A/N: This is definitely an MA chapter! Steamy!

Chapter 8

Leaving the Burrow and the Weasley's behind was just as difficult as Hermione feared. Tears were shed by all, especially Ginny, Hermione and Molly. Saying goodbye to Harry was no less difficult. Harry decided to accompany Ron and Hermione to London Heathrow airport to see them off. The moment they apparated (to a secluded alley behind the main terminal so as not to draw attention), it was clear Harry was having difficulty holding in his emotions. His green eyes glistened with tears and his voice was gruff and pinched as he embraced both his friends and told them he was only an apparition away if he was needed. Hermione could not hold back her tears and Ron tried his best to hide his emotion by wiping his nose quickly on his sleeve. By the time Ron and Hermione waved goodbye to Harry one last time as they walked through the security line, Hermione was feeling emotionally wrung out.

Once through security and inside the terminal, Hermione had little time to lament her departure, however. As soon as she and Ron began walking toward their boarding gate, Ron's face grew sickly white and Hermione could feel his hand grow cold and clammy in hers. It was clear he was nervous… very nervous… far more nervous than he had let on when they were planning their trip. He looked worse than he did before playing Quidditch back at Hogwarts.

"Ron, are you alright?" Hermione asked, squeezing his hand.

Ron responded by dropping Hermione's hand and bolting toward the nearest bathroom, his hand over his mouth.

"Oh dear." Hermione said. She walked over to the restroom entrance to wait for Ron and fished in her bag for a potion she had brewed the previous evening. It was a soothing draught – soothing for both the mind and body. She hoped it would take away Ron's nausea and take the edge off his nerves.

Ron emerged from the men's toilet a few minutes later looking pale and sweaty.

"Sorry." Ron muttered.

"It's alright, darling…" Hermione blushed at the term of endearment that escaped so readily from her mouth. Ron seemed too distracted to notice. "Here, take this." She said, handing Ron the small vile. He downed it in one without question.

Hermione suggested they have a cup of tea at one of the airport cafés before heading to their plane. They still had over an hour before take off and Hermione thought it a good idea to let the draught kick in before subjecting Ron to the inside of an actual airplane. They found a little stand and Hermione ordered herself a cappicino and Ron a cup of peppermint tea. They sat at a small table and watched the flustered tourists and travelers running to and from flights.

"I can't believe Muggles do this voluntarily." Ron said, taking a sip of tea and shaking his head.

Hermione chuckled. "I'm sure they would say the same thing if they knew some of the forms of transportation we use; brooms… floo powder… apparition for Merlin's sake!" She said quietly. Ron smiled and took Hermione's hand across the table.

"You called me darling." He said unexpectedly. Hermione blushed again.

"I… I didn't think you noticed." Hermione said. "You must think I'm so silly."

Ron shook his head. "I liked it."

Hermione's eyes lit up.

"It sure beats Won-won" Ron said with a disgusted look on his face. Hermione chuckled.

"I promise that's one name I will never use." Hermione said. Ron laughed.

Just then a voice came over the loud speaker.

"Now boarding, flight 442 to Sydney."

Ron's face fell.

"Are you going to be alright?" Hermione asked.

Ron swallowed hard but nodded.

"Yeah. Just… just explain to me about turbulence again."

After about an hour in the air, Ron finally seemed to relax and even enjoy some of the Muggle luxuries airplanes had to offer. Hermione had used a good portion of her Muggle savings to upgrade their tickets to 'business class'. She didn't want Ron's first experience in an airplane to be in coach with the cramped seating and grumpy children.

When the plane had first taken flight, Hermione was afraid Ron was going to need one of the sick bags stuffed in the pocket of the seat in front of her. He had turned a rather brilliant shade of green, shut his eyes tightly, and squeezed her hand so hard she thought it might break. She talked him through takeoff – the wind shear that caused a bit of turbulence as they rose through the clouds; the plane banking to make a turn south; the sound of the landing gear being raised. Finally, when the plane leveled off at 30,000 feet, Ron opened his eyes and looked out the window. He was amazed at how high they were! Now Ron was flipping around the channels on the little movie screen on the back of the seat in front of him while simultaneously thumbing through the complimentary Muggle catalogs the airline provided. Every now and then, Ron would laugh and point at some electronic gadget and mutter "muggles" in a very Arthur Weasley tone. Hermione smiled and put her head on Ron's shoulder.

The flight was extremely long… the longest Hermione had ever taken. By hour twelve, Hermione was very glad she had spent the extra money for the upgraded seats that reclined a little more and provided a bit more leg room. She and Ron both fell asleep for a few hours after they had watched nearly all the movies the plane had to offer. But after 18 hours in the air, they were both getting anxious to get on the ground.

After a full 21 hours in the air, Hermione felt the plane begin to descend. Ron looked pale and nervous again, but his eagerness to get on the ground made the descent far less traumatic then the take off. When the plane finally set down with a gentle bump, Hermione felt an excited knot twist in the pit of her stomach. She was here! Finally! The plane had touched down in Sydney which is where Ron and Hermione were going to start their search. The thought of being even a little closer to her parents made Hermione feel giddy with excitement!

First, however, they needed rest and a chance to clean up. They traveled by cab from the airport to a small, clean, economy motel a few miles away. There, Hermione checked them into a room and the pair trudged up the stairs, craving a shower and some 'alone' time.

Hermione let Ron have the shower first as she wanted to take a bath to relax her tight muscles after the long journey. While Ron was in the shower, Hermione unpacked her negligee and hid it inside the pajama bottoms she would normally wear to bed. When Hermione entered the bathroom, she placed the items on the back of the toilet seat as if she were planning on putting them on after her bath. Ron would never guess what she had in store.

While Hermione soaked in the tub after Ron's shower, she watched as he shaved his stubble at the sink and thought how odd it was that they were so comfortable with each other already. She wondered if it was because of the magnitude of what they felt for each other, or simply because they spent so many days and nights together on the road. After all, this wasn't the first time she had seen Ron shave or brush his teeth, and he had certainly heard (if not seen) her take a bath in the small tent bathroom. Still, they had always respected each other's privacy… never intruding on those intimate moments of personal hygiene. Now, however, there was something romantic in being a part of those moments.

Hermione watched, captivated, as Ron carefully drew his razor over the skin of his face and neck, and tapped his razor on the edge of the sink every few minutes in a rhythmic beat. Once he was done, he pulled out his toothbrush and cleaned his teeth. Hermione couldn't help but smile at the familiar smell of his peppermint toothpaste.

Ron was just finishing up when he caught Hermione looking at him in the reflection of the mirror, a small smile on her face.

"What?" He asked jovially, returning her smile.

Hermione shook her head.

"I just… like this." She replied.

"This? Being here?" He asked.

"Being here with you – without Deatheaters lurking around every corner. I like not having to be afraid. I like that we are going to fall asleep in eachother's arms tonight and wake up in eachother's arms in the morning without anyone barging in on us. I like that it's just us for the first time."

Ron smiled and knelt down by the tub. He looked tired – Hermione could see the bags under his eyes, but she could also see the familiar peace in his expression that had been missing for well over a year. The tension lines were gone from his brow, and his smile lines had reappeared around his mouth. She didn't realize how much she missed them.

"I love you." She said, gazing into Ron's sapphire eyes.

"I love you, too." Ron replied. He leaned over the side of the tub and kissed Hermione softly on the lips, the tip of her nose, and her forehead.

Hermione smiled at him.

"Why don't you go lie down for a bit? I won't be much longer." Hermione said. Ron nodded and gave Hermione one last kiss before exiting the bathroom.

As soon as Ron left the bathroom, Hermione readied herself for her second real night with Ron. She quickly shaved her legs and, after exiting the tub, brushed her teeth. She combed out her hair, allowing it to curl of its own volition. Then, she slipped the sexy negligee over her head and the lacy panties up to her waist.

Hermione looked at herself in the mirror. She thought about putting on a bit of eyeliner or blush, but then shook her head at the silliness of the thought. This is how Ron knew her best… and this is how he would love her best.

Hermione turned toward the door, took a deep breath, and slowly turned the knob.

Ron was lying on the bed – shirtless, but wearing an old pair of sweatpants. He was propped up on his side and looking at a map of Sydney while going over the itinerary he and Hermione had formulated several days ago. To get his attention, Hermione cleared her throat softly. Ron looked up from his work.

For a moment, it looked like Ron had been hit by a stunning spell. He simply stared at Hermione – his face impossible to read. His entire body seemed completely frozen, except for his eyes which rapidly roamed Hermione's body from head to toe. Hermione could feel the color rising to her cheeks, both from anticipation and a bit of modesty, but she liked the way Ron seemed to be drinking her in with his eyes. His expression, she realized, was somewhere between adoration and incredulity.

"Do you like it?" Hermione asked quietly after several moments.

Ron didn't answer. Instead, he rose from the bed and had Hermione wrapped in his arms so fast she wondered if he'd apparated to her. His lips came to hers – fevered and urgent – and he pulled her as close to his body as he was physically able. Hermione could feel the heat of Ron's bare chest through her silky negligee and sunk into it. She threaded her fingers through Ron's hair and returned his kisses with the same fervency as he bestowed them. The world around her seemed to disappear. She suddenly wasn't thinking about why they were in Syndey or what they had left behind. In fact, she wasn't thinking about anything. Her whole existence was imbued with Ron.

Ron's lips parted from Hermione's and he took a step backward so he could look at her again.

"You look… amazing." Ron said, his eyes roving her body, an appreciative smile on his lips. Hermione smiled.

Ron didn't wait for a response before his lips were on Hermione's again. He kissed her long and passionately. He parted her lips with his tongue and deepened their kiss. She could taste his peppermint toothpaste.

Hermione moaned into Ron's mouth, her whole body aflame with desire. She could feel Ron's want as well. His hardness pressed against her pelvis and she could feel the shallow, rapid breaths he took as he kissed her. She wanted him just as badly. She held Ron tightly, her fingers threaded in his hair as their lips moved against each others.

Slowly, without breaking their kiss, Hermione pushed Ron toward the bed behind them. When they bumped into it, Ron pulled Hermione down with him and rolled them over so he was resting on top of her. Instinctively, Hermione wrapped her legs around Ron's waist, drawing a deep guttural moan from Ron's mouth. Ron's lips broke from Hermione's and began gliding down her chin, her neck, before stopping at the lace that trimmed the neckline of her nightgown. Ron looked up at Hermione and smiled. Then he hooked his finger in one of the spaghetti straps and gently pulled it down, exposing Hermione's breast. First Ron kissed the newly exposed flesh gently. Then, with a gasp from Hermione, Ron took her breast into his mouth. Hermione could feel Ron's tongue dancing around her erect nipple and she could feel the heat and wetness growing between her legs as he did so. She squeezed him tighter with her thighs and Ron let out a deep, primal groan. As he kissed and fondled her breast, he worked his hands underneath Hermione's nightgown and pulled down her sexy lace underwear.

Hermione was trembling with desire. Her body was pulsing with want so strong that it ached. As Ron continued to expose more of her flesh, she reached down and pulled down Ron's sweatpants. She could see his erect manhood in her peripheral vision and it increased her desire even more. She wanted to feel him in her, to become one with him, to be so close she couldn't tell where Ron ended and she began.

Ron suddenly backed up to a kneeling position on the bed and pulled Hermione up with him. Tenderly, he raised Hermione's arms, and with his sapphire eyes locked on hers, slipped the nightgown up and over her head.

For a moment, neither moved. They simply gazed at each other lovingly, their feelings reflected in their eyes. Then, with a deep sigh of passion, they wrapped themselves in each other's arms and pressed their lips together. Ron lowered Hermione back on the bed and she pulled herself closer to Ron, unable to contain her need for him for a moment longer.

The pain she experienced their first time was gone, as was the awkwardness. This time, Ron and Hermione's lovemaking was nothing less than wonderful. They moved together like a well oiled machine, following their instincts and desires. They caressed and fondled each other, learning what each other enjoyed – what drew the most pleasurable sigh or the loudest moan. And both being eager to please the other, they were both generous with their sensual talents.

After two hours, in which Hermione climaxed four times and Ron two, they collapsed together on the bed – covered with sweat and euphorically exhausted. Hermione rested her head on Ron's chest with most of her naked body still lying across Ron's. Ron's eyes were closed, but he gently stroked Hermione's back with the tips of his fingers while they came down from their sensual high.

"That was incredible." Ron said quietly. Hermione smiled and kissed Ron's chest. "I really love you, 'Mione."

"I love you too, Ron." Hermione replied, snuggling closer to Ron.

It wasn't long before Ron's contented breathing turned into the soft, endearing snores that Hermione loved. Hermione closed her eyes and listened to Ron's lullaby until she too fell into a peaceful slumber. Her dreams last night were the happiest she had had in a long time.