*Deserving Of Love*

A/N: Sorry it took so damn long for me to update... there's been a lot going on with the movie and the book coming out. I decided to re-read the entire series, so that's what's been taking up most of my time lately.

Anyway. This is a shorter chapter, but it's gearing up for a longer more... graphic one... so bear with me. It's a bit cheesy in some areas, but come on! It's their sixth month anniversary, and aren't those always a bit cheesy???

Let me know what you think about it PLEASE!!! I really love reviews and I get SOOOO few of them...



*****************************************************************************************

Remus Lupin stopped in his tracks as he watched a smiling Charlie Weasley step away from Tonks’ front door. He paused for a second, a familiar swelling of jealousy rising in his chest as he watched Charlie walk away from her building. He sighed and continued down the street, trying to shake the negative feelings off as he approached her door, and turned once again to watch the broad form of Charlie disappear into the darkness.

Remus sighed and shook his head slightly; he loved and trusted Tonks and knew that she would never do anything to deliberately hurt him, but his insecurities with himself made him doubt their relationship from time to time. He often wondered, usually as he watched her as she lay next to him sleeping, what made her want him in the first place. He was quite a bit older than her, wasn’t wealthy by any means and had an affliction that caused him to become a dangerous beast at the full moon. Fear for her safety alone should have been enough for her to shy away from wanting a lasting relationship with him, yet she stayed. She made it abundantly clear that she loved him and wanted to be with him, despite that fact that he himself had tried to talk her out of it on several occasions.

Remus sighed again and smiled at the thought of the young woman who had captured his heart so abruptly; despite all of his doubts, and all of his reservations, he was immensely grateful that Tonks was too stubborn to give up on him. He smiled as he realized that he was finally at the point, after six months of being in a relationship, that he was comfortable being loved.

Charlie was pushed to the back of his mind, but a feeling of jealousy lingered as he turned back to the door. He took out his keys and fumbled with the old muggle lock, swearing under his breath when it wouldn’t turn. He looked around cautiously, then juggling the flowers and boxes he had in his arms, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wand.

He released the wards on her door and with a whispered “Alohamora…” the door swung open slowly. He stepped into the front hall and shook the snow off of the flowers he was clutching before struggling out of his cloak. The sound of music drifted slowly toward him and he smiled when he recognized the song as one of Tonks’ and his favorites. He cast a drying spell on himself and the packages in his arms before making his way up the stairs to the living room, hiding the flowers behind his back as he reached the landing.

He was greeted by the sight of Tonks standing by the fireplace, a sweet and nervous looking smile on her face as she spotted him. He carefully set the packages on the coffee table and approached her slowly, taking in every detail of the way she looked at that moment. His heart beat faster as he moved closer, and he breathed deeply to inhale the sweet jasmine scent of her. He pulled the flowers from behind his back and offered them to her with a smile, chuckling softly as her face turned pink and she bit her lip nervously. He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss against her lips, holding it for a moment before pulling back slightly to whisper against her mouth.

“Happy Anniversary… sorry I’m late… You look amazing…”

Tonks smiled and pulled him into another kiss, her free hand moving up to the back of his neck to draw him closer. Remus pulled her tightly against him and deepened the kiss, sighing as she ran her fingers through his hair gently. He broke the kiss and ran his thumb over her cheek as he stared into her eyes.

“Merlin, I missed you…” Tonks whispered as she drew him into a tight embrace. Remus chuckled softly and nuzzled her neck, placing several light kisses against her skin.

“I was only gone a few days…” he whispered against her ear before continuing his ministrations on her neck. Tonks sighed as she felt his tongue sweep across the juncture of her neck and shoulder, followed by his teeth lightly grazing that sensitive area and she tightened her hold on him.

“I was just so afraid that something was going to happen to you. I hate that you have to go on dangerous missions alone… I’m just so afraid…”

“Shhhh… no more talk of that tonight…” he whispered against her skin, trailing kisses across her collarbone, making her moan quietly as he sucked gently against her skin.

He raised his head and looked up at her, kissing her nose gently before pulling her tightly against him again. He wrapped an arm around her waist and took one of her small hands in his as he began swaying in time with the music, smiling as Tonks went rigid in his arms. She didn’t really care for slow dancing; she was always so self-conscious of tripping or stepping on her partners toes that she couldn’t relax enough to enjoy it.

“Just follow my lead…” he whispered against her ear as she stepped on his foot for the fourth time. He pulled her tighter against his body and guided her into a simple waltz around the living room, smiling as he felt her finally relax into his embrace. Tonks let her focus move from what her feet were doing to the man holding her so tightly, trusting that he would lead her, and she found herself flawlessly, and surprisingly, keeping in step with him.

He dipped her slowly and carefully as the song ended, pulling her leg up so that it rested against his waist as he leaned into her, supporting her with his leg between hers and a strong arm around her back. He kissed her passionately and she giggled into his mouth, her arms wrapping around his neck tightly until he raised her and set her back onto both of her feet. He breathlessly broke away from her lips and moved his mouth back to her neck, rubbing his slightly stubbled chin against her sensitive skin as he nuzzled her. She moaned softly as his tongue ran a wet line to the base of her throat, it turning a bit louder as she felt him flick his tongue against her heated skin. She tilted her head back slowly, her arms still wrapped around his neck as he nibbled on her throat before he sucked gently at the hollow of it.

Her stomach let out a loud growl and he chuckled against her pulse point, running his tongue over it one last time before finally raising his head to look at the pink-faced witch adoringly.

“It hardly fails… as soon as I start kissing you, your stomach starts growling. A bit peckish my dear?”

Tonks laughed and leaned forward, catching his lips in several quick kisses before pulling away and leading him toward the kitchen. “Very funny… and I’m starving by the way…”

Remus wrapped his arms tightly around her from behind, his large hands sliding slowly over her stomach and breasts to pull her against him as they made their way to the kitchen. She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair with one hand, the other holding his large palm against one of her breasts tightly.

“Mmmmm… so am I…” He mumbled as he kissed and nibbled at her neck as they walked, half wanting to completely forgo the dinner and simply take her to the bedroom for dessert instead. He begrudgingly let go of her when they entered the kitchen, shocked at the sight that lay before him. The table was immaculately set, there wasn’t spot of mess anywhere, and most surprisingly, the food before him actually looked edible.

“Tonks… this is… how did you…”

Tonks laughed nervously and took his hand, her face blushing bright pink as he stared down at her in obvious shock. She faltered for a quick second, trying to decide whether or not to take all the credit for the feast in front of them, liking the look of amused bewilderment on his face, or come clean and possibly disappoint him. She decided to come clean, and sighed deeply before looking down at their clenched hands again.

“Remus… I have to tell you something. As you are well aware, I am not very skilled when it comes to domestic spells or activities…” she looked up as she said this and playfully glowered as Remus nodded in agreement. “I did try however… and after burning the chicken, curdling the sauce, turning the asparagus into mush, and creating three deflated chocolate soufflés for dessert, I basically gave up… and called Molly.”

Tonks whispered the last part, biting her lip as she studied their tightly clasped hands, awaiting his reaction. Remus laughed at her words and pulled her into a tight hug and she sighed against his chest, greatly relieved that he didn’t seem disappointed in her lack of domestic abilities. Remus placed a gentle kiss on her temple and moved back to look at her again, smiling at the sheepish look on her face.

“Thank Merlin you told me… I was beginning to wonder if the woman standing before me was a poly-juiced version of Nymphadora Tonks. You’re lucky I didn’t hex you…”

“You prat! That’s the meanest…”

Remus cut off Tonk’s bemused scolding with a lingering kiss and pulled her back into an embrace, making her quickly forget what she was upset at him for in the first place.

“Oh I love you Nymphadora… domestic ineptness and all…”

She giggled at this and sighed as his strong arms held her tightly against him, smiling as she breathed in the scent that she had missed over the past few days. She pulled away from him slightly and pulled him down for a gentle, feather-light kiss. “Love you too…” she breathed against his lips.

Her soft words were cut off by another untimely and very loud growl of her stomach and Remus released her and stepped back in mock surprise.

“And they call me a ferocious man-eating beast… c’mon love; let’s get you fed before I become dinner…”

She smiled at him as he pulled her chair out for her and she ran a hand slowly up his chest to his cheek before leaning in for another soft kiss.

“No… I’m saving you for dessert…” She whispered against his lips before smiling seductively at him as she sat down. Remus let out a small groan and gave her a heated glance before leaning down to press his lips against her ear.

“Lucky me…”