"Will you calm down?"

"I am calm."

"No, you're fidgeting. It's like you're on a spring. Just sit still. Read a book or something..."

The passenger huffed, slumping down in her seat with her arms folded. Her friend grinned. She'd agreed to drive the removal van the sixty miles or so from the city out to the tiny village, on the proviso that she got to see the place where her passenger grew up, and also meet her boyfriend. She'd seen the man on the beach, tall and broad-shouldered with blonde curly hair, and very much wanted to see if he was as right for Murrue as he seemed. Her friend was obviously looking forward to seeing him again, she unable to sit still the closer they got to the farm. "Sit still! If you don't stop shuffling I'll put the damn child locks on so you can't get out."

"Erica..." At the older woman's raised eyebrow, Murrue sank down in her seat again, grumbling under her breath. She was fun to tease. In truth, she was looking forward herself to getting to the farm, but she wasn't about to let Murrue know that. Instead she hid her smiles, focused her eyes on the road, and kept driving. In time, the wide highway changed to narrow country lanes, with fields on either side. Her passenger perked up again, a smile coming to her face as she saw apparently familiar landmarks.

"Which way do I go now?"

"Left at the next fork," The van climbed a gentle slope, and when it reached the crest of the hill...

"Is this where you come from?" A tiny village nestled beside a river, and away to the right stood a farm surrounded by fields. It was like a picture postcard.

Murrue nodded happily. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful.." She'd seen pictures, yes, but none that could do this place real justice. Now she understood why her friend had been so homesick in the first few months after coming to the city. If I'd lived here, I'm not sure if I'd have left... Driving up to the farm, Erica parked the van not far from the house. No-one was in sight apart from a couple of chickens...it was all so quiet. Murrue gazed around herself for a moment, smile bright, then, to her friend's surprise, took off running.

"Hey wait! Where are..." Chasing after her, Erica saw the younger woman climb over a gate and jump into a field, racing through the waving golden stalks. "Murrue!"

She'd seen him. Standing there at the end of the cornfield, blonde curls half-hidden under a hat. He was shirtless, broadly muscled back burnt brown by the sun. Had three weeks done that much? Grinning she stopped not far away, amber eyes taking in (and very much appreciating) the change. Her heart was racing, and only partly due to the running. I missed him... With a content sigh, he turned around - then blinked. "You.."

"Hello."

He stared at her for a second or two, then his face lit up in a delighted smile. Without another word, he held out his arms, and she ran into them without a moment's hesitation, hugging him as tightly as she could. He chuckled softly, voice muffled by her hair. "When did you get here?"

"About two minutes ago." Closing her eyes she nuzzled her face into his neck, breathing in the scent of warm skin. Three weeks since she'd seen him - it felt like forever. It had been for the best...after all, what better way to really find out how you felt about someone than to be separated from them for a while? She knew now, wrapped up in his arms, that she never wanted to be apart from him again. "I see Mom's been taking care of you.."

"I think she likes me." he replied cheerfully. "She let me stay in your old room, and she even made me cake."

"Oh? She must really like you.." She poked his nose affectionately. "I only got cake on special occasions. Maybe I should be jealous.."

Mwu's answer was to lean down and kiss her. She managed a muffled giggle, standing on her tiptoes to return the embrace, her thin arms winding around his neck to bring him closer. When they broke apart he grinned boyishly, touching his forehead to hers. "I missed you."

"Missed you too. You been all right?"

"Oh yeah. Been working out here most days with your dad - there's a lot to do around here. And been fixing stuff up.."

"Oh?"

"I'll show you later." And not another word would he say about it. He simply took her hand and led her back toward the gate, the two of them walking quite slowly...enjoying being together again. He found himself watching her, taking in everything about her...he wanted to just steal her away and keep her to himself for a week. The house he'd bought for them was almost ready, water and electricity connected, walls painted - all that was needed was the furniture and her. He wanted to tell her about it, to show her it, but knew it would be better as a secret. The first she would know about it would be when they moved in.

"What's that smile for?"

"No reason," he replied cheerily. "I'm just happy to see you again." Murrue blushed but smiled herself, and nuzzled a little closer as they walked. She looked a little different than she had before she'd left, skin pale and eyes dulled - had the city done that? "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Tired is all.." She sighed and stretched out her free arm before looking back up at him with a gentle expression. "But I feel better now."

"Why'd you have to run so fast?" Hearing the unfamiliar voice Mwu glanced up at the gate, seeing a redheaded woman leaning there. She was watching them both with a critical eye...him especially. Having the distinct impression he was being sized up, he coughed and fidgeted, well aware of his girlfriend's laughter.

"This is Erica. She agreed to help me bring the furniture over on the condition that she got to meet you.."

This is her best friend? The girl who took care of her for all that time...the one who doesn't like Andy? With a deep breath he looked back up at the woman, forcing a smile onto his face. She cackled and clapped her hands. "He's so sweet! And such a handsome boy too. I like him."

Murrue raised an eyebrow. "Snap judgement there.."

"Oh, I'd already decided I liked him," Erica replied airily. "Because you like him. You couldn't possibly fall for anyone who wasn't a good person. I just wanted to meet him." The younger woman sighed and shook her head, but Mwu grinned.

--

"I like your friend."

"She's embarrassing."

"But she's taken really good care of you.."

Murrue smiled a little and leaned into her boyfriend. Even without me asking for it... "She always said that if I ever met someone I really liked, she wanted to meet them and make sure they were right for me. Andrew is a good person, but she knew I never really liked him in that way...she knew it wouldn't work out. But you..."

He beamed, evidently pleased he had so much approval. She stifled a giggle. As soon as they'd been alone Erica has practically squealed in delight, pronouncing him 'perfect'. "He's such a sweetheart! You have to keep him!" Embarrassing wasn't the word, especially when she started asking questions Murrue wasn't sure how to answer. Like when the wedding was. I don't think I've ever gone as red. It's bad enough with Mom dropping hints that the farm's been in our family for over a hundred years... Palming her face she sighed, knowing she'd gone red again. She loved Mwu very much, but ideas like that...

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's okay. Where are we going, anyway?"

"There." With a smile wider than any she'd seen from him, he pointed ahead. At the bottom of the lane they were walking down stood a red-brick building almost hidden by ivy. It was familiar enough, she remembering having played nearby as a child. But why here?

"The mill?"

He laughed, running ahead and pulling her along. "I have something to show you!" As they reached the building he tugged a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. "Here.."

"This.."

"You like it?"

"It's beautiful.." The rooms were bright and airy, a small flight of steps in one corner of the biggest. It had obviously been freshly painted, the floorboards sanded - she turned to look at Mwu, who seemed very proud of himself. "What are you showing me?"

"Home." he replied softly, reaching to brush a lock of escaped hair from her face. "I thought this place would be perfect for us, so I bought it. What do you think?"

Blinking stupidly she stared at him for several minutes, trying to process what he'd said. Then, as realisation dawned...she hugged him so tightly he coughed. "Thank you!" He seemd about to say something, but was cut off by a quick but fierce kiss before she let him go and bounded up the stairs to see more. The furniture she'd brought from the apartment was all here, the dresser, the vanity, the bed...when had he found time to do all this?

"How..."

"Welcome home."

--

( whee lol. No, no smuts, but maybe next chapter, ne? I did promise...

please read and review! )