A/N: Once again, illustrations are being posted! Link located in my livejournal.(CalliopeJones) You can get there from my profile, or email me for a link. Thanks to the very talented Mechaban for seeing what's in my head.

Please look! You won't be disappointed.

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns these wonderful characters, I've just borrowed them for a bit of fun.

It was nearly midnight when Remus arrived just outside of Tonks' flat. He was hoping that he wouldn't find her here, that she had actually gone to her family for Christmas.

He knocked lightly.

"Bugger off!" Tonks shouted from inside.

"It's Remus." He called, shoving his hands in his pockets.

There was a thud, muffled curses, and then the door swung open. "Wotcher, Remus. Thought it was those blasted carolers again."

She looked... terrible. Her hair was tangled and unkempt, still that same nondescript shade, there were dark circles around her eyes, and she was wearing enormous flannel pyjamas that bagged around her feet.

"You look awful." He blurted out. He wished he could take it back as soon as he said it.

"Oh, ta ever so, Remus." She said, turning and padding back into the living room. She threw herself down on the couch. "You're not exactly a prize yourself right now, you know."

He did know. Living with the pack was rough, to say the least. "Sleeping outside in the winter doesn't agree with my old bones." He said with a shrug.

"Remus, you are not old. Why do you always say that?"

He sighed and went to the couch. She drew up her feet so he could sit. When he was settled, she plopped her feet in his lap.

"I don't want to fight with you, Tonks." He said softly, putting his hands on her ankles.

"Well, that's good. Me neither." She gazed at him, noticing the new scars on his face. One along his jaw, fairly fresh looking, and an older one circling over his right eye.

"Why are you here?" She asked.

"Molly told me that you said you were spending Christmas alone. Why?"

She shrugged. "Felt like it. Didn't want me mum fluttering around me, and definitely didn't want to go to the Burrow."

"Because I was there?" He kept his eyes on his hands, dreading her response.

She hummed. "No, not really. To be honest, it's Fleur. She makes me crazy."

"She seems to have that effect on a lot of people." He agreed.

"She's just so pretty. Too pretty if you ask me. It's weird. And then she made a comment about me letting myself go. Really. It's not my fault that I'm having trouble morphing." She stopped talking abruptly.

"You're having trouble morphing?" He questioned sharply, concern in his voice. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's nothing, Remus. It'll come back." She hoped. "Besides, when would I have told you? I haven't seen you."

"I'm rather concerned, Nymphadora."

When had she started liking the way he said her name?

"It's nothing, I told you."

"Harry told me that your patronus changed. And you're having trouble morphing as well?" He leaned closer. "That's not 'nothing'."

"Should've known he'd tell you." She grumbled. "Did he tell you about what Malfoy did on the train?"

"What Malfoy did?" He stopped. "Don't change the subject, Nymphadora."

"Stop calling me that, Remus."

"It's your name, Nymphadora."

She stuck her tongue out at him.

"What has your patronus changed to?" He asked.

She shook her head. "Not telling you. You'll have to wait and see." She didn't want him to see. She didn't want him to know.

"Harry said it was big and four-legged."

"Lots of things are. Let it go, Lupin. I'm not telling you."

He fell silent, his fingers stroking her ankle. Looking around her flat, he noted that it was considerably neater than the last time he'd seen it. There was even a Christmas tree in the corner.

Well, he assumed it was a Christmas tree. It more resembled a twig leaking tinsel and pine needles all over the floor.

"What happened to your tree?"

Tonks glanced at it, tilting her head. "Nothing happened to my tree. What's wrong with my tree?"

"It's a bit... shabby." He said carefully.

She smiled at him. "Well, so are you, but I still like you."

Her smile warmed him. "I can't really do anything about me, but what if..." He drew his wand and flicked it at the tree.

Tinsel and pine needles flew up into the air, circling the tree. There was a flash of light, and the tree was restored, refined; glittering silver and white, branches thick and full.

Tonks clapped her hands. "Oh, that's lovely."

She swung her legs around and came up on her knees beside him. "Why did you really come here tonight, Remus?"

He stared resolutely at the tree. "I told you."

"No, you didn't. Not really."

Remus swallowed hard. How could he possibly admit to her...? He'd shrugged it off when Molly said that Tonks was alone on Christmas, but her words had eaten at him all night.

"Remus?"

He lifted his eyes to meet her curious gaze. "I couldn't bear the thought of you being alone on Christmas. I've been, in the past, and I didn't want... that for you."

She stared at him for the longest time. Then she moved even closer, leaning in a pressing a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth.

"I'm not alone." She told him. "You're here, even when you're not."

"I shouldn't be." He whispered.

She wanted to hit him. How could he be so sweet and so infuriating at the same time? She reached out and flattened her hand against his chest, just over his heart. "Remus, can we for one night just pretend?"

"Pretend?" He couldn't move. Her light touch had pinned him as effectively as a binding hex.

"Just for tonight. Make believe that we are just two people who care about each other? Pretend for one night that the differences between us don't exist."

Did she have any idea what she was asking of him? He took a shuddering breath. It was torture, pure and simple. She was trying to torment him.

"Just for tonight." She repeated. "Call it a Christmas present."

He ought to say no. Ought to say no and leave right now. However, the thought of leaving right then was more excruciating than anything he'd ever endured. And then she was curling up against his side, tucking herself neatly under his arm. She was so warm and soft against him.

To imagine just for one night that she could be his. That he could be hers. To have one night to remember when he was lying on the cold hard ground with Greyback's pack.

He shifted a little, curling his arm around her more securely. When she looked up at him, her cheek resting against his chest, he offered a smile.

"Happy Christmas, Tonks."