Disclaimer: I own nothing. But I will someday. MWAHAHAHA!

A/N: I am absolutely, totally, immensely, painfully sorry for the HUGE lack in updates. I really have no excuses. Oh, except: I was sick, I sprained my ankle (I couldn't hobble to the computer!), school takes up all my spare time, and my dog ate my chapter.

Again, I apologize.

However, I have actually FINISHED the story! After this chapter, there's only one more to go after this one (no epilogue, sorry, I surprisingly didn't make it AU … I thought I would …).

But anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Except – I seriously have to warn you. This chapter has serious angsty bits (Terrible! Awful! Cringe-worthy! I know!), and some disturbing OOCness on Lupin part (I turn him into a … sap! –gasp-!), and … well, some very poor attempts at humor –dramatic sigh-.

Rather than that though … have fun, all, and please don't forgot to review )

KendraPendragon: First of all, I'd like to thank you for reviewing. Much appreciated )! ON the subject of Tonks being well, yes, and the OOC on her part … well, I understand completely, and agree. This story was just a bit of fun I started from some wild plot bunny a while back … I never really thought I'd turn it into something. However, I was searching through all my word documents, and saw it just sitting there and … well, I couldn't stop myself. I just started writing, and, well, it turned into a humor story (I had it as –serious- angst before. Scary, I know). The easiness –is- lost. Lol. I knew I couldn't keep it overly humorous for long. I'm always so tempted to slip back into angst. It's such a bad habit. I'm glad you still enjoy reading it, though. I really try ;) Please review again, if you have the time!

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Chapter Fourteen: On My Way Again

He had been sitting outside my door for three hours now.

Every once and a while he would call, 'Tonks…' quite meekly, actually, if he only half-believed that I was every going to come out.

And, hell, his doubts were well founded.

I was going to sit on my bed, staring at the wall, for as long as I had to before he left. Now, usually, for a witch, this wouldn't be a problem in the slightest but, being the intelligent person I am, I forgot my wand on the kitchen table.

It was going to be a very long night.

"Tonks," I paused in thought as he called out, breaking the silence again. I sighed. "You have to talk to me eventually."

"No, I don't." Damn it.

I could feel him smile. "I think I've proved my point."

"I think you've proved you suck!" Oh, yes, Tonks, that told him.

He chuckled.

"Not a time for laughter, wolfy, not a time!" I snapped, poofing out my cheeks with air and blowing it back out in frustration.

"I'm sorry."

"Is that all you ever say?" Damn little squinty-eyed fiend!

"It seems to be a reoccurring phrase with you."

"Oh, ha-ha-ha."

"You do realize we're having a conversation," he snipped, ruining the mood completely.

Deciding, in a way, that he was right, I shut right up. For an hour. A minute. A couple seconds.

God, I sadden myself.

"Look," I started irritably, "if you could just scurry down to the kitchen, grab my wand off the table, and come back up and give it to me, I can dutifully go back to ignoring you in peace."

"Though that sounds absolutely exhilarating," I scowled, "I fail to see how it helps me."

"It's not supposed to help you, brainiac!" Oh, I was on a roll­ today.

There was silence. Though, I suppose, I got the last word, it didn't make me feel any better. If anyone should be rendered wordless from the oddity of the others words, it should be me, damn it!

"Have you spoken to Sirius lately?" Oh, good. Now I was actually starting conversation.

Another silence.

"Hello?"

Nothing.

"LUPIN!"

"Wha – oh, sorry, I went to go get crackers."

Crackers?

What.

The.

Hell.

"Oh, right," I said, pretending like it was totally normal to go get crackers in the middle of a conversation. A conversation that I didn't want to have. Right.

"So. Are you going to open the door?"

"Nope."

Two Hours Later

"Now?"

"I doubt it."

I heard a sound of frustration. Ah, satisfaction.

"You know, I may actually have something to tell you."

"Well, then, say it right here. Not like anyone's around."

"Sirius is sitting right beside me, Molly has her ear pressed against the door, and Ginny, Bill and Charlie standing around beside us waiting for something to happen."

I heard the sounds of slapping and a mangled, 'Way to blow our cover!'

"Oh…kay," I paused, chewing my lip, and thinking about how terribly pathetic these people's lives must be. "Anything you have to say to me, they can hear."

A whoop was sounded, followed by a, 'Shut up, you idiot!'

"Uh, no," Lupin replied. "Can you please just let me in?"

"No. Tell me here."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Why?"

"Yes – what?"

"Tell me why."

A long silence. "Erm … I …"

"He's embarrassed," whispered a voice that sounded disturbingly like Kingsley's.

A very creative curse was snapped, which I couldn't help but nod my approval to.

"Why, Lupin?" I repeated.

"I … it's personal."

I heard, 'Ooh, personal!' 'How juicy.' 'Now it gets interesting, it's almost twelve, I won't be able to stay awake much longer!' And promptly ignored everything. That took willpower, damn it!

"Oh?"

I could feel the blush radiating off his thin little body. "Yes. Please, please, just let me in and … no, we can not talk about that right now, Sirius, I'm busy!"

I raised an eyebrow.

Clearing his throat, he continued. "Please?"

Oh, how pathetic.

"Fine!" I snapped, and opened the door a slice. Sighing, I jinxed Sirius' curious head out of the doorframe, and shut the door with a snap as soon as Lupin tumbled in.

I muttered a few definitive anti-listening spells, before ever so slowly turning to Lupin. One glance of his hopeful and slightly nervous face was enough to send me into downward spirals of guilt.

"Nymphadora," he started. "I have to apologize, again, for anything that … happened that might have upset you, but …" He looked sheepish. Sheepish! Tonks, you little wanker, look what you've got yourself into…! "I think …" He paused again, studying my face, before continuing. I suppose he didn't see the huge 'GUILTY!' stamp on my forehead. "I think that perhaps we have something. I'm not one to jump headfirst into a relationship, but please forgive me if I'm misspeaking, but I feel a…spark." Profuse blushing. "Don't you?" Oh, my God. I was positively shaking now. We were way, way, too close and … oh, Merlin, was that his hand …? And, oh, oh … those were the perfect things to say, how does he always know what to say? And, God, he really was too close …

I felt the warming sensation of his lips on mine for only a moment before I pulled back, spluttering and feeling chillingly cold. "Lupin … Remus," I corrected myself. It just seemed wrong to call him 'Lupin' right now. Perhaps it was wrong to call him Remus. Perhaps I was being too forward. And, God, for what I'm about to say … oh, shut the fuck up! "I-I …" I licked my lips thoughtfully, not looking at his ever so slightly hurt expression. "I can't do this, I mean, wait, no!" I snapped as he retreated back, looking profusely hurt. However, at my sudden outburst, he fell off the bed in surprise. Oh, BUGGER IT ALL! "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I sobbed as he pulled himself back up, thanks-not-at-all to me. "I just…" Jittery and feeling oddly numb, I listened as words tumbled out of my mouth. "I'm not who you think I am. I mean, I am, but I'm not."

Thankfully, at this point, Lupin held up his (slightly shaky) hand. "Tonks, you're not making any sense."

The large, guilty, unsettling feeling that I suppose had been there since the moment I had recognized Lupin for who he was shifted, and I slowly scrunched my face up in concentration, waves of heat and cold simultaneously passing through my body. "Here," I murmured, my voice lost in my throat.

Lupin looked silently at my changed figure for a moment before jumping up, his voice wide in surprise.

"I'm sorry," I said right away, like a reflex. "I didn't know how to tell you …" my voice was so quiet. I let it die away as Lupin found his.

"Oh, my God." He looked sickened, almost. Or maybe it was just shame. "You … knew, you remembered? And you didn't … you didn't say anything …" His eyes darting back and forth across the floorboards, thinking. "Why?" he said suddenly, staring at me again. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I opened my mouth wide, but I couldn't make anything come out.

He stared at me for only a second longer, before turning sharply and darting out of the room.

The door slammed shut behind him, and I winced as it shook the room.

Come on, Tonks. It could have gone worse.

I collapsed back onto the bed and wailed.

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A/N: And just in case anyone is screaming bloody murder from the utter scariness and un-like the majority of the storiness of this chapter, please don't worry. The next chapter is less...horrifying. This was manditory. It hurt me, too.

REVIEW AND I'LL LOVE YOU!