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

Chapter 41

Hermione Flooed with Rose first, incidentally waking the sleeping tot. The witch brushed the soot from her clothes and from her daughter's curly locks. Glancing up at the clock, she noted it was almost eleven. She quickly toted the child to the kitchen, pulling out the various concoctions that Ron would need to ingest that night. She smiled at the thought of the tall redhead and their conversation that night. Absentmindedly, the brunette pressed her lips together, remembering the passionate kiss they shared.

Something felt different this time.

A good something.

This time, she wasn't frightened. Nervous, yes, but, no longer terrified of being hurt by him. The fear of leaving, of pain by a broken heart, it wasn't there anymore. She trusted his words, and believed that this time, was it.

A low rumble sounded through the fireplace, as green flames shot up, revealing the specific ginger on her mind. He paced forward, shaking slightly on his cane, and flopped on the settee, with a heaving a heavy groan. Hermione glanced over at the noise, as Rose turned her sleepy head to see her father.

"Bullocks," he grumbled as he used both hands to lift his leg onto the low table in front of him. Another low moan escaped him as he adjusted the limb. Once done, he leaned back on the sofa; his head lolled at the top, his breathing heavier than usual.

Hermione shifted Rose higher on her hip as she levitated the tray of potions to the den. She lowered Rose to the settee, and sent the tray to the low table. The sleepy tot crawled onto Ron's lap, lying her head on his shoulder. He sighed and rubbed his large hand soothingly over her back. Hermione watched Ron without saying a word.

"You were right," the redhead began, "I overdid it." Ron winced as he shifted to sit more upright for his potions. His leg throbbed painfully below him.

"A pain potion is in your regimen. That should help some," Hermione smiled, happy to know Ron was finally listening to her. Swishing her wand over his leg, a cool blue light shimmered down onto his elevated appendage.

"Thanks," he mumbled, releasing a smile as his leg began to tingle with numbness.

She handed him the mixtures as he drank them down. They didn't speak, both lost in their thoughts as Rose slept on her father's shoulder. The only sound was the tot's puffed breathing.

After Ron finished the last potion, Hermione sent them flying to the cupboard. They both stared at one another momentarily, processing this new step in their relationship. She beamed at him, as he smiled at her expression. Still sitting silently.

Hermione wasn't sure what compelled her to, but, she leaned forward, closing the distance between the two, to meet their lips in a slow, soft, kiss. When she pulled away, Ron had leaned forward to keep them attached for as long as possible.

"I should probably get this knackered little girl to bed," she whispered, still close to his face, "will you be sleeping here tonight?" She glanced at his leg, still propped on the low table.

"I think I'll be able to make it there," Ron sighed as Hermione pulled away, and slipped Rose from his arms and into hers. The witch stood, and watched as Ron slowly made his way upright. It took him several moments, but, he managed to stand. His face was flushed, as he stood tall, taking a deep breath. Hermione began to pace into her room, when Ron caught her arm, pulling her in for a deep kiss.

"Goodnight. I love you," he rested his forehead on hers as she nuzzled her nose against his.

"I love you too," she hummed, backing away as he released her. She continued to the bedroom, when she turned at the sound of his cane tapping the floor, only to see Ron heading in the opposite direction.

"Where are you going?" Hermione whispered. Ron turned his head toward the witch.

"To bed, where else?" Ron explained amused at the seemingly absurd question.

Hermione grinned, "That's not where you sleep anymore," she paced over to him and interlaced their fingers, "Let's go to bed, darling."

A smile spread across his face as well, following her lead back to the master bedroom. As they entered, Hermione set the tot on the large bed and began removing her flower girl dress. Ron changed into his pajamas, and slipped into the large bed, after a quick trip to the loo. By then, Hermione had completely changed Rose into a fresh nappy and her jammies. The tot, was once again awake, since she hadn't fallen asleep hard enough. Ron slipped into bed and opened his arms to the tot, to laid against him, closing her eyes once more. Hermione cleaned up and made her trip to the bathroom before returning. When she came back, the witch attempted to lift her daughter from the bed with much difficulty, as the child clung to Ron's shirt and woke at the movement.

"No Mummy! Sweep Daddy," the tot mumbled. Hermione sighed. She had been hoping to sleep in Ron's arms tonight; something she had missed desperately. Ron gave her a sad smile as he shrugged his shoulders. He was hoping the same. Instead of the way they both had imagined, Hermione crawled in beside the two, scooting closer, so she was as near as she could be to her little family. Ron turned carefully to his side, allowing Rose to slide down to rest on the bed, and the ginger to face Hermione. The pair didn't speak a word; still marinating in the knowledge that they had finally found their way back together. Ron reached the hand that had been cradling their daughter, and snaked it over to intertwine with Hermione's.

She smiled at him. They stayed that way until they slowly fell into slumber.

The morning was lazy, spent having a lie in, while cuddling their groggy tot. Ron decided that it was a time for celebration; he and the love of his life had reconciled, after all. Therefore, he summoned a carton of milk, and his favorite cereal with two bowls and spoons to the very bed they laid on. Ron poured himself a generous portion, as Hermione made hers as well. They ate sprawled out on the bed as Rose took turns going from her father's bowl, then to her mother's. Rose more frequently attended Ron's, as he would give her a larger mouthful than her mother was prone to. As their breakfast finished, Rose crawled to the end of the bed. As she approached the edge, she reached her short arm out cautiously, pointing to Hermione's suitcase in the corner.

"Bag, Mummy!" Rose asked excitedly, Hermione held out her arms, welcoming the tot to her.

"Come here, my love," Rose stood and wobbled over to her Mum, who embraced her with a wet kiss to her cheek. Her daughter shrieked with laughter. Ron chuckled along with her, noting that Hermione's smile seemed to be different than he had seen lately. Less restrained, and more enthusiastic.

As the tot calmed, Hermione stood Rose to face her, "Now, what exactly did you want in the bag, sweetheart?" Hermione couldn't resist tucking a few locks of wild curls behind Rose's small ear.

"Pitures!" Rose smiled, knowing her Mum had no reason to deny her request.

"Which pictures, darling?" Hermione asked for clarification. This excited the child, as she looked between her parents.

"Pitures with Rosie and Mummy!"

Hermione leaned forward to peck the tip of Rose's pert nose before summoning the suitcase to the bed. Rose clapped at the trick her mother performed. Ron got a kick at how Rose would still enjoy when things went zooming around her. Her mum was a witch after all, didn't she see magic her entire life?

The witch reached into the suitcase and pulled out the photos of the small family taken at the beach. The moving pictures caught Ron's attention, having not previously seen those specific photos. As he shifted through them, Rose sat shaking her head.

"No, no! Not pitures!" Rose pouted her lips and looked disappointed that her mother did not get her request correct.

"I don't understand. Then what pictures?" Hermione's brows scrunched as she analyzed just what she had been asking for.

"Pitures in book!" Rose paused to think for a moment before lighting up at the recognition, "Pitures with baby Rosie!" She giggled.

Hermione sighed with a smile, realizing just what her daughter wanted. The witch had yet to unpack all their belongings, since her last impromptu trip.

She reached in, digging deeply, before she revealed a pastel pink photo album. Pulling the item onto her lap, she ran her hand over the cover; a mixture of light pink polka dots, with small baby elephants accenting the large cursive script that read: Rose.

"There we are," Hermione smiled fondly. Ron looked over to view just what the tot had been asking for. Her baby album. Rose situated herself against the headboard, sitting squished between her parents.

"What a marvelous idea, Rosie," the witch kissed her curly locks as she passed the large book onto her daughter's lap; the size of the item overflowing the child's small legs.

Both her parents couldn't believe they hadn't thought of it first. It would be an efficient way for the pair to discuss what life had been like when they were separated. Hermione took in a deep breath, knowing that she had tears fill her eyes when she looked at this album alone; remembering the days her daughter was so small. She wasn't prepared to speak about it with the very person who was missing from those bittersweet days.

"Ready?"

She looked to Ron, who seemed to have been reading her mind. He gave her a small smile, knowing just how difficult this may be for the two of them. Hermione swallowed, and gave him a shaky nod.

Rose opened the book to the first page, giggling with joy when she saw the pictures spread across the page. The one Ron was drawn to first, showed Hermione in a healer's bed, not unlike the one he was in a week prior. The room was dim, lit by only a few candles, but, he could still see Hermione was wearing a hospital gown that was pinned down to her upper arms on both sides; revealing much of the skin of her chest. Resting on that very skin, just under her neck, was a small, pink, infant. Covered in various amounts of glimmering slime, and other fluids coming from her recent home. The picture was enchanted, moving with the events as they happened that day. The baby's chest was moving rapidly, her face scrunched up and mouth wide open, to what he assumed was a newborn wail. He moved his eyes to Hermione in the picture again. Her face was unlike any he had seen of her before. It was clear she was exhausted, her hair bundled on the top of her head, while small, loose, tendrils stuck to her glistening skin. Her eyes dripped tears and she moved her lips while looking at the infant, a massive smile growing on her lips. Ron had never wished more that he could read lips. He desperately wanted to know what the first words spoken to their daughter was.

"The day Rose was born," Ron was broken from his analysis of the photo by Hermione's voice. He glanced up at her, noting how shiny her eyes were as she looked back down at the photos, "this was just a minute after they gave her to me. The nurses took her to be cleaned afterward, but, I wanted to hold her first; at least for a moment. When they asked me, I could hardly believe that other women wanted their baby cleaned before they held them. I guess everyone has their reasons… But, I couldn't imagine that. I held her within me for nine months, I couldn't wait to finally hold her in my arms."

Hermione moved her hand to point at the next picture, "This was after they checked her and everything."

Ron's eyes traveled with Hermione's hand to view another photo on the page. This one, was with Hermione sitting more upright in the bed. She seemed to have been cleaned up a bit herself, or perhaps a refreshening charm done, as she no longer appeared to have been through toil, and was in a floral print, wrapped, dressing gown. The left side of the covering, slightly pulled away from her skin. Her hair still tumbled in a bun from the top of her head, as she snuggled a small bundle, wrapped in a cozy, pink, blanket.

"When they gave her to me the second time, I properly introduced us. Rose, do you remember what Mummy said to you when you were born?"

Rose snapped her head up to look at her mum, nodding it vigorously as Hermione had told her numerous times before, "Mummy said 'Hi Rosie I wuv you!'" Hermione laughed as Rose grinned at her mum, running her hand over the photo in the album.

"Close. I said, 'Hello sweet Rose, I'm your mummy.'" Hermione smiled at the tot, who hadn't a clue she had quoted her mother incorrectly. Ron grinned at the thought, knowing that would be something Hermione would have done.

"Shortly after, I fed her and she fell asleep."

The Hermione in the picture snuggled down in to the top of the blanket, rubbing her nose against the pert one in the pink bundle, before raising her lips to the crown of her head to place a feather soft kiss. The image continued, showing the witch rock her slowly in her arms, before starting over.

Ron thought he could watch that picture forever. The way Hermione was holding their child; the one she had just brought into the world… He felt his throat start to dry, as if there was a lump needed to be forced down. His eyes burned as he blinked rapidly, cursing the tears that threatened to fall.

Ron felt a smaller hand in his, he sniffed loudly before looking over to see Hermione had set Rose on top of her lap, and scooted to take her place. She was now next to him, hip against hip, settling her hand into Ron's. She smiled sadly, before giving it a comforting squeeze.

"Later that night," she whispered, "Rose was asleep in her cot when I wrote to you." Ron felt her squeeze his hand even tighter. He felt his squeeze hers back.

Hermione reached up with her free hand to wipe a tear that spilled from her eye at the memory, "I said that you had a daughter. A darling little Rose. And even though you said you didn't want a relationship with her, I wanted to offer one last time… in case… Well, now I know you never got that letter." She gave a watery smile, sniffing as she reached for to wipe another tear, but, before she could, her lips were met by Ron's giving her a passionate, yet soft, kiss. When they parted, she could see the tears streaming down Ron's cheeks.

"I swear Hermione, if I would have received this letter… If I would've known. I would have been there, I would have seen-" His lips were covered by Hermione's, silencing him.

"I know you would have. And if I would have known the truth, I would have never left. But, that's the past. We-"

A gasp was heard from Hermione's lap. They both gazed down to their daughter's worried face.

"Daddy! Is you okay? Daddy crying!" She shuffled out of Hermione's lap and into her father's. She stood, looking him in the eye as she held his face in her minuscule hands. Her eyes wide and filled with concern.

Ron broke into a smile at that. Ron loved just how caring their daughter was, "I'm fine, Rosie. I'm just sad I didn't get to be with baby Rosie. That made Daddy sad, is all." Rose looked down to the album, discarded on the bed after she had clambered to her new spot.

She removed her hands from his face, and moved to sit onto her mum's lap again. Ron grew troubled, as Rose had a very serious thinking look on her face, yet, had not said a word to him. As she snuggled back into her mum, her eyes crossed her parent's hands, still holding onto one another. Rose put her small hand on top of Hermione's, resting in Ron's.

"Is 'kay, Daddy. You wif us now. Right Mummy?" She looked up at her mum with her large blue eyes, looking for confirmation in her words.

Both parents stared at her, shocked at the words coming from a two year old.

"Right, love. My intelligent little girl," Hermione kissed her curls, and placed the photo album back on Rose's lap.

Ron leaned over and pressed a kiss to her head as well; sneaking a slow peck to Hermione's cheek on the way back to his seated position. Rose patted the hands she was resting hers on, and turned the page to look at more pictures.

The atmosphere seemed lighter after that. They continued to look at photos, while Hermione explained them and the family laughed together.

Hermione made sure to capture as much of Rose's life as she could. She wasn't in many of the photos, but, she didn't mind. She just wanted to make her daughter's childhood as wonderful as she could, in her situation. The witch wanted to have the memories stored in the album so she could always look back. As the witch was doing so, she always figured Rose would be it, and there was only one time her child would take her first steps. Only one time she would say her first words. Only one time she would turn a year old. She didn't want those moments passing without her documenting them.

Ron wore a small smile the entire time they searched through the book. Hating that burning feeling in his chest, knowing that he wasn't there for any of it. Rose and Hermione were right, he was with them now. No matter how hard he tried, he wanted to be positive about the whole situation; that was the past, this was now. But, he still felt the rage beneath him, knowing that all could have been well if their letters made it to their intended destination.

"Why Rose?" he asked randomly. It was a question he had wanted to ask for a while now, but, with all that was filling his head, he had forgotten to ask.

"Sorry?" Hermione asked, tearing her eyes away from another photo of Rose rolling onto her stomach and back, grinning the whole time.

"Why did you choose the name Rose? What's the significance to it?" Ron truly wanted to know. Ever since he first discovered that is what the witch named their daughter, he had loved it. But, he never knew why she had chosen it.

"Oh, well... it was the first flower you gave me." Hermione blushed, glancing down before running her hand over Rose's wild curls. Ron watched her curiously, not recalling just what she was speaking of. The brunette glanced back up, her cheeks still aflame, "At Shell Cottage?"

Ron remembered it then.

Hermione had woken from her comatose state the night before. She was extremely upset, and to be honest, it was arduous for him to see. Back at Hogwarts, you would have never gotten him to admit something as soppy as that. Now, he would admit is instantly if it meant Hermione would be okay.

When she fell asleep, something Fleur insisted she needed plenty of, he wandered outside. He wasn't sure what to do with all the emotions that were coursing through him. He was so angry. Sure, he had been angry abundantly in his lifetime. With five brothers and a younger sister, how could he not? But, this time was different.

He hated someone.

And he wasn't sure if he had ever hated anyone in his life.

He couldn't say that anymore. He loathed the vile witch who had tortured Hermione for so long with horrendous curses and a bewitched knife. Who offered her flesh to do whatever he had wished to the sickening werewolf. He felt helpless, all he could do was listen to her agonizing screams while he scratched and clawed looking for a way to get to her.

He had to get to her.

He wiped his shaking hands on his trousers. Though it was gone, he could still feel the blood and grime running from the tips of his fingers, down his hands. Could still hear her tortured wails. Could still feel her limp body fall into his hold.

He took a calming breath.

Overall, he was terrified. When she woke, that relieved him, knowing physically it was a step in the right direction. But, the longer she sat there staring past him, and all others who tried speaking with her, he grew concerned of her mental state. He had no idea how to cope with that. After all, magic focused on healing physical wounds. Little they could do for mental and emotional health.

He released a heaving sigh. He felt restless. The ginger needed to do something to feel a bit of relief. Not knowing what to do, he looked for something -anything- to punch, kick, destroy…anything to get this monster he was feeling away from him. He turned toward some bushes, not yet bloomed in the early spring. He brought his foot back, ready to kick the spindly base, twining from the soil. But, a piece of color caught his eye. He peered closer, to discover a small rose huddled in the middle of the bush. It was being protected from the chilly mornings and saltwater mist by the outside leaves, leaving it to sprout inside. It was a vibrant red, deep, yet, bright; an enchanting color. It was small, but, it fought, and survived.

Ron felt a hint of a smile wisp across his lips. He bent down and plucked the rose, holding it gently in his hand.

…

Hermione woke early the next morning. A chill instantly spread across her skin, remembering the horrid experience days before. She clutched at the sheets and held in a sob. The witch didn't want to be a burden on the family. But, no matter what she did, what she told herself, she seemed locked into this pit that she couldn't crawl out of. So she laid there, feeling pathetic and useless. Having doubts about everything she had done. What use was she really on this hunt? Ron left them, after all. Left her. They had very little to go on, and they were surviving by a thread. They'd probably die of malnutrition or illness, before the death eaters got to them.

This time, Hermione didn't have the answers to everything. This hunt wasn't as easy as following the directions step by step in a book. These were the voices that crept in, calling the doubts and inviting them into her mind to stay.

Shaking her head, to attempt to rid herself of such negative thoughts, the witch turned herself over in the small cottage bed, surprised to see Ron still sitting in the chair next to her. She didn't remember much from when she awoke, but, when she first burst awake in her panic, he was there to hold her. When she drank the potion Fleur gave her, he was sitting there, watching her with concerned eyes.

He was sleeping now, looking somewhat peaceful, yet uncomfortable in the chair that was too small for his lanky form. His body was weak. She could see his already too big clothes, practically engulfing him with the weight he had lost during the hunt. Weight he couldn't afford to lose. His eyes had sunken in some, leaving heavy bags under the muted blue. His ginger locks, her favorite vibrant trait from the man, had faded with malnutrition and the conditions he had endured for the past few months...

Hermione stared at the redhead, knowing what her heart was saying, but, her brain couldn't process those feelings right now. She knew she loved him. She sorted that much out years ago... but, right now, with everything as dim as it was... She sniffed quietly, squeezing her lids shut as she pleaded the tremors would stop wracking her body.

She reopened her tear-filled eyes, glancing over to the only vivid color in the room, placed in a vase on her nightstand.

Hermione could already feel the tears pour down her face as she viewed the most beautiful rose she had ever seen. It was small, but, vivacious and darling. She gripped the sheets again, feeling another sob expel from her as she realized just who gave her, what she thought to be, the perfect Rose.

"Right. I wasn't sure you remembered that," Ron replied, realizing they reached another painful memory.

Hermione smiled sadly, recognizing the same thing. Ron shook his head trying to shake the difficult times from him for now.

"What was the first thing you said to her? Ya know, in the first photo," Ron inquired.

Hermione smiled genuinely then, "Full of questions, aren't you? I said, 'Hello Rosie. You are so very loved, darling.' I wanted her to know first thing," she chuckled, as she remembered something. "Although, I talked to her throughout the entire pregnancy. The healer said that's why she was so attached to me. She knew my voice so well. She knew her mum's voice."

Ron had loads more questions to ask, but, as he began to verbalize another, Rose's stomach gave a great rumble.

"Oh my! It's nearly half after one! We should get some food in that belly, shouldn't we?" Hermione asked the tot on her lap, who giggled a response.

Ron smiled and leaned to kiss the tot's head, and Hermione's lips, before removing himself from the bed, and grabbing his cane.

"I'll make us something so we can get this tot to her kip," Ron explained, making his way to the kitchen. Hermione took a breath to call something, when Ron completed her sentence, "I know, I promise, I won't overdo it."

He smiled smugly as he exited the room.

...

The family ate their sandwiches and conversed through lunch, with Rose falling asleep before the meal was finished. Hermione laid her down for her kip. Hermione suggested that Ron also rest, as he probably could use a day off since the day before. Hermione left him with a kiss as she went to the den to catch up on work. Ron laid in the large bed, listening to Rose's breathing in the cot, as he flipped through the photo album. His heart jumped at every picture. The holidays, seeing Rose as a puckering, pink, strawberry her first Halloween, first time having baby food, playing in the bath, standing just moments after she took her first steps, first Christmas... and sprinkled throughout were rare pictures of Rose and Hermione together. Almost as if someone had insisted she get in the photo with her daughter. He knew he missed out on Rose growing up her first few years, but, he also missed on Hermione's moments too. He never knew she cut her hair shorter after she gave birth; the curly locks grew back quickly in two years. He hardly knew anything about what she went through; during her pregnancy and after. He flipped back to the beginning of the album. Not even one picture of her pregnant. Ron was craving to know more about the time he had missed.

The following night was the family dinner. The gathering was lively tonight, Angelina was soaking up as much information as she could from the mums in the room, while George was giving Percy a hard time for bringing his newly announced girlfriend, Audrey, to dinner, as Bill moved over to help Percy newlyweds were still on their honeymoon, and Charlie was back tending to the dragons in Romania.

However, the buzz of the night consisted of how cozy the youngest male Weasley was with the mother of his child. Ron settled back on the settee after everyone had eaten, as Hermione sat back against him, their shoulders overlapping a bit. Nothing scandalous, but, certainly a comfortable nature that had been missing for the last few weeks.

As the news spread secretly around them, another announcement was made, as Bill declared Fleur was two months pregnant. More congratulations were spread as Molly could hardly believe she would have four grandchildren. Ron squeezed Hermione's hand when the announcement was made, both standing to congratulate the family.

As they walked around, speaking with the various family members, Ron snuck away for a few moments, stealing George for a quick word.

The following week, Ron returned to work, this time, to his newly promoted position. He would never admit it, but, Hermione could tell he was anxious about others seeing him walking with his cane. He was much quicker now, and getting stronger every day, yet, it just wasn't healing quite properly. She knew he dreaded his healer's appointment that Wednesday; knowing that he wasn't confident with what the healer would say.

Hermione stopped by every day for lunch. Ron reckons if Harry were there, he'd take the Mickey out of him for having his girlfriend over so much. Yet, Ron didn't care. He loved his new position, especially since he was planning new cases and helping to put the case together for the one he had been working on over a year. But, he knew his lunch date with Hermione was the highlight of his day. It always ended with a kiss, which Hermione insisted they did in private, to keep everything as professional as possible in their workplace.

Wednesday came, as Hermione and Ron sat in the healer's office waiting for one of his healers to see them. Ron hoped it was Healer Driscoll, as the other uptight man, Ron wouldn't mind not seeing again.

After a few more minutes of waiting, Ron sighed a breath of relief to see the very healer he wanted.

"Good morning! Good to see you again under healthier terms," the healer smiled, shaking both of their hands.

"How is everything feeling for you, Ron?" Healer Driscoll sat on a stool across from them, while a quill move furiously above some parchment, to record his answers.

"Overall, fine. No issues internally; not that I feel anyway!" He chuckled momentarily before continuing, "magic use has been minimal, and all bones seem to be in working order." Ron explained, taking a breath before he was to continue.

"But..." The healer prompted.

"But, this leg is still giving me some fight. I've followed all-" Hermione raised her eyebrows at his words, "Most all, of the exercises and potions, and instructions, yet, it's still not healed. Is that how it's supposed to be?" Ron asked, feeling Hermione's reassuring hand rubbing his back gently.

The healer observed the two, "Well, I'd like to check everything to ensure it's in proper order, and we'll take extra time with that leg to see what's going on."

Hermione sat back as Ron moved to the patient's bed, watching the healer cast spell after spell above and around Ron. A half hour later, she excused herself from the room before entering again after another twenty minutes to see Hermione and Ron in the same spots they were when she first came in that morning.

"Terribly sorry for the wait. Looks like everything is healing properly and is in working order, all except that stubborn leg of yours," she sighed, removing her glasses after she read her parchment, and placed them in her hair, "It's not healing as we expected it to. It's as if it's not taking to your body, and makes it slower to adjust."

"So, what are we to do about it?" Ron asked concerned.

The older woman looked at her notes, then back at the pair, "To be absolutely clear; you've been following the orders not to have intercourse, with your injuries, yes?"

Ron's face blared red, as that was never mentioned in his regimen. Hermione's face began to warm as she nodded her head.

"Um, yes. We've followed that one quite well," Hermione supplied, brushing the back of her hand across her flaming face.

"Good. As difficult as it may be, any extra pressure on his leg would not give him anything beneficial. Using it to support his weight fully, even with, erm, all the positions offered, could cause too much pressure in a specific area of his leg, and prevent it from healing fully," the healer ended there, noting the flush on the young couple's faces.

The older woman took a slow breath before continuing, "We'll keep on the same regimen, ensuring you don't overdo it. Putting too much stress with not help it adjust. That'll just cause pain and swelling. In a week or two, you should be off the cane and walking without assistance again... However," Healer Driscoll removed her glasses from where she perched them in her hair and toyed with them in her hands, "Ron, I want you to be fully prepared that you may never get the full range you once had, or you could just have days where it hurts more than others... there's even a possibility you may need the assistance permanently... It's just going to take time to figure it out. You need to be diligent, but, patient. Do you think you can do that?" The healer asked, glancing between Ron and Hermione.

Hermione nodded her head as she glanced curiously at Ron. He was holding her hand in both of hers, leaning forward on his elbows resting on his knees. She knew this wasn't the answer he wanted, but, they had made it through everything else recently; he could surely make it through this too.

"Doesn't really look like I have a choice, does it?" Ron muttered, before dropping his head and sighing. He raised it again, after rubbing his neck with his hand, "I'm sorry. Yes, I think I can manage it. Just a bit frustrating is all."

…

That Friday Hermione gathered Rose to take her to The Burrow. She hurried over to Ron, finishing his tea in the kitchen, to kiss him goodbye.

"Have a great day. I'll see you at lunch?" She checked as they separated.

"Yea, and Rose will be staying late at mum's tonight. I spoke with George, and he and Angelina are taking her for the evening."

Hermione raised her eyebrows at this, "And what will we be doing?"

Ron grinned, "We have a date tonight. Just the two of us. We started it a while ago, but, we're sticking to it now. Tonight, a muggle concert, and dinner at some fancy Italian place. Avery mentioned he'd taken a bird there before and it's delicious."

"Sounds perfectly romantic," Hermione leaned in to kiss the tall ginger once more, touched that he had thought of planning that entire date -including childcare- by himself. As they parted, Rose bounced in her mum's hold.

"Me next! Don't fo'get Rosie!" She leaned forward, clear that she wanted the attention next, causing Ron to laugh, before he pecked the tot's nose and told her, her goodbyes. She was a bit put out by the fact he still couldn't carry her and play like they used to, but, she, along with everyone else, hoped her father could get back to normal as soon as he could.

…

"I can't believe you sat through that! You must really love me," Hermione pecked Ron's cheek as they walked down the busy sidewalk in London. They had just finished a concert, viewing the London Orchestra, and were now pacing through the falling snow to the Italian restaurant Avery had raved to him about. Hermione knew the concert was not Ron's cup of tea, yet, he still took her, knowing it was something she would enjoy, and without one complaint.

Ron chuckled, "I truly do. It was nice, just a bit boring is all." Ron shrugged, looking up at the street sign before turning the corner. He still walked with his cane and hoped that the journey to the restaurant wouldn't cause him too much pain. Hermione snuggled closer to their linked arms, keeping warm from the skin nipping weather. Fairy lights hung from every corner of the streets. Carols were already being sung. Families were bustling to get their young children home after a day of shopping. Everything was so festive, you'd think Christmas was tomorrow, instead of a couple of weeks away.

"I appreciate it. It was lovely."

They made their way through the restaurant, drawing many more eyes than Ron was comfortable with. They were sat in an intimate corner of the room, lightly lit by the illumination of the fairy lights from outside, along with the candles at the table. Ron pulled Hermione's chair out for her, earning him a small smile along with a whispered expression of thanks. After he sat in his own chair, he glanced up, noting that several people tore their pity-filled eyes from him and back to their tables. Ron lowered his head, and turned to his table, resting his arms on the fabric tablecloth, and clearing his throat. He felt a hand slide into his own. He rose his eyes to meet hers.

"Don't worry about them, they're just nosy. We're focusing on us tonight. Remember?" Hermione smiled, tenderly rubbing his palm with her fingertips. Ron felt a shiver run down his spine.

"You're right, love," Ron grinned crookedly back at the curly-haired woman. She brought her arm back to remove her heavy trench coat, revealing her deep red, quarter sleeve, dress. She had kept her hair in the tight bun she had it in when she left for work that morning.

Their conversation flowed as they ordered and received their food. Hermione reached for her wine glass, sticking with water that evening, for a sip, as Ron loaded a massive amount of fettuccine Alfredo on his fork. He opened his mouth wide and shoveled the pasta in, causing Hermione to cringe, and stifle a laugh. Ron gave a closed mouth grin at her, chewing quickly before swallowing.

"Are you sure you don't want some? It's bloody delicious," Ron twirled a bit more onto his fork and inched it toward Hermione enticingly.

"You think that display made me want to try it?" Hermione raised her eyebrows, attempting to keep her smile muted. Ron brought the fork closer to her, playfully quirking his eyebrows at the witch.

Hermione shook her head in incredulity, and removed the fork from his hold, chuckling all the while. She brought the item to her lips, and slowly removed the pasta from the fork.

"Mmmm," Hermione hummed, returning the utensil back to its owner.

"Isn't it amazing? We need to make this at home," Ron urged, scooping up another pile of pasta and funneling into his mouth. Hermione smiled at his excitement over their meal.

"I'm sure it isn't too difficult to make. We can find a recipe fairly easily," Hermione replied, taking a small bit off her own plate. Ron grinned in pleasure.

Time passed, as they ate contently. Ron kept thinking back to the day they looked through Rose's baby photo album.

"Tell me about the day Rose was born."

Hermione was caught off guard by the random question, then smiled; she loved the fact that Ron wanted to know as much as he could about the time he had missed in their lives.

"Well, I just got home from work one evening, and made my way to the bathroom. After, I was searching the cabinet for a potion that I could take while pregnant to help with pain. I had been having back discomfort that entire day and it was extremely sore. I reached to one of the higher shelves after I saw it; I must have sent it up there after rushing one day. Anyways, after I did so, my back felt worse. I took some of the potion, and changed into pajamas and went straight to bed," Hermione took another sip of her water before she continued, "I woke up around midnight with the cramps getting worse, this time, in my stomach too. I went to the bathroom to take more potion, and that's when my water broke," the witch chuckled at the memory, "It spread all over the tile in there. I knew for sure then, that she was finally coming. I cleaned up the mess and sent the towels to the wash when-"

"Wait," Ron interrupted, "You cleaned the mess up before you went to the hospital?" Ron watched the brunette with wide eyes.

"I did. I knew I had some time before she arrived, so, I didn't want to be thinking about a mess I had to clean up later, while I was bringing her into the world." Hermione explained as if it were the most logical thing in the world.

Ron continued to watch the witch, highly amused at the fact.

"So, I Flooed to St. Pieclick's Hospital. It was the closest to where I was living, and I had all my checkups there. They put me in a room, and we waited," Hermione groaned at the memory.

"Rose certainly took her time coming into this world. They would check me to see how I was progressing, and-"

"What do you mean progressing?" Ron inquired, truly interested in what Hermione was speaking of. A blush covered her cheeks.

"Um, well. When a woman is in labor, the healer measures the cervix… the part that opens for the baby to come out. Depending on how open the cervix was, told the healers how close I was to start pushing," Hemione explained, while looking down at her meal. She glanced up, noting that Ron had stopped eating, and instead, stared at her with huge eyes; looking my paler than he normally did.

"Ron? Are you okay?" Hermione asked, concerned.

"Yeah. Yeah, 'm fine. So, they kept, uh, checking you, and…" Ron prompted her to continue.

"Hours passed, and the healers said I was moving very slowly. Twelve hours, then twenty-four, then finally, I was allowed to push. Our little Rose was born at 4:06 a.m., on April 14th," Hermione finished with a smile.

"You're incredible," Ron sighed, pushing his empty plate away and stared at the beautiful witch.

Hermione laughed, "It's amazing what women's bodies were made to do… But, I wasn't incredible. I was utterly pathetic at some points. Crying, and such."

"You did that without any friends or family members by your side. You brought our daughter into the world… That proves you're incredible," Ron smiled, reaching for her hand once more.

She let hers curl around his larger hand, as they sat there, looking like two nutters, gazing into each other's eyes. Before they were kindly interrupted by the waiter, explaining to them that their dinner was paid for by a fellow patron of the restaurant.

A/N: There will be about two to three more chapters left in this story. This chapter really just focused on them getting back together, and learning about the time they were apart. I think I'll do a sequel, but, only if others are interested in reading it. It would continue on where this story leaves off.

Thank you for all the support. I would love to hear your thoughts, even things you predict, or hope will happen, in a review or PM.

Also, thank you "Guest" and "Hpfanfics" for the birthday wishes!