It was Sirius' favorite day of the month. The last Saturday of every month. This time it was coincidentally Halloween. The day he went over to see his favorite cousin. Er, cousins and second cousin. It was the day he took a trip out of town (as did his second cousin) to see Andromeda and Ted Tonks.

Andromeda has been a lot older than Sirius, acting more like his aunt than his cousin. About twenty years older, he mused. But shockingly, she nor her husband looked their ages. He drove the short drive (only twenty minutes long) out of town and rushed up to his cousin's doorstep. Sirius knocked on the door rapidly, excited to see his relatives.

Sirius usually hated his family with a passion. His cousins were the exception. They were kind and not so power-hungry. Andromeda had been, so to speak, disowned by their family because she'd married a regular person and picked to work in the medical field over an working in a rich business. Ted worked with in an office. Andromeda herself was a dentist. Their daughter (Sirius' favorite second cousin) was in college, studying fields of law and medicine. Now, Sirius wouldn't actually call his second cousin by her full name, knowing she absolutely hated being called Nymphadora, thought it secretly made him laugh.

Andromeda opened the door. She smiled at him, dark eyes shining with joy. She had wavy shoulder length dark hair, that was now tied into a ponytail. His cousin wore a blue blouse with black jeans, looking much more like a twenty year old than someone who was forty-nine, married, and the mother of a twenty -two year old.

"Happy Halloween, Sirius. Come in, Dora's on her way. She called and said she was right behind you on the road." She reached out to give him a hug.
"Hey Andy, how've you been?"
"It's been a bit lonely without Dora visiting so much. I know she has a bit of college work to do, and I don't want to bother her. Thankfully, she usually FaceTimes us, from her apartment."
"I can stop by more often, if you'd like." Sirius offered.
Andromeda smiled at him, "That's very kind of you, Sirius, but you don't have to. I know you're busy with your new coffee shop. The one you called to tell us about." she turned away from him for a moment, "Ted! Sirius is here."

His cousin by marriage appeared in the doorway. Ted had short tan colored hair, and a tanner complexion than his wife, and dark eyes that always seemed like that had a joke to tell. He wore a button down shirt and blue jeans. Ted reached out to embrace Sirius.

"Hey Sirius. Happy Halloween! How has everything been?" he said calmly, a gentle smile on his face.
"It's been alright, how about you?"
"Everything's good so far."

Sirius was a lot more formal with Ted, mainly because they weren't blood related. They heard another knock at the door, and Andromeda rushed to open it. Tonks, Sirius thought with a smile.

He was right. His younger second cousin by about six years or so smiled at him with a wave. Sirius enjoyed pointing out the similarities between her and her parents. Tonks had Andromeda's eyes, hair and sweet smile, but her father's skin tone, pouty lips, and prankster attitude.

Tonks' dark hair with the tips a baby pink fell above her shoulders in waves, while her hazel-chocolate colored eyes twinkled with laughter. Her pouty lips smiled at him, a smirk apparent on her face. Sirius never ceased to admit that his second cousin was pretty. If he wanted, he could probably set her up with one of his friends, though he doubted her sarcastic and rebellious attitude and clumsiness would attract many. Sirius also found it quite comical that he looked nothing like his cousins. Whereas he had one of the palest skin tones he'd ever see, his second cousin was much tanner than he was. She was super lucky she didn't burn in the summer, only got a sun kissed tan. Tonks wore ratty jeans, a nerdy kind of t-shirt that was related to being smart and reading (what a strange thing, Sirius thought) and a simple gray sweater.

"Tonks!" he beamed, "How're ya?" he reached out for an embrace.
"Happy Halloween, you piece of trash!" she laughed, hugging him back, "And I'm fine, you?"
"Alive." he answered in a humored tone.

They all sat down for a causal lunch. Andromeda had just ordered Chinese Food (like American Chinese Food). Sirius found himself picking at the fried rice, while Tonks happily ate her lo mein and Andromeda and Ted had bowls of soup. The food was delicious, and he had to ask where they bought it from. He enjoyed the warm, salty taste in his mouth. Maybe he could get some on the way home for James, Remus, Peter, and him to share.

They'd chatted about recent affairs in the world and such. On a slightly more personal topic, Andromeda has asked if Tonks had found a boyfriend yet.

"Darling, you're twenty two. I think you should be looking for a boyfriend at this age." she teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Mom, I'm trying to finish up college and find a steady job." Tonks answered, blushing a light pink and looking at her food.
"Your mother's right, Dora." Ted interjected.
"Aren't you supposed to be yelling at me to focus on school and everything?"
"We've never had to. And I'd like to have grandchildren." her father teased, smirking. Sirius stifled a laugh, his hand firmly clasped over his mouth. Andromeda's eyes bugged in giggles.
"Oh my God, I'm out." Tonks' eyes widened, and she scooted her chair away from the table an inch or so. She glanced at him, "Sirius, can you drive me home? I can't find my metro card."
"Again? Fine." he grumbled, not really mad at her.
"Thank you." she smiled, and then got up to give her mother and father a hug and kiss, "Bye Mom, See you Dad."
"We'll see you soon." Sirius grinned. Andromeda and Ted waved to them, and got up to close the door behind them.

As they left, Sirius heard them dying of laughter. Tonks was muttering something under her breath and he laughed. She opened the door on the shot gun side and hopped in, while Sirius sat at the driver's and turned the key. They soon began driving. Sirius lived down the block from where she did so it was just easier for them. They'd passed beautiful buildings and crowds of tourists. Sirius had pointed out every building he'd visited, much to Tonks' dislike.

"So you going to the Halloween party later?"
"I told you I was going. Who're you gonna be?"
"Belle's dad, Maurice. By the way, you better be Belle because you are the only person I will accept as my daughter."
"I am six years younger than you. You're not that old." she flicked a piece of hair behind her ear, "Also Lily and Marlene called telling me that you wanted me to be Belle and refused to let me be any other character."
"But are you dressing up as Belle?"
"'Course."

The conversation ended there. Tonks had stated that she'd be driving with her roommates and he'd answered he'd be going with his friends. The hostess of the party, Marlene, had a very big apartment (well, for one in New York) but the party itself would be at her house in a more suburban area. They'd known Tonks for a while and she offhandedly mentioned that she had been there a few times.

Sirius stopped in front of the apartment as Tonks called her roommates to open the door. He looked at her, eyebrows raised in confusion. She probably forgot her keys, he thought, I'm not shocked.

"Yes, thank you Penny!" Tonks turned back to him, and got out on her side, which, unfortunately for her, was the side with the road, "Bye Sirius. See you later."
He rolled down the window to watch her leave and made sure his little cousin didn't trip and die, "See ya Tonks!"
"Oh my God! You finally have a boyfriend?" he heard the another girls scream. He recognized Tonks' roommates.
"Are you kidding Penny? That's my cousin." she laughed as she waved to him one last time.

Hey everyone! How are you all? How do you like this story so far?

Anyway Question of the day:
What would you order from Starbucks (or whatever coffee place you prefer)?

I'd like a Caramel Frappuccino, if ya don't mind.

Love you all!
Abby