Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. The response I've gotten to this fic still surprises me. This chapter is dedicated to Voldy's nose is a lie, who promised pudding pie and cupcakes.:D

Disclaimer: Not mine

Working with Dana turned out to be far better than Remus had expected. He came to realize that Dora was right, she was only eccentric. The first morning she had spent telling him her system, which instead of going by genre of book was alphabetized and went by year. Her reasoning was that as long as someone knew the Authors last name, they shouldn't have any trouble. She had then proceeded to tell him to watch the shop while she went for a "ciggy" and got coffee. Before going out the door she turned back and asked, "You do drink coffee right? Please don't tell me that your one of those new agers who only drink herbal teas."

Remus couldn't help laughing, "Yes, I drink coffee."

He had been working there for almost two months when he realized that Dora was also right about her other statement. Dana was indeed checking him out that first day and she continued to whether she knew he could see her or not.

He let it go, because other than watching him she had never tried to do anything else. Except buy him coffee everyday, even when he insisted she didn't need to.

"Careful on that ladder," she called from where she sat behind the counter, this time reading the newspaper.

"Would you mind coming and holding these books for me then, if you're so afraid I'm going to fall?" he asked. He had worked there for almost five months now and it always seemed to fall to him to have to climb the rickety old ladder to re-shelf or restock the books on the top most shelves.

"Do you like The Cure?" she asked instead of answering, although she did get up and come around the counter to stand by the ladder.

"The cure for what?" he asked quizzically as she handed him a book. He was becoming used to her weird statements but it this one seemed to come out of nowhere.

Dana looked at him for a moment as if he was stupid and then realization seemed to dawn on her. " It's a band. You've never heard of them?"

"No, should I have?" what he knew of Muggle music he had learned from Lily and his mother. Dora liked to listen to punk and rock music, both muggle and wizarding but half the time her tastes were a bit too strong for him.

"If you haven't been living under a rock." She smiled at him as he descended the ladder. "I have an extra ticket to their concert, on Friday, my friend backed out on me, so I was wondering if you wanted to go."

"I'm afraid I can't," he said, glad that he wasn't lying. He hated that.

"Prior commitment?" she asked as they went back to the counter and she leaned against it.

Something like that. "I have to have dinner with my wife's parents, it's my mother in laws birthday." Now he was lying. It was Andromeda's birthday, but it was also the full moon.

"Shit."

"Excuse me?" he asked surprised at her sudden oath.

"You're married?" she now looked down at his left hand and seeing the modest band, swore again.

"Are you alright?"

"Peachy." She sighed and picked up the paper, folding it. "I was just thinking what a crime it is that all young people think they need to rush into marriage. I don't really mean that's what you did, of course, I don't know the circumstances. But all the attractive men my age that I meet are married or involved."

"Right." He paused, "Maybe you're looking too hard."

She sighed again. "Maybe. Would you mind terribly if I still had an infatuation with you, you're about the only thing worth looking at around here."

He didn't know if she was serious, it was hard to tell with her, but he smiled kindly and said, "I suppose not."

"Good. Would have been crushed if you said no."

"Miss, you need to stay here, someone will be along to see you soon."

Tonks stared after the bustling healers and mediwitchs as they wheeled Moody down the hall.

"Tonks."

She continued to look into space, ignoring the voice behind her.

"Come sit down."

She turned and was surprised to see Dawlish. She was sure he had gone back to the ministry. He indicated the seat beside him somewhat awkwardly. "They'll tell us when there's anything to know."

She sat, a hollow feeling constricting her chest. She had never seen so much blood in her life and it just kept coming.

A handkerchief was thrust under her nose and she looked at Dawlish questioningly.

"You're crying."

She grabbed the offered cloth and irritably wiped at her eyes. "I'm fine," she lied. "I just…" she didn't know what to say. This was the first time she had ever worked with Dawlish; she didn't know him really.

"It's hard." He said simply. "The first time you see something like that happen to a colleague. My second week as a junior Auror my partner was killed by a Death Eater, blown to bits. There was gore everywhere." He sighed. "Its just part of the job that you have to get used to."

"I don't want to get used to it." She said quietly.

He sighed again and said no more as they waited. A mediwitch finally came, a healer in tow to check them over. Neither one was overly hurt, Tonks would have a bruise from being sent flying by the wizard they were supposed to be apprehending and Dawlish had been a little singed but was otherwise fine.

"Can you tell us what's happening with Alastor Moody," she asked the healer when he would have left.

The man placed a placating hand on her shoulder. "I can found out."

It was another half hour before he returned. "We've stabilized him. There was so much blood that it looked worse than it was."

"He got hit in the head, the wizard we were apprehending attacked as soon as he opened the door."

The healer ran a hand over his jaw; he looked as if he could use a good sleep. "It was his eye. We've done the best we can, but there was no saving it. He's awake, although the potion we gave him might cause him to pass out at any time. You can go in and see him if you would like."

Tonks was immediately on her feet. She looked expectantly at Dawlish, but he shook his head. "I'll go back to the office, tell them what's happened. A report needs to be filled out; the MLE wizards took him to holding. I'll come see him later."

She simply nodded before hurrying after the healer. They were in the spell damage ward and Moody and one other wizard were currently the only two beds occupied. She thanked the man for showing her to the room and then leaned against the wall for a moment. Pull your self together, she scolded. What will he say if you go in there and start crying?

Feeling that she had her emotions under control for the moment she headed to his bed.

"They get the filth that did this?" was the first thing he asked when his good eye settled on her. A white bandage was wrapped around his head covering the one that had been destroyed.

"Dawlish says the MLE took him into holding. He went back to fill out a report."

There was a chair beside the bed and she sat in it fidgeting slightly. He glared at her and even with one eye it was still affecting.

"You're blaming yourself for this aren't ya? Well don't bother. I let my guard down for half a second, that's all it takes." He told her gruffly.

She leaned forward. "But it was my fault, if I had been prepared when he opened the door… I wasn't vigilant enough and you paid the price." She swallowed; those stupid tears were threatening to come again.

"It's part of the job Nymphadora," he told her forcefully. "It's the chance we take. We all know that when we get in. If you hadn't acted when you did, the scum might have finished me off, so at least that's something. Are you alright?"

She nodded. "Just a bruise." She looked at the white bandage again and said with a hint of her usual cheekiness, "Well at least one good thing will have come out of this. Women love men who are all scarred and missing body parts, it presents a dangerous image. Why do you think I've stayed with Remus for so long?"

Moody snorted and then laughed. "You must be fine, if you're giving me your usual cheek. Now go get out of here and let an old man rest."

She rolled her eyes, "You're not that old. " but she stood before reaching down and squeezing his hand. "Remus and I will come see you later."

Moody nodded and she let go of his hand and left the room. Just as she was turning the corner at the end of the hall she collided with someone collided with her sending them both sprawling.

"Merlin!" she felt someone grab her arm, "here let me help you up. I'm so sorry I wasn't watching where-Tonks?"

Tonks lurched to her feet and looked at her accoster for the first time. "Cally."

Cally shifted the sheaf of parchment she was carrying nervously. "How are you?" she noticed the blood on the front of her Auror robes and her expression changed to one of worry. "You're not hurt are you?"

"No. I was visiting Moody; we were on assignment when he got hurt. He'll live though."

Cally nodded. "That's…well I'm glad you're not hurt. I um-"

"I need to get going. It's the full moon tonight, the office is going to be busy, we always get more reports on these nights."

"Right," Cally laughed a little uncertainly. "Us too, what with werewolf bites and…" she stopped then and asked hesitantly, "Are you still seeing…" she trailed off when Tonks smiled genuinely for the first time.

"Yes, well more than just seeing him actually, we got married six months ago." She felt that she could trust her old friend, even if they hadn't spoken in two years.

Cally looked shocked for a moment but then smiled as well, "I'm glad, I mean he was always a good man. I won't tell anyone, I know it's against the law."

"I would have invited you but-" Tonks started to say softly but Cally cut her off smiling sadly.

"You didn't think I'd come. Honestly I don't think I would have. But I'm happy for you, I was…I was wrong. I realize that now. Listen, I have patients I have to see too, so I better…"

"Yeah, I gotta go as well, reports and stuff to fill out, I love my job but paperwork is a bitch."

Cally smiled again, "It always is. It was nice seeing you."

"Yeah, you too."

Tonks returned briefly to the ministry to learn what the situation with the wizard was, filed a report of what happened and then made a quick escape before she could be pulled onto something else. She was seven months away from being a fully qualified Auror and those hire up than her loved assigning her their scut work so they could go home.

She stood outside the ministry for a moment simply staring up at the sky as little snowflakes began to fall. Closing her eyes and not caring whether passers by would stare at her she titled her head back and let the snow fall on her face. She remembered when she was younger and she would drag her dad outside to stand in the snow as it fell. They would stick their tongues out to catch the flakes and then when they were thoroughly chilled they would go back inside for a cup of her mother's coca. Andromeda would never come out with them although she did watch them from the window…

"Mum's birthday." She cursed under her breath as she remembered that she was supposed to go to her parents for dinner. All she really wanted at that moment was to see Remus though. After the day she had had she felt that she could really use a hug and one from her mother really wouldn't be a very good substitute.

She set out then, walking quickly. She had to get there before he went home and changed or she wouldn't be able to see him till morning.

By the time she reached the little book shop the sun was starting to fade out of the sky. Glancing at her reflection in the glass of the window she ran a hand through her bobbed hair and entered the shop, the sound of the bell over the door masking her curse as she tripped over the doormat.

"Bloody mat," she muttered to herself as she maneuvered through the shelves and to the counter. From the back of the shop the sound of a familiar voice floated and the sound of it made her feel instantly calm.

"He has a very soothing voice, doesn't he?"

Tonks turned to see a young woman with long black hair and an open smile come out from amongst the shelves. The woman was wearing a bright yellow dress and Tonks knew immediately who she was.

"He does." She agreed,

Dana circled around the counter and sat on a tall stool. "I used to read to the kiddies, but he's much better than I am." She rolled her mismatched eyes. "I don't really get along with them, kids that is." She eyed Tonks who was looking towards the back of the shop with a half smile.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Dana asked, her previous smile gone.

Tonks shook her head. "No, I'll just wait for Remus thanks. Will he be done soon?"

If Dana was surprised that she knew the man they had just been speaking of she didn't show it. "I expect so." She was silent for a moment and Tonks was just thinking that she'd be better to wait outside in the cold, when she said, "He's married you know."

"I know," she replied just as bluntly. She knew this woman was attracted to Remus, but she wasn't in the mood to play jealous games. She held up her left hand and wiggled her ring finger.

Dana eyed the rings there and then looked at her shrewdly. "Do you know who The Cure are?"

Tonks returned her look with a quizzical one. Remus was right, she thought, she is spaced. "Course I do."

Dana nodded and twirled a piece of midnight hair around her finger. "You should really educate your husband on modern music. When I asked him he looked at me like I had two heads. "

Tonks found herself fighting a smile. "Yes, he does have rather strange taste in music. He tends to like older stuff."

"Are calling me old?" an arm snaked around her waste, pulling her out of the way as ten children all pushed for the door at the same time.

"Wotcher love. Course I'm not."

Remus peered down at her, a slight frown crinkling his brow and she knew she hadn't sounded like her usual self.

He seemed to be about to ask what was going on, after all despite her threat months ago she had never actually shown up at the shop before, but then seemed to think better of it and instead introduced her to Dana.

"Dana, this is Nymphadora-"

"Don't call me Nymphadora, Remus." She reminded him irritably.

"Dora then, and Dora this is Dana."

"Nice to finally meet you," Tonks said, although at the moment she really didn't think so.

"You as well." Dana directed her smile at Remus. "You can go if you want, I'll close up."

Remus already had his coat draped over one arm as if he had known he would be making a quick exit. Probably did, Tonks mused as he thanked Dana and they headed for the door. Werewolf hearing was incredible; he'd probably known she was there right from the moment she entered the shop.

"What's wrong?" he questioned as soon as they were outside. His breath clouded as he spoke.

Instead of answering she leaned against him. "Can I just have a hug please?"

He immediately wrapped his arms around her and she sighed. Merlin how I needed this, she thought as she returned the pressure.

"Moody was injured today." She murmured against the rough wool of his coat. "We got a lead that a wizard, Rowle's brother actually, in Carrick was hiding dark objects in his basement as well as Muggle baiting. When we got there we knocked on the door and identified ourselves." She sighed and closed her eyes. "It happened so quickly Remus. He whipped open the door blew me back, hit Dawlish with something and then he and Moody were fighting. I tried to help, so did Dawlish but…"

He didn't probe for her to continue, simply waited and rubbed her back in soothing circles.

"He got him in the eye Remus. The bloody eye! And you know what really gets me? It turns out that there were no dark objects in that house, no secret panels, nothing. Just a stupid wizard, high on hallucinogenic potions. The MLE found them in his bedroom."

She sighed again. "And for that Moody looses his eye? It's so stupid Remus."

"He's alive though," he said at length. "You know Moody, Dora. He won't let this stop him. He'll be back at work in a few days time as grouchy as always and probably a bit more paranoid."

She gave a light laugh and looked up at him, "You always know just what to say."

He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Not always." He looked up at the sky and his smile faded. "You should be getting to your parents soon. And I…"

"You need to go. The moon will be up soon."

"Yes."

They moved into the shadows of the same ally Remus had used before.

"I'll be right there, as soon as the moon goes down." She promised. "You're going to go into work tomorrow?"

"I have to Dora. Dana won't be in anyway, so at least I won't have to field questions on why I look like-"

"You've been run over by a herd of Hippogriff?"

His eyes twinkled with mirth, "Something to that effect yes."

She leaned up and kissed him briefly before stepping away so they both had room to apparate.

"Love you." It had become her custom to tell him so whenever the full moon came around, as if she was trying to remind him that he was better than what he had to go through.

Remus smiled faintly. "You too." Then he turned on the spot and was gone with a crack.

She stared at the place where he had stood for moment then she too turned and was gone.