War In Shades Of Pink

Chapter 12: Forever

NOTES: I don't own the characters. They're all from the "Harry Potter" series. I just try to fill in the gaps with my own imagination.
English is not my first language, so I apologize for any error or mistake.

After the argument with Harry (book "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", where Harry calls Lupin a coward for leaving Tonks' pregnant to go and find the Horcruxes with him, Ron and Hermione, Remus spends the night in a bar, drinking and thinking... And finally comes to his senses.

'How dare you show your face here after that ridiculous note?'

Tonks - her hair fiery red - could hardly believe her eyes when she saw Lupin standing at her door.

'Please forgive me. I freaked out, I panicked...'

He made to enter the house, but she blocked his way, her voice sharp with anger—so unlike the Tonks he knew.

'I knew you turned into a beast once a month, but I didn't know you could be a monster in your normal state of mind. You abandoned your wife—pregnant with your child!'

Her words struck him like a Cruciatus Curse, so painful they were.

'That wasn't my normal state of mind,' he replied sadly. 'I was terrified. I thought I had ruined your life, and the life of an innocent child—my own child. What I didn't realise was that I was ruining them by leaving you both. All I wanted was to protect you, but I see now that running away wasn't the answer, not even until the war was over. I had to stay and protect you in a different way. I can't be a coward. I'm a Gryffindor!

She let out an acid smile:

'And what finally made you come to that conclusion?'

'Harry.'

'Harry?' - She opened her eyes widely, surprised.

'Yes. He said some very harsh words to me—perhaps even unfair—but it was exactly what I needed to hear. He made me see the whole situation from a perspective I'd never considered before.'

She smiled bitterly.

'It took a 17-year-old kid to open your eyes.'

'Harry is much more than a 17-year-old kid.'

She shrugged. He was right at that point.

'I know. Life forced him to grow up too soon. And now he's taught his former teacher a lesson in maturity. How ironic.'

'Dora, please forgive me. Let me take care of you and our child. Let me be the husband and father you both deserve, and that I so desperately want to be, despite my fears. Whatever happens, we'll get through it—together.'

She took a deep breath before speaking again, her tone calm but firm, almost like a teacher addressing a pupil.

'Remus, there's something you seem to forget about this war: yes, you're a target because you're a werewolf. Yes, our child will be a target too, even if they don't inherit your condition, but not just because they're your child. They'll be in danger because they're our child. You forget that I'm marked for death. I'm my dear Aunt Bellatrix's favourite target, perhaps even more so than Harry! It's a freaking war, Remus! No one is safe.'

'I know,' he said firmly. 'And that's precisely why I'm here. I can't abandon you—not when you need me the most. I love you both more than my own life, and I'll use that life to protect you.'

A nearly unbearable silence hung in the air for several seconds. Then, finally, Tonks smiled and said:

'You're lucky I know your heart. I know everything you said is true—you really believed that the baby and I would be better off without you, that you were trying to protect us. But,' she added, her tone more serious now, 'let this be the last time you abandon me, Remus Lupin. You're the best person I know, but sometimes even the best people are capable of the worst actions, even if their intentions are noble. This is the last time I'm taking you back into my life.'

Remus took her hands in his and looked deeply into her eyes, his voice full of conviction.

'I swear, by our love and by our child, that I will be the best husband and father in the world.'

Tonks smiled again, trying to share the lightness she was beginning to feel, and her read hair started to change into a strong shade of pink.

'If you're not, I'll have a word with Harry.'

He let out a nervous chuckle.

'Come here, you idiot,' she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a quick kiss on his lips and sighing. 'Why do I love you so much?'

'Because you know I love you more than anything in the world,' he replied, 'and now, I love the baby too. I'd do anything to protect you both. That's why I—'

'Remus,' she interrupted, 'before you start talking nonsense again, just shut up and kiss me.'

Lupin smiled and obeyed. This was his Tonks, the person he wanted by his side forever. All the doubts that had plagued him for so long had vanished, and he had never felt so free and happy.
As they broke the kiss, he placed his hand on her stomach, caressing it gently. Then, bending down, he kissed it too, unable to stop a tear from sliding down his cheek.

'You know,' he said, his voice thick with emotion, 'I think Harry should be the baby's godfather.'

'You think?' Tonks smiled. 'After all this, I'm absolutely sure.'

And her hair was now a sweet bubblegum pink.