The day was hot, clear, and sunny. Of course, every day was hot in the sub-tropical atmosphere of Orb, but this was the first day after the monsoon season, the first day the humidity of the last month or so had cleared up, and that called for a celebration. There was no real need to celebrate, of course, not just because of the weather, but somehow it seemed the right thing to do. After all, it had been several weeks since everyone could be together, everyone had been so busy with their own lives after the end of the peace talks.
Partly this celebration was because of the weather, partly because of the overwhelming feeling of peace that had descended on the small country, and partly because of Mwu and Murrue's engagement just over a month before.
Mwu of course, had loved the idea of a party for that reason, his new fiancee, more than slightly embarrassed about it. Everyone, all their friends, had been so happy for them. Happy, but not surprised that they were engaged, only surprised that it hadn't happened earlier..
So there they all were, at the simple wooden house by the beach, the sea breeze blowing some of the heat away, making the washing that was almost a constant dance on the line. The breeze also lended itself to kite flying, the orphans running about the beach, pulling colourful home-made contraptions behind them. Kira and Athrun stood watching, helping to fix some of the kites the wind had been too rough with. But Mwu...
Mwu was right in the middle of the childish games, one of the orphans sitting on his shoulders. His loud merry laugh echoed around the beach, mixing with the giggles of the children. He ran over the sand, the youngster on his shoulders clutching the strings of a bright blue kite, making it twirl and swoop through the air.
"Mwu-san..." sighed Kira, as the kite finally fell to the ground. "Aren't you a little too old to be playing with kites?"
The man raised an eyebrow, blonde hair blowing in the wind. "Who's too old? Anyhow," he continued, impish grin back on his face, "I bet you I can fly one of these better than either of you two could..."
Now it was the two boys' turn to grin. "Oh yeah?" asked Athrun, green eyes flashing with the challenge. "We'll see about that!"
The game began again, three kites flying through the afternoon sky, the orphans running about with the older ones as they competed to see which of the toys could fly the highest.
In the kitchen of the little house, three women watched the game. The oldest, a tall woman with long auburn hair, sighed, and slumped into one of the chairs around the table. "He's such a child..."
One of her companions, a smaller, younger girl with long wavy pink hair, smiled sweetly. "But he's always been like that. I don't think that Fllaga-san will ever change. And it's good for Kira and Athrun too. They haven't been able to act their own age for quite some time..."
Murrue looked up at Lacus, a small smile on her own face. "Yes, I understand that. But sometimes I do wonder if agreeing to marry him so soon was the right idea..maybe I should have waited a while..." She idly fiddled with the engagement ring she wore, the diamond glittering in the sunlight. The youngest girl, Meyrin, frowned a little. "What for? Everyone said when you got engaged that it was the right thing. They all said that you and Fllaga-san were meant to be together, and that they were surprised you didn't get married, or at least engaged, right away..."
Murrue blushed. "I...we...I..." she stuttered, making the two younger girls laugh. Shaking her head, the older woman got to her feet and moved towards the stove again. "We...we should get back to work..." The three women, as well as Kira's mother, were making a buffet dinner for later. Knowing that everyone, especially Mwu, Kira and Athrun, would be able to eat a lot, they had been busily working for most of the day, making sandwiches, sausage rolls, and other snack foods, as well as a lot of cookies.
"I hoped..." began Lacus, causing the other two females to look at her, "that you being here, Murrue-san, and people being able to see how happy you and Fllaga-san are together, might...might encourage..Kira.." Her cheeks flushed a pale pink. Murrue sighed.
Kira-kun does loves Lacus-san, I know he does...but he's never really done anything to express how he feels. Perhaps she's right, perhaps Mwu and I could help somehow...
A loud wailing cry broke her concentration, and she looked up, marigold eyes lighting on one of the orphan children. The little boy had trails of tears down his cheeks, and his left knee was badly scraped, the blood clearly visible.
"I..I fell over.." he sniffled. Murrue smiled, and lifted the child in her arms, sitting him on the kitchen table.
"It's okay..." she soothed, ruffling his hair. She washed the scrape with water, and dried it off, adding a sticking plaster. "There we are, all better now.." The little boy smiled, and jumped down off the table. "Thank you, Murrue-san!" After he had run back to join his friends, Murrue turned around at the sound of girlish laughter. "What is it?"
Meyrin chuckled, small hand pressed to her mouth. "You'll make such a good mommy, Ramius-san..."
The auburn-haired woman flushed, cheeks turning poppy red. Lacus nodded. "Meyrin-chan's right. You'll make a wonderful mother. Are you and Fllaga-san planning to have children of your own?" Murrue's blush deepened further, and she didn't answer.
A few hours later, it was time for dinner. As predicted, the children, Mwu, Kira and Athrun descended on the buffet meal like locusts, the sandwiches and snack food disappearing quickly. Mwu in particular ate a great deal, including several pickled onions. However, he soon regretted that choice when he moved to kiss his fiancee, and she shrank away from him.
"No! Get away! Your breath smells terrible!" And no amount of pouting, or cuddles, could induce Murrue to change her mind. For the rest of the meal, the scarred man sat slumped in a corner, eating all the cookies in a fit of childish sulking.
Later that night, after the sun had set, a large campfire was set up on the beach, logs placed around it for seats. Athrun produced the large (almost too large) bag of marshmallows he had brought along, and soon there were laughs and giggles around the fire as the group jostled for the best position, trying to toast the fluffy sweets without burning them. Not long after, there were grins and sticky fingers (and also a few burnt fingers).
Mwu sat on one of the logs, Murrue beside him. Over the course of the evening, she had moved closer until she was leaning against him, head nestled on his shoulder. Her beautiful face was happy, serene.
"Can I kiss you now?" he muttered, stroking her arms. She smiled, eyes closed. "Later, you can. When we're alone..." Mwu grinned. "Nah...I wanna kiss you now..." And he did, so passionately, the couple fell backwards off the log, and onto the cool sand. Everyone looked up in surprise, and laughed at the sight unfolding. Murrue was bright red, and whacked Mwu on the arm.
"Idiot..what did you do that for?" He just laughed, handsome face alight with happiness, blue eyes twinkling.
Kira looked thoughtful at what he'd just seen, and suddenly grabbed Lacus, planting his lips on hers in a kiss of his own. Lacus' blue eyes opened wide, then closed in bliss. This was what she had been waiting so patiently for, and she was going to enjoy every second. Mwu and Athrun grinned, and gave each other a thumbs-up across the campfire circle. Murrue frowned. "Huh?"
"Me and him have been working on the kid all day, trying to get him to make a move. I'm glad he finally did!"
When the light of the fire was beginning to die away, the younger ones produced fireworks, which they gleefully proceeded to set off, the resulting bangs and flashes of the bottle rockets and roman candles lighting up the night sky.
Murrue and Mwu sat together still on the log, smiling as they watched the teenagers race around in the dark, laughing and shouting with the orphans.
"It's so nice..." Murrue murmured, "to see them all like this. To see them having fun, living their own lives and finally being able to act like children again..." A rocket exploded overhead. "And if these are the only explosions I ever see again, I'll be happy..."
Mwu wrapped his arms a little tighter around her waist, nuzzling into her dark hair. "They will be, I'm sure. Peace is here to stay now, and so am I. So...you never have to worry again, all right?" He placed a kiss on her cheek.
She turned to face him, tears in her tawny eyes. "Thank you.." She moved up, her eyes closing, and kissed him softly on the lips, happy that there was peace now, and that she had him with her...
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( Yay! Weeeellll, I don't know where half of this came from, but I really wanted to make Kira score with Lacus. Poor Lacus always looks as if she's waiting for something for most of GSD, and I'm sure that she's waiting for Kira to get off with her. But he never does, the slack idiot XO.
Please read and review! )