He rolled his eyes, tone becoming slightly exasperated. "Yes, I already told you I'm fine. Stop fussing. I'm staying with a friend." This friend was watching with amusement, lying there on her stomach on her bed waiting for him to rejoin her. Kira had called to find out whether he was all right, whether he'd been caught in the blizzard, and a dozen other things. "I was out skiing with them. No, I don't care what the weather report says, it's not as if I'm in the snow." Murrue buried her face in the comforter to stifle her giggles. Suppressing a sigh he wandered over to sit on the bed beside her, running a hand over her hair when she rested her head on his lap. "It's going to snow again, is it? Well it'll just have to then. I can't get out of the house. No. Goodbye, Kira." With a sigh he ended the call, switching off the cellphone with a flourish, and flopped backwards onto the bed, smiling when he felt featherlight caresses to his cheek.

"Your friend's worried about you.."

Mwu opened his eyes to see her lying beside him, amber eyes holding a hint of scolding and he sighed again, wrapping arms around her to bring her closer and kiss her neck. "Does he have to be? Are you dangerous?"

"Mmm...I can be.."

"You'll have to show me one day.." She giggled a little breathlessly at that, rolling over onto her back to let him rest his head on her chest. He smiled and snuggled closer, breathing in the scents of roses and lavender and listening to her gentle heartbeat. He often laid awake for a time at night listening like this, watching the night sky with her curled up asleep in his arms...he was happier here than he'd ever been anywhere else. Kira's call had reminded him of the world outside, the world he was expected to go back to when the snow had gone...and he didn't want it. I want to stay with her. Just with her.. She'd been worried that what they had might end when she had to go back home, but he was determined that it wouldn't. Raising his head he gazed down at her, a fond smile coming to his lips when she blushed.

"You still blush."

"Anyone would being looked at like that," she murmured. "Not that it isn't nice, but I'm not used to it.."

"Well, I'll always look at you like this. Cause you're gorgeous."

Murrue blushed a little more, eyes fluttering closed when he leaned down to kiss her. He felt her fingers curl in his hair and grinned into the exchange when she tugged him down to deepen it. More snow? Who cared? He'd be happy if they were buried up to the roof if it meant he could stay with her. Breaking for air he pecked another kiss to the tip of her nose and flopped onto his back, glancing to the side when he felt her take his hand.

"Your friend said it was going to snow again?"

"Yeah. So we might get snowed in a bit more. We doing okay for food?"

"We're good for a few more days, maybe a week if we're careful. It'd be nice if we could stay here that long."

It would... "When this holiday's over you can come stay with me."

Murrue smiled, moving to snuggle close to him. "Do you have a ten-bedroom palace somewhere exotic?"

"Nope. A converted windmill in the country. I can sit there for hours watching the scenery and not be bothered by anyone. As for bedrooms, it just has one, but it'd be big enough for the two of us.." He had a feeling that anywhere now, even home, would feel empty without her, and that left him at odds about what to do. Let her go home and have to wait possibly months before he got enough free time to even visit? Or... He looked up at the ceiling, the germ of an idea beginning to take root. Risky perhaps...it involved taking her away from her home for a time, but he couldn't bring himself to let her go just yet. "You think you'd like to visit?"

"I think I'd like that very much. I've never stayed in a windmill before.."

"There'll be no snow, so you'll just have to make do with me. That okay?"

Murrue smiled lazily, thin fingers wandering over his chest in intricate patterns. "I'd say so.." He chuckled and settled back to enjoy the attention, goosebumps breaking out over his arms at her gentle caresses. They'd barely left the bed all the time they'd been here, preferring to lie together and enjoy the time they had and in that time they'd learned everything about each other, becoming so close they could speak almost without words. He'd never had that kind of relationship with anyone before. It's like she's the other half of me. Like she understands everything I feel, everything I think... Wanting to treat her he wriggled free and walked downstairs to rummage in the bag he'd brought over before they'd gone skiing. He'd left something here...ah, there it was.

She curled into the covers with a smile, breathing in his scent from the pillows. Two days he'd been here, the pair of them having only each other for company, and it had been wonderful. They'd told each other stories, cooked for each other and practically lived in each other, spending hours together. She knew everything about him, inside and out, from tales of his childhood to the wonky big toe on his left foot, and each of those things made her love him a little more. "What are you doing?"

"I brought you a present," he announced, coming back up the stairs with a tray. "Two, in fact." Balanced on the tray were two glasses and a bottle of expensive-looking wine, along with a small velvet box. Confused but pleased Murrue sat up, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders as he carefully set his tray on the nightstand. The box in particular interested her, she looking from it to her lover and back until he grinned. "Patience."

"What is it?"

"I told you, a present. The wine first, though. As long as you don't chug it." She grinned at that. Some of the stories she'd told him had been of her student days and the pub crawls she'd taken part in, she easily being able to drink people much bigger and heavier than her under the table...it was a skill she'd never lost. She had no doubt she'd be able to outdrink Mwu, and looked forward to the day when she'd be able to prove it. "I'm serious," he scolded gently. "This stuff needs to be drunk slowly. It's too good to just down it in one. Okay?"

"Okay.." Making a show of grumbling she sipped the dark red liquid, smiling despite herself at the velvety taste. He was right, it was good. "Mmm..."

"Told you." Setting his glass on the tray he lay back down, resting his head on her lap with a content sigh. He watched her all the time, blue eyes alight with a mixture of happiness and affection which she knew hers returned, and leaned into her touch like a cat when she stroked his hair. A lot could be said with just looks. Love, desire, happiness, wishes... she could see everything he felt and hoped.

"Come with me."

"I'd love to. But Erica would be mad." She knew exactly where he wanted her to go, and she would like nothing better, but.. Reaching down she took his hand and twined her fingers with his, bringing them close for a kiss. It would be so easy to do, to just pack up and run away together, but could they really? They both had responsibilities, lives to go back to - they couldn't stay isolated like this forever, as much as they loved it. He must have seen that in her eyes because his shoulders slumped, expression downcast even when she squeezed his hand.

"You understand, don't you?"

"Yeah. But still.." He sat up, lifting her to sit astride his lap. "I just want to stay with you." Murrue smiled gently and kissed the tip of his nose. In truth, this isolation had meant more for their relationship than anything before it - they'd been cooped up together for two days and far from getting on each other's nerves...they'd only gotten closer. I know just how he feels. I don't want to be rescued. Carefully she traced his features, fingers curling around his nose and up through his hair, his eyelashes tickling the palm of her hand.

"Can I have my other present now?"

He chuckled softly and kissed her hand. "Alright beautiful. Close your eyes.." She did as told, squirming impatiently as he took his time about it. "Sit still.."

"I don't like surprises.."

"You'll like this one. Now sit still and stop fidgeting." Making a show of grumbling she did so, doing her best not to peek as she felt him brush fingers against her neck. What he was doing she had no idea, but she knew he wouldn't just tell her, and he'd be cross if his surprise was spoiled, so she sat quietly until he was finished. "There we go.." She opened her eyes cautiously and glanced down at herself, seeing nothing unexpected except...

"Oh.."

"Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful.." His present was a necklace, a delicate silver chain supporting a snowflake pendant set with a twinkling stone. It was beautiful, if a little unexpected, and she stared at it for a long time. Mwu looked rather embarrassed and rubbed the back of his neck then his nose.

"I wasn't sure if you'd want something like that. It just reminded me of you - I think snow always will - and..."

"Thank you. You didn't have to buy something like that for me though.."

"I know. But I wanted to. Let me treat you every once in a while."

She nodded and kissed him, he laughing when she pushed him back on the bed, though that laughter quickly faded when her hands started to wander. She kept up the attention until he groaned softly, blue eyes almost dazed...he deserved a reward for his gift, didn't he? It was hard to keep control, both of him and of herself, but she was determined to try. "Now you close your eyes.."

He took a deep breath and forced his eyes open. "Not without you.."

"But this is your reward."

"That would be my reward..." Understanding she smiled and gave into him, eyes fluttering closed. Whatever the reason, she wasn't about to complain...

I wish we could stay like this forever...

( fluff n smuts n stuff :3

please read and review! )