Just keeping up on my updates before my Super Bowl XLV party. So here is the next update!
….
A drunken Ron is always a good source of entertainment. A hung-over Ron is always a good source of negativity. I wake up the next morning and hear Ron snoring away, he still stinks of alcohol. I yawn and stretch my feet before swinging my legs over the edge of the large bed and go into the kitchen. I make some pumpkin juice for Ron when he wakes up and some tea for myself. I grab my planning book for the wedding and sit down at the kitchen table. Only three days until my wedding, and I feel like a new chapter is beginning in my life. I flip through the planner, double checking all the expenses and guest lists. Without realizing it, I start to drum my fingers on the table and my knee starts to bounce up and down fretfully. I think about what Ron said yesterday, and of course I want to marry him, but the idea of becoming Mrs. Ron Weasley is making my heart race. I look at all the seating arrangements for the dinner and all scheduling for the honeymoon. We're going to Japan, and we're not going by magic. We wanted to start our marriage trying something new. We're flying by airplane. For some reason we just thought it would be fun to try traveling the muggle way.
My thoughts are broken by the sound of Ron stirring.
"Oh, Bloody Hell!" He grumbles in pain as I hear a thump and the sound of his feet quickly going into the bathroom.
I get up move swiftly towards the bedroom and into the bathroom where Ron is hunched over the toilet, gagging.
"Oh, Ronald…" I kneel onto one knee and rub his back as he vomits. He coughs and spits out the bad taste. I keep rubbing his back as he composes himself.
"Merlin…that was aweful." He mutters, flushing the toilet and standing up.
"I have pumpkin juice in the kitchen…" I say weakly as he rinses his mouth out in the sink.
"Great," sarcasm drips from his mouth as he cups water in his hands and washes his face. My face falters for a moment and I furrow my brow at him.
"It'll help with the headache I suppose," I mutter without looking at him. I walk out of the bathroom and return to the kitchen table, upset at him. I know he's only mad because of his hangover, but I can't help but feel upset when he scolds me. Ron comes into the kitchen and goes straight for the pumpkin juice I set out for him. He sits across the table from me and rubs his temples, his head down, as if he's staring into his glass.
I don't say anything as I pretend to look through the wedding plans, the silence digging into my concentration and throwing the mood off balance in the room. Ron sips his pumpkin juice and sighs in relief.
"Oh, that's good…" He still hasn't looked at me.
"Glad you like it," I mutter, "Have you written your mum yet?"
"Well, I've been sort of busy, Hermione," He snaps. This makes me look up at him. Now I'm angry.
"Doing what? Drinking with the guys? Oh, that must be so bloody difficult, Ronald!"
"Planning the wedding!" He tries.
"Planning the—Bloody hell Ron! You've hardly done a thing except offer your opinion when I ask for it!" I hold up the planner, "Do you see this? This is our wedding plans, have you ever even looked at this book? No! Because you've been too busy with the guys! It must be knackering to have so much fun!" I say with annoyance. Ron shrinks back in his seat and swallows hard.
"Okay…fine. I'm sorry I haven't been Mr. Wedding Planner, but I'm not exactly good at that okay? I just wanted you to have the wedding you wanted, Hermione. That's the main reason I haven't pitched in much," he tries to explain. Part of me wants to forgive him right away and kiss him. But I'm still frustrated.
"Well then, all I need you to do is write your mum back. That's it. Can you do that for me, please?" I ask quietly, trying to keep a stern look on my face as he gazes at me with his drowsy blue eyes.
"Yeah…I'll write her. I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry too," I look up and we half-smile at eachother.
"Remember when we used to bicker like this every day? Back during school, when the three of us did it all together?" Ron grins at me and I try not to smile.
"Yeah. I do. But I miss it, it kept things interesting, kept us close."
"I never said it, but from the day we saved you from the troll, I would have done anything for you," Ron says honestly. I reach over and hold his hand, running my thumb over his thick knuckles.
"We still haven't picked a wedding song," I say casually, looking down at the planner, with an empty space in the box that reads: First Dance. Ron brightens up and shoots to his feet.
"Well c'mon, let's choose one, then! C'mon!"
"Ronald, what are you doing?" I cock an eyebrow as he turns on our stereo that sits in our living room. He grabs his book of CD's and picks one out and pops it in.
"What CD is this?"
"I dunno, Ginny sent it to us in the mail but I never listened to it, there's no writing on it." Ron shrugs as I walk towards him curiously. The first song begins to play and Ron offers me his hand.
"We're just gonna dance until we find one?" I ask, accepting his hand and letting him pull me into his tall figure.
"Yup! We'll know when we find it. It'll feel right." His voice is softer now, and our body's are close as the song 'Strangers' by The New Frontiers comes on. The song is romantic, but it almost feels too sad, not fit for a wedding.
"Too sad." I whisper. Ron nods and goes to the second track. The song is 'Somewhere Only We Know' by Keane. I love the melody, and I can see this playing at our wedding. It's unique. Ron nuzzles my neck as the song plays out.
"What do you think?" He asks.
"It's sweet."
"Yeah, reminds me a lot of you and me and Harry, though. I only want to think of you when I hear our song." Ron says.
"You're right."
We go to the next song, 'Nothing Left To Lose' by Matt Kearney comes on and I smile.
"I love this one."
Ron nods and our cheeks brush, "It's almost a little cliché though."
"It is popular," I agree. We continue to dance.
"I feel like we're over thinking this. Let's just dance, let the CD play out," Ron suggests, "I think Ginny made this with our wedding in mind."
I nod and we continue to dance through 3 or 4 more songs, but none of them feel quite right.
"I don't know, Ron." I slump onto the couch.
"We can't give up, what if we find one on this CD?" Ron extends his hand as the next song begins, it's one I've never heard before, but something about it strikes me. I find myself standing up and wrapping my arms around Ron's neck. The song brings tears to my eyes and I have absolutely no idea what it's called.
"Oh Ron," I look up at him, "This is it. This is the one."
Ron grins, "I know." We kiss for a long moment, still swaying back and forth.
I close my eyes and listen to the lyrics, remembering them:
We'll do it all,
Every thing,
On our own,
We don't need,
Any thing,
Or any one,
If I lay here,
If I just lay here,
Would you lie with me and,
just forget the world,
I don't quite know,
How to say,
How I feel,
Those three words,
Are said too much,
They're not enough,
If I lay here,
If I just lay here,
Would you lie with me and,
Just forget the world,
Forget what we're told,
Before we get too old,
Show me a garden,
That's bursting into life,
Let's waste time,
Chasing cars,
Around our heads,
I need your grace,
To read my need,
To find my own,
If I lay here,
If I just lay here,
Would you lie with me and,
Just forget the world,
Forget what we're told,
Before we get too old,
Show me a garden,
That's bursting into life,
All that I am,
All that I ever was,
Is here in your perfect eyes,
They're all I can see.
I don't know when,
Confused about how as well,
Just know that these things,
Will never change for us at all,
If I lay here,
If I just lay here,
Would you lie with me and,
Just forget the world…
By the end of the song, I'm crying and Ron is holding me as close as possible. I don't even know why I'm crying, but I am, but I do know that we've found our wedding song.
"Ron, we have to ask Ginny what the name of this song is. It's perfect." I shake my head as I wipe my eyes.
"I'm glad you're happy." Ron kisses my forehead and I smile.
…
Ron wrote his mother back and let her know that we picked a song. While he wrote I took a shower and sang the song over and over. It's been in my head all day and I'm dying to go to Ginny and Harry's and ask what the song is called. Ron hops in the shower after me and I do my hair and makeup in preparation to go to the Potter house.
"Ron? Ready?" I ask as I put on my sweater in the kitchen.
"Ready as you are!" He grins, coming out of the bedroom dressed in jeans and a blue T-shirt.
We leave our home and disapparate to the Potter home. We see Harry playing with James through the window as we knock on the door. Ginny answers with a surprised look on her face.
"Hey you two! What's up? We weren't expecting you!" She hugs both of us and invites us in.
"Look who it is! Aunt 'Mione and Uncle Won won!" Harry says to James, who giggles and reaches for Ron, who takes the infant in his arms.
"Hey," Harry engulfs me in a strong embrace, Ron as well, and sits on the couch.
"Well, we came because we were listening to that CD you sent us, Ginny, and well, we found a wedding song. But we don't know the name of it. Could you tell us?" Ron asks, patting James on the back.
"Of course, what number is it?" Ginny nods.
"Um, number six." I remember vaguely.
"Oh yeah! That's 'Chasing Cars' by Snow Patrol. I love that song, it's perfect for you two!" Ginny grins.
"Perfect! Ron and I love it! We knew it was the right song," I nod and take James from Ron and take a minute to play with him. He looks just like Harry, and I'm proud to know he has such a beautiful family. It makes me excited to start my own family.
"Do you wanna go see Mummy?" I ask as James reaches for Ginny, I hand him over and Ginny kisses her son's cheek.
"Well we can't wait to see you two share your first dance!" Ginny nods and smiles at us.
"Say, do you guys want to stay for lunch? We'd love to sit and chat," Harry offers. I look at Ron and he shrugs.
"Why not?" He says, nodding at Harry.
"Brilliant, we're having pasta," Ginny says.
"Yes! Ginny, I love your pasta!" Ron pumps his fist.
"I know you do Ron." We all laugh.
…
"For the first time in weeks, I feel stress free about everything. It's all in place for our big day," I say as we enter our home after spending all afternoon with Harry and Ginny.
Ron grabs me by the waist and turns me around, "Yeah, and tomorrow, we head out to the Burrow and prepare for the best day of our lives." Ron kisses me and I completely give in to his touch. Our tongues dance together as he pushes me towards our bedroom. We kick off our shoes and fall onto the mattress, Ron hovering above me. His lips leave mine as he works on my neck. I give his shirt a tug and he moves to pull it off, exposing his broad, freckled chest. My hands reach up and pull his mouth back down to meet mine in a heated kiss.
"Mmm, I can't wait to marry you," he mutters between kisses.
"Me either…" I breath as he starts in on my sweater.
As we continue on, I think of building a family with Ron, no longer doing this for pleasure only, but also doing it to make children with him. This will be the last time Ron and I will make love before we're married.
And I almost can't believe it.
….
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