Chapter 51: Mending Fences

After the chaos that had taken place that evening, all was replaced by a calm and joy as everyone gathered around baby Andromeda Lily. Cassiopeia sat up in her bed propped up by pillows and held a cooing and kicking Andromeda in her arms with Sirius by her side.

"You did so well, my love. She is absolutely perfect," Sirius breathed, taking his daughter's tiny hand in his.

"She's got your eyes, I think, my darling," Cassiopeia commented.

Remus, who had seen more than he had wanted to, stood by and wanted to vomit. "I'm just glad it's over. Don't ever make me deliver your kids again."

"Well, it wasn't so pleasant for me, either, Remus," Cassiopeia laughed. "I hope you didn't take what I said personally."

"Not at all," Remus replied. "She is lovely, like her mum."

"I should hope so. She's my daughter," Cassiopeia chuckled.

"Modesty isn't your strong suit, is it?" Remus laughed.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Tonks, with a bandaged hand entered with little S.J. and Molly.

"Wotcher, Cassie! How's little Andromeda?" Tonks asked.

"Oh, she's perfect. How's your hand? Sorry about that, by the way," Cassiopeia inquired.

"It's fine," Tonks replied. "Just never let me hold your hand when you go in labor again. Mum is so chuffed that you named this kid after her. Someone wanted to meet his little sister."

Tonks took little S.J's hand and led him over so he could see his baby sister sleeping in Cassiopeia's arms.

"Be very gentle, sweetie," Cassiopeia cooed.

Little S.J. gently brushed away Andromeda's tiny wisps and gave her a tiny kiss on the head.

"Will you be a good big brother?" Sirius whispered.

"Yes, Papa," S.J. replied. "I love you, Andy."

"Oooh, she's precious," Molly cooed. "She is the loveliest."

Cassiopeia smiled. "Thank you, Molly."

Tonks picked S.J. up on her hip. "Come on, S.J. Let your little sister and mummy rest."

"Awwwww," groaned S.J. in disappointment.

"Give your sister a kiss," Cassiopeia said.

Without hesitation, S.J. pecked his sister on the head as Tonks carried him out of the room.

"How are you feeling?" Molly asked.

"Oh, just fine and better, thank you, Molly," Cassiopeia replied.

"Good to see you and the little one are healthy," Molly said.

Molly left the room followed by an exhausted Remus.

"I'm jealous," Sirius said. "My son loves his sister. I didn't have that. I think my brother hated me the day I was born."

"I think we're lucky then," Cassiopeia replied. "Our children have something we didn't. Isn't that what every parent wants?"

Sirius smiled. "You know, you're right. I suppose we do."

Remus walked down stairs to leave the couple with their new baby and to find something to wash the images he had just seen out of his head out of his memory. As he was walking to the kitchen he passed my the library. He stopped when he saw Tonks in side with a sleepy SJ on the couch. Tonks seemed to be reading the young boy a book. She turned and saw the child was asleep and kissed his forehead before walking towards the exit. The two were surprised to see each other in the hall. Tonks avoid looking at Remus as she walked past him toward the kitchen. Remus followed feeling as a much need conversation would probably take place if he did. As the two entered the kitchen Tonks was the first to speak.

"I assume you being downstairs means she had the baby." Tonks said he back to Remus

"Yes" Remus answered

"Good" A silence fell over the two before Tonks spoke again "So I guess that means you are leaving again"

"Why do you say that?"

"Because that is what you always do. Leave the minute you see me."

"Nymphadora-" Remus had barely got the name out before Tonks rounded, her hair firey red.

"Do NOT call me that!" She said before he hair switched to being pink again

"….Sorry" Silence fell again and Remus was about to walk away before Tonks asked him the question he had been dreading answering

"Why? Why did you do that? Take away my memory. What purpose did that serve?" She said, her hair going a colorless brown.

"Because I didn't what you to live with the burden of what I did to you. I thought it would be better for you to forget what happened." Remus couldn't look at her as he spoke.

"So what you left me was better. Do you even know what you put me through" Tonks stared at him, and saw him shake his head. As Tonks spoke each word was like a knife to Remus. He had know idea how much Tonks had suffered since that day "Do you know what it's like to feel like you aren't whole. Like you are missing something so important? I don't expect you do. Because that is what it has been like. Like something was missing"

"Tonks-"

"Just stop. I spent all these years trying to find what was missing. I put my self through so much. I have killed so many people. I spend half a year constantly in a bottle of firewhiskey. I put myself in so many bad situations all cause you took away the memory of one of the only people in the world that I could trust!" Tonks was yelling by the end of it. She was furious and shaking. Tear were forming in her eye. "Everything…..Everything was your fault!"

Remus couldn't resist the urge to go over to her but by the time he go close Tonks started hitting him. They were not punches but more like a weak hit when you reach your wits and are exhausted. Remus took the hits one after another as she hit his chest, slowly growing weaker with each hit. He just stood there until finally Tonks just started crying. He gathered her in his arms and just let her sob. The only words coming out of his mouth being "I'm sorry". Eventually her sobs quieted and the two stayed in the embrace.

"I'm sorry Tonks. I just didn't want you to be burdened by the knowledge that I hurt you." Remus said while stroking the young witch's hair.

"You git. If you had talked to me you'd know the truth. You didn't hurt me that night." Tonks said slightly muffled in Remus's shirt. Remus stiffened and pulled back to look at her face.

"What do you mean?"

"You weren't the wolf who hurt me. You may have marked me but you didn't hurt me. There was another wolf their that night. You protected me from him." At her words Remus felt a new wave of guilt wash over him and he pulled the young witch back into a hug. How could he have been so stupid. Fear and anxiety about his condition had made him do something so terrible. He didn't know how he would ever make up for it. All he knew at this point was he want to stay in this moment for ever, for he very much enjoyed having Tonks in his arms.