Poking her head into the steamy loo, Susan smirked at her still undressed boyfriend. He'd been rather sullen between dinner with Percy on Friday and the loss to the Harpies on Saturday, and she was hoping a night of Ron's favorite things - greasy food, flying, and sex - would bring him out of his mood. "Hey stud, almost ready? The Leaky waits for no man."

Ron gave Susan a half grin and turned back to the mirror, smoothing down his hair. "I'll be ready in a moment, just need to get dressed." He was pretty bummed out about the loss to the Harpies the day before, sore too after the training he made himself do after. He sighed, hoping he could forget about the past week in the next couple hours. He went out into the bedroom and dressed quickly, his stomach rumblings reminding him how hungry he was.

Susan stepped up behind him, slipping her arms around Ron's waist and giving his stomach a light pat. Some days she wondered if she was living with an actual bottomless pit. She'd arranged for Hannah to send over some blueberry pie for the end of their meal, and Tom knew to expect them. Their brooms were shrunken and tucked in her coat. Everything was set. "What horribly unhealthy thing are you going to order tonight? It's amazing you're so fit the way you eat. Lucky me."

"I don't know yet, I'm not too sure what I want. Probably crisps of some sort and a french dip sandwich. And I exercise so much for just that reason." He turned around and gave her a light peck on the lips. "I'm ready. You?"

"All set." She took his hand and grinned. A few moments later they were just outside The Leaky Cauldron, Ron's arms going around her automatically as she got over her vertigo. Resting her head against him for a long moment, she breathed in the fresh, clean scent of Ron's soap and sighed. "You smell good. Maybe I'll just eat you."

Ron leaned down and nipped her on the neck just as his stomach grumbled again. "Hmmm. Maybe we can do that later? Seems like my stomach won't be happy with that." He grinned as they walked inside and sat down, picking up their menus. "So, thanks again for your sacrifice, eating this food. What do you think you'll order? Anything you like on there?" He nodded towards her menu.

"It's no sacrifice. I like Tom's cooking. There's always something mysterious, especially in the soups. There's not much I won't eat, actually. I just don't let you see me when I'm putting food away. Not many men find that an attractive quality." Susan scanned the menu. "I think I'm going to have the steak and kidney pie. How about you?"

"Oh, come on, I'd rather you eat than keep you from the foods you enjoy. I don't think I could ever do that." He looked down at the menu and nodded. "I think I will have that french dip." He put his menu down just as the waitress came to take their orders.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ron stretched, letting out a sigh of content. "That hit the spot."

"It was pretty good," she agreed, rubbing a hand over her stomach and groaning happily. Hannah's pie had been terrific as usual, but perhaps just a bit much after the big meal she'd ordered. "I'm not sure the next part of my plan's going to work now. The brooms won't be able to lift us off the ground."

Ron's eyebrows rose. "Brooms? We're going flying?" Ron's face broke into a grin. "This could possibly be the best birthday ever." He rose and helped Susan from her chair, pulling her into a hug. He took in the scent of her hair and reveled in it for a moment before pulling back. "Are we going anywhere special?"

"Yes, yes we are," Susan replied evasively as she hugged him back. She'd decided to take Ron to the white cliffs of Dover. Fred had taken her there nearly a year before to help her work off her anger over Michael, but the beautiful cliffs overlooking the sea would be a great place to fly as the sun dipped into the horizon. "And you'll find out where when we get there."

Linking their arms, she Apparated them to the edge of the land so that Ron's first glimpse was of the water far below.

"Merlin"

Ron looked around himself in wonder. Susan, it had seemed, had found the most amazing place. "Where are we?" He looked over the cliff and watched the waves crash along the rocks below. "This is amazing."

A bright smile spread across Susan's face at Ron's reaction. She'd hoped he'd be pleased. Ron needed his spirits lifted and this was just the right place for that. "We're in Dover, on the white cliffs. Fred showed me this place last year and it was the first place I thought of when I decided we should go flying tonight." Pulling the brooms from her coat, Susan resized them and handed Ron his larger one.

"Well, it's great," Ron said smiling, taking his back up broom from her. He never shrunk his regular broom even though he knew nothing would happen to it, he was still wary of it. He loved that Susan knew that. Giving her a large grin he said, "So, are we flying separate or together?"

"Whichever way you like, birthday boy. You get anything you want today," Susan replied, the last bit said with a little extra flirtation. She enjoyed flying, and loved the happiness that permeated Ron's entire being when he flew just for the pleasure of it, but she looked forward to the events to come later in the evening, too.

"Well, I think I prefer riding with you. I enjoy the noises you make." He grinned, "Plus I get to show you all the tricks I haven't gotten around to showing you before." He settled himself on his broom and helped Susan on in front of him. Leaning into her he asked excitedly, "Are you ready?"

Giggling softly, Susan nodded, gripping the broom handle tightly as Ron kicked off the ground. He edged the front of the broom downward sharply, and she let out a squeal. She trusted him completely when they flew. Knowing Ron would never risk her safety made the ride exhilarating rather than scary. They leveled out just shy of the water and Susan reached out to skim her fingers along the surf.

Ron laughed at her squeal. He loved that she never seem scared with him, her trust in him was so apparent. He lifted the broom up high so it soared above the cliffs. Looking down, it was one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen. "This place really is amazing, thank you for bringing me here." He flew lower and guided them along the cliff's wall.

Looking around at the scenery, she couldn't help but agree. It made her happy that Ron really seemed to like it. "You're welcome. I'm glad I got to share it with you. Now how about you show me some of those tricks you talked about?"

Ron grin got even wider. "Sure thing."

Summary: Ron and Susan celebrate his birthday with food and flight.