Aaaand we're done.

Unless y'all want more. I could spin out an epilogue, if enough people request it. :)

4.

"You know, some people like to get some sleep around here!" Calcifer groused. Sophie and Howl had tumbled into the parlor moments before, and had barely avoided crashing into the dining table in their exhilaration. It was a miracle they hadn't woken Markl – Calcifer, on the other hand, had not been so lucky.

As he lectured them, Sophie kept her hand clamped desperately over her mouth, though every few seconds a muffled squeal escaped her. This giggling was really getting out of hand – how embarrassing. It didn't help that, every time she shook with suppressed mirth, Howl's arm gripped her more tightly against him. His iron abdomen muscles pressed against her side made her cheeks glow pink in the dancing firelight, and she missed most of what Calcifer was ranting about due to the distraction of Howl's lips pressing against her hair every few seconds. After a moment, Howl shifted with boredom.
"Goodnight, Calcifer…" He grabbed Sophie's hand and began leading the way to her bedroom.

"Sorry for waking you…" Sophie choked sheepishly to Calcifer as she let Howl pull her along.

"Goodnight!" Calcifer snapped saucily before settling back into the fire pit. Neither of the two saw him smile indulgently as he watched them disappear down the hall, hands intertwined. "About time…" he murmured before dozing off again.

Howl's sure footsteps and her own unsteady breaths were all Sophie heard as he led her through pitch-blackness to the door of her room. Her hand in his burned with a wonderful warmth that reached all the way down to her toes. Howl stopped so suddenly in front of her door that Sophie actually ran into him. She cried out in surprise as she tripped over his heel, but Howl swiftly caught her and set her upright in front of him before she ran head-first into the wall.
"Are you alright?" he asked innocently.

After a second of shock Sophie burst into laughter. She covered her mouth to keep the worst of the noise down, but couldn't help herself as she guffawed hysterically. A low sound hummed in her ears, and she realized that Howl was laughing with her. The incredulity of their circumstances was unbelievable, and combined with the relief of Howl having finally confessed his feelings for her, Sophie now found it impossible to keep her joy in. She hoped Howl didn't think her mad as she leaned against the doorframe for support, gasping.

"I'm quite alright." She finally whispered, loudly. "Sorry." She added, with a grin that she wasn't sure he could see in the dark.

"It's my pleasure." His low voice filled the air with tangible electricity.

Sophie was sure her heart stuttered. Cautiously, she reached out into the blackness, searching. Her hand encountered his silky raven hair that just above his shoulders. She fingered it absently, the darkness giving her more confidence than she'd ever have in daylight. Her hand travelled across the strands before reaching his smooth jaw, which she traced lovingly with her fingertips. Her fingers then drew a line from his jaw down his neck, and finally came to rest on his broad chest, over his heart. She could feel his shallow breathing where her hand lay, and she grinned at the affect her touch had on him. It was intoxicating, this feeling of being desired.

She was about to say as much when Howl groaned softly. His lips found hers as he simultaneously gripped her right hand where it lay against his chest and led the other one up to tangle itself in his hair. Once Sophie had complied, he dropped his arm to her waist and pressed her against him. Sophie opened her mouth willingly to his as her fingers wove through his soft locks and her palm drummed with each frenzied beat of his heart. She had no sensation of turning, but before she knew it her back was shoved against the wall and her hand fisted in his hair as their tongues battled heatedly and teeth faintly scraped against one another.

A new burn, almost painful in its agonizing sweetness, suddenly throbbed in Sophie's belly. She pulled away from Howl in shock, her head spinning from the lack of oxygen. Howl seemed to read her thoughts, and pulled her slightly away from the wall while allowing for more space between them. But he caught her hand as it slid down from his hair and, determinedly, met her lips once more. This kiss was gentle and sweet, and was over quickly; a goodnight kiss. Sophie's knees stopped supporting her – as if they'd been doing a good job to begin with – and she let him support her weight fully with his arms as he pulled away.

"Well, I should…probably be…going to bed." She stammered. When she didn't move from his arms, she continued. "Um…I may need help to…"

"Oh." She could hear the comprehension in Howl's voice before he matter-of-factly swept her up into his arms.

"I didn't know I was such a good kisser." He said almost to himself. "Making Sophie go weak in the knees, not just anyone can do that."

"Don't get cocky." Sophie griped as he set her down in front of the bed. "I still think you're lying to me." She teased, "I can't honestly be the first person you've ever kissed. It takes practice to be that good." The dim light from her bedroom window illuminated Howl's face as he smirked mischievously. "Wow, I would have kissed you a long time ago if I'd known you would respond this well."

Sophie's heart stuck in her throat and she hugged him, leaning her head on his chest.

"I almost forgot to say it – I love you too, you know. I've had the biggest crush on you ever since I first met you – and now it's turned into love. There's no way to turn it back, that I know of."

Howl hugged her back. "Thank you." His lips touched her neck, and she pulled back to look at him. He smiled, unabashed, and bowed courteously. "Goodnight, Miss."

Sophie curtseyed. "Sir." Her head was swimming, but it wasn't completely unpleasant.

There was a faint whoosh of air, and then Howl was gone and Sophie's door shut. A second later she heard his bedroom door upstairs creak closed. She undressed to her shift and, not bothering with a formal nightgown, crawled beneath the covers. Before dropping off to sleep she lay staring at the stars, trembling with excitement for her new love and new life to come.

It had been the most wonderful first date of her life.

The End (?)

Comment if you want an epilogue!