Chapter 5: Love

I slowly and carefully push the door to Remus's room open. Yes, just as I expected, the weight of Remus stops me from opening it fully. It was the full moon last night and Remus spent the whole time locked up in his room. He obviously had been too tired to make it into bed when he transformed back into himself, into my Remus and collapsed in front of the door, naked, freezing and probably sore not only from his transformation but from spending the whole night on the hard floor. I squeeze myself through the gap and somehow manage to get my feet tangled up in thin air. I bite my lip as I fall, to stop myself from yelping, but I may as well not of bothered...

I hit the floor with a loud crash, loud enough to wake a man in Australia, let alone a man sleeping right next to me. Remus stirs and opens one eye. He gives me a groggy smile,

"Thank you for waking me," he teases,

"No problem-how are you feeling?" I ask, rising to my knees (probably bruised again) and shuffling over to his side.

"Umm, like hell..." comes his half answer, half yawn.

"Can you stand? Or will I have to drag you to the bed?"

"Oh not now, Tonks, really..." cheeky bugger,

"To sleep Remus!" I snap back, playfully slapping his shoulder. He winces a bit too dramatically.

"Beating up an aching man. Don't know why I put up with it," he yawns,

"Because," I reply, getting to my feet, "You think I'm amazing and funny and-"

"And even more evil than your Aunty Bellatrix," he finishes. Now that was nasty and low,

"Do you want to stay on this goddamn floor Remus John Lupin?"

He shakes his head and gives me the now famous puppy-dog (or should that be werewolf?) eyes. How on earth can I resist that? I offer my hand and he pulls himself up, leaning as much weight as he dared onto my shoulder.

"I like this." I state, guiding him over to the bed,

"Why?"

"Makes a nice change from you picking me up off the floor." I help him onto the bed and tuck the sheets around him. I then perch on the end of his bed. Even in this sort of state, he is still so incredibly attractive. I gently stroke the hair out of his drooping eyes, it is so soft.

"Better?"

"Mmm." He is seriously struggling to keep his eyes open now. It is time for me to go. I move to get off the bed, "Stay." He murmurs, patting the bed, "You were on guard duty last night, you need sleep too," so I was. I was that worried about Remus I had forgot. My goodness, I am tired. Staying sounds like a good plan. I jump off the bed and strip down to my underwear, before sliding into bed next to Remus, snuggling up to his back. He turns to face me and kisses me lightly.

"Night, night Remus." I say, nestling into him, my head fitting perfectly under his chin.

"Goodnight, Tonks."

I have grown to not like Remus calling me Tonks. It is too casual for us now, too friendly. It is time for a change.

"Remus."

"Mm?"

"You can call me Dora, if you want."

"Dora?"

"Yeah, Tonks just isn't right; it doesn't sound right when you say it. Not now we are so close, so-"

I stop dead. I was going to say it to him then. I was going to tell him. Bloody hell! I can't tell him! What if I scare him off? I can't risk that, I've got to be careful.

"So what?" he enquires, aware of my abrupt ending despite his state.

"So..." HELP! "I dunno, you know, just closer than friends, we are just, I just-"

"Dora." He cuts me off. Now that name sounds better,

"Yes Remus?"

"I love you." I'm breathless. He said it. He bloody said it! Oh my god...Remus Lupin just told me that he loved me, he just- hey hang on you stupid woman, stop reminiscing and say it back!

"I love you too." And I always will...