Warning: Pure mush ahead. I couldn't help myself… This chapter honestly doesn't have much content. Please please please review, and read the notice in bold at the bottom. Also, please read one of my new stories – Surviving Without You.

Annabelle: You're very close – probably closer then you know. I do know this person very well, but it stands to reason that some people may know her better then she knows herself.





Awake, Lady
Chapter Five: How Deep the River Flows



"Yours." His. Forever.

The words, actions, and their implications had an effect on Ron like none other. He pulled his arms tightly around Hermione and stood, still kissing her. His breath quickened, and she pulled her legs around him as if by instinct. He hoisted her higher, and she hooked her legs around his hips, not missing a beat. Just moments ago their kiss had been tender and soft, conveying only their absolute love and adoration for each other. Now it had deepened, had become passionate and wanting. Though tears were still on both of their cheeks, their faces had become hot against each other, as if a thin sheet of fire were between them. They kissed like this for a moment, and then Ron pulled back.

"U-understand. I'm very happy right now. But if we don't…" he stuttered again as Hermione kissed his neck softly. "If we don't stop now, then-" he was silenced again by Hermione's warm breath near his ear.

"I don't want to." She pulled back, her face cocked questioningly. "Do you want to finish dinner?" she teased gently.

Ron looked at the set table, smiling. "Well, we are only halfway through. Maybe-"

"You're killing the moment, Ron."

He pressed her closer to him. "You started it, anyway…" he whispered softly.

Hermione kissed his bottom lip. "Then you…" she said, still brushing his lips as she spoke. "Should finish it." Had she been thinking rationally, she would have been astounded at her own boldness, but now was not the time for thought – now was the time for action.

Her words sent Ron into frenzy, and he instantly kissed her harder, gently prodding her mouth. She opened it to him, and felt him sigh deeply. Suddenly, he began to move through the room, Hermione still wrapped around his tall frame.

Past the island, into the stairwell, up the stairs (she almost hit her head on the turn), through the hall, fumbling for the doorknob, and finally the bed. He began to gently lay her down, but found that she wouldn't pull her legs away from his body. Without protest, Ron simply shifted their intertwined bodies upward so they were fully on the bed. For a few minutes, they simply kissed and felt each other, sliding their hands down each other's sides and putting their hands in each other's hair. Ron pulled back again, obviously trying to restrain himself. Her eyes were large and glossy, the pupils dilated, and a smile played on her lips.

"Hermione, I have to ask." He seemed short of breath, and his bright red hair was tousled. He buried his face to her neck. "Do you really want this?"

"Yes. I want to do this with you.." Even in her current state, Hermione couldn't help but turn the situation to her control, and Ron smiled, and then nipped her neck. "Just…" there was a trace of fear in her voice. "Try not to hurt me."

He pulled back and stared at her. His voice croaked, heavy with emotion and want. "I'll try. I want to make love to you. I've never done this either… you'll have to…" He laughed gently, running his hand down her body. "Tell me what to do."

The irony wasn't lost on Hermione. "Always." Was her only answer.

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"It's amazing," said Hermione, "How you wake up one day being one body and one soul, and the next wake up sharing one soul with another body." She was lying on her side, her head resting on Ron's shoulder, gently tracing runes on his chest with her index finger.

"Oh, I don't know... I've woken up every day for the last eight years or so feeling that way. I never thought you'd feel that way though. He turned to her, locking his eyes with hers. "You're so beautiful."

Hermione smiled and turn to look into his face. "Like this? Naked? With bed-head? With stinky breath?"

He laughed and rubbed her back through the thin sheets. "All of the above - Especially the first, of course. And anyway, bed-head is an underrated aspect of loving someone." He fell silent, gently running his hands through her hair and down her back. She was beginning to fall asleep when he squeezed her and aligned his face with hers. Her eyes popped open and met his beautiful blue ones. "Hermione" he began, seriously, "Was that okay, what we did?"

She smiled and ran her hand through his red hair, making it stand on end. "To be totally honest, it hurt a little."

His face took on a look of petrifaction. "Damn it!" he said, "I knew I shoulda - God, I'm sorry, look, if you don't want to –"

Hermione placed her small hand over his mouth, ceasing the flow of words. "Just because it hurt a little," she said, "doesn't mean I didn't like it or didn't want to. I wanted to. And we did, and…" she smiled coyly at him, "I won't object to doing it again. You didn't do anything wrong – you didn't take advantage of me. In fact, everything about it was right. Everything about waking up next to you is right. Except, maybe, that you're so utterly paranoid that I'll hate you for loving me." She smiled endearingly at him and cuddled up to him, her back against his front, his arms around her and his head over her shoulder. They silently spooned like this, gently moving in and out of sleep for the next hour.

Ron slit his eyes halfway open, and then shielded them with a hand against the lines of light breaking through the slats in the window. Hermione felt a rumbling against her back, and laughed as she realized what it was.

Ron stretched and moved over Hermione, smiling. "So I'm a bit hungry – I was active last night. Time to replenish the resources." With this, he flipped back the covers and began to move around the room, straightening a few things and throwing their clothing in a laundry basket, apparently unashamed of his nudity. Hermione flushed and giggled slightly – it was true, it was nothing she hadn't seen last night, but he was so casual about it. Hearing her, Ron turned, one hand on his hip and the other at the back of his neck.

"What?" he said.

Hermione grinned. "You're so… unembarrassed about prancing around the room in the nude!"

He shrugged. "Yeah? Do you want me to stop?" He grinned and pulled the coverlet from the floor, where it had fallen the night before. He pulled it up to his chin, letting out a fake scream. "Aiee! You're seeing my-my-my man parts!" he yelled in a falsetto.

Hermione rose from the bed. "Oh, I didn't say that!" she said, pulling the comforter away from his body and embracing him. "I only meant that a few years ago, you would have been so embarrassed if I had seen you naked."

Ron ran his hand down her spine. "I guess you're right, aren't you? Well, nothing new about that – you being right, that is - but Jesus is it refreshing to hear. Now, what do you want for breakfast?"

"Mm… just a fried egg and some toast and tea, if you don't mind."

Ron kissed her nose lightly and gave her one last squeeze. "Whatever the lady wants. I'll go to Canada for genuine Canadian ham if you want."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Your love runs so deep, Ron." He gave her a lopsided grin and pulled on a garish orange robe with "Cannons" embroidered on the back.

"You have no idea. I'll be downstairs, I'll go ahead and shower after breakfast."

Hermione couldn't help herself. She tightened her embrace and kissed Ron's collarbone gently. "Lets make breakfast together" she said. "We wont be in the shower long."

"Bossy as ever. When I die, heaven will be this way. God will push me around."

"Of course."



I've found I'm having a hard time writing this story now. Mind, I don't want to stop… but I seem to have hit a blockage in my writing J. What I want, you see, is a co-writer. Someone to suggest ideas and help me continue the story – that is, if the reviewers wish for me to continue. I know the story has much more potential then anything else, and I want it to be good. So please review and let me know how you feel, and e-mail me if you're interested in contributing ideas or helping write the story from here on out – with credit, of course. I've noticed that many of the people who read the story have very good stories themselves, and I would greatly appreciate the help.