That night neither of them got a restful sleep, and they spent the next day in avoidance of each other. It wasn't until late afternoon that Remus went up the stairs and knocked on Raya�s door. For a moment she didn�t answer him and he tried not to get frustrated by the barrier she had created between them.
As he went to knock again however, she threw the door open and looked at him indifferently. �Yes?�
He faltered a moment. �Listen, Raya. Tonks will be home any minute and I think we ought to at least pretend everything�s all right�for her sake.�
Raya shrugged. �I�m fine, Remus.�
The briskness of her voice was off-putting but Remus didn�t have time to think about it any longer as the front door slammed and a shrill little voice called out. �Remus, Raya! I�m home!�
�We�re upstairs, Nym!� Remus called down, his eyes never leaving Raya�s until he could hear his wife thundering up the stairs like a child.
�What a long night!� She informed them, hugging Remus. �We had six raids last night, trying to flush out some of our most wanted.�
�Sounds fascinating.� Raya lied as she hugged her cousin stiffly.
Tonks rolled her eyes in disagreement, then looked between Remus and Raya unknowingly. �What did you two do last night?�
�Nothing.� They answered guiltily in unison. Tonks arched an eyebrow curiously at them, noticing the glare that they exchanged.
�I knew I shouldn�t have left you two here alone.� She sighed. �Did you argue all night?�
For a moment they both stared at her as if she were mad, but then Raya played along. �Not all night, no, but we disagreed about a lot of things. In fact, I was just packing up my stuff to leave. I don�t think I can stay here another day.�
Tonks glared at Remus then and he couldn�t help but shake with a wave of fury towards Raya. �I think we should talk, Remus.� His wife glowered as she turned and stomped down the hallway like a child. He scowled at Raya briefly, who looked absolutely pleased with herself, and headed off down the hall after his wife.
�Nymphadora�� Remus began, but stopped in the doorway. Tonks was standing before their bed, her body completely rigid, her hands balled into fists at her sides, her eyes locked on the floor. Remus glanced down to see what she was looking at and felt his jaw go slack as he saw Raya�s discarded underwear still lying in the middle of the floor. How had he not noticed them before now? Remus was speechless. He knew he couldn�t lie to her, she was an Auror, she would know. �Tonks��
Tonks spun on her heel, tears streaming down her cheeks, a look of pure hatred in her eyes. She came towards Remus and slapped him hard across the face. �You son of a bitch!� She cried, pounding her fists into his chest. �I hate you!! I hate you!�
Remus felt his eyes burning with tears as well as he watched her sink to the floor, crying hysterically. �Tonks, I�m am so sorry. I never meant for you to find out like this.� As soon as the words had left his mouth, he had wanted to take them all back.
�Like this?� She laughed humorlessly. �How was I supposed to find out? When I come home and actually see you in bed together? How could you do this to me!? Did you like it, Remus? Was she exactly what you wanted for Christmas?!�
�That�s not fair, Nymphadora!� Remus bellowed at her. �I didn�t plan on this happening! I didn�t make a chore list that said �Cheat on Tonks with her visiting cousin�. Things got out of hand yesterday, and there�s nothing I can do to take them back, as much as I wish I could.�
�Would you?� Tonks asked, questioning his sincerity. Remus faltered.
�Get out, Remus.� Tonks growled through clinched teeth, narrowing her eyes. �I don�t want you here right now.�
�Where am I supposed to go, Nympha��
�STOP CALLING ME THAT!� She screamed at the top of her lungs, silencing him. For a moment a resonant stillness echoed throughout the room and Remus took a step back from her.
�Very well. If that�s what you want, then I�ll go.�
�Take that filth with you.� Tonks spat, pointing at Raya�s underwear. Remus stood there for a long minute. His bed had been made with Raya in it, now he had to lie there too. He reached down and picked up the satiny material, then sauntered back down the hall in a daze and headed down the stairs without a word to Raya. Without turning back, Remus walked out the door for what he feared would be the last time.
Chapter Seven
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