"Y'know for some odd reason, I'm not really surprised." Rin snickered behind her hand, trying her best to keep a straight face while Erica only stared in open-mouthed shock. She glanced around, quite glad she was in her own apartment for the moment, and even more so for the announcement to take place under her roof.

Murrue forced her gaze from Erica's still shocked face to Rin's happily amused one, and looked insulted. "What do you mean you're not surprised?"

"Well I mean really Murrue, look at you and him." Rin giggled, waving her hand in a vague gesture, bouncing up and down in her chair. "You two are literally all over each other whenever you get the chance, and ever since he's started remembering things it's like the 'On' switch has finally been flicked. You two are almost exactly like you used to be. Why should we be surprised about you being pregnant?"

"I'm surprised." Erica spoke up with a grunt, looking fairly annoyed by Rin's airy explanation.

"Your pregnant." Murrue pointed out, and immediately Rin started to laugh at the words. Erica scowled and glared at her, forcing Murrue to cover her tracks quickly, "What I mean by that is, your emotions can't exactly be stable with all the hormones." Erica's glare turned more pronounced and Rin was nearly out of her chair with laughter. Murrue waved her hands in exasperation and burst out, "You know what I mean!"

"I know what you mean but I still think that's a low blow." Erica grumbled grumpily, crossing her arms and glaring at the floor. She added in a low growl, "It's not fair to use my condition against me."

"You're literally exploding." Rin told her with a loud snicker, and Erica immediately snatched a pillow and tossed it hard her way. As if time had slowed, Rin's hand flicked out and she caught the pillow with ease, setting it down in her lap and folding her arms across it. "Well c'mon Erica, look at yourself!"

"I know." Erica replied somewhat smugly, placing both hands on her stomach, looking incredibly content. Rin was right of course, she couldn't deny that, at now nearly seven months now she had grown quickly. And it gave her a smug satisfaction to know she was going to soon give birth to her second child.

"Ugn, look at you two." Rin complained with a hint of feigned disgust in her voice, turquoise eyes sparkling with mirth, "You're disgusting."

"Heh, you just can't wait to end up like this." Erica told her cheerfully, patting her stomach and Murrue sniggered uncontrollably.

"Oh I can wait." Rin told her without missing a beat, eyes now twinkling happily as she relaxed into the chair and began to twirl her ring around her finger. "And sweetheart, when I have kids, I'll be in the PLANTs."

"Eh?" Murrue looked at her in surprise, and that comment also made Erica whirl around in complete shock. "What do you mean the PLANTs? You're leaving ORB?"

"I was going to wait to tell you, but..." Rin smiled sheepishly, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, and she settled back into her chair. "Well, I figured I wouldn't be able to keep it a secret and especially with you coming out like this."

"Wait, PLANTs? You're leaving Earth entirely?" Murrue asked, still not understanding what Rin was going on about. Erica looked just as confused, though a hint of understanding now burned in her eyes. "Why?"

Rin blushed in embarrassment, and began to twirl her engagement ring again. She took a deep breath and finally explained softly, "Jason asked me to move in with him. He can't legally move into ORB because of his history as a soldier, not for another two years anyway... The Treaty forbids it, he needs to get it cleared by the government first and they're not interested in losing him just yet. So I need to go to PLANTs."

"Because he can't come here you're going there." Erica finished for her with a tight smile, and Rin nodded weakly. Murrue looked struck, and Erica sighed deeply. "That's a pity..."

"It's only until he gets cleared to move down here, I'll only be gone for two years at the most. I can visit." Rin murmured weakly, knowing that the bad news really did outweigh the good. "It's not as if I wanted to let everybody down, that's not it at all... But... I didn't want to tell you the day I was going."

Murrue took a deep breath, forcing herself to not overreact. She knew Rin meant well by telling them at all, she was a naturally warm-hearted person despite the tough persona she lived in. 'And she's doing it for love, now isn't she? If I was in her shoes, and it was Mu up in the PLANTs... Wouldn't I go?' She didn't even need to answer herself, she already knew what she would have done. And because of that... She couldn't be angry. "How often will you visit?"

"As often as I can." Rin answered immediately, honesty shining in every line of her face as she locked stares with Murrue. "And I swear it, even if it kills me I'll be there when you go into labour. Both of you." She added, looking over at Erica. "Though I'm not going to go for another two months, you know that you two mean the world to me, right?"

"Of course we know." Erica told her with a smile, wishing she was close enough to tousle her hair in an affectionate gesture. "And there's nothing wrong with you chasing after you dream, not after so many years of jumping around."

Rin blushed despite herself, looking down at her lap. "I do not jump around, I just move frequently."

Murrue coughed and it oddly sounded much like the curse 'bullshit' which only caused Erica to burst out laughing. Rin scowled at both women but neither really seemed to mind that, shooting brilliant grins back at her. "It's alright Rin. I'm just glad you told us."

"Well it's not like I could hide it forever, you'd notice if I upped and left." Rin answered sourly, pretending to sulk, but it really did no good, the smile came out. "I'm just glad you're happy for me."

"How could we not be?" Murrue asked with raised eyebrows, getting to her feet and perching on the armrest of her friend's chair, pulling her into a hug. "We both love you, and we want what's best for you. And if going to PLANTs, getting hitched to her brother in law and having a family is what makes you happy, we won't argue against it." She wasn't surprised to see Rin's blush darken under the curtain of her hair, and that only caused Murrue's grin to broaden.

"Thank you."

The three women spent a few good long minutes talking about Rin's plans, many of which were not settled yet. After the subject dried up they turned their focus back to Murrue, tossing quick questions her way at lightning speed. She answered as best she can, though in truth she wasn't sure how to answer.

"Girl or boy?"

"I'd like a little girl... After Bryan, I think I'd have fun having a daughter." Murrue answered with a little smile, noticing how Erica was grinning from ear to ear at the answer. "Though if it's a boy... I wouldn't mind that either."

"Told Mu yet?"

"Actually I'm telling him tonight, I didn't know how to tell him yesterday, I thought I'd practise on you two first." Murrue admitted sheepishly, and Rin smirked while Erica tried hard to not laugh. "Quiet, it's one thing to tell your girlfriends, another to tell your boyfriend!"

"Ah, that's right, you two aren't married yet." Rin laughed out loud, and Erica started to giggle behind her hand, looking very amused. Rin pretended to be appalled, pointing an accusing finger to Murrue, "My god woman, you're living in sin!"

"Pfft, you're accusing me of living in sin?" Murrue asked her with raised eyebrows, looking quite surprised. "And who exactly are you Rin La Flaga? Hypocrite."

Rin stuck out her tongue and Erica was in hysterics by the end of the short exchange. Erica recovered after a few moments and asked Murrue sweetly, "Any plans for marriage?"

Murrue blushed to the roots of her hair, and glanced down at her lap as her embarrassment grew. "If he asks..." She mumbled, shyly toying with a lock of her hair, "Then maybe... But if he doesn't, that's alright too... I don't really mind it one way or another, as long as he's here."

"Aw, now it's a romance." Erica teased, earning Rin's approval via laughter. Murrue was blushing brightly again, reminding the redhead of the roses that she was so in love with. "Oh c'mon, it's the perfect idea for a novel, don't you think? Fell in love, had a kid, lost the man of your dreams for two years, he came back amnesiac and you still managed to find a way to get your happiness back."

"It could either work as an epic love story worthy of the Titanic or a very bad harlequin romance, depends on the director and scriptwriter." Rin snickered, and she ducked a whack from Murrue but couldn't keep her laughter under control. "Either that or a very slow moving soap opera."

"I'm going to hurt you!"

"Save me!" Rin squealed, bounding up from the chair to hide behind the couch where Erica was sitting. Murrue gave chase, and it only ended up sending the trio into a mad fit of happy laughter. Rin grinned from behind the couch, watching the two older pregnant women laughing and smiling. 'I'm really happy for her... I bet the news will go well with Mu... Then the sky's the limit.'

"What'cha thinking about?" Mu asked, peeking down to watch his lover with a puzzled expression. She'd been quiet the entire day, as if in deep thought. They'd been snuggled up together on the couch watching a movie now that Bryan had been sent to bed, and through the entire film they'd been silent, something that unnerved him.

He was used to her thoughtful silence, and the comfortable one that they shared as well, but today it seemed different. As if she was trying to find a way to tell him something. And it was that fact that made him, anxious.

Murrue smiled sheepishly, looking up to see his concerned eyes and she immediately felt bad for making him nervous with her silence. Giving him a gentle kiss to the cheek she told him honestly, "Us... Do you remember that day in the park awhile ago?"

"Hmm, we've had a lot of days in the park." Mu told her with a little chuckle, winding his arms more securely around her waist. "Mind refreshing my memory?"

"That day when you suggested Bryan having a sibling."

Mu blinked, a little surprised by that and he watched her watching him intently, gouging his reaction. "Yeah... I remember that day... Why?"

Murrue blushed fiercely, and swore he could hear her heart racing madly inside her chest. She struggled for words, chewing her bottom lip for a few long moments as she thought it over. Finally she locked eyes with him and said softly, "You said that you'd be glad to be a father, didn't you? And now that you know you are... I want to tell you that our family is about to get a little bit bigger." He blinked, and his eyes widened a little and she whispered softly, "I'm pregnant."

"You're pregnant?" Mu repeated with widening eyes, and she nodded shyly, a small smile gracing her lips. "That's great!" She only had time to squeak in surprise before he nearly suffocated her in a massive bear hug. He let her go after a few long moments, grinning from ear to ear.

"I'm glad you're happy." Murrue squeaked, still breathless from the sudden embrace. He was grinning much like a little boy who'd just received a treat, and she hugged him again. He sat up and fluidly moved her into his lap, wrapping his arms securely around her waist.

"Of course I'm happy." Mu told her hoarsely, throat tight with several emotions that were all very closely related. Joy, delight, surprise, ecstasy, he could barely breathe he was so happy. "How could I not be?"

"No, it's not that I didn't think you would be, I just didn't expect such a... Reaction." Murrue answered weakly, watching his grin broaden as he nestled her closer to his chest. She took the advantage to snuggle as close as possible, breathing in his scent with a happy sigh. "I found out for sure yesterday from my doctor... I didn't know how to tell you right away, so I told the girls to practise on first..." She looked up at him, reaching out to touch the scar on his nose, before replacing her finger with a gentle kiss. "No secrets, remember?"

"I remember." Mu smiled broadly, taking the chance to snatch a warm kiss from her this time. She was eager to reply into it, thin arms thrown around his shoulders as she melted into his body. He broke away after a moment, looking thoughtful. "Well, if we're at it then..." After giving her another sharp kiss to the mouth he pulled out a box from his pocket and smiled wryly at her startled expression. "Well... I love you, you know that... And I love Bryan... Even before I knew who you were I'd fallen in love with your family all over again... It was nice to fall in love with you all over again, I enjoyed every minute I had with you... Even though I don't remember every single memory yet, I'm more than happy to spend my life with you making new ones. So..." He gently placed the box in her hands.

Murrue looked from his eyes to the box again, and tentively opened it, before gasping audibly. Inside the box sat a ring, a silver band topped with a triangle shaped fiery topaz stone. She looked up at him in shock, not sure what to say to him. "Mu..."

"Will you marry me?" Mu asked quietly, watching her stare from the ring to his face in amazement. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Bryan... And whoever's next... So... Will you marry me and make it official?"

Murrue could only nod, throat closed off with tears that were threatening to spill over her face. He took the box from her, took the ring out and gently placed it onto her hand to join it with the diamond she was already wearing. She swallowed hard, sniffling a little when the tears finally broke free. "I'm sorry, I'm just..."

"Silly." Mu scolded quietly, pulling her back into his lap and gently brushing her tears away. She sniffled softly again, and he leaned down to catch the last one with his lips, before smiling into her emotional face. "C'mere..."

"I love you." Murrue murmured brokenly against his neck trying her best to stop the tears that just seemed content to keep coming. "So much..."

"I love you too Murrue..." Mu muttered back, holding her securely as she snuggled closer to him if it was possible. He couldn't stop the smile that was spreading over his face now, the thought of the future that awaited them bringing an eagerness to him. 'Let the world bring what it wants... I have her... And the future's waiting.'

AN

XD Lol, I went all out, can you believe it? So, next one is the last one (yep I'm quitting, lol) And yeah I may miss some details/events but I'm hoping the fluff of the epilogue will be able to make up for it... And I'll do my best to try and capture as much as I can in a few short pages. (Lol) So hang on, the end is yet to come!

Sky