One Last Chance: A Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Lupin Love Story

LXV

Once the three of them ate breakfast, Remus started baking a cake. Since Dora had promised to put up the decorations and clean up a bit more, he was baking. Having magic made everything a whole lot easier than having to crack the eggs and mix the batter all by himself. He shoved the batter in a cake pan into the oven and looked for a box of candles.

Finally finding said box of candles, he placed it next to the frosting and as the cake wouldn't be done for another half hour or so, he'd decided to help his wife and son with the decorating. Well, if he was really being honest, Teddy would really just sit in his high chair as Dora put up little streamers and a tablecloth on their table.

Soon the cake was done, and he slowly took it out for the oven and set it down on the table, ready to begin frosting it. Dora had come into the kitchen, holding Teddy on her hip. She smiled at him, her grin lighting up at room. He couldn't help but smile back.

How was it that he was able to capture the love of a creature so beautiful she seemed more like a goddess than a human? The way she filled a room with good energy didn't seem a trait a human could ever possess. The way she had the ability to look effortlessly graceful while doing a simple task, such as just holding their son as she walked. Remus sighed, feeling happier than he ever had in a very long time. His wife must've caught him staring because she wrinkled her nose and spoke.

"Stop looking at me like that, Remus." she raised an eyebrow, "I'm not that special."
"But you're my wife," he smiled, "you mean everything to me."

He watched her cover her mouth with a blush as he smirked. The smile reached her eyes.

"Anyway, the cake seems to be done baking," she said, glancing at the seemingly plain cake, "We can frost it now."
"That we can do, once I get it out of the pan."

Dora set Teddy down in a high chair as he slowly and carefully took the cake out and placed it on a plate. She handed him a butter knife and he took out the frosting. The only colors they had for the meet were blue and pink. Their eyes flitted between them, hoping to make a decision.

"Maybe we can use both? Swirl them in a pretty decoration?" Dora offered.
"Alright then, let's see how it goes." he answered, dipping his knife into the can of frosting.

They worked for about twenty minutes twisting and twirling their butter knives to give the frosting elaborate shapes and swirls as Teddy gurgled and babbled happily. The pink delicately blended with the blue, making their cake look like a sunset on a summer's eve. He snickered as Dora dipped her finger into the frosting and licked it off, smirking as she did. Her warm eyes seemed to laugh and tease him. Remus found himself laughing as he did the same. Cake frosting was sweet and creamy, making him feel a sense of happiness.

He hadn't even noticed that his wife smushed a dollop of pink frosting on his face. It sat on his nose and bits of his forehead and cheeks. He frowned for a moment then realized what's she'd done. Dora looked at him with her eyes wide and filled with shock. Remus only smiled and held his hands out for a hug. He hugged her tightly, almost pinning her to the table as he kissed her sloppily and messily, wiping most of the frosting on his wife's pale face. Remus heard her groan as he pulled away, and he laughed.

"Screw you, Remus Lupin."
"You started it."
"I know." he heard her sigh.

Before he found another dollop of frosting slathered onto his face. Dora must've dipped her fingers into the blue frosting before wiping the majority of it on him. She also wiggled out of his grasp and flicked icing towards him. Neither of them had their wands, so they were both nearly defenseless. From his spot in the high chair, Teddy was giggling and clapping his hands. There were bits of frosting on his head, as tufts of hair turned blue and pink to match it. Remus heard Dora cry out happily and pick their son up and hugged him.

"He's learning to control his abilities so fast." she beamed at him, as she wiped the icing from Teddy's face, "I suppose we should eat the cake, now. Teddy can't have any until he's a bit older, so it's really just for the two of us."
"Okay, how big a slice do you want?"
"Remus, I could eat the whole damn cake right now. You pick first."
"Suit yourself."

He cut both of them modest sized slices, a bit bigger than the slices he'd received at parties and such. Dora smiled as he handed her the plate and a fork.

He couldn't help but admire Dora's effortless and easy grace. Sure, she was overly clumsy, but he couldn't help but love her for it. The way she stumbled over her own feet when they were dancing only gave him the opportunity to catch her if she fell.

She deserves so much better than me..., he thought, glancing at her with a sad look, so much better than me.

What kind of things could he even give his wife? He had nothing, absolutely nothing. Before Teddy, he couldn't even give her a family. Nor support one. Teddy had been a so called happy accident. He didn't have the money to do anything for her. Whenever he saw her seeming to argue with herself over asking him to buy something, even if it was a necessity, a knife seemed to strike his heart. And when she did, she asked for it hesitantly, not meeting his eyes.

But they had enough, she'd always say, just enough. Nothing more, always less.

He still didn't understand why she picked him. She had so much more than him growing up. She had successful friends, all of whom would love and care for her wholly and completely. They'd give her whatever he couldn't. And before him, she had a wonderful job that she enjoyed.

He went to bed every night feeling that he'd ruined her life and the life of their son. He hated himself for it. But he'd never seen her so... so happy. He, himself, never felt happier. He felt a warm feeling that he hadn't felt in a very long time. A feeling he'd thought had faded away. But a new fluttering feeling filled him whenever he found himself next to his wife, something he'd never felt before. Love...

It was only then that's he'd realized that he'd never fallen in love before... until Dora.

Hey everyone! Oh I'm going to cry, we're near the end of this story. I had so much fun writing it. Writing these chapters made my day and seeing all your comments and votes made me the happiest girl in the world. This always managed to put a smile on my face. Love you all,
Abby