Author's Note:

Hope you like this one!

Reviews and Comments: To coloredwords: Thank you! James is totally cracking up in the afterlife. But I agree, we needed some normal teenage stuff. Thanks! To geekymom: Thank you! To E-Dett: Thanks! I agree, we need some real life issues for them to deal with like unwanted erections. It's what fanfiction is for! To Queen Helen: Thank you! I'm glad you're looking forward to the Christmas chapter. To Guest: Thank you for saying this is the best talk chapter you've ever read! I really wanted Sirius and Remus to not hurry it, but to make sure Harry knows he can ask questions whenever he wants. It is time to tell Tonks the truth and yes, it is also time to tell Ted and Andromeda they are dating. To Guest: Thank you! I wanted to make sure he knew it was all normal and yes, I know, Remus has to tell Tonks! To alix33: Thank you! I consider it a compliment that you are equally mortified and sorry for Harry lol. Of course, Sirius and Remus had diagrams — they were not going to take this lightly lol.

Thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you!

CHAPTER NINETY-ONE:

The One Where Ted Walks in While Remus Is Fingering Tonks…

And Remus Adds Another Finger

Remus had thought long and hard about what Sirius had told him, but he still wasn't quite ready to tell Tonks about his secret. She had yet to question him on his non-availability on the three nights of the moon and he wondered on that. Why hadn't she questioned him? Didn't she want to know where he went or what he was doing?

But at the moment, all of those thoughts had gone straight out the window as he trapped her between the counter in her small kitchen the next afternoon and kissed her deeply. His hands sat on her hips and her hands were in the back pocket of his jeans, squeezing his bum.

Remus really liked it when her hands were on his arse.

He really liked it a lot.

He nipped at her lips, grinning when she sighed and arched her head back.

"Mmm, I think that we should move this to the bedroom."

"Should we?" Remus asked her, placing soft kisses on her neck. "Why is that?"

Tonks grinned at him, turning her head to bite playfully on his earlobe. "I have naughty plans for you, Mr Lupin, very naughty plans."

Remus' eyebrow only rose. "Oh? So do I and I think this counter is an excellent place to start them off."

She squeezed his bum tighter and pressed her lips to his as she kissed him. Her lips met his softly and slowly, lingering over each touch as if she had all of the time in the world to kiss him on this lazy afternoon.

Remus pulled her closer, his hands gently pressing on her hips, one hand sliding up the middle of her back as he pressed her closer to him. His tongue danced with hers and his blood positively hummed in her presence. Being near her made him feel complete, made him feel whole, and his heart sped up. He wanted to bite her, to mark her as his, to claim her as his mate once and for all.

The pressure to do so had him pulling away, tilting his forehead against hers. "Nymphadora…."

Tonks simply smiled at him. "Remus?"

His lips touched hers again, softly. He wanted to explain, to tell her how she made his head so fuzzy, but instead he was lifting her up onto the counter. His hand moved over her thigh, pressing between her legs and rubbing the denim of her jeans hard enough that the friction made her gasp.

"Let's get these off," he murmured, pressing his lips to her neck. "I want to touch you; taste you…"

Tonks only nodded, her head falling back against the cabinet as his hand slid inside the denim and his fingers found her. She let out a small gasp, her hips moving into his hand as his fingers worked her. His index finger slid up to circle her clit just as someone cleared their throat behind them.

Remus turned, slipping a third finger inside of her as he pressed on her clit, ready to threaten anyone who dared to interrupt them, but the sight of the man standing there had him blushing and he quickly removed his hand from inside Tonks' jeans and knickers and shoved it in his pocket.

"Er, hello, Ted."

Ted had his hands in his own pockets as his eyes were wide with surprise. "I-I came by to see if Dora wanted to… er, sorry."

He made to leave, but Tonks hopped off the counter and rushed forward. "Dad!"

Ted turned, his ears flushing red. "I just used the Floo, I should have Apparated and knocked, it's my fault. I didn't…" He glared at Remus. "I didn't know Lupin was going to be here."

Tonks took Remus' hand in her own. "Dad, Remus and I are together, there's no need to use such formalities as you've known him for years."

"Yes, I have known him for years which only goes to show that he should not be snogging my daughter in her kitchen and putting his hands…" He glared openly at Remus.

Remus flushed and attempted to pull his hand away from her, but she held on.

"Dad, who I date is my choice, not yours."

"Dora," Ted began, but Tonks glared at him and he promptly shut his mouth.

"And you should be happy for me because he makes me incredibly happy," she said, her eyes moving to Remus' face, a soft smile on her lips.

Ted was quiet for a moment. "How long has this been going on?"

"Since the last week of September," Tonks said, defiantly.

Ted only nodded.

Remus swallowed. "Ted, I know that I'm the last person that you imagined to be with your daughter, but she's the most incredible woman that I've ever known and I know that I don't deserve her… I tried to tell her as much but… she's rather stubborn."

Tonks grinned at him. "That I am." She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.

Ted nodded, his eyes on Remus' before he gave a curt nod. "Why don't the two of you come to dinner at the house tomorrow night?"

Tonks beamed at him, moving over to kiss her father's cheek. "Thanks, Dad."

Ted only nodded. "See you for four."

When the Floo lit up behind them, Tonks moved back into Remus' arms. "Not the way that I planned on letting my parents know, but that works too. You know, Mum is well aware that I have sex, as I've told her, but Dad… I think that he just had a rude awakening that I'm not five years old anymore."

Remus chuckled. "I can't believe that he didn't hex me into next week, actually. Nymphadora, my fingers were inside of you."

"You added a third finger when you realized someone was behind you," Tonks accused.

"I didn't know it was your father," Remus protested. "He definitely should have hexed me."

"He wouldn't," she said with a smile. "Dad's not like that and well, at least I still had my clothes on."

Remus chuckled, licking his lips. "Good thing he didn't come five minutes later then."

She laughed, her eyes crinkling. "And why is that, Mr Lupin?"

Remus lifted her back up onto the counter, trapping her hips between his arms with a wicked smile. "I think you know why, Miss Tonks."

She grinned and kissed him deeply. "Why don't I help you with that?"

He smirked as her hands unzipped her jeans and she tugged them down her hips. "Why don't you?" he said, kissing her again, his hand moving back into her knickers.

The mewling sound she made when his fingers slipped back into her made him even harder as he stroked her and when she pulled his mouth down to hers, he felt like he was home.

~ ASC ~

Sirius did take Harry shopping the next afternoon.

He helped him choose some new soaps and Harry was pleased to choose some new toiletries for himself. He found one he particularly liked, a new soap that smelled of citrus and cedar and he chose a new shampoo that smelt rather woodsy itself. Sirius convinced him to let him buy this men's cologne that smelt like oak and spice, but Harry was unsure on whether he wanted to use it or not.

"You don't have to," Sirius told him with a smile. "But trust me, a spray of this in the morning after your shower and you'll feel great and you'll smell great and the girls will love it. But no more than two sprays, you don't want to overpower people with scent."

Harry had blushed in response.

Sirius had also gotten him some deodorant which Harry was grateful for, thinking of his sweaty Quidditch practices. Plus, he convinced Sirius to let him get some new undershirts as well because some of the ones after practice were getting quite grungy.

But Harry felt better when he went home with his new purchases and he did admit after his first shower with his new products, he did feel more grown up. When he stared at himself in the mirror, he wondered about the physical changes. The tiny hairs under his arms were barely there and he wondered how long it would be until he got hair on his face. He used his new deodorant but decided against using the cologne when he made his way downstairs for dinner.

Sirius was just setting the table when he stepped into the kitchen and he grinned at him. "Looking good, Prongslet, bet the girls are noticing. Maybe even a few boys."

Harry blushed. "Uncle Padfoot!"

Sirius laughed and pointed his wand to the archway in the kitchen. "I think it's time to measure you again."

Harry rolled his eyes but he grinned. "We just did it when I came home, five centimetres, remember?."

"We did and I think that you've grown again. Stand against the wall."

Harry dutifully stood against the doorjamb as Sirius measured him, marking the wall with a notch from his wand.

"Told you," Sirius said triumphantly. "Another half a centimetre."

Harry grinned at him. "I'm a real giant now."

"Hey, no need for sarcasm, you will be taller than me one day, Unfortunately Jamie bested me in the height department, the great prat that he was."

Harry chuckled. "What are we having for dinner?"

"I made a Shepherd's Pie; it should be just about done. Grab some of the raw vegetables from the fridge, too." At Harry's face, he grinned. "Vegetables are good for you."

"You know what's really good for you, treacle tart. It brings happiness. It's a known fact."

Sirius laughed. "Nice try, smart-arse. Get the veggies, I'll get dinner on the table."

Once they were seated and Harry was crunching on the veggies did Harry speak again. "Uncle Siri?"

"Harry?" Sirius questioned, a small smile on his face.

"I know I keep complaining about him, but Lockhart is honestly the worst teacher ever!"

Sirius chuckled as he swallowed his food. "Harry, I know that you don't think that he's doing a good job and frankly, he is clearly an imbecile, but he is unfortunately your professor. I don't make the rules about that."

"At the duelling club, I learned more from Snape."

"Well, Snape is a git, but he is intelligent, I admit." Sirius told him, an annoyed look on his face as if admitting to such was truly a crime.

"I'm serious!"

"No, I'm Sirius," Sirius said, grinning when Harry simply rolled his eyes in exasperation at the joke.

"He removed thirty-three bones from my arm and Uncle Remus punched him in the face."

Sirius laughed. "Merlin, that was a good day. It takes a lot to rival Moony up that much; especially to actually throw a punch."

"He hasn't taught us anything!" Harry said, desperately. "All of his tests are just about him! We did a term overview test and the first question was what kind of shampoo does Gilderoy Lockhart like?"

Sirius frowned at that. "Is he testing you on anything Defence Against the Dark Arts related?"

"I had to compose a poem about how he defeated the werewolf," Harry said in annoyance. "And last week, he wanted us to write a limerick about his wonderful role getting rid of ghouls."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Limericks and poems? What about charms and hexes?"

Harry shrugged. "I learned that when you perform a spell on Cornish Pixies, don't let them take your wand and throw it out of the window."

Sirius sighed and scratched his nose. "Look, I know that he's a moron and so do you and obviously, so do the other teachers. McGonagall can't stand his pompous arse, but no one else is available as a defence teacher, Harry. I told you before, the job is cursed. It has been for over forty years. He was the best person Dumbledore could find for the job, according to the Governors it's getting to the point that no one is even willing to become the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"That's not true," Harry said, reaching for a second piece of Shepherd's Pie, "Uncle Moony could do it."

"Now there's a thought," Sirius said with an eyebrow raised in interest. "He would be a great defence professor. Of course, you know that he'll be all stubborn about it if we bring it up."

"I've already learned way more from what he told me to study than I did from Lockhart all year," Harry insisted. "He would be brilliant. Can't you ask him if he wants the job and make Dumbledore hire him instead? Please!"

Sirius grinned. "Well, I don't know if I have that kind of power, but you know what, Prongslet, I'm going to look into it. Let me send an owl to the governors about replacing Lockhart's position and when we meet in the new year, we'll see. But let's keep this between us for now, okay? I think we both know how much Moony would try to bluster his way through it and I'd have to speak to Dumbledore first. I don't know if this will work, but I will try my hardest to get rid of Lockhart, okay?"

Harry simply beamed at him.

~ ASC ~

The next morning, Harry was helping Sirius by shovelling the fresh snow off of the driveway. They were only about halfway done when Tonks walked up the path with a smile.

"Wotcher, Harry, Sirius."

Harry grinned at her, wiping sweat from his brow as despite the chill, shovelling snow was heavy work. "Hi, Tonks. I didn't expect to see you before Christmas."

She smiled widely at them and shrugged. "I brought my homemade brownies. Can I lure you two inside for a bit?"

Harry immediately dropped his shovel making her laugh.

Sirius waved them forward. "I'm just about done. I'll finish up. Get some hot cocoa started, Prongslet."

Harry nodded and stomped into the house, taking off his boots and winter gear and rubbing his cold hands together. He led Tonks into the kitchen and immediately began to make hot cocoa.

Tonks opened the tin of brownies and placed a few of them on a plate. She put them on the kitchen table before she let out a long sigh.

Harry simply smiled at her. "You okay?"

She shrugged and walked over to hug him tightly. Harry was the same height as her now he realized, maybe even a bit taller than her one hundred and sixty-five centimetres. She kissed his cheek and pulled away.

"Harry, I'm going to ask you something. And when I ask you, I want you to promise to tell me the truth."

Harry's eyebrow rose. "Well, I don't plan on lying to you."

Tonks ran her hands through her hair. "Remus is keeping a secret from me. Yes or no."

Harry hesitated and Tonks pointed at him.

"Hah! I knew it!"

"Tonks, that's not fair! You can't ask me to tell you his secret!"

She shook her head. "No, I'm not asking you to do that. I just wanted confirmation that I wasn't going mad. He is keeping something from me and I know it. I spend most nights with him but… sometimes, he won't let me stay or he won't stay with me and he won't give me a valid reason. He says that he's spending it with Sirius."

"What about me?" Sirius asked, pulling his hat off and dragging his fingers through his hair.

Harry sighed. "Tonks wants to know what Uncle Moony is hiding from her."

"That's another thing — Moony — why do you call him that?" she demanded, her eyes wide. "You're Padfoot, he's Moony, and Harry is Prongslet. Why?"

"Well, Harry is Prongslet because Jamie was Prongs so, we kind of adopted his nickname when Harry was born," Sirius explained, taking a seat at the table and stretching his long legs out before him. "I made him Prongslet, Rem calls him little Prongs. As for Moony, it was just a nickname we came up with at school. You know that, remember I told you that Peter was Wormtail. You've seen my Marauder tattoo and I damn well know you've seen Rem's."

Tonks sighed. "Yes and his symbol is a wolf, but he's not an Animagus like you, Peter, and James were, why not?"

Harry bit his lip and turned around to stir the hot chocolate. The last thing that he wanted was to accidentally give his father's secret away. He had tried to tell Remus that she needed to know and now he could practically see the wheels turning in her head.

Tonks was far from stupid.

"He didn't want to be an Animagus," Sirius said. "He just wanted to study it."

She looked at him skeptically for a moment. "You know, a few years back, I remember thinking that it was rather odd that Remus sometimes seems to be under the weather on the days when there is a full moon. For a while I even contemplated whether or not he could be a werewolf, isn't that strange?"

Sirius let out a slow breath. "Tonks, whatever Rem's secret is, it is not for us to tell you. You need to talk to Rem and tell him that you want to know what he's keeping from you. We can't help you with that."

She nodded, biting her bottom lip. "We're having dinner with my parents tonight. Dad walked in on Remus and I snogging in my kitchen yesterday. He was a tad peeved."

Sirius looked at Harry and they both grinned identical smirks. "Sounds fun."

Tonks rolled her eyes. "It's going to be fine." She reached for a brownie and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. "And I think you two helped answer my question as well." She kissed them each on the cheek. "I have to go meet Remus. I'll see you on Christmas."

When she headed out to Disapparate, Harry looked at his godfather. "Did we just confirm that Uncle Remus is a werewolf? Does she know now? Is it our fault?"

Sirius sighed. "I think that she's always known on some level, Harry, and I think that she's only just now starting to put the pieces together. Remus has to tell her soon."

"Do you think that she's going to be terribly cross with him?"

Sirius shook his head, smiling at his godson. "She loves him, but the fact that he's lied to her, that's something else entirely."

Harry only nodded and poured the hot cocoa into two mugs. "I hope that he tells her soon. It doesn't change who he is. He's still the greatest."

Sirius accepted the mug with a smile. "He will, Harry, especially if he's going to have dinner with Ted and Andy tonight."

"Why?"

Sirius grinned as he took a sip. "Ted used to be in the Order of the Phoenix with us."

Harry looked bewildered. "What does that mean?"

"Quite a lot, I think."

Harry didn't find that helpful at all.

~ ASC ~

When Remus and Tonks stepped into her childhood home just before five that evening, Remus found himself shifting uncomfortably. He had started to feel very much at home in this place over the years, coming over every Christmas, and he had felt like they had become his family too.

Now he was feeling very much like an unwanted outsider.

He cleared his throat and smiled warmly at Andromeda when she took his coat from him.

"Dora," she said with a smile, kissing her daughter's cheek. "And Remus, come in!"

Remus smiled back at her as Tonks greeted her parents affectionately. Ted gestured for Remus to sit down and he chose a seat on the sofa, pleased when Tonks sat next to him, entwining her fingers with his. The feel of her skin on his calmed him and he could feel the beat of her heart pulsing in her blood in a slow and steady rhythm and his own slowed to match it. Just being with her always made him feel better.

"This is a surprise for us as I'm sure you can imagine," Andromeda said carefully as she took a seat on the love seat next to her husband.

Tonks only smiled. "Mum, he makes me happy."

Andromeda smiled back, nodding. "I can see that. Dora, why don't you come help me in the kitchen? I want to talk to you."

Tonks only nodded, standing up to follow her mother out, kissing Remus softly on the cheek as she stood. "Talk indeed as we all know me and the kitchen don't mix." Remus smirked and her father chuckled. "Be nice, Dad."

"I'm always nice," Ted said, defensively.

Tonks only shrugged at that and followed her mother into the kitchen, closing the door behind her.

Andromeda was at the counter chopping peppers, an apron around her waist, and she didn't turn around when the kitchen door closed.

"I know what you're going to say, Mum."

"No, you don't," Andromeda said, not turning around.

"I know thirteen years is a big difference, I'm not stupid."

"I never said that you were."

"He's the most incredible man that I've ever known, Mum."

"He is intelligent and very handsome," Andromeda admitted.

Tonks sighed, hopping up onto the counter next to where her mother was chopping furiously. "More than just intelligent and handsome, Mum. He's kind and patient and charming and funny and he makes me feel things that I can't quite put into words."

"He also struggles to find work, Dora."

"Mum!"

Andromeda sighed and put her knife down, wiping her hands on her apron. "I like Remus. He is all of those wonderful traits and much more, not to mention that he has always been there for Harry and Sirius. He loves that child like he was his own son. But… he gets ill a lot and his illness seems to hold him back from truly making a career for himself, a life. Surely you know that. He has an illness that…"

"He doesn't… you don't understand."

Andromeda closed her eyes, speaking carefully now. "He does seem to be ill a lot, Dora. He always has for as long as I've known him. Sirius is loyal to a fault. He tells me that he's on the right potions and that he will be fine and he usually is, but he is ill. You can see it in his eyes sometimes when the sickness… I don't want you to be a nursemaid to a sick man."

"Mum, he is perfectly capable of taking care of himself!"

"Then why doesn't he have a job? He's been fired from more jobs than I can even remember. If Sirius hadn't paid him to teach, Harry, he would be barely scraping by! You are on the fast track to becoming an incredible Auror, soon you'll be an A2, and are you planning to let him hold you back from your ambitions?"

Tonks glared at her mother. She had never imagined that Andromeda of all people would judge a man by his wealth. "Honestly, Mum, are you even listening to yourself right now? I guess some of those Black family genes really did stick; like father like daughter."

Andromeda paled. "Nymphadora!"

"No!" Tonks exclaimed, her grey eyes on her mother. "I'm in love with him!" she declared passionately. "Sometimes I think that I've always been in love with him. He kissed me, you know, two years ago, here, at Christmas. God, it was the best moment of my life up until that point. He apologized, tried to pretend like it didn't happen, but it did and I… I wanted him so badly and he said no. He says that he doesn't deserve me. He's the most incredible man and for some unknown reason he doesn't think that he deserves me of all people. I know that he's older than me. I don't care. I know that he has trouble keeping a job as he misses a few days each month. I don't care. I know that he gets ill sometimes. I don't care. Being with him makes me happier than I can even form into words. My blood hums when he's near me and I never want that feeling to go away. Don't you remember when you were in love with Dad?"

"I'm still in love with your father, desperately and completely," Andromeda said, quietly, as she watched her daughter's eyes dance in joy as she described her feelings. "Dora, I just want you to be happy, darling, nothing else matters to me. Nothing."

Tonks hopped off the counter and hugged her mother tightly, smiling when her mum's lips pressed against her cheek. "He makes me so happy that I could burst. It's only been a few months but… this thing between us has been building for years. He's… mine, I know it. I have this… need to be possessive of him, to make him mine that I can't quite… I need him, Mum, and I'm terrified to tell him how much in case it scares him off again."

Andromeda framed her daughter's face in her hands, a small smile on her face. "He's a wonderful man, Dora, don't think that I don't know that. If he makes you this happy, if he is truly who you want, I won't ever stand in your way. I love you, my darling little pixie, and all I want is for you to be happy and to follow your dreams."

Tonks smiled at the childhood nickname, kissing her mum's cheek. "I love you too, Mum."

Andromeda held her daughter close for a long moment and then she sighed. "Now, help me get this chicken roasting and you can tell me all about how this happened. I especially want to know about this first Christmas kiss."

Tonks grinned, moving to get the spices down from the cupboard. "You do know about it already. Remember, I told you that I had the best kiss of my life while playing in the snow?"

"The one after the snowball fight?"

Tonks nodded. "Exactly."

Andromeda grinned. "Well, that was quite the steamy kiss from what I remember you telling me, I think that we should talk about it again now that I know that it was Remus and not someone from school."

Tonks grinned wide. "Mum, he's just… he's amazing."

"And handsome."

"So fit and so sexy," Tonks said with a smile. "I told you that there was somebody special in my life."

"You did and you said it was somebody who gave you your first real orgasm, I listen, Dora," she said with a smile. "But, you did conveniently leave out the part where the man's name was Remus Lupin."

Tonks hugged her mother from behind. "I know, but now you know."

"I do. Now, do tell," Andromeda said with a smile as her hands got busy prepping the chicken. "And we can talk about why you haven't told him how you feel yet."

Tonks just smiled, hopping back up onto the counter and nodded. "What do you want to know?"

Andromeda smiled at her daughter. "Everything."

~ ASC ~

Remus was sitting in the living room with Ted feeling a bit uncomfortable. He wondered if Andromeda was telling Tonks that they couldn't be together and frankly he would completely understand it. He was closer to Andromeda's age than to Nymphadora's and he knew that he wasn't the man that she had pictured for her daughter. As for Ted, Remus was still surprised that the man hadn't tried to hex him into next week after walking into his daughter's kitchen and discovering Remus with his hand inside of his daughter's knickers; his fingers inside of her.

Ted was tapping his fingers against his beer pint, his eyes on him for a long moment.

"I know that this isn't what you expected and I know that I'm the last person that you ever wanted to get involved with your daughter," Remus began, carefully.

Ted held up his hand to stop him. "Don't put words in my mouth, Remus."

Remus bit his bottom lip.

"Am I pleased that you are dating Nymphadora? Not particularly, but frankly, I felt the same way about all of her previous boyfriends so, I wouldn't take it personally. Do I think that you're too old for her? Age is irrelevant to me. What concerns me is something else entirely." Ted said carefully, his eyes moving to the closed door of the kitchen before he dropped his voice. "What concerns me is what happens to you three nights a month."

Remus paled. "Er — what do you mean?"

Ted rolled his eyes. "I was the in the Order of the Phoenix, too, Remus. You went on some pretty dangerous missions; interesting ones from what I recall, especially the ones where you crossed paths with Adrian Roberts and who else you dealt with on those missions… a few of us suspected there was a reason someone so young was chosen to go on them and to make contact with the Alpha of a werewolf pack. We did some research on werewolves, learning about them and their habits. We wanted to know everything we could in case you were successful and you brought more werewolves into the Order. You've been coming here for years, Remus. You are basically part of this family already because of your friendship with Sirius. After all these years, did you really think that I wouldn't notice the symptoms? That I wouldn't notice that three nights a month, like clockwork you were ill? The first time Sirius left us alone with Harry, that Christmas four years ago when you were too sick to attend dinner, the illnesses… Andy thinks that you have some incurable disease or a form of a cancer of some kind and I haven't had the heart to tell her the truth if she hasn't figured it out on her own — that this illness of yours tends to correlate with the moon cycle. I'm certainly not going to be the one to tell her nor have I said anything to Dora on the subject."

Remus swallowed, carefully. The last thing that he had expected was for Ted to know the details of his biggest secret. "I don't… I don't know if I can stay away from her. I tried and… she's…"

"Your mate," Ted said simply, bringing his beer to his lips for a long drink. "I rather got that impression already and once I got over the shock of finding you two in Dora's flat, I realized that I had already known."

Remus stared at him in amazement. He had no idea that Edward Tonks was so observant or had he in fact just given that much of himself away? "How?"

"The possessive nature; the way you practically ripped off her boyfriend's head a few years ago with a look. I told you, we did research on werewolves during the war, on what they are like, on their personalities, and on their lives. Did you really think that I didn't notice you watching my daughter? I saw the way you tried to ignore it, the way you stayed away from her and I also know that my daughter probably didn't make that easy on you. She's too much like her mother, Merlin help her. September was when you finally caved?"

Remus nodded, biting his lip as he spoke. "She was dating Hugh Arnett and… the bloke had to go. I went to her flat and I told her that she had to break up with him. That she couldn't date him."

Ted chuckled. "If you don't want Dora to do something, the last thing you do is try to tell her not to do it."

Remus smiled. "I didn't mean for it to happen… I-I tried to resist her I just…"

"She's your mate," Ted said again and when Remus nodded, he sighed. "She has no idea, does she?"

Remus shook his head. "I haven't been able to bring myself to tell her."

"Have you told her that you love her?"

Remus shook his head again.

Ted stood up, moving to sit next to Remus on the chesterfield. "The only thing I have ever wanted for my baby girl was for her to be happy, Remus. She's doing her dream job, achieving her dreams and she's fancied you for many years. She told me that she grew out of it when I teased her about wanting to go over to Sirius' to see you, but that little crush, it grew with her. She's a grown woman now; strong and independent and you are what makes her happy, any fool can see it. I think on some level I always knew that she would end up with you."

"And the fact that I'm… a monster?" he whispered.

Ted shrugged. "A werewolf, you mean? It's only three nights a month, the man who loves and worships my daughter is who I care about, not the wolf. I've watched you over the years with your son, for he is, you know, every much as he is Sirius' — he is your son. You're an amazing father, a great uncle, and a wonderful friend. I don't correlate those terms with the word monster. A man with those qualities, a man who clearly loves and worships my daughter, is not a monster. Just promise me one thing?"

"What's that?" Remus asked, his heart beating quickly in his chest. He couldn't believe that Ted was so accepting of the fact that his daughter was dating a werewolf.

"Promise me that you won't ever hurt her, that you'll take care of her when she lets you, and that you will love her with all of your heart."

Remus stared into Ted's eyes, completely baffled by the trust the man was showing him. "I can promise that."

"Good. Oh, and Remus?"

"Yes?"

"Tell her the truth soon — or I will."

Remus could only nod in response.

He had absolutely no words to convey his reaction. Ted knew that he was a werewolf, had known for years by the sounds of it and had known that Remus and Tonks were drawn to each other. It alarmed him a bit. Had he been that obvious? Had he truly given it away?

And most importantly, if Ted had figured it out — did Nymphadora know?

Remus sipped his beer and closed his eyes.

He had never been more terrified to find out the answer.