A/N: Hello to all my dear fans. I am so sorry it has taken so long to get this chapter up. There were some mix ups getting it to my beta and she has been quite ill and in the hospital off and on for a time. All is better now, and as always i send my thanks to her as my writing wouldn't be half of what it was without her. NOw that life is back to normal updates should be taking place more often. Thank you as always for reviewing and staying faithful. I hope you enjoy this one as much as my beta and I did.

Chapter 2

"Mum?" Hermione called as she walked from the fireplace into the kitchen of the Burrow. "Mum, where are you?"

"Oh, Hermione dear, I was just tidying up in the living room, waiting for you to arrive." Molly Weasley said as she came into the kitchen.

Molly's red hair was starting to show her age the red was slowly becoming white, wrinkles graced her face, and she walked a little slower but she was as happy as ever. As she spoke she embraced her daughter-in-law. As she stepped back from Hermione to look her over. Molly's well trained eye had started to notice over the last few visits Hermione was starting to lose weight, her face was showing the signs of her worry and stress, and the black rings under her eyes were not being covered as well by glamour charms any longer.

"Where are the others?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, they are just getting things set up out back; we just can't have a family gathering inside anymore. I was so glad you told Arthur about that anti-weather charm to put around the house, it just makes it so much more pleasant for us all."

Hermione worked as a Charms Researcher and Developer for the Ministry. "Well it was perfect for The Burrow and really let us see how well it would work before we released it for public use."

"Well, dear, let's join the others outside. Where is your friend by the way, I thought you said you were bringing someone along."

Smiling to herself Hermione said, "Well I wanted to talk to you all first before he got here, he'll floo over shortly."

They walked into the backyard where the whole family was seated around several small tables. Molly had given up long ago on having the whole family seated at one large table, there were simply too many of them now.

After having greeted the family members in turn Hermione stood and began her well rehearsed speech. "I know many of you feel I have held on to the belief that Ron was still alive and would return to me in vain. You felt I should give up my hope on him and move on and open my heart to the possibility of another. I have come to agree with you now, it is time for me to give up my hope he will return and I need to move on. And that is why I asked for all of you to be here. I want you all too please be welcoming," she eyed the twins extra hard as she spoke this, "and please give him a chance. It would mean a lot to me." As she finished her speech she raised her hand to her heart and concentrated no one else knowing it was more than a gesture. Yet she heard "I'm here love, ready to knock their socks off?"

Speaking back to Ron using their connection just as he had, "Yes, I'll be in for you soon."

Removing her hand from her chest she spoke again "Ok he should be here by now. I'm going to go and bring him out." She walked into the house and smiled as she looked at Ron brushing the ash from his clothes.

"So did they buy it" he asked looking up at her and grinning.

"Yes they bought it. Your Mum looks like she is going to kill me where a month ago she was begging me to have your memorial and move on."

Chuckling Ron replied, "That's my Mum for you. All fun and games 'til someone takes her seriously. You do know she is going to pass out right?"

"Yes, I know but what else can we do?"

"Nothing, let's go. I'm ready for my big introduction" He winked at her as he flung his invisibility cloak around him and followed her out the door.

"Um, Hermione, do you realize your friend is invisible? I mean Ron always said you were mental but I for one never took him seriously." Fred said.

"Fred, stuff it. He is under his invisibility cloak he wanted to check you all out and make sure you weren't all going to hurt him first."

"My isn't she cheeky these days." Fred mumbled to his twin George.

"Ok, are you ready to meet him?"

As the whole family nodded their approval she stepped aside as Ron threw the cloak and smiled nervously at his family. As Ron looked out on his family smiling he was surprised by some of the reactions. The twins for the first time in their lives were dumbfounded and speechless gapping like fish out of water. Bill and Charlie just starred blankly at him swallowing hard and he thought holding back tears. His father was so overcome by shock he sat down in a chair and began shaking with tears and mumbling what Ron thought was thank you. After looking over the men in the family he moved his eyes around and saw Harry smiling at him holding a very pregnant Ginny close as she sobbed into her hands. Then he moved his eyes to his mother. Where the others had gasped in shock of seeing him standing before them, Molly stood stock still. She starred back at him with a look of shock and disbelief on her face. Her body was tense and tears were forming in her eyes. "Ronnie? Is that really you?" Molly finally said as she started to walk toward her son, her arms open ready to embrace him.

"Yeah, Mum it's really me." As he spoke the words he walked forward and grabbed her in a tight hug. He heard her sniffle and say, "Oh my Ronnie" before she went limp in his arms.

Once they revived Molly and got her seated the reunion turned into quite the occasion. Ron for the most part remained silent, taking in that his brothers were really still alive, looking at how his family had grown. He talked with Harry though and they went off for a bit leaving Hermione with Ginny talking about pink paint. In general the entire evening was going quite well, he watched as Hermione flitted around talking with the family members, playing with the babies, and occasionally looking over and smiling at him from time to time. Then he saw something and suddenly something in him snapped.

Hermione had stopped to talk with Harry and Ginny. He watched as she placed her hand on Ginny's belly feeling the baby kick, she laughed at a joke Harry had made, and then Harry gave her shoulder a playful shove. Ron's eyes narrowed and he saw Crusitux Lestrange there, shoving her. He kept pushing and pushing until she was lying on the ground and he was standing over her. He raised his wand to curse her but before he did Ron attacked him.

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY WIFE." He yelled as he started to attack the man who pushed his wife.

"Ron stop, I wasn't hurting her!" exclaimed Harry, though Ron's mind seemed to be in another place.

"STOP, DON'T HURT HER!" Crusitux was still shoving him. Ron saw him raise his wand again and curse her. Her body convulsing in pain. Ron dropped to his knees crying. "Hermione, Hermione, 'Mione." His body was shaking and tears were streaming down his face.

Hermione went to her knees in front of him and spoke to him "HE isn't here. It is Harry, Harry our FRIEND. He was just joking with me. Ron LISTEN to me. HE IS NOT HERE!"

Ron looked up and through his tear stained eyes he saw Hermione looking at him with a concerned look about her face. He grabbed her and clutched her to his body. She clung to him and as she did announced "I think it is time for us to go home. We'll come by tomorrow. Harry, I'm sorry."

"I don't mind Hermione. Just get him home and take care of him."

"She will be doing nothing of the sort. Ron is going no where. He is staying here where he can be cared for." Molly said as she came over and tried to get her arms around her son.

Ron continued to weep in Hermione's arms. "Mum," she said "I have to take him home. He needs to be there. He went through a lot today more than you guys know. We need to go home, that is where he will be best cared for. Not that you can't care for him, but he needs to be home with just me. He needs to know I am all right, that we are all right. We'll be back tomorrow sometime. Just don't try and come over . The ministry has set up several wards around the house, Ron and I are the only humans who can get through them."

Molly sobbed as she nodded her head and watched as Hermione helped Ron into the house. She sent a silent prayer up to who ever was listening that they would be alright.