I am dreading this story immensely :( This is round 10 of QLFC, and this round the Mods That Be decided to torture us by making us break up our OTPs. I have MANY, but this time I'm going with Romione.

We have been given a cause of the breakup that we must use in the story. I, as Captain of the Arrows, was given the reason "one of the characters are flaky or unreliable." I hope you guys enjoy my torture!

Special thanks to Stormy (StormyThoughts) for helping with my idea!

Beta: Jodie (LadyLush)

Word Count: 1041

Ron was preparing some backpacks. He knew something was missing, but he couldn't think of what it was. Oh, come on, what is it?

Then it hit him. "'Mione! Where is the bug spray?"

And silence. He almost should have expected it. His wife was almost always busy, especially lately, with her recent promotion to Minister of Magic. He completely understood and supported her as she worked so their family could have a better life than either of them had growing up.

And yet it was times like these that he resented it. They had been planning this hiking and camping trip since the start of the summer, and Hermione had known that. Today, they were supposed to be packing everyone's bags together. Rose and Hugo had been looking forward to the trip, since it would be the first time in a while that she would be around for extended time.

Searching around, he found a note on the dresser. Of course. He picked it up and read it.

Ron,

Went to the Ministry, was urgently needed. I will see you for dinner.

Love, Hermione

A few minutes passed as Ron sat before the backpacks, considering how he would tell the kids that Hermione had seemingly forgotten their trip. Eventually, he looked up to approaching footsteps.

"Hi, Rosie," he greeted his daughter. At nine years old, she was extremely intelligent, just like her mother, but cared extremely about her family.

"Daddy, I found the bug spray," she said, handing it to him. "What happened, where's Mummy?"

Ron heaved a big sigh as she sat, putting an arm around her shoulder. "Mummy went to work, I think she forgot about our camping trip."

"Oh." The disappointment on her face made another surge of resentment go through Ron, but he pushed it down as she said, "I miss Mummy, you know. I miss doing things with her, and having her read stories after dinner."

"Me too, Rosie," Ron sighed. "I'll talk to her, okay? We'll see what happens."

She nodded, but she didn't seem to believe it. As she stood and left, Ron continued to think. He hadn't even considered how this was affecting the kids. Rose's words had hit him hard. Hermione was so rarely around, what would happen if something happened to him? Would Hermione be either willing or able to be around for the kids?

I have to say something to her.

Later that evening, Ron was sitting on the couch, waiting for Hermione to come through the Floo. She had missed dinner, of course, and that had rammed the point home. He had tried to explain to the kids that Hermione was very important at work, and that she was needed.

The look on Hugo's face had cemented his determination to have this very serious conversation with Hermione. Things had to change, or the children would grow up constantly disappointed.

Taking a look at his watch, he saw that it was nearly midnight. Where is she? He was just starting to wonder if something bad had happened to her when the fireplace erupted in a shower of green.

The next minute, Hermione stood in the room, shaking off her robes. She looked up, and seeing Ron, smiled warmly and made to embrace him. "I'm sorry I was late for dinner, I simply couldn't get away." His stiff posture and apparent lack of reciprocating her embrace tipped her off that there was something wrong. "Ron?"

"You were more than just late for dinner, Hermione," he managed. "You're just late in general. But that's not what I'm upset about. Today we were supposed to pack up for the camping trip, and you went to work!"

Hermione went pale as she realized. "Oh, I can't believe I forgot about the trip. I'm so sorry, Ron."

"It's not me you should apologize to," he managed. "The kids! They were looking forward to this, to spending time with you! They miss you."

Hermione was speechless for a few moments. "I… I don't know what to say, Ron."

Ron forced himself to say the next words. "Hermione, you know I completely supported your promotion when it happened, and you promised you wouldn't let it get in the way of being with the children at least sometimes. I totally understand the demands of being Minister of Magic, and I don't even care about being the stay-at-home dad. But the kids need their mother, and I need you, too."

Hermione digested this for a minute. "Ron, I have no defense. I had no idea what would be expected when I started, or I don't think I'd have done it. But I can't back out now. That's just not who I am."

At this, Ron grew angry. "Who you are? What about being a mother to the kids? Being married to me? I know your career is important, but the children and I need you. What if something happens to me, what would happen to the kids then?"

The release of anger brought Hermione up short. "I… well, I…"

Setting his jaw, Ron said, "That's all I needed to hear." His next words were irreversible, and he almost wanted to take them back. But then he thought of the children, and made up his mind. "Hermione, this can't work. The kids need someone in their life as a mother that will be there, not just me. I can't stay with you."

Hermione's eyes widened at this. "Ron, you're not serious! You can't just make this decision out of the blue."

But if he was honest with himself, he knew that it wasn't out of nowhere. Things had been coming to this for a while. "I'll always love you, Hermione. But I have to think of the kids and what they need also. Having someone else in their life that will be what you can't be is best for us all."

Hermione stood dumbstruck at Ron's words. It hurt that she could come up with no defense. Slowly, Ron crossed the room and picked up a bag he'd packed. "I… can I…" She stopped herself from whatever she was saying, accepting the bag. With wide, terrified eyes, she barely whispered, "I'm sorry, Ron."

"So am I," Ron managed. "Goodbye."