The alarm rang, the shrill ringing disturbing the brunette woman from her sleep. Prying open her eyes, she groaned a little, stretching out. 5.30AM was far too early for anyone to wake up - it was still dark outside, after all! Managing to slip out from underneath the patchwork comforter, she made her way over to the window of her tiny house, peeked behind the curtain...and cursed. The ground was thick with snow, the white stuff still falling from a leaden sky. It had been getting gradually colder for days, but she had never thought that it would actually snow...

Will the trains still be running? Will I...be able to see him? A couple of weeks ago, she had finally been able to talk to the man who always sat opposite her on the train into the city. It had taken all her courage to be able to talk to him, she remembered, running a brush through her thick auburn hair. That day we met...we didn't go to work at all. We went to the park, and walked together for a time - and we talked. It's strange. All we knew about each other were our names, nothing else. I had no idea what kind of person he was, but I just...trusted him. And he trusted me. We were able to learn about each other, and become friends.....Placing a hand to her heart, Murrue smiled, remembering the times they had spent together since. After that day, Mwu had always saved a space beside him on the morning train, and waited for her at the station on the way home, no matter how long she worked. Why...does he do that? I want to ask him...I mean, he sometimes waits hours for me if I'm held up at work, but all he ever does is smile, never complain. I want to ask him, but the words won't come out...

All she knew was that he did wait, and that his smile when he saw her made her heart skip a beat, and she felt dizzy. She didn't know why, or how, he was able to make her feel that way, but she couldn't help it. Glancing across at the alarm clock, she noticed the time, and swore, throwing on her suit, and slipping into a pair of thick boots, before donning her coat and woolly hat. I'm going to be late! Locking the door behind her, Murrue raced down the street to the station as fast as she could go - but when she got there, the place was empty and quiet. The noticeboards that announced train departure times were black and silent, a message taped to the displays saying that all trains that day were cancelled due to the weather. Sighing, the young woman sat down on a bench, pulling the hat off and running a hand through her hair. Now what? Work is over ten miles away...there's no way I can walk there in a blizzard. Guess...I just go home.. Getting up, she was about to leave, when she felt someone's hand catch hers. "Wha-" Turning around, she saw him standing there, blue woollen cap dusted with snow, the tip of his nose cherry red. "Mwu! What are you..."

The blonde man grinned, hand finding the back of his neck rather sheepishly. "Hi..."

Murrue raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here? If the trains have been cancelled, then how did you..." She sighed as she realised. "You walked here, didn't you? In a blizzard? Why?" Mwu smiled a little. "I wanted to see you.." he replied simply. Murrue could feel the blush spreading over her cheeks, and looked away. "You could have seen me tomorrow, or when the snow melted. You..you must be freezing..." Pulling off a mitten, she took one of his hands, frowning as she felt how cold the skin was. "You're going to catch cold," she scolded. "You're not even wearing a scarf!" Reaching around her neck, she tugged off the red muffler she wore, and wrapped it around his own neck. "There."

Mwu looked taken aback slightly, but smiled. "Thank you," he said softly. "But what about you?" She blinked at that, having not really considered it. "Uh...that's okay. My house isn't too far from here..." She turned as if to walk away, but guilt stabbed at her. He came all this way, in the snow...just to see me. And now I'm leaving him here after only a few words, and making him walk back home.. Taking a deep breath, she peeked behind her, and held out a hand. "Well, come on then..."

"Huh?" This time, Mwu was the one to blink. "What?" Murrue smiled, and took his hand. "Come on. You can't stay here, and you can't walk back home in this weather. You can...you can...c-come home with me for a while. J-just until it s-stops snowing..." Her voice trailed off into a stutter as she realised what she was saying. Mwu regarded her carefully. "Are you sure that's okay?" he asked.

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak, and walked out of the station into the snow, the blonde man following close behind. As they walked, he watched her. Her dark hair was hidden underneath a black woollen hat, but some wisps had escaped to frame her pale face, which was flushed pink from the cold and embarrassment. She looked beautiful, even more so than usual...he just wished he could tell her. If I did...would she be angry? Embarrassed? Or...happy?

It had been barely a fortnight since he had met Murrue, after several months of wistful glances over the top of his newspaper on the train, but it felt like he had known her forever. He smiled, closing his eyes as he inhaled the scent of roses from the scarf she had lent him. That day in the park...we just talked for hours. I felt like I could tell her anything, and it seemed as though she felt the same way. That day...I think I fell in love. She's everything I imagined she would be, kind, gentle...and her nature is as beautiful as her face. I want to tell her all this - tell her how I feel...but I don't want her to think that things are going too fast...

"Mwu?" He blinked out of his thoughts, to see her gazing up at him, large amber eyes full of confusion. "What is it?"

"Huh? Oh..nothing...Just thinking.." He gazed down at her, the snow still falling to settle on her hat and shoulders. Murrue blushed a little at his attention, and gestured down a path to a tiny house nestled in between some trees. "We...we're here," she said quietly, leading him down the path and unlocking the door. "Come in.." she said politely, although her face was crimson.

The little house was warm and cosy, the walls covered with framed photographs. The wooden coffee table was covered with papers, rough sketches annotated with neat handwriting, and the furniture was well-worn, but clean. The house smelled of pine and flowers...and the whole effect was comforting and homely. Mwu smiled, for some reason feeling as at home here as he did in his own house. Murrue bustled about, removing her coat and hanging it up to dry. "Here," she called quietly. "Give me your coat, and I'll put it here to dry next to the heater, okay?"

After he had done so, she gestured to him to sit down on the sofa, handing him a cup of coffee. Gingerly, she sat down beside him, not too close, but not too far away...as if she wasn't quite sure what she should do. She was blushing again, and he smiled. "You're a very shy person, aren't you?" he asked, and her blush deepened. "I...I don't know what to say sometimes..." she replied. "I used to watch you on the train..and wished that I could talk to you, but now that I can, I don't know what to say.." She looked up at him, expression one of nervousness. "You understand, don't you?"

"Sure I do," he replied. "I have trouble knowing what to say to you. I'm happy being with you, and talking to you, but I get so nervous sometimes that I can barely get the words out. I know how I feel, and what I want to say, but I can't..." The young woman smiled a little, despite her worry.. "I've noticed that. That you want to say something, but hold back at the last minute. What is it?"

Mwu sighed. "A lot of things. Like how glad I am that we were able to meet that day, how you're every bit as beautiful personality-wise as I imagined you would be...what else would you like me to say?"

Murrue stared wide-eyed at his confession, one hand pressed to her chest. She was bright red, and as he watched, she glanced away, and he felt guilt rip at him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Getting up, he moved to retrieve his now-dry coat from the kitchen.

Or would have, if a small hand in his hadn't pulled him back. "Wait.." She was still blushing, but instead of the shock he had seen earlier...she was smiling. "I'm...glad too. That we were able to meet, and get to know each other. And..and you're just as kind as I hoped you would be.." She was looking away by the end of the sentence, but still smiling. The shy, gentle expression made Mwu smile back, and he carefully sat back down beside her. "Thank you.." Relaxing a little, he looked around the tiny sitting room. A fire crackled in the hearth, making the place seem even more cosy despite the snow still falling outside. The flames were reflected in his companion's tawny eyes, and made her even more beautiful. Reaching out, he took her hand. Murrue glanced round, startled, but didn't pull away.

"Thank you for letting me stay here until the snow stops.." he said, squeezing her hand gently. "Now I want...to return the favour. One day after work, would...would you like to go out to dinner with me?"

The young woman blushed again, but nodded. "I-I'd like that very much.." she replied. "Will it be a friendly dinner...or a d-date?" He laughed softly, and she looked up at him. His bright blue eyes were twinkling. "It can be whatever you want it to be," he told her, squeezing her hand again. "Which would you prefer?"

Her smile told him all he needed to know.

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( Incoherence FTW lol. And yes, the next chapter will be their date..

Please read and review! )