Okay. People have asked for a possible sequel to my AU story, 'A Different Tomorrow', so here it is. It was fun to imagine XD
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It was the day of the wedding. The skies over Orb were bright and clear, the day promising to be glorious, perfect for the occasion. In the tiny wooden house near the beach, a brunette woman stood in front of a full-length mirror, examining her reflection. The wedding gown she wore clung to her body, falling to the ground in an elaborate confection of ivory silk and lace.
Murrue took deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. Today had arrived so quickly..the day she was to be married. Her hands were shaking so much, she hadn't been able to fix her hair, so Lacus-san was doing it for her, braiding up the thick auburn hair with white and pink flowers from her garden. Miriallia-san was arranging pastel coloured flowers for the bouquet Murrue would carry for the ceremony.
Today...I'm getting married. I-I still can't believe it...
Natarle sat at one side of the room, watching the preparations. Despite Captain Ramius...no, Murrue's reassurance that they were friends, she still wasn't sure why she'd been invited to her wedding. And even though she'd accepted the invitation, Natarle wasn't sure what she should do. But she couldn't hold back a smile at how nervous Murrue was. Her pale face was flushed pink, and her hands were trembling. But she wore a huge smile, obviously extremely nervous and excited.
"I still can't believe you're getting married today. You were only engaged a month ago.."
Murrue giggled, fiddling with the amber and gold engagement ring she wore. "Neither can I," she replied in her soft voice, smiling at Miriallia. Lacus spoke up, putting the finishing touches to the bride's hairstyle. "And I still can't believe how Fllaga-san proposed to you.."
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A month earlier
The couple were sitting on the sofa in their tiny house, watching TV together. Mwu had his arms wrapped around Murrue, and her eyes were closed. It was so peaceful and quiet, it seemed that nothing could happen to break the silence and stillness. But then...Mwu felt a flutter from inside his girlfriend's stomach.
What the...hmm, probably just indigestion...
Then it happened again. And this time, it wasn't a flutter..it was a definite 'kick'. Mwu raised an eyebrow, and peered at Murrue. "Is there something that you forgot to tell me?"
She giggled, looking up at him. "I wasn't sure when would be the best time to let you know. I was waiting for you to notice yourself. But yes, I am."
Mwu beamed, delighted. "This is great!" He bent down and kissed her gently, placing a hand back on her stomach. Murrue smiled, and placed her hand over his. "Are you happy? This was your wish, wasn't it?"
"Yeah," he replied. "But only half of it..." He sighed, mock-theatrically. "You do realise that you'll have to marry me now, right?"
"Okay."
He blinked. "Huh? I..I was kidding..." Murrue laughed. "I wasn't."
Mwu pulled her closer into his embrace. "You mean... you will marry me?"
"Yes." she answered, kissing him lightly. "I will."
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Natarle raised an eyebrow as she listened to the story. For something like that...for such a big step...it was amazing how casually it had happened. And it was also amazing how Commander La Fllaga had never once noticed that Murrue had been pregnant. It was almost impossible to miss...
A loud knock on the door broke Natarle's concentration, and she moved to open the wooden portal. Outside..was La Fllaga. He smiled hopefully. "Uh..hi. Can I come in?"
The woman raised a dark eyebrow. "You know the groom isn't allowed to see the bride before the wedding..." The blonde man's face fell. "Aww, please?"
Natarle sighed, noticing that he only wore uniform trousers and a purple T-shirt. "You wanted to come see her..and you're not even ready yet? Go on, get dressed!"
"But.."
"OUT!" thundered Natarle, slamming the door in his face. She could hear the man whining childishly from outside, and she almost laughed, but didn't let herself. Murrue and the girls were, however. "Oh, Natarle.." giggled Murrue. "Poor Mwu, you scared him half to death!"
An hour later, all the preparations were finished, and Lacus and Miriallia had gone to put on their own outfits. Natarle herself had been ready since that morning. But Murrue hadn't come out of the room yet. Knocking quietly on the door, Natarle let herself in.
Murrue was still sitting on the simple chair, still staring at her own reflection in the mirror. Her pretty oval face was pale, and her expression..she was terrified.
"What's wrong?" asked Natarle softly, crossing the room to where the bride sat. Her dark amber eyes were wide and scared, and she was shaking. "Cold feet?"
"N-no..it's not that. But I am..scared. Will we be okay, Mwu and I? Being married?"
Natarle crouched down beside the older woman, and smiled a little. "You've been okay so far, haven't you? What difference will this make? All that'll happen is that you'll share his surname and wear another ring."
"Y-yes, I know that...but what if something goes wrong? What if...things don't work out?"
"I'm sure you'll be fine. You love him, don't you? And I doubt you being married will change that."
Murrue gulped. "But we'll be bound together..can we take such a big step?"
"You already are bound together.." replied Natarle, pointing to Murrue's stomach. The bump of her pregnancy was clearly visible. "This baby binds you together, and it'll be for always. If you're okay with that, then marriage will be fine. You see?"
Murrue rubbed her stomach through the silk of the wedding dress, a smile returning to her face. "I-I see. The baby is part of Mwu and I..and it means that even if we didn't marry, we'd still be together.." She looked up at Natarle. "Thank you..."
Natarle wasn't sure what to say. She'd never been good in situations like this. Standing up, she handed Murrue the lacy veil that hung over the back of the chair. "We..should get going now. The ceremony will start soon..."
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Murrue glanced up as she walked slowly down the aisle, holding onto Kira's arm. The lace of the veil obstructed her vision slightly, but she could still clearly make out the figure of her groom standing there at the altar, where Reverend Malchio would conduct the wedding.
Her fear from earlier was still present, but it was lessened. Natarle had been right.
Whether we get married or not, we still have the baby. That won't change. And I do love Mwu..with all my heart. So this is the right decision.
She could see Mwu standing there, smiling at her. He looked so different in the Orb military uniform he wore, rather than the old Earth Alliance one she had been so used to, but the change suited him..he looked so handsome. His blue eyes twinkled at her, and she blushed.
We'll be happy. I know we will. After losing him, I didn't think I could be happy again, let alone love someone else enough to marry them. But this..I was wrong, so wrong.
Holding out her hand, her fiance took it as she neared the altar, Kira taking his place beside Mwu as his best man.
This is it, Mwu's eyes seemed to say. Are you ready?
You bet I am.. she thought back, smiling.
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After the service, the two stood on the beach, watching the sun set. She had changed out of the silken wedding gown, and into a simple dark blue dress. Mwu was still in uniform, and her head rested on his shoulder, hair still garlanded with flowers.
Natarle stood outside the house, watching the newly-married couple. Normally, sunsets signified an end to things, but for those two, she was sure it heralded the true beginning of their life together.
She was jealous, she couldn't deny that. She had long harboured a small crush on La Fllaga, he was so handsome it was almost impossible not to. But she had learned early on that nothing would ever come of it, his gaze, his attention, had always been on his captain. And he had gone back to her at Alaska.
Natarle had never really understood why, hadn't been able to comprehend it.
They chose their hearts over their careers..something I would never be able to do. They chose love over their duty to the Alliance, risked desertion and death for their love and what they believed in. I could only see my duty as a soldier, nothing else mattered. Perhaps if I'd found someone to give my heart to, things could have been different...
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Six months later...
Natarle stood outside the tiny house near the beach. She didn't really know why she'd come, hadn't told anyone she was coming. She had been hard at work helping rebuild Heliopolis, and hadn't even visited Earth once since she'd been gone. The summer breeze blew through her black hair, and she took a deep breath.
Why here? Why was this the first place I came?
During that time, she had wondered how Murrue and Mwu's marriage was going. She hadn't recieved any news from Earth, even though she knew the baby had been born three months before.
Collecting herself, the woman walked up the path, and knocked on the door.
"Just a minute!" called Murrue's voice from inside, and a few moments later, the door opened. Murrue's face lit up in delight when she saw who her guest was, and she pulled Natarle into a friendly hug. The younger woman wasn't sure how to react to this, but she eventually returned the embrace. "It's been so long! How have you been? Here, come in. Would you like some coffee?"
Following Murrue inside the house, Natarle looked around. The place was small, definitely, but warm and inviting. None of the furniture matched, and there were pictures all over the wall, and papers everywhere. But the effect was comforting and homely.
"Sorry for the mess..." Murrue apologised, sweeping the papers together. "I've been trying to catch up on work.." Setting the coffee maker into motion, she gestured to Natarle to sit down.
"It's so nice to see you again. It's a shame Mwu has to work today, he'd have been happy to see you, I'm sure...So, how are you doing?" She poured the coffee, humming to herself.
Natarle could only stare. Her former superior was so...domestic now. But she seemed so happy, glowing as though she were lit from inside. Her marriage was obviously a very happy one...
"I'm..fine. Work's kept me busy these last few months. And...what about you? How's your baby? And your husband?"
Murrue smiled happily. "Mwu and I are..just fine. More than fine, in fact. And the baby...Wait here a moment." Standing up, she made her way out of the room, and came back a minute later, carrying a bundle in her arms. "Here. Would you like to hold her?"
Gingerly taking the bundle from the auburn-haired woman, Natarle gazed at the baby girl. She was fast asleep, little arms waving in her slumber. As she moved, Natarle could clearly see the infant's wavy golden hair.
"She's got her father's hair colouring, I see. But her face...she looks just like you.."
It was true. Even though the little girl was so tiny, her features mirrored her mother's, pale oval face and small mouth. Murrue blushed. "Really? She does? Mwu says that, but I can never see it.."
Natarle laughed a little, and the baby stirred, and awoke. She stared up at the one who held her with her father's cobalt blue eyes, then smiled, gurgling.
"She's beautiful..what's her name?"
"She's called Lily. I named her for my mother." Lifting the baby into her arms, Murrue smiled, and kissed the little face, making Lily laugh.
Natarle watched the mother and child, smiling herself.
This is right. This is how it should be, how she was meant to be. I never thought that Murrue made a very good captain, even though the crew loved and trusted her so much. This is how she's supposed to be, a wife, a mother, not a soldier.
I sincerely hope that war never comes again, and she and her husband can live this life forever...
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( Is this okay? Natarle is really tough to write, and I hope I was able to get her character right. As for 'how Murrue-san's supposed to be', I always got the impression that she'd be so happy as a wife and mother. It seems so right somehow, much more so that her being a soldier, even though she was a really good captain.
And I just like writing wedding fics anyway...Also...the reappearance of Lily :laughs: I just love that name...
Please read and review! )