Chapter X:

Hermione stared at him, her mouth slightly agape. "What?"

"You heard me," Ron muttered, his ears reddening a bit now. "I want you to marry me."

She shook her head and stood up, pulling her clothes back on and moving away from him. "You can't be serious!"

Ron took her hand in his and licked his lips. "Mione … we're perfect for each other. I've been in love with you since I was fourteen years old. I've never stopped. You were my best friend. You're the love of my life. You are the mother of my child. What isn't serious about that?"

"Ron," she breathed, looking down at their entwined hands. "We just found each other again. We've been apart for twelve years! I'm not the same person I was twelve years ago and neither are you! You can't just propose and expect everything to work out alright!"

"Why not?"

"Because it's unrealistic!" She exclaimed.

"I don't think it is." Ron replied. "It's us, Mione!"

Hermione began to pace now. "That's just it, Ron! What do we have that makes it us?"

"Rose!" He demanded, his face heating. "We have a daughter together! We have a past together! Why can't you see that I'm right here?"

"Why can't you see how ridiculous you're being? Merlin, Ron … it's been twelve years!"

He glared at her. "Well, I still love you! I'm sorry if my feelings haven't altered to suit you but I'm still in love with you! Seeing you again brought those back stronger than ever!"

"Brought them back!" She insisted, "How do you know it's not a reflection of what you once felt for me? How do you know those feelings are real? You're being an idiot!"

"You're being a bitch!"

"How dare you!" She exclaimed.

Ron grinned at her now. "I dare! You are a bitch! You can be so self-centered and rude and you always have to be right!"

"That is so not true!" She insisted.

Ron grabbed her and pulled her up tight against him so that she could feel every inch of his body pressed up against hers. "You're so fucking incredible when you're fighting with me."

Hermione's eyes softened. "Ron … it …"

"It feels right and that's what scares you." He kissed her lips softly. "And we can still argue like we used to?"

She laughed at that and circled her arms around his neck. "I feel like I … I'm so in love with you."

"But?"

"But I feel like I can't say yes without talking to Rose."

Ron nodded and kissed her again. "Let me do it."

"What?"

"Yeah, let me do it. I'm the one that's coming into her life; let me tell her."

Hermione sighed and kissed him deeply. "I regret every day not telling you I was pregnant and running away. I've never not regretted it and I've never stopped being scared of how you would react when you found out. But this … you're the most amazing man I've ever known. I love you."

Ron grinned at her and tilted his forehead down to hers. "Thank you for coming back."

She smiled at those words. "I wish it had been sooner."

"Me too," he muttered, kissing her again. "Me too."

Harry looked up at the knock on his office door the next morning and grinned at his best mate. "Hey Ron, what are you doing here? Wish you were back in school?"

Ron shrugged. "Oh yeah, my dream. Actually, I called in sick today, but I just left Hermione's house."

Harry grinned at those words, wiggling his eyebrows in a very 'Sirius' manner. If he had just left it must have gone well since he had headed over there Saturday night. "How'd that go?"

"Great. I asked her to marry me."

"What?" Harry exclaimed, eyeing his friend in surprise. "Are you insane? You just got back together!"

Ron shrugged. "She thought so too but I think I convinced her. I want to talk to Rose though. What time does lunch start?"

Harry glanced at his watch. "Ten minutes. I can go find her and bring her in here, will that work?"

Ron nodded. "Yeah, thanks. Oh and Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"That barbecue on Sunday at your place? Do you think Minerva will let all the kids come?" Ron asked. "I think it's time we broke the news to Mum and Dad."

Harry laughed at that. "I'll talk to her. She has a bit of a soft spot for me."

Ron grinned. "Thanks mate."

Harry headed out into the hall shaking his head. Everything seemed to be surprising lately.

Rose stood in front of Professor Potter - Uncle Harry's - office door and took a deep breath. Her father was in there. He wanted to talk to her. Uncle Harry had come and found her just as she was heading down to lunch to see if she wouldn't mind talking to her dad. How could she mind?

She took one more deep breath and then pushed the door open. Her heart rate sped up when she saw that her father had a big smile on his face for her. He was so much more wonderful than she had imagined.

"Hi Dad."

Ron grinned broadly at those words. "I really love the sound of that!" He knelt down to hug her tight and kissed her cheek. "How have you been?"

Rose smiled at him and kissed his cheek as well. "Good. Nothing really has happened since we last talked. I've just been doing homework."

He laughed. "I hated homework! Your mum used to always be watching me to make sure I did it."

She giggled. "She does that to me too!"

Ron smiled and sat down, ushering for his daughter to do the same. "I actually came here to talk to you about something."

"Oh," she said quietly. "What?"

"Well," Ron began, giving her a bright smile. "Your mum and I talked a lot after I spoke with you. We had a bunch of things to work out together and we accomplished that. One of things we had to talk about was the fact that I'm still very much in love with her."

Rose smiled at those words. "You're in love with her, really?"

Ron grinned. "Yeah, I am. I never thought I would be lucky enough to have two such beautiful girls that I could love so much, but I do. I don't want to miss out on any more of your life, Rose."

"Does Mum love you too?" She asked.

"Yeah, she does." He reached out and took her hand in his. "Rose, I want to be your dad in every way possible. I want to marry your mum."

Rose's eyes lit up and she threw herself into his arms. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Marry her! Live with us! I love you and I want you with us!"

Ron grinned against her hair, hugging her tightly against him. "Oh baby, you have no idea how happy I am to hear that."

She smiled at him. "Did you ask her yet?"

"Yeah, I did. She said we had to ask you first." He said.

Rose's smile widened. "I say yes!"

Ron laughed and hugged her again. Things were just working out really, really well. He thought it was definitely about time things started working out for him. He had paid his dues and now he wanted his life.

He was just happy it was finally coming together.

Harry had told Rose about going to talk to Ron before he glanced at his watch. He had to pick up Aidan, Flynn and Lorelai at the Burrow at one that afternoon but he needed to talk to Minerva first. He headed up the spiral staircase and knocked on her office door.

"Come in," she called out and he pushed open the door.

The office still looked so much like Dumbledore's it made him smile.

"Harry, what can I do for you?" McGonagall asked, smiling warmly at him.

Harry grinned at her. She had become such an important part of his life so much in fact that his kids called her Aunt Minnie. "Hi Minerva, I was actually hoping for a favour?"

"Harry, I can't give you personal information on a student. I'm sorry, I already told you."

He grinned at that. "Oh, that, don't worry about it. I figured that out eons ago."

"Oh really?" She eyed him carefully. "And how exactly did you do that?"

"I asked Rose. It's all worked out now before you get angry. Hermione and I talked; Hermione and Ron talked; Ron and Rose have talked - everyone is happy."

McGonagall smiled at that. "Well, I'm glad some good came of it. What can I do for you then?"

Harry grinned. "Gin and I are having a family barbecue on Sunday and Ron wants to bring Hermione and make the announcement that they are back together; possibly engaged and have a daughter. So I was kind of hoping I could get a day pass for my kids, Rose and all the Weasleys?"

McGonagall chuckled at that. "It sounds like it's going to be interesting. That's fine, Harry. As long as you come and pick them all up personally and bring them back to school."

"I can handle that. Thanks."

McGonagall grinned. "You're welcome."

Harry headed into Gringotts forty-five minutes later with the kids in tow. He loved Mondays. Mondays were his favourite day because he had somehow ended up with just double transfiguration for his seventh years in the morning and that was it. Now he had the rest of the day off and he just wanted to get some errands done; including get groceries as they were running a little sparse in that area. He also had to stock up for the barbecue on Sunday now that he would be having more people there than originally planned.

Flynn shoved Aidan behind Harry and Harry turned to glare at his sons, his hand tightly in Lorelai's. Both of the boys saw the look and glanced down at their toes.

"Uncle Bill!" Lorelai exclaimed in excitement upon seeing Bill Weasley heading towards them. She jumped up and down and waved at him.

Bill grinned and scooped his niece up into his arms, kissing her cheek and placing her on his hip. "Hi Princess."

Harry grinned at his brother-in-law. "Hey Bill, how's it going?"

Bill shrugged. "It's going. We've been busy in here lately. A lot of new stuff coming in from all over the place." He grinned at his nephews who were shoving each other again. "Hey you two, driving your dad bonkers?"

Flynn grinned at those words. "Can't. He's already bonkers."

Harry cuffed him gently across the head. "Brat!"

Aidan grinned at his uncle. "We're working on Mum but Dad says James and Brig are going to give them grey hair!"

Bill laughed. "So are my kids." He turned back to Harry with a smile. "How's it going with you? You and Ginny talk?"

Harry nodded, not even bothering to ask how Bill knew. It made him feel worse that Ginny had been concerned enough to bring it up to her favourite brother. "Yeah, it's all worked out; all a misunderstanding. I was actually …" He gestured for Bill to come a little closer to him. "I was talking to Hermione."

Bill's eyes widened at the name. "She's back?"

"Yeah she is."

"Does Ron know?"

"Oh yeah. He just found out. I was trying to keep it a secret and we all know how terrible I am at those. Ginny sees right through me. She was concerned for really no reason at all. You coming on Sunday?"

Bill nodded. "Yeah, everyone going?"

Harry nodded. "So far, including Hermione and … yeah everyone will be there. The whole family."

"You're hiding something." He said, grinning at his brother-in-law. "Do I want to know?"

"Let's just say it will be a day to remember. But I have to get going. I've got all sorts of errands to run for the day before Gin gets home and it's my night to cook dinner."

"Yeah, yeah," Bill muttered. "Go ahead. See you on Sunday. What time did you and Gin want us over?"

Harry shrugged. "Anytime after one is fine. The kids can enjoy the sun one last weekend hopefully."

Bill laughed. "First week of October is always that kicker - what kind of weather are we going to have? See you." He handed Lorelai to Harry and winked at his nephews who were too concerned with watching the goblins get people into the carts to pay attention.

Harry shook his head and turned to head back into the line and almost walked directly into Cho Chang. Her black shiny hair was cut short now, chin length and it suited her.

She smiled warmly at him. "Harry! I'm sorry, I didn't even see you there! How are you?"

Harry tried not to grimace and he instead wondered how long she had been standing there listening to his conversation. "I don't know, why don't you tell me?"

She tilted her head and attempted to give him a sympathetic look but she only looked smug. "Oh, trouble in paradise?"

He glared at her. "No, there's not; should there be?"

Cho pouted, taking a step closer to him. "I was just asking, Harry, you know I worry about you."

"Stalk me more like it."

She chuckled at those words. "Always the funny guy."

"Go away!" Lorelai demanded, one hand on her hip and the other one still tucked in her father's hand.

Cho smiled sweetly at her. "Sweetie, your dad and I are just talking."

"I don't like you!" She demanded, tugging on her father's hand. "Can we go now, Daddy."

"In a minute, sweetie."

"Cute," Cho purred and then shrieked when Lorelai promptly stomped on her toe. "You stupid little brat!"

"Don't you dare talk to my daughter like that!" Harry exclaimed.

Cho nodded, tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to. It's okay, sweetie, I'm sure that was an accident."

Lorelai simply grinned at her. "Nope."

"Dad! Dad! Can we stop and get some ice cream on the way home?" Aidan asked, eyeing the little boy in front of him who was holding a chocolate cone.

Harry smiled at his son. "We'll see. It depends what time we get everything done. We don't want to spoil your dinner."

Flynn grinned at those words. "Yes, we do, you're cooking!"

"Brat!" Harry said laughing. He turned back to Cho then, his smile fading slightly. "Well, as you can see I have a lot to tend to, so if you could excuse me -"

She grinned at him and reached out to touch his arm. "Of course, Harry. You have a great day!"

Harry grabbed her arm and pulled her a little closer to him so that he could whisper in her ear. "By the way, if I ever hear that you're making up bullshit rumours about the two of us having sex, it will come back and bite you. Do you understand?"

Cho blushed a bit when he let her go and she stepped back. "A girl's allowed to have fantasies."

Harry ignored her and grabbed Flynn's hand, urging him to take his brother's and the four of them headed in the opposite direction. One of these days he was terribly afraid he was going to take a leaf out of his Uncle Vernon's book and smack her. He shook the thoughts from his head and grinned down at his kids.

"Alright you three, where to first?"

Ginny stepped into their home later on that evening with her feet killing her. Today had been the day from hell in her opinion. It had been so busy at the hospital that she had never stopped. She had even ended up working two hours overtime.

Not to mention that she had spent the whole day worrying about herself.

She was six days late.

She pushed the thoughts from her mind and instead concentrated on her sore feet.

It was quiet when she stepped inside and she slipped out of her shoes, shrugging out of her jacket and putting them both in the closet. She headed upstairs, leaning against the doorjamb of the bedroom her two daughters shared and smiling at her husband.

Harry was curled up on Lorelai's bed with Flynn on his lap and Lorelai and Aidan on either side of him as he told them a bedtime story.

"Mummy!" Lorelai exclaimed, holding her arms out.

Ginny moved to crawl into bed with her family, curling her daughter into her arms. "Hi baby," she kissed her cheek and then leaned over to kiss each of her sons. "I'm sorry I'm so late."

"I figured it got crazy at the hospital."

She rolled her eyes. "That doesn't even begin to describe it."

Harry grinned and continued to tell the story to the kids. Soon, Lorelai was asleep as was Flynn and Aidan was yawning. Within ten minute the kids were all tucked in and Harry had scooped Ginny up into his arms and carried her into their bedroom as she laughed.

"If my didn't feet hurt so bad I would protest this."

He laughed and kissed her deeply before placing her on their bed. "Hmm, I bet. Did you eat?"

She shook her head. "No. I'm not very hungry though. What did you guys have? Did they eat alright?"

"I can cook, you know."

"Not always well."

He grinned. "I made mac and cheese. Want me to make you something?"

Ginny smiled up at him. "You know what, I would love just some toast and jam."

He kissed her softly. "Coming right up."

Ginny watched him leave the room and grinned. He was so sweet. She undressed and padded into their master bath naked, leaning over to fill the tub up with water. She added her favourite bath bubbles and relaxing beads before pinning her hair up in a bun and climbing in. She moaned a little at the feel of the water and smiled, closing her eyes.

Pure heaven.

Harry stepped into the bathroom with a plate of toast and smiled at her, leaning over to kiss her forehead. "You tired?"

Ginny opened her eyes and smiled at him, taking one a piece of the toast from the plate and taking a bite. "Not so much just sore. How was your day?"

Harry took a seat on the floor next to the tub and stretched out his legs. "Eventful. I, uh, I ran into Cho at the bank."

"Hmm," Ginny said, her eyes darkening. "Joy."

He grinned now. "Actually, it was."

"What do you mean?"

Harry laughed. "Our daughter has your temper."

"Lily does not have my temper. She has my mischief and evil plotting skills."

"No, Lorelai."

"She's four! She can't already have my temper!" Ginny said on a laugh. "Can she?"

Harry grinned at that and handed her the second piece of toast and the glass of red wine he had poured for her. "You tell me. Cho was being her usual annoying self when Lore says 'go away!' Cho said something to her about her being cute and Lore stomps on her toe."

"What?" Ginny exclaimed, laughing. "She did not?"

"Yup and then Cho called her a stupid little brat."

"How dare she!" Ginny said, "I hope you told her off! She can't speak to our kids like that!"

"I did and she apologized and said it was probably an accident. Lore just grinned and exclaimed 'nope'. I was trying so hard not to laugh." Harry explained. "I don't know what it was that set her off but she did not like Cho at all."

Ginny grinned at that. "No complaints from me here." She took a sip of her wine and leaned back in the tub. "So, are you just going to sit there or are you going to join me?"

He smiled and moved to his knees to kiss her softly. "I was thinking about joining you. I just wanted to make sure you were fed and amused first."

"Oh, I'm definitely amused."

Harry grinned and stood up, undressing and then stepping into the tub with her and tugging her up against him so that she was straddling him in the tub. He kept one hand on her hip and slid his other hand between her legs, sliding two fingers inside of her and her head rolled back.

"Mmm."

He leaned forward and tugged one of her nipples into his mouth and her hands buried themselves in his hair.

"Harry," she breathed.

God he knew how to turn her to jelly. She was so close to coming already and she wanted him to be inside of her.

"Harry, stop, I want … I want you inside of me, now." She whispered.

He grinned and slid his fingers out, groaning when Ginny took him deep inside of her and started to move. They got faster and water sloshed over the side of the tub as they moved until they both erupted. He kissed her softly, running his hands up over her breasts.

"No complaints here." He murmured.

She laughed and kissed him. "Me neither."

They climbed out of the tub and changed into their night clothes before heading into the bedroom and crawling into bed. Ginny straddled him again, making him laugh.

"I don't want to sleep yet."

He grinned and tugged the jersey she wore over her head and behind her so she was in nothing but her panties. "Me neither."

She laughed and kissed him. "Mmm, yes that."

"I have good news for you."

"What kind of good news?"

"Molly and Arthur are going to take the kids Friday night so we can celebrate twelve years on our own."

Ginny grinned and slid her hands up his bare chest. "I like the sound of that. But I still want you right now."

Harry flipped her beneath him. "I bet I can make you scream first?"

"Silence the room."

He simply grinned wider. "Already did."