Somewhere
Chapter Two
--
"I'm looking at you through the glass
Don't know how much time has passed
All I know is that it feels like forever
But no one ever tells you that forever feels like home…"
-Through Glass, Stone Sour
--
Ron arrived home that evening to the smell of dinner cooking. Lavender didn't seem to hear him right away- she had the Wizarding Wireless turned up loud and was singing along while she cooked.
He watched her for a moment- she really was one of the most beautiful girls he'd ever seen in real life. Long blond hair, perfect figure, huge blue eyes- every guy's dream. Ron took a deep breath.
You're lucky, mate. Don't bollocks this up.
Whatever he and Hermione had was over before it began. Lavender would never screw with his head like that. He couldn't just go running off to try and find some dream he should have given up on when he was eighteen. Harry and Hermione were part of a past he had no business dredging back up again.
"Ronnie?" Lavender turned down the radio, finally noticing him.
"Hey, babe."
"Sorry- good song." She laughed, a bit red in the face.
"Quite a voice you've got there." He grinned.
"You should know." She smiled back, crossing to him after waving her wand towards the pots and pans to keep cooking.
Ron took her face in his hands, kissing her hard and longer than usual. Lavender's arms went around his neck, smiling rather breathlessly when they parted.
"What was that for?" She looked up at him.
"I just missed you today."
Lavender raised her eyebrows.
"Okay- what did you do?" She giggled, with a mock accusatory tone.
"What?"
"You only act this way when you've done something that's going to piss me off."
Ron dropped his arms.
"You know what, forget it. If I can't say nice things to you without getting in trouble-"
"Ron, I was just joking! Guilty conscience much?"
"I haven't done anything! I was just happy to see you!"
An awkward silence fell. Lavender motioned behind her as the timer went off in the kitchen.
"I really was only kidding."
"I know. Sorry."
"Let's just eat, okay?"
"Yeah."
They both sat down, noisily picking at their food and drinking quite a lot of wine as the jazz channel of the wizarding wireless filled the lull of conversation.
"So how was work today?" Lavender finally said.
"It was okay. Just normal. How about you?" Ron shrugged.
"Oh…um, me too." Lavender said quickly, a little pink in the cheeks.
Ron blamed it on the wine she had been pretty copiously drinking, and didn't think much of it.
"Have you talked to your sister lately?" Lavender asked suddenly.
"Nope- well, I mean not since last weekend. Why?"
"I was just wondering."
Ron put down his fork.
"Is something wrong? Is Ginny okay?"
"Of course! She's fine- just she's…dating some guy from our office. I just didn't know if you had heard."
"Who is it this time?" Ron grinned.
"You don't know him. David something. He always made really lame excuses to come over to Ginny's desk. Guess she finally got the picture."
"Well, good for Gin. I've been kind of worried about her- she's seemed really down lately."
Ron and Lavender looked at each other for a moment, neither wanting to say it. They both knew why Ginny had seemed out of sorts lately- the five year anniversary of Harry's victory over Voldemort had just passed.
"Well, she seems really crazy about this new guy, so I'm sure she'll be a bit more cheerful now." Lavender said dismissively.
"I hope so."
Ron got up for seconds, his back to Lavender.
"Ron?"
"Yeah?"
"I think we need to talk about something."
"Okay. Fire at will."
"I'm serious."
"I'm listening!" Ron looked over his shoulder, liberally applying sauce to the top of his spaghetti.
"I really want us to start trying."
"Trying what?"
"Trying to have a baby."
The serving fork he was holding clattered to the floor. Ron nearly dropped his plate as well as he spun around.
"W-What?"
Lavender laughed nervously at his thunderstruck expression.
"Well- I mean, we always said that we would eventually. It's been three years now, and you're pretty well settled at your job, and I just- Ronnie, I think about it all the time. I really want this."
Ron sat down at the table, looking like he was about to throw up.
"Babe- come on, we're nowhere near ready! You're not even twenty-three yet! What's the rush?"
"I've always wanted babies. Especially with you. You'd be a great father, Ron. I know it."
"Maybe someday- but not now- I mean, come on-"
"Why not now? Don't you want to have kids with me?"
Ron looked at her.
"I don't know."
"WHAT?"
"I mean, I don't know about right now. I just- Lavender, this a lot to just throw at me!"
"I'm not throwing anything at you! Have you noticed that all of your brothers are married with kids by now? What are you waiting for?"
"Not Charlie!"
Lavender made a 'well, that's a different story' face.
"Lavender, for the last time-"
"Ron, come on. Don't you think he's rather close with his dragon-wrangling 'partner' of his? That dreamy bloke who always comes for Christmas?"
"Okay, fine, just let my mum and dad live in denial about that, all right?"
"Whatever you like." Lavender rolled her eyes.
There was a long silence during which Lavender poured herself another glass of wine.
Ron sighed, putting his head in his hands.
"Lav…of course I want to have kids eventually. Just let me think about it, all right?"
"Are you just saying that to shut me up?"
"Yes. Totally."
Lavender looked up to see Ron smiling at her.
She shook her head.
"You are such a prat."
"I know. Maybe it'll skip a generation."
"Let's hope so," Lavender laughed, holding up her wine glass, "To thinking about it?"
Ron clinked her glass with his.
"You got it. And lots of practicing."
--
Later that night, Lavender lay beside Ron in bed, the sheets pulled over her bare frame. Ron was staring up at the ceiling in shock.
"Ron, it's really okay. We did drink a lot. It happens."
"Not to me." Ron said in a small defeated voice.
"Every guy says that, and it happens to all of them," She shook her head, "Really, I don't care. Let's just go to sleep."
"No, no, no. I refuse to be this guy. Let's do it again."
"Ron, I have to get up really early…"
"Lavender, for the sake of my manhood- come on."
She rolled her eyes.
"You are so stupid."
"If that's your idea of talking dirty, it's not going to cut it."
She giggled.
"Since when do you like that?"
"You know, girls are so lucky. This never happens to them."
"Sure it does. I just always think about David Beckham." She grinned wickedly.
Ron raised his eyebrows.
"Beckham, huh? That Muggle prick?"
"Yup. Makes me weak in the knees. I can't help it."
"All right, no more of that talk." Ron growled, pinning her arms over her head.
He kissed her hard, closing his eyes. At the feel of Lavender's body against his, Ron's mind suddenly and unexpectedly flashed back to his office, Hermione pressed against him, her voice in his ear, her breath hot on his skin, her breasts crushed against his shirt as they embraced-
With a surge of triumph, Ron heard a sound from Lavender that assured his manhood was no longer in danger.
As a hot rush of pleasure and guilt shot through him, Ron let himself pretend.
--
Lavender apparated to work the next day still feeling a little sore. Ron had never, ever been like that with her, she thought with a secret smile. And whatever had caused it- it was hot as hell, and she sure wasn't going to complain.
She walked through the newspaper office, and saw Ginny in the break room talking to some girl Lavender didn't know with long dark hair.
Cute outfit, Lavender thought absently, going in to say hi.
"You recruiting, Gin?" Lavender asked.
Ginny looked up distractedly.
"Oh hey, Lavender. You're not going to believe this."
The girl turned around, looking just as surprised as Lavender.
"H-Hermione?" Lavender choked out, forcing a smile on her face.
No no no she can't be back what the hell is she doing here?
"Hey, Lavender." Hermione said, her voice still as patronizing and annoying as Lavender remembered.
"What on earth are you doing back?" Lavender said, her face still frozen in a smile.
Ginny looked between them, sipping her coffee with a grin.
"Business. Business trip."
"All the way from Australia? Some trip."
"Well- my office is actually collaborating with the Ministry here. Ron didn't tell you any of this?"
Ginny winced.
"You talked to Ron? When?" Lavender said, her voice oddly high.
"Yesterday. I dropped by his office- just to say hi, catch up, you know." Hermione said, waving her hand flippantly.
Lavender felt her insides boiling.
"Lavender, are you okay?" Ginny asked, clearly about to laugh.
I'll be better when you make this bitch leave.
"Of course. I'm fine. It's great to see you again, Hermione! I'm just a little surprised. Your little visit must have slipped Ron's mind- he didn't say a word about it." Lavender said, tucking her hair behind her ears, making sure to clearly display her sparkling wedding ring.
"Yeah, sure, I was only his best friend for seven years- I'm sure he forgot all about it." Hermione said, her tight smile now matching Lavender's.
"And how long are you staying?" Lavender asked pointedly.
"Just a few more days. But don't worry- we'll have plenty of time to catch up. Ron asked me round for dinner on Wednesday."
"What? Why on earth would he want to have dinner with you?" Lavender snorted.
"I don't know, Lavender- why don't you ask him?"
Ginny cleared her throat, stepping in between them.
"That's Ron for you. Such a mystery. Hermione- I'm dying for a cigarette. Come outside with me?"
"I don't smoke." Hermione said, confused.
"No better time than the present to pick up a deadly addictive habit. Come on." Ginny said with a bright smile, marching Hermione away and mouthing sorry to Lavender.
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