This one is for R.L.N.Tonks for inspiring me to dust off this chapter and publish it.

A week later...

Molly Weasley grabbed Lupin up in a motherly hug. The years had been hard on her-she had gained a bit of weight, wrinkles, and more gray hair. Arthur who stood next to her was now almost completely bald. The loss of four of their sons in the War had taken its toll. Their remaining children and friends were thus doubly precious to them.

Despite this, Molly was currently not talking to her second son right now because he had broken up the Lupin family. She had a lot of respect and genuinely liked Lupin especially after everything he had done for her family. She thought he himself looked like hell she imagined that the last month had been hell on him. This was also the first time in 10 years he had had to go through the transformation alone.

"Remus, I am sorry about Charlie," she apologized. He got a weary look on his face and covered it with a polite smile.

"Don't worry about it," he soothed. "It was inevitable. They have always loved each other and I was foolish to come between them."

"No my son should not have come between a man and his wife. I raised him better than that!" Molly interjected.

"Molly, we were never married, one of the many consequences of the distrust towards werewolves I'm afraid. Besides I have my children, it is all I need. I was too old for her I knew from the beginning but I loved her and I didn't want to lose her and be lonely for the rest of my life."

"If you ask me she iz a harlot for the way she haz treated you," Fleur's musical tones filled the air as she came into the kitchen with her son. He had been 2 when his father died in the war and hardly remembered him. He was now 12. She kissed Molly on the check and hugged Remus.

"I don't know why you put up with it for zo long the way you did. I would have kicked her out a long time ago."

At Remus's easy smile and placid exterior she sighed. "You were alwayz zo kind for your own good." She turned away from him but her voice held affection in it. This was the Saturday night dinner at the Weasley's house. Everyone left alive in the family always tried to make it if they could. Remus had the feeling he had been invited in place of Charlie but he wasn't complaining about free food.

Fleur had grown from a pretty girl to a beautiful woman. Her hair was free from gray and she had no wrinkles. It was hard not to be attracted to her beauty but although she had many offers she had never remarried. Her affairs were carried out with discretion and never turned serious. She had lost Bill in the final battle of the war and it had changed her into a devoted, single mother. She was left with a small red headed boy who had the same ethereal light in his face that she did. The boy would be a lady killer when he grew up but until then he was content to play Quidditch with his friends.

Remus made it through dinner with minimum inquiries about his health, his love life, and his future. He loved the Weasleys to death but at times Molly's meddling got to him. It was nice to be distracted by others, however, and he managed to forget for a time his loneliness and confusion.

It was brought back to him later that evening, long after the older Weasleys had retired to bed. Fleur and Remus sat before a fire in the living room with a bottle of Fire Whiskey in front of them, most of its contents empty. They had been discussing idle things, their children, the minister of magic, when she asked him what had happened with Tonks.

Remus sighed as he stretched his long legs out towards the fire. He swirled his 5th glass of fire whiskey and glanced quickly at Fleur curled up in the corner of the sofa. He then turned back to stare into the fire and morosely began his story.

"Then she ssssays to me that she'ssss ready to come back. She missssses me. What the bloody hell am I suppooosed to ssssay to that? " he finished in a slur.

"Zhat Tonks was always zhinking of herself. I hope zhat you slammed za door in her face!" Fleur crowed drunkenly from across the room. Remus snorted into his drink remembering the distrust the two women shared for one another.

"I told her I needed time. I don't know how I'm ssssupposed to forgive her besides sssshe's damaged my pride." Remus said importantly as he swallowed the last of his drink.

"Oh Reeeemuz," she laughed. "You men are all ze zame. If what you want iz Tonkz zen tell 'er. Don't let your pride stop you. Life iz to short for zat. I miss Bill everyday but I am glad we 'ad even a short time." She finished her glass and set it down.

"Honestly, I don't know if I can forgive her and let her back into my life," he said sadly pouring himself and Fleur another glass.

"You know what you need? A lover! Zat is the French way to get over it" she declared taking a swig.

Remus snorted so hard, Fire Whiskey came out of his nose and he began coughing. Fleur rushed over to pound him on the back until he waved her off.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," he said his face returning to its normal color. She perched nearby on the edge of his chair and eyed him up and down.

"Zat is exactly vat you need someone to make you feel young and whole again! Zen you can decide what you want."

He looked up at her in astonishment. Was Fleur serious? Did she honestly think that was the solution to his problem? Was it the fire whiskey talking? The idea was amusing and might have some merit if he wasn't who he was. His face clouded over as he answered her.

"Bloody hell," he murmured. "Where am I supposed to find someone to bed an old werewolf like me? Someone who doesn't mind gray hair and old scars? The idea is ridiculous. "

"It'z not! I zink gray hair iz zexy. Besides, I 'ave 'eard ze stories about your younger dayz as a womanizer," she said drunkenly winking at him.

He stared at her in open astonishment. Was this beautiful woman hitting on him? He wasn't sure what to say to it all. The fire whiskey was fogging his brain and he watched in a daze as she leaned down to kiss him. The kiss was deep and it awakened a hunger in him he didn't know was there.

Before he quite realized what was happening she had broken it off and told him she was off to bed. He watched her go his mouth hanging open in shock. As she reached the door she turned to look at him over her shoulder and asked "Are you coming?"

Remus watched her walk out the door before gulping down the remains of his drink and standing up. "Bloody hell," he muttered as he followed her up the stairs.