A/N: TPOV
Tonks tried hard not to make a face at his choice of Earl Grey. She had always found the taste too bitter and more jarring than calming. Instead she chose peppermint for herself. Looking over at the kettle she noticed it was just about ready. As she moved to go over to it Severus' touch stopped her.
"That won't be necessary. Aguamenti sub-fervefacio."
Tonks couldn't help the smile that crossed her face. She had never been very skilled with the more domestic spells, but she sure envied those who were. Her mother had finally given up trying to teach her. Warmth spread through her as he complimented her use of the kettle. She wasn't quite as enamored with muggle technology and methodology as Arthur Weasley, but she fully appreciated that certain things required less thought, concentration and talent when done the muggle way.
He asked for her cup and she handed it over, focusing on his explanation of the spell, followed by him detailing how he liked his tea. She hoped she would have another opportunity to use this knowledge.
As that thought crossed her mind she heard Severus reply, "If you are to stay the night in the future, I do enjoy being woken up with a nice cup waiting for me." She tried to hide the large grin on her face by taking a long sip of tea.
Severus lunged to the side and Tonks froze, instinctually trying to determine what was wrong and what she needed to do next. The last thing she was ready for was for him to produce a muggle alarm clock and fiddle with it to turn it off. "No need for you to be startled by it. It's quite loud, I suspect that..." Severus responded hurriedly, possibly due to the look of alarm on her face. She had no idea how he woke up to such things. The first time that went off in her room she would have cursed it into oblivion. She wasn't typically a morning person and was still wondering at how awake she currently felt. Wrapped up in her pleasant thoughts about the previous night and their lasting affects, she was caught off guard by his next statement.
"I'm not versed in the art of 'pillow talk', it seems. In fact, I had feared that you were on your way out, without saying a goodbye." Tonks wanted to immediately assure him that the thought had never crossed her mind, but just as quickly as he showed the fear in that statement he put up the emotional walls that were so often in place. "That being said, how are you doing this morning? Any excessive soreness or bruising that I may need to take care of? Any feedback that I should know about last night's assignation?"
She immediately recognized what he was doing, she did it herself. Hell I did it yesterday when briefing the Order. It was easier to communicate facts, devoid of emotion. Emotions always made things harder.
"Severus," She started as a way to get him focused on her rather than the factual details. "I feel great." She set her tea aside and moved closer looking him directly in the eyes. "You were wonderful. I awoke this morning more well-rested than I have felt in a long time and please know that I would never leave without saying goodbye. Yes I am sore," She noted his brief frown and continued quickly, "but I love and thank you for it. There isn't a single thing I would change other than I am eager to try more." She had moved close enough that the word "more" was a mere breath across his lips before closing the remaining distance and meeting his lips with hers and for once she didn't find the subtle taste of Earl Grey bitter in the slightest.