Characters: Ron, Hermione

Prompt #31 Sunrise

Waiting For The Sun To Rise

There was a soft light was just beginning to shine through the closed window when Hermione woke up.

Sunrise, she thought. Again.

For the past two months she had been virtually waking up at exactly the same time every morning.

Before the clock reached six.

Maybe it's because of the baby? Ron suggested whenever she complained that it was too early. She was never able to fall back asleep after waking up, so she would go and have breakfast just as the sun was rising and he would join her an hour later.

Perhaps it was because she was pregnant that she kept waking up so early – she didn't know. But she wasn't able to fall sleep until after midnight most nights and would then wake up incredibly early the next morning.

She admired Ron for putting up with her in those times.

Beside her, he was snoring softly, unaware of anything going on around him. Hermione envied him for it. It was a Saturday – she should have still been curled up next to him, both of them sound asleep.

Two more months, she thought as she gently untangled herself from his arms and climbed out of bed. Two more months and then he won't be getting any sleep either.

Her usual routine was to go downstairs, have breakfast, make herself a cup of tea and wait for Ron to get up. After that, he would either go to work, or insist that she lie down and not do anything for the rest of the day.

Ron had never been one to worry too much about keeping things tidy, but ever since they had found out they were expecting, he had been very helpful (even when Hermione had assured him she was allowed to walk from one end of the house to the other). Still, she loved him for caring so much. She knew how much it terrified him that in a few short months there would be a life completely depending on him.

It scared her too. She didn't know how to be a mother. She had no idea.

Seeing as it was Saturday and Hermione wasn't feeling very hungry, she made a detour. Rather than going into the kitchen and putting on a pot of tea, she went onto the veranda. The air was cool, but refreshing as a light breeze blew across her face.

She pulled her dressing gown tightly around her and sat in one of the chairs. It was only a few minutes later when Ron joined her, looking wide awake for someone who had been sound asleep just moments ago.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked softly, sitting in the chair beside her.

"Watching the sunrise," Hermione replied just as softly. She looked up at the lightening sky and smiled. "It's beautiful."

Ron followed her gaze. "Sunrise..." he said. "You know, that would be a good name –"

"– Ron, we're not naming our daughter Sunrise," Hermione interrupted, sighing. In the months they had spent discussing names for their daughter, they had not been able to agree on anything. Hermione had discovered that Ron had an extremely unusual taste in names – even by a wizard's standard – and he had shot down anything she had remotely suggested. It was a lot harder than she had ever expected it to be.

"Well... at least I'm trying. You've mentioned two names the whole time and we already agreed not to go with those."

The truth was, Hermione had no idea what she wanted to call their baby. Every name she thought of didn't seem right. This was their daughter they were naming – it had to be perfect. The last thing she wanted was her little girl growing up hating her name. "We still have two months," she said.

"What if the baby decides to come tomorrow?" Ron asked. "And that can happen – I read it in one of those books you told me to read. What if she comes tomorrow and we have no name for her? What will you do then?"

Hermione turned her head to the right, where Ron was sitting. "You read those books?" she asked, genuinely surprised. She had given them to him months ago, hoping that he would take a look at them, but never expecting it.

"Yeah, of course I did," Ron answered. "I... I'm scared, you know."

Hermione smiled, nodding. "I'm scared too," she confessed.

"But, I'm excited as well. I know you don't think that I am, Hermione, but I can't wait. I've watched Bill and Percy and Harry and Ginny all have kids and... it's amazing. Yes, once upon a time ago, the thought of me ever becoming a father seemed ridiculous. But... I don't think that's the case anymore. I think I will be a rubbish dad to her and I'm absolutely terrified, but I'm ready for the challenge. I'll love her no matter what; that much I know."

"You won't be rubbish, Ron," Hermione replied. "If you love her – which I know you will – then you won't be rubbish."

Ron didn't say anything, which Hermione took as a good sign. She reached across and grabbed his hand, squeezing it. He smiled at her.

"It's a miracle, isn't it?" he asked. "That we can love someone who we don't even know yet; who doesn't even have a name?"

"It's a wonderful feeling," Hermione agreed. She shuffled her chair closer to him. "But do you want to know what the best feeling is?"

Ron looked at her curiously.

"Give me your hand," she instructed.

Ron did as she requested and she placed it on top of her stomach, where their little girl had just moved inside her.

"Every morning," Hermione said. "Every morning, at this time, she wakes up and lets me know that she is still there... that she is okay. That's the best feeling, Ron, and I can't think of anything else until I feel her."

A smile formed on Ron's lips. "And she's awake... now?" he asked.

Hermione nodded, smiling back at him. "Yes."

"She's beautiful... she will be beautiful," he said. "I just hope she's not like me."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Hermione responded, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Well... it is. I don't ever want her feeling like she doesn't matter to anyone... that she's not important."

"She won't; we'll make sure of it," Hermione promised him. "And for the record; you are important to many people – me, especially. And you will be important to our baby too."

"I just hope I can love her enough."

"You will love her too much, Ron. I know you will."

With his hand still on her, Ron looked up. "Looks like we missed the sunrise," he said.

Hermione followed his gaze. The sun was well and truly in the sky now and neither of them had noticed. "That's okay," she said. "Being here with you was better than any sunrise."

Alright, this is one of my personal favourites so far. The basic idea was once again suggested by Lady Phoenix Fire Rose (her ideas really inspire me). I hope you like it and please don't forget to leave a review.