A/N: Fleur makes her first appearance in this chapter, so this is my usual disclaimer that not writing her accent is a conscious decision.

Tonks wasn't sure why she went to the Burrow except that she had no one else to turn to. Few people in her life knew about her position in the Order, which had left her feeling distant from old Hogwarts friends as they settled into adult lives of their own, but that distance had begun growing when she began Auror training. In a way, she was thankful for it. It saved her having to explain certain aspects of her life that wouldn't have made sense, like who Remus was and how she'd met him.

Her parents knew what she was doing, but the thought of going to either of them about this was embarrassing. As much as she loved them, she'd never opened up to them about her love life before and had no intention of starting. She'd gotten along well with Hermione and Ginny over the summer, but though she was often reminded that she was closer in age to them than to many of the other Order members, they were still kids, and she couldn't unload her problems onto them.

Which left Molly as the only other person she could think of to go to for support. She'd grown to see the woman as a motherly figure over her year in the Order, but it was easier to talk to her about something like this than Tonks' actual mother.

As she cautiously approached the front door, she hoped that Molly wouldn't think that her showing up unannounced to unload her feelings was strange. She cringed at the noise when she knocked on the door. She immediately heard someone moving around inside, and a second later, Molly called out for her to wait.

Someone moved against the other side of the door but didn't open it.

"Who is it?" Molly asked, her voice friendly despite the security protocol they were going through.

Tonks sighed. She'd forgotten about this part. Dumbeldore had requested everyone in the Order go through something like this when people arrived, even those who lived in the house. As an Auror, Tonks should have been on top of it, yet she'd completely forgotten. She rubbed her eyes.

"It's Tonks. Er, hi, Molly."

"Hello, dear." Even through the door, Molly sounded warm and inviting. "I'm terribly sorry about this, but I have to ask you a question. Arthur will get angry with me if I don't."

"Of course. I understand, Molly. It's no worry."

She braced herself, uncertain what Molly could ask her that no one else would know. Molly seemed to have the same dilemma as several long seconds passed before she added, "Oh, never mind, dear. I trust that it's you."

She pulled the door open and welcomed Tonks with a smile. Tonks should have insisted on going through the security procedure, for herself as much as for Molly and the Weasleys, but she was too tired for it as she followed Molly inside and collapsed at the kitchen table.

"You look exhausted," Molly scolded as she walked passed and patted Tonks on the shoulder. "You've got to take better care of yourself. We're no use to anyone if we're dead on our feet."

Tonks watched her put the kettle on though she hadn't asked Tonks if she wanted anything. Tonks didn't have the energy to explain that her stomach was in too many knots to get anything down.

"I didn't know who else to talk to," she admitted, her voice hoarser than she'd been expecting.

Molly came to sit beside her at the table and patted her hand. "Is this about Remus, dear?"

Tonks' face warmed, but Molly only continued to smile kindly.

"I've seen the way you look at him, and I can't say I blame you. He's a good man who's very much worthy of your affections. I'm only sorry that he can't see that for himself."

Tonks swallowed a lump in her throat. Her eyes stung, but she didn't know how to explain everything that had happened to Molly. There were parts of it, like what she knew about Sirius and Remus' relationship, that she knew she could never share.

There were footsteps in the hall, and a second later, a woman Tonks had never seen before appeared. Tonks stiffened, her hand inching towards her wand.

"It's all right, Tonks," Molly hastened to say, though her voice had grown brisk. "This is Bill's fiancée Fleur."

Oh. Tonks relaxed as she took a good look at the woman. She'd heard that Bill had met someone, but she had yet to meet the woman for herself. Fleur was as gorgeous as the twins had said she was. She was half-veela, from what they'd said. Tonks could see it. She also knew that Molly wasn't fond of the woman, which fit with how quickly her demeanor had changed when Fleur entered the room.

"I'm Tonks," she said, offering Fleur the closest thing to a smile that she could manage.

"Fleur." The woman offered a smile of her own, looking nothing but friendly. "What's wrong?" she asked, taking a seat across from Tonks and Molly at the table.

Molly humphed over it, but Tonks didn't mind having someone else to talk to. At least Fleur seemed nice enough, despite things she had heard. She would judge for herself.

"It's about a man. Remus. I'm guessing you haven't met him yet?"

Fleur shook her head, but before she could speak, Molly interjected. "No, she hasn't, and I don't think you'd be interested in what Tonks has to say anyway," she told Fleur. "Not knowing him as you do."

Fleur frowned. She didn't appear angry by the rejection, but she did look a little put out. It made Tonks want to take pity on her regardless of Molly's own feelings.

"I may not know this man," Fleur said, looking more serious than Tonks would ask of anyone when dealing with her own problems. "But I do understand relationships." She and Tonks both ignored the noise Molly made at that. "What problem are you having with this Remus?"

The kettle whistled. Tonks watched as Molly got up and prepared three cups of tea. Tonks didn't miss Fleur's raised eyebrow when she realized that she was getting one too. Tonks used the moment as an excuse to delay explaining her embarrassing predicament out loud, but as soon as she had a cup of tea in her hands, the other women were looking at her expectantly. Tonks took a deep breath and stared into the tea as she spoke.

"I've had feelings for him since I met him, I guess, but they've grown stronger over time. When Sirius died, it broke him. You can imagine." She looked at Molly, who offered her a sad smile and a pat on the arm. "I wanted to be there for him. He resisted, but I thought he was finally coming around. I… I told him how I feel, and he refused to listen."

She sat her cup on the table, scared she would spill it as her hands shook.

"It's frustrating," she continued. "Because I know he's not rejecting me. He's rejecting people completely. He said I could do better, but why can't he see that I think he's the best I could ever get?"

She cut herself off, her voice shaking. Molly rubbed at her back, and even Fleur's expression had turned soft. They'd hardly spoken to each other before, yet Tonks found it difficult to dislike the woman even if everyone else seemed to. She could understand why Bill liked her, and it wasn't just for her striking looks like most of his family thought.

"I'm very sorry to hear that," she said, giving Tonks a kind smile. "In times like this, you should both be able to find happiness in the ways that you can."

"Yes, well," Molly interjected almost as if Fleur hadn't spoken. "Remus has been stubborn like that since I've met him, but it's far from hopeless, dear. He'll come to his senses eventually. He must. The two of you would be adorable together, and whatever Remus thinks of himself, he's a fine man. You couldn't make a better choice."

Tonks offered her a watery smile. "Thank you. Both of you."

Molly's smile grew stiff when Tonks thanked Fleur too, but she didn't comment on it as she continued to pat Tonks' back.

"Just a little more time," she promised. "I'm sure that's all it will take."