Disclaimer: All characters and things associated with Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. This writing is for pure entertainment only.

Summary: Sequel to "Law Change Lives". Hermione and Ron are settling into their new roles as parents, but nothing is ever as easy as it seems.

CHAPTER 7

Hermione rushed about, trying to find the books she needed for work while simultaneously looking for Rose's shoes and cooking Ron toast. Ron, on the other hand, was busy in Rose's nursery getting her dressed so that she could be dropped off at Hermione's parents. The weekend had been nice, with Rose taking more steps around the house, and Hermione gradually becoming comfortable with the idea that she had missed Rose's first steps, but Monday had come to fast, and both Ron and Hermione were running late for the Ministry.

Ron's toast popped up at the same moment Hermione found Rose's shoes. She grabbed the shoes, turning to run them up the stairs and instead running straight into Ron's chest as he held Rose in one hand and his toast in his mouth.

"Sorry…" Hermione mumbled, bending down to put Rose's shoes on her feet.

"Its fine. Can you take her? I'm late." Ron said, motioning to Rose.

Hermione stood up, hands on her hips. "I am just as late…and I made you breakfast…and I still need to find two of my books for work.

Ron huffed. "Hermione, I—"

"I am already running later then you are! Just drop her off at my parents…you will still probably beat me to the Ministry!" Hermione said quickly as she moved passed him, cleaning up the toaster. She was stressed out enough, and didn't understand why Ron was being so difficult.

"Yeah, but I'm at Auror. I need to—" Ron started again.

Hermione stopped cleaning the counter and turned to glare at Ron. "And what? That makes you getting to work any more important then me?"

Ron pinched the bridge of his nose as Rose giggled in his ear, as if she knew her father had said something stupid. "No…no of course not. I'll take her to your parents."

"Thank you." Hermione sighed, and moved forward, kissing Rose. "Be good for Grammy today please, Rosie…"

Rose kissed Hermione back. "Ma, Ma…"

"Yes, Mum loves you…" Hermione smiled and kissed Rose once more.

"I'll see you at work." Ron leaned down and gave Hermione a kiss as well.

Hermione kissed Ron back, but it was a tight-lipped, restrained kiss, and Ron could tell he had crossed a line that morning. He sighed as he walked out the door of Grimmauld Place. He knew she was stressed out with her new workload and worrying about Umbridge, and he wasn't trying to be difficult. He was just eager to get to work and try to find new leads on Umbridge and Yaxley.

Rose was smacking Ron in the nose as he carried her up the walkway to the Granger's house. He bent down and allowed her to smack the doorbell a few times before Mrs. Granger answered the door with a huge smile.

"There's my beautiful granddaughter!" Mrs. Granger smiled widely and took a giggling Rose from Ron's arms.

"Hermione packed her a bag with some toys, a change of clothes, diapers and lunch." Ron said, moving into the house after Mrs. Granger and putting Rose's diaper bag on the kitchen table.

"I am sure we will manage." Mrs. Granger laughed as she sat Rose down on the livingroom rug.

"Thanks for taking her today." Ron said quickly, moving to say goodbye to Rose. He squatted down and picked her up, kissing her nose and making her laugh.

"No!" Rose giggled at her father, her hands on his unshaven cheeks.

"No problem. I'm off today…I told Hermione anytime. I know she leaves her with your Mum a lot but I am sure she is busy with the new grandchild now." Mrs. Granger said.

Ron nodded at his mother-in-law. "Yeah…Fleur has been staying with my Mum for the past week…just 'til she gets the hang of things."

"And how do you like being an uncle?" Mrs. Granger asked Ron.

Ron shrugged. "She's adorable…but its nice I get to hand her back when she starts to fuss." He laughed a little.

Mrs. Granger laughed and nodded. "I know the feeling. She isn't making you want another?"

"One is more then enough right now, isn't that right, Rosie?" Ron cooed at his daughter.

Rose in turn gave Ron a raspberry on his cheek, causing both him and Mrs. Granger to laugh harder.

"Its hard enough to get alone time as it is."

"It will get easier as she gets bigger." Mrs. Granger said simply, motioning to Rose.

"I sure hope so." Ron admitted. He loved Rose, but she could be a lot of work at times.

"It will." Mrs. Granger said assuringly.

"Well…I need to be off. Rosie…you be good. I love you." Ron kissed Rose once more and then set her down on the ground here she stood for a second, noticed her toys in the corner and decided it would be faster to crawl there then try to walk on her still unsteady legs.

Once Rose reached her toys, she turned toward Ron, who was getting ready to floo to work from the Granger's fireplace, and pointed her finger. "DAAAAAAAA!"

Ron stopped dead in his tracks, both eyebrows flying up, as Mrs. Granger smiled warmly.

"Looks like she picked up a new word." Mrs. Granger said thoughtfully.

Within seconds, Ron was flying towards Rose and scooping her up and kissing her twenty times until she squirmed in his arms.

"DA! No!" Rose laughed.

"You are the smartest little witch I have ever met, Rosie." Ron kissed her once more and then placed her on the floor. "Just don't tell your mother I said that...she likes to hold that title."

Rose smiled up at her father with a satisfactory look on her face before wobbling her way to her toys and then falling on her butt. Ron then proceeded to leave for work with a huge smile on his face. He had a feeling today would be a good day; despite the rough start to the morning they had had at Grimmauld Place.

Hermione sighed, rummaging over a few text about previous laws of the 15th Century in regards to House Elves. They would be the first group she helped; she just wasn't sure where to begin. She had been starring at the text for what felt like hours now, knowing the wording of any propositions she wrote would have to be explicated. After all, good or bad, many Wizarding Families were accustomed to their house elves.

Hermione also was slightly stressed because she felt bad about barking at Ron earlier that morning. She knew he had been just as grouchy with her, but it still did not give either of them an excuse to be snappy with one another. When Rose had first been born they had been so good about not raising their voices, but now it seemed, as Rose got louder, so did they.

A knock on the door startled Hermione from her thoughts and she glance dup to see Ron smirking in the doorframe. When he saw she was not glaring at him, he closed the door behind him, locking it.

"Ron? What are you doin—" Hermione started, but was cut off when Ron moved toward her, picking her up in his arms and slamming his lips against hers.

Hermione lost her breath in the kiss, as she felt her back collide with her wall and Ron move his lips to her neck.

"Ron? What? What are you doing?" Hermione asked, slightly confused as to why Ron was suddenly so touchy, slightly embarrassed because they were in her work office, but also slightly turned on because she hadn't been this close to him in over a week.

"Rose said "dad" today…" Ron said, his voice low and husky as he dove in for another kiss along Hermione's neckline.

"She did?" Hermione was shocked and excited, though slightly sad she had missed that as well. In fact, she was certain she would be sadder if Ron wasn't so busy distracting her at the present moment.

Ron nodded against Hermione's neck and then moved to kiss her lips again, pulling her up so that her legs were now easily able to wrap around his hips.

"Ron…we can't…do this…in my office…" Hermione managed out between kisses, though in the back of her mind she knew she did not want it to stop. She had missed being this close with Ron, and could hardly remember why she had been short with him that morning. She could hardly think about anything except the way his hands were squeezing into her thighs.

"Why?" Ron breathed into her chin before kissing it.

"Because…its not appropriate…" Hermione said.

"So? Doors locked…I'm on lunch…so are you now…and you're my wife…and I missed you…" Ron said as he kissed her, swinging Hermione back so that she was now sitting on her desk, the piles of books she had been working with scattering on the floor.

Hermione, her arms around his neck, looked into his deep blue eyes as he stared down at her, and something in her expression told him this was his way of both apologizing for that morning, but also sharing with her how happy he was that Rose had said his name. She couldn't deny him when he looked so cute; and in the back of her head, she knew she wanted what he wanted just as much. And so, surprising them both, Hermione yanked Ron forward, kissing him as she busily unbuttoned her blouse. Once Ron noticed what she was doing, he had no problem helping her.

Hermione gently ran water over Rose's red hair in the small bathtub closest to Rose's nursery. The baby whined a little but was easily distracted from the water when Hermione conjured one of Rose's toy boats to move around the tub on its own.

As Hermione continued to bathe her daughter, her thoughts drifted to her afternoon activities with Ron at work, and she blushed. She could not believe she had allowed her hormones and urges to take over in such a professional environment, but she also had to admit, it had been quite a turn on.

Rose splashed at the boat, causing it to turn over and, in the process, soaked Hermione. She giggled loudly.

Hermioen sighed, looking down at her t-shirt, glad she had changed out of her work clothes to give Rose a bath. "Rose! No splashing!"

"No! NO! NOOOO!" Rose seemed to sing, splahing more on every word.

"You are your father's daughter…" Hermione shook her head.

"DAAA!" Rose suddenly pointed over Hermione's shoulder.

Hermione smiled at her new word and turned to see Ron standing in the doorframe, eating an apple, still in his work clothes. He had stayed later then Hermione and just have just arrived home, a satisfied grin on his face as his eyes made contact with Hermione's and she blushed deeply. He obviously was thinking about their afternoon as well.

"That's me!" Ron turned his attention to Rose and his smile changed from suggesting to caring. He moved forward and bent down to kiss Hermione on the cheek, whispering in her ear. "Hello, love…"

Ron's breath on her ear sent shivers up Hermione's back as she tried to continue to focus on bathing Rose.

"Hey…" Hermione whispered back.

"DA! Da! DA!" Rose called, her hands reaching for Ron.

Ron laughed and pulled his jacket off, laying it on the counter before removing his tie and rolling up his sleeves. He then squatted down next to Hermione. "Do you want me to finish her up?"

Hermione shrugged. "I don't mind, she is almost done. Did you eat?"

Ron nodded. "Had a sandwich…figured you were tired from today…didn't want to make you cook…"

Hermione laughed. "A bit swore…but not tired…"

"Good. Well…then…why don't you get down to our lovely bedroom, and I will finish Rose up. I'd like to see her a bit before I give you some attention." Ron smirked at Hermione.

Hermione couldn't help but smile back at Ron. "You sure? She is making a mess in here…"

"I think I can handle some splashing…what do you think, Rosie?" Ron asked, moving to splash some water at his daughter.

Rose giggled and grabbed for Ron, obviously finding her father a bit more fun to play with in the tub then her mother.

"Alright…then, goodnight Rose…and I'll see you in a bit?" Hermione asked, trailing a finger over Ron's back as she stood.

Ron turned and gave Hermione a grin.

Hermione laughed at him and moved out of the bathroom and down the hall to her and Ron's bedroom. Once inside, she stripped out of her now wet clothes, courtesy of Rose, and slipped on a night grown she had been given by Fleur for her and Ron's second wedding. It was light blue and simple, but also made her feel sexy, and she wanted to feel exactly like that for Ron. He had awoken something in her earlier that day at the Ministry and she wanted to have a long and wonderful night with him.