:Introduced:
"Murrue?" Mu's voice called through the doorway from the downstairs bedroom for his girlfriend.
She was in the upstairs bedroom getting ready to go, and she heard his voice waft up in through the loft. She leaned over the railing to look down on the living room. She could see through the bedroom door and Mu standing in front of the mirror trying desperately to make the white polo shirt look perfect on his form.
"I'll be right there sweetheart, I just have to grab my shoes," Murrue called back to him and quickly moved over to the side of the bed and grabbed her white flip-flops.
She walked out of the room and down the stairs, and then into the bedroom where Mu was to stand next to him.
"Come here, Mu, I'll help you," She turned him to face her. Immediately she noticed the beads of sweat forming on his brow and forehead.
She loosened his collar up a bit to give him some air, and then rested a hand on his cheek.
"I know you're nervous, sweetie, but I've told you a million times already, it'll be ok. Their going to love you, I promise," She soothed as she leaned up and touched a kiss to his lips.
He placed his palm over hers on his cheek. "I know you're right but…" His laughing eyes were dead serious and worried instead of the usual laughter.
Today was the day that he met them. Today was the day he met Murrue's parents.
"Come on, we're gonna be late," She grabbed his hand and led him out of the door. She stepped into the flip flops she left by the door and grabbed her purse off of the coffee table.
"I feel like I'm 17 again, being brought home by a girl to her mom and dad just waiting to lash out and find a reason to send him packing," Mu spoke nervously on their way out to the car.
He went to unlock the car before Murrue snatched the keys out of his hand. He looked on at her in surprise and confusion.
"I'll drive, you relax. Their not like that at all Mu," She answered his previous worry. "Just be yourself, they're very sweet people, my mothers very understanding and my fathers loud and sarcastic. You'll be a perfect fit," She explained, starting up the car and pulling out of the driveway.
"Be myself? I don't- He sighed in exasperation.
Murrue reached hand over to grasp his hand and squeeze it reassuringly. "You'll see, everything will be just fine,"
Soon after, Mu fell asleep for the 2 hour drive. He'd kept himself up all night in worry of the upcoming day. She only stayed up with him half the night, eventually falling asleep in his lap, so she wasn't nearly as tired. Once they were getting close to her parents neighborhood she reached over and nudged him out of his sleep.
"What's up?" He answered drowsily.
"We're almost there, it's time to wake up," Just as she spoke, a towering tan brick house with beige shutters came into view.
Mu looked on in awe at the size of it. "Murrue…that's where your…parents live?"
"Yeah, sometimes I wonder what they do with all the room," She answered casually, pulling into the long driveway and parking the car.
She got out of her seat and went to go open Mu's door. "Come on Mu, you have to come out sometime," He shook his head no in response.
"No thanks, I'm fine in the car,"
"Mu, come on now, don't be intimidated by the house; you get used to it after the first hour or so," She put her hand over his reassuringly. "It's alright,"
Mu let out a long sigh and then reluctantly exited the little black car to stand next to Murrue. She linked her arm with his and they began walking up the front path to the front door. Murrue reached out and rang the doorbell. Mu was sweating again, and not from the heat. He wasn't afraid of her parents in particular, he was afraid of what they would think, if they would like his personality, or hi in general; and if they would compare him to him. He never asked Murrue about him at all, deciding with himself that it was none of his business. Now he second guessed that decision, he wondered if it would've been better if he talked to her about it. Too late now, someone was already coming to the door. It looks like he's on his own. The door popped open and Murrue's mother's face immediately lit up with joy.
"Murrue!" She gave her daughter a big hug and Murrue returned it, tears brimming her eyes.
"Mom, it's been so long!"
"I know, I know!"
Mu watched their exchange from the side. He looked down nervously at the arm that Murrue was holding onto before. He felt a lot better when she was holding onto it, he decided. He was overjoyed for Murrue to be able to see her family again after so long. As happy as he was for her, he felt a jolt of dejection run through is body; this reunion being his reminder that he had no family or home to go back too. He was brought out of his daze when he heard Murrue speak.
"Mom, there's someone I'd like you to meet," She grabbed Mu's arm and pulled him closer to her. "This is my boyfriend, Mu La Flaga. Mu, this is my mother, Jasmine,"
"It's nice to finally meet you," Mu spoke up nervously and held a hand out for her to shake.
Murrue's mother looked up at him and stared for a second and then a smile cracked onto her features. "It's great to meet you too," Instead of shaking his hand she gave him a hug.
Mu stood awkwardly for a second or so and looked over to Murrue, who was smiling broadly at him. He laughed and hugged her very enthusiastic mother back, glad he was accepted.
'Hold on there Flaga, you still have to meet her father,' Mu gruesomely reminded himself, expecting the worst.
"Come on in you too, Ben's in the kitchen somewhere,"
At that comment Mu's heart began to pound, he had no idea hat to expect of her father.
'My mother's very understanding and my father's loud and sarcastic. You'll be a perfect fit,'
He ran Murrue's words over and over again through his head trying to calm himself down. It didn't help much, but it was something. Murrue seemed to have sensed Mu's anxiety, and she grasped his hand and gave it a tight squeeze.
"Ben, honey, we have special visitors," Jasmine called throughout the house, smiled from ear to ear.
"Who is it?" She heard his voice call from the kitchen, just as she thought.
A few seconds later, a very handsome man with dark brown hair walked out from the doorway. He was tall, about 6' 2". He had hazel colored eyes. That was when Mu looked over and noticed her mother. They looked like identical twins. Same bone structure, same auburn hair, same lithe figures, and most of all, the same captivating marigold eyes. He couldn't see any of her father in her, but maybe it was down to the genetic similarities when it came to her father.
"Murrue! Is that really you?" He exclaimed upon laying eyes on her.
"Yes, dad, it's me,"
He wrapped her up in a huge hug which she returned warmly.
"When did you get home? You should've called us!"
"Sorry, but I wanted it to be a surprise. We got back about 2 weeks ago, and it feels great to finally be home again!"
"Well it's great to have you home- Eh, who's your friend?" He stopped and looked up at Mu, causing Mu's heart to stop beating.
"This is Mu, my boyfriend," She squeezed Mu's hand a little tighter. She knew her father would accept Mu with open arms, but she was still nervous, who wouldn't be?
"It's nice to meet you," Ben held out a hand which Mu grabbed and shook it firmly.
"It's great to meet you too,"
Jasmine led them all to the sitting room and got them drinks. She had so many questions for her daughter that she was dying to ask.
"So Murrue, where did you two meet?"
Murrue was silent for a moment. She knew that her mother and father knew about the promise she made to herself, and was starting to wonder if they'd be upset at her for breaking it.
"On the Archangel, the ship that I was transferred to; Mu made a landing on the ship after his ship was destroyed. All of the officers from our ship were dead including the captain. There were 4 officers that survived. One of the four was my first mate."
"You don't say, so what happened since there was no captain, you find a replacement?" Her father spoke up. He knew quite a bit about the military. He served when he was about Murrue's age, and had a bit of battle experience. He battled along side many great soldiers, including one of his greatest friends.
"Yes, we found a replacement," Murrue answered him.
"And a good one at that," Mu added on, finally gaining the courage to speak.
"Who was it?" Her mother piped in.
"…It was me, I took command of the ship,"
"Murrue, you mean, you were captain? That's great!" He father was ecstatic, never having the privilege of pursuing such and important duty.
"It was Mu that told me that I should do it," She looked over to Mu and smiled, just realizing now that he was the one that pushed her up and held her there the entire time they were at war.
He father laughed.
"Good man, helping my daughter out like that. I like you already," They all laughed at that, even Mu, who my now, was starting to get used to Murrue's family. And he was all worried over nothing.
'Oh well, better to be safe then sorry,'
After a little bit more of talking on the war, Mu and Murrue split up, much to Mu's despair. Ben had invited him out on their patio to have a 'one on one' with him. Mu's face was priceless when he brought up the invitation. Ben lightened the mood by reminding Mu that he doesn't bite. Murrue and Jasmine were in the kitchen at this time, watching the boys out on the patio. It was then when her mother decided to bring it up.
"So, I see that you finally broke that promise of yours,"
Murrue hesitated at first, not knowing what to say. He mother's voice had absolutely no emotion to it, so she didn't know if she was upset or happy.
"I'm sorry mom, I-
"No, Murrue, I'm glad that you got rid of that horrid promise. You can't tell your heart what it can and can not do. Besides, you're happy with this man, very happy, and you wouldn't trade him for anything in the world, right?"
Murrue smiled and gave her mom a hug. Jasmine could feel her daughter trembling in her arms. She rubbed her back soothingly to calm her down. Murrue pulled away to look at her mother.
"You don't think…that I'm cheating Adam, do you? I mean, that promise I made was so I don't put his memory to shame,"
"Murrue, promising to yourself that you will never fall in love again is putting him to shame. You think he would enjoy seeing you like that forever. He'd want you to be happy and I know that that's the most cliché thing I could ever tell you, but it's true, Murrue, it's so true,"
"Thank you, mom, really, thank you,"
"So, you're a pilot are you?" Ben asked as they sat looking on at the horizon on the warm spring day.
"Yes, I am, or was at least,"
Ben looked down at the ground. He knew what happened the last time his daughter fell in love with a pilot. 'But this man,' He reminded himself, 'is different.' He remembered the story Murrue told them when they were in the sitting room, the look of despair on her face when she said 'almost died.' This man, Mu La Flaga, almost suffered the same fate as her old boyfriend.
"It may seem like history is repeating itself. We were both pilots, and we both fell in love with her, but I promise, that I'll take good care of her, and I will never leave her size, not for a second," Mu spoke up silently, eye's trained on the blinding sun.
Ben looked over at him with a broad smile on his face. "Thank you," He then looked thoughtful.
"One more thing,"
Mu froze.
"When you decide to propose to her, let me know, I have a secret to share with you,"
When Ben got no answer, he looked over to Mu. Any doubt in his mind evaporated when he saw he saw the flabbergasted look on his face. He let out a fruitful laugh.
"Relax, I'm not saying you have to do it tomorrow, I'm just saying that when you do. I know you plan too, I can tell that you're it…you're the one.
Mu smiled at him from ear to ear.
"Will do,"
As Ben turned his head back towards the sun, the patio door slid open and Murrue stepped out onto the limestone tiles.
"Everything ok out here?" She asked as she walked over and took a seat in the empty chair between the two men.
She was surprised when Mu was the one to turn his head to the side and smile at her and answer. "Everything's fine,"
She found his hand with hers and entwined their fingers together. "So, dad, how are you?"
"I think I should be asking you that question. While you two were up fighting that war your mother and I have been down here relying on all of you guys. The question here is how are you feeling?"
"Exhausted, and yet at the same time, rejuvenated. That war gave us a whole new world to look at now. It's going to be a long road of recovery for everyone and everything affected by that war, but we'll be fine, because now we all have to something to truly live for,"
"You're absolutely right, Murrue, you're absolutely right,"
The door slid open again, and Jasmine found her way over to Ben and sat next to him. She gave her daughter a warm smile and turned her head over to the sun that was by now slowly starting set in all its glory.
Murrue rested her head on Mu's shoulder while lacing and unlacing her fingers with hers. Jasmine took after her example and let her head fall against her husbands shoulder. They all sat and watched as the sun sank beyond the horizon, and the stars starting poking out here and there, and the moon replaced the sun with a soft white glow.
"Murrue, Mu, we hope to see you both again soon, I'm glad that you're both home safe and sound, finally,"
Mu and Murrue were at the door ready to leave, and everyone was bidding their goodbyes. Ben hugged his daughter and placed a kiss on top of her head, telling her to take care and call them up some time. Jasmine gave Mu a hug which he returned warmly. They switched up and Mu gave Ben a firm handshake and Ben winked at him.
"Remember, let me know,"
"Sure thing, you'll be the first to know next to her," Mu agreed.
Jasmine and Murrue embraced tears in both their eyes.
"Take care of yourself, sweetheart, and come back and visit soon, ok?"
"Of course I will, you take care too, mom, I love you,"
"I love you too,"
After that, Mu and Murrue waved and were out the door. Jasmine and Ben watched them get in the car and drive off.
"Perfect match," She whispered and he wrapped and arm around her waist.
"They sure are,"
In the car, Mu allowed Murrue to sit on the passenger side while he drove. He reached over with his hand and grabbed hers and held it.
"You were right Murrue, they really are amazing people," He spoke quietly over the soft music playing.
"I told you that they would love you," She smiled over at him and squeezed his hands.
"Well you can't blame me for being nervous, I'm sure you be nervous if I took you to see my parents,"
She laughed. "Yes, I know you're right. Even my old boyfriend was afraid of him."
She didn't choose this role
But she'll play it and make it sincere
"Really?" It was very rare for her to bring him up, so it sparked every ounce of attention when she said that.
"Yes, he though my dad would hate him, but he was completely wrong about that,"
Mu's eyes lost a little of that glow. Murrue noticed and ran a hand up his arm in assurance.
"Don't get down on yourself. I don't compare you to him. I won't forget him, and part of him will always be in my heart, but, so will you. I was all his then, we belonged to each other, but now, it's time for me to make more room for you, and share my heart, and I'm sure he won't have any objections," She soothed him with her words, calming his racing heart.
"Thank you, for letting me in your life, Murrue," She smiled at his words.
"And thank you, Mu, for loving me," He pulled the car over on the side of he road, where it was overlooking the coast.
He turned off the engine and left the music playing. He leaned over and put his hand on her cheek, and leaned down to kiss her softly, lovingly.
Come on this is screaming "Photo op." op...
Come on
She returned it gently, smiling against his mouth, making the moment last forever, playing over and over again in her mind. Once he pulled back, he smiled wordlessly at her and then turned the car back on. She reached over and turned the song playing up. They drove away from the coast and back to their home, both feeling complete after that simple meeting. Now that he's been introduced, they could begin their life together without any set backs, knowing that her parents are happy and that they are too. Now, they can live their 'happily ever after' for sure.
When I say "Shotgun", you say "Wedding"
"Shotgun", "Wedding", "Shotgun", "Wedding"
Boys will be boys
Hiding in estrogen and boys will be boys
Boys will be boys
Hiding in estrogen and wearing Aubergine dreams
:Well that was just me assuming her parents might still be alive. I usually don't bother with the subject, but this time, I did. The italicized lyrics are "Time to Dance" by Panic! at the disco. I'm listening to it now and though it suitable for a car ride home xD hope you all enjoyed it!
