Drabblefic #5: Remus/Tonks, "For the Sake of the Daughter"

[gilpins_tales]

Title: For the Sake of the Daughter
Genre: General; angst
Ratings & Warnings: PG - mild swearing
Word Count: 2145
Summary: It’s strange to be so afraid of someone you’ve always liked. Even harder when your daughter’s smile comes easily again, and the inner calm and resourcefulness is back in her eyes after months of strain.
Author's Note: For tegdoh,

Comments

[gilpins_tales]

It is the saddest icon ever, isn't it? But very Remus-like to me: outside on his own, and thinking he has to walk away.

But, of course, he's so very wrong, especially once I stop writing fics like this, lol. Which is kind of the temporary version of a Black lull before the DH storm, and I'm delighted you were reading the subtext as Remus probably did have a Well, surely I've had enough practice with the Black Family to handle this, haven't I? moment. ;) Shortly before he realised he's never faced one who is the prospective mum-in-law before, and where do you start with that one? Joking apart, I wanted him off balance for all sorts of reasons, and the Remus who could sort out the tension over meals at Grimmauld in OotP being totally wrong-footed by being the cause of it here.

True for all, especially true for proud folks like the Blacks.

I wanted Andromeda and Ted to like Remus without going into detail of how well they know him; partly because he seems a likeable character to most others in the books, and partly because I think it adds even more interest to the simmering cauldron. You may like the man who happens to be a werewolf and accept him as that on one level, but it's a hell of a lot easier to do so when he's not aiming to be your son-in-law. I'm imagining Andromeda thinking she's turned her back on her family and their rationale for many years, and now, suddenly, it's biting back at her.

The other thing I like is that Andromeda's doubt towards Tonk's new 'boyfriend' aren't resolved.

Absolutely not. They've all just put their doubts to one side for the moment - or pretended to - so that there's a kind of fragile acceptance going on here for the moment. Apart from anything else, you must want the best for your kids, and I doubt Andromeda feels that being disowned by your family is as romantic as it may have been years ago when she married Ted. I was trying to say she still thinks she did the right thing, but it isn't as simple as it seemed back then...

Thanks so much for reading along, as always, and for such thoughtful and encouraging comments. ♥ I was going to use my sad icon again, but reading them again to do the reply has made the world a cheerier place!