Take Her in Your Arms

Chapter 6

Coming out and Staying In

"Oh Nympha-dora," his fingers ran through her choppy violet hair, "My beautiful gift."

Tonks nuzzled against his chin, "You know your Greek."

Remus smiled, and kissed her forehead, "I know my love."

"Ahhh!" She laughed, twinkling dark eyes looked into pale blue, and then both pairs fluttering closed, leaned in for a kiss when the parlor door swung open.

"Oh, ummm..." Arthur Weasley, stumbled, "Sorry to interrupt, but we're ready to begin the meeting."

Remus quickly stiffened, "We'll be there in a moment, Arthur."

As soon as the door shut behind Weasley, Remus once again stroked Tonks' hair, "Can we still keep this between us for now. I'm not sure I'm ready to face the firing squad yet."

"Of course, but I really don't know what you're afraid of. The Order is going to have to except 'us' like it or not." Tonks replied fiercely.

Gripping her hand tightly, "I know a thing or two about being accepted, Nymphadora. It can't be forced." Pausing he shook his head and sighed, "How do you think the others will respond when they find out that a middle aged, out of work werewolf is dating a young, beautiful, Ministry auror?"

Tonks considered his point, but thought that he had it a bit turned around. "Remus, I am twenty five with a government job, not exactly a sporting girl anymore. Besides that, you may think me beautiful, but purple hair aside, I'm quite average and did I mention a complete klutz?"

"The klutz part I agree with," Remus replied.

"Some people may think that you seduced me, but Remus," Tonks bit her lip, "You're a school teacher that wears tweed suits and drinks chamomile tea, I mean, you're really just not the seducing type."

Lupin rolled his eyes, "It's always the tweed!"

"What I'm trying to say is that people who are prejudice against because of your lycanthropy aren't going change and no, us dating probably won't help either. But our friends, the people who know us best; well, I think they'll be happy for us. Finding each other, finding love in perhaps one of the darkest moments of our lives."

Remus tilted his head, "Sometimes you amaze me. I think the sun must always be shinning in your heart."

Tonks beamed with pleasure, "I'm keep your little secret for now Lupin, because you're sooo sweet. But you know, if it's in your heart, it's bound to come out."

The meeting was filled with new information on the Azkaban situation, Deatheater sightings and reports, the search for Peter Pettigrew, the Giant circumstance in Southern France and a report on the werewolf problem in Dover.

Finally, after everyone had reported and the surveillance schedule had been ordered by Lupin and approved by Moody, the meeting was called to adjournment.

"Well, dear, did you tell him?" Molly questioned Tonks.

Tonks opened her mouth to reply, but someone else spoke first. "Tell me what?" Remus Lupin asked looking relaxed, hands casually in his pockets; smile a bit cheeky.

Tonks quickly turned to look at him, trying to read his facial expression, but as usual, Remus was wearing his regular, pleasant facade. "Molly wanted to know if I told you about..."

"About that big fall sale at Warrod's. I picked up some up Arthur some lovely summer jumpers there yesterday." Moll pushed in.

"Aghhh. Well, I'm quite stocked in the jumper category." Remus replied and Tonks inwardly knew he wasn't believing any of it.

"Sorry about barging in on you two," Arthur entered the conversation. "Molly hadn't given me the heads up to start knocking on the doors around here." He laughed at his joke, but Remus merely flushed, Tonks was at a loss for words and Molly beamed with happiness.

Arthur, realizing his mistake, winced, "Oh dear, that was a secret wasn't it?"

"What's a secret?" Asked Ron who was trailed by Ginny into the kitchen.

Arthur reddened, "Ummm..."

"Remus and I are dating." Tonks blurted out, and nearly every voice in the kitchen silenced. They hadn't meant to tell anyone, but better they knew than suspect she and Remus we're involved in some kind of risqué tryst.

Ron's face twisted in confusion, "Each other?"

"Yes," Remus answered calmly, although Tonks knew Remus wished to keep their relationship a secret and now that it was out, well, he might be furious or he might be relieved. Looking at him, she noticed his tighten jaw, but still, it was hard to tell how he felt.

"Congratulations!" Molly jubilantly answered, throwing her arms around Tonks in a crushing hug.

Moody swaggered over to the group; everyone was starring, "Dating? In the middle of a war?" Everyone knew his implication.

Remus, stood firm his ground and Tonks was in awe of his strength of will, "Nymphadora and I have decided to see each other outside of our Order duties."

Moody grimaced, "Lupin, you remember the last war. Think about what happened to the Longbottoms, and the Smithwicks; Sally Malestrom and Grover Parks." Everyone knew that the Deatheaters had used their loved ones in retaliation attempts and torture.

"That's not quiet fair Alistair, Molly and I were married with Charlie during the first war." Arthur interrupted.

"You were lucky," Moody growled.

A new voice slunk into the heated debate. A smirk twisted on the lips of Severus Snape, "Perhaps you both should think about retiring from the advanced guard. Surely, you can't think about you duties when you're playing handsy in the hallways."

Tonks hand tightened on the grip of her wand.

Remus looked severe with his hands locked behind his back, but his voice remained cool, "Thank you for your input Severus, Alistair, but Nymphadora and I are both dedicated to the Order and to its success above anything else. Our personal involvement doesn't change our commitment or our focus on our duties."

Moody stepped very close to Remus and cocked his hat; his crazy eye piercing the younger man. "So basically Lupin, you're telling me to bugger off?"

With utter composer, Remus replied, "That's exactly what I'm telling you to do."

Moody crackled with laughter, and raised his flask in the air, "To hell with it then; Remus Lupin is in love!"

Some gasped, others laughed, Molly teared, and Remus and Tonks both flushed scarlet.

"Arthur, open a bottle of the single malt, I think we have something to toast to. Our werewolf is in love!" As everyone fell into a festive mood, Moody grabbed Lupin's arm, a fatherly moment overwhelming him. "You know Lupin, Tonks is a feisty lass and a good girl."

Remus was very aware of the emphasis that Moody put on the word girl.

"Take care of her, Remus."

Remus Lupin knew full well that Tonks could take care of herself and she was certainly more woman than girl, but still, something in him, perhaps chivalry or just the male protective gene made him replied, "Yes, sir, I will."

Finally, after the guests were gone and the Weasleys tucked safe away in bed, Tonks and Lupin took to the stairs, ascending to the bedrooms.

"That was certainly an unexpected evening." Remus mused.

"When have I ever done anything expectedly, Remus?" Tonks flipped a quick smile in his direction.

"Ahhh, very true; you do keep life interesting. Thank Merlin." He laughed, apparently not upset that Tonks had let their secret slip to the entire Order.

Upon arriving on the top stair and after slowly ambling down the hallway together, they paused between the bedroom doors.

"Well," Remus stopped, turning to face the petite, dark eyed woman standing before him, arms encircling her waist. "I suppose this is where we say goodnight."

Tonks casually put her finger to her chin. "I though that you had something to give me?"

Remus looked- up surprised. "I do, but do you still want it tonight?"

"Well, if it's past your bedtime-" Tonks trailed off, when suddenly Lupin jerked her back to his side, his hands tightly ensnaring her wrists.

"Night is a wolf's most active time of day, my dear." His pale eyes burned with teasing desire.

Nymphadora Tonks, feeling cheeky, feeling loved and feeling sexy as hell, moved a step closer until her body melded against his. Instant desire was aroused on both sides, as soft moved hard and she answered, "Prove it."

In true Lupin style, Remus didn't flinch. His thin lips smirked, and then merely raising an eyebrow he asked, "My bedroom or yours?"

Author's Note:

No, this isn't the end! I've just been busy. Thanks for all of your reviews; they're very inspiring!! Hopefully, the next will leave you saying, "Yum!" Don't hold your breath...