"Steady...wait till you've got your bearings. Right, let's go. Not too fast though.." She nodded, biting her lip, and stepped forward carefully. The pain at first was agonizing, and she couldn't help but wince, though looking away to make sure he didn't notice. Or at least, that was the intention. He sighed and stopped, making sure she was steady. "Okay? And I mean really okay?"
She nodded again with a smile, taking a deep breath before moving forward again. It did hurt, probably due to her not having used her legs for a good four weeks, but to her satisfaction the pain grew less and less the further she walked. She still wobbled slightly, not quite stable, but he was always there, giving her that reassuring smile. Just to the bench, he had said, then he'd bring tea out for them before they went any further. He says there's no rush...that it'll take as long as it takes. And there's not only me working on this... Looking down she smiled. "You all right down there?"
Stellar looked up with a huge smile, showing her few baby teeth. "Yep!" She was walking alongside her, tiny hands curled around her skirt just as Murrue was holding onto her husband's hands. They were both the same right now, baby steps until they were stronger, but with practice.. With practice, there'll be no stopping us...
"I feel as though I could run.."
"Well don't," he chuckled. "You're enough to cope with as you are now. Wait till you've got the hang of walking before you try anything adventurous." Continuing to walk backwards, he guided her, and in turn their daughter, over to the bench in the rose garden so they could sit down. "Wait right here," he announced breezily. "Tea and cookies, and juice," he tweaked Stellar's nose, "coming right up." With that he vanished, leaving the two to smile after him. Murrue giggled, lifting her little girl onto her lap.
"Daddy's enjoying this a bit too much, I think. He likes fussing over us.." Stellar nodded, a serious expression on her face.
"Daddy silly."
"I quite agree."
He whistled softly to himself as he worked, pouring the hot water into two mugs and letting the tea infuse while he added cookies to a plate. Outside he could hear Murrue telling Stellar a story, she pointing to the roses while the toddler sat on her lap, and for a moment he just watched them both. It's going to be tough on the munchkin when we have to go back to work. Not for a moment do I begrudge Murrue being able to walk, but I wish she didn't have to work too... "Then again, I know what she'd say to that. It's enough that she's going to leave work at work.." Adding milk to the cups and making some juice for the little one he went back outside. "Okay ladies, drinks are up."
"Cookies!" Stellar snagged one of the chocolate-chip treats immediately, scattering crumbs everywhere as she ate happily. Once it was gone she looked up hopefully for more.
"Sorry princess, but it'll be lunchtime soon. You can have another cookie later. Okay - hey!" While he'd been talking Murrue had managed to eat all but one of the remaining cookies, popping the last bite into her mouth just as he turned round. "I spent ages making those.."
"And they're really good," she replied sweetly, leaning back against him with a contented sigh. "Oh don't sulk. I left you one."
"But only one. There were five on that plate." She just poked her tongue out and brushed the crumbs from her skirt before glancing down and wiggling her toes. And before he could stop her she stood up, wobbling slightly. He made as though to ask if she needed help, but her frown said it all. Lips pursed in concentration, eyes narrowed, she looked so cute he just leaned back with a smile, hefting Stellar onto his knee to watch. He did want to help her, but knew she wanted to try for herself, so he let her be (munching the last cookie). Slowly, carefully, Murrue took a step forward, then another, and another, her face lighting up in a smile as she became more surefooted the further she went.
"I can do it!"
He chuckled. "You sure can. Just take it steady, okay? When you've gotten stronger we'll go visit the kid. He'll be pleased to see you up and about again.."
"Look!"
Setting down her rolling pin, Lacus peeked out of the kitchen window, beaming happily when she saw who was approaching. "I'll set tea going.." Kira nodded and bounded off the porch and across the beach to greet his friends. Murrue-san was walking very slowly, holding onto Mwu-san's arm for support, but she was smiling, and waved when she caught sight of him, as did Stellar riding on Mwu-san's shoulders. Mwu-san himself was grinning broadly, looking more content and at ease than Kira had ever seen him. Maybe...staying home and taking care of Murrue-san and Stellar-chan suits him. He was saying just a couple of months ago how he wished he could spend more time with his family... Not that Murrue-san's accident had been a good thing, but...
"How are you feeling?"
"Much better," she replied cheerily, and Kira blinked. She was...different, somehow. Not so much that she wasn't the same person, but her nature seemed lighter, happier. Like the weight's gone from her shoulders... He glanced up at Mwu-san, who nodded, expression a little more serious.
"Is she okay?"
"Oh, she's fine. She's recovered faster than the docs expected, actually.."
"I didn't mean that."
Mwu-san sighed. "I know. I could see you'd noticed it. She hasn't remembered everything yet..." He didn't need to explain what memories were missing...it was obvious. Jachin Due...
"You haven't mentioned it to her?"
The older man shook his head. "I don't know how to. And... I don't want to. As far as she knows we've always been like this, always been happy - I don't want her to know I abandoned her.."
"You didn't abandon her, Mwu-san. What happened wasn't your fault. She'd understand that." Kira smiled at his friend's concern. It was easy to see why he didn't want Murrue-san to remember. She was sitting a little way down the beach balancing a storybook and Stellar-chan on her lap as she read to the orphans. Her face was alight with a happy smile, dark eyes shining...no wonder Mwu-san wanted her to remain the way she was. But... "Is it really fair on her to keep it from her? I bet you Murrue-san already knows there's something missing."
"Probably so. But.."
"Are you afraid of hurting Murrue-san, or of being hurt yourself?" The older man flinched slightly. I thought so. Murrue-san was really lonely without him, but she was able to cope with those sad memories pretty well. Mwu-san on the other hand...he's afraid of those memories. Afraid of remembering the time and his actions with the Alliance. If Murrue-san remembers... "If Murrue-san remembers, she'll have questions."
"I know.."
"Maybe you should tell her."
Mwu-san frowned. "And if she dreams about it?"
"Then you'll be there for her, won't you?"
It's easy for the kid to say that - he's not the one who'll have to live with those memories. I don't doubt that they're more painful for me than they were for Murrue...she told me that the first few weeks were pretty hard going, but that everyone helped her. What do I do?
"What's wrong?" He glanced up at the soft voice and smiled despite his concern. She was standing behind him with a bottle and two glasses - how she'd become that good at walking in such a short space of time was anyone's guess - and she moved around to sit beside him on the bench.
"Did you get some sneaky practice in or something?"
"Maybe." She grinned at his dubious expression and poured herself a glass of the wine.
"Princess asleep?"
"Mmm-hmm." Obviously noticing his solemn demeanour she sighed, shuffling closer to rest her head on his shoulder. "Talk to me. What's the matter?"
He wound an arm around her shoulders, accepting the wine she offered him. "Is there anything still missing? Memory-wise, I mean?"
She frowned. She remembered her childhood and her academy days, being on the Archangel and meeting him. The time she'd spent with him was clear - after that was less so. The first thing she remembered after that was finding him after a battle and hugging him tightly, crying into his chest. But things were different then. When I was with him before he didn't have a scar, and his hair was shorter. But when I found him after that battle he looks as he does now... Glancing up at her husband she brushed the long hair from his face, taking it in her hands so it appeared shorter. He seemed to understand and sighed, ruffling her own hair.
"I thought so. Maybe you repressed it or something.."
"How much am I missing?"
"Couple of years, I think."
That long? How could I be missing that much? What kind of memories are these? "Repressed? Why would I? Are these...sad memories?"
"Some of them are, yes," he replied softly, sadness creeping into his voice. "We weren't always together like this.." Bringing her closer he began to tell her the story. Just as she'd thought, it was sad, almost unbearably so. He'd risked his life to save her and the ship, and she'd lived for a whole two years believing him to be dead. And when she finally did find him again, he'd had no memory of her. Is that why I haven't remembered this? Because deep down I knew how unhappy those memories would be? She glanced up when he gently brushed away the tears from her cheeks...she hadn't even realised she was crying.
"I'm sorry.."
"Don't be." He lifted her onto his lap and held her close. "I didn't want to tell you, but the kid said it wouldn't be fair keeping it from you. Specially if you knew something was missing. I just wish the memories weren't so sad."
"It explains why you looked like you might cry when I didn't remember you.."
Mwu laughed a little. "It felt like karma. Like I was finally being punished for what I'd done. What would hurt me most...would be losing the most important person in my life, or having her forget who I was. Can't help but think I deserved it.."
"You didn't." With a kiss to his nose she shifted to a more comfortable position in his arms. "Whatever you did, I'd forgive you for it. Well, within reason anyway.."
"I expected things to happen differently," he admitted. "That you losing your memories would mean I'd have to start all over again...I don't know what I'd have done if that had happened.."
Murrue smiled. "It was strange at first...finding out I was so close to someone but didn't even know their name. But it was nice knowing I wasn't alone. I knew there was a chance you might not have been who you said you were, but..."
"I could have made you fall for me again."
She laughed. "Yes, I'm sure you could have." It might have been fun to find out...
The light was so bright it was blinding, heading toward the ship faster than she could think, yet at the same time, agonisingly slow. Pressing herself back into the chair she stared in blind terror - then in surprise and shock as the light was blocked by something. No, not something. Someone... The thing she'd been most afraid of. There, holding back the deadly wave with it's shield, was Strike. And a moment later it's pilot's voice sounded over the comm, as breezy and nonchalant as ever.
"Didn't I tell you I could make the impossible possible?" As he spoke the mobile suit grew brighter as the light began to engulf it...before it vanished in a brief and oddly beautiful ball of flame. She stared still for a moment, the brilliance still leaving spots in her eyes. He was all right, wasn't he? Surely he must be...he was too good a pilot, too lucky, to let something like that stop him. Right? But as the moments passed she began to understand the truth, tears beginning to form and float away in the zero gravity. Shaking her head she closed her eyes, hands to her face as though trying to block out what she'd just seen, the pain overwhelming.
"Mwu!!"
Eyes wide, throat raw from screaming she sat bolt upright, glancing around wildly. The room was peaceful, quiet save for the ticking of a clock - a far cry from the turmoil within. Hugging the bedcovers tightly she cried into them, shoulders shaking with her sobs.
"I thought this might happen.." The sleepy voice sounded just by her ear and she jumped, glancing up at the one who'd spoken. He smiled gently and brushed some of the tears away. "It's all right, sweetheart. It was only a dream.."
Without a word she hugged him, her tears quickly soaking his T-shirt, but he just held her close and stroked her hair to calm her down. Memories rushed through her mind, of grief and loneliness, happiness and friendship. She had lost him, but not been alone. There was always that emptiness inside, that loneliness without him, but I had my friends. They made sure I wasn't alone... "I had my friends.."
"You did. The kid and the others took good care of you for me. I practically had to sign in blood before the kid would let me marry you.." She giggled. "It's true!"
"No, I believe you.." She settled herself closer with a content sigh, closing her eyes and letting the sound of his heartbeat calm her. "Is it okay if we talk for a bit? I...don't feel like sleeping just now.."
"No problem, sweetheart.."
She smiled a little. He's here. He came back. The dream was just a dream, of something that happened four years ago. It's alright now...
"You won't go anywhere again, will you?"
He answered with a kiss.
( random weirdness lol
please read and review! )
