Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Some of the conversations are from an actual RolePlay. If you wish to know more about the site, then visit my author's page for the link.

A/N: Thanks to all the supportive reviewers, I love you all! I know I've said this a million times, but really, your little review saying you like the chapter or even an 'awesome' will make me smile. I appreciate everyone's review and I hope you enjoy this chapter! This is the last chapter, but there's an epilogue coming soon.

:O:

Tonks walked into her flat in Diagon Alley. It was small, but comfortable enough for two. And it was home.

She sighed and plopped down on her couch. She had been just wondering around in Diagon Alley with her hands in her jean pockets and people watching. She always liked to watch people, they were so fascinating. Even the most boring family in the world looked interesting while outside in the busy streets.

Some were also funny to watch. A women trying to control her out of control kids, while the kids screamed bloody murder about wanting some sweets. Those were always amusing and you could see the same situation almost everyday. She smirked at the memory, kids were such a bother but cute nonetheless. She wondered if she will ever have child to argue with, to scold at, and to care for.

She sighed again and closed her eyes. With her head back and resting, she thought about the past two days. It was only two days, two days, since she last saw him and yet here she was missing him already. She missed him alright, his thoughtful look, his warm smile, his calmness. How he can be so calm and collected even in the worst of situations.

Why, oh why, was he being so stubborn? Why couldn't he let the both of us be happy? Why?

Those were the only thoughts going through her mind as of now. Frustrated, she grabbed the nearest cushion and flung it across the room. Alas, knocking over a glass vase her mother got her last Christmas. She cringed.

"Damn it all," she swore. Taking another deep breath she closed her eyes, hoping to fall asleep and forget about the current situation.

:O:

After the meeting with the old man at the park, Remus had gone out and bought a simple, yet beautiful diamond ring. He had emptied his savings account, but knew that someone as wonderful as Tonks was worth every penny. He knew it'd take a lot of hard work to build up his savings, but he was willing.

He paced outside of her door, flowers in one hand, his other reaching in his pocket, fiddling with the box. It was odd how a total and complete stranger can help him make up his mind. Maybe it t helped that he didn't even know the man. Maybe an opinion from a totally unbiased person made him realize something important. Molly and the others told him constantly how he should hurry up and get wed already. You're not getting any younger Remus. Of course, this came from Molly who would do anything to help out in a wedding again. Everything went back to normal after Bill and Fleur's wedding and she was just itching for another party to plan, another cake to bake, or another wedding dress to make. He had always waved aside their comments and tried to focus on the current state of life, not after or before. He wanted to wait and see what would happen, just let life fold things out by themselves.

But some things in life needed a little push, a little shove to speed up the process.

"Come on, Moony," he told himself, using his old nickname. If only his friends were alive. They would have been there to support him.

He nervously knocked on the door.

:O:

Tonks stirred half asleep on the couch when she heard a soft knock on her door. "Bloody hell, can a woman get some sleep!" she muttered as she reluctantly stretched and headed to her door.

"Yes can I-" she stopped in mid sentence when she opened the door and found Remus Lupin on her door step. What was more unusual was that he was holding flowers in one hand and looking uncomfortable. She just stood there staring and noticed he was standing waiting to be invited in. She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

"Remus, come in," she said as calmly as possible. She then inwardly cringed when she remembered her hair being mousy brown, she didn't want to show that she was taking this immaturely and sulking over it.

Remus smiled softly and stepped inside of the flat. His finger rose to touch her mousy brown locks and he knew he was the reason. Tonks was never the kind of person meant to be sad.

"Nymphadora," he greeted cordially. "I had to see you."

"For what?" she asked curious. "Listen, you don't have to come apologize for what you said. If you don't want to take another step further of this relationship, then I'll just have to live with it," she said quietly and her heart ripping to pieces with every word.

"I'm sorry you feel that way," he told her, growing more nervous. "Is there anything else you'd want to get off your chest while I'm here?"

He wanted her to be as honest as she could be with him. It was important, even if the things she had to say may not be pleasant.

"Yes," she said more confidently. If she was ending things with him now, it was better being honest and say what needs to be said. "You, Remus Lupin, need to stop pitying yourself. You are a wonderful, kind, intelligent person, and a great friend. But yet, you always block people out when they try to get closer to you. I wasn't going out with you because I felt sorry for you, I was going out with you because I love you," she said, trying to stay confident and not break down in front of him.

"And I'm also sorry you don't feel that way about me," she said finally turning her head away, her voice cutting off.

"But I do," he told her quietly, taking her chin and moving it to face him. "I always have. For longer than you know. It's just that, things in the past have scared me. They've scared me so much that I wasn't sure if I wanted it. Lily and James went down fighting for each other and their family, whilst Sirius died without any family at all. I just, I was scared. That is, before tonight."

"What do you mean?" she asked looking at him directly in his eyes. "What are you not afraid of anymore?"

"I mean that I'm not scared of you anymore," he told her quietly. "As unscary as you are, you scared the hell out of me. You represented commitment, responsibility, and love. I just wasn't ready for that. That is, until tonight."

He fiddled some more with the ring in his pocket. He was trying to build the nerve to ask her, hoping for the perfect timing.

"Oh Remus," she said, her mood lifting a little bit. She smiled at him, finally happy that he was over that way of thinking. "I'm so glad you don't feel that way anymore," she told him as she felt her heart grow lighter and lighter.

"As am I," he told her. "I'm really glad I don't. Today, well, it's been the best day of my life. After all those years of feeling lost and abandoned, I feel like I'm home."

He offered a quick smile towards her, reassuring her that he was telling the honest truth.

"So, you changed your mind about moving in?" she asked hopefully, and smiling back at him. She then eyed the flowers in his hand. "And are those for me?" she asked grinning widely.

"Oh, yes," he said, handing the simple flowers to her. He hadn't been able to afford anything extravagant after buying the rings, but he knew that Tonks deserved her day to be special. "But what I really wanted to come here to talk to you about wasn't moving in, really. It was something much more. I wanted to tell you, for the first time, that even though I've never said it, I've always felt it. I love you, Nymphadora."

He blushed, feeling like a boy again.

She took the flowers and breathed in the scent, feeling happier than she ever felt in days. He loves me…! Her eyebrows then furled into confusion when she thought about what he said. "Something much more than moving in...?" she softly. It was then when it finally dawned on her. The flowers, his confession of love, and his nervous self, "Remus are you-"

"Will you marry me?" he asked her quietly, holding out the simple, but pretty ring he had purchased earlier that day. He looked into her eyes, hoping, praying for an answer right then and there.

She took a sharp intake of breath and let his words sink in. She put her hand over her gaping mouth when she saw the ring in Remus's hand. She knew he had to have emptied his account to have purchased this. She felt her eyes water of happiness and locked eyes with him. "Yes," she said softly, Yes!" she shouted in joy as she pulled him to her for a hug. She laughed and half sobbed while her chin rested on his shoulder.

Remus smiled and put his arms around her, closing his eyes. He had been so nervous, so anxious that she wouldn't forgive him for what he had said. Now, after all this time, he knew that getting married was the right thing to do. After all, his friends had always said that he was the most likely to tie the knot first.

"I was hoping that's what you'd say."

"You thought I was going to say no? Now why would you think that?" she asked, still in his arms. This day had to be the best day of her life, even better than passing Auror training. She was now engaged to Remus Lupin. Nymphadora Tonk-Lupin, now that has a nice ring to it.

"You were mad at me," he told her. "Sometimes, I forget that people can be forgiving. I've never really had many forgiving people in my life, but it's good to know I have at least one."

"Well," she said pulling away slightly to look at his face, "now you know that there will always be a person who forgives you no matter what, me. It's not in my nature to stay mad at someone forever."

"I know it's not," he told her, leaning in to kiss her gently. He had never been one to display affection, but now, he knew that he was going to be a different man. He was going to be her husband and he wanted to make her proud.

She could swear that she felt her knees go weak at the gentle, yet, passionate kiss. She knew she had succeeded into turning a shy, self-pitying man to a loving and affectionate man. "I'm so proud of you, do you know that," she said softly after their kiss.

He felt a warmth rise in his chest at her words. "Really?" he asked her, letting his hand drift to her mousy brown hair. He stroked it softly, smiling.

"Of course," was all she said as she smiled and leaned into kiss her fiancée once more.

:O: