Already There

[starfishstar]

ALREADY THERE

Summary:  Remus returns to Tonks, and Remus and Andromeda have a conversation.

Characters: Remus, Tonks, Andromeda

Words: ~2,000

Comments

[author_by_night]

I may post my own version of this, as I wrote one but never posted it. Though my Tonks isn't as forgiving.

Anyway, I loved how you wrote this. Honestly, I expected Andromeda to chew Remus out - so I was pleasantly surprised that she didn't. Instead, she welcomed him home, and told him she also understood Tonks loved him, and as her mother, she could respect that. It was very well-written and believable.

“Remus,” she said, finding his hand where it rested against her skin and covering it with her own. “Stop worrying. You’re already here.”

This made me smile.

[starfishstar]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. I wasn't sure if I'd had her go too easy on him, so I'm glad if it works. I also kind of think I gave this point in their lives short shrift (the abandoning/returning is such a big deal, after all) by writing a short, quick fic about it, but the idea was there and I'd been wanting for ages to write some kind of conversation between Remus and Andromeda but hadn't had an idea for it, so.

Yes, definitely do post your story! There really can be endless permutations to this moment in their lives.

[shimotsuki]

So lovely -- this has a quietness that seems to come both from Tonks (and everyone) being so tired of having the same arguments and the same fears over and over, but also from the feeling that together really is where both Remus and Tonks want to be, so despite all of the (Remus's!) kicking and struggling, they're starting to settle down to where it's right.

I do like how your Andromeda is handling this, letting Remus alone to stew in his own remorse (heh) but also throwing him a lifeline or two, letting him know that he does make Tonks happy and he really should trust himself. And I especially like the way Remus sees, without Andromeda having to spell it all out, some of the parallels between their situations.

[starfishstar]

Thank you! I'm glad it works, because I did worry I'd skimmed over the conflicts here too fast...but I guess I wanted to get to that place where, like you said, it's clear where they want to be, and just a matter of figuring out *how* to be there.

Andromeda! The more I write about her, the more I want to write more about her...

[gilpin25]

Oh, I really enjoyed reading this. After all the shouting with Harry, it seems fitting that Remus' homecoming should be a far quieter affair. It's noticeable that neither Tonks or Andromeda mention his reasons for going, rather it's as if they understand the tragedy of them almost better than he does and have already moved on. Now he needs to try to as well.

While Andromeda plays it absolutely right by letting him know she has major doubts but not about his ability to make her daughter happy, I don't think she could have 'punished' him more if she'd tried. Remus would probably far prefer to be yelled at! Again, there is this strong sense that the two women are way ahead of him here - I loved her last line "Go upstairs to your wife", and how he slowly thinks, in a rather dazed but much more rational manner, about the not entirely dissimilar struggles she and Ted must have gone through.

Very much looking forward to the sequel! :D

[starfishstar]

Thank you, gilpin! I'm really glad that Andromeda's reaction here works - I was afraid readers might think she was too quickly accepting/forgiving, but I'm glad it comes across as you said, that this way is almost worse than if she'd just done the "normal" thing and been angry!

Yeah, I do think Remus is often the last to understand himself in these situations. Harry, too, saw through the "it's for her own good" rationalizations instantly.

Oh, Remus. His behavior at this point in the timeline really is reprehensible, and yet I can't help but feel for him so much.