Author's Note: Hey guys! I hope I'm updating fast enough for you. I have up to chapter 15 written and I'm noticing they are getting longer on average. I want to stay ahead chapters so I can continue to post on days that I don't have time to write. If you are thinking that there has been a lot of build up with little pay off, I hope you all will continue to stick it out because I promise things are going to pick up soon. Thanks again to all my followers!

Chapter 9

The morning off Hermione's 40th birthday she rolled over in bed to find that Ron was not there which was very odd considering he would always sleep in until the last possible moment. And considering that he had taken the day off of work to celebrate his wife's birthday it was especially odd that he was up before noon. Hermione began to sit up slowly until the scent of smoke filled her nose and she bolted out of bed into the kitchen where she found a considerable amount of smoke billowing out an open window and flames shooting out of the oven.

"What in Merlin's name is going on in here," Hermione said more to herself, "Ron, Ron? Are you in here?" She made her way through the kitchen and bumped into her husband.

"I'm sorry Love, I really am. I was trying to surprise you with cinnamon rolls, I know they are your favorite. And I know I shouldn't have, but I tried to do it the muggle way and I guess I underestimated the oven thing," Ron was blubbering while trying to put out the fire hoping his wife wouldn't get angry.

"Oh Ron," Hermione said putting her arms around her husbands waist and giving him a kiss on the cheek. There wasn't a hint of anger in her voice and if the smoke weren't so thick, Ron could see his wife was smiling. "Now are you a wizard or what? Use your wand to put out this fire!"

"Um it is in the bedroom"

"Well then here, let me, 'Aguamenti!' Well now the flames are gone, let's get rid of all this smoke, 'Evanesco!' There! Much better." Hermione did another few quick swishes of her wand and muttered a few more spells and in no time there were warm cinnamon rolls on the kitchen table dripping with gooey vanilla frosting. "That was a very thoughtful gesture Ron and I do appreciate it, but perhaps, in the future, leave the muggle cooking to me," she said with a wink as she sat at the table beckoning her husband to join her who was walking out of the bedroom carrying his wand.

"Happy Birthday Herm, sorry about the fire," Ron said while bending down to kiss his wife on the top of her head, took a seat next to her then proceeded to shove a cinnamon roll in his mouth. Hermione chuckled at this and picked up her own pastry. "Vees are mush bedder than mine would've bed" Ron mumbled out while eating.

"Thank you Ron, I'm sure yours would have been delicious had it not been for the fire," she said sincerely with a wink. "So husband, what is on the agenda for today? Nothing overly extravagant I hope, I don't want to be reminded that I'm 40. I cannot believe I am 40! Ugh I feel so old!" Ron quickly transfigured the birthday card he had for her under the table so she wouldn't see the "over the hill" motif it had and changed it to a kitten eating a cupcake. He also quickly conjured some flowers. He had been so distracted by his failed attempt at breakfast to get everything else in order.

"Well, I got you this card and these flowers," he said shyly while pulling them out from under the table, "and as far as the agenda for today, I figured we'd go have a picnic in Hyde Park and rent one of the tandem bi cycle thingies that we had so much fun on in Australia. Just spend the day outside, enjoying each other's company. And then of course, my mother is throwing you a party at the Burrow. Or we could do something else, if you'd rather, I just thought it'd be nice to have a low-key day. Aside from the party, that was all Mum."

"That sounds like a lovely idea Ron. And your mother really didn't need to throw me a party but we both know there is no stopping Molly Weasley when she wants to have the family over." Hermione grinned at Ron and thanked him for the card and flowers. She noticed that the cupcake on the card had a tombstone on it and wondered if Ron had hurriedly tried to change it, the thought made her smile at how hard her husband really did try. She thought that maybe if she tried as hard as he did, they might not have as many problems. But then she thought about the party, and seeing Ginny and going away with her and deep down she knew some things couldn't be changed, no matter how hard you tried.

After they finished their cinnamon rolls, Hermione and Ron got ready for their birthday outing. The weather today was mild and the sun was shining so it was a perfect day for a picnic and bike ride. Hermione was rather impressed at Ron's idea considering he generally planed big outings that he would more enjoy than she would, but this was right up her alley. She was trying really hard not to think about the upcoming weekend with Ginny. She hadn't spent anytime with her other than their lunch a few weeks ago and that was hard enough for Hermione to sit through without jumping the younger witch. But she tried to push it to the back of her mind for now as she put on a pair of khaki capris and thin long sleeved shirt. She walked into the kitchen and summoned the picnic basket, dusted it of, gods knew when it had been last used, and thought about what to pack for lunch. After making some sandwiches she went to the fridge and grabbed a few butterbeers, placing a spell on them to keep them cold for the next few hours. She also packed a few sliced of strawberry rhubarb pie that they had left from the other night. With their lunch all ready, she found a large blanket for them to sit on and with a swish and flick of her wand she said "diminuendo" to shrink the blanket before she put it in the basket. She found a book, an old favorite Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, a book she could read a thousand times and it never got old even if she herself was getting old. Ron emerged with the Daily Prophet under his arm along with Quidditch Monthly as his chosen reading material.

"All set to go Love? Mind if I put these in the basket?" Ron asked while handing the paper and magazine to his wife.

"Yeah, I think I have everything we need. How about you lead the way!" Hermione said grabbing her husband's hand and they apparated to Hyde Park.

When they arrived they found the bicycle rental place and checked out a tandem bike for the day. Hermione fixed the picnic basket onto the back using a bit of discreet magic and off they went. Ron seemed to have picked it up much better this time and soon enough they formed a good cadence and were having a good time. They chatted casually and laughed with one another as they circled the lake and made they way around the paths. After quite a while of biking, they found a nice spot under a tree to stop and enjoy their lunch. Hermione pulled out the blanket and quietly muttered "engorgio" as she unfurled it onto the ground. They sat down and ate their sandwiches and drank their butterbeers while they talked about their kids, Rose had made the Gryffindor Quidditch team and they discussed if it would be too embarrassing for her if they showed up at the school to see her first match. They definitely wanted to see their daughter in her quidditch debut but they didn't want her to be put off by their presence. Maybe they would owl her to see what she thought and put off any decisions until they heard her response. After talking about the kids and making small talk on their bike ride, there really wasn't too much more to say.

"So, Herm, looking forward to tomorrow and this weekend? Harry has been saying that Ginny has been talking about it nonstop since you told her you'd go. I'm surprised the two of you haven't gotten together more these past few weeks to prepare!" Ron said feeling like it was a logical conversation topic but the mention of Ginny's name took Hermione off guard.

"Um, yes of course I'm excited." Hermione started to blush a little which confused Ron but she continued, "It was very generous of Ginny to do this for me but you know how I feel about big gestures. But then again, she and I haven't spent any time the two of us for many years and it will be nice to reconnect I suppose. I've just been trying to find a routine these last few weeks and I guess given that Ginny and I spending time together hasn't been part of my routine for so long I didn't think to make it so now." She was talking a little too fast and was lying about the last part. She had thought about having Ginny over everyday these past few weeks but always decided against it. And surprisingly, Ginny had made no attempts at contacting her either aside from sending her the owl about Hugo being in Ravenclaw and an owl a few days prior with the information on 'Le Spa Splendid de Sorcieres.' Hermione was, in fact, looking very much forward to this weekend because the pamphlet Ginny had sent over made the spa look like a paradise even if she would have to deal with her attraction. "But yes Ron, it will be fun. You know how us women loved to be pampered!" She added this last bit with a laugh because Ron knew that his wife was never one to be spoiled or 'pampered' as she put it.

"Well, I am sure you two will have a delightful time. And it really does mean a lot to my sister. You know, Harry told me that she was pretty depressed on her birthday because it was the first time you hadn't been there since we went looking for the Horcruxes." This made Hermione's heart sink. She had owled Ginny a card on her birthday from Australia. Since when had Hermione's presence or absence had such a bearing on the red head's emotions? "I think she is having a hard time with all the kids being gone, and she needs someone to cling on to and you were always that person before the kids. I dunno, I could be wrong." And when did Ron become so insightful about someone's feelings?

"That is a very good point Ron. I know how I'm feeling about our kids being gone, why wouldn't she feel the same? I feel like such a selfish prat for not being more attentive to her," Hermione said looking down at her hands as a tear fell to the ground.

"Oh Herm! I didn't mean to upset you!" Ron said reaching out to his wife. "You've been having a rough time too I know. I don't really know what Ginny's deal is. And you've been a great friend and the two of you have all weekend to discuss your feelings or whatever it is you girls do." He gave her a quick hug and smiled at his wife. They changed the subject to the weather and the ducks in the lake and anything that wasn't about Ginny or feelings and ate their pie. They enjoyed the weather and read quietly for a while before packing everything up and riding the bike back to the rental hut. The whole time back Hermione was thinking about Ginny being depressed on her birthday and how they had that in common. Despite all that, Hermione had a nice time with her husband and they apparated back home to get ready for the party.