The summer day was perfect. The sun blazed down from a cloudless blue sky causing the air to shimmer, and there was a light breeze to take the worst of the edge from the heat. The three friends sat on packing crates enjoying the weather. Taking a sip of his soda the older of them slung an arm around his girlfriend and nuzzled a kiss to her bare shoulder, ignoring the rolled eyes of his younger friend. The day was so nice they'd taken time out from the bike they were working on to go sit in the sun, and it was more than welcome. They'd shrugged out of grease and sweat-stained jumpsuits as much as was possible to let the warm air touch bare skin, and although break had officially ended about fifteen minutes ago, no-one was in any hurry to get back to work.

"Erica's coming to visit later," Murrue offered, smiling a little when his lips touched her shoulder again. "I think she's bringing cake.."

"How's she finding the apartment?"

"She says you kept it better than she'd expected. She does keep finding things you've forgotten, like odd socks, but she says she hasn't found anything embarrassing yet.."

"Like what?" he asked, scandalised. Kira snorted, and Murrue was clearly having trouble fighting giggles herself. Thinking frantically he tried his best to remember whether he had left anything behind that might cause problems. Magazines, underwear...he'd remembered it all - hadn't he? I even checked under the mattress...but if I forgot socks, what else might I have forgotten? Murrue noticed his concern and smiled gently, placing a hand on his arm.

"It's all right dear, I was only joking.."

"That's not fair," he grumbled. "You had me all worried."

"I know, but it's fun to tease you." Moving close she kissed his cheek. It had taken a day or so for him to transfer what he needed from his apartment to the quiet suburban house, and he'd been living there with Murrue for a few weeks now. Miss Erica had moved in to his old apartment - he'd been worried at first, feeling like he was kicking her out of her house, but she'd cuffed him smartly on the back of the head and pointed out that the apartment was closer to where she worked, and if Murrue was happy, then that was all that mattered. True, that is the most important thing. Miss Erica cares a lot about her - she said that she'd miss not living with her, but that she knew I'd take care of her. And waking up each morning to see her sleeping beside him, or to that beautiful smile...well, that made him happy.

"You always tease me."

"I know." She smiled sweetly, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Because she knows she can," Kira observed, swigging his soda. "She's got you wrapped round her little finger." Murrue held out that finger, seemingly considering that.

"Erica said that too.." She looked up at her boyfriend. "Do I?"

"If it means I'd do whatever you asked me to, then yes. But I don't mind that." She still looked worried, but he kissed the tip of her nose. "Don't worry about it."

She nodded, but was still concerned. Did she take advantage of him? Was she so used to having him take care of her? Biting her lip she glanced away.

"I really wouldn't worry, Miss Murrue," Kira-kun said later as they replaced the gearbox on a dilapidated bike. "Whether he'll do whatever you say or not, it seems to be doing him some good. He's had that dumb grin on his face ever since he moved in with you, so I'd say whatever you're doing, keep on doing it. He's happy."

"Really?"

"Course he is. Look at him." Mwu was at the far end of the shop tinkering with something, and humming softly to himself. His face wore a wide smile, blue eyes twinkling...he certainly looked happy. "You've done him a world of good.."

Murrue smiled, pleased by that. She'd been working here at the little shop for five months after giving up her office job, and had settled in quickly. This line of work suited her much better than the previous - something she looked forward to much more. She'd hated filing paperwork and sitting for hours at a computer...now she spent her days up to her elbows in engine grease in the company of two men who whispered juvenile things behind her back. But she loved them both, Kira-kun like a younger brother, and Mwu...well, she just loved him. Looking up she saw him peeking, and blew him a kiss. He beckoned to her, but she shook her head.

"I'm working, mister."

"I know. C'mon.." Pretending to roll her eyes she got up and crossed to where he sat...and squeaked in surprise when he tugged her down onto his lap. "What were you and the kid talking about?"

"Nothing.."

"Nah, c'mon, what was it?" When she refused to answer he skimmed fingers up her ribs, causing her to squeal with laughter. Kira just grinned, leaning on the bike to watch his older friends play. She giggled wildly, wriggling to try and escape but he held fast, laughing himself. It wasn't about what she'd said now...it was about having fun. Mwu could always make her laugh, whether with tickles, lame jokes or silly stories - if she'd had a bad day he'd always be there for her.

"So this is what you get up to at work? If I'd known, I'd have quit the office job too.." Mwu lifted up one hand to wave to their guest, but made no attempt to stop the tickling, much to Murrue's consternation. She looked up at her friend helplessly, trying her best to wriggle free of his grip. Erica just laughed. "He's found your weakness.."

"Oh, I found it out a long time ago, didn't I?" She tried to answer, but could hardly speak for laughter, swatting ineffectually at his hands. Eventually, much to her relief he stopped, letting her lean back against him and get her breath back. The blonde man chuckled softly and kissed the crown of her hair. "Means I can get my own way a lot."

"Too much," she grumbled, ignoring her friend's laughter. Erica walked over with a small box and placed it on the table, opening the lid to reveal a chocolate cake that got both boys' noses twitching. Mwu in particular looked very interested, which made his girlfriend smile. "He loves cake more than me."

"Do not. I love you both the same in different ways."

"That's comforting."

"Do you want tickling again?" She grumbled at that but said nothing further, just hopped off his lap to get a piece of the cake. Leaning over the table she was conscious of eyes on her, and glanced up at Erica with a sigh.

"Is he watching me again?"

Her friend smiled. "That jumpsuit is rather tight.."

Murrue palmed her face. "Mwu.."

"What? Am I not allowed to look?" His voice was filled with barely-hidden laughter. "Don't tell me you don't check out my butt when I'm leaning over, 'cause I know otherwise.." Which was true enough, so once again she was back to annoyed silence.

One day I'll win against him. Win an argument, win at teasing...one day.

He was enjoying her garden. From the windswept and overgrown tangle of weeds and tree roots it had been when he'd first visited back in winter, it was now stunningly beautiful. Flowers of every kind waved in the evening breeze, all sizes and colours covering the ground, growing up fences, even peeping out of cracks in the wall. They'd worked hard on it over the last few months - and she still wasn't satisfied with it. She wanted a pond, and cheerfully announced she was going to dig it herself over the weekend. He had no doubt that she could do it, but he wasn't about to let her do it on her own, which she no doubt knew perfectly well. She really does have me wrapped round her little finger, just like the kid says.. And he had no problem with that...whatever she wanted, she could have it.

"There you are. Dreaming again?"

"I was just looking at your flowers.." He looked up as she sat down beside him, accepting the glass of wine she offered. She'd taught him a great deal about everything that grew here, from colours to shapes to scents. Which ones were attractive to bees and butterflies, which ones were to birds...so much information. He liked to hear about it all, but most of all he loved to hear and see her talk about it. She smiled so much, her soft voice filled with enthusiasm as she described it all, that he couldn't have helped loving these plants as she did. Setting his glass aside he flopped down on the grass, resting his head in her lap. Murrue giggled and brushed fingers over his face.

"You like lying there, don't you?"

"It's much more comfortable than a pillow. I wish I could sleep here all the time."

"But that wouldn't be very comfortable for me, now would it?" She leaned down and kissed the tip of his nose. "But it's nice to watch you sleep there. Almost as nice as watching you look after my garden.."

"I prefer looking after you. But the flowers are fun too."

"Not bad for someone who didn't know one end of a spade from the other." Her tone was gentle and teasing, and Mwu grinned. That was true enough, but he still couldn't let her get away with it. He lunged suddenly, spinning around and pushing her down on the grass...and tickling her. She shrieked with laughter, wriggling around as much as she could, especially when he lifted up her tanktop to blow raspberries on her stomach. "Stop it! Stop it!"

"Are you sorry?"

"No," He tickled more until she was almost helpless, bright red in the face and hardly able to breathe from laughing, but she still wouldn't apologise. It would need a different tack. Stopping the tickling he pressed more kisses to her stomach, grinning triumphantly when she gasped.
"Sorry yet?"

"No..." Her reply was less certain this time and he glanced up to see that her eyes were closed, a faint smile on her face. Tempting as the idea was, her garden was slightly too public to get a full apology from her, so much to her disappointment he stopped the kisses and moved to lie beside her. Murrue regarded him with hazy affection, shuffling close to pillow her head on his chest, and together they watched the sunset fade and the stars begin to emerge.

"So what happens next?"

"I don't know. I'll carry on working at the shop if you'll let me."

"And I'll carry on living here if you'll let me. And after that, who knows?"

"Mmmm-hmmm.." She snuggled contentedly into his arms, dark eyes reflecting the starlight. Whatever happened later, they would cross that bridge when they came to it. In odd moments she had dreams of the two of them living here for the rest of their lives, of raising a family and growing old together, and she hoped he felt the same way. And all this from a chance meeting in a garden centre. "Maybe we could run your uncle's shop.."

"Maybe we could. I bet he'd like that. He actually wanted me to work there because he felt I was wasting my life going out every night and drinking. He thought I'd find someone better for me - and he was right."

"I'm glad I'm better.." She'd come across a couple of his previous ladies in the shop before, all busty, blonde and flighty, and had summarily sent them packing. Mwu was hers, and she'd made sure they'd understood that. And he's staying mine..."Did you have any other plans?"

"How many kids can we fit in this house?"

( :3 thought I'd end it on a question mark 'cause I'm evil :smiles:

please read and review, and thank you! )