Okay, this is a VERY LONG Chapter . . . well, compared to the others, it's about 3x as long. Why? Because I really wanted to end this chapter at a certain place, and I was certainly surprised at how much it took to get there. Sorry for it taking so long to update, after I defeated my writer's block, I was really busy--I had been out from school for a while and was very, very behind and then this chapter was extremely long .. .
Sorry for this story being so tedious, andslow compared to my other work . . . well, this gets you to a certain point, as I said.
Note to jadiza-san: Thank you so much for those birthdays. I searched for them everywhere and I couldn't find them somehow (and now that I know them, I'm finding them almost everywhere . . . always miss whats the most obvious, right?)
Note to Seigi-san/ lithiumflower56: Okay, at first it was a coincidence that Tyler's mother fit the same description, but now . . . I've built onto it and the next chapter is where it's all explained out as to 'why.'
Sorry for the discrepancies . . . I probably made a lot more errors and people just aren't telling me . . .
Chapter Six: Destructive Timing
"Mu, why is it that you have to go?" She whimpered slightly, looking into his blue eyes for different answers to the questions she already knew the answers to.
"We've been over this, Murrue," he sighed, smiling as he looked into her face, trying hard to memorize every line on her lips, every gleam of her eyes before he left. "And the more times you ask that question, the more it's going to be harder for me to say good-bye . . ."
"Why do you think I won't stop then?" She smiled with a hollow laugh to her tone. Mu couldn't take it.
"Murrue . . . Nothing bad is going to happen." He brought his hand to her face, carefully caressing her soft cheek. "I'll be alright."
"Yeah, you better be alright," Murrue almost darkly threatened. From the rare moment of true amusement came Evi's soft little voice from down around his knees.
"Daddy?" Her large russet eyes blinked up at him. Mu knelt down beside her to try and even their stares.
"Hm?"
"Mama said you were going away for a long time . . ." The little girl murmured. "How long is a long time?" Her question threatened to shatter both of the parents' strong restraints. Murrue knelt down beside the both of them, folding the tiny girl into her arms.
"Oh, Evi . . ." She ignored Murrue's embrace, eyes focused on Mu, voice taking on a slight hardness as she asked again: "How long is a long time?"
Murrue's emotional restraint cracked first, bringing Evi closer to her as she struggled to her feet. Mu brushed a light kiss over the little girl's forehead before bringing his hard yet soft gaze to Murrue's face. It tore him to see her breaking.
Usually he thought Military Good-byes for him would never be so teary, but, it had been years since he'd had to give a Good-bye . . . and so much had changed . . . —He wasn't 'prepared.'
"Murrue, you know I don't want to go . . ." He almost cursed at his overused choice of words. "But, this is something that—"
"Just go, okay?" She spat at him, eyes diverting their gaze. Mu blinked at her, surprised. As if to explain the reason behind the words that had stopped Mu in his tracks, Murrue spoke up quietly, voice almost trembling. ". . . They say the faster you leave, the faster you come home . . . so remember that, okay?" Her amber eyes finally met his blue ones. "It only works if you come home." Mu nodded—there was nothing he could say. He kissed her, long and loving, both realizing how it might just be their last . . .
"I love you, Murrue," he muttered, pulling away. His car was waiting. Mu took a glance and smiled. "—Evi. See you later." With a grin and a wave, Mu left.
"See you tomorrow, Daddy."
Three weeks and several 'tomorrows' later, the day started out very much the same. Murrue woke to an empty bed, reminding herself that Mu was still of 'to work' and Evi woke cheery as always but quieted down during breakfast and such when 'Daddy' wasn't around. It may have started out the same, but it was one thing after another. Evi was to go to Tyler's for the day, spend time there and Murrue had he day to herself . . . fixing things, cooking, reading.
The phone rang, and Murrue picked it up casually, believing it to be Kara on the other line, like always since Mu had left. Except . . . it was her doctor.
She was pregnant.
First came the tears of joy then the tears of pain because . . . Mu didn't know . . .
The doorbell rang. Evi thundered down the steps, rushing to the door and swinging it open to find Tyler standing across from her, grinning ear to ear. Evi and Tyler 'stroke up a conversation' with each other; Murrue and Kara looked on, smiling quietly at each other.
Kara Diango stood in the doorway, holding tightly to a new child of hers—born only seven months before. She looked nothing like her sons, her beautiful, flyaway golden hair fit her quiet/outgoing personality just right and her dashing green eyes always held a reserved quality to them making a glance from her even more stunning. Tyler and Donnie, her second son, they both looked like her husband, Daniel. Their dark quality came from him.
Murrue often found herself wishing she had almost the same outside qualities as Kara, but it was a wasted gesture. Kara was a very close friend, and always had been.
"So, Murrue, has the mail come yet?" Her innocent question threatened to break the hold Murrue had on her eyes. Mu had promised to 'either write almost everyday or call.' She didn't expect it, but . . . it had been three weeks, and she'd gotten nothing at all.
"No . . . not yet."
"You'll hear from him, I promise," Kara reassured, fixing her hold on the young Donnie in her arms. "You know Mu—I know Mu . . . He's a good man and I envy you for him. You'll get what you want sooner rather than later. I'm sure of that."
"Yeah, I know, but . . ."
"No, 'buts,' Murrue. Now I have to go and get these three home to Daniel."
"Oh, Daniel!" Murrue's mind burst with realization. Daniel was Military too and he was going to be sent out as well . . . "When does he—?"
"Next week . . ." Kara muttered darkly, hating the fact. "He'll be with Mu's unit actually, so he can give Mu all your angry messages." The woman laughed.
"That'd be nice," Murrue smiled.
"What him to clock Mu up the head for you too?—But, I'm afraid that'll cost you extra . . ."
"How much, Kara?" Murrue smiled, knowing what she was getting at.
"Tell me how you've made it three weeks," Kara almost whined. "Daniel's going to be gone six months for sure. One week's going to be hell; two is going to be torture . . ."
"I don't know," Murrue shrugged, glancing down at her young daughter. "I've kept strong for Evi, I guess . . . everyday she asks whether Mu's going to be home for dinner or not . . ." The two little children interrupted their saddening conversation, pulling on Kara's arm to go home.
"Oh," she grinned, "looks like the little royals are getting bored. I'll race the three of them home and Daniel will take care of them. Then, how about you and I go out for lunch or something? Ease our minds over this silly soldier stuff . . ."
"Sure, Kara."
"Be right back!" The blonde smiled, pulling the little children along down the path towards the street. "—come on, Tyler, hold Evi's hand, yes, we're crossing the street now . . . Oops, watch out for the black car . . ."
Murrue watched Kara walk away, smiles on everyone's face. Murrue couldn't help but grin. She could see herself doing that in a few years, Mu by her side as they carted two, maybe three kids across the street . . . She couldn't wait.
The closing of car doors caught her attention, amber eyes flicking towards the men stepping out of a black car—walking up to her.
Meanwhile, Kara finally made it to her more than humble home. Daniel with his less than easy posture, dark hair and eyes stood in the doorway, easy smile splashed across his face. She smiled at him, but cocked her head when she noticed his eyes were focused from her. Kara went to pass him in the doorway, but his strong arm held her in place between inside and out. Tyler and Evi ran from her grip to inside as she turned around at Daniel's quiet motion.
Across the street, a few houses down, she could see . . . Two men, clearly Military, were standing across from Murrue, holding something out in front of them. From the distance, Kara couldn't see much more than that.
Something happened.
Something bad.
Murrue backed away from the men, things flying as she went almost falling over the one porch step as she blindly reached for the doorknob. Murrue disappeared into her house, the slamming of her door loudly reaching the farthest houses in the once peaceful calm. The men kept still for a few moments then walked slowly back to their car and drove away.
Kara numbly felt everything drop from beneath her. Only Daniel's grip on her arm was registered. They both saw . . . and knew . . .
Shoving Donnie into her husband's hands, Kara started to run towards the familiar house—tentatively at first, then faster and faster.
There were three things thrown about the front yard, dropped in the moment before. A Military jacket, a Military cap and a folded up sheet of paper. Not mentally strong enough to even look at the uniform, Kara numbly reached down for the sheet. Unfolding it like it meant everything—it probably did—she carefully read the contents of the letter. Tears threatened to seep from her eyes.
. . . Oh . . . God . . .
. . . Murrue . . .
"Murrue!" Kara banged on the door, letter folded once more and slid into the uniform's pocket. "Murrue!" She banged the door again, only imagining what was happening on the other side of the locked entrance. ". . . You need someone right now . . ." But Kara Diango couldn't imagine. "Let me in . . ." Not pain that serious. "Please . . . Murrue . . ." If just guessing what was happening in her friend's heart right then was causing so much hurt, how bad could one possibly feel? "MURRUE!"
---
Murrue woke with a start, gripping the sheets in front of her. She had begun to despise her dreams—or rather her recurring nightmares. Her mind seemed to have a talent for reminding her of things she would much love to forget.
The day Mu died to her—before they reclassified him as POW
. . . how she never wanted to feel that way again . . .
"Something wrong?" His lost voice mumbled from his sleep. He still wasn't awake despite the ever increasing grip around his middle.
"No, no everything's fine," Murrue got out, bringing her hand to his face reassuringly. The moment skin touched skin, Mu's blue eyes shot open and he pressed her hand to his cheek again.
"Your fingers are freezing, Murrue . . . you sure you're alright?" With a hard glance, she pulled her hand from his tight grip, hiding her cold fingers from his sight.
"Yes, I said I was fine, didn't I?" The woman huffed before pushing away.
"Murrue, come back to bed," Mu sighed watching her make her way across the cold floor. It was colder that morning—the seasons were changing. He watched her stubborn shivers blankly—that was, until she stumbled and fell towards the floor. Mu was on his feet split-second, but by the time he was, Murrue had already caught herself.
"Alright, Murrue, now go back to bed," Mu almost growled, voice deeper than she was used to hearing it. She shuddered slightly under his hot glare . . . it took a lot to rile him and yet, here Mu stood, clenching his fist tighter when the woman shook her head.
"No, I don't need to," Murrue shot back calmly. "I've been just fine up to now. . . . And I know myself more than you do . . . and I know that with a glass of water and some breakfast I'll be fine."
"How can you be so sure?" Mu's dark voice softened to a near-whisper, "You've been getting worse every day." Murrue shook her head as he stepped closer.
"How could you possibly know that . . . ?"
"I know." His tone was so final, so definite, Murrue had no answer for him. She just stood there, blankly looking back as he placed his thick hands lovingly on her arms and positioned himself to look hard into her eyes. "Now . . . please . . . go back to bed for five minutes at least. I'll get you your food and medicine, everything . . . just five minutes, okay? Then you can do whatever you want, against my better judgment of course."
With a nod of her head and a squeeze of his hands, Mu slightly limped out the bedroom door.
"Something's wrong," Murrue muttered, quietly concerned, to herself. Her thoughts were followed up by the familiar sound of something shattering from beyond the door.
"MURRUE!" Confused at his odd-laughing-type cry, she stared at the door. He called for her again, voice rising even higher even though he was only a few feet away.
"Quiet down," she scolded back, swinging open the door. "You're gonna wake—" Murrue couldn't finish, she was swept off her feet before she could get out another breath. Mu gave a laughing kiss to her cheek before setting her down again.
"This is great! It's over! Just amazing!"
"What, what, what?" Murrue didn't understand. She couldn't think of one thing that could switch Mu around so quickly. He'd been all about her being in bed a moment before and now he was swinging her around.
"The war, Silly," Mu grinned back at her inquisitive stare. "The second of the Orb Wars is finally over!"
It took a moment for the news to register and when it did, Mu was thrown back into a hug by Murrue. She couldn't believe it either. The first 'Orb War' only lasted a few months and nothing really major happened military wise, but the second one had been dragging out, the meeting sessions never really helping out with anything.
It had been over a year since the second 'War' started and everyday was just another day possibly leading to full scale battles, when war was fully declared on the other side. Thankfully nothing major had happened yet, but if war was officially declared, their peaceful little neighborhood would be wiped off the map for certain, with it being so close to a military headquarters and all. That and so many people would be called out and everything. It was always horrid to think about, so the day the second 'War' ended was a weight lifted from everybody's shoulders indeed.
They kissed again.
"Mama, Daddy, why are you making so much noise?" Evi's loud but sleepy voice came from the stairway. Mu and Murrue turned to look at her, eyes widening.
"Evi . . ." Mu started, slipping his hands away from Murrue to walk towards his daughter. "What is Matt doing upstairs . . . ?" Mu swept the toddler into his arms, making the little boy laugh.
"I wanted to see why you were being so loud and Mattie wanted to come too so I let him." Evi smiled, dark-sand hair flapping around with her over exaggerated nod. "Oh, and don't worry, Daddy. I carried him up the stairs." The parents didn't think their hearts could drop any farther and with the news . . . they did.
"Okay," Murrue interrupted. "I'll tell you why that's a bad idea later, okay, Evi?"
Matt had grown a lot in a short period of time. He had just started to walk on his own and, with Evi's constant energetic help, he was getting better, his footing more sure. Matthew still, though, hadn't said a word yet. It didn't trouble doctors or anything, that was normal, but . . . Mu's little order to the baby was not forgotten and it came up jokingly about whether Matthew had heard him or not. 'You, stay cute and silent as long as you can, you hear me? That's an order.'
The little boy blinked his blue-grey eyes at the three of them.
"Okay," Mu heaved a sigh, running a free hand through his hair. "Murrue, I'll take Evi back downstairs. You get back in bed—don't think I forgot . . . Matthew, you're coming with me. Okay? Okay."
"Aw, but Daddy," Evi whined as she reluctantly followed her father. "I'm not tired!"
"I never said for you to go to bed, Evi," Mu chuckled lightly, making his way down the steps. "I remember you telling me that you were going over to Tyler's house today . . ." Evi gasped, obviously remembering herself. Today was Saturday and whenever she went over to Tyler's house early on a Saturday, it meant they were going to do something fun—like the movies or shopping or something. Going out with Tyler and his mother was always fun. Evi ran the rest of the way down the stairs, laughing.
After Evi was changed and everything, Mu hauled the two kids up the stairs, setting them down in the kitchen at their respective places to eat. To Mu's grateful annoyance, breakfast had already been served and was waiting for each one of them, nice and ready. Even Matt's and Evi's food were cut up just right. It meant Murrue didn't go straight to bed.
With a sigh, Mu told the two kids to stay put while he ran to quickly get himself changed. Once inside his bedroom, which was connected to the kitchen, Mu stared long and hard at the waiting Murrue, sitting sweetly, covered up in bed, hot food beside her with a condescending smile on her face.
"Murrue . . ." He sighed, long and hard, making his way beside her on the bed. She pushed her food to the side and slid easily out of the covers as Mu sat down. "Murrue . . . I'm sorry." She cocked her head, leaning into him slightly.
"About what?"
"Well, I've been back a year . . ."
"What? How is that—"
"A year since I came back . . . And it's been so long and yet time's flown by so fast," he finished, still not making the best of sense in her eyes.
"That's because it hasn't been a year," Murrue retorted with a smile to lighten his. "It'll be a year two weeks from now exactly." Indeed, he did smile, but it didn't last.
"But still, the reason I was sorry, it was for the way I was earlier . . ." Mu's 'apology' clicked in her mind as he went on. At some points, she was sure she heard his voice trembled, but it was a fleeting impression. "It's just that your . . . 'condition' . . . you've been fighting it going on two years now and . . . It's been taking it's toll . . . and though you may not realize it, every time I—"
"Aw," Murrue interrupted quickly, voice calm and low, almost sensual. "That's too serious to talk about this early in the morning, Mu . . . come closer, have a bite. It's good," she teased holding the small shred of bread under his nose. Mu, already sitting beside her, grinned at the invitation. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her onto his lap as he reached out to bite the tantalizing food, but Murrue popped it in her mouth before he could eat it.
"Hey, that's not fair," he quietly revealed, voice dark but laughing as he followed the track the food had taken, kissing Murrue, tasting her breakfast on her slightly parched lips. He couldn't resist. ". . . yum."
There was silence between them. Murrue leaned into his inviting warmth and he into her, placing his chin lightly on her head, breathing in her almost intoxicating scent. The mutual understanding silence was welcomed.
Then Evi had to ruin it.
"Mama? Daddy? How long does it take to get dressed into day clothes? Because it's taking you a very long time. . . . Um, Daddy?" Mu rolled his eyes and Murrue felt his arms around her sag.
"Coming," he called, sighing his lungs out as he picked Murrue off so he could stand. She couldn't hold in her slight laughs at his melodrama. After quickly throwing on some clothes, Mu walked out of the room towards the kids, leaving Murrue to laugh to herself.
---
"No, that's fine . . . Yes, Saturday at Five, okay, I'll see you tomorrow, okay, thanks," Murrue nodded quickly at her conversation before slamming the phone receiver down as Mu stepped into the living room. She silently cursed to herself as she smiled. Evi stuck her hand in her mouth to keep from laughing as she watched.
"Who was it, Murrue?"
"It was . . . my doctor." She knew she'd made the mistake when Mu suddenly lost his calm composure.
"Oh! Is everything alright? What did she want? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Mu, don't worry . . ." Murrue glanced over at Evi and Matt: she, grinning uncontrollably and he, just sitting there.
"If I had a nickel every time I heard that . . ." Mu sighed, realizing he wouldn't get any farther. "If the doctor calls again, give her my thanks and if not, I'll still be getting our food anyway . . ." With another sigh, Mu smiled as he regretfully stepped out the door, tiredly giving up. It wasn't like they would tell him and besides, Mu still had to get the groceries. As the door closed behind him, Evi burst out laughing.
"That wasn't Doctor, Mama . . . Tyler's mama isn't a doctor." Murrue smiled at her children and pressed a finger to her lips.
"Don't tell, Daddy."
---
Two weeks and several hushed phone calls later, Murrue was ready to him what it was about, though never connecting it to her secrecy.
"We're going to Kara's house for dinner tonight . . . sort of like a big dinner to—I don't know— . . . 'celebrate' that a year's past since you came back," she smiled thinly at him.
"Kara's . . ." Mu racked his brain for a moment, mind stubbornly drawing a blank at the reason why his stomach flipped. Realization made him jump. "I'm not going there." Mu shook his head and stepped away hands up. "No way in hell . . ."
"What do you mean by that, Mu?"
"Did you even stop to think . . . ?" He couldn't finish his thought. Instead, he jumped on to the next one. "Daniel, her husband, didn't come back and you think it's alright to hold a 'fancy gathering' to honor my return in her house? How painful can it get?"
Mu tried hard to remember Daniel in his talk. They never really spoke—it was their wives who were the friends. The man had come over some times but other than that . . . His sons looked just like him, but he was quiet like Mu knew Matthew was going to be. That was all Mu could remember of the man. A Military man through and through, he'd gone off a few days after Mu had become a POW and a few days after making it home, Murrue had told him that Daniel didn't.
Murrue took a breath to steady herself.
"First, she invited us, it was her idea. Second, Kara is my friend. She was there for me when you weren't." Mu's throat constricted at her casually thrown statement. He couldn't tell if Murrue saw his stifled reaction or not, she kept going. "And third, she—"
"Okay, okay," he almost spat, having to get away from the uncomfortable situation she had unknowingly put him in. ". . . I get it."
Later, though, it was as if their tense conversation from before never happened. Murrue was sitting down before her vanity, getting herself ready for their dinner in less than an hour. She sat in a thin dressing gown, though—Mu didn't know which dress she was going to wear. Mu stood quietly by the window of the room, already ready, looking out on the street below.
Murrue watched a roguish grin silently slip its way across his face, eyes never straying from the window.
". . . What are you thinking about now?"
"Hm?" His laughing blue eyes found their way to hers. "Suddenly jealous of my thoughts, Murrue?" Murrue froze, what he said . . . it reminded her of a thought she'd rather not to have had. After a short moment, she realized what Mu had said right then.
"What?—No!" She blushed furiously. "No!—I—" Mu laughed, bringing himself closer to her.
"Why do I have a feeling that we're not going to be having a 'nice, fancy dinner'?" He wondered aloud. Murrue's eyes widened as he took that last step to land himself behind her. Mu grinned to her in the mirror as he placed his hands on her shoulders to whisper in her ear. "Don't worry, I can act surprised," he murmured before placing a quick kiss to her cheek. "Thank you—"
Mu slowly realized how tense she was beneath his touch. Instead of retreating his hands, their grip on her almost tightened. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing's the matter, why would you think that?"
"Because something is . . ." Mu smiled, condescending, knowing. "Come on, Murrue, you can tell me . . ."
"I've been thinking . . ."
"Oh, that's always a bad sign," he laughed. Murrue glared at his grinning face in the mirror. Her shoulders sagged slightly.
"It's just that," she didn't want to go on, but, pushing away the bad taste in her mouth, she kept going. "You haven't seen Kara in so long and . . ." Mu cocked his head suspiciously—he didn't understand.
"And . . . what?" Murrue tensely sighed, trying to find her words, trying to word it right.
"Remember that innocent talk we had . . . you know, about our 'dreams' . . . ?" She felt his hands stiffen slightly on her shoulders.
"I can recall it, why?" Murrue nervously smiled, diverting her eyes away from the mirror before her.
"Well . . . after I described him, I said 'thank God for unanswered prayers,' but . . . after yours, you said nothing . . . not to mention—"
"Murrue, Murrue, Murrue . . ." Mu 'sighed,' shaking his head almost as if sad. His thick hands finally left her shoulders as he walked away towards the door. ". . . I'll be downstairs—helping the other princess into her 'ball-gown,' you know. It's the red one, right?"
"Yes—no, actually, make it the yellow," Murrue corrected, going back to putting on her make-up, trying to hide her nervous confusion.
"Well, what's wrong with red?"
"She should be in the yellow," she told him again, quickly regaining her 'footing.'
"Hmm, Tyler's going to wearing that black ensemble of his, right?" Mu wondered aloud, leaning in the doorway, pensively holding his chin.
"If I know Kara, then yes . . ."
"Well, then Evi should wear white," Mu corrected like it was the most obvious thing. Murrue raised an eyebrow dangerously.
". . . Should I be implying something . . . Mu . . . ?" It took a short moment for the man to realize what Murrue was all suspiciously up in arms about. This time it was his turn to pink.
"What?—No!—I didn—"
"The yellow dress," Murrue interrupted firmly. "Yellow. Please and thank you." Mu sighed and childishly rolled his eyes as he walked off, closing the door behind him. Murrue called after him. "Oh, and M—" She didn't finish as coughing interrupted her.
Murrue kept on coughing beyond the closed door as she almost frantically reached over for the always nearby glass of water. Mu held his ear to the door, a sad tint to his eyes. He would have moved in to help her, but he knew full well she'd just push him away.
Lately, Murrue's sickness had gone beyond 'dizzy spells' and included coughing. Another sign that meant she was "progressing." But it was good, though—the doctor had said that without that medicine she takes everyday, Murrue would have started having her coughing spurts long ago.
She gasped, finally able to breathe, sputtering out the extra water she had tried to gulp down in her hurry. Calming herself down, Murrue leaned forward on her vanity, head in hands. Even though she was used to the random attacks, every time she had one, her heart sank lower. It was her reminder.
". . . Murrue," Mu muttered, quietly from the open doorway—he'd pushed it open a crack. A laugh picked up in his voice, "next time you do that, don't try to drown yourself, okay?" She couldn't help but 'laugh' at his lightening 'joke' as he quickly made his way downstairs—Evi had been calling.
". . . I wont," she smiled lightly.
---
"You ready yet?" Mu called up, preoccupied with fixing Matthew's 'suit' while also braiding Evi's long hair while keeping both the children still in their excitement. "Murrue!"
"I'm right behind you," she replied quietly, stepping off the stairs. Mu spun around to be captured in her look. He grinned. So that's why you didn't want Evi to wear red, eh? Murrue looked absolutely stunning in a long deep-red dress even Mu hadn't seen before. Suddenly, he felt way too casual to go to Kara's when standing beside Murrue. She must have read his mind because it was then she cleared it.
"You look just fine yourself, Mu . . ." Murrue kissed him as Evi struggled to cover both her eyes and her little brother's. After their little 'embrace' was over, Murrue struggled to get out of the house claiming how they were already late, but Mu cleanly stopped her.
"Jacket, Murrue," he revealed stonily, reaching into the closet for the long, black coat for her.
"Mu," she sighed, hand still on the doorknob, "it's nice outside—I don't need one."
"Ahh, but when we come back, we'll be walking back in the dark . . ." He thrust the coat into her hands diving back into the closet for Evi's and Matthew's.
"Aw, but it's less then five minutes!" Evi joined in on the whining. Though she didn't fully understand what Mu meant by it—she didn't want to wear her puffy purple jacket either. Murrue laughed, forgetting just who it was Evi had seemed to defend. Out of habit, Murrue carefully knelt down beside Evi to help coax the covering on. Mu took on Matt, sliding his dark blue jacket on. The father held off a shiver. The little boy kept staring at him blankly, as if seeing something in Mu's face the man couldn't feel. Matthew's blue-grey eyes blinked beneath his dark hair as his gaze traveled quickly to Evi. His mouth opened, out popping a small gargle of baby speech that was rare to hear from the quiet boy.
"Daddy, something's caught in Mattie's sleeve . . .—this hand," she pointed out, holding out her own. Curious, Mu unstrung the boy's arm from his jacket only to have a small stick fall out. Evi giggled and Matt smiled.
"Evi . . ." Mu was speechless, but Murrue picked up the question.
"How did you know?"
"I knew," Evi shrugged. "I know when something's wrong with Mattie." Mu and Murrue shared a look with each other before Murrue's eyes fell to the clock.
"Darn, we're really late!" She jumped up, helping Mu off the floor—his leg was acting up again—and started for the door, one kid on each hand. With a laugh, Mu grabbed Murrue's coat left on the floor and followed her outside.
"Did you forget something?" He whispered in her ear when he caught up to her, draping the warm coat over her shoulders. She blushingly thanked him. Mu freed one of her hands, bringing Evi to his side.
After the young family crossed the street, Mu's eyes widened with realization before melting into one of his roguish grins.
"Why are you grabbing my arm, Murrue . . . ?" He asked childishly, looking down at her. Sure enough her free arm was wrapped tightly around his, like she never wanted to let go.
". . . Because . . ." She paused and thought over why it was she was holding on so tightly. "It's gonna be busy in there so I don't want to lose you in there." She couldn't tell him the real reason why.
"Busy?" His face arched innocently, stopping in his tracks right before the neighbor's door. "And I thought we were just going to have a peaceful dinner . . ." Murrue blinked at his grinning face. Mu laughed. "I never said I what I thought this was . . . you've been telling me everything. Don't worry, I said I'd act surprised."
After a few moments of pensive silence, Murrue smiled.
"Don't flatter yourself, Mu. Its not all about you . . . this is also a gathering to celebrate the final conclusion of the second Orb War."
". . . Oh, really . . ." To show his approval, Mu leaned forward to graze his lips over hers—Evi whining as he did so.
"Why do you have to do that . . . while I'm watching?" Mu laughed, picking Evi up beside him with some trouble. Matthew just looked on from his standing spot beside Murrue, holding her hand tightly. Evi flattened out her yellow dress, braids flapping as she struggled in his arms.
"Well, what would you rather we did?" Mu challenged her, looking straight into her russet eyes. All four of them seemed to forget they were standing right in front of Kara Diango's silent house. Evi paused and cocked her head at the question.
"Aw, I don't know, Daddy . . . something fun." Evi shrugged as she played absent-mindedly with his hair, pushing it into his eyes.
"And this is fun?" Mu retorted laughing, as Murrue giggled slightly beside him. Both the children smiled as he struggled to push his hair back into place as best he could—Evi had screwed it up.
As Mu struggled, Evi leaned over and pressed the doorbell. The front door was wrenched open immediately like they'd been waiting impatiently forever. Mu mouthed along with the 'SURPRISE' before beginning his 'acting' over how 'surprised' he was. Both Evi and Murrue had to struggle not to laugh. Matthew just cocked his head.
The family was enveloped by the horde of guests and was quickly taken inside. Once Evi and Matt were placed aside in a makeshift nursery with the other kids and such, the party really 'started.'
Everybody was there. Not only past friends off the Archangel, but neighbors and everything. It was funny to Mu, how with each person that greeted him, how many had no idea he came back until they received the invitation for the 1st Year 'party.' Of course, he hadn't really seen that many people since coming back. The neighbors and close Military—that was about it.
Kira and his friends were all there to shake Mu's hand and to talk. Murrue was pulled close to his side throughout all of it. The older man wasn't used to the attention at all.
Murrue, though, was silently always on the lookout for Kara, the woman who's house they were all in. She had seen her friend at the beginning but after that . . . it was like the dashing woman had just disappeared.
---
After it all simmered down, and everything really important was out of the way, Mu's shoulders sagged as he leaned 'exhausted' against the wall, finally 'relaxed.' Murrue smiled. The two of them talked about random things with random people, finally enjoying the party—the real reason for it all almost lost.
Mu finished laughing over something about Evi and Tyler with Kira, Athrun, Cagalli, Lacus, before turning to Murrue.
"I'll be right back, okay?" He told her. "And I suggest you get a drink, you know . . . incase." His voice rose a bit higher, reminding her of before, back in their room. Murrue nodded as he promised he'd be right back again before making his way through the party and out of sight. Murrue waited for over five minutes, but Mu never came back and she was sure she hadn't moved at all.
That was when she started asking around.
"Has anybody seen Mu?"
"Yeah, where is our returning 'hero' anyway?" Their usual answer wasn't one Murrue liked. With each question, her heart started racing again. It wasn't a particularly large house. The man of honor at a party shouldn't be that hard to find.
"Oh, Ms. Murrue?" Andy Waltfeld walked up to her with a smile—it was mixed with an emotion . . . she just couldn't place. "I think I saw him making his way towards the kitchen or something. I'm sure you'll find him there."
She thanked Andy and with a new determination, peeled her way though the crowd to where the kitchen stood, a heavy feeling weighing down on her.
---
Mu was splayed out lazily in one of the chairs of the dimly lit kitchen reveling in the soft 'silence,' busily staring down at all the food set out on the table. The smell of the place was heavenly; it made his stomach growl with every breath.
"If you want something, then take it," she laughed, "you're a guest too, Mu." Without waiting another moment, he had already popped one of the appetizers cleanly into his mouth. The taste made his mouth water even more.
"Thank you," he murmured between chews. "It's absolutely delicious." She spun around from her spot at the stove, blond hair flying, green eyes flashing.
"You're acting like you've never had my cooking before, Mu."
"I haven't . . . haven't I?"
"Mu," she sighed with a smile. "Remember before Evi? Yes, there was life before your daughter—But, remember how both you and Murrue decided not to cook because your dishes tasted horrible?"
"Hey . . ." Mu's eyes narrowed at her. She laughed.
"It's the truth! Back then, you were always stealing food from me."
"Oh yeah . . ." Mu realized with a grin, "I must've forgot, sorry."
"No, it's okay . . . Daniel was the same way." Mu looked down, that twinge stirring within him again. It's the pain every soldier gets when talking with the loved one of one that didn't make it back. The guilt of somehow being alive.
"I'm sorry."
"No, don't be . . ." She quietly turned back to her job of cooking, stirring whatever it was that was simmering on the stove. Mu's eyes traveled around the room, landing on a picture frame of the happy family—taken right before Daniel Diango was sent out, never to come back again.
"Tyler and Donnie look just like their father though," Mu muttered, "except Ty's got his mother's beautiful eyes." The warmth on Kara's face wasn't just from the heat of the kitchen anymore.
"Yes," she mumbled out, "but Evi looks just like you."
"No, or at least she wont," Mu laughed. "When she grows up, I'll bet you she'll look like Murrue. Her hair's getting darker and it's starting to get wavy—a bit anyway."
"She'll be very pretty." Kara turned away from her cooking and warmly smiled. "—and then comes the time for her first boyfriend . . . oooh, I want to see your face when that happens. It's always the fathers who get clingy . . ."
"What?" Mu was taken aback by the sudden jump in the conversation. Kara went on, almost lost in herself while all Mu could do was listen. He was never that good with Kara—she was his wife's friend 'only.'
"Kids, they grow up so quickly, life's such a blur," she relayed quietly. "My father always told me that. I was the youngest out of a brother and sister so I had the luxury of watching their mistakes and learning from them. So, let me assure you, that when Evi grows older, she'll be giving you Hell."
"I bet you Tyler will be worse," Mu grinned, standing up to stretch before popping another snack into his mouth. That time though, he almost missed and he got red sauce on his face and on his white collar. He cursed.
"Oh, Mu," Kara laughed, watering down a cloth, "what are we going to do with you?" She pushed him down into the chair again so she could have an easier reach to his tall form. She was even shorter than Murrue.
Mu watched, half-stunned, as Kara slowly wiped the sauce from his face and then as she started to blot out the spot on his collar, her face came ever closer in her concentration.
"Daniel'd always make a mess of things," she murmured. "He'd either say the wrong thing . . . or not know how to act . . . And he's always break something . . . or spill something. He was casual to a fault, even though he was so quiet at times . . ." Mu stiffened in his chair as her close face gave way to a small tear forming at the corner of her eyes. ". . . I really miss him . . . He was just . . .— . . . Kinda like you, Mu."
Mu swallowed—hard.
The blonde beauty with dashing green eyes leaned forward and, without anymore of a warning, pleasingly kissed him.
And Murrue saw it all.