All characters are property of J.K.Rowlings, this writing is for my own enjoyment.

Chapter 5: First Move

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." ~Shakespeare

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"Hello Remus, come on in." A middle aged woman with very pink lipstick and twinkling dark eyes stepped back to opened the door to her home.

"Good evening Andromeda." Remus nodded and stepped into the entryway of the townhouse where unusual smells were wafting from the kitchen. This wasn't a good sign.

"Ummm... Is Nyphadora cooking again tonight?"

Mrs. Tonks laughed lightly, laying a hand on Remus's forearm, "Yes, I'm afraid she insisted and unfortunately Ted and I have other obligations this evening, so I'm afraid you're on your own."

"Oh dear," Remus sighed as the pair made their way through the cozy town home and into the kitchen.

Every Thursday for the past twenty something years the Tonks' had had family night and for the past two years, they had included Remus Lupin. Occasionally, Sirius had joined them for dinner, games and or a muggle movie, but he wasn't much for socializing regularly even with his own family.

On the other hand, Andromeda had taken Remus under her wing like an orphaned chickadee, often questioning him on how his parents could have moved to India and left him all alone. Remus didn't have the heart to tell her he was an adult and certainly capable of living away from his parents. Anyway, he liked the Tonks' and more recently, he was being to realize that he liked one of the Tonks' very, very much.

"Hey Remus," Nyphadora beamed with a sunny smile and a waved her oven mitted hand. "I've cooked us a great meal. Mum and dad won't be around to eat, so you'll be able to have two course if you want."

"Wonderful," Remus used the best fake-happy voice that he could muster. Then turning back to Andromeda who was gathering up her purse, he added, "I hope nothing urgent is taking you away tonight."

"Oh Remus, you're so sweet to inquire, but no. Ted's boss is having a dinner party this evening for one of his clients. I hate missing family night, but you do what you have to, right?"

Remus nodded as Mrs. Tonks pinched his check and smirked, "Enjoy dinner. And Nymphadora," now turning back to her daughter who was checking the oven, "if Remus has too much to drink, make- up the guest room and have him stay the night. I won't have anyone disapperate from this house and reappear with their nose in the arse, or worse!"

Remus chuckled, "I tend to like my aperture where they are."

"Good boy." She added, and then kissing her daughter on the cheek, "Your father should have pulled up the car by now, you two have fun!" And with a click of the front door, she left.

There was an awkward moment of silence as they both realized they were alone again since the morning they had kissed. Nyphadora was impeccably muggled dressed, with bright blue hair knotted in two buns, a sparkly union jack t-shirt and hip- hugger jeans that nicely showed off her curves.

Blushing slightly, and removing his gaze from her rounded lower region, he spoke up, "So, what are you cooking for us tonight?"

"Liver parmesan."

Remus winced as she leaned into the oven and removed a steaming tray.

"I thought, I like liver and I like eggplant parmesan, so voile!" Holding the pan proudly forward, she showed off her creation which looked more like toasted dog biscuits than a main course.

"Smells delicious!" He added with hesitation.

"I hope it is. I hope this isn't like last time." She said softly biting her lower lip.

"That was just a fluke." His stomach turned as he remembered her sausage- sushi nuggets. Definitely not a good night.

"So what goes with liver parmesan, red or white wine?"

"Hmmm. I think white." Tonks answered as she shoved the toasted liver onto plates.

They soon sat down at the table to two large glasses of white wine and crusty liver-breaded, cheese caked steak. Remus took the first bite and began to chew and chew and chew. Odd; he didn't remember liver being this chewy. After a bit his jaws got tired and he decided just to force it down with a big swig of wine. With a little pain, and a lot of drink, he forced the bite of meat down his throat. He was going to eat this meal for Tonks, if it was the last thing he did.

Tonks, on the other hand, took one bite and spit it back into her napkin with a look of disgust. However, her twisted face soon turned into an anticipatory smile as she watched Remus struggle with a few bites of the liver.

Finally, his pale eyes meet hers. On seeing her smile, his lips curled upward, and they both busted out laughing.

"I know, it's awful!" Her dark eyes twinkled and her laughter was light and musical.

Remus wiped his lips with his napkin , "It's pretty bad."

It was decided they would finish the bottle of wine and order out for a pizza instead. In the meanwhile, much to the chagrin of Remus, Tonks had rented a muggle video called, "I Know What You Did Last Summer". After eating the pizza, and adding some beers to their dinner, they jointly pulled the couch directly in front of the television.

As Tonks, worked with a muggle devise which she referred to as a DVD player, Remus unlaced his shoes and propped his socked feet upon an ottoman. His stomach was full and the drink had made him extremely relaxed. And being here with Nymphadora, felt like being home, but better. She never failed to make him laugh, which was an unusual talent for man or woman.

"Where do you get this penchant for these crazy American horror films?" Remus asked as he read over the movie box cover.

"Do I really have a penchant for them. I didn't notice." She replied wide eyed.

"Last week's movie was about a Texas chainsaw killer and a few weeks ago you rented one about a guy with scissors for hands." Remus stated as he unceremoniously opened another beer for himself and Tonks.

She plopped down on the sofa along side Remus and took the beer for his hand. "I just get a feeling for movies when I pick them out, I don't go into deep analysis of why I'm doing it. Anyway, "Edward Scissor Hands" not a horror film, but drama about a young man who was misunderstood by society."

Remus huffed, "He had scissors for hands!"

"Oh! Well said by a man who has fur and paws as a past time."

Usually Remus would be offended by werewolf comments, but somehow when Tonks teased him, it seemed okay; even kind of funny. He laughed lightly, "But scissor hands are odd."

"So is this," Nymphdora morphed her ears into grey furry looking puppy dog ears. Most men would probably be shocked, but Remus just rolled his eyes.

"My ears look nothing like that."

Tonks morphed back and reaching over to him, pulled on his left ear for further study, "Correct. Your ears have more hair."

"Nymphador Tonks!" He grabbed her arm pulling her forward. "I should turn you over my knee and wallop you for that!"

Tonks eyes widened. She never thought she'd here Remus say that to her, even in jest, but she went with it. "Alright," she answered nodding eagerly, cheeks blushing.

Remus was dumbstruck for a moment as the image delightfully ran though his head. Then shoving her playfully back, he sighed, "There's no righting you is there?"

"I'm afraid not," Tonks replied regretfully, as she turned on the movie.

Even though the pair sat not more than two feet apart on the sofa, and both seemed deeply interested by the American teen thriller, neither actually were. In fact, both minds were secretly ensnarled in thoughts of last Sunday's kiss and the apparent silence that the other showed about the subject.

It was strange to Remus how women came into his life rain; either a drought or in this case, a flood. After last night, he was certain that he wanted nothing more to do with Thaleia LeStrange. Even the issue of friendship was a wavering one due to the fact that he simply didn't trust her. Something had been wrong when he kissed her; something about the movement felt... unnatural. After he had returned to his room that evening, he'd taken an extremely long shower as if somehow he could cleanse the memory of their kiss from his body.

Secondly, even though he and Tonks shared only the slightest kindling of feelings, he felt that he had somehow betrayed her by so lasciviously kissing her cousin. If she hadn't request the he bite her, who knows how far they would have gone. Also, he felt shameful for losing control with a woman whom he barely knew. That wasn't his style and the entire incident didn't sit well with him.

Tonks was blissfully unaware of the strange occurrences between Remus and Leia at number 12 Grimmald Place. Although she had had a growing crush on Remus for the past several months, their short kiss had awakened new feelings and desires. It wasn't as if she hadn't felt this way before. In fact, the entire reason she had to move back home was because her ex -boy friend, Rolfe, the lead guitar for the Brothers Grimm punk band, and she had had a nasty breakup.

After Rolfe, she'd sworn off men. That was until Remus Lupin, with his sweet smile, gentle words and crystal eyes began to steal her heart a piece at a time. Tonks smiled, and without thought she reached across the sofa and took Lupin's hand in her own.

Remus decide it was time to take action. Mustering his courage, he shifted closer to the woman on the couch and looped an arm around her shoulders, drawing her comfortably against his chest. And without words, she snuggled up her body next to his, laying her head on his shoulder.

A strange emotion over took him body, mind, and soul. It was purer than greasy lust he had experience with Leia yet, more powerful than the fraternal bond he had held with Sirius. Sunbeams danced in his chest, melting away the hardened shield around his heart, filling him with the tendrils of a new, inexperienced emotion. He blinked with realization, as he kissed the top of Nymphadora's silky blue hair, he was falling in love!

And he like it!

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