Chapter 31

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the magical world he lives in. If I did, I would be living in London, be filthy rich, and would have already published my version of the story. However, I do not, so I am posting on this website.

A/N: Sorry about last chapter. As many of you pointed out, it was not my best. I let a little personal bias and a lot of sleepiness color it. And just to clarify, Mr. Weasley wasn't selling his daughter, he was just allowing Harry a chance to even speak to her.

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Remus and Tonks put the children to bed after a usual dinner of Spagettios. As they tidied up the kitchen, Tonks sighed.

"Oh, that sounds bad. What is it?"

Tonks looked around. "You ever wish everything could just stay the way it is?"

"Sometimes," Remus admitted. After a while, he grinned. "But then Sirius would be here demanding sweets and Spagettios until kingdom come."

Tonks laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason," Tonks said a bit too quickly.

"Come on, Nymphadora, cough it up. Are you thinking of going back to work?"

"Let's talk. I've got something to tell you."

"Listen, Nymph, I know you're tired of being domesticated, but I really think you should wait until James is a bit older before you go back to work…"

"Remus…"

"No, let me finish," he interrupted. "I understand where you're coming from, Nymphadora, but I just don't want you working as an auror while he's so young. It's dangerous. And Sirius is only three himself. Besides, I'm sure you can find work somewhere else. Maybe in my department. Or perhaps there's an opening in Diagon Alley…"

"Remus John Lupin!" Tonks cried. "You're doing it again."

"What am I doing?"

She sighed. "Jumping to a conclusion and beating it to death. Let me finish."

"Okay. I'm sorry." Lupin tried to suppress a chuckle, but it came out in an odd snort. "Sorry. Go ahead."

Tonks shot him a glare. "Anyway, it's my turn to talk. So be quiet and don't interrupt me."

"Yes ma'am." There was more than a little facetiousness in that statement. Tonks chose to ignore it.

"You know one of the other things we've been talking about lately?"

She paused.

"Am I allowed to answer?" Remus asked, confusion written all over his face.

"Yes!"

"I thought I was supposed to be quiet. I thought maybe it was a rhetorical question."

"Why would I ask a rhetorical question and then stand here and be quiet?"

"Emphasis perhaps. It's classic oratory style," Remus pointed out.

"What are you, a freaking encyclopedia?" Tonks cried.

"I'm sorry. Please continue, now that I have completely forgotten what you had said."

"Remus, this is important," she sighed, tears welling up in her eyes.

"What is it?" Remus queried, becoming quite worried. He pulled his wife into an embrace.

"How would you feel about having two babies at the same time?"

"What!" he cried. He spun her around in his arms. "Are you…"

"Yes, Remus. I'm pregnant."

"But…"

"You know how we were 'practicing?' I think we already achieved the mission."

"I thought it was the wrong time."

"Me too," she sighed. "What are we going to do? James will just be a little over two! And Sirius is just—Sirius. We'll go mad!"

Lupin kissed her forehead. "We'll manage. We'll call in a lot of babysitting help. You know Hermione would be willing. She has been handling the twins for a while now."

"Yeah. I just—I don't sleep as it is. Merlin, how could I have been so stupid!"

"Not stupid, Nymphadora, just forgetful. Maybe it'll be that girl you wanted," he said softly, placing a hand on her belly.

"I'm going to be fat again!" she wailed. "It's not fair. Why can't you get fat?"

Remus laughed. "If I could, I'd do it for you. You know that."

"I know. That's why I love you." Then she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

"Mmm. And I love you."

"I know. Took you a bloody long time to admit it."

"I'm just lucky you stuck around."

"Yup. Lucky Lupin."

Remus smiled goofily at the memory. "Yeah."

She smiled. "Which, by the way, is when we made this baby."

And she left Lupin in the kitchen alone, his eyes wide.

Well, he thought. That'll be an interesting story to tell the kid when it's old enough to know.

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A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers for the constructive criticism. I love to hear from you! I PROMISE you will see Ron soon, so don't even ask. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. I love Lupin/Tonks. Oh, by the way, I just made a C2 of Lupin/Tonks fics if you're interested.

Thanks to my beta jwoods471 for making me write. She deals with me through insane writer's block, lack of initiative, and computer problems, and doesn't complain about it as much as she should. Check out her story Forgotten Memory.

I also suggest The Price of Love, Thinking of You, and the now complete Please Remember Me for Ron/Hermione. For Lupin/Tonks, be sure to check out Unlikely Soulmates at least. It's by far my favorite. : D