Chapter 6

"Can I open my eyes, Hermione?"

"Yes, you may."

Ron opened his eyes, he was in the guest room of Hermione's house and in front of him was something that looked like a piano. "What's that?"

"A keyboard, Ron. It's a portable piano."

"Oh."

"I got it for you. Call it a late birthday gift."

"Oh."

Hermione folded her arms. "Don't act like you don't understand. I know you play. And I also know that you don't have a piano at your house anymore because your parents had to sell it."

Ron flinched. "Hermione you really didn't have to."

Hermione smiled. "Ron, you don't have to play it for anyone. It's for you. It runs on batteries so you don't have to plug it in-"

"Batteries? Plug it in?"

"Batteries give the keyboard power and 'plugging it in' refers to not using the batteries for power but putting a wire into the wall."

"Something tells me I'm not going to understand even if you explained further."

Hermione laughed. "Well this button turns it on." She pressed her finger down on the red switch, then touched one of the keys. She turned a knob, "This adjusts the volume. And all of those things numbered there are the different instrument sounds you can have."

"Whoa…"

"It's just like a real piano, also. The harder you touch the keys the louder it gets. And these are headphones," She put a wire into a hole the front of the keyboard, put the headphones over Ron's ears, and pressed a key again.

Ron yelled and threw the headphones off.

"Oops, too loud I guess." Hermione said blushing. "Well when the keyboard stops working, just tell me and I'll send you new batteries, okay?"

"Sure," Ron looked over his present in awe. It was very nice and probably very expensive. "How much did this cost, Hermione?"

"Well my grandma actually gave it to me for Christmas. I don't play, and I didn't want to sell it because I wanted someone I could trust to own it. Sorry, I didn't buy you something. And I know you're used to second hand gifts, but I swear I didn't mean to hurt--"

Ron interrupted her by scooping her into a tight hug. Hermione felt her face flush, "Thanks. I'll be sure to practice soon."

"Kids." Hermione's mother stuck her head in the door, "We're going to be going to the International Dentistry Convention now. We'll be back tomorrow evening. You're dinners on the table. Hermione, we trust you'll take good care of your sister?"

"Don't worry, mum, you can count on me."

"WAAAAA!"

Ron sat straight up in bed. It was Faith, screaming in the middle of the night. He quickly got up and ran into the nursery. He flipped on the light and rubbed his eyes as he walked over to Faiths crib. She looked at him, her little face was stained with tears. "Hush, Faith." He scolded quietly, lifting her into his arms. "Do you want your sister to die of sleep deprivation?"

Faith continued to cry. Ron sighed, "Come on, love, don't cry. Can't you sleep at night like a civilized baby?"

He bounced her up and down in his arms. He knew she wasn't hungry, she had woken him up an hour ago to eat… and a half an hour later she'd needed a diaper change. "Are you going to be difficult like your sister? You know, she always has to be right."

Faith continued crying and Ron continued to rock her. He hummed to her softly before remembering the words to a lullaby he's heard before. Goodnight, my angel, now it's time to dream, and dream how wonderful your life will be. Someday your child may cry and if you sing this lullaby, then in your heart there will always be a part of me…"

Faith looked at him, her crying ceased. "Oh you like that do you?"

Her face turned up and she threw up on his shoulders. Ron nearly vomited himself when he smelled it. "Oh, Faith, why did I feed you?"

He wandered back into the nursery and saw under the bed a red pacifier. He picked it up. Faith reached for it. "You want this?"

Faith cooed.

"You've wanted this bloody thing the entire time? You just wanted me to sing for you, didn't you? I don't sing for just anyone you know. You must be pretty damn special," he looked at the pacifier in his hand and lied Faith in her crib. "I'll get this ruddy thing clean for you. Be right back."

He walked to the bathroom and turned the water on. He looked at himself in the mirror. He looked just like Hermione had when he'd arrived at her house, the bags under his eyes were evidence of the sleep he was not getting. The black eye didn't make him look any better, nor did the spit up stain on his shirt.

He made a face as he pealed the dirty garment off and balled it up. He leaned out of the bathroom door and threw it into the guest room where he was staying. Turning back to the sink, Ron began washing the pacifier, making sure it didn't have any traces of dust or lint on it. As soon as he was sure it was completely sanitary he walked back into the nursery.

"There you go, sweet heart," he said as he placed the pacifier into Faiths mouth. She grinned at him; Ron smiled back and rubbed her cheek affectionately. "That's a good girl," Faith grabbed his finger and cuddled against him. "Maybe one of these days I'll sing for your sister and win her heart, too." He slipped away from her grasp and walked to the door, turning out the light. "Sleep well."

Honestly men and babies are adorable together. There is nothing in the world sweeter than a man who loves a baby enough to let his guard down.

Lenny