"You sure do spend a lot of time here.."

She smiled a little but didn't look up, preferring instead to keep gazing out to sea. She'd been a dreamer as long as he'd known her, but that trait had become more pronounced since she had come back from her holiday. Thinking about being somewhere else...with someone else. And he knew perfectly well who that someone was. She hadn't spoken of him since returning to work, which led him to think that La Fllaga hadn't told her he'd been there. He could understand why,

but it still bothered him...like he'd been dismissed. He'd said he'd respect her choice, but wanted to try one more time to influence that choice. Deep down he knew it was a case of being too used to getting anything he wanted, but... "Why'd you choose him?"

"Hmm?"

"La Fllaga. Why him? I know he's the one you've been seeing, the one you ran off from the restaurant to go back to." Murrue frowned, clearly troubled by that knowledge, and looked down at her hands. She didn't answer him, which he'd expected, but he pushed on regardless, wanting to hear some kind of answer. "You could have had anything you wanted."

"I know, and thank you for that," she replied softly. "But I love him."

"I love you," he murmured, hating himself for the sadness that flickered across her features. "Doesn't that count for anything?"

"It counts for a lot. I'm sorry for hurting you, but things are the way they are." She turned to leave, but he caught her wrist and spun her back toward him. She scowled, amber eyes flashing in anger. "Let me go!"

"When you tell me why you chose him over me. He has no job, no family - he just sits out there in that hut day after day and stares out to sea. What the hell's so special about that?"

"It isn't about what he does or has...it's about what he is. You and he are quite similar on the surface - that might be why he caught my attention in the first place - but deep down you're very different. You've lived with all this money for so long you wouldn't know what to do without it. That isn't for me.." She sighed, shaking her head. "I'm not the person you're looking for. You need someone who was born for a life like that...not a farm girl." At his surprised expression she smiled sadly, placing a hand on his arm for a second before walking away.

"Farm girl?"

"She never wanted you to know," Simmons remarked later, spinning a pen around her hand. "Not because she was ashamed of it - rather the opposite in fact. She looks and acts as though she was born for the city, and unless you know the truth you'd never guess. That's why she's always avoided getting too close to you."

"Was she worried about what I'd think? If she isn't ashamed.."

"It would always be in the back of your mind though, wouldn't it?" the redheaded woman asked. "And if your father found out you'd chosen a farm girl...well, do you really think either of you would be happy?" Andrew blinked, thinking this through, then sighed, shaking his head with a rueful smile. He'd known she was smart, but her foresight startled him - she'd known that early on that the two of them wouldn't suit each other? Simmons nodded with a smile. "She's always been a smart cookie.."

The apartment was quiet, the silence only broken by the ticking of the clock on the mantel and the steady purr of her pet cat. Leaning back a little on the sofa she flicked through a blue leather binder, smiling at the memories contained within the pages. Photographs, some dating back to when she was a child, the images grown faded and discoloured now. Her standing in the yard in front of her parents' house, holding the orphaned duckling she'd been given to take care of. Her mother stood close behind her, warm brown eyes and chestnut hair like her own clear to see. She'd always wished she'd grow up to look like her mother when she grew up... The next set of pictures had been taken when she'd started school in the city, herself at fourteen standing with Erica, the redheaded girl grinning and making a peace sign to the camera. I was lucky to have met her. Without her I wouldn't have made it through school. She helped me get my confidence back... The two of them appeared in more pictures, older each time until the last photograph, which had been taken at Christmas last year. Andrew was also in the picture, wide grin to tanned face, and she smiled a little. She knew her decision and words had hurt him, but they would always have hurt one of them. Andrew had tried so hard to win her over, and for a while she'd enjoyed his attention...even though she'd known deep down that it could never work out. But then she'd met him.

"And he didn't really try.." she murmured out loud, causing Samantha to look up with a sleepy mew. She giggled, catching hold of the seashell pendant. "Well, he did give me this, and the hairpin.." He'd stolen it while she was trying to fix her hair, decorating the tiny object with feathers discarded by a hummingbird before clipping it back in her hair. Like Andrew, he could give her anything she wanted...but he chose to give her objects from the natural world, from the environment in which he lived, and somehow, that meant more. "I don't have a photograph of him, but that doesn't matter. All I have to do is close my eyes and I can see his face.." She was in no doubt that the choice she'd made had been the right one, but what she hadn't expected was how much she'd changed because of him. Before she'd met him she'd become used to life in the city, of the buildings, traffic and crush of people, but now... Now it stifles me. Like I can't breathe. Standing at the window today...all I wanted was to be out there in the fresh air. It's his fault. He makes me feel like I did when I was a little girl. Mom says that they could never keep me indoors back then... With a sigh, Murrue leaned back a little further, thinking of home.


The old house was warm. Stepping forward she placed a tiny hand on the wall, feeling the roughness of the stone beneath her fingers. Mama had said that this house had been here for two hundred years, and she wondered how many other gils like her had touched this wall to feel the sun. Looking up she smiled, seeing the ivy growing up the wals to her bedroom window, which was open to let the yellow curtains billow in the breeze. Mama had given her a little knapsack, knowing where she'd likely be spending her time today, packing some sandwiches, cookies and a bottle of soda in alongside the dolls. "Remember when to come home, okay?"

The little girl nodded. She wasn't able to tell the time yet, but she knew that when the sun touched the chimney of the house she had to go back. Waving she ran off, sandalled feet tapping on the path until she reached the gate at the end, which she climbed over to reach her destination. Daddy's cornfield was a special place, where she could run for hours and never reach the end, and no-one could find her. Laughing, she ran through the tall golden stalks, spinning around and around under the perfect blue sky. For a seven-year-old girl, this was paradise, somewhere she could play forever and ever. She'd told Mama she wanted to stay here for always, even when she was grown-up. Her auntie and uncle had told her about the big city near the sea, but it didn't sound like that much fun to her. Not when all this was on her doorstep.

This was home, and it always would be.


For a moment, she didn't know where she was. Blinking back sleep, she gazed around the little apartment. Everything was as she'd left it, from the half-empty coffee cup on the table, to the photo album, to the now sleeping cat curled up on her lap. Managing a smile, she reached up to rub her eyes, and noticed with some surprise that her fingers came away coated in tears. How long had it been since she'd dreamed of home? Or cried when she had? She missed the farm and her parents, sure enough, and didn't visit as often as she'd like to, but homesickness was something she hadn't felt since she'd been a teenager. So why now? Was it because she'd met him? He reminded her of the simpler life she'd left behind, and how she'd never really stopped missing it. And there was really only one way to get this out of her system. "I want to go home.." And since he'd done so much to reawaken that wish, when she did go home, she would take him with her. "Do you think he'd like that?" Samantha, for her part, didn't answer, not even when Murrue ruffled her fur gently. He loves the outside so much - he says it's the peace and quiet. But where he lives, it isn't completely quiet. There's the sea, and the sound of the traffic in the distance. Back home there are just the birds. He'd love it... Hugging herself she giggled, imagining his delighted smile. "I bet Mom and Dad will like him.."

A few weeks later she stood with him on the platform of the city's main railway station, two small bags at their feet. She'd ended up buying him some clothes, since he didn't seem to own a decent shirt nor a pair of shoes. He'd hated the shopping trip, and hadn't much liked coming into the city to catch the train. But here, right now, all that seemed to have been forgotten. Mwu was looking all around him, at the platforms, other trains, people and timetables, with a huge boyish smile on his face. "Haven't you ever been anywhere like this?"

"No," he admitted quite cheerfully. "Not since Dad died, and he wasn't the kind of guy who'd have used the train. How far is it to your mom's house?"

"Not sure. Fifty, sixty miles or so? But the journey shouldn't take that long. It's been a while since I've been back, but I called Mom and told her. She'll be waiting for us."

"She knows I'm going?"

The young woman grinned. "Oh, she knows. I call her every week and tell her how things are going. I told her about you, about how we'd met - she's looking forward to meeting you." He flushed a light pink, embarrassed but happy, and grinned sheepishly when she kissed him on the cheek. He'd been just as happy as she'd expected when she'd invited him on this journey, wrapping her up in a hug that had almost cracked her ribs. He admitted to being more than a little nervous about meeting her parents, though she'd assured him they'd love him. They might ask him a few questions, but nothing too bad. Hearing the train she smiled and took her boyfriend's arm. She'd never taken anyone back home before - proof of how special he had become to her. As they climbed aboard the train he took a last look around him, taking in everything, before tugging her to a window seat so he could see everything that passed. Like a little boy on his first train ride, wanting to see everything. I wonder how long it's been since he even went out of the city?


It was beautiful. The sun shone down from a perfect blue sky, bathing the countryside in warmth, but what struck him most was how quiet it was. No traffic - the road they walked down was deserted - there was just the wind and the birds. Even his companion was silent, though her pale face was alight with happiness. He squeezed her hand gently, smiling when she returned the pressure but not his gaze. If it was the first time she'd been home in a while, she'd want to take everything in, each new piece of scenery bringing back memories. He wouldn't spoil that for her. Instead he contented himself with looking all around, at how different it all was to home. By the side of the road grew flowers of all colours, white, blue, red and yellow...he'd seen similar ones back home, but never in this number. Stooping he picked a red one and tucked it behind her ear, followed by a kiss to the tip of her nose. Murrue blushed faintly but smiled, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him lightly.

"Why'd you move away from somewhere like this?"

She shrugged. "Following the dreams, I guess. All my friends planned to move to the city once they graduated - they were always talking about it, so when I won the scholarship I figured I'd see what all the fuss was about.."

"And?"

"It wasn't so bad. There were days when I just wanted to pack up and go home, but I stuck it out. I never liked it as much as here, but I found a good job...and met some good people.." She pinked again as he grinned, and pointed to the crest of the hill they'd been walking up. "You'll like this.."

And she was right. Over the hill the landscape spread out in a stunning display, the multicoloured fields like a patchwork quilt. In the middle of this nestled a warm stone house, surrounded by other buildings and even a pond. He could only stare, having never seen anything like this before. It was so beautiful. "Why didn't you tell me you lived in paradise?"

She giggled. "When I was little it seemed that way to me too.." She led him toward the house, stopping to pet a cat sunning itself on a wall. "I'm glad nothing's changed. All of this looks exactly as it did the day I left.." Her steps sped up a little, she clearly eager to greet her parents, but he hung back. Not that he didn't want to meet her mom and dad, but... What if they don't like me? What if they think I'm not right for her? I'm not exactly the kind of guy they'd have imagined for her... Murrue noticed his reluctance, and turned back with a gentle smile. "It's all right. Don't worry.."

"But.."

"They'll like you. And even if by some chance they don't, I do." Squeezing his hand again, she brought it to her lips to kiss the fingers before walking into the house's kitchen. It was cool and pleasant, smelling of bread and flowers. There was a basket of cut roses on the table as well as a half-eaten apple, but no-one was in sight at first. His girlfriend shook her head in fond exasperation, picking up one of the flowers to breathe in it's scent. And despite his worry, Mwu chuckled softly. She looked complete here, more at home than anywhere he'd ever seen her...even in his own house. One day she will be though. That's a promise to myself... He glanced up as a door opened, seeing a woman walk through holding a basket of clothes. And he blinked. It was as though he was looking at an older Murrue. Dark auburn hair, golden-brown eyes - only the faint lines at the corners of lips and eyes betrayed a difference. Coughing slightly he looked away, hearing Murrue's laughter. The older woman beamed delightedly, setting down the clothes and enfolding the younger in a hug which was happily returned.

"Welcome home, sweetheart.."

He watched this reunion with a smile, keeping quiet so as not to spoil the moment. The two were talking nineteen to the dozen, catching up on everything that had happened, so carefully he sidled away intending to stand in the garden...but he was spotted. Her mother grinned and beckoned him over, looking him up and down. "So you're the one, are you? The one Murrue talked about in her letters and phone calls... I'll make us all some tea, and you can tell me about yourself.."

"He's a nice young man." Running hot water over the cake plate, Lily Ramius peeked out of the window to see young Mwu sitting out in the garden. The ducks from the pond seemed quite interested in him, some of them waddling up to see if he had any bread, which made him smile. "Very handsome." Her daughter blushed but said nothing, preferring instead to keep drying the cups they had used. It was clear from this reaction and the way she'd acted around the young man that she loved him very much. And I'm glad of it. I always hoped she'd find someone - there was that other young man she sometimes spoke of, but it never seemed as though she was too interested in him. Peter checked them both... "He's worth quite a lot of money, isn't he? I know you better than to think that was the reason, but if he has all that, why does he live in the house you told me about?"

Murrue smiled a little. "He saw what money did to his family - he didn't have a happy time growing up. He still has it, but from what I can tell what he needs for the life he leads barely scrapes what he has.."

"Any presents?"

She reached up to clasp the seashell pendant she wore. "He made them for me. He says that there are things in nature more beautiful than anything money could buy..." Lily beamed. She had little doubt that the young man would make sure her daughter wanted for nothing, but it seemed he also had his feet firmly on the ground. If this relationship lasted, the two of them would be very happy.

"Your dad will like him."

"You think so?"

"Oh yes. I think he's expecting Mwu to be rather arrogant - he says money can ruin people. But he's almost the opposite. Yes, your dad will like him. He might grill him a bit, but he'll like him."

And he did. Young Mwu sat in the armchair as though it were burning hot, fidgeting and shuffling as questions were fired at him. Peter was wearing his best 'stern' expression, brows knitted together as he stared at his daughter's boyfriend. Murrue herself was torn between amusement and sympathy, burying her face in a glass of lemonade while snatching peeks up at the goings-on. Lily was able to tell that her husband actually very much approved of the young man...he was just having a bit of fun. He'd always threatened to interrogate any man brought home - it would have to be someone very special to pass muster with him. And it seemed as though Mwu did.


"That was tough.."

She giggled at his despondent tone, moving close to wrap her arms around his waist and look out onto the night. Since her old room was too small for two, her mother had suggested they stay up in the hayloft for the duration of their visit so they could stay together, and also have some privacy. The loft was airy and sweet-smelling, facing out over the fields...she'd stayed up here for hours as a child. Mwu seemed captivated by the view, staring out at the silver-hued world, which seemed to calm him after the busy day. She knew her parents very much liked him, and had told him so. "You musn't worry.."

"Did he have to grill me like that?"

"He was only making sure you were all right. I saw his smile when he was talking to Mom later.." Kissing him on the cheek she settled her chin on his shoulder. "He likes you."

He smiled a little, seemingly reassured, and the two sat in contented silence for a while watching the night. She was about to pull him back to settle in the blankets when a few scuffles sounded below them. He blinked, looking around for the source of the sound, and she patted his arm. "Mouse."

"Oh." A few moments later there was a quiet rustling, a squeak...and an unearthly screech that made him almost jump out of his skin. "What the-"

Murrue giggled again, knowing it was unfair but unable to help herself. To her the sound was familiar, but never heard back in the city. "It's an owl. Look." The unseen creature had landed silently on the roof opposite, wide black eyes peering out of a heart-shaped white face, the unfortunate mouse held tightly in a sharp beak. The bird then ruffled light brown feathers before taking off. "They've always hunted around here.." He nodded, though she could feel that his heart was still racing. "Were you scared?"

"No!"

"Yes, you were."

"I was not!" He lunged for her and she tried to dodge, but there was nowhere to run to...and no way to escape when he began to tickle her. Laughing helplessly she did her best to wriggle free, finally managing to scramble away to hide in a corner of the darkened loft, trying her hardest not to laugh. He was laughing himself, clearly enjoying this game. "I'm going to find you." In truth, she half-wanted him to, feeling a small bubble of excitement in her stomach at what would likely happen when he did. Keeping very still she watched him search, footsteps creaking on the wood as he got closer and closer...until he spotted her. "Still going to run?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

"On what you have planned." Mwu grinned - then pounced, scooping her up in his arms to carry her back over to the blankets. And she just smiled, reaching up to trace his features in the half-darkness. "Punishment?"

"The worst kind," he replied, before catching her lips in a kiss.


( :shrugs: iunno lol

please read and review! )