Authors Note: I'm so sorry for the long delay! This chapter was harder to put together then the others, plus I've also been busy with holidays and work. I'll do better in December.

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters

Chapter 10

Ron's Point of View

By the time I get up it's nearly 9 o clock. I throw on one of my Chudley Cannon sweatshirts. This fall cold snap really took a dive.

A flush from the hallway bathroom wakes me up a little more than I already am. When I open my door, she's waiting at the door.

"Morning."

Hermione backs up a little. Her hair is pulled up in a messy bun. "Did we wake you? I was just looking for the coffee."

"Oh no, did Rose wake you up? I'm sorry." I ask, scratching at the nape of my neck.

Hermione walks over and whispers in my ear. "She wet herself last night and she must have come into the wrong room. It's fine really, I was up anyway."

"Oh well thank you. Did you sleep well? It wasn't too warm was it?" I ask.

Hermione tucks a stray hair behind her ear. "It was very nice, and it's the best sleep I've gotten since I moved in, honestly."

"Daddy?" Rose calls out from the bathroom two doors down.

Hermione catches me by the arm before I can pick Rose up. "I wasn't sure what else to do."

I pick her up and carry her into the living room. "Good Morning Daddy. Mynee got me clothes."

"She did?" I whisper really loudly in her ear. "Was she nice?"

Rose giggles. "Yes, daddy."

"Good. So what should we make for breakfast this morning?" I set her down on a barstool.

Hermione stands at the entrance of the kitchen area with the cutest smile.

"Pancakes, Pancakes!" Rose bounces up and down.

"Let's get your sheets washed first, then I'll make pancakes and eggs." I take out the ingredients to make pancakes from scratch and set them on the kitchen island.

"Can I help?" Rose asks.

I scoop her up. "Yes, you can, but I need you to pack for Grammy and Grandpa's house first okay?"

"Okay Daddy!" She squirms out of my arms.

"Thanks for helping her. M'sorry she woke you up."

Hermione follows me down the hall to Rose's room. "I was already awake, Ronald. It really was fine."

I can't help but chuckle as I strip the sheets from Rose's bed. "Oh now I feel like I'm really in trouble. Only my Mom calls me Ronald."

"Oh well that can be our special thing. I call you Ronald on occasion." She leans against the doorframe and a blush creeps on her cheeks.

I squeeze past her with the sheets careful to hold them up above my head. I successfully got a whiff of her shampoo.

Hermione follows me into the laundry room. "So you cook?"

I throw a laundry pod in the washer and start it up. "It's not anything grand but it makes Rose happy."

I find myself mesmerized by Hermione this morning. "Maybe I'll get to cook for you at some point." I whisper.

Hermione smiles and bites her lower lip. She's avoiding looking at me.

Rose squeezes past Hermione and clings to my leg. "Daddy, I'm hungry!"

I picked her up and put her on my shoulders. "Let's make some pancakes."

I fix a heaping load of pancakes and prepare Rose for the day with Mom and Dad.

Hermione's Point of View

While Ron gets Rose ready to go to his parents house, I gather my overnight bag and start to pack up.

I call Hannah to pass the time and talk through things.

"Hey Hermione. Did you go to Ron's place like I told you to?"

"Yeah and I'm still here. I'm packing my things up now."

"And how was it?" Hannah asks enthusiastically.

"Really nice but it has been awkward, Hannah. I don't know if I can do this." I fold up my pjs in my overnight bag.

"Do what?" She asks.

"Pretend to like this guy. I feel like I'm in the way and it's hard."

"I thought you were pretending to date him? What's so hard about that?"

"I am..I am. I I just don't know where to start." I sigh and rip a sheet of paper from my notebook.

"Wait…Hermione Granger doesn't know where to start? This is a first!" Hannah teases.

I blush, "Oh shut up. What I'm trying to say is he makes some things hard."

Ron knocks on the door. "I'm going to take Rose to my parents. Will you be okay? What are you doing?" His eyes are glued to my weekend bag on the bed.

"I thought I'd pack my bag now. You know less trouble later."

"Stay." Ron says. His voice cracking as he stands beside me. He places a hand on my lower back. "I'll only be a half an hour and then we can talk more about the wedding, without Rose bugging us."

My breath catches in my throat. I can only nod.

"Hermione, what's the big deal?" Hannah asks. I almost forgot she's on the phone.

"Hannah, can I call you back? I'll explain later."I toss my phone on the bed.

When I try to move around Ron, he only moves his arm around my waist, slightly brushing my side.

"Rose, are you ready for The Burrow?" Ron calls out.

Rose peaks her head around the corner with a stuffed bear tucked under her arm. "Yay!"

"Get your boots on then," he says.

Ron doesn't move when she runs back down the hallway. The feel of his breath on my neck sends chills down my spine. Ron leans in closer and his lips brush the side of my cheek. "I'll be back soon."

The blush that creeps on my face feels twice as red, if possible. I slouch onto a chair by the window and call Hannah back.

She answers after one ring. "Well that was fast!"

"Uh-huh. So he asked about the wedding again. I don't know what to say."

"I'm working on the arrangements for the reception now. Do you think you could drop by my place? Maybe bring the charmer with you?"

"Hannah, he kissed me!" I say not able to hold it in any longer and ignoring her suggestion.

"Oh now you definitely have to come over! Forget your bed and stay at his place for the weekend."

"I can't do that. It's too much to ask."

"It's not, if he's cute. Take a picture of him and send it to me. "

"I can't just take his picture, Hannah!"

"Yes, you can. I need it for the wedding seating anyway."

I give in and agree. "Fine."

Ron's POV

When I get back, Hermione is in the living room looking at the family pictures I have on the fireplace mantle. "Hey, you stayed."

She shifts from side to side. "Yeah."

"So, I guess we should talk about this morning," I say. I watch for any reaction from Hermione.

She simply blushes and nods. "I'm sorry I kissed you like that. You just seem like this is important to your mom and I want everything to be as natural as possible."

"I understand. It just threw me off a bit. Anyway, I was thinking about a backstory for us."

"Sure. Right," I take off my coat and toss it on the back of the couch. "So how'd we meet?"

"Come sit, I've come up with a plan," Hermione says.

"Already?" I sit in the chair closest to the fireplace to warm up.

Hermione lays out a piece of paper with a whole backstory. We met when she came to look at apartments 2 months ago and exchanged numbers, we've been talking ever since. When she moved into her apartment I asked her out.

"By keeping it mostly true, it will be easy.," she explains.

I nod in agreement. "Right, makes sense."

"I need a picture of you for the reception," she blurts out, rather suddenly. "Actually, it's Hannah, she just wants to see who's coming to her wedding."

I sit up and pose.

Hermione blushes. "Not sitting down. I thought I could take it out by the courtyard, near the fountain."

"Sure."

As soon as Hermione and I step outside, I catch her out of the corner of my eye, Lavendar. What the hell is she doing here? I swiftly sneak my arm around Hermione's waist and pull her close. "My ex is just up the street," I whisper only centimeters from her ear, so much so that my lips brush them slightly.