Sorry this update is coming so late! I have been busy with school and all that jazz, and I have been having a bit of writer's block. I do already have the vast majority of next chapter written, so it shouldn't be too long before I update. I may not wait to update all my other ones because so much of it is done already and I really want to get it out. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter! Please review!
Remus knocked on Dora's front door the following morning at ten sharp. He had barely slept at all the night before, and had been ready to leave at least an hour before Dora would be expecting him. So much had changed in his life, and so quickly. The same old worries were knocking about in his brain, fighting for precedence over new worries and new hopes. He hadn't so much happened across a new path as he had tumbled through a hole in the ground. It was unexpected and surreal, but maybe, just maybe, it was his chance to rediscover his wonderland. The few months he had spent courting and married to his wife had been the best times of his life. Looking back, they seemed like stolen moments from someone else's life. Someone who was good for her. After a long night of worrying and debating, he knew he wanted that back. Whether she would take him back, now that was another thing entirely.
There was a rustling of curtains, and then the door opened. Dora stood before him, and any eloquence he has deserted him. His mouth felt full of cotton. "Good morning, Dora," he greeted a half beat too late.
"Morning," she returned, and began to yell over her shoulder, "Teddy! Your father is here!"
"Down in a minute! Can't find my shoe!"
"Look under your bed! Maybe if you cleaned your room you would know where it is!" she turned back to Remus. "Merlin knows he gets that from me," she muttered.
Remus chucked softly, but Tonks did not laugh in return.
"Listen, Remus. Have you read The Prophet this morning?"
"No, why?" In truth, his mind had been too full to consider putting anything else into it.
"No reason," she said quickly, "Teddy just pointed a 'story' out to me this morning. You'll see when you read it. I just think that you and I need to have a proper talk, now that we have had a chance for everything to sink in a bit. You know... About where things stand."
Hope bubbled up in Remus' chest. Here was his opening... and there it fizzled into an awkward pause.
"Yes. I mean, that is a good idea. Would you like to meet me at the Three Broomsticks for tea or drinks?"
"Sure," she said, crossing her arms over her chest and slouching against the door jamb, "Is Monday afternoon okay?"
"That's fine," he answered with a smile that he sincerely hoped was charming in an I'm-not-trying-to-be-charming-to-get-you-to-fall-for-me-(again) sort of way.
Tonks just nodded and turned to look up the staircase at the noise of Teddy thundering down. Right before he made it to his parents, Tonks whispered to Remus, "Teddy doesn't need to know any of this."
He was perplexed, but nodded quickly.
"Ready to go Teddy Bear?" Tonks asked more brightly than Remus has seen her act all morning. It had a distinct note of falsity to it, but it could be easily overlooked if one was not attuned to her methods for faking. Some things never changed. Teddy, at least, didn't notice.
"Mu-um," he whined, "I told you not to call me that!"
"And I never listen," she answered, "At least I didn't give you a horrible first name like my mother did me."
Teddy ignored her and turned to Remus, "Morning, Dad!"
Remus smiled. "Good morning, Teddy. Have you planned anything for us today?"
Teddy shook his head, "Not really, but could we explore the woods around your house? They look fun."
"Certainly," Remus agreed.
"Well, sounds like you two are going to have quite a time!" Tonks said, "You had best get going instead of burning daylight on the front steps!"
Teddy nodded eagerly. "Bye Mum!" he called as he ran down the garden path.
"Bye Teddy! Love you!" She called after him.
"I'll have him back for dinner," Remus said and Tonks nodded, "See you later, Dora."
"Bye, Remus," She said, "And it's Tonks."
Remus turned away to catch up with his waiting son. He didn't look back until he heard the door close behind him.
Teddy thought it was quite promising that his parents were talking on the front steps when he came down to meet his Dad. They were whispering. Victoire told him that that is what girls do when they like a boy. They whisper secrets in their ear, and there was his mother, leaning in to tell something very quiet to his father. And The Prophet this morning! It had actually made his mother blush. His Mum never blushed, but when she saw Teddy reading the headline HEAD AUROR TONKS REKINDLES OLD ROMANCE? her cheeks had turned bright red before she could morph it away. Victoire also said that girls will act cross with boys they fancy, and his Mum was doing that as well. In Teddy's book, his mother was showing all the signs of a full-blown infatuation.
After their walk through the woods, during which Teddy saw many squirrels, several rabbits, a family of ducks, and even a deer, Teddy decided to test the waters with his dad. He had heard them making plans to meet for tea, but that could mean any sort of thing. After all, Victoire asked him for tea, but that didn't mean anything at all, did it? Teddy kept waiting for some sort of opening in the conversation were talking about his parents' relationship would work in well, but none ever came. Finally, Teddy decided it was best to be direct.
"Mum loves you, you know," Teddy said matter-of-factly, "She told me so."
"I'm sure she didn't say that," Remus said with a somber tone and expression.
"Yes, she did," Teddy argued, "She said that she didn't hate you, because she loved you so much that she can't completely un-love you."
"Listen, Teddy that is not the same as being in love. I seriously doubt that your mother and I will get back to where we were, at that may be for the best. We never were very good for one another."
"You used to be happy," Teddy protested petulantly, "I have seen pictures!"
"That was for all too brief a time, Teddy, and long ago. You can't just pick that sort of thing up where you left off."
"Do you love Mum?" Teddy challenged.
"It doesn't matter," Remus said, and Teddy took that as a yes, "It is a matter of trust and getting to know each other again. Your mother and I have not even spoken is so long, we barely no anything about each other's lives. Nobody can force something like that to happen, and for it to happen twice…"
Teddy frowned. He should be happy just having his Dad back, and he knew that. He also knew that expecting his parents to get back together the moment they laid eyes on each other was childish. He couldn't help it, though. He was surrounded by happy families with two parents, Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny, Uncle George and Aunt Angelina, Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron. Now that he had all the puzzle pieces, he wanted to pop his family together. No matter what his Dad said, he wasn't going to give up hope yet.
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