Ron couldn't believe the war was finally over. The past year they had all been through so much, it seemed almost unnatural for him now to be able to relax. Fred's funeral had been earlier that day, and it had been a lot harder than he thought it was going to be. Remus and Tonks' funerals were tomorrow.
The Weasley's, Harry, and Hermione were all staying at the Burrow together and Ron was thankful for that. That night after dinner, they had all stayed up, going through photo albums, laughing and reminiscing about all the happy times they had had with the loved ones who they had lost during the war, mainly Fred. Even George laughed a bit while recalling some of their old wild escapades. It was late though, and one by one they had all retreated to their beds, until just Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron remained in the living room. They talked for a while, until Ginny fell asleep with her head in Harry's lap. Harry leaned over and kissed her lightly on the cheek, then slowly picked her up and carried her to her bedroom, then went into Ron's room to go to sleep.
Ron and Hermione were now alone in the living room. The house was silent, the only noise coming from the crackling fire in the fireplace. Ron was sitting in a large, overstuffed armchair. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, but not to fall asleep. He just wanted to bask in the moment. A wave of contentment washed over him. The war was finally over… Voldemort had been defeated, and he, Harry, and Hermione were alive.
Hermione. He was perhaps thankful for the fact that she was safe more than anything else. The moment that she had kissed him, he knew that she was the only woman he wanted to kiss for the rest of his life. It felt as if his entire future was in that kiss. He couldn't help but smile widely while remembering it. When he opened his eyes again, he looked across the tiny room at Hermione, who was now wrapped in a blanket and peacefully sleeping on the sofa across from the fireplace.
"She is so beautiful… like an angel," he thought to himself.
He stood up and walked across the creaky floor to the couch and sat down in front of it so that they were at eye-level with each other, their faces just inches apart. He gazed at her for awhile, then slowly reached up and brushed some of her soft hair away from her forehead. Sleepily, she opened her eyes. Their eyes met and she smiled softly. He reached up and tenderly stroked her cheek with his thumb. He knew it probably wasn't the right time, but there was something that he desperately wanted to know.
"Mione," he said quietly, "Do you love me?"
Her smile widened a bit and she reached up and put her hand on the back of his neck pulling him close to her.
"More than anything," she mouthed, almost inaudibly, against his lips, then kissed him gently. This kiss was different than their first one. The first one was passionate and fiery, this one was slow and tender, but it still sent a shock of electricity through Ron's body. He thought he might burst with happiness at that very moment.
Hermione pulled back slowly, then got up off the couch and sat on the floor next to Ron. They laid down together as Ron pulled the blanket off the couch and wrapped it around them. Hermione snuggled in close to him, and Ron felt tears of happiness sting his eyes.
"I love you so much," Ron whispered, then lightly kissed her forehead.
She snuggled in closer to him, and they fell asleep, wrapped in each other's arms, and for the first time in a year, not worried about what tomorrow might bring.