Did I mention Matt is 23?

The weekend continued on as Hermione figured out her next move. She was no longer angry with Ron. Matt had made it crystal clear what was really going on in Ron's mind, and hers as well. They were both young and scared, and unsure of how to handle their feelings.

As she thought it over, there were quite a few things that bothered her about Ron. For example, it was days before he even tried to reach her, and that may have only been because of Matt's visit. If he truly cared, it wouldn't have taken him that long to reach her. However, Hermione knew Ron tended to be very insecure and shy at times. After all, it had taken him over seven years to finally tell her of his feelings for her.

The weekend went by, without a single word from Ron. Perhaps he had moved on.

Matt was slowly recovering from the incident that had nearly taken his life. Hermione noticed he either didn't want to leave the house, or, if he did happen to wander out, didn't want to return. He felt slightly better when Hermione told him she had altered the intruder's memory, completely changing him. He was now and would always be a harmless shoe salesman who went by the name of Buck.

It wasn't until Monday morning, after Matt had halfheartedly returned to work, that the doorbell rang. Hermione took a deep breath as she stood by the door, preparing herself for what was coming next. Just Breathe.

She opened the door, seeing the man she was hoping to see. Ron.

"Hey," he said a nervous half-smile, his hands in his pockets.

"Hi," she responded with a slightly bolder tone than Ron's.

"I was wondering if I could take you out to dinner tonight."

Hermione said nothing.

His voice faltered under expectant gaze. "I take it you're still angry with me then."

Still no response from Hermione.

"Alright, well—I—" He looked for some sign saying it would be all right for him to hug her. "I guess I'll—just—" His hands in his pockets, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "Right—well—I guess I'll see you—later then."

Hermione watched him walk away dejectedly. Thinking it over, Hermione called after him. "Wait," she said. Ron immediately turned around. What was she going to say? "How about lunch?"

Ron smiled. Maybe there was hope after all.

………………………………………………………..

They'd gone to a sandwich shop, ordered, and headed to the park. The Fall weather was chilly, but beautiful. Next to their old house, the park was the place where they'd get the most privacy.

They sat down quietly, feeling the cold sting of sorrow ringing through them. Neither was sure of what to say as they silently unwrapped their sandwiches.

Ron tried a few conversation starters.

"So how are you?"

"Ok, and yourself?"

"Ok."

But each ended in the same awkward silence.

Anyone passing could see the pain that existed from the shattered remains of their relationship, from one awkward moment to the next.

The questioned that lingered in Ron's mind was, "What happened to us?" He stared out into the park. "We used to be so happy, so free. Now we can't even start a conversation that lasts more than three seconds. What happened, 'Mione?"

Hermione thought it over. Exactly where had they gone wrong? It wasn't the breakup; it went back further than that. "I think," she began. "I think it was when we stopped talking. You always wanted to do things, rather than talk about our day, talk about, well anything really." Ron looked up at her. "And it's not that I didn't want to do things," she added hurriedly. "It's just… there was a lack of communication between us. There still is."

Ron thought back to before.

So what do you propose we talk about, then?

I propose we don't speak at all.

"Hermione, I'm sorry. I didn't realize—"

"Ron, please stop apologizing, I'm not mad at you."

Fearing he had misunderstood her he asked, "You're not?"

"No," she reiterated.

"Well—um—have you thought about us, then?"

"Yes," she answered.

"And?"

"And…" Here goes nothing. "I've been thinking over—everything." Ron looked at her, wondering which way she was going to go. "And I think, I think the reason the reason the…" It was so hard to say. "The wedding," she continued, " was called off is because you aren't ready for marriage."

"Hermione," Ron was stunned. "I want to spend forever with you. I'm ready for marriage."

"No, you're not. And it's ok, because neither am I! Neither of us are."

"Then why did I ask you to marry me? Why did you agree?"

"I think we're in love with the idea, Ron, the idea of spending together forever, never having to face anything alone, always having someone by our side. But look at us! We're not even twenty yet! We've hardly begun our lives! We're young, and unsure of what we want."

Ron listened carefully.

"Every time we start to get serious, something happens. One of us somehow messes everything up. Last year, when things were going so well, I kissed Matt." Ron felt a sharp ping of jealously shoot through him. "You asked me to marry you, and every thing was just… just perfect. And then you broke it off." Tears gradually filled her eyes as she continued. "Then you asked me back, but I just couldn't bring myself to say yes. I—I haven't a clue why, I just couldn't."

She paused for a moment, sniffling.

"We were just in love with the idea. That's all."

Ron thought about what she had said. Oh gosh she was right! Every time they started to really love each other, one of them tried to destroy it. They didn't really want to get married. Not yet at least.

"And I've been thinking about what you said about seeing other people. And maybe… maybe you're right. Maybe that's what we need to do to get past this… this fear we have. Maybe we need to see what it's like to be with," she forced the words out. "Someone—else."

Ron was idle, taken aback, staring blankly ahead. No, no, no! This wasn't how things were supposed to happen! No, they couldn't—he couldn't—! "You really think we should… do this?"

His voice was calm, but weak.

"I think we need to do something."

Tears were in his eyes. "So then, is this really it? Is this really the end of… the end of us?"

"I—I don't know." Tears ran down her cheeks. "Is it?"

"I mean, it could always be a break, not a…"

"Yes, a break!"

"Because then, we'd still have a chance of getting back together, wouldn't we?"

"Yes," responded Hermione. "We would."

"Alright then. We're on a break." Hermione nodded. "But we still have a chance," repeated Ron.

"Yes. A chance."

"Well… good," said Ron. "Th—that's good to hear."

A break was what they were calling it, just a break. Breaks have to end, don't they?

"Well, I suppose I—" Hermione slowly stood up. "Goodbye, Ron."

"I'll see you later, then?"

Hermione walked away without a response, leaving Ron sitting by himself in the cold fall breeze that flowed through the park.

Don't they?

That wasn't the end. We've still got a ways to go, but we're definitely close to the end. We'll see if their break ever ends, or if they stay apart forever.

Sorry for the late update! Something that was said in the last chapter just completely threw me off and destroyed everything to I had to change quite a few things. Thanks to SisterBear58 for reminding me to post! I hope you all liked this chapter! I hope to update tomorrow! Thanks for reading, now please review and tell me what you think! Misty