here's another chapter... thanks for the reviews, keep em coming! please read and enjoy!
disclaimer: i own nothing
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The second we went inside everything went quiet. Molly, Ginny and Harry were standing in the kitchen, Arthur, George and Angelina (George's wife) were standing near the table and the kids, Harry and Ginny's kids James, Albus, and Lily, and George's kids Fred, and Roxanne, and of course our two little darlings were all sitting around the table. Once everyone realized how quiet they got, Molly made the first move.
"Hello there you two! It's so nice to have you here for dinner!" I smile at Molly's enthusiasm and soon the noise level is back. Ron and I take off our shoes and head over to our kids quickly to say hello. After being told by Rose and Hugo about their day, I notice that George and Angelina are looking at me a bit curiously so I go to say hello.
"Hey George, Angelina," I pause, "it's really great to see both of you. Your kids are getting so big!"
George shakes off his shock and suddenly I'm wrapped in a Weasley hug, I smile when he puts me down, "Hermione it's been way too long." I nod and agree, then notice that Ron and Harry are in the kitchen with Ginny and Molly so I excuse myself and walk over to say hello.
"HERMIONE!" Ginny grabs me and hugs me, "God I miss you, we haven't talked in DAYS. What's new? Tell me everything."
I laugh at Ginny's enthusiasm and I can tell Molly is waiting for answers as well. Ron looks up from his conversation with Harry and winks at me so I decide to tell Ginny about the new developments.
"Well basically the other day I finally talked to Ron about everything, and I think we're going to be a lot better now," I barely finished the sentence before Molly was hugging me. Her hugs are always so intense and full of love it makes me want to cry, but I hold it together and notice she wasn't as lucky because there are definitely tears in her eyes as she pulls away.
I offer to help with dinner only to be literally chased from the kitchen by Molly. Ron grabs me and gives me a quick kiss on my way out and Ginny follows me into the living room so we can talk.
"Wow, I'm so glad to see you two are back Hermione, it has been way to long," she tells me as we sit down.
I nod and agree, "Okay Gin you can't tell anyone this part, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to or not, Ron and I didn't really get that far when we were talking about it." I can tell she's intrigued so I continue, "Well I wouldn't say that it's something that's going to happen right away or anything, but I think we're going to try to have more kids."
I can tell Ginny is a bit surprised, but when her face breaks in to a smile it makes me feel very happy, "Oh Mi, I'm so glad to hear that. I always thought you two would have the most kids in the family with your intense fights and make ups." We both chuckle at the thought. "So does this mean you two are sleeping together again?"
Something to value about Ginny's character is that she absolutely does not beat around the bush, a quality which has only strengthened as she's gotten older. "No, not yet, I don't think it would be a good idea for us to rush back into having sex, but that doesn't mean we aren't doing anything." I giggle and blush a little when I say this and Ginny looks like she wants to give me a high five, "God I feel like I'm a teenager again these days."
Ginny laughs, "Yeah, but you guys will get back there, and probably fast too. The intense kind of love you two have for each other is only ever easy to act out in fights or sex."
On that happy note, Harry entered the room to tell us dinner was ready and we went into the kitchen to join the family at the table. The kids were at one end while the adults were at the other, with George and Harry sitting closest to the kids. George's good ear was facing the adults so the noise the kids were making doesn't bother him too much, but he can also joke around with them at the same time. I take my seat next to Ron and smile when I see that he's already made sure I have my favourite wine in my glass and give him a kiss on the cheek in appreciation. I can tell his family is still getting used to the idea of me being around again because whenever I do something like this it makes them smile or stare. I guess it should bother me, but it doesn't really, I'm just glad to be back.
Halfway through dinner, Arthur looks at me from the head of the table and asks, "So Hermione how was the lunch date?" This manages to get the attention of everyone except the kids and I smile and reply, "It was excellent Arthur. Ron took me to this place we used to meet at when I went back to school for seventh year." Ron picks up my hand in his and kisses it and then Harry decides to open his mouth.
"I think you're lying. It must've gone really well for you two to leave two hours early from work today," he's smiling and on the verge of breaking out in laughter. I can tell that Ron is probably blushing as much as I am, and all the adults at the table look on the verge of laughing as well.
Thankfully Ron said something so I don't have to, "Well it was a slow Friday and we had some stuff to take care of. Thanks though Harry." Harry is actually laughing now, and I can't help but giggle a bit. The rest of dinner goes by without incident and I just love the feeling of being back in the company of the wonderful family I have again. By the time we go home it's late, but we promise to come back for dinner tomorrow night so the entire family will be there. Saturday nights were family night at the Burrow and generally everyone who could would come for dinner.
We get back into our house and it's late so I take Rose to bed while Ron takes Hugo and we meet back up in our room. Ron and I are both tired, but I can't help but feel slightly exhilarated from going to the Burrow again. It's a big personal triumph for me to return to a place that holds so many memories, good and bad considering I spent a lot of time there during my pregnancy. I'm glad that not everyone was there for my first night back; it was awkward enough as it was. Actually the curious glances and all the concern just makes me wonder what kind of questioning Ron has been through for the past year.
Ron was amazing though, he still knows exactly what I need and want. Like tonight, he made sure to hold my eye and catch my eye when things got tense. I smile at him and walk into the bathroom to brush my teeth, when I return to the bedroom I find my pyjamas laid out on our bed with words floating in the air above them, "Living Room, xo." God I love him.
I throw on the pyjamas quickly and when I journey to the living room I find Ron sitting on the couch with a big fuzzy blanket and the room set up to watch a movie. He's holding a remote, and Chicago is queued up to be played (My favourite movie and a movie Ron hates.) I grin and hop down next to him on the couch. It's quiet for a second and Ron pushes play so I take the opportunity to cuddle up next to my handsome husband and we get settled with the blanket. Just before the titles start I lean up and whisper in Ron's ear, "Baby, you were amazing today," I give his ear a nibble and add, "And thanks for this movie." Ron doesn't say anything but he gives me a smile and wraps his arm tightly around me.
I feel weight shift and realize I'm being carried. The movie must've ended and I must've fallen asleep because I'm now being transported somewhere and I can only assume it's to bed. I love the feeling of being in Ron's arms- it reminds me of our wedding night- so I stay 'asleep.' I think he can tell I'm awake but he doesn't say anything. He balances me on his leg and holds me with one arm so he can pull back the covers on our bed. I feel myself being laid down and a kiss comes on my forehead as the blankets tuck me in.
The weight on the bed shifts and I know Ron must be in bed next me. I want to cuddle with him so I forget about pretending to be asleep and roll over and rest my head on his chest. He chuckles and I open my eyes a little, smiling, "You knew I was awake didn't you?"
"Definitely, you've always sucked at fake sleeping."
God it feels good to be back so close to his body again, "I love you so much Ron." I feel his hands rubbing my arms and he kisses the top of my head before replying, "I love you too Mione." I lay with my head on his chest and I feel his breathing change as he falls asleep and I let the sound of his heartbeat lull me to sleep as well.
The next morning I wake up nestled into Ron's chest and hear yelling coming from the hallway- it's Saturday and Rose and Hugo are up, and they're headed our way. I smile up at Ron and kiss him good morning and the kids come running in to interrupt us as they jump up on the bed.
"Mum! Dad! It's Burrow day today!" Hugo says excitedly.
I laugh, "Hugo honey its Burrow day almost everyday for you." He laughs and gets a wondrous look on his face and Rose adds, "Yes but today is Saturday which means Uncle Charlie might be there!" Ron and I laugh, all the children love their Uncle Charlie, he may be single after all these years but he's got amazing stories that drive the kids wild.
The kids hop off the bed and we can hear them running down the hallway and into the living room. I look back up at Ron and we start kissing again, which slowly turns into a fairly heated snog. Morning kisses are definitely the best way to wake up- almost. Our kisses start to break up and I say between them, "Babe can we go to my parents today?" another kiss, then he replies, "of course, if that's" kiss, "what you" kiss, "want to do." I'm now totally on top of Ron and straddling him as are kisses get deeper and deeper. His chest is already bare and I kiss down his neck and my mouth finds his nipples. "Baby we have to get out of be-" he tries to finish but his voice is caught in his throat as I kiss down his stomach, "the kids are up."
I smile up at him from my position I'm stationed at near his waist, "Don't worry babe this won't take long." I wink and lean forward across him to the table beside the bed and grab his wand, closing the door with a quick spell and placing a silencing charm on it. I work my way back down his body, "I just want to give you a quick thank you," I undo the draw string of his pyjamas and pull them down, revealing his already throbbing member, "for how amazing you are." With that I take him in my mouth and work my magic quickly.
After a few minutes I can taste him in my mouth and I suck harder until he's totally finished. I smile as I pull away and start to stand up, "Now, I'm going to go and brush my teeth and you're going to go and get the kids to the kitchen for breakfast." Ron is still panting as I make my way to the bathroom and I smile at my handiwork. By the time I get back to into our bedroom Ron is putting a shirt on but he is still red in the face. "Sorry, I was trying to get to the kitchen but I needed a few seconds to recover."
I smile at his sudden boyishness and wrap my arms around him, "that's okay, we can make breakfast together." He smiles at me and gives me a quick kiss, "Thank you for this morning." I kiss him back, "Come on, let's go feed those kids of ours." We walk out to the kitchen arm and arm and separate when Ron goes to grab the kids while I grab my wand off the counter and get breakfast started.
Once we're all seated at the table and munching on deliciousness, I ask the kids, "So you two, your dad and I were thinking that we'd go see my parents today. What do you think of that?" Rose practically drops her fork and says right away, "YES! Can I pick out some more muggle books from your collection?" I hear Ron chuckle and see him shoot a look my way, "Yep, she's definitely your daughter Hermione." We smile as I assure Rose that she can pick out as many new books as she wants.
After breakfast Ron and Hugo decide to play some chess while I give Rose a bath, once we're finished Ron gives Hugo a bath while Rose and I read Hogwarts: a History. Both the kids are clean so Ron and I take our turns showering and getting ready for the day so we can head out to muggle neighbourhood. My parents only live about an hour away by car, which is generally how we travel there because they are muggles. It's already 11:30 because we woke up so late and after we gather our things and pile into the car we're off to my parents' house.
When we pull into the driveway my mum is in the garden and rushes over to say hello, while shouting over her shoulder for my dad. The kids get to her first and practically tackle her to the ground, making her laugh and smile. Ron and I stand near them holding hands while they say their hello's, then my dad comes out the front door and the kids run at him allowing us a chance to say hi to my mum.
I let go of Ron's hand for a second and hug my mum, "Mum it's so nice to see you!" We release our hug and my mum turns to Ron and hugs him as well, "It's so nice to see you two, it has been way to long." Ron knows she's referring to us being together during a visit since I've seen them by myself but he takes it in stride and takes my hand before replying, "I totally agree Jane," then he turns to me and adds with a wink, "totally."
My dad is now carrying Hugo as we walk towards the door and he greets us halfway, "Hey kids! Rose ran inside to find some books," my dad shoots me a look and shakes Ron's hand. I smile and hug my Dad, while getting a piece of Hugo whose still in his arms and after our greetings are finished we all head inside.
Going into my childhood home is hardly as great as going to the Burrow anymore. It's weird, but as soon as I found out I was a witch my house just never felt like home again, especially after experiencing any amount of time at the Burrow, but still, it is very nice to be able to see my parents whenever I want and sometimes it is nice to withdraw myself from the magical world and find some solace in the quiet muggle life.
We go out back onto my parent's deck and find that Rose is already squirreled away with a book in their hammock. It's kind of a blast from the past walking through the doors out into the backyard to see a bushy-haired girl reading a book just like I used to, and I think my parents see it too.
"Gosh, if she didn't have that red Weasley hair I would think it's my little Hermione out here again," my mum says as we all sit down.
Ron smiles, "Yeah well good luck getting rid of this hair. I'm surprised Harry and Ginny managed to have two kids without red hair, his dad's mop must be a strong gene." We all laugh, knowing that it's true that few things can beat the power of the Weasley genes, although both of our kids do have incredibly thick hair like mine.
"Fleur and Bill's kids all have incredible blonde hair," I say just to poke at Ron. He laughs, "Yeah well I guess being part Veela is stronger than the Weasley trait." We all giggle a little and Hugo starts to get antsy in his grandpa's arms so my dad sets him down and he goes running off chasing my parent's cat.
"So," my mother starts, "What's new with you two?" Ah, the probing for answers, and with very little concealment too.
"Work is going well," Ron says, "kind of boring actually, not a lot of dark action anymore." He smiles at the thought and I reply, "Is that why you and Harry were standing around laughing all morning yesterday?"
My mum raises her eyebrows, "Hermione why were you watching them work? Didn't you have anything to do?" Rats, I hate it when she turns stuff on me, but she is right. "Yeah I did, I was just a little distracted because Ron and I had a lunch date yesterday and I couldn't really concentrate." I blush a little at being so candid with my parents, but I can tell from their smiles that they're happy to hear that Ron and I are on better terms.
"How's your family Ron?" My dad asks. Ron replies quickly, "Oh they're all doing really well actually. Dad's having a great time at work playing with muggle stuff all day, mum's perfectly content babysitting her grandchildren during the work week and everyone is really busy at their jobs. George is thinking about selling his Hogsmeade branch of the joke shop to Lee Jordan though, to keep it in the family sort of but without having to actually run it. I think it's a lot of work to run two shops basically alone. It was probably easier when I was helping out," he trails off and I know he's thinking about Fred so I grip his hand a little tighter. Fred's death still hangs over the family and although we all love him and treasure his memory, it is hard to think about what happened.
"That's good to hear. How many grandchildren are in the Weasley works these days?" My mum asks, I can tell she's wondering how Molly can handle it all. I chuckle a little at the thought before I answer, "Well Bill and Fleur's two eldest daughters are at Hogwarts now, Victoire and Dominique, so it's just their son Louis who's at the Burrow during the week sometimes, Percy and Audrey's daughter Molly is at Hogwarts right now and Lucy will be heading their next year, right Ron?" he nods at me in assurance and I continue, "George's son Fred and daughter Roxanne are usually at the store with him during the week but sometimes he needs a break and they're at the Burrow too. Then of course our two lovely children are there most of the work week unless one of us has a spare morning and Harry and Ginny's kids too. But James will be starting at Hogwarts in a couple years and then Albus a year after that, when Rose goes. Oh and Teddy Lupin is at Hogwarts now too so he's not around as much anymore either."
"My, what a big family. I can't believe that our one child managed to marry into such a huge family," my dad laughs. It is kind of unbelievable, although I read somewhere that only children usually end up married to people with big families so it can't be that rare.
"What can I say sir, your daughter just never could resist the Weasley charm. It must be all the red hair." We all laugh at Ron's ridiculous joke and smile at Hugo as he comes running up to my chair.
"Mum I'm hungry," he says and I laugh a little at his expression, he looks so much like Ron when he wants food. My mum and I share a look and I pick Hugo up and put him on Ron's lap, give them both a kiss on the head and my mum and I walk inside to get some food ready.
In the kitchen I know the cross-examination is coming, so I mentally prepare myself to answer my mother's questions.
"So you and Ron seem a lot better," my mum says as she opens the fridge and pulls out lunch food.
I smile and help her prepare with my wand to save time as I answer, "Yeah, we had a great talk a couple days ago, and yesterday and I think we're going to be okay. Once I told him all the things I'd been feeling it actually got really easy to slide back into where we were, almost where we were anyway." My mum smiles at me- god I hope she didn't think about sex when I said that.
"I'm glad to hear that," she pauses and looks a bit uncomfortable so now I'm terrified of whatever is coming, "did you tell him about the more children thing?" I swallow hard, I didn't really mean to tell my mum my thoughts on having more kids but it sort of slipped out one day when I was really upset.
"Actually yes, we did talk about it," I pause for dramatic effect, knowing she desperately wants to know if she'll be getting anymore grandchildren, "I think that given some time it wouldn't be out of the question. We have a ways to go before that I think though." She drops the spoon in her hand and gives me a huge hug.
"Oh Hermione, it's so nice to have you back," she smiles when she says it and she seems so sincere but I can't help but wonder what kind of zombie I must have been for the past two years considering everyone's reactions to having me "back." Although I suppose it is nice to know that the people around me noticed that I'm getting better.
We make our way into the backyard and put lunch down on the table. Ron helps Hugo to a sandwich while I go over to the hammock to see if Rose is hungry. As I approach the hammock Rose looks incredibly wrapped up in the muggle novel she selected and I notice she's reading Pride & Prejudice, which is way beyond her years.
"Rose honey, are you hungry?" I ask and she barely looks up as she shakes her head. "Mum I'm reading, I really want to finish this chapter and then I'll come and eat." I laugh a little at her dedication and know that if I went back twenty years I would've said the exact same thing to someone trying to drag me away from a book in the middle of a chapter; in fact I still do say that. "Okay sweetie but come and eat when you want to."
I make my way back to where everyone else is sitting and join in the conversation and grab a sandwich. Ron is telling my parents about the Quidditch world cup game that we went to a few years into our marriage- before Ginny retired- and they're laughing at his telling of when she almost got knocked off her broom by a stray bludger. It's simple times like this when I love him the most. My parents aren't exactly keen on the magical world- they support me being a part of it but they don't really understand it, and I love the way Ron can bring it to life for them in a way that so few people can. It's just another part of my life that he knows is important to me so he makes sure I know that he knows it's important. I think I'm going to have sex with him tonight.
Oh My God. I'm shocked- I hope no one noticed me drop my sandwich in my lap. Where did that thought come from? I'm sitting here with my parents and husband and KIDS and I just decided that I'm going to have sex with my husband tonight for the first time in a very very long time. I chuckle a little and the looks on everyone's faces brings me out of my day dream. Shit. I hope I wasn't gone too long.
"You alright there Mione?" Ron asks, looking a little worried but more intrigued than anything else. "Yeah, sorry about that, just got lost in my thoughts again," I smile, and my parents turn back to the conversation and Ron leans over and nudges me, "that brain of yours never stops does it?" With a wink and a smile we return to the conversation with my parents and get updated on their lives as dentists. Half an hour later Rose joins us and eats lunch before running inside to collect more books to take home when we leave.
The time goes by quickly and before we know it it's 2pm and time to leave if we want to get home in time to go to the Burrow for family night. We give my parents hugs goodbye and promise to come again soon before we hop in our car and make our way home. An hour and a half later, thanks to traffic, we're home and have to rush to get ready for dinner at the Burrow. Hugo and Rose are totally content playing in the living room so I nod at Ron in the direction of our bedroom and when he follows me in I close the door behind him and kiss him with as much passion as I can muster. He responds quickly and pushes me against the wall of our bedroom.
When we finally pull away and regain our breath, I know it's time to leave for the Burrow but I want to tell him first that I'm ready to make love to him again. "Ron, tonight after we get home, I really want to make love to you again," he looks a bit shocked, so I explain, "sitting there today with my parents and just being around you it makes me wonder what the hell I'm waiting for. I'm still scared of getting pregnant right away because I really don't know if I can handle that yet, but I really do want to feel you again. I just want to be us, the way we used to be. We never used to be able to have our hands off each other for a minute when we were alone or around others. Ginny always tells me we have an intense connection but I didn't really understand what she meant until I thought about our physical life. Even now when we're not having sex all I want to do is have your hands all over me. I want to go back to having sex for fun again, with no pressure of trying to get pregnant or anything else."
Ron doesn't really say anything, but instead kisses me very softly, "Hermione Weasley, all you ever have to say is 'make love to me' and I will. It doesn't have to be tonight if you decide you're not ready, but if you are then be prepared to sleep in late tomorrow," he smiles again and kisses me gently then gives me a hug. I smile into his body and keep my arm around him as we walk into the living room to floo over to the Burrow. Ron decides to go first with Rose and I take Hugo afterwards.