This is a different twist to Remus/Tonks story. Though this is not AU, their story is not canon compliant.

Late June, 1995

Last time he had visited Hog's Head was when he had been a teacher at Hogwarts. How time could change everything in one moment was no longer such a mystery to Remus; he'd had far too much experience with life's fickleness. There was a time when he had visited the Three Broomsticks and people had greeted and acknowledged him as Professor Lupin; now that it had been over a year since his secret had came out, no one ever spared a glance in his direction. He was not even considered worthy enough for a chilly 'Hello'.

So here he was, sitting in a grimy and dusty seat within Hog's Head, alone in a corner, with none for company except his own misery. He couldn't even look out at the streets for his own entertainment, as the window was almost opaque with dust. He had always wondered why Aberforth didn't just spell away the grime; maybe it was all a part of the 'charm' of the Hog's Head.

He sighed deeply and wrapped his palms around his tumbler of whisky. He had been sent out by a sulking Padfoot to buy an infinite amount of firewhisky or ' Anendless supply of all kinds of alcohol because variety would forever be the spice of life' as Padfoot had put it. Probably for first time in his life, his pocket was full with the unfamiliar sound of clinking galleons.

What had his life came to? Though he was more than glad to have Sirius back. He wasn't the same anymore. But who would be after spending endless days and nights in a prison? Hell, he himself wasn't the same anymore. His past had marked him permanently and people dogged his steps even now.

Though things had only deteriorated for him ever since that fateful night in October, his life had experienced a brief yet beautiful phase in between...

He sighed and closed his eyes.

There wasn't a day when he didn't think about her...

He shook his head to clear away the image of her beautiful smile, pink blushing cheeks and twinkling dark eyes.

"...I can't thank you enough." He heard a female voice say, behind him while he swirled the golden liquid in his glass. Strangely enough, she didn't sound like a hag or of the normal crowd of Hog's Head. His werewolf senses absentmindedly picked up on the presence of two people behind him probably walking out the door.

"This is the last time I will do this, Amy, mind you."

His heart stopped beating in his chest and he froze completely.

There was no mistaking that voice.

The tone, the pitch, and the music of her voice were unmistakable. Even now.

She had always sounded that way whenever she had been irritated or agitated about something.

He forgot to breathe as his whole self focused on the most important thing within the dodgy bar.

She was here.

Barely inches away from him. Unaware of his presence as he sat foolishly like a statue.

The two women halted inches from him as the woman named Amy suddenly turned to face her companion. She, in reflex, placed her left palm on his table, to stop herself from tripping in surprise.

Her hand was just centimeters away from his arm.

Oh God...

There was absolutely no mistaking those delicate hands. He was not hallucinating from the effect of too much alcohol. Even if his ears were ringing and his stomach was filled with slight flutters similar to nausea.

"I won't ask you do that again, I promise." the woman -Amy- answered, but he paid her no mind, as he was way too focused on the palm on the bar top, the same one that he had cradled on countless walks. The one that he had kissed the back of in countless romantic gestures...

Suddenly, He noticed something glinting in light... Something shiny...A ring... A ring on her left hand...On her ring finger...

He could almost feel his face go pale as his hands went cold, and his knees felt weak. They were wobbly when the realization sunk into his numbed mind... When the meaning of that ring sunk pass the denial of his tortured thoughts...

"Time will tell." She said in reply and effectively walked away from the bar. Away from his life all over again.

He felt fairly nauseous. He knew for a fact that if he moved to even breathe that he would throw up. He felt more than a little faint. He could see himself shaking… Shaking with anger, with grief, and with an undeniable sorrow…

She had gotten married, Merlin... Married... To another man… To someone who wasn't him.

It had been more than three years after all... Had it really only taken three years for her to get over him?

In his dreams and within the boundaries of his fantasies he had always pretended that she was still his precious; he had lived in undoubtedly in denial. Had even dreamt of an alternate universe where they were allowed to be together...

But she had moved on. And not just moved on, but had gotten married.

Surely she must have dated that man a while before entering into marriage? So what, it had taken her only a few months to completely get over him. Assuming of course that she had started dating shortly after he left her?

But hadn't that been what he had wanted? What he had even prayed for when he had pushed aside his selfishness?

But Merlin, it hurt as hell seeing it recognized. It was like a thousand knifes were piercing into his heart. Wrenching his gut as they twisted deeper.

When he was certain that he was somewhat stable enough, he threw a few sickles on the table and apparated instantly within the main room of the pub. Something which wasn't allowed (Actually it was strictly forbidden) but he didn't particularly care at that point… How could he?

His heart was breaking again. It had broken a long time ago, but the final piece of his heart that had survived had given up the fight. It was now crumbled into little jagged pieces. He without thought apparated to a lonely abandoned alley and ran like a wolf. Exactly like the monster he was up into the mountains.

The whole times his eyes stung and he ran against gravity, up the mountains. He needed air…Because he needed her… And he couldn't have her.

His precious...

No not his... Not anymore.

He ran with an animalistic strength. The cool air that hit his face was a sharp contrast to the hot tears flowing down the lines of his cheeks.

He was suffocating...

Finally, he reached the cliff. He stopped directly on the edge. The place that had been a witness to so many adventures of his Marauder days. Days long withered away.

There on a place that uses to be a haven; He screamed with his full power. The scream tore his lungs on its way out. The scream that came unbidden out of his mouth was almost comparable to the one he gave while transforming. He was certain of it.

After a few seconds…hours…forever…the anger and adrenaline fled away and he dropped to his knees. Once he was settled he buried his head between them.

He always had dreaded the time he would see her again and he had been sure that he would have been able to maintain some amount of calm if the visit had been an awkward meeting but this was beyond his imagination.

She had affected him to madness. But than she had always been able to turn his sanity on its head.

While he crouched there in the cold grass, he like any true masochistic allowed himself to dwell on the past. On the countless times spent in her arms, the exact spot on his head that she had always lovingly kissed after full moons, the moments she had slept in his arms at night with pale moonlight throwing her features into sharp relief while he watched in awe, her overwhelming beauty both in and out. He remembered the way it had been with her. Her love, her laughter, and her hair...

As the memories swept his brain, he did something he hadn't done in a long, long time.

He cried.

Tonks stepped out of the Hog's Head with her friend and colleague Amy Walters snapping at her heels. She knew that she was deep in the roots of a sour mood. Amy, though she was her dear friend, was also one of the few people who exploited her metamorphmagus abilities to max. Usually she didn't mind though... Much... Because unlike some other lecherous men, her ideas and requests weren't that devilish.

Amy was a married woman with a very loving husband who after so many years of marriage still liked to surprise her with romantic picnics or dates. Today had been one of those days. It had started when Amy's husband, Alex had decided to take her on a romantic rendezvous. Though such gestures were sweet, even when they came out of the blue; it was almost always an inconvenience to Aurors. People who found it hard to fit anything out of ordinary in their schedule.

Tonks had been having lunch with her friend in the Ministry canteen. Amy had been fairly nervous as she had talked about a meeting scheduled with Irish Ministry delegates. She had been interrupted when a Ministry owl had brought a pink colored letter for her from her husband (Who worked close by in Department for Magical Education) informing her of their date.

There was where the problem came in. If Amy had gone impulsively with her husband, she wouldn't have been able to attend the meeting. And yet if she had attended the meeting, she would have had to refuse her husband for the fifth time in a row due to her tightened schedule. While Amy had been biting her nails in indecision; her eyes suddenly had gone wide and she had gotten a look on her face that had screamed trouble.

Amy had then proceeded to plead for Tonks to morph into a duplicate of Amy and attend the meeting as her, while she went to do Merlin knew what with her husband. Tonks had finally caved in when Amy had emotionally blackmailed her by saying with a puppy face, 'It's going to put a strain on my marriage sooner or later.' if she kept canceling on him. Though Tonks herself had a non-existent love life, she genuinely cared for her friends.

It was her love for her that had prompted to morph into her twin and go to a highly boring meeting. Her mouth still ached with all the fake smiling that she did during the very very long briefing.

"Alright Tonks, will you just spit out the anger now before you bust? Come on, you know I'll treat you to your favorite ice cream- Chocolate Brownie."

Tonks sighed. Chocolate Brownie ice cream was a weakness for her. It wasn't her favorite as she personally preferred Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. But it was one of the few things she hadn't been able to give up completely. No one really knew the true story behind her fondness for the ice cream. And she wasn't going to tell. Though she never said no to it, it always sent a stab of hurt through her heart when she heard its name.

She finally after deep breathes turned to face her friend.

"How did your date go? Did he spoilt you rotten? Are you happy?" Tonks finally asked the question for which all this hustle and decapitation had been about.

Amy gave a genuine smile, a smile that showed the gratitude she held for her friend.

"Tonks, it was wonderful. Thank you for agreeing to help." She said softly, her light brown eyes shining with adoration for the woman in front of her.

No matter how irritated she felt, Tonks could never remain angry at her friend for too long. She sighed and smiled back.

"Alright then. Your praise of your date just made my day a little better."

"Hey Tonks." Amy called as Tonks turned to apparate away with one last smile. "You still have something of mine."

Tonks felt puzzled for a moment, but she finally understood when she gave it some thought. Within seconds, she slipped the diamond ring from her finger and gave it to its original owner. Since, she had to look like a ditto copy of Amy; she had also worn her accessories and clothes, including her wedding ring. It was weird really, for they currently were in same clothes. Amy's clothes swamped Tonks; making her feel six again as she tried on Mum's clothes.

As Amy lovingly slipped the ring onto her finger, Tonks felt something clutch her heart. Something akin to envy.

Had things gone fine with...

No, It was of no use to think on that now. She had long ago moved pass that silly dream.

At least that's what she told herself.

"Let's go." Tonks spoke suddenly as she shoved aside all thoughts of sandy brown hairs flicked with grey and dark blue eyes.

What do you think should I continue? I have only written this first chapter and I have no idea when I will update next, but I can promise that I will complete the fic if I get enough responses and will try my best to update as early as possible.

Re-edited and beta'd by Stars may fall!