Author's Note - See chapter one for disclaimers, warnings, ratings, etc.

Chapter Five

Over the next two weeks, Ron and Draco spent a lot of time together. Ron started letting Draco get closer. They held hands in the dark of the movie theater. They sat close on Ron's couch. They stood next to each other in the sun on the pier while they fished. They had kissed again, many times, but Draco was always gentle, while Ron was starting to open himself up.

Ron had another Thursday night off and they made plans to go out for dinner. While Draco had fallen almost from the beginning, Ron was starting to fall in love. He had a feeling that maybe this night, he would let things go further. Ron wasn't sure if he would let himself go, but he was willing to see how it went.

*****

Ron picked Draco up at his apartment. When Draco opened the door, Ron greeted him with a quick kiss. Draco looked surprised, but then gained his composure and kissed him back. Draco was ready to go, so he locked his door and grabbed Ron's hand. They walked down the steps to Ron's car and headed to Martini's, which had now become their place.

As they ate, they laughed and talked and told each other of their day. This had become habit. Draco would tell Ron about people who came into the surf shop and his trials of registering for school, while Ron would share humorous stories of the anonymous people he arrested.

More than once, Draco reached over and touched Ron's hand. He couldn't wait until he and Ron got to his apartment. Draco didn't want to push Ron, but he wanted things to go further. He wanted to kiss him forcefully. He wanted to pull him in his arms. He wanted to take him to his bed. He wanted to make love to Ron and make him understand that he deserved to be loved again.

"Draco?" Ron waved a hand in front of Draco's face.

"Huh?"

"You were a million miles away."

Draco felt himself slightly blush and said, "Sorry. I was just thinking."

"About what?" Ron looked at him, confused.

"You."

Ron started to turn pink, and looked away.

Draco reached over and laid his hand on Ron's, placing his thumb in the curl between Ron's index finger and thumb.

"Let's...go back to your...place." Ron stammered.

Draco wanted to shout with glee, but he just smiled slightly and said, "Yeah."

They paid their bill, and drove to Draco's apartment. As Ron was driving, his heart was beating madly and his groin was getting heated and hard. He could barely concentrate on driving. He wanted to be with Draco, naked in his bed. He wasn't frightened. He was in love with Draco and he decided he wanted to show him.

Ron parked the car and sat there for a moment. He turned to Draco, whose face was lit from the streetlamp. He reached forward, placing a hand on Draco's thigh and kissed him. Draco wrapped his arms around Ron and pressed his upper body against him. He kissed him open-mouthed, darting his tongue into Ron's mouth. Ron was warm, and Draco ran his hands up and down his back. The windshield became fogged over with the heat generated in the front seat.

"Let's go upstairs..." said Draco, huskily.

Ron pulled away, grabbed his keys out of the ignition, and jumped out of the car. Draco jumped out of his side and raced around to where Ron was. Draco rushed into Ron's arms, not caring who saw. He kissed him again, before grasping Ron's hand, pulling him from behind as he dashed up to his apartment.

They reached the door and Ron pushed Draco up against it and trailed kisses down his neck. Draco moaned out, "Let me get the door."

Ron moved off and let Draco unlock the door. Draco opened it and pulled Ron inside. He pushed Ron against the door and kissed him all over his cheeks and ears, down to his jaw line, dropping down to his neck. Draco placed little kisses on his throat, as his hands roamed over Ron's back, and then moved to his chest. He reached down to the hem of Ron's t-shirt and gently tugged.

Ron inhaled sharply. Draco stopped and pulled his face away. "Are you okay, Ron? I mean, is it okay?"

"Yes, please...Draco...I want you..." whispered Ron.

Draco leaned into Ron again and continued kissing him. He pulled Ron's t-shirt up, running his hand over his chest, touching his nipples. He pulled away for a moment to pull Ron's t-shirt over his head. Ron moaned as Draco placed his warm lips over his nipples.

Draco kissed down Ron's chest to the waistband of his jeans. Ron wrapped his hands around the back of Draco's neck.

"Oh, Draco," moaned Ron.

"Mmmmmmm..." Draco lifted his head and looked at Ron. He pulled away once more to pull off his own shirt. Then looking at Ron again, he grasped his hand and led him into his bedroom.

The bedroom was dark, except for the sliver from another streetlamp shining through. As they took off their shoes and helped each other out of their jeans, they kept touching and kissing.

Draco moved Ron to the bed and they sat on the edge, continuing to run their hands over each other's bodies. Draco leaned Ron down and placed more kisses over his body.

Ron kept his eyes open, looking at his hands gripping the blond hair. His skin was hot and his nerves were sensitive to the touch. He allowed Draco take control and let him do want ever he wanted.

He moved his hands to Draco's upper arms and gripped tightly. Ron felt Draco touching places that no one had touched in nearly a year, and he cried out. He wanted to feel good again. He wanted to feel again.

He caught his breath, as he felt the beauty of the love Draco had for him. He sucked in his breath, as he felt himself soar. He became lightheaded, as he felt the rhythm of the two bodies move. He cried out again, as Draco pushed him to a place that he had forgotten was possible. He was feeling again. He was loving again.

Draco lay on top of him, sweaty and panting. Ron wrapped his arms around him and breathed in Draco's scent. Sea salt, sand, ocean, even Italian food, and Ron himself.

"I love you."

Draco lifted his head and pressed his lips against Ron's cheek. "I love you, too."

Draco rolled off Ron and lie next to him, curling himself up into the crook of Ron's neck. Ron kept his arms wrapped around Draco. He lifted a hand and stroked Draco's hair. Ron smiled to himself. He couldn't believe he had let himself go and wasn't regretting it. He was happy, lying there with Draco in his arms.

*****

The sliver of streetlamp had turned into morning sun and it shone in Draco's eyes. He lifted his fist and rubbed sleep from his eyes. He tried to move his other hand, but couldn't. He shifted and turned his head. Draco saw Ron lying up against him. His arm was pinned under Ron's shoulders. Instead of trying to move it, he rolled over and laid his head on Ron's chest.

He brushed kisses on Ron's chest, trying to wake him slowly. Ron muttered incoherently, as Draco moved up his chest to his neck, then to his ear.

“Wake up,” whispered Draco.

Ron mumbled again and brought his hand up to his ear, like he was shooing a fly away.

“Wake up,” repeated Draco.

Ron muttered, “Let me sleep...”

“No.” Draco pulled himself up on top of Ron and kissed him fully on the lips. Ron’s eyes popped open with shock. Draco released his lips and rolled off of him. “Want breakfast?”

Ron was awake now and turned his head to look at Draco. “Hello.”

Draco smirked and said, “Hello.”

Ron curled up towards him and sighed.

Draco asked again, “Want breakfast?”

“Yes, but do we have to get up?”

“You don’t. I’ll make it.” Draco started to pull the sheet off him and slid towards the edge of the bed.

Ron put out his hands to stop him. “No, don’t leave.”

Draco turned back to him and reached down to kiss him. “I’ll only be a little while, but don’t go back to sleep.” Draco slid out from the sheet and walked naked, unashamed, out the bedroom door.

Ron watched him go. He lie there, staring up at the off-white ceiling. He had no regrets about the night before. He was glad that he had let himself be with Draco. His heart burst with happiness that he found love again. Most days, he hadn’t believed it was possible. He would never forget Harry, he knew, but he was overjoyed at his love for Draco.

Draco came back in a little while later, with a plate of toast and jam and a glass of orange juice. He placed the glass on the nightstand. He handed the plate to Ron, who sat up in bed and laid it on his lap. “Where’s yours?” inquired Ron.

“There isn’t much in the kitchen. I thought I had eggs, but I don’t. Can I share?”

“Mmmmm...yes,” murmured Ron.

Draco crawled beneath the sheet and curled a leg over Ron’s. He picked up a piece of toast from the plate and lifted it up to Ron’s lips. Ron looked at Draco and blinked slowly, before he took a bite. Ron reached down and kissed him softly, while still chewing. He lifted his head away from Draco and took the toast from his hand. He pushed it towards Draco’s lips. He purred at Ron, before taking a bite. As he slowly chewed, he poked out his tongue and ran it across his lips for excess jam. He swallowed hard and licked his lips again. Ron gulped and ran his tongue across his own lips, as an act of desire for those pouting, pink lips on Draco’s face.

Draco took the plate and let it fall to the floor, as he pounced on Ron and began unmercifully kissing him.

Ron groaned, “Yes, Draco.”

Draco continued to move his lips all over Ron’s body, seemingly everywhere at once, though Ron knew that wasn’t possible. Ron felt Draco’s warm hands caress him, running over his skin, making him tingle with delight. In the morning light coming through the window, they made love again.

In the warmth and tenderness afterwards, Ron touched Draco on the cheek. "Thank you."

Draco looked surprised. "Well, you're welcome, but for what? I mean I should thank you as well.”

Ron kissed him and stammered, "Because, I...just...I...I'm happy." Ron kissed him again.

Draco wrapped his arms tighter around Ron. They lie like that for a long while, before Draco said, "Ron, I have to go to work today."

"Oh, that's too bad."

"Yeah. I don't want to."

"Well, I work tonight. Our hours are all opposite." said Ron, dejectedly.

Then Ron said in a rush, "Want to spend the night at my house Friday night, then we can go fishing in the morning?"

Draco leaned into him, kissing again, whispering, "Yes" into his ear.

Draco pulled away and got out of bed. Ron started to pull the sheet off of him and sat on the edge of the bed. Draco pulled open a dresser drawer and rummaged through before finding the pair of boxers he wanted to wear. He heard the rustling of sheets behind him and turned around.

Ron sat there looking into the opposite wall with his arms folded across his chest. Draco saw he was shivering slightly. Draco dropped the boxers on the bed and walked around to him. He sat down next to him, placing his arm around Ron's waist. "You okay, Ron?"

"Yes." Ron turned towards him and barely smiled.

"You can stay here. You don't have to leave."

"No, I should go home."

"Then wait...until I leave..." Draco kissed him on the cheek.

Ron lowered his hand to Draco's around his waist. With his other hand, Ron reached up and touched Draco's bottom lip. He pulled his fingers away and reached to him, kissing him softly. Draco moved a hand to stroke Ron's hair and kissed him back.

Draco slowly lifted himself up and away from Ron, not wanting to, but knowing he had to or he would never make it to work. They slowly got dressed, occasionally glancing at each other, unhappy at having to spend the day separated.

Finally, when it was time to go, Draco stopped Ron before he walked out ahead of him and kissed him again, this time hard and passionate. Ron draped his arms over Draco's shoulders, moaning with pleasure.

Draco pulled away, putting his head under Ron's chin and started kissing his collarbone. Ron whispered, "Draco, you have to go to work."

"I know," sighed Draco.

He unwrapped his arms from Ron and opened the door. Draco walked him to his car and brushed his hand against Ron's. "So, I'll come over to your house Friday night?" said Draco.

"Yes. I'll make dinner again." He got in his car and rolled down the window, so he could say, "Bye, Draco."

"Bye." Then Draco whispered, "Love you."

Ron mouthed back, "Love you, too."

*****

While Ron was driving, he'd had time to think. By the time he got home, he was in a bit of a state. He knew that he deserved to be happy and there was nothing wrong with what he did or wanted the night before. The other side of him didn't want to look at Harry's picture on his nightstand and think about what he did with Draco.

He walked into the bedroom, and not being able to help himself, looked at the picture. Why had he asked Draco to spend the night on Friday night? What was he going to do with Harry's picture? He couldn't put it in the drawer. He couldn't do that to Harry. He couldn't have sex with Draco with that picture staring at him. He couldn't have sex with Draco in the bed that he and Harry had shared for four years. He was in an irrational panic.

He left the bedroom and grabbed the telephone in the living room. He dialed the number he knew by heart. It rang four times before someone with a sleepy voice answered, “Hello?”

"Hermione?"

"Yeah. Ron?"

"Did I wake you?" Ron hadn't even thought that she might be asleep, but he was panicky and didn't really care.

"Yeah, the baby was up all night. It's okay. What's up?" She was sounding more awake.

"Sorry, but I...I...I don't know. I just..."

"Spit it out, Ron." She yawned. "Sorry."

"I spent the night at Draco's last night."

"What?" Hermione practically screamed. "You had sex?"

Ron felt a pain in his heart. "Yes."

"All right! Good for you!" Hermione was very much awake.

"Hermione! But...then I invited him to spend the night here on Friday."

"That's great!"

Ron was exasperated. "Hermione! You don't get it. I haven't...done anything...with anyone, since Harry."

Her voice softened. "I know, Ron, but really, it's okay. Are you regretting it?"

"Well, no...I mean I enjoyed myself and I...I..." Ron couldn't quite bring himself to say out loud that he loved Draco.

"You...what?"

Ron swallowed and said, "I love him. I love Draco, but I'm just...I mean, letting someone else in my apartment...in my bed...other than Harry..."

"Ron, it's taken a long time for you to get this far and just because you will always love Harry, doesn't mean you can't love someone else. You know this," said Hermione, firmly.

Ron sighed, "I know, I know...I just...I still miss him so much."

"Ron, you always will."

Ron closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. "I know."

"You'll be okay, Ron."

"Yeah. Can I call you later?"

"Of course. Are you going to be alright?" Hermione sounded concerned.

"Yeah. I'll be okay. I'll see you tonight at work."

"Okay, we'll talk more."

"Thanks, Hermione."

"It's okay. See you later."

"Bye." Ron hung up the phone. He walked back in the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. He pulled the picture off the nightstand and stared at Harry's face. After a while, he placed it back on the nightstand, but placed it at an angle away from the bed.