Ron's POV



She said no?

She said she couldn't- what on earth could make her NOT... If she didn't WANT to that's one thing... but COULDN'T? Why CAN'T she?

And what's with the waterworks?

Why cry? I'll still love her... it might be a bit awkward for a while, but I love her. Nothing's going to change that... she knows that, right?

Maybe I should tell her... in case she doesn't know...

Then agan, maybe she doesn't want to see me...

How the HELL am I supposed to know?! I mean, she didn't TELL me anything!

She claims to love me, but she can't marry...

She says she loves me, but when i propose, she lapses into silence then erupts into tears...

Talk about mixed messages!

So what on earth am i gonna do?

I'm going to talk to her. Thats what. Even if she DOESN'T want to talk to me.

The only problem is... where is she?

Well, I guess I''ll just find her.

What am I going to say? 'I love you even though you wont marry me' ??? Gawd that's stupid!

Then again, what can I say that wont sound stupid?

I think I'm going insane. Maybe I should see Madam Pomfrey.

MADAM POMFREY! I bet that Hermione's there, in the library, or her dorm.

... @ Hospital Wing ...

"Madam Pomfrey?"

"Oh. Hello Mr. Weasley, can I help you?"

"Is Hermione Granger here?"

"Yes, but she can't see anyone right now."

"WHY? What's wrong?"

"I don't know yet. She came for her painkillers and was very upset about something." She explained quickly, obviously not wanting to tell him about it.

"I know what she's upset over."

Mme. Pomfrey turned her head quickly to be facing him.

"You do? What, preytell, is bothering her?"

"I... er... It's kind of personal."

"Mr. Weasley, if you know please tell me. If you don't please leave."

"I do, but..."

"It's nothing, really..." Came Hemione's voice.

"Hermione... I... er... we need to talk." Ron said shakily.

"Yes, we do."

"Hermione, I don't want you leaving just yet. It's just December and-"

"I know, you need to check... can I talk to Ron for a few minutes first?"

"Okay, but he's got to go soon. You've been putting this off."

"Yes ma'am." she responded solemly.

Madam Pomfrey let them walk to a bed that Hermione had come to know as her own. Almost no one ever occupied it. It was where she'd been for most of second year, it was where she'd been earlier this week. It was where she'd be when Madam Pomfrey gave her a check up later, and it was where she'd be whenever she felt poorly in the future. It was like a third bedroom. One was with her parents, one was her dorm room, and this was her sick room. She liked it better than the treatment center in Bulgaria...

"We need to talk."

Ron's voice stopped Hermione's train of thoughts, and she remembered the horrible topic they were about to discuss.

"I know," she whispered.

"Do you want to start? Or should I?"

"Er... you can."

"I..." he paussed, thinking, "I am -confused. I'm trying to understand you but- as usual- you don't make much sense. You like to leave some facts out, keep them to yourself, everyone does- I'm not BLAMING you, but... I love you. You love me. I proposed, you said you can't. Why CAN'T you?"

"I... er... What I mean is... I love you Ron, I really do, but..."

"But you can't?"

"Yes."

"WHY?"

"Don't get mad."

"I'm not mad! I swear, i'm just a little confused."

"There's a lot of things."

"I have time."

"I don't."

There was a long silence as Ron tried to decide how she meant those words.

"You don't have a lot of time now, or ever?"

"Now, ever, it makes no difference..." She let her voice trail off.

"If we love each other, and we don't have much time, then WHY can't we get married and spend what time we have together together???"

"Because Ron... because of a few things... I mean really, what are your motives? Hmm? What do you want to do when we're married that we can't do now? Don't answer that, I don't think i want to know! And why are you asking me? Just because I'm dying? I thought you understood now that I don't want to be treated like I'm dying. I want everything to go as it should have!"

"I thought you wanted it to be perfect." he said cooly.

"I do!"

"Normal isn't perfect."

"No, it's not..." she mumbled something else.

"What was that?"

"nothing."

"Really, what did you just say?"

"I said ' Life is pain Highness, anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something'... It's from one of my favorite movies."

"What's a movie?"

"Nevermin,the point is that you were right."

He started laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"You just agreed that *I* was right and *YOU* were wrong!"

"Oh grow up! There's an answer to your question, two of them infact. Your immature and you and I fight constantly!"

"Just like an old married couple I've been told. And you've admitted that you think my immaturity is 'cute'."

"...SO?" she started getting angry.

"Come on," Ron challenged, "Give me one GOOD reason and I swear I'll never bother you about it again."

"My parents."

"I've met them, they seem to be the kind of people who would value their only daughter's happiness above anything else."

She pursed her lips pensively.

"Anything else?" He asked sweetly.

Her eyes suddenly flared.

"YOU WANT TO KNOW RONALD WEASLEY? DO YOU *REALLY* WANT TO KNOW? FINE! I'M GOING TO DIE SOON!"

"and???"

She was crying now.

"And that's the only reason your doing this. It's the only reason you kissed me, the only reason you *borrowed* money from your brothers, and the only reason you asked me. If I married you... If I said yes... I'd lose everything I stand for: I'd be- "

He cut her off.

"Marrying the person you love and who loves you, spending a ton of time with him-"

"Marrying someone who MAY love me, giving in and doing something just because I'm sick, and..."

"And? Go on."

"I DON'T KNOW!" she sobbed.

"It all seemed like the right thing to do... but now..."

"Yes?"

"I want to more than ever."

"Then say yes!"

"I CAN'T"

"BLOODY HELL! WHY NOT?!"

"I...I don't remeber."

"You don't remeber?" He asked, starting to get a bit angry.

"I can't remeber... my heart and mind are screaming differend directions. When I was little I vowed never to get married unless the guy did certain things... my best friend Chelsey and I had a list..."

"So what didn't I do?"

"Well..." she blushed, "It's not only you."

"So what is on the list that hasn't been fufiled?" he normally would have lost his patience long ago, but he suddenly didn't care about anything but possibly fixing her list and marrying his Minny."

"I had to be at least 21"

He shot her a skeptical look.

"Okay, fine... I'll skratch that one. You're not a genious."

He laughed

"So I have to prove I'm a genious to marry you?"

"Yes."

"You've called me a genious every time we play chess."

"Okay, but you don't have green eyes."

"So you like Harry?"

"No. You'd need red hair and green eyes."

"I have red hair and blue eyes... look they have a LITTLE green in them."

"I know they do, I've looked into your eyes before Ron," She said blushing a little.

"So they have some green, isn't that good enough if you really love me?" he mad a puppy dog face and Hermione caved in.

"You didn't ask my daddy."

"Well, I'll ask him. Send an owl as soon as I leave."

"Fine..."

"Anything else?"

She stopped.

"Well?" he asked, pretending to be angry with her for taking too much time.

She gulped and looked him straight in the eyes.

For no logical explanation, Ron got down on one knee.

"Hermione Elizabeth Granger, I know I haven't asked your father yet... but if he approves, your mother too, will you please consider being my wife?"

She broke out in tears, breaking his heart once again.

A split second later, Hermione was on the floor, her arms wrapped tightly around Ron's neck. She kissed him and pulled back smiling. Ron looked extremely confused.

"I'd love to marry you Ron... I'd love to."

He smiled the biggest smile she'd ever seen and kissed her. Someone coughed in the doorway.

"Mr. Weasley, you HAVE to leave now, Ms. Granger needs to be examined."

................................................................. ................................................................. .............................................................

HA! I TOLD YOU IT WOULD BE FIXED AND THAT I WAS SANE!!!

bet you wished you hadn't thrown those fruits and veggies now, so here are you carrot sticks, your one splattered tomatoe, and your watermellon. **rubbs bruises**

j/k Thank all of you who reviewed... I didn't put this at the begining because it took me way to long to update this and I feel terribly guilty, but between my microsoft word not working, my damn history project, and the fact that I had no power on friday when I had planned on finishing this chapter... it took way to long to get this chapter up.

I am very sorry.

='-(

I hope you liked that chapter, there is still no spell check or anything so please forgive the skrew ups.

Disclaimer for chapter above (as well as any other in this fic): NOT MINE

tHaNk YoU fOr ReViEwInG

PlEaSe ReViEw ThIs ChApTeR!

PS: I saw spiderman friday night- it rocked. go see it.