Someday You'll Love Me

Chapter Four-Ron

This is not fair. You do not get to do this to me, not on the eve of my wedding, have you never heard of tact? Come on, Hermione, what did you expect of me? Did you think that we could just apparate away and leave behind all my obligations and responsibilities? I can't do that, Hermione, and I don't think that I should have to apologize for it.

I've loved you for the better part of my life, and just when I decide to move on you attempt to keep me back. There is a time when everyone has to go to that next level…when you have to try to be more than you are. I'm attempting to do that, Hermione. Please let me.

I was callous to you because I had to be. Don't you see that I can't follow my heart as you ask of me? If I did that, I would be long gone with you by my side. I wouldn't give a second thought to Gabby or anyone else for that matter…but other things factor in, and what my heart tells me falls second to what I need to do.

People have put in time, love, and money to this wedding. My parents have been planning this for months…do you know that my mother is sick? Really ill, not just the passing virus. The prospect of my marriage and grandchildren has been keeping her well. Fleur does not want children, and no one else is married. She views me as her last hope, and you want me to let her down? She adores Gabby; she has already taken to referring to her as her daughter and everything. It would break her heart if I called it off now. And by breaking her heart, I might just kill her. I won't be responsible for my mother's death, Hermione.

Then there is Gabby…She truly is one of the sweetest people that I know. It would be nothing short of cold-hearted to abandon her at the alter. Her family is very traditional, you know…her mother is a full veela and views the success of the woman by the ability to contain a man. Granted, at one time, Gabby's mother killed the men that she contained…but that is a separate matter entirely. The point is that she would be ostracized and viewed as the shame of her family. I just…I cannot be the one to do that to her. No matter how much I love you I wouldn't be me if I could do that to someone that I care about.

So we're done with this matter, you do not get a choice; I've decided that we are not going to happen. I'm sorry, I wish it could have worked out differently, Hermione…but it just can't, I hope that one day you will understand that. And I truly do wish that you experience happiness and blessings in your life, you will always be my best friend and my first love.

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I walk back out to the alter. I look at no one but Gabby as I say, "We may continue now."

I hear the beginnings of protest from siblings that wanted nothing more than to hear the details of our discussion; I ignore them and stare meaningfully at Dumbledore.

"Ron," Gabrielle voices quietly beside me. "I think that--"

"Nothing has changed," I say with more conviction than I feel. "Continue, Headmaster."

Dumbledore gives me a doubtful look but grants my request anyway. I go dully through the motions, wishing for nothing else other than the sheer bliss of being alone. A wish I know will not be granted anytime soon.

Everyone moves inside after we finish, you are gone; I am not surprised by this. I prepare to go and sit at the table with the rest of my family when Gabby grabs a hold of my hand and leads me away from the range of curious ears.

She sits down at the picnic table and I join her. "Ron," she begins heavily, "I want you to tell me what it is that you want."

"What? Gabby, I don't understand you."

"Do not play with me, Ronald. What do you want tomorrow…for the rest of your life?" She looks anxious.

"I want you. Of course I want you, Gabby, you know that. Tomorrow I want to marry you, and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you."

She turns away from me and I cannot stop myself from thinking of you. "No you don't. You may love me, Ron, but you don't want to get married. At least, not to me."

"Gabby, look at me. I want to marry you."

Tears start to fill her beautiful eyes, "Do not lie to me, and do not lie to yourself. You've been doing both for far too long now. Stop trying to be my hero, Ron. I am not some damsel in distress, and I do not need you to sacrifice anything for me. I love you, Ron--"

"I love you too. That's all we need to know, Gabby."

"No, it isn't. I am in love with you, you simply love me. Love is just a word, Ron. I knew when I started dating you that you were close to Hermione, but I never expected this. You are so in love with her that you can't see straight, and I, like a fool, agreed to marry you despite this. I thought that I could change your feelings, that perhaps I could take her place, but she's your entire heart, Ron, and nothing can replace that. I refuse to spend the rest of my life being a substitute to Hermione. It's obvious that she feels the same, so just go and be with her before you hurt me anymore."

"Gabby--"

"Gabby nothing, Ron. There is nothing that you can say to change my mind. You…you can't help who you love, all right? I love you, but you love her. It just works out that way sometimes."

"No," I shake my head. "You can't do this to me; I will not let you give us up for some notion in your mind that I don't want you. Please reconsider."

She stands with a sad smile. "It's too late. You don't even have to look bad; I'm the one calling it off."

"But…your family will--"

"Get over it. I think that I'm going to go on a bit of a holiday. I deserve, don't you think? If any member of my family loves me, they'll understand why I am not marrying you."

I look at her with a pitiful expression, "My mother though--"

She reassures me once more. "Your mother has always preferred Hermione as a daughter-in-law over me. She'll be ecstatic, and in a few years no one in your family will even remember me…except for Bill of course, but that's to be expected, we'll have to see each other for Fleur's sake."

I can't believe her, she's pretending to be happy and fine with all of this. "Gabby--"

"You don't have a choice here, Ron. You of all people know that I am a hopeless romantic, so go track down Hermione, proclaim your love for her, and then you guys can share the kiss of my dreams while I play the role of the overly kind ex-fiancé. Not really the role I would have picked for myself, but that's how things have worked out." She laughs at herself, but I can see the heartbreak in her eyes.

"I will still marry you tomorrow if you say the word."

"I know you would," Gabby says quietly. "And that's precisely the reason why I love you…and because I love you, I am letting you go." She sighs and looks out towards the sunset, "Since it looks like you aren't going to be the first to leave, I suppose that I should. Don't worry about a thing; I'll take care of informing everyone…goodbye, Ron."

I open my mouth to protest, but she is gone. I look around in confusion, what was I supposed to do? I sigh and do decide to go to the only logical place…your house. If I'm going to figure out anything, I have to talk to you. And I suppose that I will go from there.

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A/N- Wow, that was a lot of angst…gotta love it, lol. Poor dramatic Gabrielle, lol. I am so sorry about waiting so very long to update, I have the worst memory ever and always seem to forget about fics. But thank you so much to the people who e-mailed me to remind me that I needed to update. Next chapter will be the last chapter for this ;)