A/N: Wow! Four reviews in one sitting? Nice. More than I usually get a chapter...

Chunky Monkey: Well little sis, let me break something to you. I could kick your butt rather quickly… and what did the whole thing have to do with my story? You're weird. Very weird.

Whatzernam: You want to read more? NowI definitely want to write more:D Thanks.

Die-pink-die: Thanks. It's hard to keep them in character… And don't worry. I'm a frim believer in fluff...

Phoenixtears13: Thank you. Is this soon enough?

All I can say is, I hope you won't all kill me for this chapter. Please.


Paper Moon

Chapter Two- Seven years later…

Man walks the moon but his soul remains riveted to earth. Once upon a time it was the opposite. - Elie Wiesel

I.

Crickets chirped outside the open window, as an older Nymphadora Tonks hummed a tune in time with them. She sat with her feet curled up beneath her, eating a piece of brownie and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the back-porch of her country house. Her bare foot tapped softly in time with her humming. Short black hair was pinned with colorful pins, as blue eyes happily surveyed the rising sun. Taking a deep breaths of air, she sighed happily as the wonderful smell of roses hit her.

Her back door opened, and she glanced behind her. Smiling even more happily, she watched a young man come out onto the open porch up behind her and kiss her gently on the forehead.

"Elijah?" She laughed, as her came around and set three full bags on her picnic table, "What in Merlin's name are you doing here this early?"

The young man laughed, eyeing the plate in her hand, "Tonks, Ice cream and brownies this early?" he grinned, his blue eyes sparkling, "What are you thinking?"

She smiled shyly, poking at her browning with her fork, "I was thinking… chocolate craving." She remarked softly.

Elijah swooped down and kissed her, "I love you."

"I love you too." Tonks blushed, and pointed to the bags with her fork, "What are those?"

He grinned crookedly, and walked to the bags. "Well, we're having dinner tonight."

Tonks sat up fully, a confused look spreading across her face, "We are? You never told me!"

Elijah raised an eyebrow, "Of course I didn't. Because something would pop up and we would never be able to spend time together."

Tonks sighed, setting her plate on the side table, "Eli, what if I had work tonight?"

Elijah grinned, "Checked… Or rather I had Ginny Weasly check."

"What if I had plans with the girls?" she asked, starting to smile.

Eli shrugged, "I assumed Ginny would have told me."

Tonks place her chin in her hands, a smirk on her face. "And how often do you interrogate my friends?"

Elijah lean forward too so that their noses were almost touching,

"If I told you that I'd have to kill you too."

Tonks giggled, "Well Mr. Know-it-all…You still lose.I don't have anything to wear, and you always take me to the nicest-" She stopped as he rummaged in the first bag and pulled out a large package. "What is this?"

"You'll just have to open it."

She gave him a searching look, as she lifted the lid up. Pulling back the tissue, she let out a little breath, "Oh, Eli…" She breathed, lifting out a stunning blue dress, "It's beautiful!

"You keep your eyes such apretty blue these days." He said smiling. He lifted out a pair of white shoes out of his other bag. "And now you can't say you have no shoes."

Tonks laughed taking the shoes, "Their even in my size!"

Elijah handed her the last bag slowly, reaching in and pulling out a small something and putting it in his pocket, before handing the bag to her. She took it, with a curious expression,

"What's that?" She asked, pointing at his pocket.

"That is a surprise for later." He said winking

"When later?" she countered.

"Perhaps dinner, perhaps at Ginny's engagement party tomarrow?"

Tonks raised an eyebrow, "This what's this?" she asked pointing to the bag.

"That you can open, Tonks." He said grinning. "It's for tonight."

She reached into the bag, and pulled out a necklace case, and inside was the mose beautiful silver necklace with tiny silver-blue flowers. She leapt from her seat, and hugged Elijah, crushing the case between them.

"You spoil me so bad." She said looking into his eyes.

"What's a boyfriend for?" he joked, kissing her and wrapping her into a hug, "The real question is… Do you really love me or are you just in it for the gifts?"

Tonks eyes sparkled with mischief, "I'll have to get back to you on that one." She said pulling away.

"Tonks…" he laughed going after her.

II.

Tonks showed up at The Burrow, to hear the complete commotion and chaos inside. With a wedding almost two weeks away and an engagement party tomorrow Tonks expected no less. She knocked soundly on the door, and a vivid red head opened it wearing a yellow sundress. Ginny stared at her friend, a moment before hugging her.

"Oh Tonks! Thank heaven's you're here!" She said, her brown eyes bright, "Please save me!" She said dramaticly, pulling her in.

"It can't be that bad." Tonks laughed at her younger friend.

Ginny rolled her eyes, "The Twins have brought each of their twins over, Bill and Fleur brought their three, Charlie's brought his two and Ron and Hermione are coming over with their little one! It's going to be a nightmare!"

Tonks laughed, "I forgot you now have two sets of twins…"

"AND Fred and George themselves!"

Tonks laughed, "We can go to my house if you like."

Ginny shook her head horrified, "Only if you want Mum to hunt us going and lecture us… She's all aflutter about her only babygirl getting married. She's almost downed me with her tears. Anyways, she's cleared out the house so we can work in the den."

"Well, where are these invitations I supposed to be helping with?"

III.

"Don't worry about that stack." Tonks said reaching for it. "I told you, I'd take J-T home… After all there's only like twenty more in that stack."

Ginny eyes widen, and she said a little too quickly, "I don't mind. Really, Tonks. No need for you to stay up tonight. After all don't you have a date with Elijah?"

"Oh, I was going to do them tomorrow morning. You know I always get up early. And anyways don't you want to spend time with your fiancé? Harry has to be getting jealous with you spending so much time with me and Hermione."

Ginny shook her head, giving a short laugh, "I was going to make Harry do them."

Tonks cocked her head, "Why don't you want me to have this stack?" She said taking one side of it.

"No reason." Ginny said taking the other.

"Ginevra…" Tonks said warningly, a smirk on her face.

"Nymphadora…" Ginny also said warningly.

Tonks raised her eyebrows, and gave a quick tug on the envelope stack, and leafed through them, reading them out loud with a smile.

"Ha, I win. Let's see.Johnston… Marlon… McGonagall…. Norse… Lovegood…" she stopped, her fading.

"Lupin…" She finished softly, setting the envelopes down. "Oh…" She said simply.

Ginny grimace. " Tonks I'm sorry. I tried to stop you-"

"Have you talked to him recently?" Tonks interrupted, her voice empty.

"Just letters to my mum about his treatment-" Ginny began softly.

"Treatment?" Tonks asked.

Ginny nodded, "Yeah, Didn't he ever tell you? He's working with a Wizard Doctor out of St. Mungo's, in South London. Dr. Lauren Roberts, works with werewolves bites… trying to find a cure and all that."

Tonks shook her head, "He doesn't write me."

Silence went on for what seemed like hours. Tonks broke it as she scooped up the envelopes, and stood,

"I got to go home and get ready." She said dryly.

Ginny nodded, "Alright Tonks… See you tomorrow?"

Tonks nodded and left.

The only thing she could think off as she went home was he was in London. She had always pictured him in a different country, a million miles away from here. But no. He was in London, and he had never sent a letter, or even a Christmas card or even a visit. Not one in Seven years.

For the first time in a very long time Tonks wanted to cry for him all over again.


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