Remus made his way to the floo fireplace and returned to Grimmuald Place.

"She's pregnant," he announced to the empty house. "Tonks is pregnant. How could we let this happen? I was so careful, I never slip up on anything as important as a contraceptive spell. How could I be so stupid?"

He dragged his feet up the stairs to his bedroom in search of new clothes.

"I know how I could be so stupid. I let myself slip up. I was too distracted by other activities. I was an animal."

Remus couldn't lie to himself. He knew he had been irresponsible, he had let his guard slip and pretended that he was a normal person in a normal relationship. He had let love blind him.

With deliberate care, he unbuttoned the pajama shirt and slid his arms out. A large bandage covered the gash across his chest as it healed. Another reminder of his dark side. He tried to remember ever hearing of a werewolf marrying and having children. There were plenty of instances he knew of where men were bitten after they were married and had children, but they usually left their families for fear of harming them or just because they couldn't be with other people.

What makes me think I could be the one to make this work? He thought. I can't pretend to be normal, to have a family. It's just too dangerous to even think I could. Dora will understand that, eventually.

And what about the baby? Will it be normal? Will it be a werewolf? A metamorphmagus? What if there is something wrong with the baby?

He looked around the room, seeing his meager belongings. I have nothing to offer.

Sinking slowly onto the edge of his ancient bed, Remus buried his face in his hands. The look on Tonks' face when he left her was burned into his mind. He had hurt her, terribly. He had been too hard, too mean, too scared. He had been an animal. His behavior had been inexcusable. But it was for her own good and the good of the baby.

He lifted his head and looked around the dim, dusty old room.

"I have nothing to offer you," Remus whispered into the silence. "I can only promise you and the baby eminent danger. I can't stay here."

"Hermione, I'll be fine," Ron sighed. "Go check on Harry."

Molly pushed Tonks through the open doorway into the room where Hermione was fussing over Ron. The girl had pulled her bushy hair back into a hasty bun while she smoothed the blanket over his chest and brushed a lock of his hair off his forehead. Her face wore the pale, haunted look of someone who had slept little and cried a lot over the past few days.

"Stop fussing over him, Hermione," George said lightly. "He'll get too used to it."

"And then he'll be murder to live with," Fred added.

The twins both looked a little worse for wear, as everyone did, but they still wore slight smiles on their handsome faces as they lounged in a couple of chairs not far from the bed. Arthur Weasley leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest and his head down. He looked up when Molly and Tonks entered and greeted them with a nod.

"Ron, Hermione, it's so good to see you both again." Tonks voice was full of forced cheer as she greeted them. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, how…"

"You are not fine, Ronald," Hermione corrected him. "He needs to rest, but every time I turn my back he tries to get out of bed."

"Oh, Ron," Mrs. Weasley sighed. "Don't push yourself, dear, you need rest, you can see Harry tomorrow. Besides they're limiting his guests right now and Ginny is in with him."

"Any news?" Hermione asked hopefully.

Molly shook her head slowly. "He's still not awake. The Healer said they would let us know as soon as he regained consciousness."

Hermione sat on the edge of Ron's bed and slipped her hand into his. "How are you, Tonks? We heard you were attacked by Greyback."

She nodded. "He didn't bite me so the Healer said I would be fine. Luckily, Greyback was captured and is on his way to Azkaban."

"Good," Ron mumbled. "I hope they let us watch the Dementors give him the kiss."

"I don't think the Dementors are going back to Azkaban," Arthur said. "They can't be trusted. Don't worry, though, Greyback will never get out. He'll be properly punished for all he's done, even if I have to do it myself."

"Do you guys know what spell Harry was hit with?" Tonks asked.

Hermione shook her head. "He went off on his own, he said he had to face Voldemort alone in order to end this."

"He sneaked out in the middle of the night," Ron explained. "We were staying in this cave on the edge of the woods near the border of Scotland. I think he knew where You- Know-Who was going to be, but he didn't tell us because he knew we would go with him. I heard him sneak out and I woke Mione and told her to stay there. I was going to follow him, but I wanted her to stay put. If we needed help, I was going to shoot sparks up for her to see."

Hermione squeezed his hand when he stopped, his voice raw with emotion.

Molly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to hide the tears that had gathered. Arthur crossed to his wife and slid his arm around her shoulder, offering comfort and support.

Unconsciously, Tonks laid her hand on her stomach. "Did you hear anything?"

Ron shrugged, wincing when the action caused discomfort. "I heard voices. They were in the woods, in a clearing near a brook. You-Know-Who sensed me or something and he shouted something at me, I…I think it was the Avada Kedavra curse…"

Hermione clenched his hand, a tear escaped her eye and slid down her cheek.

"I jumped behind a tree," Ron continued. "The spell hit the tree and split it. I was knocked down by some falling branches and knocked out. When I came to, I was in a lot of pain, my leg was broken, my head was killing me. I…I didn't hear Harry anymore. I shot the sparks into the air and Hermione found me. She helped me out and we went to find Harry."

The room was silent, everyone listened with bated breath.

"We found Harry lying on the ground near the creek," Hermione said, her voice trembling a bit. "When we saw him, I-I thought the worst. He looked…dead. But when we approached him, his eyes flew open and he whispered 'It's over' before passing out."

"We found Peter Pettigrew, dead," Ron added, venom in his voice. "He was clutching what remained of You-Know-Who."

"What remained?" Tonks asked quietly.

"It was his robe, his wand and what looked like bits of charred flesh," Hermione answered quietly.

"What did you do?"

"I put placement and protection charms on Pettigrew and Voldemort and marked the area. Then I took Ron and Harry and apparated here with them. I told some aurors where they could find Voldemort. Kingsley and Mad-Eye Moody went with a couple of aurors I didn't know. They got back to the Ministry a few hours ago and confirmed it was Peter Pettigrew and they're going to do tests on the remains to make sure it is…was Voldemort." Hermione explained.

"So we won't know until Harry wakes," Tonks said, unnecessarily.

"Well, this is certainly a large crowd." An older woman wearing a long, white coat walked into the room.

"Healer Jansen," Arthur greeted her. "You know my wife Molly and these are our sons George and Fred and this is Nymphadora Tonks."

The Healer nodded. "I wanted to let you know that we are discharging Ronald tonight, I believe he will heal faster and be more comfortable at home."

Molly clasped her ands together excitedly. "That's wonderful."

"Have you heard anything about Harry Potter yet?" Arthur asked.

She shook her head. "He still hasn't wakened."

"Who can I speak to about going home as well?" Tonks asked.

"You need to speak with the Healer who was attending to you and see if he or she thinks you're well enough."

"Are you sure, Tonks?" Molly asked. "Where would you go?"

"Back to my flat."

Molly shook her head adamantly. "Absolutely not. You cannot be alone right now, if you can leave, you will come back to the Burrow with us so I can look after you."

"I'll be fine, really. I just…I just want to go home."

"Where's Remus?" Arthur asked.

Molly turned to glare at him.

"What?"

"I don't know where he is," Tonks answered honestly.

"Oh no," Hermione gasped. "Did something happen to Professor Lupin?"

"Yeah, he showed what a heartless creep he can be," Tonks murmured.

"What?" Ron asked, confused.

"Professor Lupin is fine," Molly said hurriedly. "Mind your business, all of you. Arthur, go take care of whatever paperwork we need to get Ronnie home tonight. I am going to go speak with Ginny and check on Harry. Fred, George, go find your brothers. Tonks, you'll come with me. Hermione help Ronald gather his things."

Before Tonks could respond, Molly swept her from the room, briskly pushing the wheelchair in front of her.

"I don't think you should be alone right now."

"I'll be fine," Tonks told her. "In fact, I really think I need some alone time right now."

"Do you know where Remus went?"

"No, and, right now, I don't care."

"I know you're hurt, Tonks, but don't speak like that. I really would like for you to come and stay with us for a little while, just until you're healed. You shouldn't be alone."

Tonks rubbed her hand gently over her stomach. "I'm not alone."

Molly stopped in front of a door at the far end of the hall. Tonks recognized the auror who had been posted at the door. She nodded to him and he tipped his head in response.

"We've come to see Harry," Molly announced.

He stepped aside.

Molly slowly opened the door and peeked in. Wordlessly, she opened the door all the way and helped Tonks through.

There was only one bed in the room and beside it sat Ginny Weasley. She leaned over, resting her elbow on the edge of the bed and propping her head up with her hand, seeming to not notice their entrance. Her hair fell over her face as she rubbed Harry's hand with her own.

As they approached the bed, Tonks gasped quietly. A sheet was pulled up to Harry's chest which rose and fell steadily. His right arm was wrapped completely in gauze from shoulder to finger tips. The left side of his face was heavily bandaged and the right side was bruised.

"Ginny, dear," Molly whispered, sounding as though she were afraid to speak out loud.

She looked up, surprised to see them. "Hi, Mum."

"Dear, the hospital is releasing Ron and we're planning on going home. I think you should come with us, have something to eat and get a change of clothes, you've been up all night."

Ginny shook her head. "No. I'm not going anywhere until he wakes up."

"But, Ginny…"

"No, Mum, I'm not leaving."

For a moment, Molly looked as though she was going to argue but thought better of it. "I'll bring you something to eat."

"Thanks."

Molly crossed over to hug Ginny and drop a kiss on the top of her head. "Let us know if anything happens."

"I will."

Walking around to the other side of the bed, Molly gently stroked Harry's bruised cheek. "I'll be back, dear."

"Thanks, Mum."

Tonks slowly rose, limping to the bedside. "I'm so sorry, Gin."

"He'll be all right," Ginny whispered.

"I know he will."

"He promised to come home to me and he doesn't break promises."

Tonks closed her eyes and swallowed hard. She was so tired and hurt so much, both physically and emotionally. "No, he doesn't."

"Come along Tonks, I want to get Ron settled in so I can bring Ginny some food and a change of clothes. No, get back in the wheelchair, you're hurt."

Knowing that it was easier to go along with Molly than to argue, Tonks allowed her to take her back to her room.

"Now you rest, dear," Molly told her as she helped Tonks into her bed. "I'll bring you back a special treat when I return."

"Thank you, Molly, but that isn't really necessary."

"I know it isn't, but I want to."

Tonks smiled softly as she pulled the blanket up. "Thank you Molly."

"You're welcome, dear." Molly squeezed her hand gently. "Just think, your little one will be a playmate for Bill and Fleur's little one."

Tonks was tired, but she couldn't sleep. She didn't want to be in the hospital and she felt terribly alone. Kingsley and Dunne had both been in to see her. Kingsley had promised to stop the family notification from the Ministry so she could write to her parents herself and tell them she was going to be fine. Tonks didn't want them to worry and she wasn't ready for them to find out about the baby yet.

Paul had sat with her until she pretended to be asleep so he would leave. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate his company, she just wanted to be alone. Now that she was alone, she regretted his leaving. No, that wasn't entirely true.

She was lonely for Remus. But he wasn't coming back.

Tonks pressed the call button beside her bed and waited. A few moments later a Healer arrived.

"I would like to go home," she announced.

The Healer picked up her chart and skimmed it. "I'm sorry, we need you to stay another night."

"Why?"

"For observation?"

"Of what?"

"Of…of yourself. We want to make sure you're healing properly and that there are no lasting effects."

"I just want to go home and sleep in my own bed."

"I understand, Ms. Tonks, really I do, but…"

"No you don't. You have no idea what I've been through. Just let me go home."

"I know you're feeling frustrated, but for your own good…"

"Don't tell me what's for my own good when you don't even know me! What is for my own good is for me to go home!"

The Healer replaced the chart and nodded. "Let me see what I can do for you."

An hour later, Molly was helping Tonks settle back in her flat. She had stopped by to bring Tonks a home-cooked meal and found her getting ready to leave.

"I just don't like this Tonks, you shouldn't be alone," Molly said as she looked around the apartment.

"I feel better just being home, Molly."

"You're too headstrong and independent for your own good."

"You sound like Minerva."

"Why don't you send an owl to your mother, have her stay with you."

"I'm going to owl her tomorrow. For now, I am just going to crawl into my bed and sleep. Really, Molly, I'll be fine."

"Okay, but if you need anything, just send an owl to the Burrow, there are enough of us there to help if you need it."

Tonks walked her to the door. "It means so much to me to have friends like you."

Molly pulled her into a tight hug. "I like to think we're family. I can never thank you enough for helping Ginny when she needed it most. Some things you just can't go to your mother about and that's why we have friends."

Alone, Tonks stood in the middle of her living room fighting back the urge to cry. Her arm throbbed, her head hurt, and her heart was broken. Giving in to what she wanted to do most, she broke into her secret stash of Honeyduke's chocolate and broke off a big hunk. Chasing a dose of pain medication with the chocolate, she crawled into bed and waited for sleep to help her forget, for a few hours, what had happened.

Remus placed his packed suitcase by the door at 12 Grimmuald Place. In all honesty, he had no idea where he was going to go, he just knew he needed some time to think, to figure out what he was going to do. He couldn't just leave her, he loved her too much, but he couldn't be a father and husband. It wasn't safe, it wasn't fair to Dora or the baby. He could hurt them and he certainly couldn't drag them down into his lifestyle. Poor and dangerous, living hand to mouth and knowing that if he forgets to take his potion, he could harm them.

No. He wasn't going to allow any of that to happen.

But where was he going to go?

Remus looked around the dank, dusty home that had once belonged to his best mate. If Sirius were still there, he would have skinned Remus alive for doing this to his favorite cousin.

It was tearing him apart to do this, but he was going to take care of Dora and the baby. He would find someway, somehow to help them.

Remus went down to the kitchen so he could grab some food to take with him. He felt a pang of guilt about taking food Molly had sent over for him. She had never meant for it to be used to help he run away.

He jumped when the front door slammed open followed by the sounds of Mrs. Black shouting at the top of her lungs about 'mudbloods' and 'traitors'.

"Oh! Oh! Shut it you old bat!"

Remus heard Molly Weasley's voice and wished the floor would open up and swallow him.

"Remus! Remus Lupin I know you're here!"

He took a deep, steadying breath. He had to face her and accept the consequences for his actions. She might not understand his reasoning, but she would have to accept it.

Before he could go up to the front hall, she stormed through the door and stopped, hands on her hips and an angry glare on her tired face.

"Molly."

"What is wrong with you, Remus Lupin?"

"Molly, I can't…"

"You can't or you won't?"

"You don't even know what I was going to say."

"Do you love Tonks?"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

Feeling uncomfortable, he rubbed the back of his neck and looked up at the ceiling. "Some things a man likes to keep personal."

"Fine, then I'll answer for you. You love her, you know you do, so stop pretending otherwise. She is wildly in love with you, everyone knows that. Together the two of you have made a child. Voldemort is dead, we are free. So rather than rejoicing and celebrating in this life you've created, you left. Now, just what possessed you to act so cowardly, so meanly?"

"You don't understand, Molly, I…I'm a monster…"

"I've known you for several years now and I would never have thought you a monster. Well, not before this evening, any way."

Something snapped in him. He was angry, scared, and hurt. Whirling around he stared at the empty fire grate and tried to tell her what he was thinking. "I can't pretend to be normal when I'm not! I can't marry her and raise this child. All I would do is drag them down. I have nothing to offer. I can't support them. And what kind of life would the baby have with a werewolf for a father?"

"Remus," her tone softened. "You have so much to offer. You're so patient and smart and good. Yes, you are a werewolf, but that is such a small part of all that you are."

He turned to look at her. Words failing him.

"I know that it was fear that drove you away. If I thought for one second that you did this out of meanness or insensitivity, I would hex you into next week. But you can't allow fear to rule our lives, we've known that since the first war with Voldemort. You have to face your fears straight on. And you have a sweet, wonderful woman who loves you so much who wants to be with you when and face those fears together. Stop thinking of yourself and start thinking about Tonks and the baby."

"I am thinking about them, they're all I've been thinking about."

"She's home. Alone."

"What?"

"She fought with the Healers until they agreed to let her go. She is so hurt and so scared."

"She shouldn't be alone."

"I know, but she wouldn't come to the Burrow."

Remus rubbed his hands over his face, feeling his soul being torn in two. His mind was telling him to leave Tonks, to offer her any monetary support he could but to secure the safety of her and their baby. But his heart was screaming at him to run to her, to hold her and never let go.

"You know what the right thing is, Remus."

"What if I hurt them?" He asked, his voice cracking.

"You've never hurt anyone before."

"That's what Dora said."

"She wants to be with you, she's not afraid of you hurting them."

"She's young and naive…"

"She isn't stupid."

"No. She isn't."

Molly took a step closer and laid a reassuring hand on his arm. "You should be having this conversation with her."

He hesitated a moment before looking up and meeting her eyes. "You're a good friend, Molly."

"And you're a good man, Remus. I know you'll do what's right, for all three of you."

Tonks woke at two in the morning not knowing what it was that woke her. She turned on her side and tried to get comfortable. The potions they had given her seemed to be working and her arm was feeling better. She turned onto her other side and met the empty half of her bed. Fresh pain washed over her and she rolled onto her back, staring at the dark ceiling.

Feeling restless, she pushed the blankets aside and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her feet touched the cold floor and she jumped. Feeling around, she found her slippers shoved under the bed. Her robe was no where to be found so she slipped on Remus' robe to ward off the chill. It smelled like him and she found some comfort in that, almost like he was hugging her.

Picking up her wand, she made her way to the kitchen and set water boiling on the stove. Digging in the cupboard, she found her favorite tin of tea and began spooning leaves out into a chipped teacup. It was an easy task that allowed her mind to wander, to think about the future. She'd have to stop working in a few months. Can't have aurors waddling after dark wizards, especially when said auror was a total klutz.

She rubbed her hand over her stomach, wondering who was growing in there. Was it a girl or a boy? Would he or she look like her? Or like Remus? Would he or she be a metamorphmagus? Or…

Tonks' eyes widened. She hadn't thought about the whole werewolf aspect. Would the baby be born a werewolf? Is that what had Remus so upset? How was a baby supposed to handle the transformation each month?

She dropped her teacup, not noticing when it shattered on the floor. I have to go back to St. Mungo's, if anyone would know, they would. She considered waiting a few hours until sunrise, but Nymphadora Tonks was not a patient woman. Leaving the shards of china on the floor, she hurried back to her bedroom to change.

Pop

Tonks stopped in the hallway when she heard the 'popping' sound in the other room.

"Dora?"

Her heart stopped at his hoarse whisper. Was she imagining it? She held her breath and listen to him moving around in the living room. She crept down the short hallway and saw Remus setting his suitcase down.

At first she felt relieved and thrilled to see him, but then the events of earlier in the day caught up with her and anger and pain pushed aside all other feelings.

"Hoping for a quick roll in the sheets before you run off again?" She asked bitterly.

Remus turned and felt his mouth go dry. Her hair was mousy brown and hung limply to her shoulders. She was swimming in his worn old, brown robe, it brushed the tops of her feet and the sleeves fell past her hands. She looked tired, miserable, and angry.

His eyes unconsciously lowered to her flat stomach.

"I'm not showing yet," she snapped.

"Dora…I…I'm so sorry."

"Oh, well, you're sorry, I guess that makes up for everything."

"No it doesn't, but I'm hoping that it's enough of a start that you'll allow me to start to make it up to you and…and the baby."

"How do you know it's yours?"

His patience was wearing thin. Between the exhaustion that comes not only from his condition, but also from the fact that he hadn't slept in almost forty-eight hours and the roller coaster of emotions he had been on, he was ready to snap completely. But if he was going to make things right, Remus knew he had to keep control.

"I said some terrible things tonight, Dora, things I wish I could take back, but I can't. I am more sorry than you can ever know. I try, very hard, to always think before I react, but earlier, I acted first, I acted like a stupid coward. Come here, please, sit down, I…I want to tell you a few things."

With her arms crossed over her chest, she walked past him and sat in the rocking chair. She took out her wand and flicked her wrist toward the fireplace, lighting a comforting fire.

Remus rubbed his hands together and sank onto the edge of the sofa near her. "Dora, I need you to understand what I've been through."

"I do know, Remus, and I am sorry but…"

He held up his hand. "Please, let me explain, this…this is difficult for me, I've never…I've never told anyone all this before."

She nodded and sat back, folding her hands on her lap.

"I had convinced myself several years ago that I was destined to live out my existence alone. My friends were all gone and it was difficult to find more friends, whenever someone learned I was a werewolf they would run as far away as fast as they could. I…I can't really say what I was doing could be called living. I just existed, day to day. I had no real direction because I had no real purpose. I worked odd jobs here and there until they found out what I was and I moved on. I survived on memories of James and Sirius and our days at Hogwarts, I remembered that there really were good people out there.

"Then Dumbledore contacted me. He knew about my love of knowledge and what I was capable of and he offered me a purpose. The teaching position at Hogwarts and I returned to the one place where I had been truly happy. My entire world changed. I met Harry and saw a young James." He stopped, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Well, a young James with Lily's sensibilities. We worked together and I found even more purpose. And then Sirius returned. Suddenly my life didn't seem so dark anymore. I was happy again. Even after I left Hogwarts, there was the Order to give me work and a reason to keep going. And then…then I met you."

Tonks blinked rapidly, fighting to hold back the tears that were trying to escape.

"Never, in my life, have I known anyone like you," he whispered. "I never thought anyone would ever love me, I had resigned myself to a celibate life of loneliness. And I'm not just talking about sex. I didn't think I could have a partner, someone to share my life with, to have a life with. I had convinced myself that what you felt was just a crush and you would soon get over it. I refused to give in to my feelings for you, I refused to drag you in to this existence I had carved out for myself. Instead, you lifted me up. You showed me a life I never thought I could have. You showed me love and fun and friendship and real, true happiness. To go without that for so long and then to suddenly have it a thousand fold is overwhelming, to say the least. I kept waiting to wake up from this dream. To find out that there is no way a beautiful, young, smart, amazing witch like you could possible love an old, poor, dull wizard like me. But you did. It took me a while to fight past the self imposed walls I had put up, but I did, we did. I love you, Dora, I always have and I always will."

He stopped and cleared his throat as emotion welled inside him and formed a lump in his throat. Tonks rose and went to sit beside him on the couch.

"I finally accepted the fact that I could be happy, I could be happy with you," he continued. "And I figured that if we stayed as we were, just a couple who loved to be together, everything would be all right. I…I couldn't marry you because I was afraid of tying you down to me, having you settle for me. I never thought I could marry. Werewolves don't marry. And when we found out you were pregnant, it was a moment of total panic for me. I behaved abominably and I can only say I'm sorry. I want to marry you, I want to have a family with you, more than I could ever tell you. But I…I'm scared Dora and I've allowed that fear to overshadow everything else. I was a coward and a fool. I am so, so sorry and if you'll give me another chance, I want to try and make this work with you. And our child."

Tonks no longer tried to stem the flow of tears as she listened to him. His own eyes shined with unshed moisture as he pleaded with her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"You have nothing to be afraid of as long as we're in this together," she whispered against his ear. "I love you."

"I love you too," he replied shakily, pulling back from the hug and laying his hand on her stomach. "Both of you."