Hello! I was so happy to see people enjoying this story! See Disclaimer on the 1st chapter. Flashback will be italics fyi. I'd like everyone to know that normally I am a Dramione shipper all the way, but I hate all the hate Ron often times gets. I always imagined him a sweet and loving guy despite his flaws of jealously and envy that often pop up. Its partially why I felt the need to write this story. I am so happy that you are reading and reviewing! it really pushes me to keep writing!

Enjoy!

Hermione woke as the sun was setting. Brushing her hair from her face, she buried herself deeper into Ron's pillow. She breathed in his scent, so distinctly Ron as she thought back to that night.

She had just fed the boys dinner after a long day of attempting to come up with a new plan for the search. The boys, especially Ron, had been overly optimistic ever since he had come back to them. She had managed to get real food for their dinner after a successful trip to a grocery store under the cloak. It was her small attempt at celebrating Ron's birthday, so that he knew he wasn't forgotten despite their current trials. Harry went out for guard duty for the night. He always seemed to take the night shift, under his claim of dreams and nightmares being worse then, but she suspected that it had something to do with leaving her and Ron to their own devices. She'd slowly forgiven him. First, it was an acknowledgement of his suggestions, then directly speaking to him without prompting, and eventually curling up with him in the evenings as they went over new and often unrealistic plans. They never spoke about what exactly was going on between them. It was as if they had both known, that after that separation, they'd never allow themselves to truly be apart again.

Ron brushed her hair out of her face as she came into the sleeping room of the tent. He'd already changed into his pajamas, and Hermione stepped behind their makeshift curtain to do the same. As she pulled the curtain back and headed to her bunk, Ron stood there, seemingly debating internally with himself. Sitting down, she asked him what was wrong. He didn't respond, but rather looked at her. He was more handsome to her every day they spent out in the woods. And then, he kissed her. Softly. Not the overwhelming snogging he'd always done with Lavender. He was gentle, his hand on the back of her neck and at her hip. Her fingers were in his hair, pulling him closer. She'd never been this close to any guy before. Not Viktor, and definitely not Cormac. They were on her bunk getting closer with every kiss, when he whispered against her lips the three words she had never thought he would say to her. About to cry, she grabbed her wand, did a nonverbal charm, whispered in his ear that she loved him too, and let him take her, as only he could. Each other's first and only. They didn't have to discuss this, or any of it. It was clear they wouldn't let each other go again.

Harry came in the next morning with the two of them in Hermione's bed, and never said a word. She knew he wouldn't, and she was grateful. What Ron and she had was beyond words or explanation. It was simply meant to be. The changes were never discussed, but she hadn't spent a night without him by her side until they reached Shell Cottage and were forced to sleep separately.

Hermione swung her feet out of bed and headed to the bathroom to clean up. The house was quiet. As she reached the main level, she noticed everyone outside for dinner. Walking outside, she took her spot by Ron and began to fill her plate. "Are you feeling better Hermione?" Mrs. Weasley looked at her while she passed a bowl of mashed potatoes to her right.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley, what do you mean?" Hermione stuttered out as attempted to take the basket of rolls from Ginny from her left.

Mrs. Weasley looked up at her again before repeating, "Are you feeling better? Ron said you weren't feeling well and had gone to take a nap."

"Oh. Yes. I'm feeling much better now Mrs. Weasley. Just the stress of the past few weeks is all. It caught up to me." She glanced at Ron and noticed his almost imperceptible shake of his head. He hadn't told anyone their secret.

"Well if you need a draught or potion, just let me know. I've almost got the house stores caught back up so that we have a stock of anything the family might need."

"Thank you Mrs. Weasley. If I need anything, I'll make sure to ask." She began picking at her roast pork but not eating much. She felt Ron's hand creep into hers and give it a squeeze. The reassurance was all that she needed to get through the meal without mentioning their secret to anyone.

The rest of the evening was spent quietly with the family until Harry and Ginny suggested a stroll through the orchard. Ron and Hermione readily agreed to the scheme and they all left the house together before quickly breaking off into their respective pairs. Ron held her close against his side while they walked along. "I'm worried Hermione. There's so much that could go wrong. We need to go see a healer as soon as possible. Just to make sure everything is all right."

"Ron I'm fine. You didn't even notice until I told you. Everything is progressing normally and we don't need any more publicity than we are already getting."

"Hermione I don't give a damn about publicity, we spent months on the run, you not eating right, you were tortured at Malfoy Manor, and you were fighting at the Battle. I need to know that you are all right, that the baby is all right. So please, can we just go to St. Mungo's tomorrow and get you checked out, just to put my mind at rest?" He had stopped walking by now and was looking down at her. It was so dark she almost couldn't see his face. Almost, however was not enough to hide the look of pure worry in his eyes.

"I've been trying not to think about all of that. What it could do, or mean. It terrifies me more than you know." She whispered.

"How long?" She glanced up at him confused. "How long did you know before you told me?" he clarified.

"Oh. Well a few weeks, I started getting sick at Shell Cottage. Nothing has been quite regular since we've been on the run. I suspected things while we were staying with Bill and Fleur. Fleur had gotten worried that the getting sick was part of the trauma of the torture. Once she started asking questions however, she used a few spells and told me I was pregnant." He started to huff and clearly upset that he hadn't been informed of it. "Now stop that Ronald. We weren't sure what the torture would do and we had to stay focused on the end goal. I wasn't telling anybody, including you, until I was positive I wouldn't lose it and I absolutely had to mention it. We couldn't get distracted and you would have tried to leave me behind." She crossed her arms in front of her body, waiting for the explosion she was sure was coming.

He bent down and kissed her cheek. "Tomorrow we go to St. Mungo's. You are going to let them run every test imaginable and after that, I'll stop worrying. Now as far as I know, pregnant women need sleep. Therefore, we are putting you in bed right now, and that is where you will stay. If anyone asks I'll say you're still feeling under the weather."

"This is ridiculous. I am fine. I have been fine. You are blowing this out of proportion beyond all reason, Ron." He was still leading her back to the house, gently and firmly.

His voice was low when he responded, "Hermione, I just lost my brother and far too many people I know. Please just let me take care of you and make sure that you are safe and healthy, that our child is safe and healthy." They stopped outside the backdoor. He looked at her before kissing her lips gently. Then he knelt down, lifted her shirt, and let his fingertips rest on her stomach. It was hardly curved, not even noticeable unless her stomach was bare, and no one who didn't know Hermione would have even noticed. However, Ron knew Hermione's body very well. She had always been thin, firm, and considerably less curved than she appeared now. He had previously thought the curves were simply the result of being at Shell Cottage and then back at the Burrow. He had never even suspected that she was carrying his child. "Shouldn't you be bigger? Like shouldn't it start popping out by now?"

She giggled, he looked amazed and confused at the same time. "No Ron. It'll be some time before that happens. What you're seeing now is just the hormones changing my body around. Not to mention full meals every day has caused me almost reach my pre-horcrux hunt weight. You're just used to how thin we all were while on the run."

"If you say so Hermione." He leaned in and kissed her stomach, just below her navel. She gasped, slightly and put her hands over his. "I love you, Hermione."

"I love you too, Ron."