I don't know what got into me, but I just had to write this story down. You'll see the return of a much loved character here—yep, it's Kara! Hopefully you can remember her and the . . . incident between her and Mu. Well for this one I decided to turn the tables a bit . . .—and that's all I'm going to say at this point.

Also, I've decided to put this as a two-part short story seeing how it is so long. So, here's Part One!

(This is an odd one for me—im not that good with a lot of OC interaction—and this has quite a bit, so it's a bit oddly written as well. Just a warning.)

VI. Loves Me, Loves Me Not

Part One

Murrue was home alone. Mu was off for a day of errands with both the kids and the house was empty besides her. It was quiet and menacingly vast, Murrue feeling amazingly insignificant to the grandeur of the home. Mu had certainly spent all of his pent-up money and went all-out when he bought the place. And they'd been living in it for the past seven or eight years.

Gosh, it doesn't seem that long. . . . Murrue sighed, sipping a mug of steaming coffee.

The doorbell rang, breaking the silence. The same doorbell she'd heard numerous times in those past years. Wondering who it could possibly be, Murrue lazily drifted over to the front door and opened it. The person on the other side a surprise.

Kara.

"Oh, hey," Murrue greeted with a smile, thankful for a break from the silence. "Long time, no see, huh, Kara?"

"Yeah. Our kids see each other more than we do it seems," the dashing mother smiled, sharp green eyes dancing.

"Oh," Murrue straightened up, remembering her manners. "Please, Kara, come in."

"No, no, I'm fine. I'll only be a moment," Kara smiled in return, but her smile quickly lost its brightness and she began to regard Murrue with a soft pain mulling in her eyes. "I know this is sudden of me, just stopping by like this and saying I need a favor, but I don't know where else to go. . . ." Murrue stiffened at her friend's words.

"What's wrong?"

"Um, I met this guy—And I really, really like him!" Kara started, smile suddenly back and brighter than ever. She was easily overjoyed. Murrue was too. Kara had gone too long without somebody after Daniel's death.

"Kara, that's great," Murrue smiled, but somehow her arsenal for joy had been depleted. A weak feeling throbbed itself in her gut.

"Yeah, it is," Kara smiled back, blonde hair dashing in a light breeze. "But, see . . . tonight we were supposed to go out to dinner . . ."

"Oh, you need us to watch the kids?" Murrue cut in, sure that was the problem. Sorry to say it, Murrue couldn't count how many times she wand Mu had relied on Kara to watch the kids—they barely watched Tyler and Donnie.

But it wasn't. Kara just looked at Murrue, lost for the moment before understanding what Murrue had offered.

"What? No, it's fine. . . . I have a sitter." Now Murrue was confused.

"Then . . ."

"Well, we were going to go to dinner," Kara started slowly trying hard to find the right words. "But it was supposed to be a double date sorta thing. . . ." But then Kara gained speed and nothing stopped her mouth, not even Murrue's obvious shudders of surprise. "Oh, he brings a friend, I bring a friend , you know? Well, I got a call and the friend I was supposed to bring cancelled out on me, and I was wondering if—"

"Kara, I'm married." Murrue couldn't stop that inch back inside.

"I—I know that," Kara whined. "But it's not like you're going to have to date the guy or anything. Just show up. And you don't even have to talk to him if you don't want to. If he gets the vibe that says you're not interested, he'll leave you alone, right? Please, I can't show up alone. I really like this one." Murrue stared at her friend, the one with the long blonde and green eyes. She was on the verge of pleading. Murrue tried to shake the image from her thoughts.

"But . . . what about . . . Mu?" Murrue mumbled, trying to figure out a way to politely say no. There was no way. But Kara interpreted Murrue's curiosity towards the better and began beaming in delight.

"You're going?"

"No, I didn't say that," Murrue quickly cornered. ". . . I'm just thinking about it."

"C'mon, Murrue." Kara had broken past pleading. She was starting to remind Murrue a bit of Mu when he became really immature.

Something was definitely wrong. "You never have to see the guy again, and I promise he wont even get a phone number for you so its not like he can call you or anything." Kara broke from her pleading, begging side for just one moment to over-play a wink towards Murrue. "—Unless you want him to, that is."

"I'm not having this conversation." Murrue couldn't believe what Kara was asking, proposing, saying. The strong woman backed away, further into her thankfully empty house.

"Aw, what's the point in not having a little fun?" Kara pouted.

Now she really started to act like Mu. How come everybody I know is so inhumanly stubborn?

"Here's the point, Kara," Murrue shot back. "I'm married already for goodness's sake—and I'd like to keep it that way."

"You worry too much, Murrue. It'll be fine. After tonight he'll forget about you, you'll forget about him. Nothing wrong could possibly happen. So, what do you say? You coming?"

Kara had grabbed Murrue's hand in pleading request and was holding it tight in her hands.

"I really like him," she whined again to prove a point.

Murrue let her shoulders drop utterly defeated. She couldn't believe what she was about to do. Murrue shook her head.

"What was that?" Kara asked, voice high with excitement and joy. Murrue's voice was quiet with un-believability.

". . . Yes . . . I'll go. . . ."

"What? Really? You will?" Kara became ecstatic once she realized what Murrue had said. "This is great! Okay, so they're picking us up at my house at 7:30—Can you be ready by then?"

"Uh-huh," Murrue sighed, unable to do anything but.

"Thank you. Thank you, Murrue. Thank you, thank you." Kara was practically jumping with delight.

"Wait, Kara," Murrue had to ask. "What about . . ."

"Mu?" She cocked her head in wonder, knowing that Murrue'd ask about him. "Hmmm, tell him . . . oh, that we're having a girls night out, dinner and drinks. It'll be mostly true, so its not a lie."

Murrue quietly went over the alibi in her mind, brow furrowed in thought. If she was going to do this—and go out with some guy, it was better if Mu didn't know.

". . . And he wont mind being with the kids either . . ."

"See? Perfect." Kara smiled, finally turning away to walk off her step. "Now I have to go call him. See you at Seven-Thirty—and wear something nice!"

With that, Kara was gone, practically skipping away off to the sidewalk. Murrue leaned in the open doorway, palming her face as the weight of it all came crashing back.

"Oh, God, what have I gotten myself into now. . . ."

At that moment, Mu pulled up with the kids after an entire day of errands—food shopping, item shopping, dry cleaning, doctor's appointments and getting haircuts (for the kids—just a trim). When the car stopped before the house, Mu was the first to wrench himself out of the car. He helped undo Evi and Matt before all three of them ran for inside, Mu leading the pack. But, as Evi and Matt ran inside-inside, Mu stopped before Murrue with a grin.

"How'd it go today?" She asked, almost afraid of the answer. Mu looked as if he'd been through hell.

"Oh, I cant wait to spend more of my days off like this one," he sarcastically joked, landing a nice kiss to his wife's cheek. "I'll tell yah later, though." He covered, something else on his mind. "—What was Kara doing here?" Mu asked glancing back at the dashing blonde making her way down the street.

Murrue glanced over at the retreating Kara, the conversation from before running over in her mind.

". . . Oh, she just invited me out to dinner—you know, for a 'Girl's Night Out' of sorts," she muttered looking from her hands up to her husband's face. "And I said yes." But Mu didn't smile like she had so wanted him to—to assure that he knew nothing of what was to happen. He didn't smile, suddenly serious and stern.

"And when's this?" He asked.

"Tonight." Murrue watched in confusion as his face fell before her eyes.

"You're going . . . ?" She nodded.

"Aw, and here I was, hoping it could just be us tonight," he pouted, playfully holding her closer. "The kids are bound to go to sleep early, what with such a long day." Murrue shook her head as he stared down at her, easily getting the message.

"I promise I'll come home as soon as I can, okay?" She sighed.

"Yeah, but it's never soon enough, though," he flashed his rogue grin, pulling her into an affectionate kiss.

"I love you, you know," he playfully reminded, lips once again locked.

Mu felt her falter in her response, felt her stop and go still in his arms for all of a moment. In the back of Mu's mind, he curiously wondered why. But then she held him closer and his curiosity didn't matter anymore.

But what he didn't realize was how the overshadowing pang of guilt had ripped just through Murrue's heart.

--------

"Okay, I'm going now," Murrue announced. Mu was the only one who heard her, though, the kids elsewhere. He pushed himself standing from his seat on the steps and began to walk towards her.

"Good," he grinned, partially and slightly lopsided, the annoyance brimming true in his eyes. "Oh, and by the way, Murrue, Matt's already asleep and Evi's gonna go pretty soon. They're more tired than I thought. It's been a long week."

Murrue smiled—she knew what he was trying to do as he came up beside her. "So now while you're off having fun with your gal pals, I'll be here. . . . Alone . . . So alone. . . ." The arms that had lazily wrapped themselves about her suddenly tightened, holding her closer to him. "So very much alone . . ." He softly whined, smile returning as he moved down to kiss her smiling lips.

"Mmmm, yep," she replied, pulling out of the lulling kiss, only to be caught once more.

"Be safe," he murmured quietly, kissing her lightly.

"I will," she whispered in sweet return.

"Have fun," he slurred, dragging a few more kisses lazily out of her.

"Of course," she sighed, leaning into him—against her thought's will. Suddenly Mu forced her away, just enough so he could look down into her eyes, as if scolding.

"And don't come home having drunk too much. I don't want to explain to our kids what a hangover is." Murrue hid her soft laugh, fingers sliding over her lips.

"I won't." He grinned, leaning in for another taste only to have her push him away.

"Mu, I have to go," Murrue reminded him forcefully, amber eyes glaring up at his dancing ones.

"I know," he sighed. "But just a few more . . ." Mu pressed his lips to hers again. She nudged him slightly and Mu pulled away, face tucked into a scowl, playing hurt. "Aw, does it have to be tonight? Tonight was supposed to be our night." Murrue smiled at his drama, but she just pushed up to kiss him sweetly in return.

"I called Kara to see if it could be changed," Murrue lied through her teeth, lips still being taken. "It can't. Restaurant's hard to get reservations for, we cant just break 'em. But I promise I'll be home soon as I can."

"Hmph," Mu backed away. "Which restaurant?"

"Stariglo's. The one a bit ways from here." Mu's entire face brightened, blue eyes dancing in playful awe.

"Hey, we went there a while back, remember? We'll have to go again sometime!—I could probably weedle out a table for us even with a full house. Remember, that friend of mine owns the place? Tonight, all you have to do is mention you're my wife and I bet that could get you some free drinks," Mu grinned, glad his connections could help.

"I'll think about it," Murrue smiled in thanks, but her mind was screaming: 'Yeah, I'll just mention I'm your wife right in front of some other guy I'm on a date with.'

Murrue's amber eyes darted towards the clock. "Oh, now, I really have to go."

She rushed off towards the door, far enough from his arms to not kiss him one last time. But as she made her way out the door, Mu's voice, soft and caring wafted towards her.

"Love you."

"—You too!" She hurried back as the door closed simply behind her.

--------

Without waiting, Murrue picked up the bag she had been lucky enough to put on the step before Mu saw it—it was the dress she was going to wear that night. She had to get to Kara's to change.

Murrue scampered across the road and down the street before making it to the door of her friend.

Glancing back down at the bagged dress, Murrue ran over the reason of why she was bringing it in her head. Kara may have been a friend—and a great neighbor, but Murrue wasn't quite sure about this next jump.

After finally calming down her breathing, Murrue knocked on the door, awkwardly pulling some hair back to behind her ear. The door opened and Kara took even Murrue's breath away when she answered the door in a long green dress that beautifully accentuated her sharp eyes.

"Ah, Murrue, you made it!" She smiled, part in excitement, another part in thanks. Kara's eyes drifted down Murrue's plainly clothed body before her eyes landed on the bag, knowing what had to be inside, her green eyes flashed. "Ooh, let me see, please."

Murrue sighed and stepped inside. As the door closed behind her, Murruereached down to pull out the long black dress she had brought. It was stunning—beautiful and perfect for a formal party, except . . .

Tonight wasn't a formal party.

Kara took one glance at the dress and her face scrunched up. "Ugh, too safe," she murmured.

"What do you mean 'too safe'?" Murrue asked holding up the long dress. "It's elegant."

"But not flirty," Kara corrected, easing the black from her hands. "I mean, that's why I bought you this." She shoved a box into Murrue's arms, bulging with something. "Oh, and don't bother thanking me, I'll do anything for a friend," Kara grinned, pleased at how well she'd assessed the situation earlier. She was prepared.

With a sigh, Murrue opened the box to find an entire outfit inside, from the coat to the shoes. Murrue held up the main dress.

Red and . . . flirty.—No, more than 'flirty'. Bordering on sultry. Not the sort of thing to wear on a simple date.

"Are you trying to make me have a divorce?" Murrue asked, incredulous, glancing between the dress and Kara.

"Just wear it, Murrue," she sighed, exasperated. "You can wear it again for Mu.—I know he'd like it too."

Kara's green eyes flashed as she winked at her friend, slipping away.

Murrue just blushed, heat rising, thoughts running amok as she held the soft red fabric.

--------

Murrue stood in the mirror, wearing everything Kara had laid out for her—if only for kicks. She certainly wasn't going to wear this to dinner. No matter what Kara said, Murrue was going to wear the longblack dress she'd brought.

But the red ensemble Murrue was wearing . . . She couldn't hold back a bite of her lip as she looked over herself in the reflective glass.

Kara certainly put some serious planning into her dress/outfit choice. The simple dress seemed to accentuate Murrue's curves eloquently, the red of the fabric bringing out the richness of her hair and the brightness of her eyes. It certainly was flirty, though, and Murrue was a bit concerned about how short it was, but Murrue hoped it could be hidden by the long black jacket that Kara'd also laid out. Murrue's legs were draped with sheer black stockings and red boots came up to mid calf.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Murrue felt she looked ten years younger—and not married.

Absolutely sure this was not what she was going to wear, Murrue went to start taking it all off, but Kara called her over before she could start.

"Murrue, I have another sight favor to ask of you," Kara started to quietly whine, looking at Murrue behind her through the vanity mirror. Murrue's shoulders sagged.

"What is it, Kara?" Murrue asked, voice flat and expressionless. "I think you and I both know that this favor I'm already doing will last a lifetime."

"Yeah, I know. Thanks so much, Murrue. You're such a good friend." Kara was obviously overdoing it. Murrue couldn't hold back breaking into a smile, and starting to softly laugh.

"Flattery will get you no where, Kara," Murrue warned.

"Yes, but, I was wondering if you could put my hair up. Whenever you seem to do it, it always looks beautiful."

"I just said flattery would get you nowhere," Murrue huffed even while reaching down for Kara's brush. "But I'll do it, just remember that now you owe me forever and a day."

"Okay," Kara laughed.

The two worked in silence, Kara putting on some touches of make-up, Murrue pinning up Kara's long blonde hair.

Murrue's mind was spinning so much, her thought were scattered everywhere, and a bit of Mu had rubbed off on her and the silence quickly attacked her.

"So . . . This boyfriend of yours . . ." Murrue brought up. "What's he like?"

"His name is Michael. Yours is Trevor, by the way."

Murrue twisted her face at the name.—It didn't exactly roll off the tongue for her. That didn't bode well for 'Trevor' or Murrue. Her mind was already making up scenarios for the evening, each one increasingly worse than the last. But names were just names. Murrue couldn't let that decide the evening for her. It could even be fun.

W-What am I thinking! Of course thingswill notbe "fun"! I'm married!

Murrue shook at her head in a futile attempt to shake the creeping thoughts from her mind. Glancing in the mirror before her, Murrue noticed how flushed her face was, how messy her hair had become. She quickly looked over to Kara, to see if she noticed, but Murrue was in luck—Kara had been too wrapped up in her swooning monologue to pay any attention.

". . .—t's time to move on, you know? And he's so good with the kids—Tyler and Donnie seem to really like him. Whenever he comes over to play with them, afterwards the two of them are all praise. Which is good. I'm glad—its like they have a father again."

Murrue finished with Kara's hair, the blonde beauty thanking her before moving out of the seat to walk about the room, all the while still speaking of Michael.

Murrue sighed—she was beginning to slightly regret asking about him.

"Michael's great. I don't think I could be with a man my children didn't like. I mean, if they couldn't live with him, what would be the point of continuing a relationship you knew would get nowhere? But Michael's different. They like him and he loves them and that's why I—" Kara suddenly came to a standstill, mind placing the pieces together. Her deep green eyes threatened to tear at the thought. Tears of joy.

"Oh my God. . . . I . . . I love him. . . ."

Murrue gazed upon her friend, frozen against the wall in blushing realization, and she smiled. It always seems to hit you hard when you first realize that you truly love someone. Especially after a previous heart break.

Murrue knew all too well.

The two friends talked with each other as they made their way from the bedroom intent on having a drink of their own before leaving. The hall leading to the kitchen had a mirror. Kara stopped to glance over herself—appraising. She bit her lip.

Murrue watched, confused, as her friend went to the closet to grab her jacket. Slipping on the green coat, Kara looked over herself again. Murrue couldn't help smiling. Kara, surprisingly, wasn't one too concerned about looks—at least this much.

Michael must really be some special guy. . . .

"There," Kara sighed. ". . . Murrue, do you think I at least don't look awful?" Murrue looked up and looked Kara over. She wasn't the woman to go fishing for compliments—she honestly thought she never looked right. Murrue sighed, exasperation hidden in her voice.

"You could never 'look awful', Kara." Murrue smiled. Kara smiling back.

"And neither could you, Murrue," she assured. "Oh, I still need my earrings," Kara muttered in surprise, easily noticing how empty her ears were. "I'll get them."

She was about to walk off when then the doorbell rang. Its chime ran the house to announce their arrival—the chime ran through Murrue shaking her with fear and anticipation.

Kara grinned.

"Ah! Those are them.—Ah! One moment!" She called.

Without any more words, Kara started running in the opposite direction towards her bedroom to fetch her earrings. Murrue tried to stop her, but then, Murrue noticed what adorned her.

Her outfit . . . Her red outfit. Color both drained from her face and rushed to it. She had completely forgotten to change.

And they were here—there was no time.

The door bell rang once more and Murrue was surprised to hear Kara curse aloud.

"Murrue, could you get it? I'm a little tied up at the moment!" Murrue felt her shoulders sag at the thought. Beyond that front door lie a night she knew she'd come to regret. But, to her dismay excitement also bubbled up through her, twisting her insides.

Another bell. Murrue's body hurried to open the door though her mind kept screaming against it.

"See?" Somebody laughed at the white door was pulled back. "Third time's the charm."

Murrue held in surprise. She didn't know what to expect, but she didn't expect this. Two men stood in the doorway, both sensibly dressed to impress. One stood shorter than the other—but not by much—the one with the red hair. The one completely in black from his hair to heels stared down at Murrue and suddenly she felt very small—being sized up against the two men.

"Michael!" Kara called running out from the bedroom, Murrue surprised to see the long blonde hair lolling about Kara's shoulders. Murrue'd spent half an hour putting it up. "Michael—you're early."

Murrue would have expected Kara to run to the taller of the two men, the raven, but instead, she was welcomed into the red's arms. Murrue stood stunned, watching them kiss their hello. Kara changed in an instant.

The raven man glanced over to his red companion and received the answer he was looking for. Without another second wasted, he bowed low before Murrue, lightly taking her hand in his.

"Ah, you must be Murrue," he grinned, smug as could be, dark eyes flashing. Then, he kissed her.

Her hand.

When his soft lips touched her skin, Murrue couldn't hold back the heat emanating from his touch. The heat traveled to her face, pinking her cheeks in surprise. The raven straightened up, eyes never leaving her amber ones, hand never leaving hers.

Trevor's voice was thick and husky, but with the strongest air of arrogant laughter mixed deep. "When Mike here told me to come along, I never imagined you could be so beautiful."

And then he kissed her hand again.

--------

Back in the house, Mu was sprawled out on the sofa, trying desperately hard to bask in the silence. Both the kids were asleep—he was right in predicting Evi's early turn in—but now there was nothing to do.

He wasn't used to the quiet.

Mu tried to read, but his mind wandered. Mu tried to doze off on the couch but couldn't get comfortable. Mu tried to watch something on the TV, but nothing caught his interest.

"Murrue," he whined to himself. "Come home soon, I'm bored!" He faced a chuckle just imagining her reaction if she saw him right then. Impatient and whiney.

'You're such a child, Mu! Grow up. Act your age, not your shoe-size!'

Actually she wouldn't say that last part, Mu grinned. He'd been waiting to use it on her, to turn the tables he ever caught her acting like a child.

But . . . , he sighed. That wouldn't be happening in a while.

Mu groaned again, pushing himself from off the couch. His stomach grumbled in hunger, and, with nothing else to do, Mu decided he'd cook something—that would pass time.

As Mu situated himself in the kitchen around the counter, the open door of their bedroom caught his eye. Murrue had left it open—no surprise. But what was the surprise was that she left the closet door open as well. She never did that.

Mu, curious and thrilled to have found something to focus on made his way into their bedroom and over to the open closet. It seemed so odd.

The late setting sun streamed faintly through the window, dusk overcoming everything casting a pale glow upon everything its faint light touched. Out of the corner of Mu's eye, his focus caught on something glinting in the light. He turned to have a better look at it, but he turned to see Murrue's vanity, mirror taking some of the day's last glow.

"Oh, that's what I saw," Mu mumbled looking at it—the simplicity of it hurting him. But then he shifted and the glint came again—it wasn't from the vanity itself, but was resting on the vanity.

Unable to believe his eyes, Mu reached down to pick it up—what kept refracting the light. Mu gazed into his hand where he held them.

Two silver rings, one wrapped about a diamond. Mu knew those rings—he'd spent months trying to find one that would suit her. They were Murrue's.

Murrue's wedding rings.

Mu's tanned face drained of all color, his blue eyes freezing into ice. Murrue would never take her rings off—especially if she left the house. Things always had a habit of being lost in such a vast house—she didn't want to risk it. But here they were, resting open on the vanity's top.

Mu felt his chest constrict staring at the two rings. Piece by piece his mind struggled to put it all together, filling in some of the gaps with ideas of his own. Everything odd about that day, everything bugging him as out-of-place for that week . . . It made sense.

Suddenly he understood. Everything.

Mu bolted out the bedroom door, fear and fire rising in him at the thought.

So that's how Part One of this two-part short story's turned out so far. Hope it's to your . . . enjoyment. . . .

If you caught it, "Trevor" came from Trevor Devall—The English Voice Actor for Mu LaFlaga. But . . . Since Trevor Devall also has blond hair and blue eyes, I couldn't very well make "Trevor" and Trevor Devall look the same as well. So that's where the dark 'raven' man came from in some aspects.

(Oh, and many thanks to irishdragon for some name-help on this one.)