Prompt: This Is Awkward...

Pairing: Romione

Rating: K

Missing moment from Deathly Hallows, days after Ron's return.

It had been six long, quiet, and lonely days for Hermione, despite Ron's return. She was purposely avoiding both he and Harry. She was annoyed that Harry had forgiven Ron so quickly, as if nothing had ever happened. Traitor.

Hermione had been confused about how she felt about Ron ever since his speech about the little ball of light. What did it all mean? And why hadn't it guided him back to them sooner? There was no denying her feelings for Ron, as they had deepened with each passing year, especially this one. However, she was still nervous about how he felt about her fully. She needed to know everything.

Unfortunately, it was hard getting questions answered when she wasn't asking anything. But how could she bring herself to speak to him as if things were okay? He had left her. He had left her in the cold rain even after she had begged and pleaded for him to stay. She understood it was the horcrux that had ruled him emotions, but she still couldn't help the feeling of resentment.

She sat in her makeshift room and fumbled with trying to French braid her uncontrollable tendrils, her frustration at Ron making the matter even more tedious.

"Need some help?" she heard a timid voice say from behind her. Her frustration increased as she hears his footsteps approaching her.

"I'm fine, thank you." she snapped.

"Don't be stubborn, let me help you." said Ron as he touched her hair. Hermione cursed her body for becoming almost as calm as she would have been reading a book in Gryffindor tower for fun at his touch. She couldn't even keep up a protest of him not messing with her hair. She sat and allowed him to make two neat and tight braids in her hair, having done it loads of times for Ginny and a few times before for her.

"Better?" he asked, tucking a stray strand behind her ear.

Hermione scowled. Of course it was better, but she didn't want to let him know that. "Sure." she managed to push out as Ron came into her view and sat down beside her.

Ron sat and looked at the girl that was desperately trying to avert her eyes at anything other than him. He could feel the tension in the little room as if the walls had turned to stone and was crushing around him.

"So...this is awkward." he said sheepishly.

Hermione didn't answer. Instead, she tried hard to pretend that she hadn't heard his deep and sensual sounding voice, smelled his clean and earthy smell, and that she couldn't feel his dazzling blue eyes boring a hole into her.

"Hermione, I know you heard me."he said a bit louder and more firm. "Stop ignoring me."

"You don't like being ignored, huh?" snapped Hermione, unable to control herself. "Just like I didn't like being ignored when I was screaming for you to stay."

"Dammit Hermione, I'm sorry, okay?!" said Ron, angrily standing up. "How many times do I have to apologize until you believe me?"

Hermione shot up like a bullet. She stood up on her tiptoes, trying to appear a bit taller, to show him that she meant business.

"How can you expect me to just accept your sorries as if you were apologizing for losing my favorite book?! You left us! You left us and we needed you!"

"I didn't want to Hermione, and I wanted to come back as soon as I left! For weeks and weeks I looked for you two! I gave up and went to Bill out of desperation and starvation! And even with that, Bill had to make me stay and recover! I never wanted to leave you guys, especially you!"

Ron and Hermione stared at each other, each trying to catch their breath. Everything in Hermione wanted to lash out and never forgive him, but she knew that she couldn't do that. Especially knowing that he suffered like they did. That he was frantic over not being able to find them. That it was her voice that guided him back.

Impulsively, Ron pulled Hermione into his arms, wrapping them tightly around her. Hermione willed her body to refuse to be comfortable, to refuse to give in. However, she found herself burying her face into the warmth of his shirt, allowing it to collect her tears. Her arms slowly wriggled out of Ron's embrace and latched around his torso, her hands gripping the back of his shirt.

"I'm sorry, Hermione, I'm so sorry." he muffled into her hair. He hugged her as close to his body as he could, taking in the scent of her hair, something he truly missed the weeks he was away from her.

"I missed you so much, you have no idea." continued Ron. "When I was at Bill's, all I could think about was how you were out there in the cold, not eating like you should, and I was in a warm cottage, being force fed by Fleur. I felt so fucking guilty, my best mates were out going through Merlin knows what, and I was in one of the safest places at the time. I heard you screaming my name in my dreams. I saw you crying every time I closed my eyes. I thought that I would lose you...in more ways than one."

"And Harry?" asked Hermione, looking up at Ron.

Rob couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "I mean, if I was to worry about Harry in the way I worried about you, that would be a bit barmy, wouldn't it?"

Hermione couldn't help but smile a bit. Ron smiled wider, seeing he had made an opening.

"I mean Harry's an alright looking bloke, but broody green eyed gits aren't my style. I fancy the brown eyed, bushy haired bookworm types."

"You're insufferable, Ronald Weasley." said Hermione, her smile expanding as well.

"And forgiven?" Ron asked, giving Hermione what he hoped was the muggle expression puppy dog eyes.

"Do you promise never to leave me again? Ever?"

"I'll make an Unbreakable Vow if I have to."

"Then you are forgiven." said Hermione, bringing a hand to Ron's cheek, gently caressing it.

Ron beamed. His inside had untangled from the knot it was in, and he felt as if he could perform the biggest patronus ever if he needed to. He was ready for anything this war would throw at the three of them. At that point in time, he felt like he could take on old Voldy himself single handedly and win.

But for now, winning his way back into Hermione's heart was enough for him.