It hurts when you're gone (Ron Weasley Fanfic)

Chapter 44- I need you (3 years later)

**3 YEARS LATER**

I pulled open the closet, inspecting the small pile of neat, laundered clothes.

'Neville, your wardrobe is woefully incomplete..you are so shopping with me today. Anne told me about quite a few streets- where we can get really good Muggle attire, you know.'

Neville had come to stay at my place- it'd been weeks since we'd properly met; both of us perusing our choice of subjects. I'd missed him terribly, just writing letters would never make up for it. We both had separate rooms in my house. Neville looked at me, a little defensive. 'I hardly shop anyway, it's the stuff my gran or Uncle Algie picks up..'

'Which is exactly why I'm saying you need new clothes! I'm bored of you-'

He gasped in disbelief and stared at me.

'You didn't let me continue!!' I said mockingly. 'I meant the same old boring you! I want a new Neville, a more dashing looking guy who'll sweep me off his feet' I snapped my fingers, 'like that!'

'Like this?' he asked, coming towards me and lifting me up by the waist, twirling me around in his arms. My untied hair swirled around our faces. I laughed and told him to put me down, which he immediately did. 'You swept me off my feet the very first time, you crazy boy!' He lunged at me, but I ran off to my room, yelling at the same time for him to get ready.

Breakfast was always a happy affair. Mum was ever so pleased with Neville, as she'd tell me- 'I've never seen a more perfect gentleman, ever.' I'd often joke saying that she was more besotted with Neville than I was. Dad loved the way he'd always make a point, yet so very silently- arguments just didn't run in his blood. 'Mum, dad, I'm taking him shopping today, okay?'

We left soon, after dad waved us off with a 'Call me if you need anything!'

----

Neville panted behind me, groaning at the mountain of clothes I had in my arms. 'Try them all.'

'Each one?' he asked, bemused. I nodded silently, gesturing towards the trial rooms. He gave me a look of weariness, but I just waved it off. I sat down on the bench, handing him clothes every few minutes. It seemed like everything I'd picked out was rejected by me, or by him. 'Nah..I give up' he said, slumping against the wall, after his sixth shirt.

I pulled out a plain black linen shirt, its collar and sleeves stiffly new. 'Trust me Neville, just this last one, okay?' I loved how he listened to me, and stepped in again. When he opened the door again, I almost quite fainted. Neville looked at me, tapping his feet, waiting for my opinion. 'Err..umm..' I had been temporarily rid of my speech then; I could not help but admire how the shirt made him look even more taller, showing up those taut upper arm muscles he had, and how it looked drop-dead sexy on him. 'What?' he asked me impatiently. But when he looked at me, my eyes roving on him; he immediately understood. 'Aaahh..what is this sound I hear? 'Tis be the mandrakes yelling when they're pulled from the ground-'

'What?' I looked up finally, when he started talking something silly.

'I know it's the first time you're appreciating me, Y/N, hence the mandrakes yelling in their full glory' he said. 'They already destroyed my eardrums, Neville' I said, shutting him up. 'I need to see you like this, I need to be with you like this. I will never forget this, how you look, how you feel today; I will never forget this day.' I clutched the collar of his linen shirt with desperate fingers as I poured my heart to him.

'I love you, I can't say it enough, I just love you.'

Neville just pulled me to himself, planting a kiss on my hair. 'I love you so much more Y/N.'