Thank you to all our lovely reviews! This is the last chapter before the epilogue so hopefully your wait won't be too long! Thank you for your patience as the wait between chapters got longer when life got in the way!

Tonks slowly moved into Remus's study and he rose to meet her. "This baby needs to hurry up."

Remus's hands rested on her swollen stomach and Tonks smiled at him. "You make him stop somersaulting," Tonks instructed, raising an eyebrow expectantly.

"A little chap today are we?" Remus murmured. "Come, sit down, my darling."

"Have you finished the book?" Tonks allowed Remus to guide her towards the lounge and gratefully accepted his help to sink into the comfortable seat. "Sit with me?"

Remus eased himself down beside her and tugged her against him. His hand rubbed gentle circles on the swell of her stomach. "Yes, I was just packing it all up and Sirius will send it to Michael in the morning. Did you sleep at all, my love?"

Tonks' head rested wearily on his shoulder. "Not really. It should be you who is napping anyhow."

Remus kissed her. "I'm sleeping."

"Liar. Between your nightmares and me not sleeping and then waking you because I'm not sleeping…"

"I am sleeping just fine, Dora."

She huffed and shifted in an attempt to settle herself more comfortably.

"Are you bored, dearest girl?"

"Dead bored. Harry keeps coming home with wicked stories and I am so jealous."

Remus smothered a laugh. "Sweetheart, it's been two weeks."

"Yes, but I was on desk duty for months! I'm bored, Remus."

"Come for a walk with me?" Remus whispered against her ear.

"We won't disturb Harry and Ginny?"

"It's a big yard." Remus pulled her to her feet. "And walking is good for you, the doctor said so."

"I want the baby to hurry up. I want to meet them, and I want to stop looking like a whale."

"You don't look like a whale."

"You are meant to say that," Tonks grumbled. "You are too bloody nice, that's what you are, too bloody nice."

"Don't listen to Mum swearing, little one," Remus advised. "She doesn't mean it. She ought to start minding her manners. You are going to learn horrible words otherwise."

"Don't listen to Daddy," Tonks teased back as they made their way slowly across the grass. "He's a prat. Ask anyone."

Remus chuckled. "Your prat."

"Yes, mine." Tonks smiled at him. "Mum is going to bring food over tomorrow. She said that we should have a surplus so that when the baby comes we don't have to fret about cooking. Also, I was thinking, apparently I was a fussy baby, if this munchkin is then maybe I should sleep in the spare room?"

"No!"

"Remus, love," Tonks spoke gently. "You are not getting enough sleep as it is…."

"No. I… I need you, my darling, I need you with me." He turned away and breathed in deeply. "When I was released from hospital, Harry was so little and having terrible nightmares. Sometimes all you would hear is a snuffling of soft tears but it was enough to wake me in those days."

"Now still," she murmured, pressing his hand gently.

Remus nodded slightly. "So, I would struggle into his room. It would take all my strength most of those days but I would sit with him, and Dora, that was some of the only things that could get me through. Now I have you, whenever I wake…. You are there; you bring me back from that place that will probably stay in my dreams forever. I will never be free of what happened, but I have you, and I am going to have this baby and you are mine, you are my rock, my… everything and this baby, this baby is ours. I don't want you in another room, I just want you with me, and I want you and this baby with me so that I can… So that when I wake you are the first thing I lay my eyes on."

Tonks made him pause and touched his cheek with the tips of her fingers. "Ok. Then the noisy baby and I will stay. On one condition, when we sleep, you must sleep. You need rest, my darling, I don't think I haven't seen the circles under your eyes so bad since… since…"

"Since I was a daft prat?"

"Yes. Let's sit on the bench over there, my feet are killing me and my back is killing me. This baby needs out!"

"Your bag is packed?"

"Yes, darling, for the fifteenth time, my bag is packed. Everything is ready. Mum and Mill are both on speed dial and you are going to be fine."

"Your optimism is inspiring," Remus kissed her fingertips. "I want to be strong. I want to be strong for you more than anything else, my darling."

Tonks rested her head on his shoulder. "You are strong; you are stronger than you credit yourself for."

"Biased, dear girl, my darling biased girl."

"Mmm, maybe."

Silence fell on them, silence that was broken only by the chirrup of birds that flew high above their heads.

"Thank you," Tonks' soft voice broke the stillness. "For making me walk out here. You were right; the four walls were driving me mad."

"It's how I found the garden, you know," Remus spoke haltingly. "Sirius and Harry made me go down one day… there were too many people so we found a path. It led to the part that I would always go to. It was my escape from my walls."

"When did you first go?"

Remus frowned. "Six months after I was discharged from hospital. I'd only left the house when Sirius had dragged me out for doctors' appointments."

Tonks shifted so she could watch his face.

"It was a bad time. I… I was not good then. Sirius started working and so I would take Harry, he would hold onto my hand so tightly and it was only him that got me home some days. Many days."

"You are still scared, aren't you?"

A crooked smile. "Terrified, my darling, terrified. Despite what you all say, this child, this child could hate me."

"You are a hero. This baby won't hate you. They will love you, adore you, and worship you. Harry still does. You are the person that he looks up to the most in this family. He strives to be like you. This baby is going to be exactly the same."

"Yes, you are right, of course you are right."

"I'm always right," Tonks reminded.

"Always."

"And I'm right in saying that this child needs to not have your patience," Tonks began as she pressed a hand to her lower back. But before she could continue, she let out a gasp at a sudden pain in her lower stomach before feeling some wetness begin to spread in her last pair of leggings that fit.

"Dora?" Remus asked, his brow drawing forward quickly.

"Speak of the devil. Last time this kid'll do what I say, I'm sure," Tonks muttered, reaching out to grab her husband's arm tightly. "Time to go."

"Fuck," Remus said eloquently, his eyes widening as he realized what was going on. Despite all of his fears and the endless rides his mind had taken him on the last few months, it was only now that Remus fully and wholly comprehended that there was going to be a new and very real addition to their family.

"That's what got us in this mess, dearest. Now go call the cavalry and get this show on the road," Tonks snorted, finding herself to be slightly amused by the look on Remus's face as she watched him appear rather dumbstruck.

"Right," Remus gasped before his spine suddenly straightened as if a superior officer had shouted out a command. "Right." And he, to Tonks' surprise, adopted his long-lost ability to take control of every little thing within the immediate vicinity. Remus was normally able to effortlessly command a great deal of respect from those around him, but this was the first time Tonks had seen the man that had become part of the Special Forces with his friends at such a young age.

"Harry!" Remus' shout had Harry and Ginny emerging from behind the hedge and Tonks found herself eased to her feet and being carefully guided across the lawn. "Get the car out. Ginny, there is a bag in the hallway, go and get it."

Harry's eyes widened. "You're in labour?"

Tonks' fingers bit deep into Remus' arm. "Yes, I bloody well am. Move!"

Harry and Ginny fled, at a run, as Remus guided his wife across the lawn towards the car that was being reversed from the garage.

"I thought I was meant to be in labour for hours," Tonks's voice was slurred with exhaustion and Camilla smiled as she smoothed the damp hair back from Tonks' forehead.

"You are one of those horrible women that get it over with quickly. We all hate you."

Tonks laughed sleepily before rolling her head to look at the chair directly beside her where Remus sat, their tiny baby cradled in his arms. Harry and Sirius were both leaning over the back of his chair and Tonks could see Sirius' hand resting securely on his friend's shoulder.

Harry looked up and smiled. "You're awake?"

"We have been talking and you three were on in a world of your own." She moved her hand and Remus carefully shifted the baby in his arms so that he could tangle his fingers in hers.

Their eyes locked and she squeezed his fingers very gently. "All right?"

"I should be asking you that," Remus murmured. "He's perfect. You are perfect." He kissed her fingers gently.

"Have you got a name for him?" Harry asked, staring at the new-born like he might disappear if he blinked.

Remus' eyes locked on his wife and Tonks' lips curled into a smile.

"Yes," She shifted slightly. "And we have a godfather too."

Sirius grinned. "Go on. What's the kid's name then?"

"You do the honours, sweetheart."

"His name, drumroll please, Godmother."

Camilla laughed and obligingly drum-rolled on the table.

"Edward Remus Lupin, Teddy, for my dad, and his."

"That is a perfect name!" Camilla squealed. "I love it! Little Teddy! And his godfather?"

Tonks smiled sleepily. "This is your announcement, love."

Remus pushed himself to his feet awkwardly and winced at the pull in his hip. "There are two choices who are some of the most important people in my life. Sirius, you already have Harry. And it was Harry that convinced me that I could be a father. So, Dora and I would be honoured if… if you could… We want you to be little Teddy's godfather."

Harry's eyes widened and Sirius slung an arm around the young man, beaming. "There you go, all grown up and responsible."

"Now you have to hold your godson," Tonks insisted. "Sit down and give him a proper cuddle, Harry. Sirius, find me ice cream. Remus, you come and sit with me. And Mill, please, please find out when I can get out of here, I want to be in my own bed."

"You regretting this whole communal house thing, yet?"

Harry looked up from where he had been blindly poking at some toast. He looked like he had been rudely awaken, at an indecent hour no less, but despite this, the look on his face as he looked up at the source of rudeness was the complete opposite of the dark smudges beneath his eyes.

"He's got to sleep through the night sometime, right?" Harry asked in response to Tonks's dry comment as he easily scooped the infant out of her arms. The new addition to the family had only been in the house for a few weeks, but the teenager was already a natural in a way only attained by close proximity (and a selfless desire to ease the burden of the rest of the family members).

"So I've been told," Tonks sighed as she got up to make herself a strong cup of coffee, and enough for the others in the house. She had hoped Remus would go back to sleep but knew that was a futile wish. Motherhood wasn't easy but she counted herself lucky every night when she realized that some women barely had one person to help while she had three (and more when the door was open to their constant flow of visitors).

"At least he seems to be a friendly baby. Mrs. Weasley told me that Percy didn't like other people holding him for a long time," Harry said as he leaned back into the kitchen chair, smiling down at his godson who gurgled up at him.

"I don't think he has a choice, do you, Teddy?" Tonks cooed, swiping her hand over his soft hair from over Harry's shoulder. She doubted there had ever been a more doted-upon child on this side of the Thames. Not only did Teddy have a house full of people to tend to his every need, he had his grandparents, godmother, and a clan of redheads that seemed to readily accept the bubbly baby into their generosity. Not to mention the few co-workers that had visited Tonks during her leave. (She had a few secret copies of the one photo taken of Moody holding her son that she would keep until her dying day, she was sure.)

"What a difficult life," Harry snarked, shaking his head before craning his neck to keep his glasses out of reach.

"You've really become quite good at this, Harry," Tonks smiled as she said down beside him, sipping at her sugar-filled coffee. "You looked bloody terrified when we forced him onto you at the hospital but now-"

"I'm just hiding it well," Harry said dryly, flinching as Teddy squirmed strongly and looking as if the move about caused him to have a heart attack.

"That's the epitome of parenthood," Tonks smirked, slipping her arms around the baby as he began whimpering for something only she could give.

"Hello, little man," Remus lifted Teddy from his cradle. "You do have a good set of lungs on you. Poor Mummy is still asleep so why don't you and I walk downstairs and give you a bottle?"

Teddy, still whimpering, stared up at his father's exhausted face. "You know, it's a good thing you are so cute. Waking up everyone in the house at least once a night. At least it's a more pleasant way to wake up, hearing you cry instead of hearing my screams."

Remus pulled a bottle of Tonks's milk from the fridge and placed it in a cup of hot water. He had his son's full attention now. "I was having a nightmare anyhow, so you waking me up was a relief, I must admit. Mummy thinks my nightmares are getting better, and she is right, mostly, but they are still there, almost every night. But I have her to wake up to, and now I have you. I was scared when I found out about you, I admit, and I'm still scared that you will hate me when you grow up. That you will despise me. I'm still scared that Harry will think that way, though, and even I'm not dense enough to not acknowledge such a stupid thought." Remus retrieved the bottled and limped through the darkened house to the cosy sitting room. "You are such a precious gift, one that I could never have imagine, do you know that, Teddy Boy? And you are loved. So loved." Remus eased himself down and stretched his aching leg out. His face softened as Teddy greedily latched onto the teat of the bottle. "Hungry little lad, aren't you? Your mum wants to take you to the zoo tomorrow. Goodness knows why, you won't remember it by next week. But Uncle Sirius and Uncle Harry are just as excited and Aunty Mill and Aunty Ginny are coming along too. They have grand ideas that you are going to love the lions or elephants. Me, I'm just hoping I don't fall to pieces. I've not been to the zoo, not since I came home, and I am rather afraid that your Dad doesn't think he will handle it well. Which is why my nightmares were particularly brutal tonight. Mummy is so excited about it and I never took Uncle Harry to the zoo… I should have but I could never do it." Remus stared down at Teddy who had curled his tiny fist around Remus' finger. "Oh, well, hopefully Dad doesn't embarrass you and have a meltdown." Remus smothered a yawn. "Shall we pop you back into bed, sweetheart? Before Mum comes looking for us?"

Remus winced as he limped slowly up the stairs to his room. Tonks was stirring and he brushed a kiss to her forehead. "Back to sleep, dearest."

"Teddy?"

"Fed. Back to sleep."

"Love you." The words were mumbled as she rolled over and buried her face against Remus' pillow.

Remus smiled as he placed Teddy carefully into the cradle and tucked the soft blanket around him. "I love you too."

Harry was lying on his stomach pulling faces at Teddy who lay on the floor near the fire. They had celebrated his sixth month birthday earlier that day, complete with cake and balloons. The Weasleys, Andromeda and Ted, and several police officers had found themselves obligingly congratulating Tonks on raising her son to six months and Sirius had been able to control his laughter long enough to bestow the baby with a toy motorbike, much to his father's silent disgust.

The house was quiet again, and the star of the day, who had slept all through his party, was now wide awake. Remus was sitting in a comfortable seat close to where Harry and Teddy were playing. He could see the smiles and expressions of delight that crossed his son's face and a small smile lingered on his tired face. There had been friends of Tonks's and Harry's in his home today. Strangers. A fact that he would never begrudge his family for, yet… after weeks of exhaustion and sleepless nights, it had left him hiding himself away, his face pale and strained until Harry had found him and sat, forcing his uncle to talk, until some of the anxiety had faded from Remus' eyes.

Tonks crossed the room and draped herself across Remus' lap. "You look tired."

"He's starting to sleep longer overnight," Remus murmured.

"Are you though?" Sirius asked suddenly. He pushed away the paper he was reading.

Harry shifted and glanced between the men who had raised him "Do I need to take Teddy and go pretend I don't know what you are talking about?"

Sighing, Remus leaned his head back against the chair. "No. I think you are old enough not to have to pretend that you have no idea what you are talking about."

Harry grinned. "Your dad is silly if he thinks I care about that." He informed the baby who was relishing being un-swaddled. "He's silly if he thinks you are going to care about that stuff too. You'll just want to make life as easy as possible. While being a bratty teenager."

"He's not going to be a brat!" Tonks objected. "I'll threaten him with a night in lock-up if he is."

"You will not!" Remus retorted.

Sirius laughed. "Come on, Dora, can you actually imagine, any child of Remus Lupin, being awful enough?"

"Well, there is the frightening chance that he will take after me, isn't there, darling!" Tonks cooed to her son.

"Lord. I hope not." Remus muttered.

"So. Sleeping, Remus?" Sirius pulled the conversation back to the one topic his best friend was determined to ignore.

"Sirius." There was a note of warning.

"Remus." A cheery rejoinder.

Tonks rolled her eyes. "No, he's sleeping terribly. But, it's improving."

"Good." Sirius nodded. He settled on the floor beside his godson. "We should start planning this one's first birthday party. After all, if your mum plans this party for your sixth month birthday what is she going to do for your first birthday?"

"I was thinking a jumping castle?" Harry mused aloud. "Jumping castles are fun."

"Oh! That's a good idea." Tonks looked entirely too excited by the idea.

"I think one is a little young for a jumping castle, my love," Remus was laughing. "As much as I think Harry would like one!"

"I don't know what you are talking about, Uncle Remus!" Harry objected, a broad grin across his face. "I am thinking of the joy of my godson!"

"You are such a generous godfather," Tonks laughed. "I'm going down to my darkroom. There are some photos I want to look at from today. I can trust the three of you not to corrupt my son?"

"I will ensure that they mind their manners." Remus kissed his wife. "Don't be long."

"Disgusting." Sirius muttered. "You are going to scar this kid if you keep this up!"

Tonks laughed and lightly hit the back of her cousin's head as she passed. "He will live. He will always know that his parents love each other and so, he will live."

She paused in the doorway and looked back at her little family. Harry was handing Teddy up to his father and the three men was bent over the baby who cooed and waved his tiny fists. Love flooded her face. This family were her entire world. A wonderful addition to her life that ten years ago she would never have imagined.