*AN This is an idea I've been sitting on for awhile. Its a bit of a chronicle of the important moments in Ron and Hermione's lives between DH and the epilogue. The time line is a bit wonky but there really aren't many specifications. As always, I own nothing, well other than the laptop I'm writing on. Enjoy.

Hermione awoke with a start. She was lying alone under the covers once again. The bedding was rumpled on the other side with the sheets pulled back. Ron must have gotten up recently, and when Hermione placed her hand on his side of the bed it was still warm. She lay back against her pillow, damp, with sweat from her nightmare. She had been back at the castle in the room of requirement and the flames of the fiendfyre had swallowed her whole burning her flesh and try as she might she had not been able to escape. Trying the shake off the dream she climbed out of the bed and went looking for Ron.

She walked around the small muggle flat that they shared. After the war Ron couldn't go back to the burrow, they had stayed there only a few weeks and every night he had woken screaming out for his brother. She had not known what to do, he would wake so distraught and the only thing she could think was to hold him. They would sit together in silence as Ron's heaving shoulders slowed. Hermione knew then that they needed to get away. Ron had taken some convincing to move into the Muggle home and even longer to get used to all the appliances and other muggle items that came with it. The move had taken place a few months ago and they were finally starting to settle into a rhythm living together.

Hermione walked down the hall toward the kitchen and looked around. Ron wasn't in the room but she could see that he'd already had some toast as his plate sat on the counter covered in crumbs right next to the sink. Hermione rolled her eyes and walked back to the bedroom. Of course he hadn't cleaned the dish. Ron was still getting used to not having house elves or his mother picking up after him. Turning she walked back to the bedroom where the shower had started.

She peeked in the doorway to see Ron leaning up against the wall. As she walked through the doorway he sank to the floor with his head on his knees, his shoulders shook and Hermione knew he was crying again. She quickly walked over to where he sat and gingerly reached out her fingers and ran them through his hair. Startled he looked up, his eyes were rimmed red and the sight broke Hermione's heart. She loved this poor broken boy and couldn't stand to see him hurt.

Ron opened his mouth, "I turned on the water so you wouldn't hear…" his voice quavered with each word. Hermione felt the tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, one slipping and falling down her face. Within a moment Ron had swept her into his lap on the floor and was wiping the tear from her cheek. "Oh, Ron. I'm so sorry I just wish that I knew some…" before she was able to finish Ron had pressed his lips to hers stifling her words. She felt the tension from her dreams leave her body as she laced her hands in Ron's hair. This was the place where all the trouble of life melted away, locked in his arms.

Hermione whimpered as Ron broke away and set her back on the floor. He looked nervous as he spoke.

"Erm… look Hermione there's something I need to ask you. You know I'm not very good at words. I love you more than anything in the world and I would be lost without you. Ugh, this is sounding terrible. Hermione I never want to spend another day without you. Hermione will you marry me?" and with that he clumsily pulled a small velvet box out of his jeans pocket and opened it facing her.

Before she had even looked at the ring Hermione had thrown her arms around Ron's shoulders and had locked her lips back on his. Tears ran don her face as she pulled away from Ron, and he stared shocked and bewildered. "Hermione, what's wrong? I shouldn't have asked, I'm sorry. Forget I said anything" Hermione covered his mouth with her hand, and he looked into her eyes.

"Of course I will, you bloody idiot. Of course I will marry you"

*an please review!