TITLE: Five Seconds
AUTHOR: ponderer
DISCLAIMER: I want for nothing.
SPOILERS: You might want to read "Five Firsts" before reading this, for it's a continuation.
SUMMARY: Five Seconds of Hermione and Ron. Not the ones you've thought of, promise.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you so much for the awesome reviews! I love how upset everyone's become with Ron and Hermione separately. I just wanted to explain that it was intentional. I was rooting for Ron on this particular tale, but I wanted you to choose your side. I hope that with this chapter, everyone gets what they wanted; especially Hermione and Ron.

Five Seconds: Part the Second

The second proposal.

-

Ron sat at his desk, staring over into the fireplace that continued to burn throughout the late evening. He had only just returned from his impromptu dinner with Lavender and got the shock of his life to see a cool, calm, and collected Hermione explaining something about wine and a neighbor, Danny. He had held back his rage and jealously at the thought of another man touching her in any way, but instead let shock be his first emotion shown. She looked stronger and more determined since the last time he had seen her, and was proud that she was finally returning to herself. When Ginny had explained how torn up she'd been, making his sister and newest brother-in-law home early from their honeymoon, he knew it was bad. But he also knew there wouldn't be a damn thing he'd do about it himself because Hermione needed to make up her own mind.

So, Ron sat at his desk, staring over into the fireplace.

Until a familiar pop resounded throughout his small flat, that is.

"Ronald Weasley!" He was afraid to look up because he knew that shrill voice anywhere. But he did, and let a gleeful grin appear on his face. Hermione's hair was much wilder than earlier in the night when he saw her; she looked frazzled. "I have no idea what you were trying to pull earlier, but I will have none of the likes of her in your arms again, do you understand me?"

Ron's smile only grew larger and her fury continued to rise.

"I love you, you stupid git and I won't stand here and let some other woman put her hands on you, especially her! Now I want you to explain to me exactly what you think you are doing!"

Ron didn't answer, and the only response she got his was beaming grin, white teeth gleaming from his lips.

"Bloody Hell, why are you smiling like that?" With no response, Hermione seemed to calm herself momentarily. "Okay, look," she began, "I know you said you needed time and although I don't understand it, I do respect it. I just don't see how dating her will help things between us."

"I'm not dating her," he said simply, shaking his head, still smiling.

"What?" she asked, surprised he had finally spoken.

"I'm not dating her. Ginny asked me for a drink, and I met Lavender out front," he explained but chuckled when Hermione hissed at the mention of the other girl's name. "We got to chatting about school and what's been happening afterwards and we came inside. Turns out her date had stood her up and I invited her to tag along, as a friend," he emphasized. "I didn't know you'd be there. I was just as surprised as you; although I can't say that I'm upset at how things panned out."

"You aren't upset?!" Hermione screeched, earning another chuckle from Ron.

"It got you here, didn't it?" he answered.

"What in heaven's name do you mean?" she asked, brushing her hair stubbornly behind her ears.

"I mean that I meant I needed time to think things through and while I did mean it, I really wanted you to chase after me. To refuse me that time."

"Why?" Ron looked bashful now, looking down at his lap.

"You've always known exactly what you wanted in life and no matter what, you've gone after it until it's in your hands. And I'd hoped that maybe you'd realize when I told you I needed to think, that you wouldn't be able to handle it; that you'd come and pull me away to say I didn't need time."

"But I did, Ron," Hermione started but Ron stopped her by placing his cool hand on top of her own.

"You didn't try hard enough," Ron answered and Hermione looked shocked. He stood from his desk chair and moved to pull her along to his couch where he sat them both down. "I love you Hermione Granger, and I want to be with you forever. I just needed to know that you felt the same way."

"You know I do!" she exclaimed, tears forming in her eyes in frustration.

"And sometimes I need to hear that as much as you need to hear it from me, understand?" he asked in more of a statement. Hermione nodded, crying now, and felt herself being tugged into his embrace. "I love you so much that it pains me to be in the same space as you. I feel as if I can't breathe unless you're here, in my reach. My hands itch to touch you constantly, your hair, your fingers, your lips."

"I love you too, Ron, so much," she said, pulling slightly away to touch his lips with her own but at the last second he turned his face so her mouth touched his stubbled cheek. "What?"

"I'm going to ask this only once more because enough is enough, I think," he said, pulling from her arms completely and began rummaging through his desk drawers. Hermione watched him while wiping at her face. He kneeled down on the carpet in front of her with a small diamond ring in his outstretched palm. "I don't know why you said no the first time and I don't care because I know that now your answer will be yes. I know that because I'm going to put this ring on your finger," he did as he said on her left hand, "and it's going to be a perfect fit," and it was, "and I'm going to say that I won't stop from putting this ring on your finger for the rest of my life because it's my ring that belongs there and I'm just like you where I don't stop until I get what I want. Now, for the second and last time, Hermione Granger, will you marry me?"

Hermione looked down into his deep, bright blue eyes and saw his own determination there, along with hope and so much love she felt she might burst. In a way she wanted so badly to make him suffer an ounce of what she had endured in the past few weeks but knew that it would only take longer to fix things. What Ron offered her was what she always wanted.

"I was scared," she whispered instead.

"Of what?" he asked, confused.

"When you asked me the first time. The war had just barely ended and there you were, alive and beautiful, and you told me you loved me. I loved you then, so much, that I couldn't remember a time when I didn't. The lines between our friendship and more was so blurred that for once, I couldn't tell what it all meant. And then you asked me that question and I completely blanked."

Ron began to say something to stop her explanation but Hermione shook her head.

"I need to tell you this so you understand," she started and she waited for his nod to continue. "I was scared that we would jump into things. I needed time to process things." In her words, she realized her hypocrisy. "I suppose I was never really ready."

"Why not?" he asked and she could see how some of his hope had vanished from his gaze.

"It was too much, too perfect to comprehend. In a flash, I suddenly had everything I had ever wanted. It was too easy. I felt I needed to work harder to really earn it; and you," she finished lamely, shrugging. Ron breathed a sigh that ended with a relieved laugh.

"You felt you didn't earn me? Hermione, that's complete rubbish, and you know it!"

"It is not complete rubbish! Its how I felt!" she exclaimed.

"If anything I needed to earn you. But, honestly, I think that of the past seven years, we've worked together to earn each other," Ron explained. Hermione paused, her mouth open but no words came out. The answer was simple, perfect, everything, and so Ron.

"I suppose we did," she said and was rewarded once again by Ron's smile. She couldn't help but grin back.

"So, are you going to answer me, or not?" he asked, mock impatiently. Hermione turned her head to the side, but not before the diamond she bore caught her eye. She could see why Ron had picked it out; it was absolutely breathtaking – not too flashy, nor too big or too small. It fit her and her personality wonderfully.

"Answer what?" she asked, joking. Hearing Ron's sigh, she laughed and threw herself into his arms, planting her lips on his, tasting him, loving him after too long.

"Please?" he whispered as their lips only touched without movement.

"Of course, Ron. Yes, a million times over, yes," she whispered back.

-

When Ginny and Harry popped over the next morning cautiously stepping over dropped articles of clothing leading to Ron's bedroom (a pink cotton bra and Ron's favorite blue sweater), they hid back bursts of excitement by placing a small note and box of pastries on the empty table (messy papers all over the floor) and leaving before they interrupted anything.

Ginny turned once more to face her brother's living room and gave a nod. Harry, surprised, turned back to look at her. She smiled at her husband, leaned up to give him a passionate kiss that left him breathless. Tugging on his arm, she led him, stunned, down and out onto the street.