I don't own you don't sue

Author's note: I just recently watched Howl's Moving Castle and the characters fascinated me. Since there were so many fics about contests between Justin and Howl I decided that 100 themes would be fun and that way I wouldn't get too serious with the characters and mess something up. These were written all over the place though they are all numbered properly. Please excuse some of my confusion with how the characters act, some of the early ones I was still working things out.

Theme 1

Teddy bear

Sophie had known from the beginning that Howl still held on to some of the things that related to his childish heart, what she hadn't expected was that it would be cute.

The toys that used to line the floor and corners of Howl's room had been put into storage after he had gotten his heart back. Both agreed that they meant something and that it would be the perfect thing to give to the children that the couple wished to have. Sophie had let Howl move everything, they were his, but when she went to bed the night after everything had been cleaned out she was surprised to see a bed mate already tucked in.

Nestled between Howl and Sophie's pillows was a well-worn teddy bear. It looked out into the cleaned room with its non-committal smile, almost begging not to be taken out like the others of it's kind. Sophie removed the plush toy and looked at it appraisingly. It showed the obvious signs of a child's love, the ears showed signs of being rubbed too much, and the once bright blue bow had faded with time and age. Patches of fur lay flat showing where it had been held too long and too often.

"You need a patch job my friend." Mumbled Sophie bringing the toy to her face and inhaling the scent of Howl's old potions still lingering on the fur. Then Sophie got a brilliant idea; she smiled misgeviously and quickly shoved the poor bear into her needle basket.

Howl entered the room a moment later. He looked from the bed to Sophie who played innocent. Howl let his shoulders fall realising that keeping such a childish thing when he was going to be sleeping with someone was stupid. Sophie had probably thought it was forgotten and put it away like all the other toys. The only reason he had kept it was because it was one of the first toys he had received as a child. Howl squared his shoulders and went to Sophie. "Does the room look better now love?"

Sophie smiled, nodded her head and kissed Howl.

That night while Howl slept soundly Sophie sat up and with the help of a magical light Howl had made for her for her late night reading she went about her task.

When Howl woke that morning he found Sophie's side of the bed empty of her warm body, instead sitting on her pillow was his teddy. A new bright blue bow was tied snugly around its neck; the old patches of worn fur were replaced by fur a shade darker, as though someone were trying to match the original hue. The ears were replaced with newer and fluffier ones, ones that begged to be rubbed. A note was nestled between the front paws; Howl sat up and removed the small folded note.

Dear Howl,

I found our little friend here last night and thought that he needed a little attention. I'm sorry I wasn't able to find the same shade of fur but I tried to match it as best I could. And I made a spot for him on the dresser, that way he'll have a place of honour.

Love,

Sophie.

Howl smiled softly at the letter and jumping out of bed drabbed hold of the teddy and tenderly rubbing the new ears put it on the dresser, this time nestled between Sophie's jewellery box and his top hat. And there it stayed, spending the rest of its days watching the world around it change.