A/N: I hope everyone liked last week's chapter - now get ready to enjoy the fluff!

"Have another piece of cake, Hermione, go on!" Mrs. Granger said, beaming at her daughter across the small kitchen table. "It's not every day you're the lead in an opening night smash hit!"

"I'm not even done with the first one yet!" Hermione begged, shoveling another forkful into her mouth.

"I know, I know, but once you're done."

"We'll see, Mom. It is delicious, though."

The cake had been a tradition in the Granger household since Hermione's first performance as a nine-year-old. Every time, her mother would set about making her favorite dessert while she was getting ready for her first performance. Chocolate cake with raspberry filling topped by a chocolate ganache had made an appearance every opening night, and that night's version was no slouch. The only problem, of course, was that her mother was never satisfied until Hermione had stuffed herself to the point of a stomach ache.

"So, am I allowed to ask how you thought it went?" her mother asked.

Hermione laughed, swallowing another mouthful of the delectable confection. "Of course you can. And like I said, I thought it was great!"

"I know, but that's just the answer you give anyone you see after the show. This is just you and me. C'mon, what did you really think?"

Of course, her mother was referring to the entire show, the musical numbers, and the rest of the cast. In Hermione's mind, though, the only thing she thought of when recalling the night's performance was the way Ron's arms felt around her when they were in the spotlight and the taste of him when he went for that amazing kiss. Not to mention the repeat performance in her dressing room an hour later.

A smile spread across her face despite her attempts to stop it, and she turned away from her mother with embarrassment. "I think the end result made it clear how much work everyone put in to make it the best show possible. I'm really quite proud of us."

"I think that's lovely, dear, and I agree. A top-notch performance through and through."

The clinking of silverware echoed throughout the space the two women shared. Mr. Granger had shared a quick bite of cake himself before heading to bed to be prepared for work the following morning. When it was only the two of them, her mother tended to show far more interest in her personal life, meaning the next line of questioning didn't surprise her a bit.

"That was quite a scene you had with Ron as well."

"Oh, yeah," Hermione started, warmth suddenly radiating from her face. "He was really good, too, wasn't he? Sorry, I hope that wasn't too weird for you. Or Dad. Ugh, maybe I should've mentioned it ahead of time…"

"It's perfectly fine, sweetheart. I knew it was coming, and as for your father…well, we're both aware that sometimes it's part of being in a show like that. You're okay, though? Now…afterward?"

Once again, Hermione had a hard time concealing her grin. "Yes, I'm fine."

"I couldn't help but notice the two of you coming out together from backstage after the performance."

"We did, yes."

Mrs. Granger's eyes studied her daughter, and Hermione did her best to look as interested in the dessert as possible while feeling her mother scouring her expression for clues. She was sure she was blushing, and her lips seemed permanently curled up at the corners no matter what she did.

"That's good," her mother finally said. "I think it's smart to check in with another actor after a scene like that. I hope you two were able to talk about it. I know you've always felt very comfortable with Ron, but that's a completely different thing than either of you have ever had to deal with before."

"I know. It's okay, Mom. Ron is…really amazing, and I'm not worried."

"Really amazing, huh? Is that why you can't stop smiling?"

It wasn't until that moment that Hermione realized how much her cheeks hurt, and she forced her lips back to a neutral position despite the damage being done. "Mom…"

Hermione didn't mind that her mother knew what was going on between her and Ron, but it didn't mean they needed to have a full-on discussion about it. The relationship she and Ron had was their business and their business only, and while her mother meant well, Hermione still thought that some things were better kept to herself. Besides, the last time Mrs. Granger thought that she and Ron might be getting serious, there were sex talks and condom demonstrations and all sorts of phrases and imagery that Hermione still hadn't gotten out of her head. She could very much do without a repeat of any of that.

"I won't pry, dear, but I'm happy that you're happy. I take it we may be seeing more of Mr. Weasley despite the show ending?"

"You might…"

The snicker from her mother was well-meaning, but it still caused Hermione to finish her cake as quickly as possible so that she could escape. "Hard to keep the lines between character and actor from blurring, isn't it?" Mrs. Granger asked.

"I suppose it was harder than we thought, yes."

"Well, if it were anyone else, I'd be surprised. Ron, though…that makes sense."

Without responding, Hermione stood up and cleared her plate, depositing it in the sink before heading toward her room. "Anyway, Mom, I'm pretty tired, and we have two more shows tomorrow, so I'm going to get some sleep."

"Good thinking. And Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"We're so proud of you. You were amazing tonight, and I'm so glad you're enjoying the experience."

Hermione smiled back at her mother. "Thank you. I really am."

"Good night, dear."

"Good night."

After brushing her teeth and washing her face, Hermione retreated to her room, changing into her pajamas before collapsing on top of her bedspread. Never had it looked more inviting than it did after the exhausting day she'd just experienced, and she thought she might very well fall asleep right then and there.

As she was drifting off, though, a soft knocking sound came from the window on the far wall. If Hermione hadn't known better, the thought of someone outside her first-floor window would've been terrifying. Given the events of the evening, though, she had a fairly good idea who it was.

She stood up and padded across the room, peeling the curtain back just enough to catch a glimpse of ginger hair. When she pulled up the blinds, Ron grinned back at her, his face suddenly illuminated by the light from her bedside lamp. Hermione unlocked the window and lifted the sash, sitting down on her desk chair to bring her face level with his.

"Hi," he said, beaming at her. He was wearing plaid pajama bottoms, an old soccer jersey, and his canvas jacket, and he still looked as sexy as ever. His hands were stuffed in his pockets to protect them from the chilly night air, but as soon as the glass windowpane was no longer separating the two of them, he reached up and cupped her cheeks, pulling her toward him for a quick kiss.

"Hi," she replied as her face turned bright red. Not that she cared. It was so freeing to realize that he was allowed to know what she was feeling. No more hiding, no more hoping her secret would remain a secret. Just honesty and openness.

"Do you know how many times I've wanted to sneak over here and see you in the night? And don't even get me started about the idea of kissing you through this window…"

"I wish you had sooner. You would've been very welcome."

"Yeah, well…" he started, trailing off with a chuckle. "Anyway, I'm sorry to bother you, I'm sure you're trying to get some sleep."

Hermione reached out to grab his jacket, making sure he didn't go anywhere. "It's okay. Stay for a minute. I'll get plenty of sleep."

Picking up her hand, he placed a small kiss over her knuckles and took a step back toward her. Part of her wanted to invite him to climb in the window and get a little bit closer, but given that she was blushing at the mere thought of it, she held her tongue. Besides, her parents were relatively laid-back people, but she couldn't imagine they'd be okay with that.

His grip on her fingers only tightened as he gave her a slow peck on the cheek. "I just wanted to tell you again how impressive you were tonight."

"Just tonight?" she teased.

The corners of his eyes crinkled as he laughed, sliding his hand behind the back of her head and pulling her in for another deep kiss. "No, not just tonight," he murmured against her lips.

It was a good thing the window frame was between the two of them. Hermione wasn't sure she could trust herself alone with him in her deliriously happy state if there wasn't a physical barrier in the way. If it was possible, she'd never let him go, sleep be damned.

Just as they had during the performance, their lips separated, tongues wrestling for temporary dominance as her fingers slipped through his thick auburn locks. It was everything she'd ever dreamed it would be and more, and goosebumps popped up all over her body as his large hands slid up and down her arms. She found herself clawing at his back, trying to bring him as close as possible, eager for more contact. All the while, their lips remained locked together, separating and reconnecting instantaneously to avoid any distance between them.

Eventually, though, oxygen became necessary, and they split apart, her thumb still stroking the stubble of his cheek. "You're pretty amazing yourself. Not just tonight."

"Mmm, I'm glad you think so. By the way, you taste fantastic. Chocolate celebration cake like usual, right?"

She dropped her forehead to her hands and let out a giggle. "I don't know whether to be embarrassed or impressed that you could figure that out."

"I always recognize chocolate."

"Of course you do…"

His lips were frozen in a permanent smile as he leaned back in for another kiss, taking his time and pressing gently against her lips. It may not have had the frenzied passion of their stage kiss or the ones they'd shared backstage after the show, but its unhurried and tender nature conveyed so much more emotion and drove Hermione just as crazy. His lips lingered against hers before trailing down her cheek to the angle of her jaw. When he finally came up for air, his hair was a bit more disheveled than it had been before, and a goofy grin was permanently plastered on his face.

"I knew it would be hard to stop…"

"Well," Hermione teased, "now you don't have to. Not for long, anyway."

"That's true. Although next time I'd kind of prefer this window wasn't in the way."

"I think that can be arranged."

The flirty banter between the two of them made her feel like she was floating with giddiness, surges of adrenaline and excitement pulsing through her veins. She couldn't believe how lucky she was that she could finally say those types of things to him without worrying that he might find out too much. It was one of the most freeing feelings in the world.

"I hope so," Ron said. "How about next weekend?"

She quirked her eyebrow at him. "Next weekend?"

"Yeah. Obviously we're both a little busy this weekend, but I'd really like to take you out next weekend. You know, on a date. A real date. I've always loved going to Mario's with you, and I hope you don't want to stop doing that. But maybe we could go somewhere a little more…upscale."

Hermione smiled, her mind instantly wondering what Ron would look like in a blazer. "Of course I would love to, but we don't have to do anything fancy. All I want is to spend time with you."

"That's all I want too," he admitted. "But, I think we deserve a nice night out after all the work we've put in the last few months, don't you?"

"Hmm. I suppose you might be right."

"Then you'll save the date?"

"I'm all yours."

He leaned forward, capturing her lips one last time. "That may be my new favorite thing you've ever said."

"It's true," she said with a shrug.

"Alright, Hermione Granger. I should let you get some sleep. See you tomorrow?"

"Of course. Would you like a ride over to school? I probably have to be there a little earl–"

"Yeah, I'd love that," he interrupted. "Thanks."

"I'll pick you up at ten to noon, okay?"

"Perfect." He started to walk back toward his house, but quickly turned around and jogged back to her window. His hands cradled her face as he pulled her toward him for one last slow kiss. "Sorry, can't help myself."

"The feeling is mutual."

With a snicker, he finally spun and headed home. "Good night, Hermione."

"Night, Ron."

After pulling the window closed, she watched him all the way back to his front door. Only once he was safely back inside did she slip into her bed, her mind reliving each kiss they'd just shared. It was silly to think that she had to savor them; she could kiss him whenever she wanted now. But there was something about late-night forbidden kisses that seemed so exciting, and it left her eager to see him again as soon as possible.

Of course, if she wanted to see him again, she'd have to fall asleep, which was seeming harder and harder by the minute. After all, how was she supposed to relax her body when everything felt as though it was on fire? How was she going to slow her heart rate when she could still taste him on her lips?

Seriously, how was she supposed to sleep after that?

It may not have been the refreshing sleep Hermione had been hoping for, but it was full of amazing dreams. Ron flitted in and out of her consciousness all night, and by the time she finally saw him when he stepped out his front door the following morning, she was starting to feel as though she might explode if she didn't get another kiss as soon as possible.

Fortunately, he obliged as soon as he sat down in the car, not even buckling his seatbelt before his lips found hers as they idled in the driveway. Hermione could only hope his mother wasn't watching; as much as she liked Mrs. Weasley, she wasn't sure she was ready to have that conversation just yet.

When they arrived at school, they went to their separate dressing rooms, sneaking a quick peck before they split. They'd decided on the way not to tell anyone just yet, so as soon as their other friend showed up, Hermione slid into normal pre-show conversation. She couldn't help feeling a little excited at the knowledge that she held a secret from the rest of her castmates, but she kept it to herself. Even Hannah, with whom she usually shared everything, was left in the dark for the moment. Nobody needed the distraction, and Hermione certainly didn't need everyone pestering about her love life when she was trying to focus on the performance.

Saturday's matinee was even better than opening night, if that was possible. Once or twice during the show, Ron found her backstage when nobody else was around and kissed her, his tongue skirting across her lower lip as if he knew how much of a tease he was being. Their duet was even more passionate than it had been the first night, and the two of them shared a few hidden smiles during the number. It was the most fun she'd ever had in a school musical, and she wished it would never end.

The last two performances on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon went just as well, and before Hermione knew it, the show was over, the set pieces were taken down, and she'd placed her broom into the prop closet for the last time. It was always a bittersweet feeling to be done for the year, something that Ron keyed in on immediately backstage after they'd changed back into their normal clothes.

"You okay?" he asked, placing a supportive arm around her shoulder.

She wiped away a tear and nodded. "Yeah. It's just sad. It's always sad."

"I know." She felt his lips against the side of her head, pressing softly into her temple. "I'm starting to understand why you look forward to this so much every year. It's a pretty special experience."

"It is. And unfortunately, it never gets any easier when it's over."

Her nose twitched and she sniffed, leaning into his body and allowing him to envelope her completely with both arms, his cheek coming to rest on top of her head. Being with him made the process of saying goodbye to her favorite event of the year a little easier. Nothing, not even an exciting new relationship would be able to completely fill the hole left in her heart by the conclusion of the musical. Eventually, things would get back to normal and she knew she'd be able to look back on the memories with fondness. But that final walk out of the auditorium was always one she dreaded.

"At least we still have the cast party to look forward to, right?" Ron asked as he took a small step back, leaving his arm around her as they started toward the exit.

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right," she said, shaking her arms and trying to recompose herself. "Are you ready to go?"

"Sure. Is it okay if I come with you?"

"You'd better…"

After greeting their families in the lobby, they headed out to Hermione's car together. Ron held her hand the entire way to Lavender's house, his thumb rolling over her skin and helping to ease her grief. Even though she'd been crying on and off the entire way there, the way the rest of the cast cheered at her and Ron's arrival brightened her spirits, and she broke into a wide smile.

The rest of the evening was spent with the cast, reliving all of their favorite moments from the past few months. Impromptu renditions of songs from the show popped up here and there, and it didn't take much for everyone to join in. Lavender's family spared no expense with the catering, meaning everyone could eat and drink to their heart's content. Even their directors showed up and took the time to congratulate them one by one.

And all the while, Ron stayed by Hermione's side. Everyone knew they were friends, so it didn't raise too many red flags for them to be near each other all night. But Ron was so kind, and she was having so much fun with him that eventually she just couldn't keep her hands to herself. At one point, right after they'd been dancing with their castmates on stage, she placed her hands on the sides of his face and pulled him down toward her, locking her lips against his as fireworks exploded throughout her body.

Whooping and hooting filled the space, interspersed with offhand comments such as, "I knew it," and, "Finally!" Hannah came running over to Hermione when they separated, practically jumping up and down as she dragged her best friend away from the fray for a conversation. It didn't last long, however, because Hannah in turn was pulled away by Neville. Moments later, the two of them were kissing in the corner of the room much to Hermione's delight.

Even though the musical was ending, everything else about her life and the lives of her friends seemed to be improving. As she found Ron again, sliding her hand into his as they reminisced the night away, her melancholy mood continued to evaporate. The silver lining of being done with the show was more time with him. Weekly trips to Mario's, study sessions where they didn't exactly spend much time studying, movie nights, or even just walks around the neighborhood all seemed so exciting, and she couldn't wait to be able to dedicate the time to their new relationship to make sure it succeeded.

All too soon, the night wound to a close. They all still had school the following morning, of course, so the party broke up just before ten o'clock. Hermione and Ron waved goodbye to everyone, shouting inside jokes and scream-singing lines from the show on the way out the door until they reached Hermione's car.

"How are you doing?" Ron asked once they'd both buckled in.

She shrugged, a wistful grin playing across her face. "I guess I'm okay."

Once again, he took her hand in his, leaning over and kissing her cheek as they started down the long winding driveway out of Lavender's house. "I'm glad. It was a really fun time."

"It was. Lavender certainly knows how to throw a party."

"Yeah." He chuckled, giving her hand a squeeze. "Yeah, she does."

The drive proceeded in silence, which didn't bother Hermione one bit. The feeling of his thumb sliding back and forth over her skin calmed her, and she was somewhat surprised to find that she actually enjoyed being alone with her thoughts. Once or twice, she even started crying a little again, prompting Ron to grip her hand tighter in sympathy. There were so many competing emotions swirling around in her head that having some time to sort through them was helpful.

As they approached their neighborhood, though, she turned back to Ron. Something about his anxious expression and the way he was fidgeting with his jacket made her nervous, like he was worried about something he wasn't saying.

He must have felt her eyes on him because he shifted his gaze to her right as she focused back on the road. "Hey, you know, if you like…I mean, if you'd prefer, we can hold off on our date next weekend. I know it's really–"

"No!" she yelled, almost too enthusiastically. "Sorry. But no, I hope I'm not giving you the impression that…"

"You're not," he offered tentatively. "I just…it'll be the first weekend after the show, and I'm sure we'll still be feeling the loss. I don't want to make you feel like I'm…I don't know, rushing into something when you still need time to process things."

The car pulled into his driveway, lurching to a stop as Hermione put it into park. As soon as they were stationary, she spun in her seat to face him, her hand finding his cheek. "Ron, you're sweet for thinking of me like that. But that's absolutely not what I want."

"Really?"

"Really. Yes, I have many mixed emotions about the show coming to an end, but I can't wait to have enough time for…this. For us. This whole weekend was a beautiful, thrilling whirlwind, and a time that I'll never forget. But the downside of everything being so busy is that we never had time to properly celebrate. I'm really looking forward to that. So don't you dare back out now, Ronald Weasley. I'm afraid you're stuck with me this weekend whether you like it or not."

He smiled, leaning over the center console and brushing his lips against hers, softly reaffirming his commitment. "Nobody I'd rather be stuck with."

Their lips met again, and they didn't separate for what felt like hours. Hermione found that, no matter what, she simply couldn't get enough of him. Tongues dancing and grappling, hands running through each other's hair, they tried to get as close to each other as possible. Hermione looked forward with excitement to a time when they could make out without some obstacle in the way. Maybe on the couch or the booth near the back of a restaurant or something. Anywhere, really, as long as he was there.

"Alright," he said, finally untangling himself from her. "I guess I should let you go."

"Wish you didn't have to," she responded, sneaking one more kiss while he was distracted grabbing his bag.

"That would make two of us. But it's late, and we do still have school tomorrow. Speaking of which, what are the chances I could still get a ride in the morning?"

"One hundred percent, if that's what you would like. It does mean more sleep for you, after all."

He laughed, giving her a peck on the cheek. "I love that you're looking out for me like that. But no, I mostly want the ride for the much-improved company. Nobody kisses me like that on the bus…"

"Then you're more than welcome. Pick you up normal time?"

"Sounds good, thanks. I'll see you then," he said, giving her one last kiss on the lips before hopping out of the car. "And hey…congratulations. You were absolutely fantastic."

"You too, Ron, really. I'm so glad we did this together."

"Me too." Their eyes met, the brilliant blue of his irises visible despite the darkness. She didn't think she'd ever get tired of staring at those eyes. "Good night, see you tomorrow…"

"Good night."

With one final wave, he disappeared into his house, and Hermione drove the last few feet to hers. After saying goodnight to her family and getting ready for bed, she slipped under her covers, reflecting on how much her life had changed since the beginning of the show. What had started as excitement for the opportunity to play the role of a lifetime had been a roller coaster experience filled with the highest highs and the lowest lows.

In the end, though, she wouldn't have changed a thing. As she'd told Ron a few days prior, it seemed as though she walked the path she needed to walk to wind up where she did. And no matter how sad she was that the show was over, she knew she was getting to hold on to the best part of it. She finally had the thing she'd been wanting, sometimes only subconsciously, for nearly a decade. Ron was finally hers, and she couldn't wait to have more.