Okay, one more chapter left after this one! (And possibly an Epilogue…) Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for reading and I promised a nice surprise for this chapter and there is one (or two if you want to be specific) This chapter is shorter than the last two, but it's about the length of the other.

I cannot believe how long this 'Part Three' is . . . Over eight chapters! The other two parts each had four short ones to their names . . . For that I'm sorry though, I've never been good with writing stories that go over a long period of time. If you recall, Part One spanned three days, Part Two spanned four weeks and now this Part Three? Oh, Two years or so (104 weeks / 730 days /1,051,200 minutes /etc. --check my math). . . So sorry if it's very choppy.

Okay, I've taken up enough space, on with the story.

Chapter Eight: Blinded Promises

Mu sighed.

That was all he could do. It was dark in his open house, the sun long since gone down and there was only a sliver of moon to illuminate the place through the windows.

He was tired, but he kept busy by counting the seconds that passed by in the minutes shone brightly on the night clock across the hall. It was Twelve-thirty already. Mu sighed again.

He sat in the center of the couch. The two princesses were asleep on each of his arms and his son had curled up in his lap—heck, even the cat was purring in its sleep a few cushions away. To Mu, the entire world was asleep except him. Both his arms and legs were asleep from the pressures of the people leaning into them, and if he shifted, he felt the shooting pain that came along with limbs falling asleep for the long-term. So Mu was absolutely stuck, but he felt like he could never be happier.

The family had gathered for a book reading. Evi wasn't tired, and surprisingly, neither was Matt, so Evi pulled out five random books—three picture and two lengthy novels—and insisted Mu and Murrue read them aloud. Somehow, they had small fights over certain things, but after slowly getting over each quarrel, they picked up reading again. It certainly let the time fly. Before Mu knew it, his family had fallen asleep, leaving him alone awake . . . again.

With a smile, Mu turned to face her resting face.

"Murrue . . ." He whispered, moving his arm to shake her lightly. "Murrue," he called again. He woke somebody, but it wasn't his wife. Evi yawned and rubbed at her eyes.

"What is it, Daddy?" His eyes narrowed in his caring.

"Oh, Evi . . . Go to sleep . . ." Her face broke out of its sleep instantly.

"I'm not tired!" She retorted, pulling on his shirt for emphasis. Murrue stirred; Matthew didn't move. Mu's face pulled into a laughing frown. His mind traveled to the perfect answer.

"I'll give you a dollar if you stay up till morning," he offered with a smirk. Evi's russet eyes widened gleefully.

"Okay!" Mu blinked in response.

"Huh? Odd," he muttered to himself. "It always works when Murrue does it . . ." He'd seen her do it so many times—it was like a tricky little band-aid she'd even used on him a few times. 'I'll give you a dollar if you hiccup.' 'I'll give you a dollar if you cough.' Each time they tried for a dollar they couldn't do it, yet . . .

"It's because she knows you'll give it to her anyway, Mu," Murrue revealed sleepily from her spot across from Evi.

"Hey!"

"It's true . . . You're the man who can't say 'no' to those he cares about." Murrue stifled a yawn as she woke herself up. Mu playfully glared at her.

"That's a complete and total exaggeration."

"Really?" Murrue cocked her head, a knowing grin spread across her face. "If I asked for a rose, tomorrow morning there'd be a rose beside me. If I asked for the moon, you'd try to get me the moon and then you'd somehow find a way to fit it in our backyard."

"There's a moon rock in our closet," he revealed almost sheepishly. Murrue blinked, eyes widening, mouth partly open. He grinned at her surprised face. "I am the guy who can make the impossible, possible, after all." Murrue couldn't resist a roll of her eyes as she pushed herself off of him while sweeping the out-cold Matthew into her arms.

"Come on, Evi," she called back. "Bedtime."

"Aw, but Mama—" Murrue shot a glance to Evi and suddenly the little girl yawned. Sliding off the couch, she silently shifted her way to the bedroom she shared with her brother.

Murrue smiled, looking back to Mu as their eyes met. He was still on the couch, the color almost drained from his face, eyes wide in some undefined emotion. He smiled back—weakly.

When Murrue made her way out of the darkened nursery and closed the door, Mu had somehow made it to his feet. The dazed look still held to his eyes.

"Now that was just unfair . . ." He half-laughed partly whining. Murrue just smiled back . . . yet he was sure it was a smirk.

"You're too soft of a father, Mu." She retorted quietly.

"Ouch." He craned his neck, still unsure whether she was joking or not. Murrue laughed lightly in response, turning away.

"Come on, it's our bedtime too—We're both tired."

"Wait." Mu's hand fluttered out resting on her far cheek to turn her head towards him so their eyes met.

His fingers that had been tracing her jaw pulled her face up to lightly meet his lips. By that intimate touch, Mu was already ensnared. He counted every moment, savored every taste. It had been two months since the whole "Kara-Kiss" thing, and, even thoughMurrue had hugged him, laughed at/with him, and cried over him, they had yet to truly kiss one another. It hurt Mu inside to see her, with her being so close yet so far at the same time. And his body ached for her missed contact every time she came within reach.

Mu thought for sure he had screwed up again and was waiting for the push or slap he deserved, yet, his breath was caught in his throat when Murrue pushed up on her toes so to increase the pressure of his lips against hers.

Mu was lost.

Murrue was confused. All throughout that kiss, the part of her consciousness that was still struggling to make sense attacked her body's reaction. Why had she given in to him so easily? The moment wasn't exactly 'romantic' . . . nor were any of their words leading up to their kiss . . . so then, why?

She needed him—and she couldn't hide that she needed him anymore.

"Mu . . . please . . ." She whispered against his mouth. He instantly withdrew.

"Please what?" He asked, a quiver to his tone in his fear.

"Do this," she muttered, the last of her sense fluttering away as her arms willingly encircled his neck, bringing him closer in a deeper, shameless connection. Mu smiled against her.

"This I can do," he almost growled, carrying her up the stairs.

The bedroom door closed quietly as the clock struck One.

---

Murrue opened her eyes slowly against the light, wide awake yet half-asleep. She reached out, but her fingers came across something else.

A rose.

It was a white rose, but the tips of the soft petals were red. Murrue smiled remembering her conversation with him the night before. Sitting up in bed, Murrue's gaze turned to the other side of the bed where a tall vase of red and white roses were waiting. Beside them was a note covered with . . . a rock.

Picking up the rock and feeling it between her fingers brought another smile as Murrue read the dainty note. 'For the woman who can't have just one, love the man who can't say no.' Slipping out of bed and slipping into some clothes, Murrue made her way into the lightly lit kitchen. The doors were open across from her, leading out to a small stone balcony washed in the early morning sunlight. With any breeze it was cold, yet even with it, the balcony was so welcoming—even without the fact that Mu was standing there. Back turned, leaning on the railing, obviously preoccupied with something.

Murrue started moving closer, but something announced her presence to the man for he swung around to face her.

"I see you got the flowers," he grinned, pulling her attention away from the hand he had so un-artfully slid behind his back.

"Yes, and the rock," she smiled back with a laugh. Mu straightened up, visibly hurt yet his eyes were laughing.

"I'll have you know that rock caused me hell. It took forever to find it buried beneath all your junk."

"My junk?" Murrue asked incredulously.

"Okay," he sighed, rolling his eyes, "so it was my junk. But still, it was at the very bottom, and I had to dig so slowly and quietly as to not wake you up. And—" Murrue smiled, knowing he wouldn't stop ranting on his own. She placed a light kiss to his lips, shutting him up instantly.

"Yes, thank you."

When she pulled away, Mu's reappearing hand encircled her wrist. He held in his reoccurring fear.

Every time he touched her, held her, lately, he could remember a time . . . when her hand had a perfect fit in his . . . But now, her frail hands fit in his all the same, except there was an unwanted extra space. It was just another reminder of just how much time they had—and even worse, Mu felt like he was the only one to notice it.

His eyes slowly moved from her hand to her face.

"Murrue . . ." He said quietly. "Are we . . . 'okay' . . . ?" He looked into her amber eyes, pleading. "Back to the way things were?"

"Mu," she sighed, "I don't think we can ever go back . . ." He inwardly flinched. "But . . . we're close."

They smiled.

"Compared to yesterday at this time?"

"We're really close," she assured him. Mu stopped playing with her hand and turned it palm side up as his eyes flicked between her face and it. He slid a small black box into her hand.

"Here," he said. "I was looking at the calendar, and . . . I asked for you six years ago today. I wanted to give you this, but it took a while for me to decide when to give it to you. The day I proposed, which was today, or the day you accepted, which would've been two days from now. I still hadn't decided, but with what happened last night . . ." He paused, eyes moving lightly across the kitchen, unsure how to word it. Murrue turned slightly pink. "Let's just say I think that now's the perfect time."

Murrue popped open the small black box and lightly gasped. It was a ring. Just like her engagement ring, its thin silver band encircling the shimmering stone. It was just the same, except, instead of a diamond, a deep red gem sat in its place.

"Evi insisted I get you something red," Mu brought up softly with a laugh. Murrue was quiet.

"But I don't have anything to give you," she muttered distastefully.

"Are you kidding? Murrue . . . I have you. There is nothing else I need or want." He leaned forward to kiss her, but she pushed him away.

"Are you implying that I need more than your love?" She challenged with a glare holding up the gift he'd just given her. Mu awkwardly laughed before finding his answer.

"Murrue . . . It's like this. You love a man for his heart, right? His handsome body and his good looks," Mu drew out each word, show-fully running his fingers through his hair. ". . . are just a plus." Murrue bit her lip to keep from bursting out in laughter. Mu grinned, missing her struggle for containment. "Get it?"

Murrue turned away quickly losing her battle not to laugh.

"You're a fool," was all she could get out between her laughs. "Your 'handsome body and good looks'," she mocked, bringing even more laughter. ". . . and your heart are fine," she giggled. "But your head?" Mu cocked his head, not moving since her fit of laughter began. He watched Murrue struggle to the bedroom. She shut the door and a smile came to his lips. Through a slight chuckle he whined.

"Hey . . . that was mean."

---

"I'm five! I'm five!" Mu groaned as he plopped himself down on the welcoming couch. Evi's fifth birthday was the day before and every waking moment since Nine AM that day Evi had been literally bouncing off the wall, screaming her age. She wouldn't shut-up . . . and Mu couldn't believe how much he just wanted to yell that to her face. But, keeping his cool the best he could, Mu just rolled his eyes with his headache. He'd gotten used to her jumpiness—but then he went to work—sweet, silent work—and he had to get used to her all over again.

"Daddy, I'm five!"

Evi bounded up onto the couch beside him. Mu took the moment to compare his five-year-old Evi to the little three-year-old in the picture frame beside him on the table. The differences were . . .

"I'm going over to Tyler's again today! Today we're making cookies in honor of me! I can't wait! Tyler's mama's cookies are always so good!" Mu nodded to each statement his daughter told, only half-listening, mind elsewhere.

Murrue had gone out shopping and she still hadn't come back yet and the whole thing about Tyler . . . That family was moving in three weeks already and lately, Evi had spent nearly every day over there or Tyler came over to their house. Mu thought it was almost unhealthy, Evi's lack of socialization when it came to other kids, but . . . with the Diango family soon gone, and Evi's first days of school steadily approaching, he didn't think it to be a problem.

Evi just kept talking and talking and talking . . .—

The phone rang, breaking Mu out of his daze.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Mu LaFlaga?"

"Yes,this is he . . ." Mu's eyes narrowed at the formalily. It never boded well.

"This is Dr. Shay from the North Memorial Hospital . . . It seems that your wife, Murrue, collapsed and she was brought here. We would really like it if--"

"—'ll be right over." The phone fell with a crash.

"What happened, Daddy?" Evi peered into her father's blue eyes cutely.

"That was . . . Tyler's mom," Mu recovered. "She wants to know if it's okay for you and Matthew to go over now instead of later . . ."

"Of course it's okay," she burst, jumping off the couch. Mu didn't even have to tell her to go get ready or to wake and help the sleeping Matt. The nursery door closed and Mu scrambled for the phone again, that time, truly connecting with Kara.

"Hey, Kara, it's Mu . . . yeah, I need a big favor." His eyes glanced over at the still closed nursery door."Take Evi and Matt for today, okay? I don't for how long. Of course everything's okay—why wouldn't it be?" His voice rose, the gravity of it all combing back to him."I'm not upset! And I don't sound it either!—What . . . ?" His heavy breathing slowed down a bit again. Mu held his forehead with his palm, catching his breath.". . . Yeah, yeah, I'm okay . . . sure, see you soon . . . Yes!" He almost shouted back again."I said everything was okay! Oh . . .but Kara, could I, ah . . . borrow your car? Murrue's taken ours . . . okay, okay." When Mu finally hung up, his breathing had once again returned to somewhere near normal. He ran his hand through his hair again as Evi and Matt strutted up to him, all ready.

"Oh, thanks, Evi," he smiled, looking at the both of them.

"Love you, daddy," Matt smiled. The boy said that a lot. It was either that or his repeating what others said to the best of his ability.

"I love you too, Matt," Mu sighed, ruffling up the small boy's hair before going onto what he really needed to say. "Okay, Tyler's mama's coming over to pick you two up. Mama needs some help shopping so I'm going over to help, okay?" His gaze shifted between the two smiling children.

"Okay," Evi smiled. Matthew echoed.

The doorbell rang.

"There she is," Mu announced as he pushed himself off where he had been kneeling on the floor. "I want you two to behave yourselves too," he warned as the door opened. I don't want to hear anything ba—"

"They'll be fine, Mu," Kara's voice assured, turning his attention towards her. "They're with me after all." Mu blinked. He couldn't remember a time when she had been so close—except the time she'd kissed him. Mu was going to respond but the feel of her keys thrust into his hand changed his mind.

"Thanks." He went to walk away, but Kara's grip on his arm held him still.

"What happened, Mu?" She asked, voice low so neither Evi nor Matthew could hear.

"It's Murrue . . . she—" Mu didn't finish. His emotional, fearful tone had shocked Kara into letting the car keys go and with that he dashed away. She was nice enough to drive it up and park it on the street. The red car was quickly fired up and with a wave back to his kids, Mu was gone. Kara awkwardly smiled—she was sure Mu had winked at her as he drove away.

---

"Murrue . . ." Mu heaved a grateful sigh seeing her sitting in the chair across the doctor's office, sitting straight and tall—not like she had just collapsed in a store. She had been moved from 'Dr. Shay' to her regular Doctor, Ms. Addison and Murrue told him that she'd be right back.

During the time they were waiting, Mu couldn't keep still.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You sure? You sure don't seem fine."

"It was just a bad dizzy spell is all, mixed with how tired I've been lately," she reassured him. "It could have happened anywhere—even if I was home in your arms."

"I'd like to think not." Mu cracked a smile. He went to say something else, but stopped as Ms. Addison came through the door. It had been the first time Mu had actually met the woman in person—he'd talked to her over the phone and such, but nothing really personal. He cocked his head. She looked like Kara, but with black hair instead.

"Sit, Mr. LaFlaga," she ordered, and he obeyed. Sitting down at her desk, the woman interlaced her fingers sternly as she tried to order her words right.

"First of all, Murrue's perfectly fine right now, condition not withstanding. It seems like her little spill today wasn't that harmful." The doctor paused, glancing between the two waiting people sitting before her.

A smile pressed her lips when she noticed their hands were in each other's seemingly unnoticed by those whose hands they were. It made what she had to say that much easier yet that much harder to say. "Well, now that that's out of the way, seeing as how quickly this sickness is progressing even with the medication . . . there's something I need to tell you. There's a cure."

Her words resounded in the small office, echoing loudly in both Mu and Murrue's ears. It felt like the floor had fallen from beneath them, the air had been taken from them, and Mu was sure his heart would burst any moment if it kept beating as hard as it was against his ribcage for much longer.

Their grip on each other tightened, as if somehow testing whether it was a dream or not. Mu felt his wife's nails dig deep into his skin, but he didn't flinch even though it did hurt. He didn't want any of his attention taken away from what the stern doctor had just said.

There's a cure . . .

Ms. Addison cleared her throat in the silence. She had expected at least something to come from the both of them—a gasp at least, but they just sat and stared. She kept going.

"It's just out of the testing stage but it has cured every single patient we've thrown into the program. It consists of six 'sessions' spanning over the course of three weeks. By the end of those three weeks, Murrue will be as good as new. Do you two have any questions?" There was silence in the small office. It was like no one even breathed. Mu and Murrue looked blankly at her, stunned by the news and for once the doctor had to wonder whether the pair had heard her or not. "I'll take that as a no . . . but if you have any in the future, you have both my office and home phone numbers so you can reach me anytime." Still silence. "Okay, Mr. LaFlaga, could you just excuse us for a moment," Ms. Addison smiled warmly, opening the door for him to leave. "Nothing's the matter, it's just that I would like to talk to Murrue privately for a moment—even though it doesn't really matter, she'll tell you later anyway." The woman stood in the doorway waiting for him to leave.

"Oh—Oh, right," he laughed, as his mind just started working once more. Standing up, his hand was gently pulled from Murrue's. With a smile he walked out, leaving the doctor to close the door tightly behind him.

Mu didn't mind being kicked out. His mind was still busy trying to register what had been said. Murrue was going to be . . .

---

The car ride home was quiet enough. Even though both were happy, they each had things weighing hard on their minds. The silence was inevitable, but Mu intended to break it.

"We'll get our car tomorrow, Murrue," he said. It was still parked in the city where Murrue had gone shopping, but Mu was firmly against them finding that car and driving it home. That would mean Murrue would have been behind the wheel . . . and he wouldn't let that happen. "I don't think Kara will mind us borrowing her car again." Mu grinned. Murrue just muttered in agreement, nodding her head.

"So . . ." Mu started again, flexing his fingers on the steering wheel to loosen his grip. His attempts at starting a simple conversation had failed. Time for another try. "So . . . After I left, what did the doctor have to say?" He smiled and looked over at her, waiting for a response.

Looking into her deep amber eyes, Mu was surprised to see an emotion glittering within them he thought it'd be forever since he'd seen last.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine," she smiled, words choked with yet fallen tears.

"Then . . . ?" Mu didn't understand her tears were those of joy. Murrue's arms had encircled her stomach, their grip stiffening. Her eyes glanced to the empty road ahead of them before falling into her lap once more. Her parched lips moved quietly.

". . . I'm pregnant."

Mu slammed the brake and the car came to a complete and total silent stop.