Written for Remadora microfics day 6: sticky. Summary: Teddy Lupin insists that he didn't eat his father's chocolate.
Tonks sat on the back of her heels, wiping her son's small hands with a wet cloth. Unbeknownst to Teddy, Remus had come home early and was planning on surprising the boy when Tonks finished cleaning him.
"Teddy," she asked, "why are you always so sticky?"
"Chocolate!"
Tonks raised a brow. "Did you eat your dad's chocolate?"
"No."
A quick glance at Remus, who stood in the background, showed him rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
"Then where did you get it, sweetheart?"
Teddy's turquoise hair turned bright pink. "Gran."
"Your gran gave you chocolate?"
"Uh huh."
"When?"
" . . . yesterday."
"And you waited until today to eat it?"
"Yeah." Teddy's reddening hair and cheeks gave him away. Tonks saw Remus doubled over with silent laughter.
"You know," Tonks said slowly. "Your dad had chocolate for me. It would make him sad if it was all gone."
Teddy's eyes went wide as saucers. "Daddy will be sad?"
"So sad, baby."
"Mummy," Teddy whispered, looking cautiously from side to side, "Gran took daddy's chocolate and gave it to me."
"Really?" Tonks feigned surprise and clutched her chest. "Gran needs a time out! Should I owl her to let her know?"
Teddy shook his head violently.
"No? Then what should we do with a naughty gran?"
The four year old wrung his little hands, looking just like his father when he was guilty.
"Teddy, is there something you want to share?" Tonks pressed gently. "Are you sure it was Gran who took Daddy's chocolate?"
"No," he replied, in a low voice. "I did."
"Ahh . . . so. What should we do? Maybe apologize?"
"Okay." Teddy's voice had gone to a barely-there whisper.
"You'll have to apologize to your dad first for stealing, and what else do we say sorry for?"
Teddy's hair was white as snow. "I don't know."
"How about for lying to mummy?"
"Sorry, mummy." Teddy hung his head sadly. Remus, his face looking like it would burst with joy, gesticulated wildly at Tonks.
"Oh look! Daddy's here! He's home early!" Tonks announced.
Teddy spun around, and when his eyes landed on his father, he burst into tears.
"S-s-sorry d-d-d-daddy!" he blubbered. "D-d-don't b-be s-s-sad! I ate y-y-your ch-ch-chocolate!"
Remus scooped Teddy up and kissed the top of his head, shushing him reassuringly.
"It's okay, it's okay," Remus hushed. "It's just chocolate."
Tonks stood and joined them, running her fingers through her son's natural, sandy brown hair. It took a few sniffle-filled minutes, but Teddy's crying subsided.
"How about we go to the park, Teddy? I think mummy's questioning was punishment enough, no?"
Tonks groaned inwardly. Remus was no disciplinarian, but Teddy's shy, eager smile softened her.
They could always get more chocolate.