Sorry if you think my chapters are too short. I opted for short chapters close together instead of long chapters all spread out. Please bear with me!

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'Well, life certainly has been hair raising,' Sophie thought wryly. After a month of being an official couple, Sophie still was never quite sure what was going on. One minute, Howl was being sweet and lovable, and the next, he was so irritating Sophie was ready to scream, which she sometimes did. But he always made it up to her, taking her out to dinner or for a drink, or doing something special just for her. And he hadn't spent more than 15 minutes in the bathroom in ages. Normally, Sophie was completely happy with her life with Howl.

But lately, Sophie'd felt slightly out of it without quite knowing why, although she had a sneaking suspicion that it had something to do with the way Howl had been acting lately. While he'd been friendly, he'd seemed quite distant while talking to her, and when she asked him if he was well, he'd just smile and say something to the effect of, 'You've gone soft Sophie,' or 'If I recall, cariad, you didn't seem to care the last time I wasn't well.'

This left Sophie feeling rather like a toy, loved dearly by a child, and then cast off when the newness an luster of its appeal had worn off. And today, Sophie felt more dejected than usual.

"Hello, Sophie," Howl murmured as he walked in the door, late in the day.

"Hello, Howl," Sophie sighed back without looking up as she folded the washing.

Howl stopped short. "Sophie? Is something the matter?"

She looked up, surprised. "No. Why would anything be the matter?" she looked up with more weariness than usual.

"Oh, I don't know, you just don't seem…well. Have I done something wrong?"

She shook her head slightly, considering. "No, I don't believe you have, Howl."

"Then what's wrong?"

"Nothing!...I'm sorry. I just want to be alone for a bit, is all." with that, she climbed into her cubby and shut the door behind her, leaving Howl feeling like a fish that's been given wings and told to fly.

Several hours later, Howl sat in from of the fireplace working slowly on a spell. "You're never going to finish, at that rate. Why don't you go get lover girl to help you?" smirked a familiar crackly voice suddenly.

Howl jumped slightly, then resettled himself, sighing. "She's just the problem. She seems sad, and I don't know what to do."

"You could try talking to her," Calcifer suggested impishly. "I've heard that women like it when the men courting them actually take a few minutes to ask after them, and then listen to the answers given."

"Are you saying that I'm ignoring Sophie?!" Howl demanded. "I've done no such thing!" Calcifer gave him a pointed look. "Well maybe…I haven't been as attentive…Alright, I haven't spoken to her much in one…three…nearly 10 days? Has it really been that long?" Howl's voice was incredulous.

Calcifer nodded. "Are you going to talk to her?"

"Of course." Howl lowered his voice to a conspiring whisper. "I've been nervous. I've been wanting to…to – propose, for quite some time now, and I've been trying to figure out if she's ready or not."

Calcifer snorted. "Is THAT all?" he asked, rather loudly. Howl looked around wildly. "Shh! She might hear!"

Calcifer took some pity and lowered his voice. "Can you please talk to her SOON? I'm sick of hearing her complaining over you."

As Howl opened his mouth to reply, Sophie came out of her cubby, yawning and stretching like a cat. She curled up next to Howl in front of the fire, flashing him a brief smile before staring aimlessly into the grate. "Sophie?" Howl asked cautiously. She sighed in reply. "Would you come up to my room? I have something I'd rather like to discuss with you," he murmured, glancing nervously at Calcifer, who nodded encouragingly.

"Sure, why not?" Sophie murmured curiously, standing again. Howl took her hand and led her to the stairs.