Disclaimer: Not owning anything.

Chapter Four: Change of Heart

Remus didn't know what to do as he stared after Tonks's retreating form. He sighed dismally, trying to decide whether to go after her or let her be. The obvious decision would be for him to go after her, but the situation's problem was less than obvious, therefore he remained where he was.

Oh, for Merlin's sake, Moony, make up your mind! He thought to himself irritably. He closed his blue eyes and reopened them slowly, striding forward to look for his girl.

Tonks pulled her legs up, hugging her knees to her chest. Tears fell onto her long skirt, and she sniffled, continuing to peer up at the changing sky. Remus had said that he didn't think she was happy…

"He was right," she muttered aloud. "I'm not happy. Not at all."

And whose fault might that be? Insecurity smiled.

Oh, don't even start with me, you demonic voice! Tonks snapped back. It may be my fault, but I don't feel like I have any control over this.

You already discussed this with yourself. You're the problem, Nymphadora. You can't make that man love you no matter what you do. Can't you see that yet? Insecurity whispered to her.

Tonks stood up hastily, walking over to the magical fountain in the center of the park. She sat on the edge of the stone around it, looking down into the water to see the sky's reflection. The water rippled as something dropped into it and she looked up, expecting to see rain.

"Hm… That's funny." She said aloud, then lifted a hand to carefully touch her cheek, which was wet with the remnants of a teardrop. "Oh, get a grip on yourself, already! Aren't you all cried out yet?"

Several passerby's eyed Tonks as she sighed to herself. However, Tonks couldn't bring herself to care. She felt a deep despair inside of her, making her hollow in the pit of her stomach. It was her fault Remus hadn't been happy. It was her fault that she hadn't been happy, too.

Maybe we'd both be better off if I were just dead, she thought sadly.

"Nymphadora!" Came the cry from behind her. Tonks froze in place, eyes focused on the water.

Time seemed to stop as Remus approached her. Her heart pounded and her cheeks flushed. Tears welled up in her eyes and her stomach ached. Her fingers trembled and her lips became immobile.

"Tonks," he said softly. He sat beside her, rather surprised that she hadn't bothered to change her appearance. Perhaps he'd wanted him to find her…?

"Remus, this has to end." Tonks replied, not lifting her eyes from the water. The sky had clouded over more, turning everything an ugly gray.

"What does?" Remus asked, hoping she wasn't saying what he thought she was.

"This relationship. Neither of us are getting anything from it anymore," Tonks's lips twitched in what was supposed to be an attempt at a smile. "Don't you agree?"

"No, Nymphadora Tonks, I don't." Remus hadn't intended his words to come out as harshly as they had, but they had hit something in her. The tears in her eyes flooded over onto her cheeks, her eyes changing back to their natural shade of blue.

"Why, Remus? Why?" Tonks whispered to him.

Remus snatched up one of her shaking hands and held in tight in both of his. "Why, you ask?"

She looked up at him for the first time, "Everything's all my fault…"

"What is your fault, exactly?" Remus wanted to know. Perhaps he could finally get to the bottom of this!

"Your unhappiness… I only wanted you to like me, to love me…" Tonks stammered.

Remus blinked in confusion. He leaned a bit closer to her, looking into those lovely blue eyes he'd gotten lost in many times before. He said nothing, just held her hands and stared into her eyes. Tonks swallowed nervously at the silence.

"Who are you, and what have you done with the woman I love?" Remus finally asked.

Tonks looked shocked. "What!"

"This is simply not the Tonks I know. The wonderful girl I fell in love with would never say such foolish things." He replied firmly.

"Remus, stop it! I only wanted to please you!" She cried.

"Please me? Tonks, you already do please me. I love you for who you are and what you do, how you look and act… How you think and feel! You should know that." Remus's tone was soft and considerate, finally realizing why his beloved metamorphagus had been going through so many changes.

Tonks looked hesitant, casting her eyes to the ground. "I didn't think that you liked how… wild my appearance was. I thought you wanted me to be… Prettier and sexier… But then I thought that maybe you wanted me to be more reserved and plain…"

Remus unclasped one of her hands to gently cup her chin, turning her to face him again and look into his eyes. "If I had any problems with the way you were, I would have brought them up. Our relationship is honest enough that if our flaws get in the way of our love, they must be approached. Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you, Remus, but…"

"But nothing," he cut her off. "I suppose the better question is don't you trust yourself?"

And what are you going to say to that? Insecurity cackled.

Tonks scowled. Remus noted this. "Tonks, what's going on inside your head?"

"A war," She replied simply. "Between me and my heart."

"And what's winning?"

"My insecurity." Tonks looked away again.

"Aha!" Remus said triumphantly. "I understand it all now… Oh, Tonks…" He pulled her into a tight embrace. "You've misunderstood everything! I love you just the way you are! When you are yourself I'm the happiest, because that's the real you, and you're happy when you who you want to be. As long as you feel comfortable, I feel comfortable."

You…he said…Insecurity suddenly vanished.

Tonks smiled her first real smile in what felt like a decade. Her hair retracted and became a bright, vibrant pink. "You don't know how much it means to me to hear you say that, Remus."

"I know, Tonks. I love you." He looked down into her eyes yet another time.

"I love you, too. Most importantly… I love myself, too."

Tonks leaned up to capture Remus's lips in a gentle, caring kiss. At that moment, the sun peered through the clouds, showering the two in golden sunlight. Tonks had successfully gone through some very good changes.

The End!

A/N: Well, I hope the end wrapped things up effectively and that you all enjoyed it! I'm sorry I hadn't written this sooner… I had to go through some changes myself before I could figure out how exactly this story was going to end. Nonetheless, that's it for this one! Look for more fics from me in the future, and take care, my readers!