Ron sat at his desk at work wishing he didn't had to be here, he tried to focus on the papers in front of him but it wasn't working. There was a knock at his door,
"Come in" he said, his assistant came into his office smiling wide like she always did.
"Hi Mr. Weasley just wanted to let you know that Taylor is here should I send her in?" she asked politely, though Taylor was the last person besides Hermione he wanted to see he knew he couldn't just blow her off. Taylor worked as a writer for the local newspaper and her office was right down the road from his making it not uncommon for her to stop by every once in a while.
"Sure" Ron said flatly, Taylor walked in smiling at him.
"Hey hun!" she said coming over to give him a kiss.
"Hey" He said forcing a smile
"Did you get back late last night or just stay over?" Taylor asked as she seated herself on the edge of his desk.
"Stayed over drank too a little too much" Ron said Taylor let out a small laugh.
"That always happens when your brothers are there" Taylor said talking as if she knew them when in reality she didn't at all only from stories. This slightly annoyed Ron but he let go.
"Yeah it does" Ron said simply, dropping his eyes to the paperwork.
"Ya know I'd like to accompany to one of these family dinners" Taylor said. Ron tensed up a bit he knew this day would come but it hoped it wouldn't be this soon. He looked up at Taylor with a small smile trying not to lead on his uneasiness.
"You will soon" Ron said Taylor nodded that seemed to be a good enough answer for her.
"What do you tell them about me?" Taylor asked looking at Ron. Who froze he knew the truthful answer was nothing but he knew he couldn't say that without hurting her feelings.
"Just how great you are" Ron said with a smile taking her hand and giving it a small kiss.
"Oh! My sister is pregnant!" Ron said luckily this was a good subject changer.
"Oh that's wonderful! We have to start getting her some gifts for the baby maybe put together a basket of sorts" Taylor said getting excited, this also annoyed Ron. There wasn't going to be a we, this was his nephew not hers she didn't even know Ginny and Ginny didn't even know she existed.
"Absolutely…listen babe I've got a lot of work to do, I'll see you later okay?" Ron said just wanting to get Taylor out of his office. She nodded giving him a swift kiss on the lips,
"Okay dinner later?" She asked before leaving Ron nodded and with that she left. Ron rubbed his face, his relationship with Taylor had been becoming more serious as each day passed, and this wasn't something Ron was ready for or even wanted at this point in time. He didn't know to do, once the day ended he found his good friend Nick who worked in the office with him. They were both transferred to Ireland in the same week which made them bond rather quickly.
"Hey Nick wanna grab some beers tonight?" Ron asked, it had been awhile since him and Nick went out due to their busy schedules.
"Read my mind man" Nick said. Nick was American he worked in New York City, from what Ron understood was "the city" over there.
"Great I need this" Ron said
"Me too, it's been a rough couple weeks" Nick said filing away the last of his paper work for the day. Not only had they both been busy with work but Nick's long distance girlfriend had recently broke up with him. Though he knew it was coming in a way he was still hurt.
"Wanna ask Andrew if he wants to join?" Nick asked, Andrew had been one of the new guys fresh out of school.
"Why not he's always a good time" Ron said, out of the office Andrew was rather a goof, at the bar he was the life of the party he could talk to anyone about anything.
"Hey! Andrew! What are you doing tonight?" Nick called out.
"Nothing that I can think of" Andrew replied.
"Good, meet us at the Olde Pub around eight" Ron said Andrew nodded with a smile. A lot of the other guys they worked with them didn't seem to like Andrew very much. Mostly because they mistook is sarcasm for reality and his jokes as offensive. But really he was a pretty good guy.
"So eight then?" Nick asked as he gather his things, Ron nodded.
"See ya then" Ron said before he left making his way back home. He was greeted by his dog bombarding him at the door.
"Hey boy" Ron said bringing the dog to the back letting him out. He stood on his deck looking out onto the lake. The air was becoming especially crisp lately, winter was underway. Soon his yard would be covered in snow, the lake would eventually freeze over and the colorful trees would be replaced with naked brown trees. He took in his view knowing it wasn't going to last much longer. He heard Tucker barking bringing his attention to the front of the yard where Taylor had just arrived.
"Shit dinner, that's right" Ron muttered to himself before heading over to Taylor.
"Hey Taylor" Ron said giving her a quick kiss on the check.
"Hey babe what do you want to do for dinner?" Taylor asked with a smile,
"Um actually I was thinking maybe grabbing something quick in town, I forgot I promised Nick I'd get drinks with him" Ron said Taylors face dropped he knew she was disappointed.
"Can't you just reschedule with Nick?" Taylor asked
"I mean he really needs some guy time he's still really torn up about the break up" Ron said, knowing that in fact he was the one that needed it more than Nick.
"Still? It's been like a month isn't he over it by now?" Taylor asked, Ron looked at her in confusion. He wasn't sure how Taylor would deal with her break ups but usually it takes more than a month.
"Yeah they were together for a while" Ron said Taylor shrugged.
"I guess" she said.
"Well let's get going so we don't have to rush" Taylor added, Ron nodded as he called in Tucker letting him back inside before they left. The dinner had been slightly uncomfortable mostly on Ron's part because he didn't want to be there. Taylor kept bringing up things about moving in, and taking a trip out to the Burrow and these were all things Ron didn't want to talk about. Finally they made it through dinner and Ron was relieved,
"Okay well I'll see you tomorrow" Ron said giving Taylor a kiss goodbye.
"Okay…Hey are you okay?" Taylor asked
"Yeah why?" Ron lied, Taylor shrugged.
"Don't know you seemed off at dinner" Taylor said
"Oh yeah my stomach doesn't feel so great, but besides that I'm great" Ron said forcing a smile giving Taylor another kiss. She seemed to take his fake excuse and smiled up at him,
"Alright I'll see you tomorrow" she said before leaving. Ron walked down the street to the Olde Pub where he and Nick had been going for the past two years. It was kind of their place, it had somewhat of an older crowd which they liked because it was never over crowed like some of the other bars in the area. Ron walked in nodding at the bartender, getting the usual booth they always sat in. A waitress came by one Ron hadn't recognized which was surprising.
"Hi! Can I start you off with anything?" The young girl said with a smile
"Yes you can't I'll get three of whatever you have on tap" Ron ordered, the girl wrote it down and nodded.
"No usual tonight?" A waitress ask, one Ron recognized and knew very well.
"Well not just yet Erin" Ron said. Erin was a waitress at the Olde Pub had been since before Nick and Ron started coming here. Over the years they've gotten to know Erin pretty well, she was a couple years older than them but she always knew how to have a good conversation.
"Who's the new girl?" Ron asked pointed over at the waitress who just took Ron's order.
"She's too young for you Weasley" Erin joked shooting him a look.
"Hey! I was asking wondering" Ron said in defense.
"I know, I know. Here names Tara goes by T" Erin explained, just then Nick and Andrew arrived.
"Hey Erin!" Nick said as he came in, Erin smiled and nodded.
"New guy is back huh?" Erin said nodded over to Andrew who waved.
"Yeah we figured he's cool enough to hang out with the big boys now" Nick joked.
"I wouldn't exactly qualify you two as big boys…" Erin joked, Ron simply rolled his eyes as their waitress came over with their beers.
"Here you go" T said handing them their beers, Andrew looked over the waitress it was clear he liked what he saw. Erin raised an eyebrow at Ron before walking away,
"I'm sorry hun I didn't catch your name I'm Andrew" he said, she smiled at him.
"I'm Tara but everyone calls me T" she said with a smile and a giggle, Andrew nodded.
"I'll remember that…T" Andrew said with smile, Nick rolled his eyes taking a large swig of beer.
"You're starting already" Nick said, Andrew simply shrugged.
"So Ron how've you been I feel like we haven't been out in forever" Nick said, Ron nodded,
"I know! I've needed it that's for sure" Ron said taking a swig of his beer letting out a long sigh.
"How's Taylor?" Nick asked, Ron shrugged and Nick eyed him in confusion.
"She's been…irritated me lately…" Ron said honestly, Andrew and Nick look at him in surprise.
"Really?" Andrew said Ron shrugged again, this had been something in the back of his mind for a while now but he never really told anyone till now.
"I thought you guys were really hitting It off" Nick said
"I mean we were, I just don't know what happened. She's been really hinting at moving in together and coming back home with me and I just don't want that" Ron said Nick looked at him with confusion. Nick had been the type of guy that always believed in relationships and have always been in them. He was a commitment guy, one night stands and random hook ups wasn't his thing.
"I think you're just freaking out over nothing" Nick said simply, Ron rolled his eyes he knew Nick wouldn't understand.
"Or maybe he just sick and tired of being tied down" Andrew said. Andrew was the complete opposite of Nick, if he was faced with even the slightest bit of commitment he ran the other way. His specialty was picking up girls effortlessly with his wit and charm.
"I don't know guys just lately she's just so annoying" Ron said exasperated
"Have you talked to her?" Nick asked
"What am I supposed to say 'Oh hey Taylor how are you oh by the way I think you're kind of annoying" Ron said bluntly, Andrew laughed but Nick didn't find it as funny.
"No I mean maybe giving you some space or something?" Nick clarified, Ron shrugged.
"That's the thing she thinks that were not spending enough time together and I think we are. We're on two completely different pages in what we want out the this relationship" Ron said
"Sounds like you guys should just break up" Andrew said bluntly
"I'd have to agree with Andrew on this one, it's not fair to Taylor" Nick concluded, Ron nodded. He knew it was true he just didn't know how he was going to tell Taylor.
Hermione went about her days, trying her hardest to not let her thoughts of Ron and loneliness get the best of her. If she was alone that's when it got the best of her, she would simply sit there thinking back at the night at the Burrow, how great it felt to be with Ron again. And then his face when she told him she didn't get the promotion a complete switch in his whole mood, it killed her. But lately she had been trying to keep herself as busy as possible, though sometimes it was proven hard due to the fact that Leia and Jill both had boyfriends, she still did her best. Today she was meeting Ginny for lunch, Sunday was her 'pre-baby shower' as she called it and made a point that she wanted to see her beforehand.
As she sat waiting for Ginny she looked around the restaurant, it seemed since the colder months as approached more couples had appeared. Half of the restaurant was filled with couples, doting on each other, smiling and laughing. Hermione truly hated it. She knew once Christmas time came around it would be even worse. Holidays were always the hardest, everyone always had someone and Hermione just had her. Considering most of her holidays before her and Ron's break up were spent with the Weasley family, it made it even harder.
"Hey!" Ginny said pulling Hermione from her thoughts, she got up and hugged Hermione.
"Hey Gin how are you?" Hermione asked
"I'm good! My nose a little sensitive than usual but besides that great! How about you" Ginny said.
"Alright! Working a lot ya know getting ready for the holidays" Hermione said with a smile.
"That's good! So I kind of have some news…again" Ginny said with a laugh and Hermione looked at her wondering what it could be.
"What is it?" Hermione asked intrigued.
"Well Harry and I have been talking and we want you to be the godmother of your baby! I mean obviously you're the sister I've never had!" Ginny said excitedly, Hermione looked at her wide eyes and shocked, she felt so horned.
"Really? Oh Ginny thank you! I feel so honored!" Hermione said with a wide smile.
"Also Harry and I deiced after many long talks that Ron is going to be the godfather" Ginny said, Hermione froze for a moment
"Oh…that's great!" Hermione said awkwardly, Ginny eyed her.
"What happened?" Ginny said
"What do you mean?" Hermione said playing dumb.
"I mean the way you reacted to Ron being the godfather leads me to believe there's something I don't know" Ginny said raising her eyebrow at her.
"Okay, well when I was at the Burrow after you and Harry left George went upstairs right after leaving me and Ron. Together. Alone. And we were drunk obviously and actually getting along great…" Hermione said trailing off not wanting to finish to story.
"Oh my god did you guys…have sex?" Ginny said whispering the last part. Hermione felt her face get hot at the thought of sex with Ron and then she quickly shook her head.
"Oh no Gin!" Hermione said quickly
"Well then…what happened" Ginny pressed.
"I told him I never got that promotion" Hermione blurted out. Surprised was all over Ginny's face she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Why? I mean yes he should know but why tell him then?" Ginny said confused, Hermione shrugged.
"I have no fucking idea, I was drunk and I just panicked and it came out" Hermione explained, Ginny let out a sigh.
"I'm guessing that didn't go over too well" Ginny concluded knowing how her brother reacts to things, Hermione nodded.
"Yeah I told him the next morning I was sorry and he just left without a word. He wants nothing to do with me" Hermione explained hurt washing over her again.
"Listen everything is going to work out" Ginny said looking at Ginny sympathetically, sensing she was becoming upset again.
"It's just so hard Gin, to see him and have all the feelings come rushing back like that" Hermione said looking sadly at Ginny.
"I know it is" Ginny said they continued their lunch talking about the pre baby shower that Mrs. Weasley was so excited about. Hermione agreed to come and help set up before hand, knowing that Ginny could need some help. From what Hermione understood it was mostly friends, family and just another excuse for Mrs. Weasley to talk about Ginny being pregnant.
Before Hermione knew it Sunday had rolled around, she put on one of her more causal dresses with a pair of boots and coat before she made her way to the Burrow. The house was already hectic, Mrs. Weasley was cooking up a storm in the kitchen and Wesley's boys began trickling through the door. Ginny had reassured Hermione that Ron wasn't coming because of work, which made Hermione feel much more at ease.
"Hermione dear can you take this outside?" Mrs. Weasley said handing her a full garbage bag.
"Of course" Hermione said taking it from her heading outside, she had forgotten how cold it had gotten as she walked down to the garden where they kept the trash cans. A gust of wind mad her shiver, winter was on its way there was no doubt about it. Hermione crossed her arms putting her head down as she walked trying to keep herself warm wishing she had her coat now. A loud pop make her pick her head up, and who she saw made her stop in her tracks, there stood Ron nicely dressed in a pair of khakis and a button down shirt. Hermione forced herself to speak
"Hey Ron!" Hermione said forcing a smile, Ron turned and looked surprised he hadn't see her until now.
"Hey Hermione" Ron said back
"Thought you were working?" Hermione said awkwardly
"Uh yeah but mission got canceled so I figured I'd surprise Gin" Ron explained looking at Hermione. She was wearing a red sundress with tall brown boots, her skin covered in goose bumps, her curly hair blowing in the breeze.
"I think we need to talk" Hermione blurted out looking at Ron with pleading eyes hoping that he wouldn't turn her down. Ron thought for a moment, he was curious to what she had to say but at the same he didn't want to talk to her but his curiosity got the best of him.
"Okay let's settle this before we go back in" Ron said as he began to walk out into the backyard of the Burrow. Hermione followed closely behind not sure where he was going until the made it up the hill to a tree which they always used to sit under in the summer months to beat the heat.
"Talk" Ron said bluntly as he turned to face Hermione, she suddenly felt the need to throw up. She didn't know how to start or what to even say. She gathered her thoughts momentarily as Ron looked down upon her with his blue eyes she swallowed the lump her throat and began to speak.
"I'm sorry Ron I really am, I know I should've wrote to you and told you but I was sacred. I was still so heartbroken about the break up and how you left what seemed to be easily and I was just afraid that you didn't love me anymore that if I wrote I would be waiting for a letter back and I would never get one" Hermione explained she could already feel the tears welling up in her eyes but she fought them the best she could. There was silence for a couple moments as Ron gathered this thoughts before speaking,
"Leaving wasn't easy for me at all, it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life Hermione" Ron said firmly.
"And if you wrote to me then I would've done more than a letter. I would've came back to get you and bring you with me" Ron explained, Hermione simply looked into his big blue eyes as he talked she could tell this was hurtful subject for him too but he was holding it together.
"But then I saw you at the wedding with that prick and it broke my heart all over again, I was still a mess and there you were perfectly fine with another man" Ron said sadly dropping his eyes from Hermione's for the first time and turning around running a hand through this hair trying to keep his temper, Hermione felt a twinge in her heart just watching Ron like this was killing her.
"Ron there's something you need to night about that night" Hermione said he voice shaky,
"That prick was no body. Harry and Ginny set us up right before the wedding because they felt bad I was dateless, he literally meant nothing to me. I was probably more of a mess than you were" Hermione admitted, Ron's looked back at Hermione in surprise. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"But he said you guys were dating" Ron said confused
"I know but we weren't he just decide he was going to tell people that" Hermione said Ron nodded processing the information taking a deep breath. He wasn't sure what to do next, before he could decide Hermione spoke
"Listen Ron I'm sorry for everything all of it and I think it's time for us to be able to be in the same room without having tension that the whole room can feel" Hermione said trying to gather herself and think rationally, though it was hard Ron had looked so tempted in this moment. His hair slightly ruffled, his shirt making his blue eyes glow, she watched carefully as he licked his lips and she swallowed hard looking down at the ground. She knew that even if this wasn't what she wanted it was the right thing to do.
"You're right we need to get past this" Ron said Hermione nodded
"So friends?" Hermione said extending her hand, some might call it a step forward but Hermione knew this was their conformation of never having a romantic relationship again.
"Yeah just friends" Ron said hesitantly accepting her hand shake, just the touch of her Hermione still made him tingle.
"Let's go inside" Ron offered noticing that Hermione was rather cold, they made their way back to the house in silence, Hermione couldn't help but feel even worse than before. The feeling of never having Ron again had been becoming a reality.
"Look who I found!" Hermione said as excited as she could make herself sound, Ron followed in behind her as Ginny squealed.
"I thought you had work!?" Ginny said before running over to give him a hug.
"Got canceled figured I'd surprise you" Ron said, Hermione quickly slipped into the kitchen disappearing form the Ron madness as everyone began asking him questions. Hermione took the bottle of wine on the counter and took a swig right from the bottle. Normally she wouldn't do that but no one was around and she didn't have time to find a glass. The rest of the day played out just as Hermione had figured Mrs. Weasley made a large dinner for everyone talking about how happy she was for Ginny. They talked about dates for the actual baby shower, Ginny and Harry were completely adorable, all the Weasley brother's had gotten drunk, and Ron and Hermione forced friendly interactions that they both knew were fake. Hermione sat at the kitchen table for a moment as she refiled her wine glass, their seemed to be an emerging pattern when she came to the Burrow.
"How are you doing?" Ginny said coming up from behind her joining her at the table, Hermione shrugged.
"Good you" Hermione lied forcing a smile, Ginny nodded.
"I'm good…but I know you're not" Ginny said bluntly, Hermione looked distantly out the window. She didn't want to talk about her feelings anymore, she didn't. All she was wanted to do is sulk in her own pity was that so much to ask?
"I'm fine Ginny" Hermione snapped, Ginny sense her hostility and knew she needed to drop it.
"Okay well I'm going soon, if you need help getting back to your place just let one of my brothers know most of them aren't too bad tonight" Ginny offered Hermione nodded.
"Bye Gin" Hermione said looking at her sadly giving her a hug
"Bye Hermione we'll talk soon" Ginny said before leaving, Hermione had admittedly gotten more drunk than planned yet again but all she wanted to do was go home. Hermione sat at the table for a little longer before getting up she shook her head trying to clear her mind. From the other room Ron saw her getting up the leave and followed her. Hermione stood in the cold closing her eyes trying to picture her house and nothing else. She knew why people didn't apprarte when drunk,
"Hermione what are you doing?" Ron said coming outside the air even colder now since the sun went down. She opened her eyes to see Ron standing there looking at her in question.
"I'm going home" Hermione said closing her eyes again not wanting to talk to Ron.
"No like this you're not" Ron said Hermione shot him a look, she never liked being told what to do.
"Why the hell not!" Hermione challenged
"Because from personal experience from splinching myself it's not worth it" Ron said
"I'll find someone to take you home" Ron concluded reaching out to pull Hermione back inside but she stepped away.
"I just want to go now, being here is too hard" Hermione mumbled as she turned around and began walking towards the road. Ron knew that Hermione didn't live anywhere close and she was being stupid. He ran up behind her grabbing her arm and pulling her back causing her to crash into this chest.
"You can't walk" Ron said looking down at her, she was looking up at him her brown eyes wide she looked so sad. Ron just wanted to comfort her make everything bad go away, he wanted to make her smile again like he used too. A curl fell into Hermione's face and Ron pushed it away letting his hand linger on her soft skin, it was something about Hermione in this moment that Ron just couldn't resist. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was the fact that she had finally clarified why she didn't tell him about the promotion he didn't care what the reason was he just wanted her. And then he kissed her hard. Pulling her in by the waist as he did and she kissed him back wrapping her arms around his neck. All the passion between them was still there, it was like they never went through all the pain and hurt of an awful break up but instead just picked up where they left off.
A/N Sorry took a bit I had some rewriting to do in this chapter but I hope you like it! Lots more of Ron and Hermione to come, let me know what your thoughts are.