Disclaimer: I do not own either Ron nor Hermione, they both belong to J.K. Rowling

Chapter 3: Diamonds in the Sidewalk

Ron steadied himself on a nearby lamp post after tripping over his own two feet. He plopped himself down on the curb and threw his head back releasing a burp reeking of alcohol.

A woman passing by let out a "tsk" of disapproval, but Ron made no apologies, and simply waved his hand dismissing her from his part of the cobblestoned sidewalk.

He realized sitting there probably made him look like a homeless drunk squib still trying to make it in the wizarding world, but he didn't care. In fact, 7 fire whiskeys deep, all he could still think about was the terrifying choice of never starting a family, or starting a family with someone else. And both choices made him want another drink. How was someone supposed to choose?

On one hand, he had dreamed of having a bunch of, red-bushy haired kids, but it wouldn't be the same with out the bushy hair, he was sure of it.

He was positive that he needed Hermione in his life, she was not just his wife, and she was a major factor in what made up Ron Weasley as the world knows him. Plus leaving his wife does not guarantee finding another witch who would have him, and love him the way Hermione does, or even finding someone he felt that way about. The saying goes, that there is one person you're meant to spend your life with, so what's the point in trying to find a second person?

Even If he did find a second love of his life, which he doubted very much, who says she will be interested in starting a family any more than his first love?

Ron, thinking logically for once, realized that leaving Hermione is simply not an option. Unless she wanted out, he was in for the long haul; he would be true to his vows.

As he sat on the curb in his drunk, philosophical daze, something glinting caught his eye across the alley. He abruptly stood, and stumbled across the way to the glass window of Madam Rose' Custom Jewels. As he pressed his face up against the glass, he couldn't tear his eyes away from the entrancing sapphire necklace laid before him. It was gorgeous, something you only see on people belonging to families like the Malfoys. Even if he could afford it, Hermione would never accept it, she never wanted gifts of that manner.

He sighed and let his eyes drift along the rest of the jewelry the display had to offer. He did a double take on a simple bracelet being out shined by the rest of the jewels. It had a thick silver chain that was so intricate it could only be magic. On the chain was a large black diamond that was flat and same size as the face of a watch. He couldn't tear his eyes away, or stop imagining it on Hermione's delicate wrist as she threw spells at him. It was beautiful yet had a touch to it that amplified her strong will.

His mind was made up, now the only decision was whether to sleep on the curb and wait until the shop opened in the morning, or to go to the apartment up stairs and presumably, awake Madam Rose.

The sound of his own clunking feet walking up the wooden stairs that wrapped up the side of the shop pulled him out of his thought process. He was sure she would be awake due to his loud ascent, so turning back now seemed silly.

"Traitorous feet," he mumbled. The curb had been looking cozy before he began walking without thinking.

As he trudged up the stairs, a light turned on, so he had woken her up. The door was opened not by the presumed Madam Rose however, but by a burly man holding his wand out prepared for a jewelry thief.

"Bloody hell mate!" Ron cried, putting his hands up in a sign of peace. He really did not think this through.

"Get off my stairs before I curse you to next spring!" The man shouted, taking another step closer.

"I'm here to see Madam Rose," he replied timidly, but to his horror this only outraged the man further.

"ROSE? What business do you have coming here in the night to see my ROSE?!"

At this Ron cursed himself for making such a stupid comment. The man's outburst sobered him up good and quick though, his mind quick turned to auror auto pilot. He surrendered his hands and pointed his wand at the man just as the man shouted a curse at Ron.

Ron jumped the last two steps to the top porch so he was level with the man. A look of comprehension crossed the mans features as soon as Ron was in the light, as he recognized this war hero.

"Oh, oh Ron Weasley, I'm sorry! I thought you were a burglar!" He started laughing in a nervous, hysteric way near the end. Ron chuckled as well, how ironic that he was assumed a burglar as he keeps wizards like that off the street for a living.

"I apologize for the intrusion, I, well I wasn't thinking." Ron apologized sincerely.

"What did you exactly plan to accomplish coming to our apartment at 1 am?"

Ron scratched the back of his neck feeling awkward all of a sudden, "I don't know, one moment I was prepared to sleep on the curb and wait for the store to open, then the next thing I know I was coming to find the owner, but now I just want to go to sleep."

The man gave a tired laugh, "You would have been in for a long wait on that curb mate, we don't even open Sundays you know. It's posted on the door."

"Right, erm, I'm just going to go," he stammered.

"Wait, you okay mate? Why you trying to buy fine jewelry in the middle of the night anyway? What's the rush?"

"Spat with my wife, wanted to impress her I suppose, it sounds stupid now, but it seemed like a good idea before I started coming up here."

The man leaned back against his door frame and observed Ron carefully before unfolding his arms and extending his hand to reach Ron's.

"I'm Roland by the way," he said shaking Ron's hand, "and I'd be glad to sell you anything in the store at a discounted price in the morning, and offer for you to stay the night."

"I, its really okay Roland, I appreciate it," but he was cut off.

"Really I insist, for one I could hardly count a bed for the night and a discounted diamond as payment for the service you have paid the wizarding world, and second, well I'm married too mate."

Ron smiled at the gesture this stranger, that tried to curse him down the stairs only minutes before was offering. He was used to people throwing things in his face as payment to his servitude. It never got less awkward. He really felt weird about staying at this stranger, well Roland's home, but he could hardly apparate now.

"I'd really appreciate it," he replied smiling shaking Roland's hand in a deal once more before entering their above store apartment.

The next morning Ron woke to a strange humming coming from somewhere. The first thought that entered his mind was, 'I'm not on the curb,' well that's a relief he added as an after thought. He rolled his head towards the inconsistent gurgling and through squinted eyes saw a small boy probably around 4 or 5 trailing a toy Hogwarts Express train along the border of a braided rug.

Memories from the previous night flooded his mind at the sight of the boy, and he could feel himself reddening at his display that lead him to here. He sat up slowly, as to not startle the boy, and watched him play with his train until he noticed.

The child was like Ron's own personal demon. He couldn't help himself from imagining the boy with red hair instead of blonde, and on the rug in his own master bedroom. His own potential son playing until his daddy woke up. He let out a loud annoyed sigh at himself for dwelling on something that would never be, but caught the attention of the child.

The boy took the sigh as a reprimand and quickly scurried from the room leaving his train. Ron ran a hand through his hair trying to make himself look decent before he walked out to greet his hosts, he just wanted to buy the bracelet and get the hell out of here. He picked up the train and giving the room a sweep for any left possessions, walked out to the living room.

His personal demon was watching him from around a corner with wide expectant eyes. Upon seeing the train in Ron's hands he timidly approached him.

Ron squatted down so he was level with the boy and held the train out to him. "What's your name?"

"Harry," the boy said louder than Ron expected then walked away, train in hand.

Ron snorted to himself; 'Harry' had become a very popular name among small boys in the wizarding world after Voldemort met his demise. He was used to meeting children with the same namesake.

"You must be Ron," a woman said from the same hall the boy had walked off to, pulling Ron out of his thoughts. He stood and introduced himself to Rose, finally. Get the diamond and get out, he thought. He couldn't bear to be away from Hermione one more minute.

He did indeed buy the beautiful black diamond bracelet he had seen in the window. He also got the discount as promised to his surprise. He wondered if people would ever treat him as an ordinary wizard again, how much time had to pass for people to feel their dues had been paid?

After almost spending the night on the curb, being taken for a burglar, sleeping in a strangers place, he felt the tug home to Hermione even stronger. The added weight of her gift in his pocket made him even more anxious to see her, and even forget some of his worries. He knew what he would do, she was more important to him than having children. Their love was much bigger than this argument, and he was determined to not lose his love.

With that he aparated home to his wife.

A/N: Sorry for the wait. : (

I have the worst luck in betas. The girl that was going to help fell off the face of the fanfiction world. Any new takers??? : )