The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.

________________________________________________________________________

Charlie looked at Fred and George. Fred was smiling with his hand out. Charlie watched a grumbling George drop five shiny galleons into the outstretched hand. George whispered to Charlie, "I knew it!" Charlie turned to the rest of the group. "How about we grab a few at the Leaky Cauldron and give the couple some privacy."

Percy gave an aggravated huff. "This was a waste of a Friday evening. Really could not they have planned this better?" With that, he left.

After a few minutes, Harry and Ron were the only ones left with Hermione and Bill. Harry looked at his two best friends. They had not been in the same room since Veronique's arrest and they had a great deal of unfinished business.

Harry did not want to intrude and looking at Bill, he nodded. "Goodnight Bill, Hermione. Congratulations to you both."

Ron was still silent and staring at Hermione; he did not notice Harry leave.

"You look beautiful Hermione." Ron had finally spoken. "I know you deserve to be happy." His eyes glistening as he turned to his brother. "Bill please be good to her. She is one of a kind."

Bill reached out his hand to shake Ron's extended hand, but Ron did not take his brother's offered hand. Instead, Ron was unconsciously reaching to touch Hermione's lower abdomen. His fingertips gently brushed the scar.

"Is that where…"

Hermione nodded. "That is all I have left of him."

Ron looked up at Bill again. "Please take care of her."

Bill pulled Ron into a hug. "You know she is safe with me."

Ron smiled weakly and made his way out.

Hermione sighed. "This has been a hell of a day." She sat down on the ottoman. "I did not think I would survive the night."

Bill sat next to her. "Planning on dying of mortification?"

Hermione nodded. "That is about the gist of it."

She twinges as Bill's arm rushed against injured shoulder. Tears sprung to her eyes from the pain.

Bill noticed her reaction. "It is getting worse."

Hermione rubbed her eyes nodding.

Bill stood up and offered his hand to her. "Okay then. I think we have a duty Miss Granger. Since you already ½ betrothed to me and the only way to heal that injury is to finish what we started…I suggest we retire to the bedroom and shag like rabbits."

Hermione rolled her eyes but took his hand. "Bill that is not exactly what I always dreamed you would say."

Bill smiled down at her up turned face. "Coco you are my dream come true."

The bright early morning light coming through the frost-covered window woke Hermione. Resisting, Hermione snuggled her head into Bill's chest. Feeling the slight soreness as she shifted her hips reminded her of the previous night. The sense of completeness as they made love reinforced their realization that in one act they had found what they both had been looking for.

Hermione closed her eyes and draped her arm across Bill's waist they were perfect together. Their bodies responded with out hesitation or nervousness as they worked together to find their rhythm. The moment when they had both shattered into pieces is when Hermione had a crystal clear vision of their life their future together. It was a moment that she would hold in her heart for as long as she lived. It was the fulfillment of her dream.

Hermione stirred form her thoughts but a rough hand cupping her breast, the calloused fingers finding and teasing her into a reaction. Hermione watched her body's reaction the tightening of the darker skin into a taunt peak. Each firm twist and pull was rewarded with a small moan from her throat. Hermione could feel the warm wetness pooling where her hips rubbed against Bill. She was stunned by how quickly her body reacted to his touch.

Bill turned to face Hermione stroking her face and kissing her forehead. He continued turning until he was hovering of her.

"Open your legs for me." He whispered into her ear as he pulled her arms up over her head.

Hermione shivered as he glided into her. Her back arched toward him as once again she realized that she was made for him. Their rhythm was slow and powerful gradually increasing in tempo while Hermione caressed his body with hers. Her hands were in his, her legs around his hips, and as her mind slipped into oblivion her body enveloped Bill and brought him with her into ecstasy.

Hermione screamed his name as she felt herself explode. "Please I am…"

Bill held her close catching his breath. "Yes my wife I am always going to be here to catch you. I will always keep you safe."

Hermione clutched his hands as she felt she body begin to rise gain. She felt the wave just about to crest when Bill paused. The tapping at the window filled the room.

Hermione groaned. "Now!?! Now some idiot has to send an owl?"

Bill rested his forehead against hers in defeat. "Not the best timing I agree."

Hermione kissed his nose. "You want to open the window or let the bloody bird stare at us for a while longer?"

Bill grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at the window but the messenger stayed.

"Fine you win!" Bill yelled at the owl as he got up and pulled on his discarded boxers. He opened the window and allowed the owl to deliver its message.

Just as Bill removed the note and began to close the window behind the leaving owl another owl swooped in and landed on the windowsill. Hermione laughed as she sat up and wrapped the sheet around her. Bill growled at the second intruder. He recognized this one. It was Uric. His mother had found the psychotic creature when they needed to replace the elderly Errol.

Bill tossed the first envelope to Hermione as he lunged for the Uric only to have the owl bat his wings in his face and promptly leave a rather nasty pellet on the floor.

"Oh you have got to be kidding me!" Bill's temper exploded. "Come here you worthless piece of s…"

Uric fluttered over to Hermione and offered his leg for her to remove the envelope.

Hermione gleamed. "He has good taste obviously."

Bill was still standing by the open window as Uric spread his wings and launched toward the window and Bill. Bill ducked as Uric sailed out barely missing Bill's head.

Bill grinned as he stood up. "He missed me the evil creature."

As Bill stepped back toward the bed a disgusting squish sound broke the quite. Hermione fought to keep from laughing as Bill looked down at the owl pellet that was oozing up between his toes. The look on Bill's face was all it took to break Hermione's resolve and she laughed until she was gasping for air.

Bill limped to the bathroom and cleaned up his foot. When he came into the bedroom, Hermione had calmed down enough to breath.

"So who dared disturb us this morning?" Bill sat next to Hermione on the bed turning over both of the envelopes.

Hermione shrugged. "Which one do you want to open first?"

Looking at them, Bill realized that they were both addressed to Mr. and Mrs. William Weasley. Bill handed Hermione the second one addressed in familiar handwriting "Well this one is from Mum."

Hermione held the letter in her hand. "Do you think she is angry?"

Bill turned the larger official looking letter in over. It had a Ministry of Magic seal on the back. Hermione looked apprehensive.

Bill showed her the larger letter. "How about we open this one first, it is from the Ministry and addressed to both of us."

Hermione watched as Bill unfolded the parchment and read it aloud.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Weasley,

Please accept the Ministry of Magic's most heartfelt congratulations on your recent bonding, i.e. marriage. We wish both of you all the joy in the world.

At your earliest convenience, please make an appointment to complete the required paperwork at the Office of Vital Statistics.

Sincerely,

Artemisa Papairi

Assistant under Secretary

Hermione snorted. "How did they know? Do they have surveillance equipment?"

Bill shook his head. "I am not sure. They must be able to detect magic of completed vows."

Hermione was still laughing at the idea of some lonely clerk at the Ministry somewhere sitting in front of a desk with hundreds of tiny light bulbs waiting for betrothed couples to have sex and light up his switchboard.

Bill opened the second letter, the one from his mum.

Dear Bill and Hermione,

I cannot believe my first baby is married…

Hermione screamed.

Bill jumped. "What? Did you see a spider?"

Hermione looked completely horror struck. She shook her head and whispered, "Baby"

Bill peered into her face. "You have got to help me here sweetheart."

Hermione had her hand over her eyes. She slowly removed it and looked at Bill. "Babies. Do not you get it? We did not use any protection!"

Bill smiled and put his arms around her shoulders. "No, you are right we did not use any protection."

He paused and to see the reaction on Hermione's face then he continued. "Who knows maybe we will get lucky and get pregnant the first time we made love!"

Hermione was flabbergasted it took her a minute to process the information.

"William Weasley you mean to tell me that you though about birth control and consciously decided against it?"

Bill leaned against the headboard and pulled Hermione into his lap to face him, kissing her neck as she laid her head on his chest. "Coco, I want children. They could start showing up tomorrow and I would be fine with that. You are my heart, my home. I want all of it. Does that scare you Coco?"

Hermione's head moved slightly up and down on Bill's chest. "I am scared a little. It all went so terribly wrong last time."

Bill gently rubbed her back and kissed her hair. "Coco I will always be here I promise."

It was not until much later and after a very enjoyable shower, that Bill read the rest of the letter from his mother. It was a request to be allowed to send invitations for family reception to celebrate their marriage. Molly suggested a Sunday dinner in two weeks at the Burrow. Molly closed the letter wishing them all the best. Bill looked down at his sleeping wife next to him. Her shoulder already looked to be healing. Bill tossed the letter aside and slid down to spoon around Hermione. Her breathing changed as he pulled her to his chest her hair tickling his nose. Bill took a deep breath. This was perfect. This was what dreams were made of. This was his world.

Hermione heard the deep resounding thud before she realized she was awake. Opening her eyes she realized the light coming through the window was different. The sky was awash with mixture of pinks and oranges. The sun was setting and making its glorious last hurrah.

There was another thud this time Hermione sat up and took note of where it was coming from. Her episode with Sebastian made her wary of simply barging in. Hermione did not have to look down to know that Bill was still sleeping. He was snoring loud enough to make her wonder how she could have possibly heard anything else.

Hermione heard "Damn!" She knew this time the voice came from the hallway. Slipping on Bill's boxers and old t-shirt Hermione crept to the door and slowly cracked it open.

Hermione saw red hair through the crack and relaxed. Stepping into the hallway, she tiptoed up to the unsuspecting Weasley.

"Boo!" she shouted as she pounced on the crouched over back.

Her red haired brother in law shot straight up in reaction to being startled causing Hermione to tumble to the floor.

"Charlie?" She asked from the carpet. "I should have known it was you. Why are you sneaking around here? You live here."

Charlie looked guilty and embarrassed. "I did not want to disturb you two. You are newlyweds and deserve your privacy."

Hermione grabbed his offered hand and pulled herself up. She dusted off her shirt and quickly made sure she was still decent before looking Charlie in the face.

"Yes well" she blushed.

Charlie laughed and wrapped her in a giant hug. "Nothing to be embarrassed about people get married all the time. Did Bill tell you about the Weasley family tradition?"

Hermione knew better than to fall for this. "No not yet. Let me guess is it a Weasley family tradition to make the bride what – make every brother dinner for a week?"

Charlie wrinkled his nose is distaste. "No way have I had your cooking."

Hermione slapped at his arm. "That was uncalled for Weasley. Okay if that is not the tradition…let me think. I know the bride has to do all of the brothers' laundry for a week."

Charlie shook his head. "No but that is not a bad idea maybe we should start a new tradition!"

Hermione played along. "Sure if you do not mind me turning your white things pink and all your boxers shrunk!"

Charlie frowned "Never mind I like my Weasley tradition better."

"And what tradition would that be?" A deep voice asked from behind Hermione. Bill walked into the hallway and behind Hermione. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck.

"I missed you. You were not our bed." Bill's lips kissed her ear as he spoke.

Hermione turned in his arms to kiss him awake. She shrieked, "You are naked!"

Bill smiled. "Well you took my boxers woman!" he said as he pulled the borrowed item lower down her hips.

Charlie rolled his eyes. "Time for me to leave."

Charlie picked up his rucksack and walked toward the front door.

"Are you taking a trip?" Hermione asked.

Charlie stopped and looked down at the luggage. "I thought I would give you two some privacy. Helen agreed to let me crash at her place for a while." His face broke into huge grin.

Bill laughed. "Good luck with that!"

Hermione smiled. "Charlie, I really like Helen."

Charlie opened the door. "So do I."

After hearing the click of the lock as the door shut, Bill looked at his wife and lowering his lips to hers said, "Coco."

She was lost in his eyes. "Yes"

Bill smiled. "I am hungry, fancy going and getting a bite to eat?"

Hermione was disappointed and about to let Bill have it when her stomach grumbled. She laughed. "Yeah I could eat."

AN: This was an extremely difficult chapter to write. Having been married for years I know sometimes the most intimate parts of a relationship have nothing to do with sex. I hope you enjoyed!