Author's Note: Yes folks, it has come to this, the final chapter, dun dun DUN! I know that a lot of you would love to see this story continue, and it will because I am going to write a sequel. I just had to get this story over with because I've been working on it for two months and I've read it about a million times (for editting) and I'm happy that it's done.

I've begun my sequel, it's called Orchids in the Spring...

But please remember, I have just entered university, therefore I won't be able to post all that quickly or as often as I have been. Please be patient with me and try to remember that I'd really rather give you guys a great story over a poor one. Great stories take time, please give me that time.

Thanks! Gabrielle

-The Proposal-

Everyone was seated around the tall and skinny Christmas tree that had been set up in the Weasley's family room. As they sat on the couches, chairs and floor, Mrs. Weasley carefully walked around and handed out full mugs of rich hot chocolate.

Ron sat down beside Hermione on the couch. She passed him a mug and smiled at him brightly and he took the glass nervously, quickly smiled back and then looked down at the floor.

For Merlin's Sake, I can't do this! He thought nervously to himself as he snuck quick glances around the room and saw his family members giving him small smiles of encouragement,

Everyone wants me to do it, but I have nothing to say! Maybe I can just do it, you know, quickly, like pulling off a band aid… No, that wouldn't be romantic, and Hermione deserves romantic…

Ron raised the mug to his lips and took a very small, very shaky sip of hot chocolate. He felt the warm liquid heat up his insides and he felt his body quickly calming down.

There was something about cocoa that calmed down Ron's nerves. Maybe it was the rich taste, or the warmth of the liquid, or maybe just the smell, but what ever it was, Ron's mug was quickly downed and he was beginning to feel very relaxed for the first in a long time.

Hermione sipped her hot chocolate quietly and watched Ron out of the corner of her eye. He was looking a lot less nervous and uncomfortable then he had been ten minutes before, and when he wrapped his arm around her, Hermione smiled softly to herself.

When everyone was settled in and were half way through their mugs, Mrs. Weasley stood up and made her way to the Christmas tree as she said, "Well, I don't believe we should make them wait any longer Arthur,"

Mr. Weasley smiled and said to his wife, "Yes, I think they've waited long enough."

Mollysmiled and then began passing out presents to their recipients. When all of the gifts hand found their owners,Arthur nodded and there was a sudden explosion of wrapping paper being thrown into the air.

Hermione and Harry looked around the room and laughed as they watched the Weasley children go at their presents like there was no tomorrow. Harry gave Hermione a small shrug and then he too began to dissect his gifts.

Hermione laughed again and quickly turned to the gifts in her own lap.

The first one, a lumpy package wrapped in red paper, turned out to be a beautifully knitted crimson Weasley jumper with a golden heart on the front. Hermione thanked Mrs. Weasley from across the room, and then opened her second gift, a medium size box wrapped in blue.

The blue box contained an array of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes from Fred and George. She also received a diary from Bill and Fleur, a dragon tooth charm from Charlie, a quill from Percy and,

"Oh my gosh, Harry!" exclaimed Hermione as she pulled back the green wrapping paper, "Advanced Ancient Runes: Portal to the Future by Wanda Gotherow, Harry this must have cost you a fortune!"

Harry shrugged and smiled as he watched Hermione look over her book in utter silence.

Ron too watched Hermione as she stared at the front of her book, he knew that what he had in his pocket would bring her more happiness than any book ever could… but how to do it?

After examining the cover of her book, Hermione finally looked up and over at Ron. He was busy examining his own gifts, and she thought this was as good a time as any to give him her gift.

Hermione dug her hand into her pocket and pulled out a small, plush navy box.

"Ron, Merry Christmas," said Hermione. Ron turned to face her and looked down at the box in her hand. He smiled at her and took the box slowly.

"Whoa, Hermione…" exclaimed Ron as he gently pulled the gold watch out of its box. Hermione smiled as she watched Ron attach his new watch to his left arm.

After a few minutes of adoring his watch, Ron looked up at Hermione, leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek.

This is it, now's the time – but I have nothing to say!

"Umm…Hermione?" began Ron slowly.

"Yes?" replied Hermione sweetly.

"Ugh, I'll be right back." And with that, Ron got up off of his seat and headed around the corner and into the kitchen.

"What the hell is the matter with you?" he whispered angrily as he hit himself up side the head.

"You think too much, that's what." said a female voice behind him.

Ron spun around and faced Ginny, who stood with her arms folded and a smirk on her face.

"Well you do," she continued in a whisper as she walked closer to her brother, "Just stop thinking so much, Ron. Just go out there and say it."

"But I can't!" whined Ron hopelessly, "The whole bloody family is out there, I don't want to do it in front of them!"

"Why not?" asked Ginny politely,

"Because Ginny, you don't understand," said Ron as he slowly peaked around the wall and watched Hermione without being seen, "You don't know how it feels to be in love… you can't imagine how special it is, or how happy you are… its unbelievable!"

Ginny slowly stepped behind Ron and watched him watch Hermione as she listened to him speak,

"I love her so much, and I want this to be special. I want this to be just between us…" he continued on without really realizing what he was saying…

He was lost in her beauty…

Lost in her smile…

Lost in the gentle slope of her chin…

… in the flow of her hair…

… in the sparkle of her eye…

"Ginny, I'm going to do it." said Ron suddenly as he awoke from his trance and walked out from around the corner and towards Hermione.

"About time." whispered Ginny to herself as she watched her brother leave her side.

"Ron dear, aren't you going to have some more cocoa?" asked Mrs. Weasley gently.

"No mum," replied a new, determined Ron. He stopped next to Hermione and held out his left hand to her, "I want to give you my gift."

The room went completely silent and everyone turned to stare at Hermione who was staring up at Ron. She nodded slowly and gave Ron her hand.

Ron gently pulled her out of her seat and she gave him a questioning look, so he quickly lied, "The present's in my room. Much too big to fit underneath the Christmas tree."

Hermione nodded and silently followed Ron upstairs to his room.

When they reached his room, Ron opened the door and let Hermione inside. He then locked his bedroom door, and went to sit down next to Hermione on his bed.

Hermione threw her arms around him, "Isn't this a great Christmas?" she asked.

Ron grinned, "It really is. Thanks for the watch, I really like it, it must have cost you a fortune." he said as Hermione pulled out of the hug.

Hermione waved her hand, "It was nothing," she said and then sat quietly waiting for Ron to speak.

As Ron stared Hermione in the eyes,a flood of fond memories came flowing into his mind. The first time he met her... his jealously towards Vikor Krum...the firsttime they made love... the smell of her hair...the"all-knowing" look that he had recieved so many times before...

And slowly, without saying a word, Ron got off of the bed.

He paced the floor twice and then froze in the middle of the room. Hermione watched him with a pounding heart, wondering what would come next,

"Do you love me?" Ron simply asked as he stared at his girlfriend on the bed. He couldn't wait any longer, it had to be done now, or else he would explode.

Hermione smiled, "Course I do! Do you love me?" she asked mockingly, but Ron didn't smile in return. Instead he got really serious as he walked up to her and then got down on one knee.

He crouched in front of Hermione and held her hands in his as he stared up into her beautiful face and her precious eyes.

As he stared into the honey color of her eyes, his mind cleared and he was no longer worried about finding the right words because the right words were waiting to burst out of him,

"Hermione I love you with all of my heart," he began, the words just flowing out, "there is no other girl that I ever want to be with. I just want you; I've always wanted you, ever since we first met I've been in love.

"I've been thinking a lot lately, about us. We've been through so much together, and I've been thinking about our summer conversations, you know, when we talked about our future together. At first I admit that I was worried, I didn't know what you would say to this, but I remember that comment you made in September,

"So," he said as he slowly released his right hand from Hermione's lock and dug it into his pocket, "I want to ask you something."

Hermione gasped when she saw the small box that Ron pulled out of his pocket. She didn't know what to say… she knew what was coming, but she couldn't speak or think… she was lost in the moment…

"What are you doing for the rest of your life?"

Gulp.

Ron smirked as he stared up at his speechless girlfriend. He slowly removed his hand from hers and opened up the black box so that it faced her.

A beautiful ring sat in a cushion of black velvet. The ring was gorgeous.

Simple.

Elegant.

A white gold band with a single, princess-cut diamond on top.

Hermione gasped once again as small tears escaped from the corners of her eyes.

She nodded her head quickly in a response, and her right hand fluttered to her open mouth as she stared down at Ron who was removing the ring from the holder and slowly, very slowly letting the metal slide up her ring finger.

Hermione sat frozen on the bed for a good two minutes, staring at her left hand as though it was not even attached to her body…

And then, with out warning, she threw herself on top of Ron and started to pelt his face with big, wet kisses.

After five minutes of celebrating alone, Ron's bedroom door slowly opened and in walked Molly and Arthur followed by the rest of the Weasley family, Harry and Fleur.

"Oh I'm so happy for you both!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley as she squeezed Ron tight.

Hermione and Ron received everyone's congratulations and then they all retreated back down to the family room where they spent the rest of Christmas Eve laughing, singing and dancing the night away...

…When two o'clock rolled around, everyone headed off to bed, everyone but Ron and Hermione who stayed seated on a couch in the family room, Hermione laying in Ron's arms…

"Ron?" said Hermione as she looked up at her fiancé, "Are you happy?"

Ron looked down at Hermione in his arms, "Of course I'm happy, aren't you?"

Hermione smiled a whole hearted smile, "Yes, with all of my heart and soul!"

Ron smiled back, "I promise Hermione, I'll give you everything you ever need and want."

"All I want is you."