By the Way…

By: Sinead Usagi

Chapter Three: Don't Worry, They'll Love You

"She was so excited that she dropped the phone. She's probably relieved that she won't have an old-maid for a daughter anymore." Tonks tried to skewer a crouton on her fork, but it just crumbled. She was sitting beside Remus at the table at his place. Beside her, Remus was devouring his third hamburger, with a glass of water to wash it down.

Remus snorted into his glass. "An old maid?" he gasped between coughs and laughter.

Tonks grinned at him. "I've arranged things so that none of us have any Order duties tomorrow evening. She wants us there for five, so I will have to leave work early to get ready."

She viciously tried to spear another crouton, but this one crumbled too.

"Do you want a spoon?"

Tonks shook her head.

Remus shifted in his seat beside her, as if expecting her to say something more about the matter of the dinner. She purposefully directed all her energy on getting the next crouton victim onto her fork as an excuse to avoid his eyes. Remus cleared his throat.

"Nymphadora..." he began expectantly.

She nudged him with her shoulder. "Don't. And, I'm busy, can't you see?" She gestured toward the salad in front of her. Then, she threw down her fork determinedly and looked Remus in the eye.

"Let's just skip it!" she blurted out. "I can just introduce you at the wedding, it is no big deal really. They are just normal, embarrassing parents, after all!" Tonks gave Remus what she thought was a convincing smile.

"Let's go somewhere nice for dinner. There's that new sushi place a block from the shopping centre. Remember, you promised me you would try sushi one day, and well... there is no time like the present!" Tonks babbled on and on, and grim realization finally dawned on Remus.

"...it's really just raw fish and--" He held up a hand to silence her.

"You didn't tell them," he said plainly.

Tonks blanched.

"Remus, I'm sorry, I tried! I really did! But she kept asking about food and I... I..." her sentence trailed off into nothing as she saw the disappointed look on Remus's face.

They were silent for a moment until finally, Remus spoke.

"We can't go through with this if it will cause a problem with your family," he said sadly.

This was too much for Tonks. She stood up, her chair scraping loudly and falling onto the floor behind her. She ignored it.

"Remus!" she cried. "This isn't about my family. This is about you and me! Don't tell me after all that I went through to get us together... after everything everyone else did... that you're just going to- It's not important if- Regardless-" Words seemed to be failing her at this moment, which was unfortunate because it was important for her to express herself at this point in time. While she was stuttering madly, trying to bring her thoughts together, Remus bent over and picked up the chair. She fell back into it and massaged her temples.

"Nymphadora," Remus said softly, and she immediately stopped the circular motions and looked at him. Remus was studying her face carefully, as he often did, looking thoughtful and sad. "The last thing I want for you is that an old werewolf comes between you and your family."

"But-!"

He held up another hand to silence her, and began speaking again. "So, we are going to the dinner tomorrow, and we can just hope for the best," he paused again, and frowned. Then, he smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "Besides, I want to meet the people who raised such an extraordinary girl."

Trying not to look too pleased, Tonks hid a grin. "Fine," she said. "On one condition." She held up a single finger at him authoritatively.

Remus looked confused. "What's that?"

She stabbed him in the chest with that finger over and over again, accentuating each word as she spoke. "That. You. Stop. Putting. Yourself. Down." She pinched his cheek. "You aren't old, you know. You just think you are. Mind over matter, and all that."

Remus rolled his eyes at her.

"I mean it! What would Sirius say if he heard you talking like that?"

Remus pondered this for a moment. "Well," he began carefully. "He would probably say 'Moony! If you're old, then what does that make ME!'"

Remus's impression, down to the facial expression and hand gestures, was so accurate that Tonks burst out laughing. As she laughed, she felt an ache, knowing that Sirius would have been the happiest out of anyone for the two of them.

"So, I guess tomorrow is set then," Tonks said when she stopped laughing, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

"Yes," Remus admitted with a nod. Then, he covered his mouth with his hand and gasped. "But, what will I WEAR?"

This sent Tonks into fits of giggles again, ignoring him when he said "Seriously, though!"

"Remus," she said, and leaned forward. "Don't worry about anything. They'll love you."

He didn't seem convinced, however. Tonks winked at him.

"We'll avoid all awkwardness by just shouting it behind is as we leave!" Tonks played this over in her head, with a vision of herself and Remus walking out to the sidewalk, and her shouting through the small opening of the door: "Thanks for the dinner, Mum! By the way, Remus is a werewolf! BYE!" and then Disapparating like there was no tomorrow.

"Nymphadora!" Remus exclaimed indignantly. But before he could reprimand her further, she pulled him into a long, passionate kiss, which by the time they were done, he had forgotten what he was going to say.

"Nymphadora..."

Tonks grinned at him, and put her finger to his lips.

"Don't call me that."

A/N/grovels/ I am sooo sorry! I promise that the next chapter they will meet Ted and Andromeda! Just bare with me!

And please review! It is very encouraging!

PinkToasterOven: lol! When I read your first review I was like "ah! Change the URL!" but you are clever enough that even though you didn't hear me say that you figured it out on your own. I've had to do that with stories before when they are really recently updated becausethe chapter exists, but it just isn't on the drop down list.
Bailz: Thank you for reviewing again! You are so supportive, you make me happy!
Metalmonkey & cataclysmically starry-minded: Thanks so much for reviewing! I hope you like this chapter, too!
Jesus.Lives: I'll be updating to the dinner really soon, probably over the weekend sometime.
Carnivalgirl: That's a really good idea, to write the proposal! If I ever come up with a good idea to write it, then maybe I will. Or maybe someone else will? I would definitely like to read that! And, isn't Andromeda fun?
Lupinsmoon12391: Hey! Thanks so much for reading my fanfic! I feel so special having all these amazing fanfic authors reading my stuff oo! I'm such a fan of Conversing with Molly!
nycgrl: Yaay! I've posted it! Thanks so much again for helping me out! You're so idol-riffic!
MaidM: Yes, you are totally cool! Thanks so much for reading and I am so glad to hear that you like it!
Ka-mia2286: The reaction was my favourite part to write. Next chapter!