"You are the most infuriating dull-headed self-righteous PRAT I have ever come in contact with." Hermione was screaming, pacing back and forth. Ron sat on the couch, steaming.

"It was for work!" he shouted back. "I've told you!"

"There wasn't another auror….that could possibly...go undercover….in the brothel."

"Not that they don't know! They keep tabs on all the aurors when they can."

"What about the MLA? Isn't that what they do?" she screamed, bordering on hysterics.

"Usually." he said slowly, trying to keep his voice level. "Like I just said they've been servicing dark wizards. We were tracing-"

"I hate your job, Ronald." she said suddenly. He stood.

"What?" he hissed.

"I hate it. You're in danger all the time. You're hardly home. If you ever want a family."

"Family?" he asked. "Hermione. What? Where is this coming from?"

"You can't...you can't keep putting yourself in these dangerous situations. And now, now you end up in a brothel in Knockturn Alley. With a half-Veela wrapped around your big huge-"

"This is why I didn't tell you!" he shouted. "Because you're irrational!"

"Me? Me? I'm irrational?" she cried. Suddenly tears sprung into her eyes.

"I'm sorry." he said, thrown by her tears. She hardly cried.

"It doesn't matter." she said, wiping her tears furiously. "I'm just...I'm just worried. All the time, Ron. The war is over. But you insist in throwing yourself back into it. Back into to the constant violence."

"I'm stopping other people from dying, Hermione. Or being hurt. Like Fred. Tonks. Lupin. Everyone else we lost, Hermione, I'm trying to stop that from happening to other people."

She looked up in surprise.

"You never told me that." she said.

"Because...because wanting to do it for the excitement...the glory, the recognition. That made more sense, didn't it?"

"I just assumed….after being friends with Harry for so long. Maybe you wanted-"

"I didn't want anyone else to die in the name of dark magic, okay?" he snapped. "Bit lame, isn't it?"

"No." she said. "I wish you had told me."

"Well! Now you know."

"Still wish you hadn't volunteered to go play touchy-feely with the women of Madame Zusko's-"

"I said I was sorry. It didn't mean anything. It was work."

She nodded, sniffing. "Fine."

"Okay. Can you sit, please, for a minute?" he asked, and she settled beside him back on the couch. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I thought my opinion didn't matter. I didn't want to stop you from doing...something that you loved. Or that gave you gratification."

"That doesn't really matter, 'Mione. I didn't want to go back to school, Hermione, not after everything that happened. And the ministry offered me a job. One that...pays well. So I could, I don't know, be comfortable. Not have the constant concern my parents always had. And yeah, it's a bit of fun, but I'm also good at it. And I don't know if I have the brains to do anything else."

She smiled slightly. "Of course you do." she said.

"Don't start lecturing me on 'applying myself' or some rubbish." he said in a low voice. She kissed his cheek.

"We'll figure it out, Ron." she said. "I'm sorry I was upset."

"Yeah...are you alright? You don't usually…."

"Get upset?"

"Upset that involves tears, I mean. Did something happen at work?" he asked.

She shook her head.

"Just a little generally stressed, y'know?" she said. "Worried about you all the time."

"That too. You know I can hold my own. And the family?" he asked. "Where was that coming from?"

"I've just been thinking...lately. About...us." she squirmed, awkwardly. "It's been 5 years, Ron. You and me."

He put his head in his hands.

"You always have to spoil everything." he sighed. She looked hurt, but when he looked up, he was smiling.

"What?" she replied, now her turn to be confused.

He stood, walking to the kitchen. She turned, watching him go. He opened a cupboard, taking down the box of Cauldron Cakes. She stood quickly, following him.

"Eating? We're trying to have a conversation!" she said, shrilly.

He dropped a handful of cauldron cakes, and swore. She bent down, helping him scoop them up. She looked up, as his hands held out something in a small box.

She screamed.

"You remember how we were supposed to go to Paris this weekend?" he asked. She nodded, her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. Tears again spilling on her cheeks. He shook the box. "You broached the subject. Spoiled the surprise."

"You absolute arse!" she cried, laughing through her tears. "Cauldron Cakes?"

"You hate them!" he said, and she nodded.

She looked at the ring, small but elegant, diamonds around the entire band with a small stone in the center, made with what looked like dragonglass.

Ron took it out of the box, taking her hand.

"Hermione Granger. You are the most beautiful and intelligent and positively infuriating woman I have ever met-"

She gave a watery laugh.

"And I've never met someone like you. Someone that challenges me like you do. That makes me laugh, and smile, and brings out the best in me. And I'm in love with you. I want you to be my everything. Forever."

Shaking, he slid the ring on her finger. She looked down at it, her eyes wide, her face broken by a smile.

"Marry me?" he asked, almost in a whisper.

"Yes. Yes, absolutely." She said, and threw her arms around his neck. He stood, pulling her up with him, and set her on the kitchen counter. He kissed her, burying his hands in her hair. He reached for the button on her jeans, but she grabbed his hand.

"Wait." she said. "There's something else."

"What?" he asked, suddenly concerned. His brows furrowed together. Hermione took his hand, placing it low on her belly. She bit her lip, waiting.

He gave her a look, his head cocking to one side. Then his brows shot up, disappearing into his fringe.

"You're joking." he said, barely audible.

"Are you mad?" she asked.

"Mad?" he asked, stupefied. "A baby, Hermione?"

She nodded.

"How could I be mad? I've always wanted a big family." he said, and she smiled wider.

"I guess one of us forgot the contraceptive charm a few weeks back." she said. "And yes, it is a bit sooner than I expected. And if you're not ready, Ron, it's a simple potion-"

"It's your call." he said gently. "If you're not ready, I'm alright with whatever."

She looked down thoughtfully.

"If you aren't...Hermione, you'd still make me the happiest man in the world. Everyday." he picked up her hand, rubbing the ring with his thumb.

"It's safe?" she whispered. "I know...during the war, so many people didn't want to bring babies into the world. But...but you know...you know what's going on these days. You're on the front lines, Ron."

He pushed her hair from her face.

"Not for long, if you were being serious about that." he said. "I'll get a desk job, or an international diplomacy with the auror office. Something that keeps me off the front lines. Or what's left of them. It's safe. The numbers of dark wizards are dwindling. And sure there could be spikes, but you're a brilliant witch, and I'm a half decent wizard-"

"You are a wonderful and talented-"

"Not trying to fish, darling." he said. "Either way, whatever child or children we have will have not only us, but an absolute mass of aunts and uncles and cousins who would go the ends of the earth to protect them."

She grinned ruefully, and kissed him on the nose.

"Then yes. I'm ready. We bought this house because of the extra room."

"I thought that was just for all my quidditch memorabilia." he said with a small frown, and Hermione giggled.

He scooped her off the counter, and carried her into the bedroom, her legs wrapped around his middle/