Excuses

Note: A birthday giftficlet for Kikei.

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"That's the third excuse you've found this month," Tonks observed, placing her hands on her hips to glare at her lover, who peered up from behind a cup of tea. "It's almost as if you don't want to meet my parents."

The instant Tonks saw Remus's innocent, gold-flecked eyes widen into 'too innocent', she knew she was on to something. It wasn't all that different from questioning Willy Whiddershins about cauldrons that had had their Maker's Stamp filed off. Suddenly, 'post-transformation pains', 'having to prepare Career Advice at Hogwarts' and 'we haven't spent an evening alone for too long' made sense.

"That's it, isn't it?" She could feel her scalp tingle as her hair darkened from turquoise to a dangerous midnight blue. Remus put his cup down on the table and not quite met her eye.

"Why?" She asked. A piece of wood cracked in the fireplace, shattering the accusatory silence like a curse.

"You have to admit that it would be a... strained sort of conversation," Remus said. A small, tired line had formed around his mouth..

"What in the name of Merlin's great toe were you planning to discuss?" she asked.

From the look on his face, she could imagine way too well.

"No, let me guess..." She shook her head, feeling the tips of her hair lengthen out in a shaggy brown-grey reminiscent of Remus's. Her eyes shifted to honey-brown as she bowed to him in exaggerated fashion.

"Mrs Tonks, I apologise that I, Remus Lupin, Ministry-certified werewolf, have not only conducted a sordid affair with your late cousin-" Remus's cheeks actually pinked at that, "but then went and seduced your naive, nubile young daughter - who's half my age, by the way - thereby endangering her life and limbs every month at full moon."

"Nubile?" Remus asked, one eyebrow arced upward.

A grin curled at the corners of Tonks's mouth. "Nubile," she repeated. "And let me add that you'd have served your cause a lot better if you'd picked 'naive' to disagree with."

Remus's answering smile made her stomach flip, but she refused to stray from her course. "Have I forgotten anything? Oh yes - Mr and Mrs Tonks, I also regret that because of me your daughter incurred the disfavour of her superiors at work, of the wizarding public in general, and scandalised an assortment of nosy neighbours into either petitioning the local magicouncil demanding their removal or asking her impertinent questions about werewolf stamina and mating habits."

"They do?" Remus inquired. Tonks smirked and darkened her hair back into midnight blue.

"Remus, my Mum married a Muggleborn, and that bitch in the entrance hall and her own sister wanted to have her killed for betraying her magical blood. She'd be the worst kind of hypocrite to object to us - and believe me, she's not."

Remus ran a hand through his hair in a gesture that looked so much like Harry that he had to have picked it up from James Potter. "I just can't help thinking that your parents would have wanted you to settle down with a... a real partner. A husband you can actually marry rather than a restricted, registered creature, children..."

Tonks sighed. "I'm an Auror, Remus, and we're at war. I doubt I'll live long enough to settle down, and I knew I didn't want children years before I ever met you. See?" She pirouetted once, the hem of her dressing gown flying around her knees until her hand banged against the low chandelier and set it to dance as well. Colouring lightly, she added, "I wish you'd stop worrying about what I should be able to have, and consider what I want." She put a hand on his cheek, feeling evening stubble, and kissed the frown on Remus's forehead. "You. The bloody fool I'd rather poke my eye out with a splintery wand than give up."

The frown twisted, then smoothed out into a crinkle that animated the small lines around Remus's eyes.

"I guess I'll be making reservations for four at the Leaky, then?" he inquired mildly.

"Yes," Tonks nodded vigorously. "I think you bloody well better do!"

~ finis ~