--

The time was late, and Hermione had to take the children home. The kids had said they're goodbyes, in a tired voice, and Rose stood up, looking at all the things in the dark room in the hospital. Hugo was still sleeping in the chair.

"I'll come back tomorrow and see you, okay?" she said. Ron smiled, and coughed.

Hermione leant over and kissed him. "I love you"

"I love you, too. Always have and always will"

She wiped a tear away, "Don't say that, sounds like we'll never see you again"

"I'll hang in there... for you and the kids"

Hermione embraced him, tightly, and heard him and herself sniffing the tears back. He kissed her, and she pulled apart.

"I love you" he said. She said it back, and picked up Hugo. His tiny eyes opened and he waved bye to his dad.

"Bye, daddy"

They left.

--xxxx

"Only 1, Hugo" said Hermione, in a shop near-by St Mungo's. They were going to go see Ron again, and the children wanted to bring their father back something. Hugo was pining for sweets.

"Please!"

"No, only one" she said, "Want to get something for daddy?"

"This!" he pointed to the sweets and she shook her head. "Fine, you and daddy get sweets"

He cheered, and picked up a handful of sweets and dropping them all on the floor. Hermione sighed and bent over to pick them up.

"Oh, Hugo"

"Mummy! I got this for daddy!"

She saw the small girl holding a ribbon with a balloon on the end, saying 'I love you, get well soon' on it. Hermione smiled and nodded.

"Of course, and how about those?"

"He loves jelly beans, yeah!"

--