I don't even have an excuse for why this chapter took so long. Enjoy!

*Ahem!* Markl 'cleared his throat' in an attempt to wake the sleeping beauty, and the random woman named Sophie.

Sophie opened her eyes only to feel a weight on her head. She was startled, so she hastily yanked her head out from under Howl's. She quickly turned to him in horror, only to see him jolt awake due to his head falling. He lifted his head and looked up at Sophie with bleary eyes. Sophie tried to contain her blush and he rubbed his eyes halfheartedly, as if his arms were extremely heavy. He then blinked a few times before he could see clearly, and a frown formed on his brow.

Markl was prepared for this. He was ready to calm him, before he started to call upon the spirits of darkness or something. He handed Howl a cup of hot tea, and begrudgingly, one to Sophie too. Both of them gladly accepted. For Sophie, it took her mind off of the compromising position she had been in. For Howl, it helped him to wake up. Markl then handed Howl a hand mirror, which Howl held up before him and began to fix his hair.

"Ahh, that's better", Howl stated, taking another sip of his tea, "So, what's our first order of business?" he looked at Sophie expectantly.

"Well, I suppose we should begin to gather the ingredients for the potion..?" she questioned.

"Great! What's the first item we require?" he began to get excited.

"I need… (Sophie tried to remember what she had written on her list)…Ambrosia leaves and spider silk", she hoped he didn't notice her lapse of certainty.

"Hmm", he placed his hand to his chin as he thought, then his eyes lit up, "I know just the place. But first, breakfast", he smiled at Sophie and then to Markl.

"Here it is!" Howl gestured to the land before them, which comprised of green fields as far as the eye could see. Flowers scattered about, and most importantly, Ambrosia trees lined the fields.

"Oh my, how beautiful!" Sophie exclaimed, as she let the sun and fresh air soak into her skin. Sophie strolled over to the nearest tree and carefully broke off a branch, placing it in her straw basket. She wandered over to the trees that had lots of spider webs, and wrapped it around a stick before adding it to her basket also. She looked back to find Howl lying flat on his back on the green field, eyes closed in peaceful rest. His hands lay under his head as a substitute pillow. The wind ruffled his blonde hair. The tranquility of the scene compelled Sophie to do the same. She approached him, and lent forward in curiosity, blocking the sunlight that was resting on his face. Howl opened his eyes and gave Sophie a sly smile, as if he knew that she wanted to join him. She couldn't help but smile in return, and Howl was taken aback by her innocent beauty, as the sunlight illuminated her head like a halo.

He cleared his throat, "We've come all this way, might as well enjoy it", he withdrew a hand from under his head and patted the grass beside him.

Sophie hesitated a moment before carefully lying down on her back on the soft grass. She folded her hands across her abdomen stiffly, finding it difficult to relax in this situation. She looked up at the clouds, watching them slowly float across the sky as their movement calmed her. Sophie couldn't help but feel as if being here was really nice. To be somewhere different, isolated from the chaos of everyday life.

As if Howl had read her mind, he interrupted the silence, "It's nice here", he stated. Sophie turned to look at him, he was staring straight up at the sky.

Sophie didn't really know how to respond, but then he continued, "I want to escape like this all the time", Sophie noticed his tired smile, "It feels so freeing".

"I feel the same way", Sophie informed him without thinking.

He turned to her so that they were looking at each other, as they looked into each other's eyes, both parties felt as if there was some sort of understanding between them. Howl smiled and turned away, closing his eyes once again. Sophie did the same, and felt herself drifting off as she considered the notion that Howl wasn't actually as bad as people had told her.

Sophie

Sophie, come here. Look at this.

Sophie walked over to the bench of her parents' workshop.

Ah, there you are, my little girl.

Her father lifted her up off the floor and sat her on his lap. Look. Here. He pointed at a bubbling mixture.

Amazing, isn't it?

Sophie could hear the excitement in her father's voice, and gazed in wonder at the potion. She heard the shops bell ring, and her father put her down. She watched as he moved further away from her, panic rose within her, as she tried to call out to him.

No! Don't go! You can't go!

She didn't know why but she knew something bad would happen, yet no voice escaped her lips. She reached out to try to grab him.

She watched in horror as her father open the door, and as the sunlight blared in, he faded.

"No!" Sophie jolted awake, tossing her head from side to side. She sat up abruptly, holding a clenched hand to her chest as she calmed herself, returning her breathing to its regular pattern. She breathed out a sigh, and looked up, only to find an unexpected guest. A small brown and white dog jumped on and off of her lap, before running around in circles. Sophie laughed at his antics. Where had it come from?

The dog approached Howl who was peacefully sleeping and began to lick his face repeatedly, on the lips and cheek. The unsuspecting Howl gave a small smile and began to make a kiss face. Sophie was shocked and a little disgusted at his reaction. She could only imagine what he was dreaming about. With a huff, Sophie pulled the dog away from him and shook Howl's shoulder to wake him up. He awoke and sat up, spotting the dog and feeling the moisture on his face. Sophie saw the realization in his eyes as he aggressively wiped his face.

"Ugh! Sophie! How could you let it do that to my face!?" he turned to her in embarrassed outrage.

"Well I stopped him, didn't I?" she crossed her arms in dismay, "I think he's a stray, the poor thing", she told Howl in a somber tone, noticing that the dog seemed old and was skinny.

Howl noticed her sad tone, and looked at the dog. He sighed.

"I guess, we'll have to take him home then", he instantly heard Sophie gasp with joy.

"You'll really keep him?" she eagerly questioned his heroism.

"I guess I have no choice, Markl and yourself can look after him" he stated with a shrug, but Sophie spotted the smile in his eyes when he watched the dog run around in circles in joy, as if it knew he was going with them. Sophie giggled, as Howl stood up abruptly.

"Time to go", he held out a hand to help her up.

As they headed back side by side, with Sophie carrying the dog in her arms, Howl added, "You know you're going to have to name it" he glanced down the dog.

"Hmm" Sophie was deep in thought, "How about 'Heen'?", she suggested.

"That's perfect", Howl encouraged as they walked back the rest of the way in comfortable silence.