( This is set after my earlier fic 'Hospital'. I wanted to write about when Murrue-san came home, so here we are! )

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She awoke to the sounds of birds chirping outside. Slowly opening her amber eyes, Murrue looked around...and smiled. She was home now. Everything around her, the items littering the bookcase and table...it was all familiar to her now. Sitting up, she peered around herself. She was in the sofa bed in the main part of the bedroom, clothed in her favourite nightdress.

But how...I don't remember getting home..how did I...?

The last thing she remembered was getting in the car to come home...she must have fallen asleep. But then, how did she end up like this? Did..Mwu do it? A blush crept onto her cheeks at the realisation that he must have been the one to put the nightgown on her and tuck her in bed, as though she were a child no older than their daughter. It was so...embarrassing.

If I hadn't stayed awake all night in the hospital waiting for him..I wouldn't have fallen asleep on the way home. It's my own fault...

The sofa bed was rumpled, as if someone else had been sleeping there. Murrue smiled, and touched the pillow next to her own. The sheets still smelt faintly of him, although it seemed he had been up for quite a while. Pushing the sheets back, the auburn-haired woman got (rather unsteadily) to her feet, and very slowly made her way out of the bedroom. She was still having trouble making her limbs obey her, and she had only been able to walk again for about a week.

Peeking around the door of the nursery, Murrue frowned in confusion as she saw that the 14-month old Stellar wasn't there. The room was empty and silent, the cradle neat.

Where is she? Is she with Mwu?

Stiffly, slowly, she made her way downstairs. A fresh morning breeze was blowing through the house, and the sunlight streamed through the open kitchen door. Noticing that there was coffee in the pot on the worktop, Murrue picked up a rose-patterned mug from inside a cupboard, turning it over in her hands.

This is my favourite mug. Mwu bought it for me the day we moved into this house...

Everything was familiar now, but she still found herself double-checking things, worried that some of her memories hadn't returned yet. Now she understood how Mwu had felt in the days after he had rediscovered his real self. He had been very insecure for a while, not quite believing that everything would really be all right.

After pouring herself a cup of the still-warm coffee, Murrue made her way outside. Just as she had suspected, there he was, sitting at the table in the garden, mug of coffee in front of him. Mwu was leaning back, seemingly enjoying the sunshine. A smile came to the woman's face as she tiptoed out of the house, and up behind him. Setting the hot drink down on the ground, she wrapped her thin arms around him, kissing him on the cheek, nuzzling into his neck and breathing in his scent.

Her husband chuckled, kissing her hand. "Good morning, beautiful, did you sleep well?" Taking her arm, Mwu pulled her around and to himself, so she was sitting on his lap. His hand came up to gently stroke her cheek. "Are you happy to be home?"

Murrue nodded, just staring at him. His blue eyes twinkled with the sunlight and with happiness, and his delighted smile made him so handsome...she loved him so much, it made her chest feel tight. Throwing her arms around him, she hugged him as hard as she could, and she heard and felt him laugh as he hugged her back.

"I guess that's a 'yes' then..." he whispered, and kissed her gently.

After they broke for air, Murrue looked around, but she couldn't see her baby anywhere. "Where's Stellar?"

Mwu smiled. "I took her over to the kid's place while you were still asleep..No, no, it's okay, she'll be back after lunch..." he soothed, seeing the tears brim in his wife's eyes. "I just..." he looked away, not able to face her sadness. "I know you missed her while you were away..but I just..I wanted you to myself for a little while. When I found out about the accident..I was so scared..." he said softly, pulling Murrue closer. She looked down, dark hair hiding her face. "I..I don't remember that..don't remember what happened.."

Mwu closed his eyes, remembering all too well that day three weeks ago. Seeing her lying there in the hospital bed, so still and pale...his heart had stopped for a moment. She had looked so fragile..her pale skin almost white against the sheets, her head bandaged. Even though people had repeatedly told him that Murrue would be all right, seeing her just lying there like that..he'd been terrified that he'd lost her. Erica had told him Murrue had fallen from a gantry while working, and that the doctor had said it was a miracle she had survived at all, let alone that she had no serious injuries.

He couldn't tell her all this though, so he only held onto her tightly, as though he never wanted to let her go again.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered, eyes still closed. "I'm so sorry..."

"For what?" she asked, thin hands caressing his hair. "You've nothing to be sorry for..."

"I do..because now I know..how much it hurts to be forgotten..and I did that to you.." Murrue tilted his chin up so he was looking directly at her. "It wasn't your fault. Never ever blame yourself for that, you hear me?" The stern look faded, and she leaned down, her hair tickling his cheeks. "Okay?"

He sighed, hugging his wife close again. "It's because..you and the munchkin are all I have. If something happened to one of you..what would I do?"

Murrue kissed him on the forehead, understanding his fear. While he was gone..in those two years, I was alone, but not completely alone. I had my friends, all of them, people I could rely on totally if I needed them. But Mwu...he was never able to do that...to rely on others so much like I could. So for those weeks I was sick...he must have been all alone except for the baby...

Snuggling closer to him, as close as she could get while sitting on his lap, she whispered words of comfort to him.

"It's okay, honey, it's okay."

Mwu just laughed, no humour in the sound. "Funny really. They say men are meant to be the strong ones, right? But you...you're so much stronger than me. I..I couldn't cope if you weren't around..."

Murrue didn't know what to say. This is really how he feels? He depends on me this much? But I thought I was the one who depended on him?

She kissed him softly. "To tell the truth...I don't feel so strong at the moment. I can hardly walk, and I get so tired..." He laughed, it sounding once again like the cheery laughter she loved so much. "Don't worry.." he said, ruffling her hair. "It's just because you're recovering, that's all. Soon you'll be running about all over the place again, trying to do thirty things at once..."

She giggled, but then sighed. "But I hate this...feeling so helpless.."

Her husband laughed again, standing up and helping her to her feet. "One thing you could never be, my love, is helpless."

After he took her arm for support, the couple made their way on a slow walk around the garden, enjoying the feel of the breeze, and the company of each other.

Later that day, Kira and Lacus turned up, baby Stellar with them. The toddler's crystal-blue eyes widened when she saw her mother for the first time in three weeks, and she squealed in delight, kicking her little chubby legs, and squirming around in Lacus' arms, trying to get to the dark haired woman. Murrue walked closer, slowly, then knelt down on the grass. The infant, after being put down, toddled across as fast as she could go, finally clambering up on Murrue's lap.

Murrue herself hugged the baby tightly, tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks. "Oh, sweetheart, I missed you!"

Stellar giggled and laughed, so happy in her baby way, babbling and playing with the ends of her mother's dark hair. Helping Murrue to her feet, Mwu took her and their daughter into his arms, blue eyes closed in contentment, happy that he finally had his beloved little family together again, the two people in the world who meant so much to him...

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( A wee bit disjointed, but you try writing whilst holding down three conversations on MSN Messenger...

Please read and review! )