Chuckling at the sleep tousled Katie, Tonks waved the scones enticingly under Katie's nose. "Of course I did. I don't fancy being at the nasty end of your wand. I didn't even bake this time," she grinned, showing the bakery bag. "I stopped at the bakery in town; they wish you luck on your game today."

She pulled a face at Pea and said, "Don't worry, I didn't forget you." Tonks danced back and forth to keep herself warm. "Are you going to let me in? Or need I beg forgiveness and sacrifice Antonio?"

Katie felt a grin tug at her lips despite the early morning hour as she stepped aside to let Tonks in.  "Don't sacrifice Antonio.  He's entirely too pretty.  If you're going to sacrifice someone, it should really be Kathryn.  I mean, who wouldn't want Antonio to ravish them?  She made us wait way too many pages to see some of the good stuff," she sighed as she closed the door behind them, shivering at the rush of cool air that had slipped in.  It was going to be a cold winter. 

Katie trailed behind Tonks, snagging her wand from bookmarking the novel she'd been reading the night before off the sofa and waved it towards the empty hearth, flames springing up to crackle merrily.  She plopped down onto the sofa, pulling the soft throw around her before holding her hands out for one of the mugs of hot tea that Tonks had brought.  Bringing it to her nose, she inhaled, smile painting her lips.  "Peppermint, my favorite.  You are officially loved Tonksy."

"I do try. At least I'm able to hold normal and coherent conversations with you," Tonks said as she flopped onto the couch and kicked her shoes off. She stuffed a scone into her mouth. Pea scuttled her way up to wiggle in between Katie and Tonks, tail wagging.

"I see someone is happy to see me," Tonks grinned, petting the small animal. "How's your Da?"

Katie sipped at her tea, careful not to burn her tongue on the steaming hot liquid.  "Papa's pretty good.  It's Quidditch season, so the pub's near bursting with people more than normal, just the way he likes it.  Speaking of," she turned to her friend, wry smile tugging at her lips, "he did mention that he's been missing his favorite fan on game days.  Who else is he supposed to argue over every play and call with, hmm?"

"Well, you could settle down and find some nice witch or wizard," Tonks replied, ducking as Katie swatted at her head. "I'll be sure to be there this afternoon, yeah? We can bemoan that even though you're back from Italy you still have no time for us or your laundry."

"I have time!" Katie said, a bit indignant.  "You're the one with crazy Ministry slave hours.  Don't think I don't know what kind of stuff goes on there.  I've read all about it in Sensuous Secrets #32," she finished with a cheeky grin. 

"There is absolutely NONE of that going on in the Ministry," Tonks cried, hand going to her heart, feigning hurt. "At least, if there is, I've no part in it. Even so, I'm sure that Quidditch groupies are much more entertaining and useful than Ministry employees. If I get one more purple memo telling me I've missed an initialing I'll scream."

Katie couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out at her friend's feigned dramatics.  "I don't know about Quidditch groupies ... they're all a little too handsy for me."  Then, ducking her head, she said, "Plus, I've got some peoples that might mind if the Quidditch groupies got handsy.  Well, maybe." 

"I feel like I may need chocolate. And I should have worn different shoes and done my hair. Do we need nail polish?" Tonks asked, sinking farther back into the couch to get a really good look at her friend. The apples of Katie's cheeks were pink, and her eyes had a particular starry quality that hadn't been there before she'd left for Italy.

"You have to tell me who that someone is! I live vicariously through you, as I scare people away with my boots and my werewolf ex-boyfriend."

"You scare people away with your boots on purpose, Tonksy.  And don't think I haven't seen you growl at a few to see their reactions," Katie admonished before dissolving into giggles.  "It is pretty funny though." 

Then, glancing down at the warm mug in her hands, Katie tried to talk around the blush she knew was staining her cheeks.  "There's actually two someones," she began after a few moments.  "I ... they both kind of came out of nowhere when I got home from Italy, and I'm a little confused."  Katie glanced up at her friend.  "I think ... I think we might all be together, like three?"

Tonks' face scrunched up as she considered the question. "Well," she said slowly. "It's hardly a matter of 'do you like me circle yes or no'. I think that it's complicated."

She sipped her tea. "Sorry, that wasn't much of an answer. Really. Though, that may just be my answer. I think it's just going to be complicated. I'd have to think on it, honestly."

Katie nodded, looking back into her mug again, unsuccessfully trying to read the dregs at the bottom.  "Yeah, I think it's going to need a lot of thought.  It's hard with two people ... I guess there'll be more thinking stuff with three."

"Thinking stuff? More like more of everything," Tonks replied, squeezing Katie's hand affectionately. "Good luck, Bells. Let me know how everything goes, yeah?"




{SUMMARY: Tonks bombards Katie with love and scones, and Katie has 2 someones!?}