He watched her by his side, trying to figure out how he was able to be so brave to love her like that. He was terrified, truly, that she deserved better, that she wanted better. But here she was, by his side, looking so peaceful.

She was awake, but slowly dozing off. Howl didn't blame her. It was very early in the morning and they had a very loving night which he was sure took most of her energy away.

Howl watched his wife doze to sleep and began to wonder if she knew...

He was wide awake, insomnia striking him like a knife in his heart, so he had time to wonder, to think about it.

"Howl! It's me, Sophie!" He remembered. It was the day he gave Calcifer his heart so he could live. "I know how to help you now! Find me in the future!"

Those words had never slipped from his mind even today. He had wondered everyday who that girl was until he had met Sophie. And even when he began turning into that monstrous form and slowly started losing control, he wondered if Sophie would be able to help him in time. He couldn't tell her, obviously. That was the point of the contract.

But she did save him. He was much relieved and truly ecstatic to wake up with a heavy chest and a beautiful woman smiling down at him.

She did know how to help him... Did she know that he remembered those words, even from so long ago? Did she realize what he meant when he saw her in the alleyway, that he actually was looking everywhere for her?

The search was well worth it.

He chuckled softly to himself. The little mouse; she was the one who brought back his heart, the one he was looking for all this time.

Sophie's breathing slowed, and he knew she was now completely asleep.

Certainly, he wasn't looking at a mouse anymore. No, Mrs. Jenkins was brave and fearless and confident, despite the fact that she was very bashful during that particular night of consummating love. He had hoped she enjoyed it. He knew he enjoyed it very, very much, and she seemed to...

He sighed. There it was again. Only Sophie could make him doubt himself but at the same time make him more brave than he truly was.

And now, most of all, he had to be brave in order to protect her. He didn't want those worries to come back to him during this night in particular, but watching her lay there, peaceful and happy next to him... He began to worry if it could all slip away.

He made a silent promise to her that he wouldn't let that happen.

Sophie awoke in the early morning, although she did not know at the time as Howl did not have a window in his bedroom.

She turned to see him passed out, snoring softly beside her. She giggled a bit to herself; he looked so cute like that...

She sighed and got up slowly, and blushed a bit once she looked down. She was...naked. Her eyes darted around the room, looking for the attire she had been wearing, before her and Howl's...activities. And through her search, she found the lingerie tangled in the bed sheets, completely torn up. She gasped a little, in complete awe. She didn't even remember that happening...

She finally remembered and found her wedding dress in the bathroom that she had neatly set aside. She shrugged. She had to wear something just in case someone was here...

Leaving Howl to rest, she walked down the stairs in her wedding gown and ran to her room. She found a soft, red dress that she thought she looked rather nice in, and grabbed her broom before walking out into the main room.

It took her a good two hours to put all the trash in the waste bin, clean all the dishes, and sweep the entire floor, but the room looked as good as new, which made her feel much relieved. Then she...well, she didn't know what to do.

She could start breakfast, but from a look out the window, she knew Howl wouldn't be getting up anytime soon. The cleaning was all done...she scowled at herself a little thinking that. She was much more useful than for cleaning!

Oh, goodness, she was a wife now. What do wives do? She decided that she could check on the flowers in her shop, maybe get some more from the flower field, as it was the only thing she could think of doing...

But right before she could walk through the door she felt a gust of wind and suddenly she was lying in Howl's bed. He took her into his arms and rolled them over so she was lying on top of him, looking down at him in bewilderment. "Howl Jenkins-!" She began to scold him.

"Sophie, I do believe we are on our honeymoon, and you do not need to work while on your honeymoon." He smiled up at her, his eyes tired and barely able to stay open. He looks so cute like that...She thought.

"Oh..." She sighed. "...I guess you're right."

He laughed, his eyes still closed but his voice was more awake. "Well, that's a first!" He opened his eyes and sighed with a smile. "Well then, good morning Mrs. Jenkins. Did you sleep well?"

Sophie smiled and nodded. "I did; very well, actually." She rolled off of him and laid beside him. "I'm surprised to see you up, actually. This early in the day, anyway."

He stretched his arms over his head and yawned. "Well, what can I say? I was excited to start the day as a married man."

"Alright, well, what would you like to do today, newly betrothed?" Sophie teased.

"Well, I did have a spell I wanted to-"

"No!" Sophie shook her head, pressing a finger to his lips. "If I'm not allowed to work, you aren't either."

He smiled mischievously. "Oh, I see... Well, then I would like to take you somewhere. If that's okay with you?"

"Is it that place your friend mentioned? Wales, was it?" Sophie guessed.

"No, no. Wales is much too boring." He smiled, shaking his head. "I have a better place in mind. And no one there knows the Wizard Howl, and no one asks, which is also nice."

"Alright, I'm fine with that." Sophie nodded.

"And then..." He grabbed her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. "In the evening, we could continue from where we left off..."

"Howl Jenkins!" Sophie scowled, but she wasn't really scowling, as she couldn't stop herself from smiling and laughing.