Tonks's fingers held onto the granite countertops in thought. There was a hastened rise and fall of her chest in fear, her eyes scanning the tile flooring over and over. Was she hiding? Remus said they needed to talk about something and she was sure she knew what it was about. But did she know?
There was a knock on the wooden door.
"Dora, honey? Are you alright?" Her husband asked through the locked door.
"Yea-" She cleared her throat. "Yeah, everything's fine! I'm just-"
"Are you sure? You don't sound well." Remus pointed out.
"Yeah!" She rushed to the door, opening it up to him with a smile. "Wotcher- Hi, hon."
"Hey..." Remus looked at her rather confused. "Do I need to leave you to...?"
"I just, um- I just wasn't feeling well all of a sudden. I think I'm coming down with a cold or something..." Tonks shook her head. "Or maybe it was just my breakfast not settling properly. Couldn't quite stay down. Nerves? I dunno."
"Are you feeling better then?" Remus asked worriedly.
"Yeah! Yeah, much better. All better!" She stood on her toes to kiss his cheek, but he flinched.
"I don't want that." He remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Tonks rolled her eyes, trying to make it past him. "Fine. The bathroom's all yours."
"Uh, actually, I wanted to talk about something." He said, touching the back of his neck.
"Oh, right, well let's..." Tonks walked over to the bed, sitting down and patting the spot beside her. "What's on your mind?"
"It's..." He sighed thoughtfully, draping his leg over the corner. "Something's come up. Professor McGonagall got ahold of me and... well, there was a little accident... and the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is taking the next year off."
She seemed shocked. "Is he now?"
"I know that it's short notice, but... they offered me the job. Just temporary! Just for the year... but, uh, I knew I'd need to consult you first." Remus explained nervously.
Tonks took his hand, squeezing it. "That's... wonderful! Isn't it? You loved teaching and the students loved having you. Come on, you really have to accept!"
"I'd really like to..." He smiled. His delighted expression was almost goofy, like a small child's, but it quickly became serious. "I don't know though. It's Teddy."
"What about Teddy?" She shook her head.
"He's... I don't want to just leave for ten months and only be home for Christmas. Teddy won't understand... besides, who'll take care of him?"
"Remus, I can see about cutting my hours back if you're working. I thin nk he's old enough he could come with me anyways." Tonks assured, an urgency in her voice. As excited as she was, however, there was a sinking feeling in her stomach. "We can figure this out. You can come home on weekends! Why not? Really, you have to accept this offer."
"A bit insistant, aren't you?" He chuckled.
"I prefer to call it adamant persuasion." She tried to joke.
"I knew that I wanted a job eventually, but not that I'm being offered one, it's a bit daunting, if I'm being completely honest."
Tonks squeezed his hand again reassuringly, reach up with her other to brush his hair back and kiss him on the forehead. "We both know you'll do a wonderful job. Imagine... I know it's temporary, but if you can just get this job, it might be a stepping stone to something that... maybe you'll love it even more than you did before. Or not. Maybe you find out that you really like where you're at."
Remus thought for a minute. "What are your thoughts? I mean, how does this affect you?"
"Well..." She thought. "Teddy will have to stay with Mum, but she can handle that... I'll cut back on my hours a bit, I have some leeway there..."
"I'd never see you." Remus said sadly. "Or Teddy."
"Remus, it' just ten months." Tonks persuaded hopefully. "I am so proud of you. You can't turn this down, really. You know you'll regret it."
"I will, won't I...?" He sighed, patting the inside of her leg. "But what if students need me on the weekend? Or the breaks, how will I- I hadn't even thought about full moons yet... Snape's not there anymore, is he?" Remus was rambling a bit. "The parents, they'd hate me, wouldn't they?"
"You'd do great and everything'll work itself out in the end. If not, I'll come up there myself to visit." Tonks declared.
"You would?"
"Of course I would. And you know I'd still be willing to make your potions or buy them for you, and the parents won't hate you." She told him. "I know this could be scary, but you really ought to accept."
He thought for a moment, nodding. "You're right. I should."
Tonks beamed, wrapping her arms around him tightly in a hug. "I'm so excited for you!"
"You're the best, Dora." He smiled, holding her tightly in his arms. "You know that, but I wouldn't be able to do all this without you."
"You don't give yourself enough credit." Tonks prodded him.
"And you don't give yourself enough either." Remus countered, kissing the end of her nose.
"Well, in that case, I'd say we're even." She smirked playfully. "And I love you, too."
She was distracted for now, but it seemed her idea had crumbled. With Remus still hesitant to work, knowing well he wanted to, she knew she had to keep quiet. That night at dinner, she had planned on announcing the baby that would be due the following February. But for now, it was going to be her little secret.
AN: Hello, readers! Sorry for my wild update schedule. I didn't want there to be too much filler, while keeping from jumping around all over the place. I love hearing from you all, so feel free to leave a review! :)
