Despite everything that was going on and still needed to be done - planning for Harry, general security, other Order work, Bill and Fleur's Wedding, life- that all came to a standstill tonight. It should have come to a standstill for Remus yesterday in her opinion but she just had to be married to the most stubborn man on the planet (and, yes, she still got a thrill from saying that, even in her head). So, it came to a stop today. Or, to be more specific, late this afternoon. Did she mention that the man was stubborn?

You see, it was the full moon tonight - in an hour or so - and, well, it wasn't going to go well. Remus had gone from being able to use Wolfsbane, having to go off it for a year, briefly using it again and now with the whole Snape fiasco he didn't have it again. To put it lightly, it wasn't good for his body, going back and forth like that. Apparently, it really messed with his system and Remus knew tonight was going to be a bad night.

The thing was, Tonks wasn't too sure what a bad night entailed and Remus did not want to elaborate in the matter. In fact, he didn't even want her anywhere near him. As in, not in the house.

"Remus, I'll be fine. You know I will be."

That didn't seem to assuage any of his worries at all. Come on, she wasn't naive. She knew how awful the werewolf transformation was. She knew it wasn't all sunshine and daisies.

"You've only ever been near me when I've had Wolfsbane," he told her. Close was a bit of a long shot. She had been in Grimmauld Place while he and Sirius took up the attic or top rooms. That wasn't exactly close in her opinion. It wasn't like she had s giggled beside him while he was all curled up as a wolf. Though, that was something she definitely wanted to do when they could get Remus Wolfsbane again. It would be fun.

"Yes. But I'm not going to do anything stupid like go down there when you're fully transformed," she reminded him.

She had already told him this. Multiple times.

"I know, it's just..." He trailed off and looked uncomfortable.

Tonks leaned forwards and gave him a hug. He looked like he needed.

"You just want to keep me safe," she finished for him.

He looked relieved that she understood.

"Exactly!"

"I'm still not leaving the house, Remus," she informed him, making his face fall. "You are going to be in a reinforced basement, chained to a wall in a way you know yourself that you can't get out of. I. Will. Be. Fine."

She was definitely not fine with the being needed to be chained to a wall bit but, unfortunately, there was really no other option. Since Snape was... well, since Snape was unavailable, there was no more Wolfsbane. No more Wolfsbane meant a transformed Remus was dangerous. She knew that. The only way a werewolf could be handled with no Wolfsbane was with another animal and she wasn't an Animagus.

He looked like he wanted to argue further with her but then, after one look at her face, said nothing. Remus Lupin might be the most stubborn man on the planet but she could be the most stubborn woman when it suited her.

"Just please make sure to slip my wand under the door when it's morning," he requested.

Tonks raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? You can't heal yourself when you're exhausted."

"I can!"

Well, okay, maybe he could. He had definitely done it loads of time before. But he shouldn't have to. Especially when she was here. Anyway, it was risky to try and heal yourself when you were magically exhausted. Best case scenario; you partially healed yourself. Worst case scenario; you make the injury even worse and you pass out from magical exhaustion. It wasn't pretty. Surely Remus knew these risks?

"But you shouldn't," she tried to say gently and not let the exasperation she was feeling seep into her voice.

Hadn't they already got over this big hump in their relationship? Surely Remus knew by now that trying to do everything alone wasn't going to work?

"It's really no problem."

"Remus."

She folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at him. He tried to glare back at her but couldn't. His shoulders slumped and he let out a loud sigh.

"I don't want you to see me all injured like I get after the full moon," he admitted.

"We're married Remus. Actually, even if we weren't I still wouldn't mind seeing you like that."

"But I would. And do."

Oh.

"Remus..."

"Dora, I don't want you to see me like that," he said in this pathetic voice that just tugged on her heartstrings.

"Remus, we've been over this. You know I'm not scared of the state you get yourself in. Or any injuries you inflict on yourself. I don't pity you either. You know this."

He stared at her for agonisingly long minutes. Her stomach twisted. Had she said something wrong? Should she have just let it be?

"Infuriating woman!" He said, shaking his head.

She grinned. Everything was okay. He was okay.

"Idiotic idiot!"

"Man, you mean."

"No. I meant idiot."

[xxxxxx]

Tonks lay out flat on hers and Remus' bed just staring at the ceiling. It was awfully big without him. And lonely but that kind of went without saying.

The moon had risen. Had been up for about two hours now, though it felt like more. Way more.

She strained her ears but couldn't hear anything. Those silencing charms of his were powerful. Though, did she really want to hear something? Remus had told her of the cracking and reforming of bones and the screams that turned into howls. The thought sent shivers down her spine. But, in a way, she also did want to hear it. What type of a wife, a friend, a person would she be if she couldn't show that she supported him through everything? But Remus had vehemently refused. Through shame, fear or wanting to protect her, Tonks couldn't tell. But it wasn't worth arguing over. This wasn't something that could be forced. The fact that she was still in the house was enough of a step forward for the meantime. This sort of thing took trust and trust took time. Even between people who were obviously meant for each other.

She should probably try to sleep. There was no point in having them both exhausted tomorrow, after all. But she couldn't. She had tried, honestly, she had but she couldn't. Not while she was thinking of what was going on down in the basement.

It just wasn't fair. It wasn't! Remus shouldn't have to go through something like this every single month of the year just because some maniac decided he liked to harm children! Remus had done nothing. It wasn't fair!

But life wasn't fair, was it? No, it wasn't. You just had to make the best of it. And that's what they were doing. And, you know what? Despite the full moon and other things their best was pretty damn good in Tonks' opinion.

Wiping tears from her face (she hadn't even realised that she had been crying), Tonks gave herself a resolute nod and reached for the book she had by her bed.

If she couldn't sleep, she may as well try to relax and read, right?

Making the best of it.