22Eleven
Tonks opened her eyes and looked around. She blinked a few times before she turned back to Remus.
"We are in our garden," she said.
"I know."
" 'If we don't want to be late, we should go now' you said 'Walking takes too much time' you said."
"Well I could hardly say 'Yeah sure we can walk. Go ahead. Through the living room and straight' it would have spoiled the surprise. And if I hadn't said anything about being late, you would have guessed sooner" Remus tried to explain. "Besides, I didn't say 'Walking takes too much time' but 'Apparating is faster' and you cannot deny that." Remus added, whereupon Dora only could shake her head. What could she say anyway?
...-...
"I just don't understand" she turned around in one circle. "Why?" she turned back to Remus. "Why the garden and not a restaurant or just don't do anything at all?"
"I know how hard it is for you to leave Teddy out of sight for longer than a few hours, let alone not being in the same room. But it is our first wedding anniversary and I wanted to do something. Just the two of us. Because too much time has passed since we've been really alone. And if we were in a restaurant, you'd worry the whole evening. Even though you know that your mum is very well able to take care of our son. And I admit it wouldn't be easy for me either. But if you think it was a bad idea then-"
He was not able to continue, because Tonks interrupted him with a kiss. However Remus was not able to respond as she let go just after a few moments.
"I say this is one of your best ideas," she said with a warm smile. "I'm just a bit overwhelmed" she added before entangling Remus in another kiss, he replied only too happily.
...-...
A few minutes later they broke apart, mostly due to the lack of oxygen. None of them said a word. They just stood there silently in an embrace. Forehead resting on forehead. Smiling. In their own world.
Until Remus's stomach growled and both awoke from their trance-like state.
"It almost sounds as if you're hungry," Tonks laughed.
"It seems so," Remus agreed.
And while Dora wondered where they would eat, because she had seen nothing of the sort, as she had looked around, Remus took her hand and led her to the only tree in the garden. Dora had overlooked it more or less, as it stood behind Remus.
"Hmm, a picnic", recognized her as they stood in front of the blanket spread on the ground. "So I can assume you're not serving me a 5-star meal?" She asked teasingly, earning an angry glare for it.
However, Remus knew that she was only joking and he was neither able nor did he want to be angry long, so he just shook his head, said, "Correct," and sat down.
A few seconds later his wife was sitting next to him.
Andromeda stood at the window of her grandson and watched his parents. Actually, she hadn't intended to, she knew that she would be depressed by it. But then, about two hours after his parents had left, Teddy had asked for attention. To calm him lasted fortunately not too long. Although Andromeda feared briefly that she had to interrupt her daughter and son-in-law.
But that was half an hour ago, and for 10 minutes Teddy slept again. Andromeda had wanted to go back into the living room and read continue reading her book, as the laughter of her daughter made her look outside.
...-...
Tonks was lying on her back, her feet on the swing, which her dad had put up at least twenty years ago there. Remus was based on his left arm at a 90° angle to his wife, which he concealed from the gaze of her mother. Although neither noticed.
It seemed as if they talked about something amusing, however, everything Andromeda could see were the gesticulating arms of her daughter. Sighing, she turned away from the window and left the room on tiptoes.
"You know what I never dared to dream?" Remus asked at some point thoughtful, what led Tonks to stop swinging the swing back and forth with her feet. Instead, she leaned her head back to look at Remus.
"I've got the feeling you mean this," she said at last, as she made a sweeping motion with her arms. "However, it is hard for me to believe that you've never thought or dreamed of anything like this or what else."
"Yes, but I mean, I kind of forbid me to these thoughts simply because it seemed impossible. And sometimes I still have a hard time to accept that it has never bothered you what the society thought. And before you interrupt me, I wanted to mention that I'm grateful that I have you. "
A smile spread over Dora's face, just before Remus leaned over her and kissed her.
...-...
"I love you," he whispered, after they let go of each other again.
"I love you more," said his wife, making him smile.
"That's not possible."
"Want to bet?"
"I don't bet with you."
"So you admit it."
"That I did not say," Remus said as he turned over on his back, folded his arms behind his head and looked into the sky.
"What do you mean then?" Asked Tonks, but she got no answer. "You're so stubborn," she grumbled, what made Remus laugh.
"And yet I have made you accept Minerva's offer," she added proudly ignoring Remus' laughter.
...-...
Remus smiled. That it was not just her own doing, that he had accepted Minerva's offer, she knew as well as he. However, he would not point it out now.
"You know," he said instead. "If it was dark now, we could-"
"Did you now just change the subject?" Dora interrupted him.
"Um, yes ... do you have a problem with that?"
"Hmmmm no. What were you going to say? "
Remus rolled his eyes briefly, what Tonks fortunately did not notice, before he answered.
"If it was dark now, we could look at the stars."
"Too bad we were married in July," the Metamorphmagus replied jokingly.
"I never said anything against July. I just wanted to mention that it would be somehow fitting ", justified Remus.
...-...
He did not get an answer and although it didn't need an answer, he wondered why he didn't get one.
"Dora?" he turned to his wife, who looked absently into the sky. "What are you thinking about right now?"
Without a word she changed her position to lie next to Remus, before she sighed.
"A lot of things" she finally said, putting her hand on his chest.
While Remus was still wondering whether he should ask her what exactly she thought about, she already continued talking.
"I was wondering if it wouldn't be – " better? Intelligent? Appropriate? Maybe I should have thought about a word before he interrupted herself.
"If it wouldn't be what?"
"If it wouldn't be better to move out."
"What made you think about that?" Remus asked surprised, but only got a shrug as a respond so far.
...-...
"I don't know. It's just every time I look at my mum she seems depressed. And I know it is because dad – " Dora interrupted herself once more. Just thinking about it hurt. Talking about it was impossible. "It's just that I think to myself, if we live here longer then it's going to be contra productive."
"And you believe your mum would be happier alone?"
"Not really", Tonks admitted. "But you wanted to know what I thought about, so I told you. Although I have to say: the longer I think about it, the more I think it would be a very bad idea. But it would be nice to not expect every day that Dad suddenly walks through door only to realize then that it's impossible."
Tonks wanted to continue talking. She wanted to tell Remus, what she thought about day after day. Because it felt good, even though it hurt. But it was impossible. She didn't get out any other word. Therefore she only pressed her face against Remus's ribs and remained silent
...-...
"I'm sorry", Tonks mumbled a few minutes later and sat up.
"You're sorry for what?" Remus wanted to know, even though he had a clue what his wife wanted to say.
She looked at him questioning, while he propped up on his forearms.
"I'm sorry for messing up this evening", she said barely audible.
Remus sat up completely, took her face in his hands and wiped his thumb across her cheeks to get rid of the scattered traces of tears.
"You don't have to be sorry", he assured her looking in her eyes. "Personally I am happy that you finally decided to talk to me about that, after rejecting every attempt of me. I know you miss your dad, and I know that it hurts, and I also know that there's not much I can do. But I know as well that I am going to try everything to make it easier."
A weak smile crossed Dora's face, while Remus talked and as he ended, he returned that smile.
...-...
"Just the fact that you're with me makes this day wonderful. I just want you to know that I am happy and right now it is impossible to change anything about it."
During Remus's speech, Tonks realized how right he was. It didn't matter that she thought about her dad and just wanted to start crying. It wouldn't have changed anything had they been in a restaurant. Everything that was important, was that they were together. Just Remus and Dora. No one else.
...-...
How much love can a person stand without their heart bursting with happiness? – she thought once more.
Dora raiseds her hand and brushed her fingers through Remus's hair.
Just for a tiny moment Remus eyes traveled from Dora's eyes to her lips, making him rest his forehead against hers.
"I love you", he whispered before his lips met hers.