Title - Getting Away 23/24

Author - Lena

Pairing - Harry/Ron, Harry/various OC's (slash and het), Ron/OC (slash)

Rating - this chapter - PG

Feedback - [email protected]

For warnings, disclaimers, etc. please see chapter 0/24 - msg#11257

Chapter Twenty-Three - Leaving

Harry looked around at the clothes strewn across the room. He placed his hands on his hips, wondering how he was going to stuff all his clothes, souvenirs and presents for everyone, into his suitcase. Ron wasn't packing, really, just moving things into stacks, because he just needed to move his things to Ryan's house. Harry said, "I'm never going to be able fit all this in there!"

Ron laughed, "Harry, do you want to have my suitcase?"

Harry said, "What will you use?"

Ron said, "My stuff is only going twenty minutes away and when we visit in November, I'll get another one."

Harry said relieved, "Thanks!" Harry had given him the rest of the money, save a few dollars to get home on. It probably wasn’t going to last Ron another month, but at least he wouldn’t have to go to Ryan for everything.

Ron said, "Hey, here's Ryan's phone number. I want you to call me from the Grangers when you get back to town, okay?"

Harry took the piece of paper Ron handed him. He looked at the string of numbers. He said, "Okay. What if you're not home?"

"Call me late my time, I'll be home."

Harry thought it was interesting the way Ron said that. No more late night parties, he guessed, for Ron. He noted too, the way Ron had said, 'I'll be home'. Ron was home, not particularly Miami, but Ryan. Ryan was home, and the Burrow wasn‘t anymore.

Harry continued packing and now that he had an extra suitcase, it was easier. Ron, looking at all his stacks, said, "Maybe I need some bags at least. I mean, how am I going to get this all down to the lobby to Frank's car?"

Harry looked at the piles of stuff and said, "Dunno."

Ron put his hands on his hips and thought for a moment, then went to the closet and got the plastic laundry bag that had been laying there for dirty clothes. He had done laundry the other night at Ryan's house, so his stuff was clean, unlike Harry who just had enough clothing to wear, so it wasn't gross.

Ron put some of his things in the bag and said, "Maybe I can get another one of those."

Harry said, "Probably." Harry walked over to the phone and pushed the button for housekeeping. It rang a couple of times, and then someone answered. Harry asked the voice on the other end, if they could have a couple of plastic laundry bags. They said that they would bring them up right away.

Harry told Ron as much and he nodded happily. "That'll help things!"

A little while later, there was a knock on the door and Harry opened it. It wasn't housekeeping; it was Frank and Laura. Harry was surprised and said, "Hi!"

Frank said, "Hey! I know we're a little early but thought you guys might need help!"

Ron looked around the room and said, "Boy, do we!" He eyed Laura waiting for Harry to introduce them. Frank finally picked up on it.

"Hey, Ron, this is my cousin, Laura. Laura, this is Harry's best friend, Ron."

Harry looked up from the pair of boxers he was trying to hide under a pile of clothes and said, "Oh, sorry."

Ron said, "Nice to meet ya, Laura."

Laura smiled sweetly and said, "You, too, Ron!" Ron turned towards Harry away from Frank and Laura, so they couldn't see his face and raised an eyebrow at Harry. Harry turned away from Ron before he did anything embarrassing.

Frank plopped himself on a chair and said, "So, Ron, you gonna go live with Robinson?"

Laura turned on him and said, "Oh, my God, Frank. How rude!"

Frank looked at her like he had no clue what he had said wrong.

Ron laughed and said, "It's okay, Laura. Yeah, I'm gonna go live with Ryan, at least until the baseball season is over, then I'll go home for a while and see what happens."

Frank shook his head up and down. "Cool! Hey, Laura's going to think I'm being rude again..." He glanced at her, as she was glaring at him. "...But, could you get me an autograph or a bat or something. That would be so cool and I promise not to sell it on Ebay or anything."

Laura said, "Frank!"

Frank said, "Oh shut up, Laura! If Ron doesn't want to, he'll just say. Right, Ron?"

Ron smiled. "Yeah, if I don't want to I'd say, but I'll ask him. I don't think he'd mind." Neither Harry nor Ron asked what Ebay was because Frank acted like they should know.

There was another knock on the door and Harry was glad he had something to do, rather than hiding his underwear from Laura, so he went to open it. It was housekeeping with the plastic bags. Harry handed them to Ron, who cheered, "Yeah!"

Ron began stuffing his clothes into the bags. Frank looked at him and said, "Nice packing."

Ron said, "Well, I let Harry borrow my suitcase, 'cause what's the point of taking a suitcase twenty minutes away."

Frank said, "Well, that's true. Come on you guys, get packed, Laura and I are taking you out to lunch!" Harry and Ron, who had just eaten a big breakfast, not long before, didn't say that they weren't hungry, because they never turned down food, ever.

Harry and Ron threw the rest of their things in their respective suitcases and plastic bags and were ready to go in a few minutes. Harry and Ron went to the front desk to check out, while the bellman, Frank, and Laura gathered their things.

Soon, all of them had piled into Frank's car and were off to a restaurant, before they went to the airport. Ron somehow had commandeered the front passenger seat, so Harry sat with Laura in the back. He hadn't said much to her, so now he asked her when she was headed back to New York and asked her to tell him about the city. In the front seat, Ron and Frank were talking about baseball. Harry was shocked that Ron had acquired such a knowledge of baseball, so quickly.

They went to a little seafood restaurant that was near the water about twenty minutes from the hotel. It was a restaurant that fished in the morning and opened at noon, with the fresh catches. Frank, Laura, Harry and Ron found a table on a wooden outdoor patio and a waiter gave them menus.

Laura said, "Wonderful view, isn't it, Harry?"

Harry said, "Yeah, it is. I've enjoyed myself here in Miami. I'm gonna miss it. Well, miss a lot of things."

Ron cleared his throat and changed the subject by saying, "Well, what is everyone going to have?"

Harry said, "Hmmmm, everything looks good. I think I might have the shrimp pasta."

The waiter came up with water and asked them if they were ready. Each ordered and the waiter left.

No one said anything. There seemed to be a foreboding feeling between Harry and Ron, as they were getting closer to having to say goodbye. Finally, Frank said, "So...are you coming back anytime soon, Harry?"

Laura piped in, "Yeah, he said he would come visit me in New York!"

Ron said, "Really?"

Harry stammered, "Uh, yeah. I mean you said New York was great, didn't you, Ron?"

Ron said, "Yeah, it is. But if you do go, are you going to stop by Miami?"

Harry said, "Of course!"

Ron snickered at him.

The waiter brought their food and they ate the delicious seafood. Harry did think it was nice; the scenery, the company and the food, but he knew he was going to miss Ron terribly and did not look forward to the goodbye scene.

The lunch went by way too fast and Frank paid for everyone. Harry and Ron thanked him, profusely. They walked back to Frank's car. They resumed their spots in the car. Frank and Ron talked up front, while Harry stared out the window, thinking.

Suddenly, Harry felt a warm feeling brush his hand that was lying next to his thigh. He glanced down and saw Laura's hand on his. He lifted his head to look at her and she was smiling at him. He smiled back. He turned his hand over and gripped her hand softly. Harry glanced up in the rearview mirror, to check where Frank's eyes were and he was talking animatedly to Ron. So, they held hands until they arrived at the airport.

Frank pulled up to a loading and unloading spot by the curb. They all got out and Frank went to get Harry's suitcases out of the trunk. Harry made sure he had his plane ticket and passport in his back pocket. Frank placed his suitcases on the sidewalk next to Harry.

All three were staring at him. He shook Frank's hand first and said, "Thanks, Frank. For everything." He wanted to thank him again for introducing him to Laura, but left it at that.

Frank, though, seemed to get the point, because he said, "Harry, you're welcome for everything!"

Harry turned to Laura and grasped her in a tight hug. He said, "I'll visit, but in the meantime, I'll write, okay?"

Laura said, "Okay, I wish we could have spent more time together, Harry."

"Me, too."

Then Harry turned to Ron. He softly said, "Ron."

Ron's face seemed to quiver a little. "Mate."

Harry grabbed and pulled him close. "Ron, I'll miss you."

Ron whispered, "I'll miss you, too. I'll come home soon. Don't forget to call me." Harry could feel Ron place his chin on the top of Harry's head.

Harry said, "I won't." Harry didn't want to say the word 'goodbye'. He just couldn't and it seemed neither could Ron. They stood there holding each other, oblivious to Frank and Laura.

Finally, in the end, Ron is the one who had the courage to say it. He pulled himself away from Harry and said, "Goodbye, mate."

Harry wanted to cry, but forced himself not too. He looked up at Ron and said in a choked voice, "Bye, mate." He could see Ron looked like he wanted to cry, too, but Harry picked up his suitcases, said nothing more, just looked at Ron one last time, before he turned and walked away.

Harry thought maybe he heard Ron call, 'love you', but he wasn't sure if he did or not, but not looking up or looking back, he called out loudly, 'love you, too' and continued walking blindly to the ticket counter.

He couldn't see very well and handed the clerk his ticket. She checked his baggage and gave him his boarding pass. He held on to his poster in its case, as he walked to his gate and sat heavily in a seat.

Harry got up quickly, grabbed his poster case and walked to the restroom. He walked in a stall and stood there. Harry pressed his hands against his eyes. He was going to miss Ron so much. He had been with Ron almost non-stop since he was eleven. He had been without a friend the first eleven years of his life and then he had been with his best mate for the next eleven. He didn't know what life would be like without Ron. He really couldn't remember what it was like to be without a friend he would spend his day-to-day life with.

Harry knew he was being a bit futile. Ron was still his best mate. They just weren't going to spend all their time together anymore. He knew it was good for Ron to be on his own, but he hated it just the same. Harry would get by. He was grown up now. He had things to look forward to. A trip someday to New York and Ron's visit in a month or two. He would finish training as an Auror, then work. He would get a place of his own and someday a family. He'd be fine and so would Ron.

Harry walked out of the stall and looked at himself in the mirror. They would be fine, wouldn't they? Harry wiped his eyes and washed his hands. He left the restroom and sat back down in the chair. He remained there until his flight was called and he could board the plane.