Hello and happy Thursday! Well, you've waited long enough so that's all I'll say along with THANKS BGP for doing what you and of course that I do not own these adorable cinnamon puffs...I just wish I did lol.

"Mmmm, Ron." My bedroom was filled with the sound of my moans and his grunts. Our reunion was nothing short of energetic and passionate.

At least this time, we made it to the bedroom.

"Missed you," he muttered into my hair as he slowly lowered me onto him. "Blimey, I missed you so much." His large hands splayed across my bare back and held me close. My arms wrapped securely around his neck, fingers disappearing into his short hair. I brought him to meet my lips and kept him there, tasting him as I began to move above him.

"I missed you, too," I whispered against his lips. "God, Ron, you feel so good!" I threw my head back and he took the opportunity to press sweet kisses along my neck and chest. I cried out when his lips surrounded the hardened peak of my breast. "Yessss," I hissed.

I came moments later, his name rolling off my tongue. He followed almost immediately. You would think that watching and hearing me come was his undoing!

We collapsed together onto my bed, our arms wrapped around one another. I smiled up at the ceiling while we tried to catch our breaths.

"That was wicked," he chuckled. I made a sound in agreement. "You're amazing, you are." He turned to me then and kissed my lips.

I snuggled up into his side and we started to talk about our first week of the new year. Unfortunately, it wasn't long before the topic of Viktor came up.

"Bloody hell," Ron grumbled, getting up. He reached for his boxers and pulled them on. "Not quite my idea of pillow talk, Hermione." He added, smiling at me over his shoulder to let me know he wasn't angry...I had to agree with him.

Talking about my ex while lying in bed naked with my boyfriend was odd...wasn't it?

"Let's go and eat, then," I suggested as I put on his shirt.

We made our way to the kitchen, where the dinner he'd brought was left forgotten on the table in our haste to get to my room. I reheated two plates of pasta while he poured each of us a glass of wine.

"Okay," Ron said as we sat. "So, I take it that you spoke to him?"

I nodded to give myself a moment, having just taken my first bite. "I made it very clear that while I may be the mother of his child, he has no claim over me whatsoever. And that he cannot act the way he did towards you. He said he was rather caught off guard but that's no excuse, is it?"

Ron chuckled. "I guess we both were, honestly. Might have been different had it been a planned meeting...although, you do know we still would not have met and become best mates, right Hermione?"

"Yes, I know that," I answered with an eye roll, then pointed my fork at him. "But you both will have to learn to get along...at least a bit." Ron scoffed then playfully nipped at my fork, trying to steal my bite of food. "I'm serious, Ron," I warned, though I didn't sound serious at all, considering I was laughing at his antics now. I cleared my throat and collected myself, leaving humor aside for my next words. "You'll have to find some sort of common ground. Soon enough you'll both be in Rose's life, and now that you've signed the partnership with the league...you might see a lot of him."

"Nah," Ron dropped back on his seat. "When his team is staying at the hotel, I'll make myself scarce for sure."

I shook my head. "Well, fine. I suppose you won't have to see him much - definitely no more than I do. But you will," I pointed my fork at him again, brandishing it menacingly to stress my next words. "And when you do, I expect you both to be on your best behavior. For Rose's sake. I told Viktor as much as well." I took a sip of my wine. "Would make my life a bit easier, too."

Once I released my glass, Ron leaned forward and took my hand. "Of course," he smiled. "I promise." He sealed his promise with a soft kiss across my knuckles.

We put Viktor out of our minds after that, enjoying the rest of our evening together before he had to head back to the city. I knew it would likely be some time before Ron and Viktor laid eyes on each other again, but Ron and Rose were a different story.

Throughout the weeks that followed, Ron confided in me that he was a bit apprehensive about meeting Rose, even though she seemed to show nothing but positive excitement over our relationship. She'd started teasing me whenever I was on the phone with Ron - "Are you talking to your boyfriend?" she would say in a sing-song voice - and was more than happy to say hello during one of our calls. I even showed her a picture of us from the ball in October.

"Wow, mom, he's tall! Way taller than you and you're wearing heels! You look like a little elf or something next to him!"

Wow...well, thank you Rose for that. I could always count on my Rosie - who had gained all of my physical genes, minus my height - to point out that I was short and she would soon join the ranks of the majority of the population who were taller than me.

Despite the enthusiasm Rose had shown and their warming up to one another over the phone, Ron kept getting more and more worried - all the way up to the week they were finally going to meet.

"What if she sees me in person and she hates me?" He asked frantically over the phone the night before Rose and I were to head to the city. "What if she decides she thinks I'm a big ole' prat?"

"Ron," I soothed him, "how could she not like you? In fact, I daresay she'll love you. Besides, you've been around kids and they love you!"

"They're my nieces and nephews, Hermione, they have to love me."

"And didn't you say that you're their favorite uncle?" I teased. "That's a pretty big feat in your family - tons of competition."

Rose and I left bright and early the following morning for the three hour drive. It was now the last weekend in March, which was TB Suites scheduled service weekend with Habitat for Humanity. By now, with all the conversations Ron and I had leading up to this weekend, Ron was no longer the only one who was feeling nervous. and. Some of his family were flying in as well, so I was beside myself with worry.

TB Suites' offices would be closed for the weekend - save for essential personnel - and hotel staff would be limited, rotating in so as many of them as possible could get a few hours of service on the books for themselves. I didn't think I could love the company Ron's family ran any more, but the fact that they made giving back to the community a top priority just added to the appeal.

Family and friends of employees were also welcomed to join the crowd - which is how Rose and I found ourselves on the list to serve as well.

Rose and I checked into TB that Friday morning - Ron had the two of us set up in the room adjoining his. After Rose and I dropped off our bags, we made our way down to the hotel's restaurant to meet Ron for lunch. He had morning meetings, but promised to join us at one.

"There he is," I smiled, as a flash of red hair caught my eye. Rose turned in her seat.

"Wow, he's even taller in person." She gasped, making me laugh. "And his hair is so red!"

"I know," I agreed softly as he approached our table.

"Hiya, love," he greeted me, dropping a chaste kiss on my cheek. I could tell he was extremely nervous as he turned to Rose and stood there, frozen.

"Rosie, this is Ron. Ronald, meet my Rosie."

Suddenly shy, Rose mumbled a quick hello. Ron put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed lightly. "Good to finally meet you Rose."

They were awkward at first - Rose initially saying no more than one or two words at a time, which I could tell made Ron feel as if he was doing something wrong. But I could see that Rose was just sizing him up a bit. She normally did this with new people.

Suddenly the topic of soccer - or rather, football - came up.

"You're a keeper? Like a goalkeeper?" Rose exclaimed.

Ron chuckled, a bit startled by her outburst. "Was, yeah. Played all through school."

"I'm goalie for my team!" She squealed excitedly. "I play the fall season. In spring I play softball." She grinned and sat up straight and proud. "I'm a pitcher, just like my dad!"

Ron glanced at me and winked. "You must be an amazing pitcher, then." Rose absolutely beamed.

I watched, munching on my salad, as the two of them bonded over their love for sports. Rose held her own, arguing Ron down in statistics, and Ron explained cricket - having never played baseball himself, and thinking the two sports were somehow similar. He explained to her that he learned to play cricket when he was very young.

Before I knew it, over an hour had passed and Ron jumped when he caught the time. "Harry and Ginny will be here any minute!"

Now it was my turn to sweat. In just moments, I would meet both the best friend and the sister - how nerve-wracking! Meeting any of Ron's brothers was one thing, but meeting his only sister first? I couldn't believe how nervous I was.

"Let's head out to the lobby, then," urged Ron, as he settled things with the waitress. "They're a rowdy lot, so there's no reason to have them come and find us in here and disturb all the guests trying to enjoy a quiet lunch."

Rose was excited as we stepped out to the lobby to wait. Ron's sister was coming with their children - two of which Ron told her were around her age.

I was just ringing my hands nervously when a beautiful woman with long red hair strolled into the lobby with a baby wrapped snugly to her chest. She spotted Ron immediately and came right over.

"Gin!" Ron said happily. He swooped his sister into a careful hug, making sure not to squish the baby - Lily - who was a bit over five months old, if I remembered correctly.

"Ron, it's so good to see you!" She shrieked happily as she hugged him. I marveled at how she really was a shorter version of Ron with longer hair. "Looks great in here!" She exclaimed, her brown eyes gazing around the lobby. "Much different from my last visit!"

"I would hope so," Ron laughed. "When you were here it was all under construction. And where's the specky git? Lost his way?"

"No, he's getting the bags out of the car with the boys. They'll be right in!" She turned to me then and gave me a bright smile. "You must be Hermione!"

"Yes!" I smiled back and held out my hand awkwardly. "It's nice to meet you!" But instead of shaking my hand, she used it to pull me into a hug.

"Oh, don't be so formal!" She laughed then stepped back, her hands still holding my arms. "You'll learn that us Weasley's are huggers! Surely my prat of a brother told you that!"

I chuckled, suddenly feeling at ease with the bubbly woman. "He may have mentioned something along those lines!"

"Well, good. You'll do well to remember it! Stick your hand out like that to our mum and she'll just laugh at you! And then, she'll crush you with what will be the tightest, most suffocating hug you've ever received in your life!"

"I'm looking forward to it!"

"Gin," Ron interrupted, "This is Hermione's daughter, Rose."

Ginny cupped Rose's face tenderly and took her in. "Well, aren't you a darling thing?" She hugged Rose, who mumbled her greeting shyly, then we all fussed over baby Lily. With all the attention directed to her, we missed the entrance of a few young men.

"Started the party without me?" Said a voice behind us. "Typical."

I turned to find a shorter but rather good-looking man with messy black hair and glasses grinning at us. On either side of him were younger versions of himself, along with a teenage boy with spiky turquoise hair.

"Harry!" Ron exclaimed. He tugged his best friend into a tight hug before facing them back to me to introduce us.

"Great to finally meet you Hermione," Harry said as he hugged me. "Heard so much about you."

"Thank you! I've heard plenty about you all as well."

Rose and I were then introduced to Harry and Ginny's sons, James and Al, as well as their godson Teddy - who I learned they recently started letting dye his hair a variety of colors as a tribute to his mother.

"Her favorite hair color was bright pink," Teddy explained, "but I can't see myself going that route."

"Thank goodness!" Ginny called out behind him.

He chuckled, then continued with a playful eyeroll, "Anyway, I wear a bright pink woven bracelet instead." He showed Rose and I his braided pink bracelet, which was adorned with a pendant of a wolf. "For my dad. He had a thing for wolves. Werewolf movies, too."

Ron had mentioned to me before that Teddy's parents were killed in a car crash - hit by a drunk driver just like Harry's parents were years before. They were both around a year old when they became orphans. The one difference was that Harry was with his parents when the accident happened. Ron explained that he still sports a scar along the side of his forehead and eye, which I could just make out under his mop of hair.

Teddy, on the other hand, was with his grandmother at the time of his parent's accident. Ron also told me that these occurrences - as well as others in Harry's life - had led Harry to pursue a career in law enforcement.

After the greetings, Ron went to show them to their adjoining rooms, which were just across the hall from our two rooms so we could all be close to each other for the weekend. Everyone separated for a bit to settle in - Ron changing out of his "stuffy" work clothes for the afternoon.

A while later, I was alone in my room - Rose having run off to explore the hotel lobby and other amenities with Al, James and Teddy - when there was a playful knock.

"Hullo," Ron said softly when I opened it. "I don't believe I ever did get a proper greeting today."

"That you haven't," I grinned, as he stepped in and closed the door behind him. He took me in his arms immediately and rubbed his nose to mine. I shut my eyes and leaned into him with a sigh.

"Bloody hell, I missed you," he whispered. "You know that?"

I giggled. "I hoped so. Because I really missed you too." He gazed at me, keeping his eyes locked with mine for so long that I felt my legs turn to jelly from the intensity. He was looking at me as if he was torn between kissing me into oblivion or telling me something of the utmost importance...but he never got to do either.

There was a strong knock on the door and we both jumped. "Hey, Hermione," Harry called through the door, "Ron in there? He wasn't in his-" Ron swung open the door with a huff."-room-hey mate!"

I tried desperately to stifle my giggles at Ron's clearly exasperated tone as he said tightly, "What can I do you for, mate?" My need to burst out laughing only doubled at the fact that Harry was obviously just so oblivious to Ron's irritation at the interruption.

I could already tell that a weekend with the two of them was going to be a lot of fun.

"We're ready whenever you are, Ron!" Harry's green eyes shone brightly and he was practically bouncing on his feet. We had plans to walk around Times Square with the kids and then catch dinner.

"First time in New York, Harry," I asked amused.

He nodded so enthusiastically that he had to push his round wire frames back up his nose. "Ginny's been here a couple of times, but this is the first time I'm able to come along, too."

Ron sighed. "How about we meet down in the lobby in five minutes?"

"Sounds good. I'll go see if I can find the kids. See you both in a bit!"

The laughter finally escaped me once Ron closed the door shaking his head. "I tell ya, Hermione, I love him - everyone knows I do - but he has always had the world's worst timing!"

"Well," I wrapped my arms around his waist, "at least you just bought us another five minutes."

He finally leaned down to me but before he touched his lips to mine, he whispered, "Might push it to fifteen," and picked me up to toss me on the bed.

"So," Ginny said as she walked beside me, "you actually really fancy that great ginger prat don't you?"

I laughed and nodded. "Yes, I really fancy him - quite a bit it seems." I smiled at the fact that I was learning my way around British terminology. "I'm really glad I met him."

I looked a few feet ahead of us, where Ron and Harry were walking and talking animatedly. Just in front of them were James, Al and Rose who were fast friends, and behind Ginny and I, Teddy strolled along quietly with a sleeping Lily wrapped to his chest, staring around wide-eyed at the sights of the city.

"Oh, yes," Ginny smiled wickedly and wrapped her arm around mine, "He told me about when you two met."

"He did?!"

"Not the details, or anything, don't worry. Bugger, I definitely do not want to know." She shuddered dramatically, making me laugh. "But I've heard enough from my brother to know that this," she waved her hand between me and Ron, "is getting pretty serious and I'm always excited to have another woman amongst the family!"

"I can imagine," I laughed. "Growing up as the only girl...wow."

Ginny rolled her eyes and nodded. "So, Ron says you're an only child?"

"Yes," I answered. "Which I'm sure sounds blissful to you," she nodded again as she laughed, "but it was kind of lonely too. Mostly because I also didn't grow up with any cousins." I looked ahead to Rose, deep in conversation with Ginny's boys. "That's why I'm happy Rose has plenty of cousin's through her dad. And it looks as if she's taken to your crew as well."

Ginny followed my gaze. "Oh, she would fit in perfectly with the rest of them too. Victoire and Dominique would love her."

"That's...Bill's children, correct? The oldest?"

"Ah, you've been studying?"

I laughed at the irony - studying was always my thing in school anyway. "With so many of you to keep track of, I make it a point to pay close attention! Ron speaks of you all so often, that I do feel as if I know you all so well."

"Believe me, he speaks of you to us just as often," Ginny smiled at me and I found myself leaning into her a bit as we walked and continued to chat. I didn't know why I was so nervous to meet her.

Saturday was nothing short of exhausting - but so fulfilling at the same time, for so many reasons.

You never realize just how much goes into building a house, until you actually find yourself building a house! But I was completely fascinated by the planning and organization of it all.

We spent much of the day broken off into groups to help under the instruction of the builders. The men did a lot of the heavier lifting but we all got down and dirty, only breaking for lunch and then a quick afternoon snack before getting back to work until we would call it a day that evening.

"Enjoying the view," a voice caught me off guard at one point. I was leaning on the frame of the window - the hole where the window would soon be installed - just in time to see Ron strolling by, carrying a short stack of wood. The view of his arms and back glistening with sweat was a lovely one.

"Harry!" I jumped away and rerouted my eyes to the task in front of me. "Gorgeous day isn't it?"

Harry just laughed as he leaned against the wall. "Yeah, I'm sure it is." He smiled at me knowingly. "He's quite smitten with you, too," he jerked his head in Ron's direction. "Happy to see that the feeling seems to be mutual."

I felt my cheeks warm up although I was in a shaded part of the house. "Playing the part of the protective best friend, are you?"

"Can't help it," he shrugged, a faraway look in his eyes. "He deserves the world. It was hard to watch him get hurt...so, I was a bit worried when he started talking to us about you so much. Didn't take long to realize you're different, though." He smiled at me fondly. "So, yes, while I always keep an eye on my Wheezy, something tells me his heart is safe with you."

"It is," I laughed. "I assure you...but…'your Wheezy'?"

Harry chuckled and shook his head. "Ron never told you about Mr. Dobby, did he?" I shook my head. "Old Man Dobby - Josef Svoboda. He was this little old man from Czech Republic who helped out around our school when we were kids - mostly in the kitchens. Apparently, kids always had difficulties saying his last name, and so somehow Mr. Dobby became his known nickname. He never quite took to English well, and mispronounced most of our names too."

I suddenly caught on. "So, I'm assuming he referred to the Weasley's as 'Wheezy's'?"

Harry nodded, his eyes sparkling at the memory. "And Ron was always 'my Wheezy' because we were pretty much inseparable - and there were so many 'Wheezys' running about the school. But Mr. Dobby loved us - Ron and I. He would always jump at the chance to help us, even covering for us a couple of times so we wouldn't get into trouble. Of course, once I started dating Ginny, he teased me and said that Ron was still 'my Wheezy'...Ginny was the only 'Ms. Wheezy' so she didn't need her own distinction, I guess." He laughed, then sighed. "I'll never forget him."

"Did he…" Harry nodded. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"He lived a good long life."

"Well, Harry, the heart of 'your Wheezy' is safe with me."

"I don't doubt it," he smiled.

"Talking up my bird, Harry?" Ron's lopsided grin appeared through the unfinished window. "First you take my sister's innocence, now you chat up my girl? I can't take you anywhere can I?"

"Hey, shall I remind you that your innocent sister is the one who sought me out?!" I laughed as Ron grabbed Harry through the window in a loose headlock.

"Careful you two!" I called. "We're supposed to be building the house, not wrestling it to the ground!"

They laughed as they released each other. "I came over because McMillan was looking for extra hands to lay the concrete out back," Ron said.

"Only reason you came over, is it?" Harry teased. "I'll head back and leave you to it then." He winked and jogged off to (what would soon be) the back door.

"Okay, maybe I also wanted to see how you're doing." Ron leaned forward more and placed a kiss on my cheek.

"Good," I answered. "McMillan's given me little jobs since I hurt my ankle earlier." I rotated my foot gingerly, testing my range of motion. Leave it to me to hurt myself within the first hour of a building project. "Anything that requires me to stay in one spot basically."

"Good...you're still standing on it a lot though, aren't you?" I side-eyed him and sat on the ground. "That's better," he smiled. Despite myself, I felt the corner of my lips turn up at his concern. "They're also laying the concrete out in the front, for the walkway, so I'll be there if you need me, smoothing it out with the kids."

I nodded and gave him a grin. "Okay."

A while later I started to head out to catch up with Ron. I could hear him and Rose talking just below the front window and smiled. They were getting along so well.

"So," I heard Rose say as I passed the window, "do you love my mom?"

I froze in my tracks and leaned against the wall. Really, Rose?

Ron cleared his throat, and could only imagine the reddened state of his ears. "Uh...I...yeah. I do." His usual deep baritone voice came out in a nervous squeak, and my heart leapt at his confession.

"Does she know?"

"Haven't exactly told her yet," Ron answered. "Shown her, maybe?"

"I think you should tell her," Rose stated matter-of-factly.

"Really?" Again, a squeak.

"Well, yes!"

"I...I definitely want to…"

"Don't be scared, Ron, I'm pretty sure she loves you, too."

"Yeah?" There was a pause - Rose must have nodded. "And you're...you're okay with all of this?"

"Yeah. I think you'll be cool to have around."

I slid down the wall to sit, my ankle had started to throb a bit, but it was nothing compared to the throbbing that was happening in my heart.