Chapter 52 Stolen Moments

Tonks and Lupin simply sat on the couch, enjoying each other's company. After all the pain shared between them, it felt as if at last there was peace. Tonks pulled Remus' arm closer, taking in his tea-scented jacket. Alas, there peaceful moment was only short-lived.

"Ahem," said Sirius with a smug smile on his face. "Am I interrupting something?"

Tonks and Remus immediately jumped up and separated, startled.

"No, nothing at all," Remus said dismissively.

Sirius laughed, knowing Remus was lying. "Oh really? You sure about that?"

Remus' face reddened, annoyed with Sirius' jokes. "Knock it off, Sirius! You're so full of bull shit."

Sirius snorted. "Look who's talking."

Tonks shook her head as they went out of earshot of Sirius. "Sorry about him. I'm going to go see if S.J. woke up and wants to read to him again."

Remus was embarrassed by his best friend and sorry Tonks had to endure the brunt of his jokes. He hoped this would not cause any further awkwardness or pain between them.

"I'm sorry my best friend is such an asshole no offense," Remus whispered, clearly showing remorse for his friend's behavior.

Tonks smirked. "None taken. I've been putting up with Cassie's jokes long enough. It's called being a family."

Remus nodded. "Well, I'm glad we could sort things out."

Tonks left the room, leaving Remus alone with Sirius, who stood there, arms crossed and smirking.

"So, did you kiss and make up?" he teased.

Remus was about to smack Sirius he was so angry. "Oh, will you shut up! You are worse than Cassie, you are."

Remus sighed, realizing he was out of line. "I told her everything that happened years ago, about why I took her memories. I think she understood."

"Looks like she did more than that," Sirius laughed.

Remus shook his head. "We just understand each other, is all. I just didn't want any more secrets from her. I could never be anything more to her."

"But you want to be," Sirius said wisely.

"That doesn't matter," Remus countered. "I'm too old, too poor, too dangerous. I'm just not right for her.

Sirius put his hand on Remus' shoulder. "I've always admired your wits, Remus, but even you can be really dim. I knew you were right for her and if I can see things that you can't, one of us has to be right."

Remus wanted to argue further, but the door opened to other order members appearing. The meeting would start soon.

`Remus felt very uncomfortable in whatever clothes Tonks had picked for him to wear on this mission. Because the death eaters home was located in a muggle neighbor hood, the two had to wear clothes that were typical of muggle. Tonks had picked out a set of clothes for him that he didn't particularly like. Jeans were not really something he like to wear, nor did he ever remember wearing them but he trusted the young witch on her fashion sense. Cassie had said the clothes made him look twenty years younger. He could only roll his eyes at her comment. Tonks seemed eager to go on a mission with him again. The two had since made up from the fight over Remus taking away her memory. She had not told him the full extent of what happened that night but she said she trusted that none of what happened was his fault. They had become closer friends and had been paired in quite a few missions recently. Remus found Tonks to be enjoyable company.

The werewolf hate to admit it but he had developed feeling for the young witch, though he would never admit it to Sirius or Cassie. Those two would never let him live it down that they were right. Remus shot a glance over to his companion. He couldn't tell when his thought and feelings towards her had changed. Was it because they were often together taking care of SJ. Was it because of the kiss they had shared at Christmas? He knew not the reason. All he knew was he could no longer see her as the adorable girl who used to cling to his legs when she was afraid. Now all he could see was the beautiful woman she had become, a fact that led to many uncomfortable situations and lonely nights alone in his room. At this current moment it took all his might not to push Tonks against the nearest building and show her how much of a woman he thought she was. It didn't help that tonight she chose to wear skin tight leggings and a short skirt that would have gotten her in trouble at Hogwarts. Remus was trying to keep his mind from the inappropriate thoughts that were going through his head but it was becoming increasingly hard. The thoughts were so distracting that he hadn't noticed Tonks talking to him.

"Remus are you listening" Tonks said looking at him.

"Hmm?" Remus responded, being brought back to reality

"I said we're here." Tonks pointed to a slightly derelict house.

"Oh...Right sorry"

"Is something wrong Remus"

"No, of course not"

"You sure?"

"Of course"

The two lapsed into silence as they walked over to a benched to sit down where they could be close to the house. Their mission was just to keep an eye on the house until the next shift came to take their place. As soon as they sat down Tonks took it upon her self to sit close to Remus and cuddle into him. Despite his reservations about showing affection on mission Remus let her and even put his arm around her so the two could just be seen as a couple sitting together. Oh how Remus wished their little play acting was real, but he would not drag Tonks down with him. He was content with just longing at this point.

"So the band has some show scheduled for next week. I am so glad Aaron stepped up to take Jason's place after he left" Tonks said after they had sat there for a while

"That's good. It's a wonder you get any sleep with everything you do." Remus said in an amused tone. Tonks chuckled a little at his comment

"Years of practice, Mr. Lupin"

"Well don't push yourself too much. You won't always be this young"

"Very funny. You know I looked at some old photos of the Order. Your hair looked so different" Remus let out a laugh at the memory of his longer hair.

"Oh goodness, You saw that photo?"

"You should try growing you hair out a bit. You and Sirius could match" Tonks laughed at her joke causing Remus to smile. He loved the sound of the young witch's laugh. It was so beautiful to him.

"No thank you. I'll let Sirius be the only one with long hair."

Tonks noticed someone leaving the death eaters house and almost jumped

"Oh bugger." That was all Tonks said before she pulled Remus into a kiss. Remus knew the kiss was just an act to make them seem less suspicious but for some reason it felt real. He could feel Tonks slipping her hand into his hair. the other hand on his leg moved a little high, which cause Remus to inhale sharply. Tonks was playing a dangerous game, she was playing with fire. Thankfully for Remus the kiss and torture didn't last too long. Remus thought he saw a light blush on the metamorphmagus's cheek but he ignored it and simply shifted to alleviate the uncomfortable feeling that was currently plaguing him.

"Um good thinking." Remus said with slight difficulty

"Um sorry. I didn't think" Tonks said looking anywhere but Remus's face

"It's quite alright. A little more warning would have been nice but it's fine. You had to act fast."

"Right"

There was an awkward pause between the two but was soon broken by conversation. They talked about the order and the members, both their times in Hogwarts, and about what they would do when they were off mission

"I wish I could in the order with you all before. It's a shame I was too young" Tonks said after a few hours of conversation

"Sorry the order wasn't recruiting 7 year olds" Remus said, chuckling

"Yeah. But you know you lot have changed quite a bit since that first Order. But you know a lot of you look the same, even after everything. I mean take Sirius for example. I mean, He's still handsome, even after Azkaban" Her comment was only meant in passing, but for some reason Remus took offense to it. Of course she would like him. Every girl did. Angry, Remus stood up and walked a few feet from the bench.

"Of course, you would say that. It was always Sirius. He always got all the women!" Remus grumbled angrily. Remus turned back to Tonks, and to his surprise she looked confused and slightly offended. This took the werewolf back as he didn't expect her to act like that.

"Did you actually just say that. Are you being serious right now. And know I do not mean my cousin. You have got to be joking!" Tonks said standing up and walking over to Remus. "I cannot believe you would even think that! That I would have feelings for my cousin, who might I remind you is married, with two children. Do you think so little of me as to be a home wrecker, bent on splitting Cassie and Sirius up. I cannot believe you would even suggest that! You'd know perfectly well who I've fallen for, if you weren't too busy feeling sorry for yourself to notice!"

Time felt like it stopped around Remus. He was perfectly shocked at what the young witch just said. He knew full well what she meant. He felt as if his heart would burst. She felt the same as him. He could have never imagined in a million year that she would fall for a poor old werewolf such as him but she had. However the elation he felt was short lived. He couldn't allow this to happen. He would not let this happen. He would not drag her down with him. So the next thing he said was a knife to the heart for him

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"You have got to be joking Remus. Are you that blind!" Tonks said getting a little too loud. Thankfully their replacements had showed up. Remus turned on his heels and walked to the end of the block where he could apparate back to Sirius's house. He immediately stormed passed a confused Cassie and locked him self in his room. Tonks hand followed behind him to headquarters, where she found Cassie looking up the stairs.

"What's gotten into him. " Cassie said quietly turning to Tonks "Did something happen while you lot were out."

"I have no idea. One minute we were talking, the next he was getting all angry at a comment I made about Sirius still being handsome after Azkaban. I only meant it as a compliment. I meant nothing by it. He seemed to take offense to that" Tonks said. Cassie moved to walk into the study, to which Tonks followed. Sirius was sitting in the study holding his daughter while SJ played on the floor. Sirius looked quite surprised for a second.

"Start again Tonks. So Sirius can hear what happened." Cassie said sitting down.

"Remus and I arrived at the location. We were talking then I made an off hand comment about Sirius still being handsome after being in Azkaban all those years. Remus seemed to take offense to that for some reason, saying that Sirius got all the women. It dawned on me that he thought I has a crush on Sirius, which is not true at all. I then told him off saying he'd know who I had fallen for if he wasn't to busy feeling sorry for himself to notice. He then said he didn't know what I was talking about and ran off he minute out replacement got there." Tonks said. Cassie and Sirius looked at each other for a second after hearing the story then did the only thing they could think. They both started laughing very hard. Tonks looked at both of them in disbelief. "What's so funny."

"Oh, just that my best friend is a real git and a blind fool." Sirius said as he was laughing so hard, he was practically crying.

"Honestly, I swear his furry little problem has messed with his head a bit. And he was supposed to be the smart one of the marauders" Cassie replied wiping tears from her eyes.

"I think you should go up and talk to him Nymphie. I think he is just scared and confused," Sirius said after calming down from his laughing fit. Andromeda took that moment to cry.

"Right. I guess I will do that" Tonks said and walked up stairs. She went to Remus's room but found it locked. One use of the unlocking charm and she was able to open the door. Remus was sitting in the chair at the far corner of the room. He had his head in his hands and as Tonks walked in he lifted his head. When he saw her he immediately got up and turned to the window. Facing away from her.

"I'm sorry if I left abruptly. I just need to be alone." Remus said not bothering to turn around.

"Oh, come off it, Remus. You ran away again like you always do. Every time I try to get close to you, this is what you do. Avoid me at all cost. When I didn't have my memory, I understand you would run. But now I am starting to think you really hate me." Tonks said walking over and forced Remus to turn to her.

"That's not it."

"Then what is it then Remus."

"I can't. This can't happen."

"Why? You aren't giving me a reason."

"Cause, I would only bring you down. I am a poor, old werewolf. I cannot offer you anything. You deserve someone better than me"

"Are you kidding. You think any of that stuff matters to me. I have never been scared of werewolves before. And who cares if you are poor. I make a decent wage with my job at the ministry, and my side job with my band. So why would I care?" Remus tried to pull away as she spoke but Tonks wouldn't let him "I cannot believe you. After everything you just push me away like that."

"Tonks-"

"I thought… I thought you felt the same after tonight. Maybe I was wrong" Tonks pushed Remus back and made a turn to leave.

"Tonks, wait" Remus walked over to stop the young woman from leaving.

"Why? It's clear to me that this will be a one-sided affair so I would rather leave and find comfort elsewhere." Tonks moved to leave again but Remus pushed the door shut and turned her around to face him. Something inside Remus snapped when she talked about going to find comfort elsewhere. He felt a pull to keep her with him. As soon as she was facing him, he pushed her against the door and kissed her with a fever that could only be described as possessive and primal. It was this same energy that cause him to pick her up, to which she wrapped her legs around his waist and carry her to the bed. They both fell on the bed with Remus on top of her.

"Tell me to stop" Remus said looking into her eyes

"Why would I?" Tonks said with a mischievous look her eye. Remus just stared at her for a moment before resuming what he had started, but not before throwing a locking and silencing charm on the door. This is one moment he didn't need Sirius and Cassie getting involved or ruining for him.