A/N: I haven't written a story in just about forever, because I am a Sophomore in college, and yeah. But I think this will be a great story, so please read and review!

Hermione inched her way down into the kitchen of the Burrow. It had been just a few days since the Battle, and she still didn't feel like her old self. She wasn't even sure what that meant "her old self." The Battle hadn't only changed her, but the War had changed her. Who was she? She wasn't sure that question could ever be answered, as she grasped the back of a chair and gingerly maneuvered into it. Her bones still ached from the curses thrown at her, but she was still alive. Survivor's guilt began to envelop her as her thoughts surrounded her. It was a nudge that suddenly brought her back. "You alright dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked her voice gentle as she hugged Hermione by placing an arm over her shoulders, and placing a kiss on the top of her head.

"As good as I think I could be." Hermione answered. Mrs. Weasley looked at her for a brief moment, before nodding. She moved toward the oven, then summoned eggs, bacon, and bread for breakfast. They remained in a comfortable silence before Hermione broke it. "Mrs. Weasley?"

"Hm?" she said, distractingly making sure that all the ingredients were being put together correctly.

"Can I help you make breakfast? After being on the run for a year, I'm not used to just sitting still..." Mrs. Weasley started to protest but Hermione interrupted saying, "plus the food I cooked was, um, maybe not the best? Not that I had a choice." She defended, as the first small grin since the Battle began to form on Mrs. Weasley's face. She nodded, motioning Hermione over.

"Sure dear, besides I think a distraction will do us both good." She said. She pulled out the cook book she didn't usually have to use, as she had it memorized by memory, but knew Hermione needed to see it. "See here, it says that we need two eggs per person, we have ten people, well fifteen if we count Ron. I usually cook for way more than that anyway…" She trailed off. "…I suppose it's not ten people anymore… without Fred." The happiness that had suddenly on her face disappeared almost as fast as it had appeared. "I keep forgetting…" Hermione looked up from the cook book, unsure of what to do. She had seen Mrs. Weasley angry, worried, and motherly, but never in such pain. This woman was the best mother she knew. She decided she would return the favor that Mrs. Weasley had given her, and hugged her tightly. At first Mrs. Weasley responded with confusion, before holding tightly onto Hermione. Her shoulders began to quake with sobs, and before Hermione realized it; tears were streaming down her face as well. They stayed hugging for what felt like an eternity, and only a moment at the same time. Mrs. Weasley was the first to pull away, wiping under her eyes to relieve them of moisture. "Well… I still have six children I need to feed, eight if you count you and Harry dear." She said, repositioning herself with her wand.

"Are you sure? I can finish." Hermione said, clearly worried. Mrs. Weasley turned to her, a sad look on her face.

"I cannot stop taking care of my children Hermione, even though I have lost one. I still have six that need to be loved, even though we are so much pain." She answered. Hermione could not believe the strength of this woman, who had not only the strength to continue, but the strength to take care of her children. "And quite frankly dear, I don't think that Ron could handle your food, he is quite picky." Hermione giggled at that.

"You are quite right. He has missed this home cooked meal very much." Mrs. Weasley grinned full out at this statement, instructing her wand to cut up the loaf.

"He fancies you, you know." Mrs. Weasley said, without looking up. Hermione blushed, not at the fact that she didn't know this fact already, but because Mrs. .Weasley had actually said it out loud, and she didn't know about the kiss, she thought. "Life's too short to not tell someone you love them." At this she turned full onto Hermione. "You know about the first War of course, correct?"

"Yes, of course. It's how this all began, Harry and all."

"And it is when Arthur and I decided to get married. For all we knew it was the end of the world, and I sure didn't want to not marry the man I loved just because we might die. Even if we were married mere moments, it would have been worth it. I wanted to marry him, because I didn't want to miss a moment dear." Hermione remembered that rush when she jumped in Ron's arms. In that moment she thought that if they were going to die, she wanted to kiss him. It was the one thing she wanted to experience before she died.

"I know the feeling." She murmured, but Mrs. Weasley heard it anyway.

"We're not in the War anymore, but the War has shown us that life is too precious to wait around for the perfect moment. There is no perfect moment." Mrs. Weasley said, placing a hand on Hermione's arm. "I know that this is all happening quickly, but you've been best friends for seven years, and fighting off feelings for each other for at least three of them." She said without missing a beat.

"Was it really that obvious?" Hermione groaned.

"Well, I am his mother."

It was this sight of Mrs. Weasley and Hermione working side by side that Ron encountered in the kitchen. From his room he could smell the bacon, and resisted the urge to nudge Harry awake. For the first time in years, Harry wasn't waking up screaming with visions from You-Know-Who. He deserved to sleep, however brief it was before he too smelled the bacon. Ron had tried to smooth his hair, and brush his teeth before coming downstairs. He didn't change out of his pajamas though. He tried to quietly walk down the squeaky stairs, before leaning against the door frame. His Mum and Hermione were chatting away, not noticing his presence. He was happy to see that they were relaxed, not thinking about the Battle for once. He realized his Mum looked thinner than he remembered, and he didn't like that. Hermione looked thin too of course, but he had become accustomed to it, but not for the way his Mum looked. When this bloody thing was done with, and he finally had money, he was determined to provide for her. "Ron, c'mon you're blocking the door." Ginny's voice said, startling him, his Mum, and Hermione. He moved out of the door way, sheepishly.

"Sorry Gin, didn't realize you were there." He said. She shrugged before sitting down. Hermione turned to look at him timidly.

"Morning Ron, guess you smelled the bacon?" She asked.

"Of course I did, did Mum help you make it?" He asked, finally peeling himself away from the door frame to the oven. He looked over his Mum's shoulder but she batted away his hand when he reached for a piece. He hugged her, much to her surprise. "Looks delicious Mum."

"Just so you know, I helped a lot, didn't I Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione said defensively

"Of course you did dear. Where's Harry?" She questioned Ron, an eye brow raised. He turned to the stairs and bellowed up.

"ANY ONE WHO IS HUNGRY BREAKFAST IS ABOUT TO BE SERVED."

"That's not quite what I meant." Mrs. Weasley said, placing a plate of toast on the table.

"Gets the job done though, doesn't it?" Ron said, reaching for a few pieces of toast. A few moments later Harry, Percy, Charlie, Bill and Fleur, and George groggily made their way into the kitchen.

"Thanks for the wakeup call mate." Harry said sarcastically.

"You're welcome." He answered in the same tone, earning him a pretend whack from Harry. Harry sat down next to Ginny, and across from Ron. "Go ahead mate, there's bacon, toast, and eggs."

"I don't know if I feel too hungry." Harry said.

"Deary, if I have to eat, you have to eat." Mrs. Weasley said.

When the food was all on the table, Hermione and Mrs. Weasley joined the group. Mr. Weasley was gone on some business, but would return home. The only empty chair was Fred's, a stark reminder of the Battle. Suddenly Harry held up a glass full of pumpkin juice, "To Fred!" he said, and the others responded, "To Fred!" before diving into their food.

Hermione gingerly moved her hand closer and closer to Ron's until it her pinky was touching his. Without saying a word and without looking at her, Ron turned his hand over and laced his fingers together with Hermione's. He then placed there intertwined hands on his lap for the rest of the meal.

A/N: I actually may continue this to after the meal, with a kiss? Let me know what you think!