Hello people on the interwebs! This will be the last chapter before shit quite literally starts hitting the fan, so enjoy this smuff while it lasts! (in case you didn't know- smut+fluff=smuff)

Thank you again to the wonderful betas who help me by beta-ing this fic! BlueGreenAndPurple, (who only likes three colors) Cheesyficwriter (who likes the color yellow... because cheese) & ArrayofColours, (who likes many colors) They don't get paid, so all I can give them is my gratitude and tell everyone else to go read their amazing fics.

This chapter resumes directly after the previous one...like seconds after, so go ahead and get back into that mindspace.

oOo

Day 5-

"Come on," Hermione urged as she walked backwards, pulling Ron's arm and leading him out of her mother's room.

With a smile, Ron ran his free hand up the side of her arm, stopping only when he was cradling the back of her head. Still being pulled, he bent his face down to Hermione's, kissing her harder than he had before. Hermione kissed him back, her feet still moving as she stumbled towards her room, Ron willingly following along so as not to separate their lips.

As they moved across the large living area, Hermione almost lost her footing and Ron reached out and steadied her, his large hands maintaining a firm grip on her waist in a way that sent pleasant shivers down her spine. When her back finally made contact with the bedroom door, Ron pushed her against it, holding her up a few inches off the ground with his hands as he stepped between her open legs, still attacking her mouth with his.

Hermione let out a whimper as he started grinding against her, his evident arousal pressed directly against her center. Even through the combined fabrics of his trousers and her dress, Hermione could feel how hard he was, the thought making her grip his collar and pull his face closer, peppering frantic kisses on his lips.

Without notice, it was like a flip was switched, and Ron lowered her to her feet and stepped back, his face red and his eyes wide.

"Holy shit. I'm so sorry Hermione! I got carried away and I—"

Hermione reached out and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him closer. When he complied and took a few steps towards her, she moved her hands to the back of his neck, her fingers feathering the ends of his hair.

"There's no need to apologize, Ron," she assured him, watching as he let out a breath of relief. "If you had done anything that I wasn't comfortable with, I would have said so." She paused. "Even though I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have stopped you."

Ron's eyes darkened, and a flash of desire flicked through them before he shook his head as if forcing his thoughts somewhere else.

He sighed. "Hermione, I—I want you...like that — of course I do! I just..." his brows furrowed as if he were trying to find the right words. "I don't want you to think that I'm in this for the wrong reasons. I'm in this for every reason, Hermione. The good...the bad..." He raised his eyebrow suggestively and gave her a small grin. "The really good."

"What about the really bad? Are you in for them as well?" she asked.

Ron chuckled. "Oi, I'm trying to be optimistic here," he murmured as he swept a few stray curls behind her ear. He bent down and gave her a soft kiss on her now swollen lips. "I'm hoping that nothing really bad happens; but if it does, then yes, I'm still all in. —I'm all in forever, no matter what life throws at us, I promise."

"I love you," Hermione whispered, watching as Ron's eyes closed and a smile stretched across his face.

He sighed before slowly opening his eyes, as if coming out of a daze. "I love you too."

Without breaking eye contact, Hermione reached behind her and turned the doorknob, pushing the door open and walking in backwards, Ron following again. Once they were both inside, Hermione gestured for him to close the door behind him. He did as told, locking it as well before turning around to face her, his face expectant as if he were waiting for her to tell him what to do next.

As Hermione stared at him, the reality of everything that had happened that evening started to sink in. She had fallen in love with this man in an impossibly short amount of time, and for someone like her — someone who'd always thought such a thing was impossible — it all seemed like a fairy tale, like an absurd, crazy work of fiction. However, it was real — blissfully and amazingly real. Hermione was going to run away with this tall, freckled, ginger man— leave her entire identity behind to live as she never had before because she loved him, and he was worth it.

She was unable to stop from flinging herself at him, delighting when he caught her with no hesitation, as if it was his job to do so. As their lips moved together, Hermione only had one coherent thought.

Ron Weasley was her safe place, and he always would be.

As they kissed, Hermione started running her hands up and down the front of his chest, wanting to feel him. Her tongue slipped into his mouth, wanting to taste more, and Ron eagerly reciprocated, devouring her as if she were his favorite dessert. When they broke away for air, Ron ran his hands down the sides of her body until they landed on her hips.

"Bloody hell," he muttered.

"Is it—is it always going to— be this way?" Hermione asked.

"Damn. I bloody well hope so," Ron grinned.

Hermione couldn't help but laugh, feeling even happier when Ron laughed along with her. When she quieted, Ron's eyes grew serious and he bent his head, his lips kissing a trail down the side of her neck as Hermione tilted her head to the side, closing her eyes at the pleasurable feeling.

"Sketch me?" she whispered, her hands gripping his shoulders.

Ron pulled back, his eyebrows furrowed as he took a few seconds to process her words. "Right now?"

She nodded.

He grinned. "Yeah, of course, love... if that's what you want. Doubt I can do you justice, though. Nothing can compare to the real life image of Hermione Granger."

Hermione could tell by his nonchalance that he hadn't understood what she had just asked him to do. When she'd seen his sketchbook, it had ignited a desire to have Ron sketch her, to sketch all of her. She longed to bare everything to him, to give everything to him; and now that they were together, she wanted it...wanted him.

"Grab that chair," she told him, pointing to the small desk on the opposite side of the room, her voice shaking the tiniest bit. "You sit there and I'll...I'll lay on the couch."

Ron nodded in compliance, grabbing the chair and setting it to where he wanted it before picking up his portfolio and sitting down. He started to pull out a variety of pencils and drawing paper, his face concentrated on his task.

Even though Hermione was positive that this was what she wanted to do, she was still extremely nervous, her heart pounding as she started to unbutton her dress with shaking fingers. When Ron was finished, he looked up at her, his eyes widening in understanding at the sight. Hermione's dress was already off and she was just starting to untie her corset.

"What are you doing?" he rasped out, and Hermione paused, wondering if she was making a mistake.

"I wanted you to draw me...this way," Hermione replied, biting her lip.

Ron made a sort of choking noise as he leaned his head back and fixed his eyes on the ceiling. "When you asked, I didn't think that you meant— I didn't—"

"So you don't want to?"

His head snapped up to look at her. "I didn't say that! It's just—" He licked his lips. "Bloody fuck Hermione — this is going to be so hard."

"But you've done it before," she said, confused. "Your sketches in th—"

"Not with you," he retorted, interrupting her, though his voice was quiet. He sighed before leaning forward and reaching for her hand, which she placed in his without hesitation. "Are you sure about this? I don't want to make you uncomfortable. It's not for everyone...hell, I don't even know if I'd do it."

Hermione looked down at her hand in his. She watched the way his thumb ran over her knuckles, his touch so gentle and light, as if she were precious to him and he would never hurt her. Hermione had never allowed herself to be so vulnerable with anyone else, but when it came to Ron, it was different. She trusted him inexplicably, and she wanted him to see her at her most vulnerable, wanted him to know her in every sense.

"Yes, I'm sure."

He sat back, nodding. "Okay. Whenever you're ready then."

Hermione finished undressing, Ron's eyes flitting back and forth from her to other points in the room as if he wasn't sure if he should be watching her undress or not. His knee was bouncing from either nervousness or anticipation— Hermione couldn't tell. When she was finished, Ron's eyes roamed over her whole body, making her shiver as if he were actually touching her.

"Whenever you're ready," he repeated, his voice barely over a whisper.

Hermione laid on the couch facing him, trying not to think about the fact that she was completely bare, even though the way that Ron was looking at her made it hard for her to pretend otherwise.

Once she was rightly situated, Ron started to run his pencil over the paper, his body visibly relaxing in a way that was obviously familiar to him as he drew her.

She didn't take her eyes off of him once, and other than a few small smiles at her when they made eye contact, his face was concentrated on what he was doing. Just as he was studying her, Hermione was studying him. Ron was very fit, and every inch of him was appealing to her. He was tall and lean, but he had broad shoulders, and even though he could have been intimidating, there was nothing but gentleness in his entire being. What drew Hermione in the most though, was his face. She loved his freckles, his pale eyelashes, his eyes. His blue eyes that had wormed their way inside of her heart and she knew would never worm their way out.

"You're beautiful," she murmured, transfixed by him.

His eyes then met hers, and he blinked at her. "Beautiful?"

Hermione nodded, careful not to move too much. "Yes."

Ron chuckled. "Thanks, I guess? That's a first."

"I know it's not a word most men would be happy to be called...but it's the word that popped into my head," she admitted.

Ron grinned. "Then I'll try to take it as a compliment then."

He resumed drawing her, and it could have taken minutes, hours, Hermione had no idea, as time seemed to not exist in that room, the only sound coming from the pencil grazing the paper.

When Ron announced that he was finished, Hermione stood up and grabbed her robe, wrapping it around herself before walking over to stand beside him to get a look at the sketch. The drawing was exquisite, and the sight of it took Hermione's breath away. It looked just like her, but she looked beautiful...flawless even, and she was amazed that Ron saw her that way. She carefully took the paper out of his hands to study it closer.

"It's ...stunning, Ron," she marveled.

"You're stunning, Hermione," he breathed, reaching his hand out to run over the smooth skin of her wrist, his eyes glazing over as he did so.

Still holding onto her, Ron peeled the drawing out of Hermione's hands and stood up to set it, along with his portfolio down on top of the dresser. When his hand left her wrist, he looked down at her skin before giving her a small apologetic smile.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

Hermione looked down and saw where his hand had left grey marks on her skin from smudging the lead with his fingers earlier.

She shook her head. "I'm not."

He stared at her for only a moment before pulling her body to his and kissing her. Feeling bold, Hermione deepened the kiss and allowed her hands to creep up under his shirt, feeling his smooth, warm skin.

Ron let out a small moan. "Hermione we don't have to—"

"I want to," she interrupted, her lips on his neck.

Ron said nothing, but he stayed still — his eyes closed as Hermione continued kissing towards his ear.

"I want to," she repeated, untying the robe and pushing it off her shoulders to fall to the floor. "Ron. I love you, and I want this. I think more than I've ever wanted anything."

Apparently her words were all the encouragement Ron needed as he then started walking, backing her up until her legs hit the bed behind her, his lips hungrily seeking hers. When Hermione lay down, she expected Ron to follow, but instead, he stood there staring down at her, his chest heaving.

She gulped, lifting her head up some. "What's wrong?"

Ron shook his head, a small incredulous laugh escaping his lips. "Nothing is wrong, Hermione. I just—I just want to...to memorize everything."

Even though Hermione had already posed for him, she started to blush and resisted the urge to cover herself. "Didn't you already do that when you drew me?"

"Well, yeah...but...it can't—" He sighed. "What I mean is that looking at you...being with you... it will never be enough."

Hermione reached her arms out, beckoning him closer, and Ron did not disappoint, taking her hands and following as she urged him onto the bed with her. He laid down beside her before their lips met in a soft kiss that soon grew passionate.

As they continued, Ron's hands were everywhere, trailing across her skin as if he were trying to learn every square inch of it. His touch awakened something inside of her, and Hermione was lost in him, positive that he felt the same. Ron rolled so he was hovering over her, and when they broke apart for some much needed air, he bent his forehead to hers, his eyes closed.

"Hermione..." he whispered, the sound of her name escaping his lips almost bringing tears to her eyes because she could hear how much he loved her.

She grabbed the hem of his shirt and started to pull it up, needing more of this — needing more of him. Ron sat back for a moment, taking his shirt in his hands and pulling it over his head. Hermione reached up to touch him, marveling at just how different his body felt compared to hers.

Ron was kissing her again, even more ardently than before, but he stopped suddenly when Hermione reached down and caressed the front of his trousers, feeling the large bulge that was there.

He groaned, his arms shaking as he held himself up over her. She looked up at him and saw that his eyes were in a lust-induced fog as he stared back, and Hermione figured that she probably looked the same.

"Take them off," she demanded, tugging at his trousers.

The corners of Ron's mouth twitched and he complied, leaving him only in his underwear. But before she could ask him to take those off as well, Ron took her face in his hands and kissed her deeply, leaning his body into hers. Hermione felt dizzy as he left her lips and started trailing kisses from her lips to her jaw and down her neck before lightly sucking on her collarbone.

"You're so sweet, Hermione," he mused, causing more shivers to run down her spine. "Everything about you is so sweet."

Hermione gasped as he took a nipple into his mouth and sucked, his other hand coming up to gently knead her other breast.

"I thought I was going to pass out earlier," he hummed against her skin. "I'm surprised I got through that bloody drawing without pouncing on you."

It was as if sparks of electricity were shooting through her as he continued, switching to her other breast and giving it the same treatment as the first. Hermione's body instinctively jumped as she felt one of his hands go in between her legs, touching her with hesitancy.

"You're so perfect," he whispered, raising his head back up and giving her a long kiss. His lips moved away from hers, dragging down her body, making Hermione's heart start to beat impossibly faster. When Ron settled his head in between her legs, it only then occurred to Hermione what he was going to do, and she couldn't help but cry out when his mouth made contact with her most sensitive place, her body arching up in pleasure. As he continued, he held her hips down, bracing her, and it was only moments later when Hermione's world stopped as waves of ecstasy rolled over her entire being.

When she came back to herself, Ron was again hovering over her, staring at her with so much love that it was a wonder that she didn't burst from the intensity of his gaze.

"Please," she whispered, reaching up to cup the side of his face.

Ron nodded before quickly ridding himself of his underwear. His hands went to her inner thighs and he spread them further apart, settling himself comfortably between them. He leaned down until they were nose to nose, and Hermione took a shuddering breath, Ron's eyes questioning her.

"Yes, I'm sure," she assured him.

His lips brushed hers once, then twice before he moved, pushing into her. Hermione took in a sharp inhale at the feeling and Ron stilled.

Hermione leant up and gave him a kiss. "Don't stop," she breathed. "Please don't stop."

Hermione gasped as Ron moved again, this time completely filling her. With shaking arms she pulled his torso down to hers, needing him closer, her arms clinging onto him with desperation. Moving his hips, Ron pulled back before pushing back in, Hermione unable to contain a moan at the sensation. As he continued, her hips instinctively started to come up to meet his thrusts, closing her eyes in bliss, the feeling of being joined with him more intense than she could have ever imagined.

He was being so gentle with her, but when she clutched his torso even tighter against hers and tightened her legs around his waist, Ron moaned and started to move faster. Hermione savoring the moment as they slid together, over and over. She wanted every bit of him, wanted to be close to him like this forever.

"I—love—you," she half-whimpered half-moaned, and at her words, Ron's whole body started shuddering as he let go, his open mouth emitting hot ragged breaths on her forehead. He leaned up and they stared at each other, no words needing to be said at that moment. After they calmed some, they shared lazy, slow kisses, taking the time to relish in each other.

"Ron, I don't care. I don't care about anything but you," Hermione cried, wrapping her arms tighter around him, unable to stop the tears from falling out of her eyes.

"I'm all yours, Hermione," Ron assured her, reaching up to wipe the tears from her eyes. He moved down her body, his head resting on her chest right above her heart as her hands started running through his hair.

"It's okay. It will be okay," he promised as his hand stroked her side.

Hermione sniffed. "How is this going to go, Ron? I'm going to have to find a way to sneak off of the ship with you unnoticed."

Ron nodded. "You just get over to the third class side, and we'll— Harry and I, that is— we will get you off. Off and away from that asshole." He chuckled. "Harry's not going to believe this, but he'll help us, I'm sure of it." He moved his head so he was looking up at her, giving her an irresistible smile. "I thought I'd lost you forever, Hermione. I can't believe that I'm here right now with you...that I'll get to spend forever with you."

Hermione smiled. "Forever," she said in a dreamy voice. "It sounds divine."

Ron then explained more to Hermione about their plan to find Sirius, and what they had planned to do for a living once they got there.

"Harry's really handy, and he can do most anything, really, so finding work will be easy enough for him. I can keep doing sketches — maybe try my hand at painting some if I can get the supplies. I don't know, but I'll figure it out. I'm going to take care of you, Hermione. One way or another, I will."

Hermione's eyes watered. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier, Ron. About you not being good enough for me. I didn't mean it. I was so terrified of you getting hurt, and I was only trying to protect you. I couldn't live with myself if someth—"

Ron interrupted her with a kiss. "I know. It's okay. To be completely honest, though, I'll never feel good enough for you, but I will try my damndest to be the best I can be."

"That's more than enough, Ron. You're more than enough."

He smiled. "Again, I'll take your word for it." With a sad sigh, he sat up. "Maybe I should go before I'm caught here, and I'll see you when the ship—"

"No! Please don't leave! Not yet," she stopped him as the thought of him leaving her caused Hermione's heart to clench.

Ron shook his head. "I don't fancy the idea either, love. I just don't want to get into any trouble — not when everything is going so right."

"They'll be out all night, I'm sure. I don't want you to leave yet."

Laying back down next to her, Ron gave her a kiss. "That makes two of us, then."

They talked for a while about what they would do after getting to America, everything from house paint colors to potential pets. Hermione wanted a cat, while Ron preferred a dog, and they bickered back and forth.

"I want an orange cat," Hermione laughed. "The same color as your hair," she added as she ruffled his hair.

Ron grabbed the offending hand and held it in his— stopping her movement. "That's bloody offensive," he teased. "But—" he continued as he brought her fingers to his lips and started kissing them one by one. "I'm afraid that when it really comes down to it, I'm going to be a sucker and get you anything you want because I love you too much to tell you no."

Hermione didn't respond as Ron started kissing up her arm, his lips moving at an agonizingly slow pace. She forced herself to hold still, closing her eyes to focus on the blissful feeling of his lips on her skin. He kissed all the way to her shoulder before moving up the side of her neck, Hermione's body now shaking with renewed want.

When his lips touched right below her earlobe, Hermione could no longer stand it, and she grabbed the sides of his face and smashed her lips to his, Ron's hands gripping her shoulders and pulling her body flush against his.

They rolled around on the bed, and when their lips finally broke apart, Hermione was on top of Ron, his erection digging into her belly. With their faces inches away from each other, they had a silent conversation, and Hermione slid up Ron's body before sliding down again, Ron using one of his hands to help guide himself into her.

Hermione whimpered and Ron took a sharp inhale, both of them stilling when he was deeply embedded inside of her. His hands went to her hips, and he started to move her up and down on him, their combined sweat making it easy for their bodies to slide together.

"Ohmygod," Ron moaned, his eyes shut tight. Without warning, he wrapped one of his arms around Hermione's lower back and pulled her to him while he used his other arm to push himself up so that he was in a sitting position, his chest flush with hers. He helped her move her legs so that they were wrapped around his waist, and together they started to move, Ron helping her on him as he lifted himself into her.

He slipped a hand between them to where they were joined and started to caress her, making Hermione grip him even tighter, her body repeatedly rising and falling onto him. Her release hit her like a tidal wave, and she cried out on his shoulder, feeling her body clench around him, immediately bringing Ron to his own release.

They fell to the side together, their arms still around each other as they regained their breath.

"A lifetime of this?" Ron muttered. "I'm going to be the happiest bloke in the entire fucking world."

Hermione couldn't help but let out a small laugh, and Ron smiled as he pulled her closer, the two of them still tangled together.