The scenery was as beautiful as ever. The sun shone from a cloudless blue sky, the reflection from the packed snow dazzling, and brightly dressed skiers weaved their way down the distant slopes - it was a sight to lift any heart, and often did hers. But not today. Today she barely saw it. Sitting curled up in the easy chair she stared listlessly out of the window, doing her best to hide her sadness. He was asleep still the way he always was even this late in the morning, a tuft of blonde hair all that was visible, but she still didn't want to show her unhappiness in front of him. He'd told her often that he loved her smile, that it brightened up his day...the least she could do was always smile for him, right? Even if she didn't feel like smiling.

Today she went home. The flight was booked, her bag was packed, and Erica would be waiting at the airport to give her a lift home. Back to her old life. She'd had six weeks here, in which time she'd gotten well, learned to ski, and fallen head-over-heels in love. Her best friend might be mad at her for it, but she hadn't been able to help herself. He'd appeared out of the blue and swept her off her feet without really trying, blue eyes and smile full of sunshine...who wouldn't have at least been drawn to him? Closing her eyes she sighed, swallowing the lump in her throat. I don't want to go home. I don't want to leave him... He'd no doubt visit, but once she left he'd have to go back to his old life, at least for a little while - who knew when she'd get to see him again? Wrapping her robe more firmly around herself she wandered back over to the bed, finding comfort in at least being near him.

"I knew you'd be awake.." His smile was understanding, gentle, and she had to force herself not to cry. To her dismay a few tears escaped, but before she could hide them he carefully brushed them away, fingers lingering on her cheek. "Don't cry, sweetheart.."

"I'm sorry.."

"For what, silly? C'mere.." Sitting up he brought her close to sit on his lap, nuzzling into her neck. As he'd no doubt known, being held by him comforted her at least for a little while, and she settled back into his embrace with a small sigh. For now, she could forget her sadness...he had a way of making her forget most things, even her name sometimes. Taking his hand she examined his fingers, brushing her lips against the dry skin and callouses and smiling a little when he murmured in contentment. Usually they didn't say anything...they didn't have to. He already knew everything she felt and wanted to say, and vice versa. But today was different. He spoke softly to her, voice and words soothing, and she closed her eyes.

"Murrue?"

"Hmm?"

"If I asked you to follow me, would you?"

She smiled. "That depends on where you're going."

"Home," he replied cheerfully. "The windmill I told you about. Would you like to come see it?"

"You want me to come home with you?"

He grinned and nodded.

"Erica will kill me. Then you."

"Is that 'no'?"

Murrue laughed, joy rapidly replacing sadness. "That's 'when do we leave?'"

"Really?"

She turned around in his arms and hugged him tightly. "Really and truly. But," she thumped his chest, the blow making him cough, "why didn't you ask me before I got all sad?"

Mwu chuckled rather breathlessly. "Well, I didn't know if you'd want to. You have a life and a job back there, not to mention a best friend that will probably fillet me for this.."

"She'll get over it.." She closed her eyes, snuggling close with a happy sigh. He'd told her stories about the windmill he lived in, his voice always wistful when he mentioned how beautiful but lonely it was - how long had he been planning to ask her? He told me those stories so I'd agree to come with him when he asked. Not that I wouldn't have. Wherever he lived, I'd have come with him... Rather excited now she looked up at him with a bright grin. "How long can I stay with you?"

"As long as you want." In delight she hugged him so tightly she almost squeezed the breath from him. As long as she wanted? She'd stay forever if he let her.

"How long were you planning this?"

He grinned rather nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Quite a long time. I thought about it and realised I couldn't face the idea of not seeing you again, even if only for a little while, and I decided the best way for that not to happen was to sort of kidnap you and take you home with me.." His girlfriend giggled and leaned across in the car to kiss him on the cheek. She looked excited, beautiful dark eyes dancing with happiness, and despite his concern that she wouldn't like his house he couldn't help smiling. As they rounded the corner he got an idea. "Close your eyes."

"Why?"

"Cause I want it to be a surprise, that's why. C'mon. And don't peek." She crinkled her nose at that but did as he asked, settling back in her seat as the car sped toward it's destination. In truth, he'd been surprised that she'd so quickly agreed to do this. Not that he wasn't happy about it - Murrue meant the world to him - but she did have a job and a home of her own. His own wish was that she'd like his home and his company so much she'd want to stay with him forever, but that was pretty selfish of him. Best to just take things slowly. He glanced up and caught sight of his home, a grin spreading. "Now you can open your eyes.."

Blinking open amber eyes she looked up, and to his delight she smiled, pressing one small hand to her chest. "Oh, it's beautiful!"

"You really think so?" The red-brick building was tall and cone-shaped with a slate roof, the windmill sails having long since been taken away, and as a result it looked rather odd. He wouldn't have described it the way she had, but he was proud nonetheless. "Thank you.."

"It needs more flowers."

He chuckled. "Oh?"

"Yep. More flowers." She sat up a little more in the seat. "All kinds. How can you have a garden without flowers in it?"

"Does yours have some?"

She bit her lip at that, expression suddenly saddened. "I don't have one. I live on the seventh floor of an apartment block, so I can only have house plants and a little window box. I always wanted to live in a house big enough to have a garden." Her smile returned, becoming teasing. "And you have all this space and don't even have one."

Mwu pouted. "I don't get to be home long enough to start one usually. But now I will be."

"You're really going to retire?"

He parked the car and walked around to open her door, she taking his hand as they walked up the gravel drive together. "If you stay with me, then I don't need that life anymore. I was always looking for happiness, and I figured having everyone know who I was would help me get it. But I was wrong. I realised that happiness was a lot simpler than I thought it would be. It's you."

Murrue blushed, rubbing her nose to hide her embarrassment, but she did look pleased. As they neared the house she looked all around herself at the overgrown grass and weeds, tutting softly. He sighed. "We can have a go at this in a couple of days if you want. Bit late in the year for planting I think, but we can grub up those weeds and mow the grass if you're staying.."

"Am I staying?"

"I told you, you can stay as long as you want..." He turned her around to face him, lifting her up by the waist and swinging her round a little. "No time limits. And if I'm going to have a beautiful house guest, she needs a beautiful house and garden to stay in, right?" Setting her down he led her up to the house, unlocking the door and escorting her inside. Rather anxious he hung back to see what she thought, watching her expression carefully. The kitchen was one of his favourite places in the house. It occupied the whole ground floor of the old mill, painted a cheery red with warm cushioned linoleum on the floor, and a large well-scrubbed table and chairs sat in the centre for when he entertained friends. She took all this in, marigold eyes wide, then beamed.

"I love it."

"Really?"

"Mmm-hmm!" She fairly bounced on her toes before setting her bag down and beginning to explore, taking in everything. She opened cupboards and drawers, peeked in boxes and out of the windows, her pale cheeks pink with exhilaration. Finally she slipped off her boots and set them neatly in a corner before padding up the steps to the next story in polka-dot socks. And Mwu couldn't help grinning, an odd warmth in his chest...it was like this was her home already. Picking up their bags he followed her up to the sitting room.

"Where'd you go?"

"Here!" She was at the window, half-hidden by blue drapes, and held out her arms to snuggle happily into his embrace when he came close. She felt cold and he smiled, pressing a kiss to rose-scented hair before scooping her up in his arms and carrying her over to the sofa. The house was pretty chilly - it was well into November now and it had been a while since he'd been home, so he settled her on the sofa with a blanket before moving to set the fire going.

"Stay there and get warm and I'll make us some soup, okay?" With a quick kiss he ran off down the steps, leaving her there smiling.

I think this is going to be interesting... Hopping off the sofa, the oatmeal-coloured blanket draped around her shoulders still she curled up in front of the fire with a content sigh. His home was perfect. Quirky and unexpected, but comfortable and loved...rather like the man himself. I think I could be very happy here. It's easy to look around and imagine the pictures and plants from my apartment here mixed together with his. Our things, not just his and mine.. With a grin of sheer delight she flopped back onto the fluffy rug, inhaling his scent from the blanket.

Then her cellphone rang. Confused - who would be calling her? - she answered. "Hello?"

"You had better have a damn good reason to be wherever you are right now..."

"Erica!" Downstairs she could hear the clatter of cutlery as Mwu apparently dropped whatever he'd been holding. "I..."

"Your flight landed an hour ago, and I've been waiting ever since. Where are you? Did you even bother leaving?"

"Y-yes..."

"Then where are you?"

"His place..." she replied in a very small voice. Erica remained silent for a few moments, then spoke up, her own voice equally quiet.

"He wouldn't let you go."

"I didn't want him to."

"A danger to yourself and others, that's what you are. How many times have I warned you?"

"I love him."

"I can tell that, sweetie, but..." She sighed. "Are you happy with him?"

"Very happy." Noticing movement on the steps she looked up to see her lover standing there with the promised soup. "We both are."

"Let me talk to him.." Murrue held out the phone to him, and though he regarded the small metallic object as though it were a venomous snake, he took it, she receiving the proffered soup with a kiss.

"Hello..." The tirade he got was apparently a loud one, as he held the phone out a few inches from his right ear. "Ow." She smiled sympathetically at him, taking a spoonful of her soup. She knew Erica well enough to know she'd probably like Mwu very much when she met him...she was just unhappy about not being involved in the decision-making. The older woman had been like a sister to her since she'd been quite young, and had taken care of her. I think if she did something like this to me, run off and set up home with someone she'd known only six weeks, I'd be very angry, and hurt that she hadn't thought to let me know first. When I think about it like that, I can understand why she's reacted this way... Mwu's sincerity and affection weren't in doubt, his every emotion and thought visible to those who could read them, and she knew very well his love for her was real, as was hers for him. Six weeks in the grand scheme of things wasn't long, but to them, in their own little world, it had practically been forever.

When the call had ended he came to join her on the sofa, poking at the vegetables in his soup with a spoon. His shoulders were slightly slumped, expression downcast...had the call really been that bad? "Poor thing.."

"Your friend is pretty mean. Some of the things she called me I can't repeat.."

"I've probably heard them before.." She took his hand and squeezed gently. "Don't worry. She'll like you when she meets you.."

"Will she like me as much as you did?"

"I hope not. I don't think I'd much like having to share you. Besides, she's married."

He chuckled. "Then I'm safe? Will you protect me when she comes to visit?"

She kissed his cheek. "I will. Promise."

He'd had no idea cohabiting could be so...comforting. Ever since he'd bought the house he'd lived alone, unsure whether anyone would want to share in his hectic and rather public lifestyle. He'd decorated it as he'd wanted, making it as homey as he could, but to him it had always felt empty. Until now, that is. Half-lying back on the bed he watched his companion, her silhouette just visible at the window. It felt like she belonged here, like her presence had been all it had taken to make this place home. "Hey, Murrue?"

"Hmm?"

"How long would it take for you to bring your stuff over here?"

"A few days, maybe a week." She moved to sit on the bed beside him, skimming thin fingers through his hair. "If you drove me up to the station I could catch a train and rent a moving van."

"You'd be okay with moving in here? I said you could stay as long as you wanted, but I didn't want to rush things.."

She gave him her most irresistible smile, the one that always caused him to melt into a puddle. "You aren't. I decided as soon as I got here that I wanted to live here...I was just thinking of a way to ask.."

"You don't need to ask." Catching the hand that still brushed through his hair he tugged her close to land on the covers beside him, winding his arms around her waist. Hadn't he hoped even before he'd brought her here that she'd want to stay? "You want me to come with you? Help you move stuff?"

"I don't want a silent lump in a hat and dark glasses following me, thank you. People will think I have a stalker. Besides, while I'm gone you can sort out those weeds."

Mwu made a face. "You're so mean. Did you pick that up from Miss Erica?"

"Perhaps.."

"Can't think why I love you." Murrue smiled at that and leaned forward to catch his lips in a sweet kiss which he happily returned, he winding hands in her dark hair before smiling up at her when they broke. "Now I remember.."

"Shall I bring Erica back with me?"

"Please don't. Give her time to calm down and not hate me.." She giggled and kissed him again before wriggling under the covers to cuddle close, gazing up at the patterned canopy of the bed.

"I can't believe you have a four-poster. You poser."

"It suits you though. A bed fit for a princess."

"That's very sweet of you." The light was too dim to see if she was blushing or not, but she did sound happy, and after a moment she pillowed her head on his chest, so close her hair tickled his nose. "So, am I home now?"

"Yeah, sweetheart, You're home now."

( :3 please read and review! )