AN: Sorry for the delay in getting this posted. I've been distracted by a massive plot bunny for H/G for the last few weeks and R/T took a back seat. I've got things going now and am back on track. Hope this was worth the wait.
Chapter 11
15 April, 5:08 pm
Standing in front of the full-length mirror, Tonks adjusted her clothing for what seemed like the hundredth time. She turned to the side, checking and double-checking the way her shirt fell over her mid section. She held her shoulders just so, hoping to distract from the fullness her breasts had recently taken on. Satisfied, she tugged on her jeans a bit, pulling them higher up on her hips, which was difficult considering she barely had hips anymore. Unfortunately, tugging them up more than they were made to go and sucking in her tummy as much as she could only emphasized the size of her bosom. With a heavy sigh she expelled her breath, slouching her shoulders forward in defeat.
"Are you almost ready to go? We're running a bit late as it is." Remus said, entering the bedroom.
Tonks frowned at her reflection, tugging yet again on the hem of her t-shirt. "It doesn't look right."
"Nym, you look fine."
"It's the bump," she said, pulling on the waist of her jeans again.
"I've told you, there isn't a bump yet," Remus said, stepping up to her and examining her more closely.
"Yes there is!" she gaped at him, pulling her shirt up for him to see the way her tummy curved ever so slightly.
Remus smiled. "That isn't a bump, love. It's more like a…large dinner."
Tonks gave him an exasperated look. "Thanks."
Chuckling, Remus slipped his arms around her from behind, letting his hands rest gently on her abdomen. "Why are you worried about it anyway? I thought you said you didn't mind getting a bump."
"For the most part, no," she confirmed, placing her hands over his. "But my clothes don't exactly fit right and it's just…obvious. If it was just the bump, it might be okay, but it's not. I mean, look at my breasts."
Remus smirked. "Perfect pair it seems to me. I don't see anything wrong with them."
"No, of course you wouldn't." She looked back at her reflection. "They look like an engorgio charm went bad."
Remus laughed, "So?"
Tonks turned in his arms. "So, they're going to notice."
"You're a metamorph. No one will think twice about you looking slightly different."
"Yes they will and then they'll know, Remus. I don't normally go around 'enhancing' bits of me. At least not since I was fourteen."
"Considering that we were going to tell them anyway, I don't see the problem."
"They'll take one look at me and know, and I don't want them to just know. I want to tell them myself." She broke away and resumed fussing with her clothes.
"Then wear a bigger shirt," Remus offered.
Tonks grimaced.
"All right, then wear some robes."
"Oh yeah, because me showing up at a casual dinner wearing traditional robes wouldn't be a dead give away that something is going on."
Remus sighed in frustration, slumping back against the bed. "What is it you want me to do about this, Nym? It was your idea that we wait a few weeks to tell everyone about the baby. So we've waited a few weeks and now you've got…" he signaled to her tummy.
"A bump," Tonks said running her hand over it.
"A paunch," Remus corrected.
"And big tits," she added.
Remus cocked his head. "Slightly, but even though I swear to you that you don't look pregnant, you won't take my word for it."
"You look at me every day. The change was gradual for you. But for my mum…or Molly…they are going to spot it right away."
Remus covered his eyes with his hands. "You honestly don't look pregnant!" He stood up and went to her. "Listen, if you had this enormous bump that you are insisting is so noticeable, would you be able to button your jeans?"
Tonks shifted her weight. "Well, they don't fit right. At least not like they used to."
Remus only raised his brows in reply.
"You swear it isn't noticeable?"
Placing one hand over his heart and raising the other one as if taking an oath Remus said, "I solemnly swear that you are as beautiful as ever."
Tonks shook her head at him. "All right then, but if this backfires, I'm blaming it on you."
"I gladly take full responsibility for your pregnancy, although it does take two to tango." His brows waggled in suggestion.
"Men," Tonks mumbled, swatting at his arm. "Now go and get our cloaks."
5:19 pm that same night
Remus knocked on the door to the Burrow, giving Tonks another chance to make a final adjustment to her jeans.
"Stop it," Remus said without even looking at her. "If you keep fidgeting with your clothes then they will suspect."
The door opened before Tonks could get in a retort. Molly greeted them with a bright grin. She shuffled them in, instructing her husband to take their cloaks. Remus handed them off to Arthur taking a moment to pull him aside and ask the necessary question. Tonks forced a casual smile as she tried to listen to the hushed conversation behind her.
"Are Ted and Andromeda here?"
"Oh yes. Arrived about ten minutes ago. You're late, by the way," Arthur scolded.
"Yes well…" Remus mumbled something Tonks couldn't quite make out, but she was certain it had something to do with the fuss she had made over the clothes. "So you haven't told anyone, then?"
"No, no. I promise you, I didn't tell anyone."
"Good. She wants to make sure this is done properly."
"And you really haven't said anything to her parents? You've never spoken to Ted even…about…"
Tonks heard Remus groan. "No, I haven't, and thanks for making me fully nervous now."
Arthur laughed and patted him on the back before walking away to hang up the cloaks.
Remus stepped up next to her stiffly. "You know, I really should speak to your father before we make any kind of announcement."
"Why? It's not like he can very well say no."
Remus' gaze shifted down to her. "Oh, yes he can!"
Tonks tutted and rolled her eyes at the very idea. "We live together, Remus. I'm sure everyone, including my parents, knows what we get up to. Getting married," she said rather quietly, "won't be much different."
"It's his reaction to the bump that I'm more concerned about."
Her eyes went wide. "You said it wasn't a bump!"
"Ssshhhh," he insisted as Andromeda approached them.
"Nymphadora! There you are!" her mother said, hugging her. "I wondered if you would be here tonight. You've been hiding from me for the last few weeks."
Tonks smiled, trying to play it off. "I wasn't hiding, I've just been…busy."
Andromeda hummed skeptically and brushed her long hair away from her face to get a better look at her daughter. "I like that shirt," she said gently placing a hand on Tonks' shoulder. "But darling, don't you think it's a bit snug? Or are you intentionally trying to emphasize your curves?" She chuckled to herself as Tonks' cheeks blushed to match her hair color. "You know," Andromeda continued, "you already caught Remus. You don't need to keep up the act unless…" her focus shifted to Remus, "unless he insists." She patted his arm casually. "And how have you been, Remus?"
Remus' face was just as flushed as Tonks' was. "I'm very well, thank you. And how is Ted?"
Andromeda frowned. "Very well, thank you? Why so formal all of a sudden?"
"Oh, I…I…well…"
"And stuttering too?" Andromeda laughed. "The way you two are behaving is just so odd. Makes me think you're up to something, and knowing the both of you, that isn't a good sign."
"We're not up to anything," Tonks assured. "We're just…here for dinner. I'm starving."
Her mother raised an eyebrow.
"I skipped lunch."
"You did?" Remus said, looking down at her in surprise.
Tonks held a smile on her face, hoping that Remus would just let it go this once. She hadn't skipped lunch, but she couldn't very well explain to her mother that she'd been eating like a horse for days now without giving up their surprise.
Hoping to avoid any more uncomfortable conversation, Tonks pulled on Remus' arm saying she really wanted to go find something to drink. Remus followed suit, making polite excuses to Andromeda as the left.
"That was close," she said under her breath.
"Tell me about it. I could really use a drink."
"So could I," Tonks teased, knowing full well that she wasn't able to consume alcohol in her current condition. She wasn't taking any chances with this pregnancy, so even a butterbeer wasn't an option.
To her chagrin, they encountered the whole clan of younger Weasley's helping themselves to the assorted off-limits items at the beverage table.
"Remus…Tonks! If memory serves me correctly it's red wine and firewhiskey?" Fred asked, holding up some glasses to them. "Ron brought along some of Old Ogden's finest."
Tonks cleared her throat. "I think I'll stick with water tonight."
"Water?" George grimaced. "It's a party, Tonks. You can't make a toast with water."
Immediately, her eyes went wide. "Toast, who said anything about a toast?"
Ginny elbowed him in the side. "Nice going," she muttered.
"No worries, Gin," George said.
Fred smiled brightly and stood between Ginny and her fiancée, Harry, with his arms draped over their shoulders. "You see, Harry and Ginny here have a bit of an announcement to make."
"You do?" Tonks said.
"We do?" Harry asked, looking at Ginny. "Oh right, we do," he replied when she scowled at him. Harry looked around the room. "Now? Should I do it now?"
"Yeah, let's get this over with," George said before calling out to the room. "Hear ye, hear ye. My lovely sister and her dashing fiancée would like to say a few words."
The room quieted down and all eyes were on Harry and Ginny. Harry took Ginny's hand with a smile. "Gin and I just wanted everyone to know that…" Harry paused and Tonks could feel her stomach churn at the possibilities. "We found a house!" Harry finished to a room full of congratulations and well wishes.
"It's in Hogsmeade and it's absolutely delightful," Ginny added.
"Of course, you won't be moving in until after you're married," Molly Weasley said pointedly from across the room.
Ginny rolled her eyes in protest. "Harry's going to live there, and I'll move in after the wedding."
Tonks blushed crimson at the comment. Remus took her hand as a source of comfort and murmured in her ear, "Don't even think about it."
"Think about what?"
"Our situation is totally different from theirs, so whatever you're thinking, I insist that you stop it."
"I'm thinking…that we should make an announcement of our own."
Remus grinned madly at her. "Certainly." He turned and anxiously looked over the faces of everyone in the room, his eyes lingering on Ted and Andromeda. "Since we're all in the mood for announcements, Tonks and I have one of our own."
"Yeah, Fred and I do, too," George interrupted, stealing focus.
"That's right," Fred said. "Business has gone through the roof."
"And we've got more demand now than ever."
"So, we've decided that now is the perfect time to expand."
"And we don't just mean another store. We mean we're going international."
More
cheers and congratulations were offered to the twins.
"That's…incredible,
Remus stammered, trying to offer his own
praise. "Fred, George, you must be - "
Before he could even get a word in edgewise, Ron came forward with news of his own.
"Seems like the whole family has some good news tonight. Far be it from me to be the one left out." He smiled from ear to ear. "I made the team. You're looking at the newest Chaser and assistant captain for the Chudley Cannons."
At this, everyone in the room, except for Tonks and Remus, roared loudly in total delight. Hermione planted a kiss on Ron's mouth that made him go scarlet. Tonks felt as if she were sinking into the floor, and it didn't take much to see that Remus was forcing his grin. They both looked at each other in disbelief.
"It's just so wonderful," Molly said, beaming at her family. "Everyone's doing so well. And with Arthur…oh dear…do you want to tell them or shall I?"
Tonks couldn't imagine what was coming next. She leaned over to Remus. "If he's been made Minister of Magic, I very well may vomit."
Arthur happily looked around the room. "I can't be outdone by my own children, now can I. I, too, have had a bit of luck at work and got a promotion to be the liaison officer to the Muggle Prime Minister."
Sounds of happiness filled the room as once again Tonks and Remus tried to look as delighted as everyone else. It wasn't that they weren't happy for the Weasley's. If anyone deserved good fortune, it was their family. But tonight was supposed to be a big night for Tonks and Remus. As it was, it was turning out to be a big night for everyone, which almost made their own news seem less significant.
Tonks felt her legs go a bit weak and she sunk down into the sofa. Remus followed her. "Do you still want me to say something?" he asked.
Before she could give him answer, her father's voice broke through. "Didn't you have something to say, Remus? You said you and Nymphadora had an announcement."
Remus looked up. "Yes, we did. We do. That is…" He looked at Tonks expectantly.
Tonks waved a hand through the air. "Oh, bugger! What the hell. I'm pregnant and we're going to get married."
The news was met with silence.
"Is that all?" Andromeda Tonks said. "That's old news. We've known about that for almost two weeks now, haven't we, Ted?"
"Yes, we have," he agreed. "Any other news?"
Tonks' eyes went wide. "You knew? How did you know?"
"Well, Molly told us," her mother said.
"Molly?" Tonks said.
"Arthur, you promised you wouldn't tell her!" Remus said.
"I didn't say a word to Molly, I swear."
"Then how…?"
"That handsome, young chap that you work with at the Ministry," Molly explained. "He told me."
"Zach? But I told him not to say anything outside of work."
"And he didn't. I over heard him talking to Arthur about it when I came to visit him for lunch one day. I was in the building, so technically it wasn't outside of work."
"But that's not what I meant," Tonks said, exasperated. She searched the faces of everyone in the room. "So this whole time…you've known. We've been trying to keep it a secret and you…you all knew?"
Beside her, Remus gave a chuckle. "I think we've been had." He smiled brightly. "I'm going to take a wild guess that Arthur didn't get a promotion."
"Not at all," the older wizard said. "Even if I did, I wouldn't accept that position. I love Muggle articles, not Muggle politicians."
"And the Cannons haven't held tryouts yet, so there is no way I could have made the team," Ron said, quickly adding, "But I am going to try."
George chimed in next. "Fred and I are thinking of expanding - "
"But not internationally," finished his twin.
"Which brings us to Harry and Ginny," Remus said.
"Oh well…we really did find a house," the bespectacled young man said.
"That's what got this whole things started," Ginny added. "We knew you two were going to make an announcement and we didn't want to steal the spot light."
"But Ron thought it would be funny if we all had something to say," said Hermione.
"And you know Fred and me," said George.
"We can't resist a joke," said Fred.
Tonks looked over to her mother. "And the conversation at the door?"
Andromeda smiled. "You and I really should set aside some time to go shopping."
"But," Tonks said, her eyes looking a bit watery, "aren't you at least a bit happy for us?"
"Happy? I'm ecstatic!" Andromeda said excitedly, pulling Tonks to her feet and hugging her tightly.
The next thing Tonks knew, she was surrounded by her friends and family, offering hugs and laughing in delight. Relief settled in her stomach at last as one by one everyone congratulated her and Remus. Tears of joy fell down her cheeks as her eyes met Remus'. It wasn't the way she had planned on sharing her news, but now that everything was out in the open, she couldn't imagine a better way for things to have transpired.
6:47 that same evening
Remus smiled to himself as he watched Tonks discuss her plans for the upcoming ceremony with the other ladies at the dinner party. It had been a while since he had seen her as animated and excited as she was right now, and he couldn't help but consider how beautiful she looked as she spoke. Her mouth moving rapidly as her hands waved through the air. A laugh escaped from her at some comment Ginny made. It was music to his ears.
"Oh dear," the voice of Ted Tonks sounded next to him, bringing him out of his daze. "Looks to me as if she's going to have you in dress robes in no time."
Remus looked over at the man beside him, the man he was most nervous about facing tonight. "If that's what she wants."
"Andromeda and I eloped. It's far easier that way." He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
"So long as she doesn't have me in jeans with holes in the knees and some kind of leather jacket that's totally not my style."
Ted shook his head. "I doubt it. If Nymphadora had wanted someone with that sort of style, I don't think she would have fought so hard for your attention a few years ago."
Remus glanced at him in surprise. "Point taken." He paused waiting for the other man to comment. When none came, Remus said, "Still, I never know what she'll come up with next. She pierced her ear again a while back and I half expected her to try to pierce my own."
"No, she tried that with Sirius once, and it backfired."
"That was Tonks?" Remus said in surprise.
Ted smiled. "Did you know about it?"
"I knew he'd got his ear pierced because he wouldn't stop complaining about how much it hurt. However, he told us that he had been enchanted by some beautiful young witch that he'd spent the weekend with."
"Well, that's mostly true. He did spend a weekend with us shortly after he left Hogwarts, and Nymphadora insisted that he get his ear pierced when she did. Now, I might be biased, but I think she's rather beautiful."
Remus looked over at Tonks and smiled. "Yes, she is, but then I'm biased, too."
"That you are. Of course, when she tricked Sirius into getting his ear pierced she was only five…six maybe."
Remus groaned. "Don't remind me. It's bad enough…"
"What's bad enough?" Ted prodded.
Remus took a deep breath. He'd never really had a deep conversation with Ted or Andromeda about his relationship with their daughter. There had been opportunities over the years, but Remus had always somehow managed to avoid addressing the issues. Now, he wanted Ted to know that he recognized the age difference between them and the fact that there were risks involved with his lycanthropy. It was very important to Remus that Ted understood he didn't look upon the facts lightly.
"When I first saw Tonks at Grimmauld place all those years ago, I was totally stunned," he admitted quietly. "Sirius had told me that his cousin was part of the Order, but I brushed it off. I had difficulty imagining it. After all, I can remember when she was born."
"You can?" Ted asked.
"Oh yes. Andromeda sent Sirius a parcel with an announcement and all sorts of photos of her. The pictures even had a place of honor on top of a pile of papers next to his bed for quite some time. I'm not sure if that was because of his inability to clean up or if he really did like them, but there they sat. So I was thinking how odd it was that this little girl could be a member of the Order. And then when I saw her," he paused as he remembered. "She took my breath away."
"The Spring before Sirius died," Ted said, breaking the silence that had passed between them, "Nymphadora had dinner with us and she spent the whole night talking about you. Andie said, as a joke mind you, 'Sounds to me like you're in love with him.' Nym didn't say anything. She just shrugged, and I thought…oh…God."
Remus felt pale and swallowed hard.
"I couldn't believe what I was hearing. All I could think about was that I could remember when you were sorted."
"You can?"
"Yes. Well, not you specifically, but I remember that sorting because it was when Sirius was placed in Gryffindor. Talk about an upset. I had been with Andie for a year or so by then, and I had heard all sorts of stories about Sirius. The Blacks weren't the only ones surprised by his sorting, you know."
"True."
"So when my daughter came to me saying that she was falling in love with a man who was the same age as Sirius, I was dumbfounded. I mean, you and me," he said pointing to Remus, "technically, we were at Hogwarts together. That's just…it's just…"
"Unfathomable," Remus offered.
Ted shook his head.
"Unthinkable?"
Ted frowned.
"Impossible?"
"No, actually Remus I was shooting for just plain weird."
Remus chuckled, "Not exactly what you were wanting for your daughter, especially considering the lycanthropy."
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned."
Having never spoken of these things with Ted, Remus was rapidly feeling more distraught and uneasy about the whole situation. He hoped to be able to smooth things over and make some amends. "Listen…Ted…I need you to know that I have always had the best intentions when it comes to Nymphadora. I struggled with my own feelings for so long and tried to resist giving in to her. She fought me so hard, I don't think that anyone can - "
"Remus," Ted said, holding a hand up to stop him from going further. "I know all of that. I know that you held back and even pushed her away. She spent a few nights crying on my shoulder over you, after all."
Remus sighed and looked down at a spot on the floor. "I'm sorry about that."
"Don't be sorry. It was because of that whole messy situation that I was able to accept the two of you as a couple."
"Really?"
"Absolutely." Ted looked directly into Remus' eyes. "I'm the father of a metamorphmagus – a woman who can change her appearance to whatever she or her partner would like. On more than one occasion I have been worried by the thought that a man would take advantage of her talents. It was my greatest fear that she would end up with a man who only wanted to be with her for what her gifts could offer him, rather than for who she really was. After about the third conversation I had with her about how you were still unwilling to have a relationship with her – that you felt she could do better for herself – I stopped advising her to move on and look elsewhere and started encouraging her."
Remus was very nearly speechless upon hearing this news. It wasn't something he ever expected to hear from anyone, let alone Tonks' father. He wet his lips and found his voice after a good while. "Thank you for telling me that. I know I've never asked you…for permission…"
Ted stifled a howling laugh. "Permission? Oh Remus, that's good."
Remus smiled. "Well, all things considered, I should have had the courtesy to at least ask you."
"Then ask me, if it means that much to you."
Remus held his breath for a moment, unable to believe the words he was readying himself to say. "May I please marry your daughter?"
With a raised eyebrow, Ted said, "No." He swatted at Remus' arm in the next second. "Of course you can marry her. Good God. It's not even my permission you need. It's hers," he said, indicating Tonks on the other side of the room. "And given tonight's announcement, I think you already have that."
Remus could hardly move, having been scared out of his wits for that brief, but agonizing moment.
"You really thought I was going to say no, didn't you," Ted laughed. "Remus, if Andie and I honestly opposed your relationship with Nymphadora, we would have said something when you two moved in together. I mean, have you ever known Andromeda to be subtle or quiet about her opinion?"
Feeling slightly more at ease, Remus said, "No. I haven't."
"Well, there you go. But you do have to promise me something."
"Anything I can do."
"Don't ever call me 'Dad'."
