Rescued

Chapter 11

Since her return just yesterday morning, Tonks had been bombarded by old friends, distant cousins and reporters. Between the constant knocks at her parents' town home door and the doting antics of her mother, she'd barely had time to think on what had transpired between her and Remus their last night in the desert.

Yet the one constant thought that she was able to conjure was that Remus was in love with her. Despite his protests, he had never said he wasn't, and all his actions and words directed her to believe the positive. She smiled dreamily, thinking of their lovemaking, when yet another knock sounded at the door.

"I'll get it!" huffed Ted Tonks.

After a few minutes, the silhouette of a thin, lanky man appeared in the hallway.

"Wotcher, Remus! What are you doing here?" Her eyes widened as she jumped off the couch with delightful surprise. The one person she actually hoped to see was in her home.

"Hello, Nymphadora," he nodded, worn coat in hands. "How's your return to proper English society going?"

Tonks laughed and motioned for him to sit beside her on the sofa. "Well, if this little house is proper society, it's going quite well; especially now that you're here."

He returned her smile and produced The Daily Prophet from beneath his coat. 'Ministry Auror Returns!' shouted a headline above her official work photograph in full color.

Tonks took the paper from him. "That was a great picture of me," she muttered. "Did they get anything right?"

"Enough, I suppose." Then with a curious eye, Remus looked from the photo showing a laughing woman with vivid pink hair and rosy lips to the woman who sat beside him with mousy brown hair and circles beneath her eyes. He leaned his arm against the back of the couch.

"Is everything alright?" he asked quietly.

"Of course."

"Your hair…"

Tonks rolled her eyes. "A mediwitch came by to give me a look over yesterday. Mum's idea, of course. You see, my idea was a party that didn't happen. Anyway, she said that the trauma of the abduction was probably to blame for my temporary inability to morph."

"You mean you can't change at all?"

Tonks continued but couldn't meet his eyes. "In a few days, everything should be back to normal, as long as I get plenty of rest. And according to my mother, rest includes watery tea and chicken broth."

Her dark eyes looked up at him as she pulled at her hair. "It's rather awful isn't it?"

But he took her hand and squeezed it gently. "No. You're incredible whatever the color."

"Thank you, Remus," Tonks replied softly.

They both jumped when Andromeda shouted, "Tea is ready!" and made her way to the living room where Tonks and Remus instantly dropped hands.

Ted followed her in, and for the next hour they gave Remus the warmest welcome and finest compliments that he had ever experienced. Somewhat undone by the attention, Tonks leaned over during a brief interlude and whispered in his ear, "I think they really like you, Remus."

He looked at her, bemused. "So it seems."

Finally, they were left alone to enjoy a long conversation and study the paper together. Tonks totally forgot, at least for a while, all the negative experiences from the past few days and allowed herself to bask in Remus' tender smiles and attention.

Eventually, Andromeda popped back into the living room. "Are you staying for supper, Remus? I can easily feed another," she hinted.

Remus clicked open his pocket watch. "Dear me," he said with amazement. "It's already six. I didn't intend to stay this late." Then clicking the watch closed and returning it to his trouser pocket, he stood. "If you'll excuse me from dinner, Mrs. Tonks, I actually do have some work I need to return to this evening."

Andromeda kissed him goodbye, and Tonks offered to walk him to the door. When they got to the threshold, Nymphadora stepped outside with him, away from the prying ears of her parents.

There was an awkward silence, as they stood near each other on the small landing.

Tonks finally blurted, "Thanks for coming!" the same time Remus asked, "Will you be moving back to Grimmauld Place?"

Together they laughed, and Tonks nervously ran a hand through her hair.

"Of course, I'll come back in a few days."

Remus nodded, his pale eyes looking deep within her when he said, "I've missed you."

"It's only been a day," Tonks mused.

"I know." Then looking at the ground, he added with a shaky voice, "When you're ready, I'd like you to come back…" There was a pregnant pause, and his blue eyes flickered up. "If, perhaps… if you're feeling better, maybe we could try all this again?"

Tonks tilted her head. Did she grasp his meaning? "All…this?"

"Uhm…well…this," he said. And trying not to think, he dipped his head and chastely kissed her.

Grasping his hand firmly in hers, she felt her heart jump. She had believed he would come around but didn't know he'd change his mind so soon.

"But you said that you couldn't..."

"And it's all true. I am all those things," he avowed firmly.

"Then I'll have to love you in spite of 'all those things'?" she asked, stepping closer.

"Only if you're able," he replied gently.

Silently, she ran a finger over his naked upper lip. She knew he was still shaving for her, and she smiled, black eyes twinkling. "I'm young, clumsy and have a dangerous job. On top of all of that, I have an affinity for pink hair and loud music. You'll have to overcome your prejudices against such things, as well."

They were now an inch away from one another. "I overcame those prejudices the first time I heard you laugh." His thin lips turned upturned slightly. "The first time I heard you cuss Severus, the first time I saw you wrestle with the hat stand…"

Tonks was laughing, too, hands over her face in embarrassment as he continued.

"The first time I saw your kindness with the children, your passion for the cause...the first time you touched my face, my scars, and asked about…" his voice very low, "the wolf with such compassion."

"Remus, that was last summer." Tonks was trying to grasp the full meaning of his words. "And I've never been afraid of you," she added, stroking his jaw.

"I know."

That's when she kissed him, violently and passionately with every inch of love in her heart, until neither could breathe and they died for one slight moment, enraptured in one another's arms.

He held her tightly, whispered fervently in her ear, "Oh Nymphadora. I have loved you for so long!"

"My love..." Squeezing him back and kissing his slightly on the cheek. "I'll come back to Grimmauld in a few days." Then pulling away slightly so he could see the pain in her eyes, she added, "But some things between us will take more time for me."

He put a finger to her lips, not wanting her to feel the hurt of having to explain. He understood. "I'm a patient man, Tonks. I can wait for you." He spoke firmly and sincerely. "I can wait until you're ready."

"Thank you, Remus." Tonks hugged him again tightly, her eyes tearing. "Thank you."

They held onto each other, savoring the moment, until a street light buzzed on and they parted with full hearts. Yet in the distance, unbeknownst to the two lovers, the click of a camera shuttered, and not all things that they wished to keep private, would stay that way…

tbc