Another Weasley

[chose_dragons]

He'd never been in a bloody jungle. It had been a change going from Ottery St. Catchpole to Hogwarts to Romania, but it wasn't all that different. Taller mountains, harsher winters, but he'd gotten used to that right off. Egypt had been hot when the family had visited Bill. But this? This was mad as pants. It was hot and lush and humid in a way he'

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[permanentlypink]

After several days of practically not leaving the hut at all, Tonks realized that she was being unfair to Teddy. She needed to just bottle up her grief and try to make things as normal for him as possible... which was difficult when he kept asking, "Da?"

She was carrying him towards the Compound when she caught a glimpse of red hair out of the corner of her eye, and thinking that it was Bill, turned to say hello.

Her mouth dropped open. "Charlie?"

[chose_dragons]

He had a mouthful when he heard his name and looked up. The last time he'd seen her--dammit all, he didn't even want to think of the last time he'd seen her. Winning the war hadn't seemed so important when the dead were accounted for.

But there she was and he nearly choked when he tried to swallow quickly. He was on his feet and bounding toward her, arms spread wide to catch her as soon as he was close enough.

"Dora! Merlin's pants, it's good to see you!"

[permanentlypink]

"Oh!" She was still in a bit of shock when Charlie grabbed her and Teddy into a hug.

"Ma!" Teddy squealed, obviously surprised, too. Though he didn't seem upset, immediately reaching for Charlie's hair.

"Teddy, darling, this - this is Charlie," Tonks said.

[chose_dragons]

"Teddy?" Charlie asked when he finally found it in him to let go. He stepped back and took a good look at the boy.

"He was just a wee babe and he's nearly a grown man," he marveled, ruffling the boy's hair. "How are you, Dora? Been...it's been a long time."

[permanentlypink]

"Longer than you probably think," Tonks said, suddenly overwhelmed with a mix of emotions. Realizing that Charlie must have been from her future back home, from after she and Remus were married and had Teddy, and even worse... after she and Remus had...

She burst into tears.

Somewhere in the back of her head she told herself that this wouldn't be happening if she weren't pregnant.

[chose_dragons]

"Oh, bloody...don't cry, Dora," he said softly, cursing himself for upsetting her right off the bat. He should have expected it, though. Seemed he had a talent for it. "I'm sorry. Whatever I said. Don't cry."

[permanentlypink]

"It's... it's not you, Charlie," she choked out, sinking down to the ground by the tree so that she could set Teddy down. He immediately began pulling up grass with his fists.

She wiped her eyes with her sleeve. "I'm glad to see you, I am, I'm so sorry, it's just..." She had to forcibly hold back another round of waterworks. "It's Remus. He's g-g-g-one."

[chose_dragons]

Charlie had to literally bite his tongue. Remus seemed to have a habit of leaving her and Charlie couldn't bring himself to be agreeable or understanding. Although, in the end, they'd been together when they...well, that wasn't on his mind. Not with her sitting right there.

"Gone? What happened? He get you pregnant again?" he teased. "He's getting predictable if that's the case. Want me and Bill to round him up for you?"

[permanentlypink]

Charlie was apparently predictable too--like having a knack for saying the exact wrong thing.

"Yes!" she wailed. "I mean, no, I mean..." She buried her face in her hands, words coming out in a near-mumble. "He's gone, disappeared... off the island... and I... I'm pregnant."

[chose_dragons]

"Balls," he muttered under his breath. Charlie hunkered down beside her and took hold of her shoulders.

"Come on now," he said gently, the same tone he used on snappish hatchlings. "It's going to be alright, Dora. Just like before, yeah? You're stronger than all this. Come on now."

Teddy took advantage of Charlie being low and grabbed hold of his arm so he could stand up and babble a little before he unleashed a string of 'mamamamamama'.

[permanentlypink]

Tonks managed to get hold of herself, taking a deep breath. "I'm not usually... I don't feel like myself, Charlie. I just don't know how... Merlin, I could barely keep track of Teddy with Remus doing half the work, how am I supposed to take care of two kids all by myself?" That was easier to think about than just how much she missed him.

[chose_dragons]

"I imagine same as most women do," he said softly. Teddy's gran seemed to be doing an alright job with him...well, there in the wizarding world. Not here, certainly. "It's not as if you're alone, Dora. There's quite a few folk around." It wasn't exactly signing on for the job, although...no. No, it was just being a friend, like always.

[permanentlypink]

"I know," she said softly, then rubbed the back of her neck. "Merlin, Charlie, I don't mean to drop this on you when you've just gotten here. I mean... I am glad to see you. Really. Even happy, all this aside."

[chose_dragons]

He smiled at that, gave a little nod, and then gestured to his few things. "Come on then, chin up. Bring your boy and come eat some of my mum's cooking. There's some sausages, and Teddy can have a biscuit. He can eat biscuits now? He's a far cry bigger than I last saw him."