Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I own nothing of hers!

Chapter 22

"I need us to take this slow." Ron pulled back slightly from the curly haired woman he'd been planning on snogging senseless for at least the next hour. She saw his confusion, as he pulled away and leaned further back on the sofa.

"Care to explain?" He suggested to her. She smacked him gently on the arm.

"I was about to!" She laughed, and Ron gave a small smirk. "It's just. Ron, we've not been in a relationship before. We snogged for months after… the war. But that stopped and I thought I had done something wrong, or you didn't want whatever we were doing. I-"

"That's not true." Ron interrupted. "I loved what we were doing. But, it wasn't right." Now it was Hermione's turn to look confused. "Hear me out? I was a mess over losing..." He gulped hard, as another lump formed in this throat; reprimanding himself for being this emotional after all the time that had passed. Hermione slid her arm up to his shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze, which Ron was thankful for.

"Fred. Over Fred's death, and so many others... a complete mess. You were all that kept me sane. You always knew what to say or do, or what I needed." Hermione pulled her lips into a tightly strained smile.

"But, you didn't deserve that. You deserved better than being just a person to snog. Not that you were that to me. It's just." Ron ran a hand through his hair, shaking it slightly at his poor speech.

"That's what it felt like I was doing to you. Treating you like some coping mechanism instead. That's what I was doing. You deserved more. I just wasn't in a place to give you more; I didn't know how. So, I broke it off, giving you space so I could sort my life out and give you what you really deserved." Ron looked extremely guilty, lowering his gaze at his confession.

"Then I just jump into bed with you." Hermione chuckled and Ron snapped his attention back to her. Her cheeks were red and she cleared her throat. "We went from friends, to snogging partners who held secret affections for each other, to sleeping together, to not speaking for years, to coinhabitants and coparents, to finally being in a relationship." Ron stared blankly at her assessment of their history. They sat silently for a few moments, looking at each other.

"Pretty much." Ron stated, emotionlessly. Then Hermione did something she was unknown to do often. Hermione Granger sat on his lap, one arm still looped around his neck, giggling at the absurd past they had had. She looked at his expression and laughed even harder, now looking completely mental. Ron couldn't believe the history they had either, and, mixed with the amusement from Hermione's outburst, burst out laughing as well.

The two sat laughing and feeling completely ridiculous for quite some time before they both calmed down and Hermione leaned her head against Ron's shoulder. She took a large breath and sighed.

"That's why we need to keep it slow." She began. Ron twisted his head toward her, bringing their faces closely together. She played with the top button on his shirt, twisting it in her fingers and looping it back and forth through its hole.

"We've not been in a relationship before, we only had, well extremes, I guess. And if this is going to work, then we have to work on keeping things as normal as possible." She lifted her head to look in his eyes. "Do you understand what I'm saying?" He looked into her deep brown eyes, he saw the love that emanated through them. But, the expression she wore was worried. Was she anxious they'd ruin it again? Ron would make sure that would never happen.

"Of course, love. Whatever you want, we'll do." Hermione laid her head back on his shoulder, rubbing her head against his shirt as she nodded. They sat in content silence like that, Ron fiddling with Hermione's hand. This is not how Ron imagined getting back together with Hermione. Well, he actually hadn't thought of it more than just a few times. It was too painful… But, on those rare moments he had pictured it, before drowning his pain in liquor, it was not this. It was much like the night Rose was conceived. He figured they wouldn't be able to keep their hands to themselves, and delve into the events that they had only shared one night before.

As he sat here now, with the woman he loved snuggled into him, not talking, just being… It couldn't have been better. This is how they were supposed to be. They'll get to the other stuff later; as much as he wanted it to be sooner. He understood exactly what Hermione reasoned; he knew if it were to last, they needed to both go at a pace they were comfortable with; to heal from the pain they had felt over time.

"You know, I can't be angry at you." Hermione spoke, breaking Ron's thoughts. He smirked, and chortled.

"Ever?" He joked, while she leaned back so her back was resting on the arm of the sofa. Now that he was able to see her face, he realized she was not joking around. She wore a small smile, while she brought her hands to her lap, twisting them; something she had always done when uncomfortable or nervous. He looped his arm around her waist and scooted closer to her, the other now tracing shapes on her legs.

"Haha Ron." Exaggerating her fake laugh. "I mean with, with Isla." Ron's grin sagged as she mentioned the conversation they had earlier. However, he was still interested in what she had to say. Ron stopped his hand on her knee, using his thumb to brush over her slacks.

"You can't?" Ron questioned, looking for any sign for what she would say. She shook her head in negative.

"No. We weren't together Ron. You had no idea if we would ever be in each other's lives again. How could I be angry with you for being with someone else? For moving on?" She gave him an attempted smile, not fully forming. She shrugged a bit. "You weren't mine. I wasn't yours."

"That's where you're wrong love." Ron squeezed her knee gently, she looked at him with wet eyes. "I'm sure you have every right to feel angry, or hurt, or whatever the hell you want to feel. But, it's not just that. It's…" He exhaled, sorting out the words in his head. "I would be hurt and angry too, I reckon, if you were with someone else. Even if we weren't together at the time, because no matter what happened, you still had my heart, love. So, of course it would hurt." He looked at Hermione, who once again had tears slipping from the corners of her eyes. She looked down at her hands, then swiped one across her cheeks, removing the stubborn tears.

"Well I'm glad you said that, because it does hurt. A lot." She bit her lip and looked Ron in the eye, choking down more tears. Ron pulled her close as more tears spilled down her face. He kissed her head she pulled herself further into him. He gently released the tie forming he hair into a bun, so the curls cascaded down her back.

"Did I mention that I was sorry?" Ron asked her, and he was relieved when she snorted and pushed herself back from him.

"Git." She muttered, causing Ron to chuckle as well. She resumed her previous position relaxing on the sofa's arm. He replaced his hand on her leg, rubbing it absentmindedly.

"But really, I am." She gave her own smile, small, but genuine.

"I know you are, darling." She responded, as she brought up her hand to caress his face. She lightly traced his cheek before speaking again. "Was she the only one you were with?" Hermione asked slowly; clearly unsure if she actually wanted to ask the question or not.

"Yea, she was it. And only the three of us know about it. Harry doesn't have any idea of what happened." Hermione nodded her head in understanding. Thinking that if Harry did know, if he would have told her the same way he said Ron had been a drunk. Ron shifted his hold on her gently. She knew what Ron wanted to hear next. The brunette trailed her hand down his face to rest on his chest.

"I'm sure you'd like to hear if I've been with anyone?" She questioned him. His cheeks warmed up a bit, and Hermione smiled sweetly at knowing him so well.

"I mean, if you'd like to tell me…" Ron stroked up and down her legs slowly.

"I went on a few dates. Well, it you could call them that; they were all during my lunch break, and all men at the Ministry. I didn't really have a whole lot of extra time with a fussy baby." Hermione shrugged, and pursed her lips.

"None of them meet your fancy?" Ron attempted to ask casually, he was watching his hand move on her leg. She watched him and smirked.

"No. Well, there was one who was quite handsome…" Ron's gaze jumped quickly back to hers. She laughed and shook her head from side to side. "Really Ron, he was."

"Then why aren't you with him now then?" Ron pouted, pulling his arms to fold them across his chest. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Turns out he didn't want kids. That was a pretty big turn off for me..." Hermione glanced up to Ron who was looking at her shocked. He scrunched his face up completely confused. Hermione thought it was utterly adorable.

"What kind of a bloke doesn't want kids? How did he not know you had one?" He asked, clearly not comprehending that such a man existed.

"Several of them didn't. Only the people who worked in my department knew I had Rose. Kind of hard to miss with a huge pregnant belly for months, then getting called to the childcare wing every day when they couldn't get her to calm down." Ron could see the stress it caused Hermione to think back on being a single parent. He couldn't imagine doing it alone like she did. Especially being pregnant and giving birth, which his mum spoke to all her children about how incredibly painful it was. Yet, Hermione managed to do it all by herself. Hang on. His brain snapped back to the first part of her sentence.

"How many blokes did you see?" Hermione's eyebrows creased, offended by the question.

"I went on four dates in two years, Ron. I was hardly a slag. Not to mention the fact that I saw them all in daylight, in a public place, and the furthest I got was a handshake from each!" She ended that last part in a full yell, while swinging her legs off Ron and stood up. She was walking away when Ron grabbed her hand.

"Hey! I wasn't implying that, Mione." She stopped instantly and he gently pulled her around to face him. She was biting her lip, not looking Ron in the eye. "Love, I would never think that of you. Even if you were with twenty blokes. You know that." He pulled her carefully back down to his lap. "I was just curious, I'm sorry. I won't ask you anymore about it."

Ron sat Hermione in her previous position on his lap. Hoping that he could get her to relax again. She pulled up her knees, so her feet we almost touching his legs. She wrapped her arms around her legs, and rested her head on them. The room was filled with silence as Ron wracked his brain for something to say after screwing up the last conversation.

"I'm sorry. I just overreacted." She turned her head to face him, keeping them glued to her knees. "I kept comparing them to you. That's why they would never be good enough. I'm sorry." He slid his arms around Hermione's small form and looked down at the woman he was practically cradling in this arms silently thanking whatever forces that were out there, that she came back. Obviously not that Rose had to be sick in any way, but that they were both now in his life. He softly kissed her cheek and nuzzled his face next to hers.

"I love you Hermione Granger. No matter how mad or emotional you are." Her body shook with a small laugh, leaning into him further.

"I love you as well." She turned her head further to place a kiss on his hopeful lips. Reveling in the knowledge that this was how it would be from now on.

As they stayed in that moment, a sudden burst of light flew through the room, disappearing out the window. Hermione stiffened, clasping the ginger's shirt in her grip, anxious about what she just witnessed. She turned to Ron who looked extremely calm.

"Ron, what was that?" Hermione whispered, cautiously pulling herself closer to the Auror.

Ron, held up his hand, asking her to hold on, and watched the fireplace intently. Their Floo quickly sprang to life with a ding. Hermione raised her eyebrow questioning what was happening.

"I couldn't have my family burst through without notice anymore. So, I installed a privacy bell." He rolled his eyes. Hermione slid off his lap and sat next to him on the sofa. He raised his wand to let the message through.

"Hello lovebirds!" George's voice floated through. "Or at least I hope so, this could be bloody awkward if you're arguing right now. I was just curious if you were going to come pick up your daughter anytime soon? Or if you're too busy shagging-"

"George!" Angelina admonished him in the background.

"Because Angelina and I would like to head to our own house to do exactly that. Oh and Hermione, Ron's been in a bit of a dry patch these last few years, so go easy on him, will you?"

"Shut the Floo, George!" Angelina demanded.

The message ended and Ron put his head in his hands, as Hermione chuckled.

"That prat. Just wait till he has kids. I'll know every bloody joke in the book by then." Hermione sighed and snaked her arm around his shoulders, giving him a makeshift hug.

"Why are they over at your parents?" Hermione wondered aloud.

"I dunno. Maybe they heard Rose was staying late. Angelina's mentioned to George that she'd like to spend more time with her. And to catch up with you of course, but you haven't been very available."

"That's going to change, I promise." She took her arm back and wrapped it around his bicep instead. "What was with that light that came through here? It looked almost like a Patronus." Ron sighed and cleared his throat. He supposed George wouldn't mind him telling Hermione.

"That was George's Patronus… I mean. His attempt at one. Ever since the war, and losing… well, he hasn't been the same. And he hasn't been able to cast a full form since. But, lately he's been trying again. I think it's because of Angelina. She's done a lot of good for him."

"I think so too. They seemed quite cozy at dinner the last time I went." Ron nodded his head in agreement. Hermione glanced at him sideways and bumped his knee with hers. "Are you picking our daughter up, or am I?" Ron stretched his sore muscles that were kept in the same position for far too long, and sighed.

"I will. I've a few words for George." Hermione smiled at the statement.

"Just remember little ears are listening. And she finds you the most amazing specimen in the world, so she'll do and say whatever you do." Hermione kissed Ron's cheek, and she felt his anger toward his sibling dissipate.

"Alright, fine." She smiled again, kissing him on the lips this time, before heading to her room as Ron Flooed to the Burrow.

Hermione wrapped her hair in a fluffy white towel as she finished putting on her airy nightdress. She wrapped herself in her dressing gown before she opened the bathroom door, spilling steam into the bedroom. Ron was changing Rose on the bed, getting her ready for her nighttime routine. Hermione dipped her head down to rub her hair loose of the towel, trying to gather as much moisture as possible. She flipped her hair back up and continued to squeeze the water out, walking closer to the two.

"Did you have some words for your brother?" She asked him as she sat carefully on the bed, not to jostle her sleepy child.

"Mummy!" Rose reached her hands out toward her mum, fussing tiredly. Hermione set the towel down and picked up her daughter, who was just changed into a fresh nappy thanks to her father. She placed the small tot on her lap and cuddled her close. Ron vanished the soiled nappy and went to wash his hands. From the bathroom, he responded.

"I did, but, when I saw him playing with Rose…" He dried his hands on the hanging white towel, and entered through the doorway. He leaned on the pane and watched Hermione softly pull on the little one's clothes over Rose's languid body. She looked up, her eyebrow arched, waiting for Ron to complete his sentence.

"I've never seen him look so happy, Mione." He smiled and watch Hermione light up at his discovery as well. "He and Angelina were just smitten with her, and they were loud and rambunctious, and just happy. It was great." Ron shook his head in amazement, as he pulled Rose's dummy and blanket out of her cot, bringing them to the bed. Hermione readjusted Rose's pajamas, and crawled up the bed to lean her back on the headboard.

"That's wonderful Ron. He deserves it." Ron sat on the opposite side kicking off his shoes, and made his way to lay next to Hermione. Rose laid her cheek on Hermione's breast, facing her father. The tot pushed up from her mum and reached over to Ron. He laid the girl on his torso, and, taking her dummy, she relaxed onto him.

"He does. Both of them do." Hermione watched as Ron gently covered the sluggish girl in her flannel. She reached down at the bottom of the bed where Rose's lamb was discarded while she was being changed, and tucked the toy in between Rose's arm and Ron's chest. Though she was close to sleep, the tot still brought the stuffed animal closer, and snuggled in with it. Ron softly rubbed his daughter's back, bringing her nearer to the eventual slumber.

"She might not make it through her story tonight. She looks exhausted." The bushy haired woman whispered, placing a peck on the child's head. Yet, she still reached for the storybook that Rose was always so enthralled with, and began to read.

Ron laid there analyzing his current state. He thought he could do this for the rest of his life. No. Not just thought. He wanted to be in this position for the rest of his life. The love of his life, lying next to him in their home. His daughter resting peacefully, nestled into him. He watched as Hermione's melodious voice floated through the air, causing his darling daughter's eyelids to fall to a close over her crystal blue eyes, longer each time they shut. From this angle, he observed just how adorable she was. Her deep red eyelashes were so dark they framed her large eyes beautifully. Her pert nose was just as Hermione's, something he had always been fond of. Her ginger curls were swaying slightly as he exhaled. Hermione yawned, and gently rested her head on his shoulder as she continued the story. Yup, this was it. He couldn't believe how blessed he had been to have them both in his life again; this time, for good.

The story was read and Rose was snoozing away as Ron laid her delicately in her cot. She curled with her bum in the air, and Ron smiled at the action, knowing that was her favorite way to sleep. He adjusted the flannel to make sure it covered her bare feet, gave her a kiss to her head, and turned to Hermione. Walking closer, he pecked her on the cheek, then went to exit the room. Turning around suddenly, he stepped closer to her.

"I almost forgot. Mum wants everyone at dinner tomorrow. Apparently, Ginny has some wedding announcements she wants everyone to hear." He whispered, closely to her. Hermione reached out to take his hand.

"Perhaps we could share our news as well?" He squeezed her hand as he heard her suggestion.

"Absolutely." He leaned in and kissed her enthusiastically. She returned the kiss and wound her fingers through his locks. Ron slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her closer. The kiss deepened as Hermione gave him the entrance he was asking for. The combination of having her so close, in only a dressing gown, and a light nightdress, and the passionate kiss they shared, Ron's body had begun to react. At his husky moan, she realized their predicament, and she stepped back breaking their connection. They looked at each other, both flushed. Hermione bit her lip, and smiled.

"Goodnight Ron." She smirked, as she gently pushed the lusty-eyed man out the door.

A/N: I apologize for this being such an uneventful chapter. I felt like they needed to talk some things out before they could move on. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and followed! I appreciate you all!

Since it is the first posting of the new year, I wanted to share a story with you that reminded me of New Year's Eve. It's called "Hear Your Voice" by the wonderful writergirl8. It's completely different from anything Ron and Hermione would do, but it's a quick read that I have really enjoyed. If you like that one, you might also like "And He Waits" by the same author.

More to come!