Chapter 60: The World Outside

"Checkmate," Tonks sang across the table at Lyall. She watched as his king crumbled to the board.

"You play chess very well," Lyall told his daughter-in-law.

Tonks beamed. "Mad-eye and I used to play all the time. He said the strategy would help me as an auror, but mostly I think he was just trying to get me to keep still."

"Dora?" came a soft voice from around the corner.

Tonks jumped to her feet and jogged over to her husband who came limping into the room. She took Remus's arm to support him, but she could tell that he was much steadier than when they had first arrived at Lyall's house. The sleep and potions had done him well.

"How are you feeling?" Tonks asked, reaching out to smooth Remus's messy hair.

Stubbled was sprinkled across his cheeks and chin and Lyall's borrowed striped pajamas hung loosely off Remus's thin body. Tonks rarely saw her husband like this. Apart from right before and after the full moon, Remus always remained well groomed. Tonks knew that it was his way of separating himself from other's perceptions of werewolves by demonstrating as much propriety as possible.

Though, Tonks had to admit that she liked this rougher yet vulnerable side of her husband.

"Much better," he announced. Then, to Tonks's surprise, Remus nuzzled up against her. "I woke up and you weren't there," he said into her neck.

His breath tickled her skin pleasantly and sent a thrill down her form at this innocent but clear display of affection.

Tonks had noticed that the first time they had been around Lyall, Remus had been more comfortable with physical affection toward her in front of his father than any other onlookers. Lyall and Tonks were the two living people with whom Remus felt the safest.

Tonks wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sorry," she teased, "but you were asleep forever. You were making me impatient."

"You're always impatient," Remus hummed in her ear before pulling back, but taking up her hand in the process.

"Hey," Tonks said, with mock offense.

Remus grinned down at her before turning to his father.

"Thank you for…" Remus trailed off.

"You don't need to thank me," Lyall said earnestly, still sitting behind the battle ground of a chess board.

Remus dropped his gaze and nodded.

"Remus, Sweetheart, come sit?" Tonks said, leading him by the hand to an armchair.

Remus slowly lowered himself into the chair and Tonks sat on the floor, cross-legged beside him. She leaned back against his legs, her pink hair spilling onto his lap. Remus loosely knotted his fingers in it.

"I see that my wife beat you at chess," Remus remarked.

"Your wife destroyed me at chess," Lyall corrected, sending Tonks a raised brow look. She grinned back at him.

"Dora wins at all games," Remus said, a smile tugging at his lips, "I gave up a long time ago."

"Well," Lyall said. "I enjoyed the game regardless of my pride being shot." Lyall's eyes flit from Tonks's face to his son's. "Tonks told me about the baby."

The strands of Tonks's hair slipped through Remus's fingers as she turned to look at him.

Remus's face became stony and white. "Oh," he breathed, struggling to keep his gaze up.

Lyall's eyes searched his son's face, waiting for his response.

"You taught me to be mindful and cautious with my condition," Remus continued, barely moving his lips. "I can't imagine what you must think of me."

Tonks quickly took up Remus's hand and gave his fingers a tight squeeze.

Remus casted Tonks a pained look. He knew that it upset her that he, along with everyone else, showed a lack of enthusiasm towards their child. He knew that he ought to protect her feelings. He knew that he should be trying to be strong for her. However, in that moment, he felt like a child who had just been caught in wrongdoing.

Lyall stood from his seat and took long strides over to where his son sat. He stooped slightly and placed his hand on Remus's shoulder.

Remus forced himself to look into his father's eyes, expecting to see disappointment and shame, but he didn't.

"As I told Tonks," Lyall said. "I'm so please for you both."

"What?" Remus choked.

An expression that was both pain and love crossed over Lyall's face. "Being your father has been the most wonderful and rewarding experience of my life," Lyall told Remus. "And perhaps I haven't told you enough." Lyall cleared his throat. "I speak for your mother as well when I say that we have always been and always will be incredibly proud of you, Remus."

Remus stared dumbfounded at his father. He inhaled shapely. No words came to mind.

"I'm pleased that you will be able to experience the same joy that we did," Lyall said. He gave his son's shoulder a final squeeze and straightened. "Well," he transitioned somewhat awkwardly. "I will get you something to eat, shall I?"

"T-Thank you," Remus stammered.

Lyall nodded and walked out of the room without another word.

Remus stared at the spot where his father had just been. Then he felt Tonks touch his face and his gaze gravitated towards her.

"You look stunned," she said.

"I'm reevaluating my entire existence, actually," Remus remarked.

Tonks smirked and then eased herself onto Remus's lap. Remus leaned into her, resting his head on her shoulder. "I see," Tonks said, snuggling closer to her husband. "And what are you discovering?"

"This feels like the story I told you once," Remus explained, looking up at her. "Do you remember? The one about the wizard who lived his whole life in the dark, grey house?"

"I do."

"Well, it's like that," he said. "Like I'm suddenly realizing that I've been staring at different shades of grey my whole life, passing it off as different colors when there was a bright world just outside."

"And someone finally knocked on the door?" Tonks offered.

"Knocked me over the head more like," Remus said, smiling.

Tonks laughed.

Remus slipped his hand under his wife's shirt, feeling the warm skin of her abdomen under his palm. "You're wearing your own clothes." Remus just realized.

"Yes," Tonks told him. "I went to Mum and Dad's place briefly to pick some things up. I brought you clothes too."

Remus's face hardened slightly.

"Don't worry," Tonks said quickly. "Your dad had me send word when I was leaving and when I was on my way home."

"I will always worry about you," Remus told her gently. "Especially now." He rubbed his hand over her belly.

Tonks's heartbeat quickened as she gazed into her husband's eyes, his pupils two eclipsed moons with a gravitational pull. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Her lips found his and he smiled against her mouth before deepening their kiss.

They only parted when they heard a throat clear.

Lyall had stepped back into the room, carrying a steaming bowl of broth.

Tonks tried to jump off Remus's lap, but he held her in place.

She blushed under her father-in-law's gaze, a look that was both uncomfortable and amused.

Lyall handed the broth to Tonks, seeing that Remus's hands were occupied holding her hips.

"Tonks said the healer advised clear liquids for a few days," Lyall said apologetically as Remus eyed the broth with a bit of disappointment.

"I doubt I could stomach much more," Remus admitted.

"I'm going to let you both have some time alone," Lyall told them.

"Thank you," Remus told his father, "for everything."

Lyall gave his son a tight smile, his eyes a bit misty. "You don't need to thank me," Lyall said gently before leaving the room again.

"Here," Tonks said, fishing the spoon from the bowl and scooped out a bit of the broth.

Remus looked momentarily taken aback but then his grey-blue eyes softened. He parted his lips, allowing her to feed him.

Tonks knew that Remus could manage himself, but she wanted to take care of him, and her heart swelled with the realization that he was letting her.

"Don't spill on me," Remus teased.

"No promises," Tonks returned, beaming.

She gave him a second spoonful and then chased the broth with a kiss.

"Shouldn't I be the one taking care of you?" Remus pointed out.

"You always do," Tonks told him, "But let's get you well again and then you can give into all the mad pregnancy cravings that I'm sure I'll have."

A slow smirk pulled at Remus's lips. "Oh Merlin," he said, "I can only imagine." He laughed, making his bruised ribs sore but he didn't care. "Just think, if we have a little Dora running around the house…"

"Along with the full-sized Dora?"

"Things may be a bit chaotic," Remus said, grinning.

"You'll love it," Tonks pointed out.

"I know I will," Remus replied.

XXX

Dear Readers,

As always, thank you for reading. I recently was asked if I am going to follow canon at the end of the story. The truth is, I have no idea! I have two possible endings in mind. I do think that there are a few canon things I will stray from in upcoming chapters.

Sincerely,

Thora Jane