a/n: Hello again! So we're moving along with the chapters. I'm done with four and working on five. I also have ideas for six and seven but I'm going on vacation tonight and won't be updating until next weekend. I'm going to try and finish five while I'm away.

In the next couple of chapters more of their old friends and family will be making apperances although Harry, Ginny and Lily-Lyn won't really be in until chapter five.

So I hope you like it! Please review because the more reviews I get, the more motivated I am to finish the chapter!

Always,
Kylie

You have to take the good with the bad.
Smile with the sad. Love what you got
And remember what you once had
Always forgive, but never forget
Learn from mistakes, but never regret
People change, things go wrong
Just remember... life goes on...

Life is full of things good and bad. Sometimes you're happy sometimes you hurt.

My life had been full of good and bad, happy and hurt. There were times in my life when I could have passed for the happiest person alive where as other times I didn't know if I'd ever be happy again.

Good things have occurred throughout my life. I received my Hogwarts letter; made two lifelong friends (one of them being my husband); learned all about the magical world; helped save the world; married; and had my daughter. These things make me smile when I think about them. I can feel incredibly whole and happy when these things come to mind and I never want to forget them.

Bad things have occurred in my life as well. I nearly got killed almost every year I was in school; I fought with Ron so much in school to the point where I cried till my eyes were sore; I watched my best friend struggle with a burden he didn't ask for; seen people I cared about die; cried some more when it was all over; struggled with the news that I would be a mum; and lost the idea of my mother as my mum. These things make me frown but when I think of them they don't make me feel hollow and empty inside. The bad things make me realize everything I've gone through to become who I am today. They're things that have made me learn and then I've moved on.

More good and bad were going to come in my life. I had Ron to help me through my bad times and I would help him through his. And the two of us would help Willa when she came across bad things in her life and we would be there for her when the good things came along as well.

My parents' plane was getting in Friday night at eight at the San Diego airport. When Ron got home we ate dinner and then piled into Ron's trailblazer. Willa slept in her car seat while Ron and I sat up front and talked quietly.

"So she's leaving Sunday night, right?" Ron asked. I tried not to laugh. Instead I wore a scolding look.

"Ron, she's my mother. No matter how annoying about things she can be, we still have to respect her…and no they're leaving Monday morning." I said. I heard Ron make a defeated sound.

"Of course I'm not going to not respect her." Ron said. "She's your mother but I don't know if I can handle her for a whole weekend telling us what we should and shouldn't be doing with our baby."

"It's just a weekend." I assured him. "It'll be over before we know it." I placed a hand on his shoulder. "And plus, we're going on a date tomorrow night and Sunday we're going with Graye and Nick to Laguna Beach so this trip is really about them spending time with Willa." Ron sighed, heavily.

"Fine." Ron said. He turned a forced smile at me.

"That's it. Just a few more days of that." I said. Ron laughed a little and reached for my hand. I gave his a squeeze and we continued to drive across the highway.

We arrived at the airport a little before eight. I lifted Willa from her car seat, grabbing her pacifier and putting it into her now awake mouth.

"Shhh. Just go back to sleep baby." I said. Instead of grabbing the stroller, I held her to me while Ron shut the door and led the way to the airport. We had dressed comfortably to come here. I was in a gray tracksuit and my hair was pushed back with a white headband. After classes today I had picked up Willa and just came home to relax. I loved school but it had been a long week. Ron was wearing a pair of jeans and a Cannons t-shirt.

"Wil, no matter what Nana Granger says your mummy and daddy have finally figured out what we're doing so don't let her tell you any different." Ron said to Willa as we found a seat by the baggage claim. Ron was looking out the window.

"I don't understand it." He said, shaking his head at an airplane landing.

"Don't try to." I said. "It'll take a while." Ron laughed and kissed me and then kissed Willa's forehead.

People began descending from the escalators and coming to claim their bags. We stood up and looked out for my parents. Willa was wide-awake now, looking around at all the different people. Suddenly I saw the dark hair of my father and light hair of my mother coming from the crowd.

Dad hurried forward in an effort to see Willa. Mum walked calmly behind him. I handed Willa to dad. His face lit up when he saw his granddaughter smile at him for the first time.

"Hermione, she's beautiful. She looks just like you with your eyes, Ron." Dad said. He gave me a one arm hug and then shook Ron's hand.

"Thanks daddy." I said, smiling. Dad always knew how to make me smile, especially since I was nervous about seeing my mother.

"Hello Willa Elizabeth." Mum said, standing at dad's side and reaching her finger out for Willa to grab. "Remember me, I'm Nana?" Willa stared and smiled at her, reaching for her granddad's nose. She was definitely a girl who loved the attention. Ron and I stood off to the side while mum and dad fussed over Willa.

"Do you think she even notices we're here?" Ron whispered to me. I jabbed him in the ribs with my elbow but I was thinking the same thing.

"Shouldn't Willa be sleeping now?" Mum finally asked, looking at her watch.

"She was mum." I said. It was typical that the first thing out of her mouth to me was something about my mothering. Of course it was. When I was in labor she didn't visit me once but then demanded that she have time with my daughter…ok maybe that's exaggerating a little but ever since my mother had chosen to not be supportive of me during my pregnancy I was a little hostile to her. "She woke up when we got here."

"Well, we should get going then." Mum said, she yawned. "She'll probably be up all night if she doesn't get some sleep." I bit my bottom lip to refrain from saying something.

"She has a schedule that we go by." Ron said. He tried not to sound too irritated.

"Well of course." Mum said. She lifted Willa from dad's arms. "Ron, Richard, why don't you go get the bags and Hermione and I will meet you at the car. This noise probably isn't helping." I bit harder into my bottom lip while Ron and dad nodded. I led mum to the door, going over the reasons not to snap at her in my head. "What kind of car is it?" Mum asked, looking through the parking lot.

"Blue Chevy Trailblazer." I answered. "It's right over here."

"Oh." Mum said. She sounded like she was disappointed.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." Mum said. "I just figured you would get a more practical family car."

She doesn't do it on purpose. It's a natural habit that she can't stop. She criticizes me because that's how she expresses she cares.

"Ron and I both got good cars that we wanted and they both have car seats for Willa." I explained as we reached the car. I opened the back door and lifted Willa from mum's arms and settled her comfortably in her car seat. "Here you go baby girl." I said, smiling at her and handing her the toy she left in the car. Willa smiled back and began shaking the toy around. I laughed while I stepped out of the car, turning around to face my mother. She had a look of surprise on her face. This made me realize that this was probably the first time she had really seen me as a mum and acting so towards my daughter. She smiled at me briefly before I got out of the way so she could get in the car. I got into the passenger's seat while mum sat in the back, looking at Willa.

After that five-month gap where she didn't speak to me it was hard to go back to how things were. There was a lot that had happened in between the time where things were "normal" with mum and now when she barely spoke to me unless it involved Willa. She wasn't too happy with the fact that I was getting married at nineteen and figured that I would end up pregnant or struggling; she, dad, and the Weasleys chipped in to buy us a house so that we would have somewhere to live but then we moved to Paris and sold the house; I knew she and my dad argued about the fact that he wanted grandchildren right away and she didn't think he should promote it to us; and then I did end up pregnant and I didn't follow through with what she wanted so she chose not to speak to me. We've been through a lot and I doubted we would ever be back in that place where things were good between us. My only hope was that my daughter would still have a bond with her.

Ron and dad popped open the trunk and put the suitcases inside. Ron came around and sat in the driver's seat. He looked at me, questioningly. I shrugged and turned toward the window. Ron started the car and turned on the soft hum of music that usually helped Willa fall asleep. The drive was silent. No one said much until we pulled into the entrance to the housing complex.

"There's a pool over there." Ron said, breaking the silence. He pointed to the right. "And Willa's daycare is over there. This woman, Gabby runs it. She's really nice. Oh and there's Hermione's car." Ron pointed to the right again and then pulled the car up the driveway and into the garage that was now opening.

"I'll just put Willa to bed and then I'll make some tea." I said. Ron and I got out of the car and began getting Willa and her things out of the car as usual. Mum and dad slowly got out of the car and looked around the garage. "Come on, it's through here." I said, holding Willa's bag and pushing the door open. We walked into the kitchen. Ron was following with Willa resting tiredly in his arms and mum in dad followed in after, observing the house.

"Good night baby." Ron said, kissing her cheek. "Daddy will see you in a couple hours. I love you Willa." He hugged her and took her jacket off of her.

"Here we go baby girl." I said, lifting her from Ron's arms. "Say night, night to Granddad and Nana, Wil." Dad and mum both gave her a kiss and told her goodnight before I headed upstairs. Ron started the teapot and shot me a weary look. I returned it with a reassuring smile and brought Willa up to her room.

"Allayaahaa." Willa said before yawning. I smiled and placed her down in her crib.

"Good night little girl." I said. I kissed her cheek and then waved my wand. The lights went out except for the magically enhanced glow-in-the-dark stars. Once again I waved my wand and Willa's music box opened. I left the door open slightly and walked back downstairs with the baby monitor in my hand. I found mum and dad sitting at the dinning room table while Ron was conducting teacups with his wand.

"She keeps glaring at me because I'm using magic." Ron muttered to me. I shot him a sympathetic look while I sat down at the table with my parents.

"What do you think?" I asked. "It's not the biggest place but we're comfortable here."

"It's wonderful." Dad said. He smiled at me and grabbed my hand. "It's the perfect place for a little family." I smiled back at him.

"So what was it that you had to tell us?" I asked, looking from dad to mum. They exchanged a nervous glance that was interrupted when the teapot and teacups clanked loudly on the table.

"Sorry." Ron said, hastily shoving his wand in his pocket. I concealed a smile. He did that on purpose.

"You know what, I think we should discuss this tomorrow." Mum said. "We'll just have a cup of tea and then call it a night."

"Um…mum, dad. Ron and I were wondering if you would watch Willa tomorrow night so we could go out?" I asked.

"Of course." Dad said. "I love that little girl." He smiled and took a sip of his tea. "Plus there's no reason to ruin the entire weekend with the news. We can talk about it on Sunday." I saw dad receive a glare from mum.

I filled mum and dad in on our plans for the weekend. We were going to take them around San Clemente tomorrow and then they would watch Willa while Ron and I went out (he still won't tell me what we're doing). And on Sunday mum and dad would have the entire day to spend with Willa while Ron and I went to Laguna Beach with friends and then Sunday night they would say their news…or whatever they had to tell us. Finally Monday I had no classes so Willa and I would drive them to the airport.

"I think we should be getting to the hotel." Mum said, yawning. "Are you going to drive us Ron?" Mum asked. She looked at Ron and he looked away.

"Yes, Ann. I was going to." He said stiffly.

"Well, make sure to take it a little easier on the corners. I know you have only been driving for a year at the least so you're not an experienced driver but I'm just looking out for the safety of my granddaughter." Mum said. Ron had been conducting dishes in the sink to wash themselves. I saw him grit his teeth. I grabbed onto his arm to calm him down. I then reached into his pocket and took out his keys.

"I'll drive them." I said.

"You can't drive my big car though." Ron protested while mum and dad got their jackets on.

"It's not a big deal. I'll figure it out." I said. Ron looked at me gratefully and kissed my nose.

"Hurry back." He said. I laughed and turned to my parents.

"Ron's going to finish the dishes and I'll drive you." I said. "Ok, let's go." I said, hurrying for the door.

I dropped my parents off in front of the hotel. They declined my help to get their things inside. I drove home, trying to get used to the feeling of driving such a big car. Finally I pulled into the garage and hurried inside, locking the doors behind me. I found Ron watching TV on the couch. Tiredly, I fell into the seat next to him and he put his arms around me. He always knew how to make me fell a million times better.

x

The next morning Ron and I woke up with Willa's cry rather than the alarm clock like we usually do. She was slightly off schedule since she was awake when she should have been sleeping. (I knew she was going to too. Mum didn't have to tell me.)

We both pulled ourselves out of bed and began to get Willa ready.

"So where are we going tonight?" I asked Ron. He was sitting on the floor dressing Willa in a dress and leggings. I was in the rocking chair, watching them.

"It's a surprise." Ron said, smiling mischievously. "This is how we keep the romance alive…mystery!" He smiled at me and lifted a fully dressed Willa up. "Isn't that right, Wil?" Ron asked. "Tell mummy about the mystery in love."

"Ayalayahh." Willa said, sucking on her fingers. Ron and I laughed.

"Ok my love. You can shower and Willa and I will be downstairs watching Spongebob Square pants." Ron said. He stood up with Willa in his arms. "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?" He asked her, making a funny face. Willa smiled and I laughed at Ron. Ron smiled back and then headed down the stairs, singing the rest of the Spongebob theme song.

Smiling I went to go shower. I dressed in a pair of jeans with a navy cardigan over a white top. I brushed my hair back and went downstairs to find Ron cooking breakfast…well not cooking. He was pouring granola cereal into bowls with milk. It was still a nice gesture.

We ate breakfast and then Ron went to shower while I played with Willa and her toys on the floor. That was until I go an annoyed phone call from my mother.

"Hermione, it's almost ten. I thought you would have called by now to tell us when you're coming." Mum said. "Please tell me Willa still isn't sleeping. Hermione she can't sleep all day–"

"Mum, I know my baby." I assured her. "She's been awake for a while now. We just had breakfast and Ron's getting dressed now. We were going to call you in a little bit mum."

"Well I'm going to go tell your father. Call when you're coming." She hung up the phone and I rolled my eyes.

"She's your Nana and we love her ok…no matter how demeaning of my mothering skills she can be. She loves us too even if she doesn't always show it." I said to Willa.

"Alyahhaalaaya." Willa said which I took to mean, "I know mummy and you're the best mummy in the world."

I smiled at Willa as Ron descended the stairs dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt layered over a white long-sleeved shirt.

"Ok, let's get this over with and then we can–"

"Can what?" I interrupted, teasing him about where we're going on our date.

"…can go on our date that will remain a secret until the right moment." Ron finished, smiling.

"Well how will I know what to wear?" I asked Ron. I lifted Willa up as Ron got her things together so we could spend the day out.

"You can wear, whatever you like." Ron said. "Get all dressed up or not. It's up to you."

"That helps." I pouted, sarcastically. Ron smiled and leaned over to kiss me.

"Fine, something slightly fancy." Ron said.

"Ok, now that actually helps." I said. Ron chuckled as we walked towards his car.

"Hermione, I don't know if I can keep my mouth shut. If she says something…" Ron said. He waved his wand and the garage door opened.

"You have to. Just let it slide." I said to him. "Just remember that she makes comments like that because she can't help it."

"If she comments on my driving again–"

"Then you'll let it slide." I said. "Please Ron." I begged.

"I'll let it slide." He repeated in a monotone. He put Willa's stroller in the car and we got into the car. "Well, here it goes." Ron said. He started the car and backed out of the garage.

"Here it goes." I repeated, picking up my phone and dialing the hotel's number.

We arrived at the hotel almost ten minutes later. Mum and dad were waiting outside dressed a little too warmly in bulky sweaters and big coats. They got in the car and immediately began doting on Willa and how cute she had gotten since they had last seen her. Ron pulled away from the hotel and headed for our first stop, the San Clemente Beach to pick up some nice rocks for them to take back. Dad had already shed his coat and mum was looking into Willa's car seat. Second later, she began crying.

"Shhhh, it's all right." Mum said, trying to sooth her. "Nana's here." Willa continued on screaming.

"It's in the side pocket." Ron said to my unasked question.

"K." I reached into the side pocket of the diaper bag and took out her favorite purple pacifier. I unbuckled and leaned into the back seat. "Here you go baby girl." I said. I put it in her mouth and she immediately became silent, too interested in sucking on her pacifier. Ron and I had discovered early on that a way to keep her from crying was 'the lucky pacifier' it was the only one that would keep her from crying. I waited a minute to make sure that was what she wanted and then I sat right back in my seat. I took the opportunity to look in the rearview mirror and see mum's shocked expression staring at me. I told her that I would prove to her I could be a good mother.

I decided to save the satisfied smile for later.

We arrived at the beach where mum decided to cut in with another remark. I hadn't decided whether she was doing this because she wanted to demean my parenting or if she was actually concerned…I thought I knew but now I wasn't sure.

"Do you have another sweater for her, Hermione. She's going to freeze her little arms off." Mum said, rummaging through the diaper bag. Of course I had packed another sweater just in case but she didn't need it. Yeah it was windy but she had on a hat, a sweater, and a jean jacket over her clothes.

"Mum she won't need it." I assured her. Ron positioned Willa in baby carrier so that she could see what was in front of her. He made sure the hat was snug on her head and over her ears before starting down the hill towards the beach. Dad was following while I watched mum who was still rummaging for Willa's other sweater. "Mum. She's warm enough as it is."

"Well I'm bringing it so that when I see her shiver I can–" Mum started.

"Fine mother, but I assure you she won't need it." I said. I grabbed the diaper bag and zipped it up, slinging it over my shoulder. "I know my own daughter." I slammed the trunk shut, leaving my mother standing there with Willa's sweater in her hand. She took a moment to collect herself before following me. I noticed that the sweater was no longer in her hands and decided to use my satisfied smile since she couldn't see my expression.

We left the beach two hours later with a collection of rocks for dad and some for Ron to add to the jar in Willa's room and some to add to the jar that would be a gift for Lily-Lyn. We stopped for lunch at our new favorite restaurant, The ShoreHouse Landing and then parked the car and walked around town with them. Finally we headed back to the house. Ron wore a frown as he walked inside. He had been through a lot with my mother today. He fell on the couch and turned on the TV. I walked in and placed Willa in her playpen.

"Something to drink?" I asked Ron.

"Yes please, my love." Ron said. Dad was sitting on the recliner, watching Scrubs on Comedy Central with Ron. Mum was in the kitchen.

"I'll get it." Mum said.

"No, don't worry about it mum." I said. I took my wand out of my pocket and conducted the Organic Grapefruit juice from the refrigerator. I poured two cups of it and directed them towards Ron and dad. I loved using magic more often now.

"Hermione, are you sure using magic around a baby is advisable?" Mum asked. "There really is no guarantee that that cup of juice could had fallen into the playpen or dropped, leaving glass on the carpet.

"Mum, we're careful when we use it. We're a family of witches and a wizard. Willa's magic will develop soon so why not expose her to it?" I tried to keep my voice calm but I had finally decided that she picked certain things to pick on and make an argument out of it.

"I grew up in a house with magic all around me." Ron said from the couch. "My mum was careful when it came to things like that and we're careful around Willa. She'll be exposed to it no matter what." He didn't look at mum; instead he stayed focused on the television.

"I'm sure Molly was careful but I was remembering when Hermione was an infant and cried and cried when we couldn't find her favorite toy. Her whole toy box near exploded and she was sitting right there." Mum said.

"I'm sure she wasn't hit by anything." Ron said. "Uncontrolled magic isn't going to cause harm to the person performing it. And Willa's mum is the most brilliant witch ever. It's expected that Willa will follow in Hermione's footsteps but Hermione will teach her how to control it." He turned back to look at mum. "Ann, we appreciate your opinion…whenever you find fit to express it to us but when it comes to raising our daughter magically I have to put my foot down and say that we make the decisions." Uh, oh.

Mum looked absolutely speechless even dad was surprised that Ron actually stood up to her. I wasn't sure whether to intervene and say something or not. Dad seemed to know what to do after he lost his shock.

"Mmm. What kind of juice is this?" Dad asked, examining the cup. "Amazing."

"Organic grapefruit." I answered. "Ron and I want to start eating healthier and more organic so that when Willa's old enough to eat real food that the habit gets passed along to her."

"Clever." Dad said. "It's good to start her with positive eating habits, even young." I smiled at dad, grateful while mum looked away and Ron turned back to the TV.

"I think I'm going to start making dinner." Mum said. "Shouldn't you be getting ready to go out, Hermione?"

"Oh, right!" I hurried up the stairs and began the process of selecting and outfit before showering. I exited the shower to find Ron in the bedroom, buttoning his shirt. He looked up at me with a frown.

"Monday can't come soon enough." Ron said. I smiled and put a hand on his arm.

"We won't even be here for part of the day tomorrow." I said.

"Yeah but poor Willa will." Ron said. "She'll be overheated and underexposed to magic."

"Ron!" I protested, stepping into the red dress I planned on wearing. It was a strapless red dress that hit just above my knee. I clipped a string of pearls around my neck and began working on my hair. "We are not talking like this, especially if Willa can hear it. We are keeping a positive opinion for her..."

"Of course my love." Ron said. He smiled at me and I couldn't help smile back.

"Any hint on our destination tonight?" I questioned as I finished my hair and surveyed Ron's very nice appearance. He was wearing a nice pair of black pants and a nice shirt.

"Yeah, you're overdressed." Ron said.

"What?" I asked in shock, looking down at the dress.

"Kidding." Ron said, smiling.

"You jerk!" I declared. I smacked his arm lightly before stepping into a pair of heels that I hadn't worn in so long.

"You look beautiful." Ron said, looking me over while I put a shawl on.

"Why thank you, love. You don't look so bad yourself." I smiled at him.

"Ready?" He asked, holding out and arm.

"Of course." I said. I lopped my arm through his and we headed down the stairs. Mum and dad were sitting at the dinning room table eating what mum had cooked for them. Willa was still in her playpen looking at all the toys.

"Hermione, I made a list of groceries that you need. I could barely find anything to make dinner." Mum said.

"I just went grocery shopping yesterday." I protested.

"Well there was no steak or meat and you're missing essentials that you're supposed to always have in the house." Mum said.

"Mum, I don't eat meat anymore. I've been a vegetarian since I was pregnant with Willa. Ron is the only one who eats it so I don't buy too much of it and as for the other stuff, if it isn't here then we probably don't eat it." I said, frustrated. I picked Willa up from her playpen and held her too me.

"All the same, I think I'll go shopping for you tomorrow." Mum said. I gave up; there was no point in arguing.

"You look beautiful." Dad said, smiling at me.

"Thank you daddy." I said, smiling back. I had Willa in my arms and went to the refrigerator. "There are bottles in here, she usually eats around seven and then we let her play or watch TV until eight and then we put her to bed. When she goes to sleep open the music box, it helps her sleep and we should be back by the next time she wakes up but if not there's another bottle in here and then Ron or I usually just sit there with her in the rocking chair after the feeding until she falls asleep." I double-checked in my head if there was anything I was missing.

"If she gets fussy there's her purple pacifier that is the only one she likes." Ron said. "And make sure that when she goes to sleep she can see that Teddy (that's her favorite bear from Uncle Fred and Uncle George) because she hates falling asleep at night without Teddy there." Ron added. I smiled at him and again saw the look of surprise on my mother's face. Did she honestly think that we haven't been able to raise our daughter since she was born?

"You can call us if there's any trouble." I said. I walked back over to the playpen with Willa in my arms. I kissed her twice and she smiled at me. I attempted to release my necklace from her grasp. I passed her to Ron, smiling. Ron kissed her cheeks and she smiled again. He kissed the top of her head where light brown hair was growing in before placing her back in the playpen with her purple pacifier. I turned back to mum and dad. Secretly I enjoyed seeing that look on mum's face where she realized that I was a good mother who knew what I was doing.

"We'll be back." I assured my parents.

Ron and I got into the car where I eagerly pestered him with questions about where we were going although he didn't budge. Finally we pulled into a parking lot of a nice restaurant off the ocean.

"This is just the first stop." Ron said.

We had a table looking out onto the water lit with candles. The thing that made this dinner special was that it was just Ron and I all dressed up and talking about anything that didn't necessarily revolve around our jobs and family. We laughed and joked, remembered old times, and just enjoyed each other's company in a date setting.

"I'm stuffed." I said, patting my stomach while we walked to the car. Ron had his arm around me and I leaned into him.

"Well, we're on to the next stop." Ron said. He stopped before we reached the car and kissed me. It was romantic to be kissing my husband under the stars on our date. I really loved it. The even greater thing was that once we parted out lips, he walked around the car and opened my door for me.

"Thank you." I said. I was beaming and I felt ecstatic. It was like we were seventeen again…young and no cares. Just in the moment.

"Anytime my love." Ron responded.

Ron drove me somewhere unfamiliar. I didn't recognize it and he wouldn't tell me where we were…until he led me inside into the dimly lit salsa club. I smiled at him. It had been so long since we've been to one of these places. Laughing I grabbed Ron's hand and pulled him to the center of the dance floor where Ron and I danced together, laughing.

It must have been hours that we danced at the club, enjoying ourselves, and sweating. Finally we wore ourselves out and got back into Ron's car to go home…or I thought it was home.

Ron finally pulled into another parking lot. This one happened to be the parking lot of a playground.

"Interesting place." I said, raising an eyebrow. I tiredly took off my heels and stepped out of the car. Ron came around the side and lifted me up, carrying me to the sand that covered the ground under the playground. I giggled loudly while Ron lay down on the playground sand with me.

"I drove past it the other day and I know Wil is too young to come here but we can enjoy it." He said.

"I love you." I said, turning to face him. "And I think we definitely brought the romance back to life."

"I love you too." Ron said. He turned over and kissed me. I returned the kiss for several moments before breaking away.

"Come on!" I said. I grabbed his hand and pulled him up. I led him to the swings where we both sat down. "Let's jump for old time's sake." I said. My mind flashed to a memory of us in the summer before seventh year.

"I haven't done this in a while." Ron said, wearily.

"One…two…THREE!" I ignored him and we both jumped, laughing. We landed on the ground right next to each other. Life was good.

x

Mum wasn't too pleased by the fact that we got in at one a.m. Apparently we should be thinking more like responsible parents…despite the fact that she said she didn't mind watching her before. Ron and I offered to let them stay for the night but mum insisted on going back to the hotel.

Ron and I fell asleep in a happy mood, my head spinning with romance. Not even having to drive mum and dad back to the hotel with mum and her comments could kill it.

We awoke the next morning and got everything ready for mum and dad to take Willa out, and then we dressed to go and meet Graye and Nick and go to Laguna Beach and Dana Point.

Ron and Nick had a lot in common in addition to the fact that they both liked the Chudley Cannons. Graye and I talked about school and other things. We spent some time at the beach with the view and we walked around a little bit. We also stopped in some shops where I bought something for Willa, whom I missed today. The four of us went for lunch somewhere in between all of that.

We got home where Ron and I immediately began fussing over Willa. (The freedom was lovely but we missed our little girl.) Mum was sitting outside reading a book; dad was watching TV; and Willa was just waking up.

I couldn't help but notice that mum had actually done unnecessary grocery shopping and was cooking dinner when I told her, this morning, that I was going to cook. I handed Willa to Ron and went outside to go talk to mum.

"Why don't you trust me to be a good mother and a good wife?" I asked as calmly as I possibly could; I refrained from slamming the sliding door. Mum looked up from her book.

"Excuse me?" She asked. She still hadn't gotten used to me standing up to her.

"I grocery shop for my family! I provide dinner every day for my family except when Ron does it! I take care of my baby! I know when she's cold and hot! I know when she goes to bed and I know that I'm a damn good mother…no matter what you think!" I watched a look of surprise cross her face.

"Hermione, this is not the time for a discussion like this." Mum said, sharply.

"When is the time mum?" I asked, near the point of upset. "Am I supposed to continuously take your comments and let you talk to my husband like that as well? We are two capable parents. We've raised her since she was born and we've learned. I'm sick to death of you mocking my parenting. " Mum's face showed remorse but I wasn't done. "Mum, I get that you didn't want me pregnant in the first place but it happened. I know we didn't follow through with your plan but I had a baby and Ron and I take care of her. You didn't think we could but yet we have. This is the part where you tell us what a good job we've done or kept your mouth shut and stopped criticizing us because you don't think we know what we're doing." I stopped and took a breath. Mum's face looked weary as if she had not been expecting this confrontation. She kept looking around at the neighboring house that wasn't too far from where we were standing.

"There are spells around the place. They can't hear us unless we want them too." I said, sinking into a chair. I was pretty sure Ron and dad could hear us, though. I put my face in my hands, expecting to hear the sound of the sliding door any moment. Instead I heard an intake of breath before mum began speaking.

"Hermione, I'm sorry." Surprised I took my face away from my hands and looked at her. "In the past two days that I've been here I've seen how you are with Willa. I know you're a capable mother…and Ron is a capable father." She wouldn't look at me.

"Why do you doubt us then?" I asked.

"I don't doubt you. To me, you're still the eleven-year-old girl who's off to a school where she'll bite off more than she can chew. I can't help thinking that you're in way over your head and at some point you're going to fall and need someone to pick up the pieces. If you're in a different country I can't be there. I don't mean to doubt you. If anything you've shown me what a capable parent you are but I can't help but try and find some place that you'll need my guidance." Mum said.

"Ron's here mum. I get that you aren't fond of him and unfortunately he knows that too but he loves Willa and me. I love him and Willa. If I struggle he helps me and if he struggles I help him. That's what a marriage is about…well our marriage." I said. This time when I heard the sliding glass door open, I turned to see dad and Ron coming out onto the back porch with us. Ron sat in the chair next to me with Willa wrapped in her purple blanket from Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry while dad sat on the other side of me.

"Ron, it's not that I dislike you." Mum said. "It's just that–"

"You thought I was pushing Hermione into everything too fast and taking her away." Ron answered for her, nodding. "I get it. I have my own daughter and I understand. I can think about it in your shoes." Mum finally looked up from the table and looked at Ron.

"I'm sorry." She said. "I know it wasn't you but it was just easier to have someone to blame it on." Ron nodded in understanding. Willa wriggled in the blanket in his arms. Ron repositioned the purple pacifier in her mouth.

"Hermione, your mother and I have something that we have to tell you." Dad said. He looked at mum who looked slightly fearful of what they were about to tell me.

In some way I already knew what they were going to tell me. It had been a long time coming and I knew it, no matter how much I didn't want to believe it.

"After a lot of talking and meeting with a professional we've finally come to the decision to get a divorce." Mum said. It was steady and calm as if she had rehearsed it before.

Tears welled in my eyes although I was nodding. My parents who had been in love since they were young were now getting a divorce; they would no longer be my parents. Now it was my mother and my father.

"Hermione, I still love your father but we aren't right together." Mum said. Ron reached for my hand and I allowed him to take it.

For some reason I expected all my hope for love to be gone but it wasn't. I had thought when they told me this that I might doubt my own marriage and worry that there was no such thing as truly loving a person. Instead I felt more loved than ever. Unlike my parents Ron and I found our other half; our best friend; and the one we were meant to be with in the end. My parents had amazing years together but they weren't right. They were just friends living under the same roof with a daughter. This wasn't going to happen to Ron and I. My parents were still looking for the other ones that would make them happy and while it pained me to think of them apart…I knew exactly what she meant. They were like two pieces of a puzzle that didn't quite fit together unless you bended the pieces a little.

Tears continued to pour down my cheeks while I listened to mum and dad go on and on about how they tried to make it work but were unsuccessful.

"What's going to happen to the house?" I wondered when they stopped speaking and everyone was looking at me to say something. I thought of the house where I grew up and couldn't bear the thought of not taking Willa back to it a few times a year.

"Your mother is going to continue to live there and I'm going to get myself a flat. After I retire in the summer I'll do some traveling." Dad answered.

"And when that happens your Aunt Connie and I are going to take a long trip to Mexico." Mum answered. Mum, dad, and Ron were all looking at me with concern in their eyes. I wonder if they expected I'd flip out.

"I understand mum, dad." I said. I reached for Willa in Ron's arms. He passed her to me. "I'm no longer a child. I'm a mother and a wife, I understand your decision but life goes on for all of us." I looked up and smiled at them although I was crying and my insides were twisting at the sad thought of my parents apart. Ron smiled back while mum and dad were too shocked to respond. It seems that they were the ones who had to get over the shock.

Good: reconciling with your mother, amazing dates with your husband who you'll be with forever, spending time with new friends, and realizing how much you missed spending time with your daughter.

Bad: knowing that your mother is still going to comment on things (because she cares), having your mother admit she didn't like your husband that much, and hearing that you're parents are getting a divorce.

In life we experience good and bad. The thing is, though, you have to learn how to deal with the situations that hurt. Maybe I shouldn't have put on such a brave face for everyone but this situation made me realize how much I've grown. To actually understand where my parents were coming from in their decision was definitely proof I know the meaning of love and what it means to be in love with someone so you can be in a marriage with that person. This knowledge and my loving husband would help me actually deal with this.

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