When Mr Mole Met Miss Mouse

(A/N)-Please excuse the fact that the title and the chapter titles are last minute thoughts, and not very good ones. Everyone's got their brain farts. :-P
-Chapter 2 - Getting to Know You-

"Wow …" Mouse said in awe as she walked across the underground home that was Mole's. It had a real homey look to it. The walls were of dirt, supported by wood beams that were painted white. It was a small room with a bed, table, and kitchen all snug together, but Mouse loved it. It reminded her of her old home, the first home she'd owned after leaving her parents.

She walked over to a pretend window he had constructed, and along the top of the curtains read a line 'Nothing is as dreadful as it seems'. She frowned at that. Her life was pretty downright dreadful at the moment. But she thought it over quickly, and since she had come to find her old friends again, she figured it wasn't as dreadful as it seems. She was sure to get a house of her own again, as soon as Toad showed up.

"This house is amazing," she breathed as Mole went to turn on an oil lamp.

"It's not that great," he admitted, "But it is my home." He said, with a hint of pride in his voice, "My friends fixed it up for me."

"This is the same home that was knocked in?" she asked incredulously. He nodded, and she whistled, looking at the ceiling, "I'd've never guessed. My home has no chance of surviving. My first one was destroyed just as badly. There was no ceiling in both of them once the weasels brought their horrid machines."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Mole commented. She glanced over, rolling her eyes, "Nah, it wasn't so bad for me. I'm more concerned about friends and loved ones getting hurt, if I'd lived with anyone. Objects and homes can be replaced with money, but not friends." she admitted.

"I've never thought of it that way," Mole admitted, "All my life my home's meant everything to me …"

"I suppose each of us has something we hold dear to our hearts," she observed, ticking off on her hands as she sat down on the couch, "Ratty's got the river, Toad's got his daily ever-changing obsessions …" she thought a moment, "Badger … I suppose he loves his books and his home … never really understood Badger." She admitted with a shrug.

"And what about you?" he asked, seating himself on the opposite end of the couch.

"Me … well …" her voice squeaked a bit, and she cleared her throat, "I guess I've never really thought about it …" she looked down at her fingers as she spoke, "I guess the only thing … person I held dear to me was Toad …" she said with a look of disgust, "And that didn't turn out well. I'm over him now …" she said, biting her lip, "I suppose I haven't got anything."

"What about relatives?"

She laughed humorlessly, "We've long since grown apart- never did like them anyway …" she admitted, "I believe I did have a crush on Ratty, once," she recalled, "Big mistake really. All he could talk about is picnics," she said with a smile, "He's a good man and all, but I prefer gardening and stuff. We have different tastes. And he's more like a big brother to me, to be quite honest."

"I suppose you can call gardening as something you hold dear to you." Mole suggested.

"Yes, but where does gardening leave you in the fall and winter months?" she asked with a sigh, "I do paint, but it's with little or no talent and I only do it to scrape up a few pence a year." She shrugged, "What do you do for a living? I mean, if you don't mind my asking." She added.

"Well … I simply … mine. I find jewels and precious stones every so often and I sell them off at the pawn shop in the nearby town," he explained, "It's not much, but it gets me by."

She nodded, "I envy the simple life. It's what I used to live …" she drifted off.

There was a pause of silence again, and Mole spoke up, "I've got to meet up with Ratty and Badger …"

"Picnic, I suppose?" she asked knowingly.

"Y-yes," he said with a nod, "Would you … like to join us?" he asked, a hint of hopefulness in his voice.

She shook her head sadly, getting to her feet, "I'm afraid I can't. I've got to seek out a new place to live. I'm sure when Toady shows up he won't have a scrap of land to give me, so I might as well find out what's on the market." She began to button her jacket, continuing, "I can't thank you enough for this, Mr. Mole. I'll surely repay you for it, one way or another."

"Oh, no, it's not necessary, ma'am," Mole assured, "A-Anything for a friend of a friend." He said with a smile.

She smiled kindly, "I seriously cannot thank you enough, nonetheless," she winded up hugging him again, briefly, causing him to blush again, and she pulled away, "I shall be back before nightfall if possible." She said as she left.

--

But Miss Mouse didn't come back to Mole's before nightfall, but a few hours after the sun went down. Ratty was there with Mole, awaiting her arrival, as Mole began to feel concerned about her safety. There had been reports from the rabbits that weasels were sighted in the area.

Mouse burst in through the door, nearly tripping as she came in. She saw Ratty and Mole sitting down at the table, and she smiled nervously, "Hello. Sorry I'm late. Lost my way just outside the wild wood,"

"Mousey, I do hope you'll be more careful," Ratty warned, approaching her, "It's not safe in these parts at night."

"You don't think I didn't realize that?" Mouse asked incredulously, as she took off her coat and hung it on the coat rack, "Nearly scared the dickens outta meself walking around at night."

He placed his hands on her shoulders, "Mousey, there are still weasels out there …"

"I know, I know," she said, angrily, shrugging his hands off, and apologized when Ratty expressed a hurt look, "I'm sorry- it won't happen again. I just lost my way right before the sun set. I was the stupid one to explore new parts alone," she added, sighing.

Mole had walked up to them at this point, "Ratty, are you going to be alright walking home?" he asked.

"What? Oh yes, don't worry about me," he assured, straightening out his whiskers.

"Oh, so you can walk alone at night, but I can't?" she asked, folding her arms.

"You've had trouble with the weasels before, missy," Ratty reminded, "I don't want you getting hurt."

"I can handle them myself,"

Ratty sighed, "Just promise me you won't pull a stunt like that again."

"A stunt?" she squeaked, "You've got to be--"

"Miss Mouse …" he warned seriously.

She sighed, "Alright," she agreed, and muttered as she walked over to the table, "You sound just like my mother." And she suddenly turned her heel before Ratty went to leave, "Any news of Toad?"

Ratty shook his head sadly, "I'm afraid not, my dear."

Mouse rolled her eyes, and let out an unhappy sigh.

"Take care, you two," Ratty called before leaving.

"Good night, Ratty," Moley answered. He looked over to Mouse, who was sitting at the table, head in her hands. He shuffled over shyly, "There's tea in the pot if you'd like …" he offered.

"No thank you," she replied quietly, her eyes blank and looking straight across the table at the empty chair in front of her. She took a deep breath and relaxed.

Moley seated himself in the empty seat in front of her, peering at her concernedly. She looked up at him calmly.

"Are you quite alright, Miss Mouse?" he asked.

She looked down at the table, slowly shaking her head. She sat up in her seat, getting her elbows off the table, "I can sleep on the sofa," she said.

"You're my guest; I'm sure I can reside on the sofa whilst you're here …"

"Mr. Mole …" she addressed, looking seriously at him, "Please, I appreciate what you're trying to do for me, but I'll be fine." She ended quickly, and left into the living room and drifted off to sleep on the couch.

(A/N)- Review please!