"Mmm-oock-h" Much faltered, slowly underlining the word with his finger. He smiled up at Eve, who was seated on the edge of the table, his eyes seeking her approval.

Eve giggled, "Not quite, my love, not quite. Remember that these letters together make a 'ch' sound?"

"Oh, right, of course. I knew that. M-ooch?"

Eve put her pointer finger up and opened her mouth to correct him, but he got there first, "No, not mooch, much. Much! My name! That's my name, Much! I just read my name, ha-ha!"

"That's right!" Eve laughed again, joining in Much's celebration, then she took the paper and wrote another word: E-V-E.

"Well, that one's easy! Ee-v-ee, but that's not a word, it is?" He frowned in his confusion and looked up at her for any sort of clue.

Eve smiled playfully at him, "Sometimes, the 'e' on the end of a word is simply ignored."

"Well why is that? That doesn't make any sense! Why put it there if it's just going to be ignored? It does nothing to help the word. Oh, I'll never understand the written language." Much threw up his hands in despair and let them plunk back down onto the table.

Suddenly his eyes widened, "Oh! That says Eve! That's your name! I didn't meant to–, oh, the 'e' on the end of your name looks lovely!"

Eve laughed as she slid off the table to take her seat beside him again, "It's quite alright, I took no offense.

Much turned to look at her beside him, "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." She scooted her chair closer to him and slid her arm under his, finding and grasping his hand with her own, "I know you would never do or say anything to hurt me."

She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed peacefully. The day he came back for her had been the happiest day of her life. She knew he meant it when he had told her that he would return, but time had gone by and she had begun to wonder if he'd forgotten about her.

Much kissed her head, and tilted his head to rest against hers, "I love you, y'know."

He always said it so matter-of-factly. She nestled into him, fully content, and replied, "Yes, I know."