another present?"

"One for you first, Daddy!" Teddy announced. He hesitated before handing his wand reluctantly to his father.

"I can put it near my wand," Remus reassured. "That way it won't get broken and then you can have a go with it after the rest of your presents."

Teddy grinned. "That one!" He pointed to a box and Tonks obligingly handed it to Remus. "I wrapped it. We were going to put a ribbon on it but Mummy said you wouldn't care if there wasn't one there! And I even made the paper!"

Remus smiled as he inspected the box closely. "Are these your handprints in the paint?"

"Uh hu! Do you like it?"

"I love it. I might have to keep the paper."
Teddy grinned. "Open it!"

Remus murmured a spell that had the paper carefully slide off the box before he sent it towards his desk.

"You are really going to keep that?"

"Of course I am! Now, what could this be?"

Tonks watched his face as he carefully inspected the box with a deep frown. Teddy squirmed impatiently and the corners of Remus' lips twitched. "It's a very nice box."

"The present is inside the box!" Teddy exploded and Remus' eyes widened.

"Oh! I thought it was the box."

Tonks laughed. "Daddy is very silly today isn't he, Sweetheart?" She watched as stiff fingers fought for a moment to lift the top of the box and she found that it was not pity that flooded her heart in that moment but love. This gentle, stubborn man who fought so hard to not allow his injury to define him was the only person she could see herself spending the rest of her life with.

"Oh, Teddy!" Remus' voice was thick with sudden emotion. He held the thick ceramic mug in his hands. The pale blue mug had the words World's Best Dad emablazoned on it and, near the handle a tiny grey wolf had been painted on.

"Do you like it?"

Remus opened his arms to his son and Teddy flung himself into his father's embrace. "It is the best present ever." Remus whispered, his voice rough.

Andromeda watched in silence as Teddy shrieked with delight at each new present. There were books of course, she had not been surprised, there were a few toys, presents that had made Teddy crow in delight. Remus had been delighted with Teddy's pictures and the new chess set that Teddy informed him Uncle Harry had helped him pick out. There were two presents left and Remus turned to the young woman who had been leaning against his couch. "That one is for you. It isn't much." He sounded apologetic.

"Well, my present for you isn't much either," Tonks retorted.

Remus ignored her. "You open yours first."

Tonks looked up at him curiously. He sounded vulnerable. Pulling the paper away she opened the box. There was a photo at the top of the box, it was her and Teddy when he was only a few hours old. Her hair was bright pink and the smile that lit her face was golden.

"Remus… this is beautiful! Thank you!" She moved the photo and lifted a small, thin glass tube filled with a milky looking substance. She looked up at him, curious.

"They are all memories…" Remus explained haltingly. "Mostly of out time at Grimmauld. You don't remember Sirius and the two of you were close. I thought—" His words were cut off as Tonks flung herself into his arms.

"Thank you! Oh, Remus! Thank you! I love you, you drling man!"

Remus' arms automatically closed around her and he swallowed. Merlin he loved this girl.

"Minerva said that you can use her pensive to view them," Remus' voice was muffled against her clouds of hair.

"I want you with me!" Tonks pulled back so she could look at him.

"I…" Remus flickered a glance to an obvious disapproving Andromeda. "Why don't we talk about this later?"

Tonks touched his cheek. "Ok," she agreed softly. "Now, your turn for your present. It is nowhere near as wonderful as this…"

Remus frowned. "You gave me everything when we had Teddy."

A flash of hope shone in her eyes. "Yes, well, open your present."

Andromeda was frowning as Teddy showed off one of his books to her while his parents sat entirely too close for her liking. It was like beng transported back to before the battle, the way they looked at one another was a look that she had seen countless times. It wasn't right. They weren't right. Her daughter deserved so much more then the man who was reclining on a couch unable to move across a room. She deserved someone whole. Someone who didn't turn into a monster every time the moon was at its fullest.

Remus carefully unwrapped his present. His breath caught. "I… This…"

"I got the photo from Ginny and Harry and then Molly knew of a person who was an excellent painter. It can be enlarged. I thought about having it charmed but she said that because it was from a photo it wouldn't be real."

Remus stared at the portrait. "Dora… This is beautiful." Tears blurred his eyes and he looked up at the woman who sat on the edge of his couch. He cupped her cheek in his hand. "Thank you."

Teddy, growing bored with his grandmother's distraction, skipped back to his parents. "It's you and Mummy!"

"Yes," Remus smiled. "And you. This is when you were two weeks old. Grandma Molly took this photo and Mummy made it into a painting for me."

"It's pretty." Teddy agreed. "Where are you going to put it?"

"Hmmm," Remus frowned heavily. "Where do you think I should put it, Cub? I can't think of the perfect spot?"

"Ummm." Teddy's frown mirrored his father's and Tonks lifted her hand to hide her smile.

"Should we put it in my study?"

"That's a good idea!"

"But then I won't be able to see it much, only if I am working." Remus was still frowning.

"Oh, yeah." Teddy tipped his head to the side.

"What if I put it in my bedroom? On the wall opposite my bed," Remus was still speaking to his son but his eyes were locked on Tonks'.

"So it's the first thing you see when you wake up."

"And the last before I fall asleep."

Tonks' smile lit her face. "The perfect place," she agreed softly.

It was late, Andromeda had excused herself when Remus had invited them to stay for dinner and her disapproval had been clear when Tonks had cheerfully announced her intention to stay. Teddy had fallen asleep curled against his father and Tonks had carried him to his bed.

Tonks shifted slightly and glanced at the clock. "Oh! I hadn't realised it was so late!"

"Stay," Remus spoke suddenly.

Tonks searched his face. "Stay?"

"It's late, Teddy is sleeping. Stay."

"Ok."

"I… give me a few minutes. We can continue this conversation once we are comfortable."

"I'm coming and making myself comfortable on your bed."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "You haven't changed a bit."

"Can I ask a question?"

"Of course."

"Your exersces?"

"The house elves helped this morning. I only need to do them once a day, when Severus or Harry are around they insist of helping me in the evening."

Tonks nodded slowly. "Ok. I'll come in once the house elves have made you comfortable then shall I?"

"Thank you."

Tonks smiled before she sayshayed from the room, Remus shaking his head slightly as she departed.

"Can I come in?"

"Yes. I am sorry." Remus smiled wearily at her.

"Don't be silly." Tonks curled into his side. Her fingers laced through his. "I know that none of this is easy for you."

"No. It was never easy letting someone into my heart." Remus acknowledged softly.

Tonks shifted so she could look up at him. "I love you, you know that don't you?"

"I do."

"No arguing, this is an improvement," Tonks carefully traced a scar on his cheek.

"I…" Remus lifted her hand and gently kissed her knuckles. "Slowly. I need to go slowly. We both need that."

Tonks shifted back, her eyes wide. "Remus?"

"I love you, Dora, I never stopped loving you but things are so different. I'm not heathy, or strong. We need to go slowly. You need to be sure."

"Ok." Tonks kissed the corner of Remus' lips. "Slowly." Her voice was filled with delight.

"Dora…" Remus cradled her face in his hands. "Oh, Merlin, am I a fool?"

"No. You aren't. You and I, we are going to be happy. I want you to have faith. Faith that it won't be too scary for me."

"I can try." Remus smiled faintly.

"I want to see it all, all the things you think are bad. I want to see it. Your injury is a part of you. A part that breaks my heart but that I know won't matter to our lives. Not that it won't matter. I mean. I…"

Remus laughed. "I know what you mean. I may not quite believe it, but I suppose I should be perfectly happy to try."