Decided to carry on, why not? (: Enjoy! So sorry for the wait, sixth form work was getting in the way aha. It's a little bit of fluff but hopefully it's pretty good too - the next chapter will advance from that (May do another chapter and I promise you, i will not take as long to post it) - My apologies, you will never have to wait this long again:P Thank you for reading, I hope you like it:

Ron awoke the next morning with a rare smile on his face that was never usually visible before 10:30am. The warm sun blazed through his bedroom window as the heat washed over his body, eliciting a wave of relaxation. The smell of bacon caused his stomach to rumble and yet the stunning sunlight or the enticing scent was nothing in comparison to the memory of the night before. He and Hermione had hung out all night watching DVD's - it was the longest time he'd spent with her on his own and she had even kissed him on the cheek as she had said goodnight. However, his happiness was prevented somewhat by the nagging thought that persisted to crawl around in the corners of his mind, the thing she had said yesterday... His stomach rumbled loudly then, and he forgot all about his inner battle.

"Morning, 'Mione" Ron called brightly as he entered the little kitchen. Hermione wore a sky blue apron with her bushy hair tied into a pony tail. She stood over a saucepan frying bacon and humming to herself. Ron stared for a moment in wonder before snapping out of his trance-like state and grabbing some milk from the fridge.

"You're surprisingly cheerful. What's got into you, Ronald?" Hermione eyed him suspiciously as she forked bacon onto their plates. The smell was enough to make Rons mouth water and for a moment, he surreptitiously took his time in answering her question. He placed the milk back into the fridge carefully before moving towards the table.

Nervously sitting onto the wooden chair next to Hermione, Ron shifted ever so slightly closer so that their shoulders almost touched. As he glanced sideways at her, with his pulse roaring in his red-tipped ears, she forked some bacon into her mouth. She brushed her hair from her eyes as she did so, and he felt the urge to just run his fingers through her rare pony tail there and then. And yet, amongst all his tangled, incoherent thoughts, Ron managed to pull out just one amid the disarray that kept tumbling repeatedly around his mind: She had flirted with him. She had actually said, "Oh, don't worry, I'm perfectly capable of entertaining you, Ronald" so innocently, but he had not missed the way she had swung those hips as she left for the living room. He was sure he wasn't just acting like a nutter, Hermione had never flirted with him like that. Ever. If only he could find his confidence to ask her...

With his throat suddenly feeling dry, he swallowed his bacon with a huge amount of effort. The taste cascaded over his tongue and he licked his lips with pleasure before realising Hermione was staring at him, one eye brow raised.

"Ok, am I not allowed to be happy?" He grumbled, wishing she'd drop it already; he was feeling slightly less cheerful now, knowing he'd have to ask her sooner or later. Still, he enjoyed replaying the memory in his mind.

"Of course you are," she frowned as she chewed her bacon, "But I want to know why you, of all people, are smiling in the morning, Ron." She paused, and almost hesitantly asked," Have you met someone?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but Ron couldn't help but detect - with a twinge of delight - the jealous tone she was evidently trying to hide. Her brown eyes pierced through his almost as if she was trying to read his mind;

"Hermione, you know that I don't love anyone else, or that I never have eyes for anyone else.." He replied gruffly, trying to maintain his dignity but wishing with all the hope that he could muster that she would understand the hint underlying that one, simple little sentence. His bacon lay long forgotten and his heart thumped against his chest so fast, he felt as if he was sprinting across a race track. And then he was soaring; her eyes widened in shock and her hand flew to her mouth, had she understood the hint?

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" She gasped, leaning forwards into her chair and clasping her small hand in his. He could see the blush rising up her cheeks, the dazzling sparkle in her eyes.

"Damn it, are you really making me say this?... Isn't it obvious? I bloody love you, Hermione -" He held up his hand to silence her as she showed all signs of interrupting. "You don't have to say it back, I-" Pausing he slowly traced patterns with his index finger upon the back of her hand, enjoying the smoothness he could feel and being fully aware of his words sounding less than romantic, "I know you feel the same way about me, too. I think we've always known, but we've been too stupid to act on our feelings..." He stopped then, allowing his words to sink in. He hoped that his next actions would make up for the fact that he was useless at expressing himself;

Hermione grinned and she jumped up from her chair, flinging her arms around Rons' neck, dipping her head towards his and parting her lips. Ron felt dizzy and he couldn't quite believe that this was really happening, loving how Hermione initiated the kiss. He had intended to himself, however, he was far from complaining.

This is it. Ron thought -

Their lips finally met and something stirred in the pit of Rons' stomach, much more than just butterflies.