Look - I'm posting on time - amazing! :p I hope you like this chapter - it's kind of a filler to get the story moving - but there's some sweet moments :)

Thanks as always for your awesome reviews...especially the 2 or 3 of you who reply to nearly every chapter - it's appreciated so much :)

Disclaimer: Not Ms Rowling, just a fan.

Chapter Seventeen

The expression on Ron's face had said it all when he'd brought the kids home from his parents that night. It was the same look of pain I'd seen on his face once before. After the dust had settled following that final battle and after we'd all grabbed some much needed sleep, came the solemn realisation that his brother was gone and wouldn't ever be coming back.

My heart went out to him – it wasn't at all fair for him to go through all that for a second time. But, being the doting father that he was remembering to be, he put on a brave face for our children over dinner. Smiling and nodding as they told us excitedly about their day with Grandma and Uncle Charlie. Grandpa, it seems, had been at work most of the day.

It wasn't until after they'd gone to bed that he'd told me about his Mum taking him down to Fred's grave, which sat under an apple tree on the border of the Weasley property, and that he'd also come across his own memorial. "It was just a shock, you know," he whispered in the lounge.

I nodded, trying to be understanding, but not really having a clue how he was feeling. What would it be like seeing your own memorial? Seeing a marker with your own name on it, your date of birth and date of assumed death. There had been no grave since we'd obviously never had a body. But, the marker – a statue of a Griffin on a pedestal with a simple plaque, had sat beside his brothers.

"I'm sorry," I murmured back. "I mean, I should have thought to warn you. In all the excitement of having you home, I forgot all about that even being there. I…I've avoided that spot since the service," I admitted shamefully. I didn't even really remember the service – those lost months were something of a blur to me.

"S'not your fault," he mumbled. "It just, well it kind of brought it him home for me that you all really had thought I was gone. That my parents thought they had lost another son. My siblings lost another brother. And you," he broke off with a sad shake of his head. "For the past two years or so, I had been pretty much to dead to you all."

"But you're not," I tried to smile at him. "You're here. We got you back. You're a son, brother, husband and father for us all over again."

"Yeah," he mumbled, sounding exhausted. It had been a long and emotional day for both of us.

Ron remained somewhat subdued for a few days after our long talk and his visit to the grave. Oh, he'd play with the children just the same – he'd joke and mess about with them, making them giggle. And he'd talk with me normally. But…sometimes, you'd see him drift off into himself. He'd sit, quietly and stare into thin air, lost in his own thoughts with that pained expression etched upon his face again as he dwelt on things.

I hated to see him this way and almost regretted telling him anything. It had taken all of us months to recover just physically from everything we'd been through, the emotional side had taken years to heal. It was entirely unfair that he had to begin that process all over again.

"Yes. I'll talk to Ron and let you know," I spoke into the mobile phone I was holding to my ear in one hand. The other held my wand – guiding a levitating basket full of dirty laundry down the stairs in front of me. I'd just been clearing out the children's bedrooms. "I promise, Mum. Bye." I sighed and ended the call.

"Talk to me about what?" Ron asked, suddenly appearing from the kitchen. He startled me and I lost control of the spell, causing the basket to fall to the floor, spilling it's entire contents.

I muttered a curse under my breath, shoved the phone onto the side table in the hallway and bent to retrieve everything. Ron beat me to it, having set the two glasses of juice he'd obviously been taking through to the children down and was already throwing things back into the basket.

"So, talk to me about what?" He repeated his question, looking up at me in the middle of his task and then glanced at the last item he'd just picked up. He flushed when he realised it was one of my bras and he rammed it deep into the pile to hide it.

"Erm," I began as I stood up again and held my hands out for the basket. Ron ignored me and nodding for me to go on ahead of him as he following me into the kitchen with the basket. He set it down on the counter, before leaning his backside against it, folding his arms and cocking one eyebrow as he waited for me to answer him.

"That was my Mum on the phone," I began. "My parents have invited us for tea. I mean, the four of us, on Friday." I turned to let him ponder that whilst I lifted the lid of the laundry tub and tapped it with my wand to start heating the water for a load

"Oh," he stiffened, standing up a bit straighter, unsure on this new information.

"They would love to see you Ron, they've always been very fond of you." I gave him a smile, turning back to the basket.

"Really?" He looked surprised.

"Well, of course they have," I replied in disbelief. "They know you're a good person and that you treat me well and make me happy."

Ron muttered something under his breath that I didn't quite catch. But I believe he may have been implying that he used to make me happy.

I let it go and continued. "They were very upset when you were…when we lost you. You're like a son to them." I added, knowing it to be true.

Ron looked rather surprised at that, both eyebrows flicking up underneath his fringe and his arms loosened from their firm grasp around his body.

"So…do you want to go? I asked hopefully. "There's no pressure, if you don't want to, they'll understand. But, I haven't seen them in a couple of weeks and neither have the kids so…"

"Fine," he nodded. I must have looked at him in surprise, because he added, "It is just tea right? I mean, just the four of us and them two?" He checked.

"Yes. Mum's not quite as good at cooking as your mum, but don't ever tell her I said that!" I warned with a slight laugh. "She does do some amazing baking though," I added. "And was already planning to get started on things for the weekend."

"Well, in that case, we'll have to go. Can't have her baking go to waste. Friday you said?"

"Yes, Friday." I nodded, pleased he had been so compliant in going. I'd been prepared for one of his tantrums or an argument. Ron smiled, possibly knowing he'd surprised me.

"Daddy! Where my dwink?" Hugo asked, wondering into the kitchen in a rather unusual get up.

"Oh, sorry buddy. Got talking to Mummy." Ron darted back to the hallway and retrieved both glasses of juice.

"Hugo, sweetheart. Who helped you get dressed this morning?" I wondered, fighting back a smirk.

"Me did it!" He held his arms out by his side, proudly.

"Here you go." Ron returned and handed him one of the glasses of juice. "Yeah, he insisted on dressing himself this morning," Ron caught my eye and we shared a grin.

"Well, big boy, don't you look...special?" I couldn't help it and a giggle escaped.

Hugo just grinned back at me before gulping his juice and wandered off, not a care in the world. I watched him go – wearing his red knee length football shorts my Dad had bought him, one of his Grandma's knitted jumpers – purple with a green dragon on the front and his fuzzy puffskein slippers.

Ron and I shared another look and then broke down in laughter. "That son of ours," I shook my head.

"He was so pleased with himself, I hadn't the heart to change him." Ron giggled.

"Bless him." I smiled, beginning to sort through the mass of laundry. "Oh, I was going to ask," I looked up from the pile. Ron had paused on his way to take the juice to Rose. "Did you have anything that needs washing?" I hadn't wanted to go snooping in his room. I hated that he had 'his' room in 'our' house, but, I was dealing with it.

"Yeah, probably. But, don't worry, I can do it." he shrugged.

"Don't be silly, we're all family. It makes more sense for me to just do it all together."

"Oh, okay. I'll...fetch it then." He nodded and headed off.

I returned to sorting through the mounds of clothes, Hugo had been hiding dirty socks at the bottom of his bed again and Rose was in the process of changing her nightclothes every night. And suddenly I wondered if Ron was embarrassed about me seeing his underwear. How utterly ridiculous, I laughed to myself. I mean, we had two children, I think it was pretty obvious I'd seen a damn sight more than just his underwear! I was still grinning to myself when Ron brought his clothes down, he gave me a rather funny look as he sorted them himself and shoved them into the load already in the wash tub.

"Actually, Ron." I stopped him before he left the kitchen again. He turned and waited expectantly for me to continue. "There was something else I wanted to talk to you about." I could hear the children playing together quite contently for once in the lounge and figured now was as good a time as any to speak to him.

"Yeah?" he asked cautiously and pulled out a chair at the table. He sat down and glanced up at me through his fringe and then stared at his fingers, picking at a scratch on his knuckle.

Casting a charm on the tub to begin washing the clothes, I sat down at the table with him. "It's nothing bad," I almost laughed at the look on his face. "It's just, I've been home from work almost five weeks now. And, though I'm lucky I've got an extremely lenient boss, I really do need to get back to my job."

"Oh, right," he nodded. Looking slightly less worried, he left his hand alone and looked up at me. "I mean, that makes sense."

I smiled at him. "I guess I was just wondering if that was okay with you?"

"Of course," he spluttered. "I mean, one of us needs to work right, and I can hardly go back to being an Auror when I can barely remember even being one." He frowned and I knew that realisation hurt him.

"It will all come back soon," I assured him, laying my hand on top of his and stroked his fingers lightly before pulling back. He gave me a brief smile, but he wasn't convinced. "Anyway," I added brightly. "I was wondering what to do about the children? I only work part time, but do you want me to arrange their usual care. Or…"

"I can look after them!" he cut in rather abruptly. "I am their dad!" He seemed totally affronted that I might suggest otherwise. "Do you not trust me with them or something?" he accused me.

"No, of course that's not what I meant!" I snapped back at him. "I just...I didn't want to assume."

"Well, they're my kids too, so I will take care of them!"

"Fine! Then, I'll go back to work next Tuesday." I stood up, pushing my chair back in under the table rather harsher than was needed and retreated to the library, closing the door louder than was needed as well.

Charlie almost tumbled out of the fireplace that same afternoon – he was a big guy and our fireplace wasn't quite as big as his parents. Hugo squealed with glee the moment he saw him and practically leapt on him.

"Hugo, you be nice to your Uncle." I warned, coming from the kitchen to see what all the noise was about.

"Oh, he's okay. Aren't ya buddy?" Charlie asked, bouncing him in his arms, pretending to drop him and then grab him quick. It didn't matter how old my children were, my heart still almost stopped whenever he did that. Just like the time I'd caught Ron levitating our then six month old son in the air!

"You tell me dwagons?" Hugo demanded.

"Yeah, in a bit buddy, is your daddy around?" he wondered, directing the question at me.

"He's outside, in the shed. He and Rose and looking for his broom." I explained.

"I wan' broom!" Hugo demanded, struggling to get down from his Uncle's arms and head outside as well.

"Well, you could have gone with them, but you've only just finished your lunch young man," I sighed. He dawdled over his food terribly, preferring to play or chatter on about nothing, and needed constant reminders to eat. He certainly didn't have his father's appetite!

"Come on," he tried to tug his Uncle after him, not moving him an inch.

"I thought I could take him out, maybe the Muggle pub in your village?" he suggested. "That dragon business in Wales is almost sorted, so I'll probably be heading back to Romania in a couple of days." He went on to explain.

"I think Ron would enjoy an afternoon out," I realised. "He's been a bit down since I had to tell him everything about the war and all that." And then our tense words this morning hadn't helped, I knew that.

Charlie smiled, finally letting Hugo drag him along, he patted my shoulder as he went past. "I'll cheer him up," he promised and went out to look for him.

Somehow during that pub visit, Charlie managed to do what I hadn't been able to. Talked Ron into visiting Bill and finally taking him up on that open ended offer to visit any time. Charlie was visiting Shell Cottage the next day and convinced Ron that we should all go with him and make an afternoon of it. It was heart-warming to see him reconnecting with his siblings and gradually rebuilding those relationships, though perhaps a little clumsily and not without some exasperation on Ron's part. I knew it frustrated him no end that he didn't remember things - things he felt he should know and that were important to him. I wondered if it frustrated him as much as me that he couldn't remember much of our romantic relationship? He was getting there on our friendship. But, as yet, nothing of our romance and it was driving me insane that I couldn't figure out why!

Soon enough though, they were back to the playful banter that only happens between siblings – the calling each other daft names, the teasing and bickering all done with love. Bill even managed to get Ron up on a broom again when he suggested they went for a toss about with the quaffle on the secluded, deserted beach where their house resided. Leaving the children, our two and Bill's three, to dig massive holes and play on the sand. Fleur and I spread ourselves out on a blanket, watching the goings on and enjoying the picnic - making the most of the sun now that summer seemed to be making an appearance.

Before we left Shell Cottage, shortly before twilight set in, I led Ron down to the very end of the property, stopping by a small grave between the flower beds, with a simple stone as a marker.

'Here Lies Dobby. A Free Elf'

"I seem to be spending a lot of time at gravesides," Ron muttered, watching as I placed something gently on his grave. "Too many people died," he then added, sadly and sniffed.

"They did," I agreed, looking at him tenderly. I didn't want to make him cry again. "But, think of how many lives were saved by what we managed to do?"

Ron simply shrugged and looked glum. We'd still lost his brother, we hadn't been able to save Fred. Ron sniffed again and wiped his face on his sleeve, trying to be surreptitious about it. "Why'd you bring him a sock?" He finally realised what it was I had placed on his grave, weighed down by a couple of pebbles I'd picked up.

I smiled, thinking of the friendly little elf that had saved our lives. "Dobby loved socks," I said. "You know the only way to free a house elf from his master is to present him with clothes?" I asked, Ron nodded. "Well, Harry kind of tricked Mr Malfoy into freeing Dobby with his own sock. So, after that, they were his favourite item of clothing, he never liked them to match though," I chuckled fondly at the memory.

"Mummy!" Came a yell from the cottage behind us. "Hugo's been sick!" Our daughter added.

I sighed wearily. "Thank you Dobby," I whispered, before turning and making my way back to the house.

"No wonder he's sick," Ron followed after me. "I swear I saw Bill's eldest daring him to drink sea water!"

"Oh great," I groaned. It looked as though it might be a long night. Even with magical potions that worked instantaneously – Hugo behaved just like a man with any illness and he'd be getting rid of that sea water for awhile yet.

"Would you like any more Ron?" My Dad offered him another sausage from the barbecue.

"Oh, no thank you Mr Granger. I'm stuffed." I smiled, knowing with his appetite he'd have been able to squeeze a couple more in. I suspected he was being polite.

"Ah well, all the more for you boy, huh?" Dad glanced down at the little brown and white dog sat patiently at his feet for any titbits. The dog was a very new addition to the family, something both Rose and Hugo had been ecstatic about when we arrived. I just couldn't believe my parents had bought a dog!

"It was delicious though," Ron added, politely.

"That would be my special secret sauce." He winked and tapped the side of his nose covertly.

"Dad, please," I laughed at him. "The only secret about that sauce is that it comes from Tesco and you disguise it in another jar." I knew all his secrets – he'd been doing the same thing for years.

"Hey now, don't go giving trade secrets away!" Dad warned me playfully. "Honestly, these women." Dad spoke to Ron and both men chuckled.

I rolled my eyes.

"You save some room for dessert anyway, dear." Mum patted his hand and made to take all the dishes into the kitchen. I got up to help as Hugo jumped down from the table to play with the dog again.

"Hugo? What do you say?" I asked, reminding him of his manners.

"Erm…good boy Rory!" He patted the dog on the head and grinned at me.

I groaned in defeat as all the adults laughed at him.

"Please can I get down Mummy?" Rose asked me, handing me her now empty glass.

"Yes, you may sweetheart," I smiled. At least I'd managed to instil some manners into one of my children.

Things seemed to be going well. There were a few nerves beforehand, for both parties. Mum had asked me how to treat Ron and I told her to behave exactly as she always had with him. Dad was a little tense with him at first, but soon relaxed when he realised he was just the same son-in-law as always, that he was loving and patient with his grand kids and kind to his daughter. I think he was still being protective of me, thinking Ron had some ulterior motive. But, things were fine now, I glanced back to find them talking together. I couldn't tell what they were talking about, but Ron was smiling, so it couldn't have been that bad.

Before dessert, Mum insisted on taking me down the garden to see the sunflowers she'd planted with the children a few weeks ago, they were growing steadily now and Rose joined us to proudly show off her gardening skills.

"Maybe you'll join your Uncle Neville and be great in Herbology," I hugged her as she showed them off, proud that hers was growing the tallest. Mum had attached little name tags to each.

She shook her head. "I want to be bestest at potions!" she insisted.

Mum just sighed. "Still feels weird to hear my daughter and grandchildren talking of such strange school subjects as Potions and Charms. How about something like Geography or History?"

"History of Magic, Grandma?" Rose asked, tilting her head to the side. I smiled as I cupped my daughters cheek, almost five years old and she had all of Hogwarts subjects memorised already and knew what she wanted to learn the most. She reminded me of myself so much sometimes. And then, other times she was purely her father's daughter. I sighed wistfully as she ran back up the garden, pausing to kiss her Dad's cheek and then roll around in the grass with her brother and Rory.

"I can't believe you bought a dog Mum," I voiced my earlier thoughts, watching my children.

"I know," Mum turned and looked back at them all. "It was something your Dad really wanted though. It was never fair when we were both working all the time, but since we retired. Well, I know he likes to keep busy. Plus, it's a little quiet at home all the time with just the two of us," she explained. "Then when he took me to the rescue centre, just to look he had promised. It was me who couldn't resist that little guys face," she smiled as my Dad handed the children a ball to throw for the dog.

"I know, but you always insisted dogs were too much work."

"Oh, he's totally your father's dog. They do everything together already, follows him everywhere. He's good for your dad." She held my hand and patted it.

"He seems happy," I commented, watching as he had got up to join the children and the little dog bounded all over him.

"He is. That little dog has given him a new lease of life." she smiled wistfully as she watched her husband of 35 years playing on the ground with his young grandchildren and an excitable dog. "How about you?" She suddenly queried. "Are you happy?"

"Yes," I answered promptly, without even thinking about it as I turned to look at the flowers again.

"Really?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Of course," I smiled. "I have Ron back, my family is together again, what more could I ask for?" I knew I was forcing this smile a little too much.

"So, everything is good between you and Ron?" She wondered, as we walked slowly around the garden, towards my Dad's tiny greenhouse.

I sighed then and looked up at her. "Yeah, I guess."

"You don't sound too sure love?"

I groaned and stopped walking, my shoulders drooping a little in defeat. "We get on fine, I mean, our friendship is fine. You know - talking, being parents, sharing chores, all that is just…fine."

"Fine?"

"That's all it is Mum, friendship," I gave in, my voice wobbling as I realised tears were threatening to fall. "We're almost like a couple of good friends who simply live together and raise kids between us."

"Well, a good friendship is an important basis for any relationship love. There's a lot to be said for being friends."

"I know, but," I sighed, trying to work out how to word my thoughts. "It's just, there's no…romance or, well…sex," I whispered, blushing at discussing that with my mum. "Not even a hint of it."

"Hermione, love." She hugged me to her and I felt glad we were shaded from view by the greenhouse. I would hate for Dad to see and think something was wrong. I wasn't going to explain to him that I was frustrated because my husband wouldn't sleep with me!

"I just, I miss that. You know. I mean, more the intimacy, the connection and everything. I just miss being able to hold him and kiss him. The mere mention and he blushes and runs off!" I rolled my eyes. "It's like he can remember a lot of things now, stupid insignificant things, but he can't remember our relationship, his love for me, and I don't know what to do." I sounded as though I was wailing now.

"It will come sweetheart." She smoothed her hands over my hair. "Give him some more time. I mean, it's almost sweet he's not jumping straight into bed with you."

"Mum! There's nothing sweet about it. It's just bloody frustrating!"

"Hermione!" She chastised me for the language. "I just meant, it was kind of gallant of him. He's a young, virile man. He's living with a woman who would welcome him into her bed at a moment's notice from the sound of things." She seemed almost scandalised by the realisation and made me sound like some scarlet woman! "And yet, he's holding back, waiting until he really remembers what you have, until he knows he loves you too."

"Still frustrating," I muttered under my breath. But, I had heard what she'd said. I suppose in a way it was kind of…nice to know he wasn't ready to jump into bed with any woman who told him she loved him.

"Mummy!" Hugo called from the other end of the garden. "I need a wee wee!" He yelled loud enough for the neighbours to hear.

"Coming," I called back. He'd only been out of nappies for about six months, potty training much later than his sister had, so whenever he needed to go, he really needed to go.

"I'll take him," Ron called. "Don't worry."

Mum just gave a look then, as if to say 'see, you're lucky to have him'! And I knew I was. Damn it, I knew he was an amazing father and all of the rest of it. But was it really so bad that I wanted the husband I loved and desired back in my bed too?

Mum and I were in the kitchen, getting the strawberry shortcake out of the fridge when Hugo came wandering through by himself. "Where's your daddy?" I asked, watching as he sat on the floor, struggling to put his shoes back on to go outside. Mum had the kids well trained about taking their shoes off indoors.

Hugo shrugged, grunting as he pulled his shoe on.

"That's the wrong foot sweetheart." I crouched down and swapped them over for him, watching as he attempted again. "So, where is daddy?" I repeated, once he had his shoes on and I bent again to tie the laces.

"Upstairs." He waved in the general direction of the staircase as he jumped to his feet. "He's just looking at a room," he added skipping off outside.

I frowned, wondering what that meant and still Ron hadn't come down. "I'll be right back," I told Mum and headed off to find him.

"Hey, you coming down?" I asked gently, reaching the landing and finding him just gazing through an open doorway. "Mum's taking dessert out." I offered, thinking that would tempt him.

"This was your room, wasn't it?" he nodded towards the doorway in front of him.

"Yes," I smiled wistfully, joining him and looking at my old childhood room. Most things had been moved with me when I left home. But there were still a few primary school certificates and trophy's on a shelf. A couple of stuffed animals sat amongst a lonely and empty bookshelf – all my books having come with me. And my small, single bed was still covered in the same pink and white patchwork quilt. "My childhood room," I sighed. "I spent so many hours in here, reading, watching the kids in the neighbourhood playing in the street and not feeling a part of them." I remembered.

He nodded, continuing to glance curiously around the room.

"Ron, what made you stop here?" I asked, my heart suddenly thudding loudly. Had he, he couldn't possibly have remembered something else significant that had happened in this very bedroom. Something that my father would have thrown him out of the house for and probably banned me from ever seeing him again.

Ron shrugged. "I dunno, something pulled me here. There's something, I know there is, but I can't remember it. I've been in this room though, haven't I?"

"Well, yeah. You helped me pack when we moved and you came to visit once, picking me up to spend the summer with you. My parents wanted to meet yours, so, you all came for tea once." I added. Ron looked surprised at that.

"Nah, that's not it," he shook his head. "There's something more." And then he heaved a great sigh and leant back against the doorjamb. "Damn it, I wish I could remember stuff easier," he complained.

"You're doing great," I repeated the mantra, and gave him a smile.

"I wish I could remember more about you. About us," he then whispered and reached out to push a thick lock of hair back behind my ear. Our eyes met and for a few seconds the moment was so sweet, so tender - my heart thudding so loudly it was a wonder he couldn't hear it. For a second I thought, maybe...perhaps he was going to...kiss me.

"Hermione! Ron!" Mum called upstairs and completely ruined the moment.

"We should go," Ron turned quickly and was already stomping down the stairs. I heaved a huge sigh as I pulled myself away from my room, following him down.

"I'm sorry for us all just descending on you today," Ginny apologised, sinking into a chair at the kitchen table.

"It's fine," I turned from pouring us both ice cold glasses of pumpkin juice, whilst setting up a tray with a jug full of juice and glasses to take outside. "It's nice to see you all."

"Thanks. The kids have been driving me insane today, and with Harry away still, I needed some adult company."

Harry was away in Europe, on Auror business. Nothing dangerous, but there was a lot of bureaucratic red tape he had to deal with from time to time. He hated doing it, said it bored him rigid. But being head of the department, this was just something he had to put up with.

"Honestly, it's great to see you all." I returned to the table with our glasses of juice. "And look, the kids are having fun outside." Ginny and I both glanced out the window and laughed.

"You know they're going to run him ragged!" She chuckled, watching Ron being bossed about by the kids. He was building a fort with them, and already they were arguing over it. Lily and Rose wanted to decorate it with pretty flowers and blossom petals they had collected from the lawn. But Hugo and Al were fighting back that it was a dragon cave and they didn't want soppy things in their cave.

"He thrives on it," I smiled, watching him deal with the argument and soon settle all the children down. "Actually, I could do with some adult, erm…girl talk too." I admitted, sipping my juice.

"Oh?" she asked, flicking her hair long red over her shoulder.

"Yeah. Just, I know he's your brother and you won't want to hear any of this, but you're my closest female friend and I need to talk to someone."

"Okay," she replied warily. "So long as you don't divulge any details about you know, it or well, what's in his trousers, I suppose I can over look the fact that you sleep with my brother."

"That's just the problem. I don't." I blurted out. Ginny looked at me in surprise.

"You mean, you two haven't, you know," she waggled her eyebrows.

I shook my head and sighed deeply. "I just don't know what to do. It's so frustrating. I tried talking to my Mum about it yesterday, but she just went on about how lucky I am to have him back and what a wonderful man he is. And I am, and he is. But, she seemed totally scandalised I'd be upset about him not wanting to jump into my bed."

Ginny laughed at that, almost choking on her juice. "Sorry," she spluttered and wiped her mouth. "So, there's been nothing, since he came back?"

"No," I deflated against my seat.

"Oh," she uttered.

"What can I do Ginny?" I almost wailed.

"Hmm. Well, you know, I'm no expert on charming my brother out of his…oh, eurgh, I'm not even finishing that sentence!" She shook her head.

"It's not just that though. I mean, I just miss holding him and kissing him. Being close to him. Sometimes I merely touch him and he blushes and flinches away. It's driving me insane! It's not so bad for me to want my husband, like that, is it?"

"No," she shook her head, actually looking sorry for me now. "It's very normal to want the man you love. I mean, sex isn't the be all and end all of a relationship, but…"

"It's a lot," I finished for her.

"Yes." She nodded in agreement. "Just sharing that closeness with someone, that trust and intimacy. I can understand you being frustrated." She sighed and I thought maybe she was imagining herself in my place and just how exasperating it would be. "So there's been nothing at all since he came home?"

I shrugged. "A few hugs here and there, mostly when he's been upset. And, he did stroke my hair yesterday and touch my face. It was really tender actually," I added when I saw the look of amusement on her face. "We were at my parents and he'd been staring at my old room. For just a moment I wondered, no hoped, he was remembering the fact that our first time happened there."

"Hold on. You lost your virginity in your old childhood bedroom?" She gaped.

"Oh, erm, yeah," I blushed and tied my hair back in the ponytail again. "That first Christmas after the war, when we were home from Hogwarts. Boxing day." I smiled to myself at the memory.

"Wow! Okay, no details." She held her hand up to stop me. "So, he didn't remember?" She assumed.

"No," I shook my head sadly. "Though, I think he's aware something…significant happened in there. Oh, and then there was that kiss."

"The kiss? During your first time, or…" she faded off, giving me a strange look of confusion.

"Since he came home you daft woman! He woke up one night having a nightmare, he was petrified. I went to comfort him and he clung to me and then, well, we kissed. I mean, really kissed. Things may have got a little heated, had he not suddenly backed off and ran away." I groaned at the memory of that – how unsatisfied I had been left feeling.

"Right. So if he kissed you like that, he must still want you on some level. Have you tried simply talking to him about it?"

"Gin', he blushes if I so much as kiss his cheek. Could you imagine his reaction if I told him I wished he would make love to me?"

"Yeah, right…okay. So, how about good old fashioned flirting with him? Seducing him or something? And I can't believe I am talking about my brother's sex life like this." She put her hand to her forehead and shook her head unbelievably.

"Just forget he's your brother for a little while. This is just two friends and girl talk. But to answer your question, we never get chance for any of that. He spends a lot of time with the kids or in his room or I'm in the office trying to catch up on paperwork."

"You need some time alone," she decided.

"And I just said we never get any of that." I rolled my eyes in disgust.

"Which is why you need to take him away somewhere."

"What?" I asked, surprised.

"You need somewhere neutral, some place not connected to the past. So, go away for a couple of nights, just you and him. Book a nice hotel room, make sure there's only the one bed and, just…bloody seduce him somehow. He's still a man at the end of the day, if he's alone with a woman throwing herself at him and offering sex, he's going to give in eventually. Or well, a certain part of his anatomy will." She laughed.

"I certainly hope he doesn't just give in to any woman!" I replied indignantly.

"You know what I mean." She poked her tongue out at me. "Besides, it worked for me and Harry." She then confessed.

"Sorry?" I raised one eyebrow in question.

"Oh yeah, before Lily was born. We were having a bit of a dry spell. He was stressed with work and getting home late all the time, and well…a few days away together did us the world of good. Mind you, might have been where we conceived Lily," she mused to herself.

"Well, I'm not looking to have any more kids right now! But, a couple of days away with him might be nice. Might cheer him up a bit as well."

"I reckon we all need a bit of adult time away, just to remember the, pardon the pun, the magic and fall in love with one another all over again."

"That's exactly what I need," I sighed in agreement. "To get him to fall in love with me again. Right, a few days away." I'd decided this was a good idea and already my mind was racing with places we might go. "Oh, but I'm going back to work on Tuesday." I realised, dishearteningly.

"So? You still have Friday afternoons and Mondays off, right? You can still have a long weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday?" She suggested.

I nodded to myself, the idea exciting me again. "Okay," I decided. "I'll go to my Mum's after work one night next week and use their computer to book something." I smiled at her.

"Good for you!" She thumped her fist in the air and then drank some more juice. "By the way, what did you mean it might cheer him up?" she asked, watching them out of the window for a few moments. "He certainly looks happy enough out there."

I followed her gaze, towards my husband who was giving piggy back rides to Lily and Rose alternatively whilst the boys chased them with makeshift wands from sticks and they were all hollering in glee.

"I know," I sighed. "He's fine around the kids and he's been a bit better the last few days. I think spending time with Charlie and Bill has helped. But, he's been down since I had to tell him about the war and everything that happened to us at school. He's taking Fred's death really hard."

"I suppose it's like he's only just living it," she sighed, gazing into her half empty glass absently. I knew the whole family missed Fred dreadfully and whilst time had done wonders to heal us all, there would always be sadness that he was no longer with us. "Well, when Harry gets back, I'll send him to see Ron. I know how I can cheer him up, and I do not mean the way you're going to try!" She laughed as I blushed. "But, I've managed to get some tickets for the Cannon's match next weekend. Harry was going to ask him if he wanted to go, think Neville and Seamus are going too. Thought it might be nice for him to see some old friends?"

"You might have to omit telling him they're going to be there as well. But, I'm sure a trip with Harry to a Quidditch match will cheer him up." I agreed,

"Is he being weird about meeting people again?" she asked.

I nodded with a weary look on my face.

"Well, I'll tell Harry to be sneaky about it then and not mention them going. They can just bump into them at the pub beforehand or something?" She grinned.

"That might work," I agreed.

"Phew, it's hot out there today," Ron had snuck up on us in the kitchen and was stood wiping his forehead on the back of his arm. "Any chance of those cold drinks you promised us? What you two been chatting about?" He eyed us both, fanning himself with his hand now.

"Nothing for your big nose!" His sister pulled a face at him.

"Just girl stuff," I smiled at him.

"Well, why don't you come join us outside? It's lovely out there." He nodded back outside to the garden. Rose and Lily were happily sprinkling the little den, made from old bed sheets, garden poles and most likely magic holding it all together, with flower petals. Whilst the boys were splashing in the shallow pool of water Ron had conjured for them.

"Did you put the sun repellent charm on the kids?" I asked him.

"Erm…forgot," he admitted sheepishly.

"Oh, Ron, they'll burn. You know their skin is even more sensitive than yours." I got up and grabbed my wand. "You should probably cast it on yourself too," I added whilst passing him on my way outside and noting the redness of his nose.

"Come on bro," Ginny linked arms with him. "Let's take this jug of ice cold pumpkin juice to them outside." I heard her instruct him as I headed off to sort our kids out.

The Quidditch match proved to be a success. Harry and Ron both came home in high spirits, despite the fact his team had lost. "But not by much!" Ron insisted. It seemed to have done him good to get out into the Wizarding world with a friend and I was glad.

Later Harry confided in me that he'd been rather apprehensive when they'd 'accidentally' ran into Neville and Seamus in the Leaky beforehand. Ron had wanted to avoid them at first and suggested going elsewhere. But, after a glass of fire whiskey and some chatting, they were all getting along just fine. The boys, after a previous word from Harry, had treated Ron just as they always had done.

There had been once incident at the game when a few wizards were staring at Ron and then whispering, causing Ron some alarm. Of course, no one knew he was actually alive. His death had been all over the Daily Prophet and various Wizard media when he'd disappeared. Witch Weekly had carried a memoriam on him for weeks. I never thought of his sudden reappearance into our world causing a stir. I was more concerned with his reappearance into my world. But, Harry assured me he'd been fine after buying a new Cannon's hat and transfiguring his wallet into a pair of dark glasses as a disguise, he'd been left alone to enjoy the game, which apparently he had thoroughly enjoyed.

This little venture gave me hope that our weekend away would have similar success, especially as we'd be out in the Muggle world, away from the prying eyes of any witches or wizards. I felt like I was 15 years old again, counting down the days to the Yule Ball! And this time I was determined for us NOT to end the festivities with a row!

Reviews are always loved :) Until next week...and I suspect some of you are going to enjoy the next chapter :p