A/N: Remus finds his wife crying. Remus/Tonks.
Submission for:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): HOPSCOTCH - (word) jump, (word) table, (dialogue) "What does that say?", (pairing) Remus/Tonks, (genre) Hurt/comfort
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Astronomy Assignment #2 - Write about a character death or about somebody pondering the after life.
Remus stepped into the living room, taking off his tweed jacket and hanging on the hook near the fireplace. It had been a trying day as they searched house after house, helping out any Muggleborns in need of safety or protection, while still keeping a low profile.
He called out for his wife, trying not to let the worry creep into his mind when she didn't respond. He hated leaving her home alone, and in her delicate state, he was never more fearful of her safety and well-being. Though she had been an Auror, even she couldn't deny that her movements were now slower and more laboured with her swollen abdomen.
He moved through his home, his hand inching to the wand at his hip. He had nothing to worry about, right? She was fine. She was probably just taking a nap in their bedroom, or getting some fresh air in the backyard, or...
There was a soft noise from the room up ahead, and he headed towards the kitchen to see her sitting at their breakfast table. Her shoulders shook with sobs as she hid her face in her hands, her tears slipping down her cheeks and dripping onto the table's surface.
"Tonks," he said softly, stepping into the kitchen and taking the seat across from her. Her hair was now short and a dull brown, a far cry from the bright turquoise tresses she had been wearing this morning. He put a calming hand on her shoulders as he asked, "What's wrong, dear? Why are you crying?"
His wife's breath hitched before she peaked at him through her fingers. "He's gone!" she cried, before she threw her arms around his neck.
He jumped, taken aback by her sudden outburst, but then he wrapped his arms around her. "He's... he's... he's gone... he's gone..." she murmured into his shoulder as he rubbed small circles into her back to calm her down.
Eventually, her cries got quieter and he asked, "Who's gone?"
She sniffled a few times, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand before she said, "My father... He went on the run... to protect my mother and he... he..."
She dissolved into another wave of tears, burying her face into his shoulder once more. Remus just held her, letting her get all her tears out. He knew it was hard to lose the people you loved, especially your parents. When his own mother had died, he had been a mess and if it weren't for his friends, he never would have survived.
"I... I... I want to name our son Edward," Tonks said suddenly, leaning away and placing a hand on her stomach, "In honour of my father."
Remus nodded and placed his hand over hers. Remus had only met the man a few times, but he could easily say Ted was a great man who loved his family. "That's a wonderful idea," he said, placing a kiss on her brow before he pulled her into him once more.