Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I own nothing of hers!

Chapter 25

The next few days dragged on for Hermione. Harry continued to come over to help with Rose and to keep Hermione's mind off things. It helped him too since Ginny was currently away with her being in a busy part of the season.

Each morning, Hermione would wake to an upset Rose when the child realized Ron wouldn't be there at breakfast. Hermione would drop her off at the burrow sobbing, and begging her mum not to leave. Then, at work, Hermione would try the best she could to focus on her work and not on the fact that the man she loves could be killed at any moment, that her daughter was a heartbroken mess, and not with either of them. After work, she would collect Rose, who was exhausted and grumpy, to go back to Ron's flat and continue for Hermione to attempt to convince her daughter to eat something. Around then, Harry would show up. That would help marginally.

Rose loved spending time with her Uncle Harry. They would play on the floor and Harry would try to tire her out as much as possible so Hermione could get some sleep that night. They even had George and Angelina over for dinner once during the time. George kept her entertained for a few hours, and Angelina was able to gain more experience with a child. But, Rose was nowhere near her cheerful, happy, self even with Harry and other family members around. Hermione knew she was missing her father greatly. However, she didn't know how to make the tot feel better, other than having Ron come home.

When it came time for Rose to go to bed Harry did everything he could to help, but it normally ended in Rose wailing for her daddy and Hermione trying everything she could to calm the child. Hermione laid nightly with Rose clinging to her, just imaging what was flowing through her little head. She must have thought that Ron just left her, what else was she supposed to think? She had never had another person come into her life and then leave. Yet, she saw the anxiety her daughter had, and knew it stemmed from her own. The brunette hated that she somehow passed that onto her daughter. She wished she could change so many things for her little girl.

Some nights Hermione would get some sleep, but between the squirming tot waking up in tears, and her own worries, it left her waking exhausted and hoping that Ron would be home safe, and soon. Her favorite part of the day was when she was lying in bed, Rose's 'mummy and daddy' book discarded next to her, and the galleon would glow. Her heart leaped as she reached to read the coin. A flood of relief rushed through her, bringing tears to her eyes. The message was brief, as always, but the three words that always stayed the same were reassuring enough for her to get through another day to read them.

On the eighth day Ron had been on his mission, Hermione noticed Rose's behavior calmed down. She stared eating again, playing more than she had been, and allowed Hermione to read a different story before she went to sleep. When she cried before bed, it was just that, a cry. Nothing compared to the wails and screams Hermione had heard the past week. It was almost as if the tot accepted that Ron wasn't coming back.

That thought broke Hermione's heart even further. She continued to whisper in soothing tones that her daddy loved her and was coming back to her. But, the look on Rose's face was utterly defeated.

Four more days passed like this, and Rose was slowly returning to normal. Minus her crying for her mum to stay when Hermione left her with Molly, and she was still far from her typical behavior.

Hermione left work, once again exhausted, and picked Rose up on her way back to the flat. Molly informed her that Rose was having a much better day, since Fleur brought Victorie over to play with. Hermione was thankful for that, but knew that her daughter would not be the same until Ron returned. Hermione Flooed to the flat and set Rose down to start putting together dinner while her daughter played with her toys in the den. She had currently taken special interest to the toy dragons her Uncle Charlie sent her. She often made them play with and give rides to her lamb.

Hermione entered the kitchen thinking she would make some sort of soup when she noticed something inside the oven was glowing. She opened it carefully, wand at the ready, when she noticed a pot roast under a warming charm. Hermione's brain was racing; wondering if Harry had left work early to make her dinner, when she heard a shrill scream in the den.

"DADDY!" Rose cried, as Hermione moved so she could see her daughter running toward Ron, who was now kneeling to embrace the tot. The small girl with flaming curls flung her arms around his neck and held him tightly, as a massive grin grew on the man's face. He let out a small breath of air in a 'poof' as the little, but fierce, child hugged him.

"Hello Rosie. I missed you so much, love. So much." He gave kisses to her deep red curls. After a moment, he raised his sight and saw Hermione, standing frozen in the entryway to the kitchen. She was dressed in a typical blouse and pencil skirt. Her hair was frizzier than normal, and looked as it would burst from her bun at any moment.

He stood instantly after seeing her, and she took in the sight. He was wearing track pants and a Cannons t-shirt, some of it still clinging to his biceps. She could see the twisted scars vining around his muscular arms, marking him many years ago. His red locks were damp, as though he had just come from the shower, and he looked as if he hasn't shaved in days.

"Ron," She whispered, almost disbelieving he was there. Ron looked back at her, his eyes shining brilliantly. He picked up his daughter, still clinging to him tightly and looked hopefully at the woman in front of him.

Hermione took off, running toward him quickly and ran right to him. Her arms instantly twined around his middle, and Ron embraced her back just as firmly as he could with one arm. She was so relieved he was back, with her and Rose again. Ron bowed his head to kiss the top of hers.

"I missed you so much Mione. Oh Mione, I love you…" She reached up so she could kiss him securely on the lips. As soon as they touched, Hermione's tears began falling. She pulled her arms away from his middle and she placed both hands on his face, deepening the kiss. Ron kissed her back enthusiastically.

"Daddy home mummy!" Rose squealed to inform her mother. Hermione and Ron both laughed at this, as they were well aware her daddy was back. Hermione ended the kiss and turned toward Rose, very close to her face.

"I know darling! Daddy is back!" Hermione said through her tears, turning to look at Ron once more. She looked up into his bright blue eyes, which were filled to the brim with love. She rubbed her thumb across his jaw, feeling the rough, scruffy hair against her smooth skin.

"Is this going to become a new thing?" She asked, smirking through her tears. He chuckled and grinned even wider.

"Depends. Do you like it?" He whispered huskily. She could see tears swimming in his eyes.

"I actually do." She whispered, nodding her head enthusiastically with a grin that wouldn't leave her face. She reached up again and kissed him.

"Daddy no kiss mummy. Daddy kiss Rosie!" Rose interrupted again, placing her hand on Ron's jaw to pull him toward Rose. They laughed again, and Rose successfully broke the kiss. Ron turned and kissed Rose on the nose, causing her to giggle. Ron loved to hear that sound, he smiled even more brightly.

"It's good to be home with my girls." Giving Hermione a final squeeze. She smiled and sniffed, wiping the tears from her eyes. "I made some dinner. Are you hungry?" He asked the pair.

"Me! I hungee daddy!" She shouted joyfully, still using one arm to cling to Ron, while raising the other one in the air. "Is daddy hungry?" She questioned him skeptically.

"You know I am, Rosie! Let's go eat!" Hermione stepped away to start serving dinner, and Ron began to put Rose in her high chair. However, as he tried to sit the tot down, she would pull up her legs and pin them to Ron's side.

"Rose, you need to sit in your highchair so you can eat dinner. You said you were hungry." Ron reasoned with the two-year-old. She shook her head furiously. Hermione watched as she delivered the food to the table.

"I doubt she'll let go of you anytime soon. You might as well have her sit with you if you'd like to eat tonight." Hermione spoke as she went to gather Rose's sippy cup and plate.

Rose sat on Ron's lap while the three ate together. Hermione was so glad to have him back. Rose had eaten more than she had since Ron had left, and was in much happier spirits. They kept the conversation light. Hermione told Ron how Angelina's pregnancy was progressing, and her theories that Fleur might also be expecting. She explained some cases she had been working on at the Ministry and other trivial things.

After, they played in the den for a while. Ron seemed ecstatic to be back with Rose and the child never once left his lap. Hermione mostly watched, as she had been the one playing the last several days with Harry by her side. As she was perched on the couch, the brunette took the opportunity to observe Ron to see how he was after his mission. The pair was on the floor, Ron sat with one leg extended, and the other tucked in front of him, which Rose had been occupying. Toys were scattered around them, and Rose would go from toy to toy showing them to Ron. Even though he knew every toy she had, he still pleased her by smiling, and acting like it was all new to him. Hermione watched his demeanor. Overall, he looked healthy. Maybe a bit more tired than normal, but no major changes. His behavior was typical, so that didn't seem to be a concern either.

It wasn't until Ron reached for a toy where he had to lean over Rose to retrieve. As he did so, he winced visibly, and sucked in a sharp breath. Hermione sat up straighter as Ron tried to quickly hide his reaction.

"You're hurt." Hermione stated. Ron looked up at her and shook his head.

"Naw. I'm fine, just a little sore maybe." Ron tried unsuccessfully to convince Hermione. Rose was now looking up at Hermione as well, turning so she could look between the two.

"I've seen you sore before, Ron. You have never winced when you've been sore." She looked at him pointedly. "You're hurt."

"Daddy hurt?" Rose asked looking at him with worried eyes. Ron sighed, giving a glare to Hermione at pressing the issue and causing Rose to be concerned. She raised an eyebrow at him to answer their daughter.

"Not very much, darling. My side just hurts a little. Daddy'll be alright." He smiled convincingly at the tot and ended the conversation with a kiss on the cheek. Rose seemed content with that answer, and continued playing. Hermione, however, was not. She continued to watch him while she waited for a response. For the first time that night, Rose stood and walked over to her toy chest to retrieve her muggle doctor's kit, returning quickly to Ron's lap. She began examining him, pretending to take his temperature and check his ears. Hermione loved the caring nature their daughter had, but she was still concerned with Ron refusing to answer her honestly.

"Say awww, daddy." Rose used the small purple flashlight to look into Ron's mouth who was enjoying this game, as he had never been to a muggle doctor before.

"I can feel you staring." He stated grumpily, moments later. Keeping his eyes trained on his playing daughter, now examining his leg against a picture of bones located in a hand.

"Then tell me the truth." She insisted. He looked up, and sighed again shaking his head.

"St. Mungo's said it's just a bruised rib. They gave me a potion to help it heal in a few days. I'm fine, really." He added that last part as he saw the worry etched on her face.

"Just a bruised rib?" She asked concerned, now coming down to the floor to sit by him.

"Yes. It's nothing." Ron shrugged. She looked down at their daughter, now putting pink and purple plasters on his legs, muttering 'daddy all better now,' to herself. Hermione lowered her voice.

"A bruised rib isn't nothing Ron. People stay in the hospital for that kind of injury." She insisted, hoping he would see the seriousness of the situation.

"Well, it's a lot better than it could have been. Can we please talk about it later?" Ron asked, slightly frustrated that Hermione was pressing the issue so much. Rose looked up from her actions at her parents to see them both looking frustrated. Hermione pressed her lips together. Desperately wanting to know, but decided that it would be best to talk after Rose was asleep.

…

When they got Rose ready for bed, Ron changed Rose's nappy and into her pajamas after much convincing that he would hold her as soon as she was changed. He did as promised, and relaxed on the large bed, adjusting himself comfortably against the soft pillows. Rose curled onto his torso. Her head lying on his chest, and stretched her arms around his body, bunching his shirt in her small fists.

Hermione changed into her bedclothes, released her hair from its confinements, and gathered Rose's essentials for bed. The brunette laid next to the two gingers on the freshly laundered comforter. Snuggling closer, she covered Rose in her blanket, and placed the dummy in Rose's mouth. Then Hermione finally began to read. She chose a story with a yellow bear this time, hoping that Rose would allow her to read something other than her favorite book. Hermione loved the tale, it being her favorite fairytale as well. But, she had grown tired of it the past few days since they had read it so often. Like clockwork, the tot put her hand out to her mum and shook her head on her father's chest.

"Mummy and daddy book, mummy." She said sleepily. Ron raised his eyebrow in curiosity as Hermione sighed.

"Alright love, but tomorrow we're reading something different." Ron noticed the story that Hermione exchanged with the other book, as the one Rose had described to him weeks ago. His heart melted at the fact she referred to it as the 'mummy and daddy' book. The tale was beginning to have a special place in his heart as well.

…

"And they lived happily ever after." Hermione finished sometime later, looking over at the sleeping child.

"Thank Merlin." Hermione yawned as she rubbed her tired eyes. She turned to her side to face the two, and got more comfortable as she burrowed down in the bed.

"That bad, huh?" Ron chuckled, but lost his mirth as he saw the look on Hermione's face.

"You have no idea." Hermione mumbled as she reached up to move some curls from her sleeping daughter's face.

"I might actually." Hermione eyed him curiously. "Harry came over to St. Mungo's as soon as we came in. He told me some things... He said it was horrible." Ron grimaced, as he gently rubbed the small child's back.

"It was challenging for both of us. She was upset almost continuously, slept very little, she ate hardly anything... It was just hard to see her hurt so much." Hermione ended softly, trying to keep her emotions under control. Ron watched the woman he loved carefully. He could see a hint of shimmering in her gorgeous brown eyes, and the dark circles that lingered underneath them.

"Love, I'm so sorry it was that difficult." Hermione's mouth twitched into a short, small, smile.

"It's your career. We'll adjust to it." She half shrugged the shoulder that she was not lying on. "But Rose isn't going to let you go anytime soon." He looked at the sleeping girl, bending his head down to kiss her curls.

"Good. I won't be ready to either." A few moments passed with them both lying there watching their daughter rise and fall on his chest.

"Is it normal for you to visit St. Mungo's after every mission?" Hermione inquired. The questions about his mission had been swimming in her mind since he returned.

"Yes, for my department anyway. We must at least go. I felt fine, but they insisted that I get examined today. That's how they found the bruised ribs."

"Ribs? I thought you said rib. As in only one, Ron." He looked as if he didn't mean to let that piece of information slip.

"Erm, they may have said something about three being partially bruised. But, like I said. They gave me a healing potion and I'll be ship shape in just a couple of days. It's really nothing to be concerned with. Some blokes had it worse." Ron looked guilty as he spoke quietly. Hermione gripped the sheet beneath her tightly, hoping her anxiety would escape that way; hidden from Ron instead of showing it on her features.

"Yes, this time. But, next time it could be worse. Or the time after that. There could be a time where you don't come home at all, Ron! How is that something I shouldn't be concerned with?" The brunette didn't notice until she finished that she was breathing much quicker than before and she felt her unease rise. She chastised herself for getting agitated now when she had done so well keeping it away while he had been gone.

Ron watched her, getting close to the level of alarm he witnessed before seeing his parents a few weeks ago. She quivered and he adjusted gently to move his hand under her head resting on the pillow. He was basically cradling her face, as she wrapped her hands around his, holding it in place.

"Maybe I shouldn't have said it that way. But, we'll stay positive. And I will always come home to you Mione." He wished he could hold her as he was holding their daughter, to give her more comfort that way. But, at the moment this would have to do, and she eventually nodded her head in agreement or understanding, he couldn't say which.

"Are you hurting now?" She asked quietly after she calmed herself. Ron smiled at her caring, and tenacious, nature.

"A little. Not as much as it hurt being away from the two of you. So, I'll take this pain if it means I'm holding my girls." She grinned warmly at him.

"Was it a successful mission?" Hermione asked. Ron nodded, moving the hand on his daughter's back to play with her soft curls.

"It was. We knew it would be difficult, but we were prepared. Although it did take a few days longer than planned." Ron mused marveling in the knowledge that he helped make the world a bit safer for his girls. "But, we caught the bloody Death Eater, and now the bastard's in Azkaban where he belongs. We're hoping he gets a life sentence or a Dementor's kiss."

"Ronald! Language!" She scolded him, Ron gave her a puzzled look.

"What? She's asleep, love."

"Doesn't matter. She doesn't need to hear that kind of language, awake or asleep." She ended the explanation with a sweet kiss to his hand.

They laid there for a while, Hermione closing her eyes, while Ron thought about how much he had missed of his daughter's life. He was absent for Hermione to tell him she was pregnant. Gone when Hermione gave birth to their bright little girl. He missed her first bath, first food, first word, first steps; so many firsts he missed. It broke his heart to think he was absent for all of it. He never got to speak to Hermione's pregnant belly, so Rose would know his voice. He was never able to hold her as an infant. He never got to see her roll over, or see her smile or giggle as a baby. It brought his thoughts to the reason why, and then to the ongoing investigation.

"Hey Mione," he voiced, clearing his throat from not using it for a while. She kept her eyes closed, but responded.

"Hmm?" She hummed.

"Did you hear anything about the investigation?" He asked, gently sweeping his thumb along her cheek. She opened her tired eyes.

"Nothing yet. I'm hoping we'll hear something tomorrow." She whispered, looking at him sadly. Ron sighed, disappointed they hadn't made an arrest yet.

Some more time passed as Ron decided it was probably time to get Rose into her cot. He slipped his hand from Hermione, who peeked her eye open when she was shifted. He sat upright on the bed, moving slowly, to not wake his daughter, as well as his healing injury. The small child stirred, and Ron slowed his movements even more. Ron was able to stand and made his way over to where she slept. Glancing in, he noticed the framed picture of him and Hermione dancing at Bill's wedding was lying on the small mattress.

"Hey love, why is the picture of us dancing in Rose's cot?" He asked softly. Hermione was still turned to the other side of the bed where he had been laying, and didn't bother to turn to answer.

"That's how I got her to sleep by herself while you were gone. But, she'd just wake in the night and want to be held." Ron sighed at the trouble they went through, and began to work Rose into the cot. He successfully detached one of his daughter's hands from his shirt, and began to lower the tot to the small mattress.

At this, she instantly popped open her eyes and started to grasp for him again. She was still very sleepy, and not completely awake, as she began crying. Ron groaned and held the tot close, which solved the problem and Rose was calm again. Figuring this would happen twice if he tried another time, he just made his way back to his position on the bed. Ron made himself comfortable and looked over at the woman in bed with him. Her eyes were open and she was smirking.

"I told you she wasn't going to let you go." Hermione snickered. Ron looked down at the redhead lying on his chest.

"Yea, yea. It's a good thing I have tomorrow off." Hermione shifted closer to him, snuggling into his side. Ron was surprised at this, but none the less enthused. He raised his arm and curled it around her back and rested his hand on the brunette's slim waist. She rested her bushy mane on his shoulder, bringing her hand up to lay on his chest.

"It's a very good thing indeed." She murmured into his chest. Ron smiled and pecked the woman on her forehead.

"Goodnight, Mione. I love you." He whispered to her hairline.

"Love you too, Ronald." She mumbled as she fell into the best rest she had in three years.

A/N: On snow day number seven here. We were hit with a horrid ice storm on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to seeing my students again, but I now can successfully say I've accomplished something while having the time off.

Since some of you have asked, I have created a Tumblr account. If you'd like to follow or chat, I'll be at ScarletProphecy14.

Thank you for your support! I loved the feedback I received last chapter. It really motivates me to write! Please keep dropping reviews, and thank you for reading!