Thanks once again for the reviews. Your words really do encourage me to keep writing this. They inspire me. When I first saw this word, I originally had another idea of what I was going to write, but then this is what it turned into. I really like it. Please leave a review and let me know what you think.

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Conciliate

To overcome the distrust or hostility of; placate; winover.

I can't do it. I can't go through it again.

Hermione picked up a photo frame with a baby photo of Rose. It had been sitting in the same spot in the living room ever since she had put it there, almost two years ago.

She had been so happy back then. Rose; her little Rose. So small and innocent, only a few days old in that photo. She hadn't even considered that two years later, something she had been so happy about would cause her so much pain. Something she loved more than anything else in the world.

There was nothing that she could see happening to change her mind. She couldn't have another baby. There was just no way she was willing to put herself through that again. Ron argued that it probably wouldn't happen again, but she wasn't going to take the risk. It was something she wasn't going to change her mind about. He would just have to accept that.

How he had found the courage to go back to work so soon and then come home, looking happier each day, she had no idea. Before, she was able to see his pain and how much it hurt to even think about it, but now – almost a month after it happened – she barely saw any memory of it on his face.

Of course, that wasn't true. He still felt it, but he had somehow managed put it behind him. He was there for Rose, when she couldn't be. He was able to spend hours without thinking about it, when she thought about it every minute of every single day. She admired him for it. She couldn't do it. She just couldn't let it go. It hurt too much.

She wasn't sure if there would ever be a time she'd want to start working again. It hurt just as much to try and let go. It felt wrong.

With a heavy sigh, she placed the frame back where it belonged and turned, only to find Ron standing behind her, watching her. He had a look of concern on his face. Hermione couldn't remember the last time he had looked at her in any other way.

She had given him no reason to be anything but concerned.

"I'm okay," she assured him. "Just thinking."

She hadn't been much of a mother to Rose the past month. Maybe it was about time she started putting in an effort again. She owed Rose more than that.

Ron didn't say anything. He merely took her in his arms – like he had done so many times before – and held her. He was such a comfort at times and then other times, she couldn't bring herself to be so close to him. She was thankful that it was one of the times she wanted him there.

In fact, she needed him there.

She felt him kiss her forehead and she didn't retreat. She had no desire to. That was a good thing, wasn't it? Every other attempt he had made to repair their relationship, she had pushed him away. Ever since that failed kiss, she had been scared. She hadn't known what it meant.

But as he kissed her then, she felt a familiar, warm sensation grow inside her. It gave her hope. Maybe all wasn't lost after all.

Moving away from him just slightly, she looked at him straight in the eye. No, there was definitely still pain in there, but it wasn't apparent. It was more concern for her. She was no better, where he had taken a step forward.

Like she was wondering how he could move on so quickly, he was probably wondering why she wasn't.

"I'm okay," she assured him again and this time she actually meant it. His arms around her made her feel something she hadn't felt in the last month. She was actually feeling something other than pain.

She was feeling love. Love for Ron and love for Rose.

With a small amount of courage, she kissed Ron, still terrified she would feel nothing. But something stirred inside of her; something she had been missing for a month. She felt it and she knew he did too.

It was like something washed over her in that moment. Something that wasn't grief, but... happiness. Pure happiness. Maybe it would only last a few moments, but it didn't matter. It felt good to feel something other than pain. She had forgotten how good it felt to be with Ron.

Ron smiled at her, looking relieved. She was different. She felt different and perhaps she looked different too. She returned the smile, this time knowing it was genuine.

"You look... happy," Ron said, almost as if he couldn't believe it. "I haven't seen you this happy in a very long time."

"I feel happy," she replied. "Something's changed. You made it change."

That was all she needed. She had needed time to grieve, but she certainly didn't need to push Ron away in the meantime. That was a stupid thing to do. Everything she felt for him was still there; it had just been pushed away, somewhere, where it could be found later. And used when she needed it the most, or when she was ready for it again.

Pain still filled her every thought, every part of her (who knew when that would ease), but it was less obvious. Somehow, he had managed to convince her things would be okay. She believed that now. Things would get better.

The warm feeling inside of her grew with that thought.

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