Chapter 48: Departure

From the moment when she woke up, Tonks spent her days in silence and lack of solitude only due to Snape's consistent presence around her; save for his short trips to Hogwarts.

She sat perched on the window ledge for days on end. Summer passed. Autumn followed. It had been three months and she was 5 months pregnant. And the father of the child didn't know it existed. Since the time she rose from sleep with her wand cradled against her chest and Snape's hand clutched, almost cruelly, in hers, she felt dead inside. She didn't eat, sleep or drink.

A flutter reminded her of her growling stomach. She ate.

Another flutter urged her to take a drink. She drank.

Soon, those flutters became nudges and then fully fletched kicks that sometimes sent her gasping but then her heart would skip a beat from sheer joy when she felt them.

She lived by the will of the little life in her belly and that little life depended on her.

She was whispering as she caressed her swollen belly. Then she heard the door click open. She tensed, her arm hugging her belly to her protectively while her free hand tightened around her wand.

Snape entered and closed the door behind him, food levitating behind him. He regarded her with cold calculating black eyes. Tonks met his eyes, calmly evaluating before she closed her eyes momentarily, looking away and lowering her wand.

He paused before approaching, "your potions?" Snape glanced to the table which had one white potion and one red one.

Tonks caressed her belly subconsciously as she inclined her head in affirmative. He nodded stiffly in approval before he waved his wand and the food levitated over to hover on her lap.

She glanced down before ignoring it and looking out the window.

"You have to get out soon," his voice was barely a whisper but Tonks was sure the door had an imperturbable charm and silencing charm to boot. She didn't turn to him but sensed his pause before he continued, "you'll not be spared after this child is born. And Lupin wouldn't survive the third full moon otherwise,"

Her heart skipped a beat and she felt a kick against her palm. Tonks turned to look at him.

"He's..." She spoke, her voice cracking from the lack of use, "is he okay?"

"Alive," Snape replied.

Tonks clenched her teeth to stop the trembling as she nodded her thanks, "how?"

The Dark Lord has taken to visit her once in a while, seemingly taking pleasure to unsettle the Malfoys while he did it. Bellatrix resided at the Lestrange mansion but was a frequent visitor. Since Snape saved her from Bellatrix's torture, she kept a respectable distance from Tonks but Tonks could feel her watchful eyes on them. Tonks had to refrain herself from launching at Bellatrix and ripping her to shreds for vengeance every time she saw Bellatrix. Snape always had a hand on her to remind her.

In short, an escape was nearly impossible with the Malfoys constantly around and Bellatrix practically living here.

Snape paused, "Lupin will come here and take you himself,"

There were delays.

Delays till after the third full moon. Snape had brought news that Remus was no longer capable of coming to get her so they'll have to manage without him. Tonks had worried herself sick yesterday night upon that news but Snape didn't know anymore to comfort her. Instead, he provided her more potions.

Tonks glanced at the dress in disdain but sighed and pulled off her shirt. Snape had managed to get her some loose shirts and pants to wear but on the Dark Lord's last visit, he had insisted Tonks be given some more appropriate clothes. She glanced down when she felt a kick. Pausing, she stared, gaping in marvel. On her belly, was an eerily accurate outline of a little foot.

Tonks brought a hesitant finger to trace the foot gently. She could feel her baby shifting, probably stretching. The foot withdrew from her skin when she caressed it gently for a while. She palmed her swollen belly for a moment, marveling as she felt movement, "are you awake now?" She prodded gently and chuckled when she felt a nudge back, mimicking her prod, "mum's just changing, sorry I woke you, little one," she whispered.

She then proceeded to put on the dress as gently as she could manage, struggling with the zipper. The door opened and she glanced back to see Snape entering. He stopped just behind her, standing close to her. She felt him begin to zip up her dress slowly as he leant closer, "change of plans, we'll use the floo tonight instead,"

She tilted her head slightly to better hear him.

"Stay close tonight," He instructed. She froze as he placed a hand on her shoulder. Tonks nodded rigidly and felt his hand slipped off his shoulder and then he summoned the bottles of potion and their glass. He poured them out for her and Tonks drank, watching him. Snape's black eyes flirted across the door and she nodded.

Her room had always been under close surveillance and even Snape couldn't do anything to prevent that. Despite Bellatrix's best efforts, Tonks and Snape played their part and they were under close scrutiny and suspicion but not proven liars yet. Tonight, there would be a gathering of death eaters at the Riddle mansion and everyone would be required to attend.

Yaxley and Pettigrew had been tasked to escort her and Snape to the mansion which, in Tonks' opinion, was a small escort thus once again proving the Dark Lord's trust in Snape. Although small and Pettigrew might be dimwitted, having been fooled by Tonks and Snape multiple times, Yaxley was sharp.

Tonks placed a hand on her belly as they made to leave. They opened the door to see Yaxley already there, sneering at the pair of them. Snape took her wand from her and stowed it into his coat before Yaxley could make to grab it. Tonks walked ahead, behind Peter, as Yaxley indicated. She could feel Snape's hand on her back as they walked down the stairs.

Behind her, Snape spoke to Yaxley, "the Dark Lord?"

"There already. Only left with you two, the guests of honours," Yaxley snorted, "Hurry up now."

As they reached the base of the stairs, Tonks glanced back at Snape. Yaxley was watching her with narrowed eyes. Behind him, she could see something moving in the shadows. All of a sudden, she was yanked to the side just as a big black dog dove from the shadows. The dog clamped its strong sharp jaw onto Yaxley's shoulder. The death eater yelled and flailed vigorously, clumsily drawing his wand but the dog shifted.

The sudden weight and size of his attacker sent Yaxley to the floor. Sirius Black growled, drawing back a fist and knocking Yaxley out cold, his jaw broken with a crunch as his fist collided with his face.

Peter squeaked, his wand held out in front of him but Sirius had his wand as well, "hello Peter," Sirius' voice was dripping with venom and Peter flinched at the mere sound of it but Tonks couldn't wipe the smile off her face. Snape rose behind Peter and Peter barely had time to squeak again before he dropped to the floor, out cold.

Sirius glared at Snape, "when will you learn not to interfere, Snivellus?" Sirius' dark eyes glanced about the empty mansion. It was the only day it was empty and their only chance. Narcissa never leaves the house.

Snape turned sharply towards the fireplace. Tonks gingerly rose from the ground, a hand on her belly. She looked down and patted her belly to assure the child whom she felt was still and thought it must be frozen with fear.

Sirius looked at her and stared, "Nymph..."

Tonks was so happy to see him she could've laughed right then and there but then Snape shoved the pot of powder at Sirius. He blinked and took a handful of powder, stepping towards the fireplace. Tonks stepped in with Sirius' help; he was still staring at her.

Before Sirius could say the words, Tonks looked at Snape, "come with us," she reached out a hand in invitation. Snape seemed as surprised as Tonks had ever seen, "with me gone, they'll kill you…and after all you did for me-" she paused, "for us," She corrected and his eyes flickered down to her pregnant belly. Eventually, he looked at her with those cold dark orbs. He reached out a hand to her outstretched one only to place her wand in her hand.

Snape then shook his head, stepping back just as Sirius threw the power at their feet, "Moody's house!"

She shut her eyes and clung onto Sirius. She could feel his arm around her waist, holding her as close as her belly would allow.

They came to an abrupt stop and Tonks stumbled, caught from falling out of the fireplace by Sirius. He straightened her out and after patting the soot out of his own robes, he helped her with hers so that she didn't smear them all over the floor. Tonks tore her gaze from her cousin and looked around the house. It looked the same.

Her eyes locked onto the mantelpiece above the fireplace and tears stung her eyes. Moody and his daughter, Lyra, were there, smiling at her. More importantly, beside that picture, there was a photo of Remus and Tonks at their wedding. Remus was wearing his spiffy black dress robe with his bow tie. He had his arms around his wife's waist. She watched with a fond smile as Remus leant down to kiss her chastely like the gentleman that he was. Tonks couldn't look away from the smile on his face and that sparkle of life in his blue eyes. A blushed formed on his cheek as he pulled away to gaze at her as if she was the most precious thing in the world. She chuckled at her prudish husband.

He had confessed that he thought his dress robe shabby but to this day, she still thought it beautiful on him.

"Nymph?" Sirius' touch on her elbow startled her and she jumped, stepping back. Her elbow caught a vase which her mother had given her and it crashed to the ground loudly. She cringed, flinching away from the sound. The heel of her feet caught on the tip of the carpet and she felt herself reel. Tonks saw a hand made to grab her arm but she panicked. Tonks ducked it and steadied herself by the back of a couch, "Nymphie…"

Her chest was heaving from the fright and she took a deep breath as she looked up to see that it was only Sirius. His hand was frozen, outstretched in front of him and his brows knitted over his eyes.

"It's alright, Nymphie…I'm here," His voice dropped, his voice velvet and comforting as he stepped up before her, "it's just me, Sirius,"

Tonks slowed her breathing, nodding to herself as Sirius placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and she placed a hand on her chest to calm herself.

Sirius guided her to the couch, repairing the vase poorly but he ignored it and sat down beside her, "do you want anything to drink?" He asked, shooting up to his feet again and walking to the kitchen, "I make tea that taste like piss but I can make hell of a coffee-"

"Sirius," Tonks spoke, her voice scratchy. There was a lump in her throat which she was trying to expel by repeating the mantra that she was home and safe and Bellatrix Lestrange wasn't going to jump through the fireplace, "I can't drink coffee, it's bad for the baby," She rose and walked into the kitchen.

Sirius was avoiding her eyes, "Baby…oh yes…pregnant. Then…some milk? It might be stalled but I just bought it so-"

"Sirius," Her voice rose above his bustling about the kitchen. This was not her suave cousin. Sirius Black doesn't bustle about the kitchen when he was nervous, that was Molly or even Remus. Sirius stopped when he heard her and turned to look at her with a sheepish look as he fetched the milk.

"Are you alright?" She watched him pour the milk, nodding to him. As Sirius handed her the glass of milk, she followed his gaze down at her belly, "How many months are you...?"

"Pregnant?" Tonks finished and watched her cousin blanch and nod stiffly at that word, "5 months now," She could see the sums running through his head, "it's Remus'," She snapped and Sirius had the courtesy to look sheepish.

"Merlin," He laughed shakily as he ran a hand through his hair, "my baby cousin…I barely accepted the fact that you're married and now you're pregnant. I'm going to have a little baby cousin now…" He rambled, "pregnant…wow…"

Tonks drank the milk. She smiled as she watched Sirius over the rim of her glass, amused, "Yes, I can get pregnant. I am a woman y'know," she frowned at him.

Sirius paled, "Yes, you are," he muttered, "I just…I'm sorry," He looked up and locked eyes with her, his eyes pleading, "you're my baby cousin,"

Tonks shrugged. She hadn't really had a good talk with Sirius after her wedding and she had no idea he would be feeling the big-brother/ father thing about her new established relationship with another man. She had no doubt he didn't hate Remus but thinking about his baby cousin as a woman obviously made him uncomfortable.

"Remus?" She asked quietly, placing the half drank milk on the counter.

He looked up, seemingly torn from his train of thoughts, confused before it occurred to him, "Oh right. Moony, a father now," Sirius shifted awkwardly, glancing at her stomach again.

"Is he alright?" Tonks demanded, following him to the living room.

"He's- slightly hurt," Sirius began hesitantly and before he could stop her, she was stomping up the stairs, "Wait, I haven't told him I'm getting you out of-"

She ignored him. Her hands around the doorknob of their bedroom, she twisted it and opened the door, filled with anticipation, her heart close to bursting but there was no one. The bed was neatly made, the curtains drawn and the room dark. It looked like no one has slept here in a while.

"Nymph…" Sirius touched her shoulder, "this way…" She turned to see him warily turning to the door further down the hallway; the door to the guestroom. She frowned at him, "You have to forgive him, Nymph. He couldn't bear it, sleeping in that bed when we don't even know if you were alive," He muttered to the door, a hand already on the knob, "it was just…so full of you, too much for Remus-"

She barreled past him and flung the door open.

Lying on the single bed lined up against the wall was a lone figure. The covers were around him up to his waist. When her eyes grow used to the darkness, she could see him. Half of his face was wrapped up in thick rolls of bandage down to his neck, disappearing under his buttoned up shirt. He was asleep, as she could see from the closed eye that wasn't covered by bandages.

Her breath caught as she neared him on shaking legs. She sank to the floor awkwardly by his bedside so that her face was levelled with his. Careful to accommodate her belly, she leant closer. She took his hand which she noticed was bandaged up as well. She brought his hand up to her face, pressing her cheek against his bandaged palm. The strong smell of pain relief balm assaulted her nostrils and she flinched.

"Remus?" Tonks whispered, her other hand trailing his cheek which wasn't bandaged. She could feel the scar on it, "Remus, wake up please,"

He stirred, his fingers twitching against her face and she pressed a kiss to his palm. His eyes fluttered open and he looked up blearily at the ceiling for a moment before he seemed to realise someone beside him. Her breath caught as her eyes connected with his blue one. Half his lips were concealed by the bandage but she could see his lips part to let out a shaky breath.

"Remus," She brushed his fringe back as she leant closer.

He licked his lips, his eye opened wide, "No…" He whispered. His voice was scratchy, tortured and pleading, "Please, Merlin no. Stop it," She watched, puzzled, as Remus' eye closed and he mumbled, "please no more."

"Remus, it's me-" she spoke but Sirius was there.

"Moony, this really is Nymphie. I got her out. Snivellus told me and I'm sorry, I couldn't have told you…you would've wanted to go and you couldn't…" Sirius spoke from behind her.

Remus froze and he opened his eye to look to Sirius, pointedly avoiding Tonks, "Don't lie to me, Padfoot…I can't, I just can't-"

Tonks gritted her teeth, "Look at me!" She squeezed his hand and he did. He watched her as she pressed a kiss to his palm and then each of the tips of his fingers. He watched her as she laced their fingers together. He watched a smile spread across her face. He watched her eyes light up as her smile reached her eyes. He watched her even as Sirius shook his head with a huff and turned to leave. He watched her as she watched him, not having to speak.

It was the middle of the night and seemed to be the crack of dawn when Remus managed to look away from her face, "I love you," there was resolve in his now steady voice.

"Remus," she smiled as she let go of his hand. She hated how a flicker of panic flinted across his eye as she did but relaxed as she merely made to stand. Tonks placed a gentle hand on his belly as she got to her numbed feet. His eye widened as he saw.

She sat on the edge of the bed, smiling as she rubbed her belly gently.

"Remus," Tonks felt herself smile unwittingly. She felt a strong kick on her palm. She looked at him to see Remus' lips slightly parted as he stared at her belly. Smiling, she took his hand in both of hers and pressed it the swell that was their baby. She felt another shift as the baby seemed to stretch against her skin and she looked up, certain Remus felt it, how could he not?

He was so frozen he could have been carved out of stone.

"Remus," her smile slipped as he was still frozen in shock, which normally would have passed by now, "this is our baby. And baby, this is your daddy-"

Remus paled. He shifted and made to sit up. She helped him and watched, puzzled as he stared at her, "how long?" the cold in his voice startled her.

Tonks frowned, "5 months-"

He looked away, seemingly deep in thought, "does it hurt?" Remus cupped her cheek so quickly it startled her.

"N-no," she stammered, "only sometimes when he stretch into my rib but I'm sure this little one didn't mean that-"

His jaw was clenched tightly, his face a pallid complexion and his bandaged hand a fist now as he withdrew, "you knew you were pregnant when we flew to get Harry," It wasn't a question. Remus did the math.

Her breath hitched in her throat and she looked down, both hands on her belly now, "I'm sorry, Remus, I never meant to put our baby in danger…I just…I didn't want to be useless. Being an Auror, someone in the front of the war and then suddenly a mum… it's a drastic change for me to think I had someone else to consider now," A smile spread itself across her lips as she thought for her baby, their little strong one who was so determined to live, to grow and to be born, "everything I eat, our little one eats it too. Whatever I breathe, he breathes it too. And he hears us, Remus," she looked up, beaming.

Remus remained pale, stiff and almost nauseous.

"Remus?" She paused.

"I'm sorry…" He choked out. Remus looked down, rubbing his hand across his face in a form of habit but all he felt was bandages, "I should've considered…before I tainted you like that and now…what have I done-"

Tonks frowned, thoroughly confused, "You gave me the greatest gift a husband can give his wife!" Her heart ached as Remus buried his face into his hand before looking up abruptly when he heard what she said.

"A gift?" He looked horrified and thoroughly disgusted. She flinched as his cracked voice was raised, "I cursed you! I gave you a cursed child! A monster,"

Before Tonks could think about it, her palm collided with his cheek, hard, "This baby, our baby, is the best thing that has ever happened to me after our love. Our baby is our love, Remus," Her voice was harsh, guttural and she had practically spat out his name, "He has a heartbeat, he recognizes your name, he knows my voice, he loves us,"

Remus flinched as if she had hit him again. Tonks caught a flicker in his eye as he glanced at her belly. He then looked up to her and his face twisted in pain, "I should've known, our love would be nothing more than the monster that I am,"

The image of Remus blurred as tears filled her eyes. She stood numbly from his bed, retreating back from the man she hardly recognized but loved and still love with a passion, "when will you know that it is not what you are that make you a monster, it's what you do." She whispered, knowing he could hardly hear her but he heard every word, even as he stood from the bed, swaying.

"I'm so sorry," He said in a strangled voice as he snagged his robe and his wand off the table, limping precariously to the door. Tonks didn't watch him leave. She stopped breathing as he swept past her, his shoulder inches from hers. She heard him open the door and limp out. She listened to the sounds of the front door opening and closing with a click.

Closing her eyes, she sank to the floor.

Sirius

He yawned nosily as he scrambled out of bed. Sirius had made himself at home at the Moody's, Tonks' and now Lupins' residence, in one of the guestrooms. He smirked as he thought about his baby cousin and his sullen best mate, probably living up the second trimester sex he heard so much about from James.

Thinking about it, Sirius made a face and gagged a little. He had always enjoyed teasing Moony about his sex life, or lack thereof before now, but thinking about his baby cousin's was a whole other level which Sirius Black was still trying to cope with. But when he got over it, he'll tease them so often they'll gag at dinner. That prude, Moony, would even blush. Merlin, a man in his mid thirties, still blushing about sex. Sirius rolled his eyes.

He opened the door to the bedroom, shuffling across the corridor to the bathroom. Sirius spared a glance to the guestroom that, when he last saw, the couple was seen staring each other down. To his surprise, he saw that the room door was left ajar and he rolled his eyes. To think, they would have a little more thought for a guest like me and actually shut the door…At least I can't hear anything…

Shrugging, Sirius washed up in the bathroom, brushing back his hair and putting on presentable robes for a change. It wouldn't do for him to actually look and act like an escaped convict with his baby cousin around and she's pregnant. So he couldn't possibly appear like a failure in front of his little baby cousin as well. Grinning to himself in the mirror, he exited the bathroom.

He glanced at the room again and frowned. Moony would normally be up by now. He never slept in. Swallowing at what he risked to catch them doing, Sirius walked nosily to the room, hoping to warn them but who was he kidding. If he was in the middle of it, he wouldn't notice even if Dumbledore swept into the room on the wings and flames of Fawkes.

He lifted a hand to knock and cleared his throat but the door swung open and he noticed the bed was unmade but empty. He frowned and lit his wand.

"Nymphie!" Sirius gaped, dropping to his knees. She was sat on the floor, staring blankly forward. Her cheeks were tear streaked and her eyes were red and puffy. He dropped his wand, cupping her cheeks and frantically wiping her tear streaks away; they always tore at his heart strings, "what's wrong, where's Moony?"

She choked and let out a strangled sob at his questions and the tears emerged once again, leaving him to wipe at them in a futile effort.

"What happened?" another sob escaped her pinched lips and stabbed at his heart, "oh Merlin, you're freezing," Sirius muttered. He leaned closer and scooped her into his arms. She went willingly enough. He made for the bed but paused and instead, left the room. He opened the door awkwardly and entered the master bedroom. He placed her on the bed after nudging aside the covers.

She closed her eyes, turned to her side and curled up, her tears soaking into the pillow as she sobbed.

Sirius perched on the edge of the bed by her head. He was at lost. When Nymphadora was a child, he was always the one who could soothe her tears but Sirius was at lost. She's no longer a child. She's a woman, a wife and a mother now. Sirius let out a silent sigh, where the hell is the father? He fisted his hands.

Suddenly, Sirius felt Tonks shift to place her head of black hair on his lap. She fisted his robe, sobbing in his lap. Tentatively, he placed a hand on her head and brushed her hair back from her face. Almost instinctively, Sirius found himself muttering assuring nothings into her ear as he held her hand with one hand and brushed her hair back with another.

I'm going to kill Moony, slowly.

A/N: I thought this might have escalated a little too quickly but there were time lapses which I just jumped over. Like Tonks' 3 months of captivity and a month of 'delay' before Tonks was rescued. Sorry to those who had wished for a grander rescue, I thought this would be more realistic given their dangerous situation.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thanks go out to the reviewers of last chapter; MoonDoll33, remusdora, Lupinesence, JKStorm501 and Guest!

Do leave me a review for this chapter as well!