"You want to go to Orb? But we have an agent there.."

"It's not about being an agent.." He scuffed his toe on the ground, hands thrust deep into the pockets of his coat. "It's...personal." Embarrassed, he stared at his shoes, not noticing the amused smiles of the ones he spoke to. Knowing he'd have to explain things a little better than that, he sighed. "I made a promise to someone, and I've taken too long in keeping it. That someone is waiting for me."

"You didn't have to ask permission, you know."

"I know. But..." He shrugged. "You guys bailed me out, helped me escape - I owe you. I couldn't just disappear."

"And that's appreciated. You've done some good work here. Go keep your promise." He grinned and nodded, fairly darting out the door and sprinting down the crowded streets, weaving in and out of startled pedestrians. He'd saved up for weeks - ever since he'd gotten here almost - for a plane ticket, always intending to leave here someday. Oslo was beautiful, and he'd grown fond of it in the six or seven months he'd been here, but it wasn't home. For him, home was where she was. Even if it was a simple room like the one he rented now, if he could be with her, then he'd be happy. The thought of being with her again filled him with excitement and he laughed out loud, running so fast he almost slipped on the melting snow as he rounded the corner into the street where he was staying. He had very little in the way of possessions...a few shirts, a pair of jeans and some overalls was really all there was, and those would easily fit in a duffle bag. He could leave tonight.

"She asks if you have made your mind up," said his housemate, trying very hard to hide his smile. The moment he'd come downstairs with his packed bag his landlady had shot a scolding remark at him, hands on ample hips. Sheepishly (what was it about being grilled today?) he nodded, patting his bag. She smiled and clapped her hands, her remark sounding much more approving.

"She says that when you find your girlfriend you have to send her a picture of the two of you."

"I will, I promise." He handed her an envelope containing two months of rent money, and almost got the breath squeezed from him when she hugged him tightly. She'd sort of taken him under her wing when he'd arrived here, letting him stay for free while he found his feet and even teaching him some Norwegian to help him get by. He owed her a lot.

"Thank you."

She smiled and patted his head. "Be happy."

I will be, he promised himself, gazing out the window of the cab. We will be. He hadn't let her know he'd be coming - he wanted it to be a surprise. He understood what a risk it was. She could be anywhere, asleep, at work, but he could wait. He'd waited this long.


He took a sip of his juice and leaned back against the porch railing, watching his friend. She was strolling by herself along the beach, bare feet in the surf, gaze on something he couldn't see...but he knew where her mind and heart were. Since that week before Christmas he'd never seen her without that locket, her hand often straying to it when she was thinking about something. She was a little different these days - not so much that her personality had changed, but enough so that she daydreamed much more, her mind wandering frequently. It was driving Simmons-san up the wall. Murrue-san's concentration span's really gone downhill. Simmons-san says if Mwu-san ever does show up here she'll punch him. It's hard to begrudge Murrue-san this happiness though.. She fairly radiated it, brown eyes shining, and it was impossible to find anyone who's mood wasn't lightened by the sheer force of that sunny smile.

I just wish he'd be a little happier for her... Bartfeld-san smiled a lot around her, but it was clear he wasn't too thrilled at the prospect of Mwu-san reclaiming her heart. It was sort of understandable...he'd been there for her through everything, but.. It wouldn't be fair of him to spoil it for them. Murrue-san's been so sad without Mwu-san, and I'm sure it's been the same for him. Bartfeld-san must know that... Kira didn't want to think his friend was so selfish. Lacus said that love sometimes did that to people, but he still found it hard to believe. Looking at the way Murrue-san was...how could anyone who loved her not want her to be happy?

"You gotten any more letters?" he asked as she walked back. She smiled gently, but shook her head.

"I usually get them twice a week, so I should get one tomorrow.."

The young man grinned as an idea occured to him. "What if he delivered it in person?"

She blushed, then aimed a punch at his arm. "Don't tease me..."

"So you wouldn't like that?"

Murrue-san huffed. "He'd have some explaining to do. Like why he's taken so long getting back.."

"Hasn't he already said he wanted to keep you safe?" To his amusement his normally calm and rational friend scowled, crossing her arms in what looked very much like a sulk. It was very out of character for her, but also kinda cute. "I'm sure that as soon as he can, he'll come find you."

"I know.."

Later that day she sat on the bench in the little garden she'd made, looking out over the ocean. Erica had sent her home earlier that afternoon in exasperation, saying that there was no point her being there if she couldn't keep her mind on her work. "If that's what he does to you, then I'm sending him a letter myself. That either he gets his ass over here so you stop daydreaming, or he stops writing. One or the other."

"He is a jerk," she murmured. "He always knew how to ruin my concentration.." Some of his letters sailed rather close to the wind, describing things he'd dreamed of or wanted to do, and it played havoc with her imagination, which he no doubt knew. I'm sure he counts on it, actually. He always had this little smile on his face when he got me to stop working... Closing her eyes she smiled, remembering several occasions when he'd gotten his own way by one method or another. He knew her weaknesses too well. Although, come to think of it, she knew a few of his too... Settling back on the bench she let her mind wander again, kicking idly at the grass with bare feet. I wonder if he'd recognise me... Not that she looked different, but.. She peeked down at herself. Hair in a messy ponytail, white shirt, jeans rolled up to the knee and bare feet dirty - she looked ordinary. He was used to seeing her looking a little neater than this...and yet somehow she thought he might not mind.

Isn't that what I wanted? For him to see me as I am? For us to be who we are, not what we had to be? She looked down at herself again, and smiled. I think I look just fine...

He got home to find her gardening again. The bright sunny day had become overcast, the weather warning that a storm was on the way, yet there she was weeding. He'd thought that gardening was a fairly simple job - that you just planted flowers and away you went, but apparently it was more complicated than that. He had to admit though, it looked nice. As did she. She looked a bit of a mess, hair escaping from the clip and knees caked in soil, but he liked it anyway...it was actually an improvement on the neatness. It did give a bit of an ego boost to know few other people saw her like this, that she was comfortable enough around him to be like this. But that's all it'll ever be. I'm a friend to her, a good friend, but I'll never be more than that.

Slumping in a chair he sighed, glancing up at the photograph of Aisha on the mantel. "Are you laughing at me?" he asked quietly. "I don't blame you. I let myself hope too much, and instead of being mad at myself, I'm mad at him. I'm mad at him for taking away something that I never had..." He chuckled dryly, shaking his head. He'd thought he was too old for this - but here he was behaving like a teenager, all jealous that the girl he liked liked someone else. As an adult shouldn't he gracefully admit he'd lost this, and be happy for the two of them? It's easy to rationalise, not so easy to actually do. I am angry, I know that. I let her stay here so she wouldn't be alone, I comforted her after nightmares...but she still chose him... La Fllaga would come back, he would take her away so the two of them could build a new life together, and he'd be left alone. Hard not to be bitter about something like that...


That evening the weather broke. The rain lashed down on the metal roof of the Morgenroete complex, the harsh rattling sounding like someone was throwing handfuls of gravel around. Setting down her pen, Erica sighed and looked upwards. It was late enough, past 7PM, and this downpour was as good a reason as any to pack up for the night. Sweeping the papers into her bag she switched off her computer and the lights, scurrying past cleaners and the night shift toward the main entrance. The rain was tipping down, almost falling in sheets - she'd brought her umbrella, but it might not help much. "Great." Taking a deep breath she pushed open the door...and shrieked in alarm as she caught sight of a figure huddled in the doorway. "Wha-"

The figure raised their head to look at her from under the hood of their coat, fixing her with plaintive blue eyes, and she sighed, shaking her head. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I expected you'd say that," he replied quietly. "Is she here?"

"I sent her home hours ago." Hands on hips she stared the man out, wanting to at least clip his ear for causing her so much trouble. He managed a sheepish smile, reaching up to rub his eyes, which she noticed now were undershadowed with violet. "And you haven't slept, have you?"

"A little," he defended. "On the plane."

That can't have been much. The flight would have been probably ten or eleven hours, not to mention Orb's eight hours ahead of Scandinavia. He must be exhausted... To her own annoyance sympathy was overriding her previous anger. I can always punish him tomorrow. "Well, come on then."

"Hmm?"

"You want to see her, don't you? So come on," She pointed to her car parked mercifully close to the door. "I'll give you a lift." He looked fairly doubtful, but nodded, picking up his duffle bag and following her quietly. He looked all around himself as they walked, a little unsteady on his feet due to his fatigue, and didn't say much as she drove the short distance from the complex to the house on the cliff. Erica sneaked a look at him and grinned, noting how his head was nodding, blue eyes half-closed. He looked the same as she remembered, apart from the slightly longer hair and the scar. It stretched across his nose and a little way up his forehead, the skin around it taut and shiny. "How long were you in the hospital?"

"A year, thereabouts," he replied, fiddling with the zip of his bag. "Had to learn how to walk again.." He was clearly nervous, eyes darting everywhere as they got closer to the house, and she could understand why. He hadn't seen his girlfriend for eighteen months, and although she'd forgiven him three times over (if he didn't already know that) there was still the 'what if?'

Driving up to the house she ran out to hide under the porch, beckoning to him. Slowly he trudged toward her, waiting under a tree a short distance away...as though he'd just vanish into the night if he was rejected. If you only knew.. After a quick ring of the doorbell she came to the door, hands coated in suds from washing dinner dishes. "Erica? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just found something that belongs to you, that's all." Hiding her smile she gestured to the figure beneath the tree. Murrue frowned, stepping forward and squinting through the falling rain. To Erica's delight she was dressed exactly as you'd usually find her but in a way the one waiting had never seen. Her hair was clipped back with strands escaping, the shirt and faded jeans were grass and soil-stained, and her feet were bare. Not her perfect self, but beautiful anyway, and judging by La Fllaga's reaction, he thought so too. After a moment Murrue started in shock, amber eyes wide, one hand to her chest. Then she smiled, threw the dishtowel she'd been holding to the floor and raced out into the rain. The force of her hug slammed him back into the tree, and all he could manage was a 'whuff' of exhaled breath. And Erica grinned. Her friend's expression was one of sheer delight, tears falling from beneath closed eyelids and mixing with the rain. And La Fllaga...he was holding her with a smile of sleepy jubilation, leaning close and resting his cheek against soaked brown hair.

"I'm home," he murmured. "Sorry I took so long.."

She shook her head, gazing up at him with a smile that took his breath away. "That doesn't matter.." He felt gentle fingers brushing his cheek and smiled himself, leaning into the caress. Her touch moved to the scar over his nose and he closed his eyes, wondering what she'd think of the change.

"Am I different?"

"You're you." she replied softly, and kissed him. He chuckled into the kiss, reaching up to unclip and tangle fingers in her hair as she wound her arms around his neck. His heart was racing...he hadn't even realised how nervous he'd been. If she'd rejected him, what would he have had left? I spent the last year and a half thinking of her...losing her would be losing everything.. But she was here, in his arms...he really was home now.

"You look tired," she remarked quietly when they broke, tracing the shadows under his eyes. Before he could say anything in return she took his hand and led him toward the house, helping him shed boots and his coat before pulling him into the lighted hallway. He got a confused impression of black-and-white tiled floor and cream-painted walls becoming pale blue carpeted stairs leading to a door. Murrue smiled and pushed open the door. "Shower. Get yourself warmed up and into some dry clothes. My room's just next door. I'll go make you something to eat.."

He remembered very little about the shower or changing into a dry T-shirt and shorts, though he did remember finding her room. It was neat and pretty, gauzy curtains fluttering in the breeze, and he smiled, flopping down on the bed with a content sigh. She was making him dinner she said...five minutes and he'd head downstairs.

"Mwu? Mwu, are you in there? Dinner's ready.." Pushing open the door to her room she peeked around...and her heart melted. He was fast asleep, hair in his face, mouth stretched in a smile, and he never stirred when she brushed a kiss to his lips. Tiptoeing out of the room she crept downstairs, smiling apologetically at Erica and Andrew. Her friend chuckled, shaking her head in amusement.

"He's asleep. I figured he would be."

"I'm sorry. I..."

Erica waved a hand. "Don't be. Just go be with him. The two of you have waited long enough. What about the stew?"

"You can have it." The older woman beamed and grabbed the bowl, digging in with gusto. With a last smile Murrue slipped back upstairs and into her room, shedding her jeans and carefully tugging the sheets over the sleeping man before climbing in beside him and flicking off the light. For a moment she just watched him, a lump in her throat. He'd been gone for so long...was he really here? Holding out an arm she pinched it as hard as she could. It hurts...so this is real? She kissed him again, giggling when he blinked open sleepy blue eyes. "Hello.."

"Hi," he murmured. "You staying?"

"Well, it is my room."

Mwu grinned and pulled her close, wrapping arms around her. "True." She smiled and settled down beside him, closing her eyes at the familiarity of it all. The feel of his embrace, his scent, the thump of his heartbeat...so much she'd missed. But he was here now, and she'd be dammed if she let him go again.

"I love you."

He laughed sleepily, kissing the crown of her hair. "I love you too. Be here when I wake up.."

"I will be." Like I'd go anywhere...


( yaaaaaay

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