The morning had been pretty quiet. A few of the regular customers had been in to pick up some shopping, maybe a loaf of bread, some milk, but other than that, it had been like any other weekday morning. At the moment, he was busy sweeping the floor, having straightened out the shelves. It was lunch break in a little while, and he was looking forward to enjoying his sandwich outside on the steps warmed by the sunlight. It might..warm him up a bit. For some reason, even though it was a pleasant day outside, with brilliant sunshine and a warm breeze...he was freezing cold. Even the sweater he wore wasn't enough to keep him from shivering, or feeling light-headed. Shaking his head in an attempt to clear it, he sighed, pressing his forehead to the drink cooler. Man, I feel so weird...

"Mwu? What's wrong?" Lily had just come out of the back to set up a bubblegum stand on the counter, and had obviously noticed he was acting strangely. Forcing a smile on his face, he turned around, trying not to make it look like he was leaning on the broom for support. "Huh? Oh, nothing..."

The woman clearly wasn't convinced, and made her way over to where he was standing. "You look dreadful," she announced, reaching up and pressing a hand to his forehead. After a minute or two, she sighed, shaking her head. "You're burning up. How long have you been feeling like this?"

He blinked, trying to remember. He'd felt fine when he woke up that morning, and when he'd gotten here after walking from home. Somewhere in between getting here and a few minutes ago, he'd started feeling light-headed and shivery. He was just glad that he hadn't gotten sick that morning - she'd have never let him leave the house. Shaking his head, he leaned against the drink cooler again. "I don't remember," he admitted. "But it doesn't matter. I'll be okay..." I can't get sick...I need the money too much...

Lily clearly wasn't convinced. Taking his arm, she easily led him from the shop and into the sitting room at the back, before making him sit down on the sofa. "Now, you sit down there and don't move, and I'll make you a nice hot drink." Mwu nodded hazily, leaning back against the plush material and closing his eyes, letting the cool breeze from the open window soothe his aching head.

When Lily came back, he was sound asleep, normally tanned face pale. His breathing was heavy and laboured, and his temperature had shot up in the few moments she'd been out of the room. He never stirred when she shook his shoulder to wake him up, which she'd expected. It's been over ten years since he got sick last...I think the last time was just after his mother died... Calling to her husband, the two of them managed to bundle the rather heavy young man into the truck to take him back to the tiny apartment. On the way, Lily called her daughter.

"Hello?"

"Murrue, honey, it's me. Where are you?"

"In the cafe near college. I was just about to head off to work. What's wrong?"

"Mwu has a bad fever, so we're taking him home. I just wanted to let you know so you knew not to wait for him tonight.." She could hear the young woman's gasp from the other end of the phone, and knew perfectly well that Murrue would no doubt make some kind of excuse to skip work that day. And she was right.

"It's okay, Mom. I'll call Mrs Simmons, and tell her there's something I need to do. I was planning to come home early today anyway. I'll be there in a little while. Bye!" The line clicked off abruptly, and Lily sighed, sliding her cellphone back into her pocket. "I should have known.." Unlocking the apartment door with her spare key, she helped Peter carry the sleeping Mwu inside and settle him on the bed. Tugging the comforter over him, she tucked him in carefully, and ruffled his hair. "She'll be home in a little while, dear.."

He didn't know where he was. He was shivering with cold, but his head felt like it was on fire. It was too bright, light streaming in and making his headache worse. He tried to turn away, huddling in the twisted covers to hide from the light, and fell back into an uneasy, fitful doze, and if he dreamed, he didn't remember it.

When he stirred next, everything was different. The room was darkened, and a cool breeze blew through, easing his burning head, which also had a cold cloth placed on it. Cracking his eyes open, he gazed around. He was back in his own room, in the apartment. The curtains were closed, and the window to outside was open, making the fabric billow slightly. An extra blanket had been placed on the bed, which explained why he'd stopped shivering. But there was something else...As he lay there, he became aware of other things around him. His head was cushioned on something much more comfortable and soft than a pillow. Something warm. Still keeping his eyes half-open, he glanced around himself...and smiled, understanding. Murmuring in contentment, he closed his eyes, settling back into the warmth of her lap. Above him, she giggled softly, beginning to stroke his blonde curls. The gentle touch eased the last of the headache, and he smiled again, gazing up at her. "Hey there, beautiful...you're home early.."

She smiled back at those words, pleased that he seemed much better now. When she'd arrived home, she had been shocked at how ill he'd been, twisted in the covers, face white as a sheet, blonde hair plastered to his scalp with sweat. She'd done what she could to make him comfortable, and to be honest with herself, she rather enjoyed making a fuss of him like this. "Do you feel any better?" she asked, leaning down to kiss him gently.

Mwu yawned, snuggling further into her embrace. "A little bit.." he murmured, before promptly falling asleep again, although this time he had a smile on his face, his fever all but gone. Murrue shook her head in affectionate amusement. You've always been like this, ever since you were little...Very carefully, she eased herself out from underneath her sleeping fiance, and made her way into the tiny kitchen. Flicking on the kettle for coffee, the young woman sat on the table, tying her dark hair back with a ribbon. A soft mew caught her attention, and she smiled as her pet cat jumped up onto the table beside her, rubbing her head against her arm and purring loudly. "Hello, Callie. Bet you're surprised to see us home at this time, huh?"

Callie just purred again, pawing her way into her owner's lap and curling up there happily. Murrue giggled, stroking the cat's pattered fur gently. "C'mon now. I need to make dinner.." But she sat there for a while, swinging her legs, and enjoying the feel of the breeze from the open kitchen window. It was rather nice to be home this early, to just sit quietly in the sunlight. The only sounds to be heard were her own breathing, birdsong from outside, and the steady purr of the drowsy cat, and she sighed, tipping her head back. When her mother had called earlier today with the news that Mwu was sick - her heart had almost stopped. It had been such a long time since he'd been ill...

He used to get sick all the time when he was little. That's why he took up soccer, to help him get stronger. He was always catching colds, or the flu...he missed school all the time. But after he joined the soccer team, he got better...got so energetic that nothing could stop him. Climbing trees, getting covered in mud...he even jumped in a pond once, just to see what it was like. It used to drive Mom and Aunt Grace crazy trying to keep up with him. The last time he got sick...Her nostalgic smile faded, and she gazed down at her lap, still occupied by the sleeping cat. The last time Mwu had gotten sick...had been after Aunt Grace died. He'd been heartbroken, wouldn't eat, would hardly sleep, not even when Lily had taken him in to look after him. He didn't want to go home - he blamed his father for his mother's death, even though it wasn't his fault. Aunt Grace got sick...there was nothing anyone could have done to make her better. But then again, his father didn't seem to care at all that she was dead...and that's why Mwu didn't want to go home. He stayed here for weeks, and for a lot of that time, he'd just stay in the spare room, sitting on the bed staring at nothing. He wouldn't even talk to me.. Murrue closed her eyes, still remembering the pain she had felt at his rejection of her.

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"Mwu? Mwu, are you in there?" She clutched a board game and her favourite teddy bear, as well as the candy she'd bought with her own pocket money. "Please come and play.."

"Go away!" His voice sounded funny...not like Mwu at all. Mwu's voice was always happy and sunny, but this voice was angry, and sounded stuffed-up, like he had a cold. Murrue knew that was probably because he'd been crying. Mwu cried a lot now, ever since Aunt Grace had gone to heaven. Murrue was sad too. Even at only eight, she knew that if someone went to heaven, you couldn't ever see them anymore. And ever since Aunt Grace had gone there, she'd had nightmares that Mommy and Daddy had gone there too, and left her all alone.

"Please, Mwu. Mommy made cookies, and I bought your favourite candy..."

"Leave me alone!" he shouted. "I don't want to play, and I don't want your candy!"

"But.." she had tried again, "Mommy says you'll get sick if you don't eat.." Her mommy was very worried about him. She'd explained to Murrue that she was something called a 'godmother', and that if something happened to Mwu's mommy and daddy, she would look after him. If Mwu wouldn't eat, he'd have to go into hospital so the doctors could help him. "I don't want you to get sick.."

"I don't care!" he shouted, opening the door to the spare room. Murrue stepped backwards...he looked so scary. Mwu wasn't happy or smiling like he always was...instead he was angry. "Stop bugging me! I hate you!"

Her eyes widened, and she dropped the things she held. He...hated her? The candy rolled all over the floor, but she never noticed. Instead, she burst into tears, running away from him and down the stairs, out into the garden. Crawling into the den at the bottom, under Mommy's roses, she cried. Her best friend in the whole world...wasn't her friend anymore.

"Murrue? Murrue, sweetie, what's the matter?" Mommy was outside, looking sad. "Why are you crying?" Voice choked up, she sniffled out her story, fresh tears falling all the time. "He said he hates me, Mommy..."

"Sweetie, that's not true," said her mommy gently. "Mwu doesn't hate you. Right now, he's very sad and angry about losing his own mommy, and I think he's scared to be close to anyone in case he loses them too. What he needs to know is that people are still here for him. Okay?"

"Okay.."

A little while later, she went back to his room. But instead of waiting outside, this time, she pushed open the door and went inside. Mwu sat up on the bed, and she could see that he'd been crying too. "I said to go away," he said, but he didn't sound so angry this time. Instead, he sounded tired and sad. Climbing up on the bed beside him, Murrue watched him for a few moments, before leaning forward and hugging him tightly. Mwu gasped, and tried to pull away..but she wouldn't let go.

"I'm sorry that your mommy's gone away," she told him. "But I won't go away...not ever. I'm still here.." After a while, Mwu hugged her back.

"I'm sorry too.." he said. "I'm sorry I said I hated you..I don't. You're my best friend forever.."

Later, her mommy had come into the room and found them both fast asleep next to each other on the bed, holding hands. After that, Mwu had gotten sick, but only because he hadn't been sleeping or eating properly, and he soon got better.

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"Hey.."

The familiar voice brought Murrue back to the present day in an instant, and she turned from where she was still sitting on the kitchen table to see him standing there in the doorway. He still looked tired, but he was smiling. "What are you dreaming about?" he asked, crossing the floor to wrap his arms around her waist. She smiled back, and gazed up at him, reaching to place a hand on his forehead. "Your fever's gone," she murmured. "You never get sick for long, do you? Just like last time?"

"Last time?"

She nodded, scooting up on the table to let him sit beside her. "I was just remembering..the last time you got sick.." Mwu frowned for a moment, thinking back, then he sighed, no doubt remembering himself. "Yeah. I was ten...it was just after Mom died. I remember you telling me that you were sorry Mom had gone away, but that you never would. That meant more to me than anything.." Catching her chin in one hand, he tilted her head upwards to plant a tender kiss on her lips. "And you're still right here with me."

"I always will be." she replied, resting her head on his shoulder. "Forever.."

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( That was longer than I intended...hope it's okay. I liked writing the flashback bit.

Please read and review! )