The blonde man smiled a little, gazing down at the object in the velvet box. It was beautiful...he just hoped it would be okay. She had said that it was perfect, but still...It had to be just right. She deserved the best he could give her, simply because she was her. Snapping the box shut, he turned to see her standing there, staring out of the window in puzzlement. "Lucy? What is it?" The young woman shook her head. "I don't know. I could...have sworn someone was standing outside just now." She held out a hand to just above her ear. "A woman...about this tall, with dark brown hair and golden eyes. But she ran off..I think...she was crying."

At those words, Mwu got an ice-cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. No way...she can't have....Murrue...if she had been there, and seen it all - She must think I..."Which way did she go?" Lucy pointed to the right, towards the city centre. Without another word, he hastily pressed the money for his purchase into the surprised woman's hand, and dashed from the shop. The evening was cold, little flurries of snow swirling in the air. Christmas lights hung from street lights and in shop windows, giving the darkened city a festive feel. But he felt anything but festive. If Murrue had been watching...she would have seen everything, but not understood it. What she would have seen...He stopped as he reached the centre of the city, realising just what she would have seen. Oh God...Murrue...His heart twisted in pain.

A soft sound came to his ears, the sound oddly incongrous amidst the faint Christmas music. Crying. Soft sobbing...and it was coming from the plaza just up ahead. Stepping forward carefully, Mwu peeked around the corner.

On the marble edge of the fountain in the centre of the plaza, a figure was visible. The figure was bunched up, leaning forward, shoulders shaking with the force of their sobs. A black wool cap lay beside them, and their dark auburn hair hid their face. The blonde man closed his eyes, collecting himself, and walked up to the figure, kneeling beside them. She didn't even seem to know he was there, her face hid in thin hands. Tears escaped from in between her fingers, falling to the ground in between her feet. Reaching up, Mwu gently squeezed her hands. "Murrue.."

The young woman glanced up, amber eyes red and puffy, then looked away, pain clear to see on her pale face. "What?" she asked, soft voice more bitter than Mwu would have ever thought possible. "Did I interrupt you?" More tears escaped to streak down her face, and she closed her eyes, clearly fighting back the sorrow. It hurt...to see her like this. Like a knife in the heart. I hurt her...the one person in the world I should never hurt. Seeing her like this...I think she feels the same way for me as I do for her...Squeezing her hand again, Mwu leaned forward and pulled her into his arms. Murrue squeaked in surprise, hands moving up to try and push him away, but he wouldn't let go, nuzzling his face into her thick, sweet-smelling hair. "I'm...Murrue, I'm so sorry..."

"Sorry for what?" she asked, voice muffled by his coat. "That I had to find out like that? Or that you didn't tell me sooner?..." In response, he hugged her tighter. "No, no, sweetheart. I'm sorry that you saw that without me being able to explain it. That woman you saw me with..she's my friend. She helped me pick out a special present - a present for you..."

The young woman pulled away slightly, eyes wide. "For me?"

He smiled, brushing aside a lock of damp hair that had stuck to her cheek. "Yep," he murmured, leaning to press a soft kiss to her forehead. "I wasn't sure...if you'd like it or not.." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the small velvet box. "This is..for you.."

Taking the box carefully in shaking fingers, feeling the soft velvet, Murrue popped the catch. What she saw...took her breath away. It was a gold necklace, the links of the chain incredibly fine and delicate. Hanging from the chain was a tiny gold figurine with crystal wings. An angel. "T-this is..." she whispered, touching the pendant carefully. Mwu nodded, smiling. "I thought it would be perfect for you - since you're the closest thing to an angel I've ever seen..." Her cheeks flushed scarlet at his words, and she glanced down. "I...I..." Tears came to her eyes, falling to the ground freely as she clutched the tiny box to her chest.

"What is it? Don't you like it?" Mwu asked, deep voice full of worry. "I wasn't sure if it was right for me to give you something like this..." He sighed, leaning against the fountain. "I'm sorry..I should have realised. It has only been three weeks, after all..." His head slumped. The young woman gazed at him, amber eyes brimming with tears - and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "No.." she said softly. "That's not it.." She smiled as he glanced back up at her, and reached out to brush a finger across his face. "It's...so beautiful.." Her attention returned to the pendant. "I just never expected something like this..."

"You..like it?" he asked hesitantly, and she nodded, knowing how red her face must be. "I love it. Thank you so much..." Something still made her wonder, however. "That woman - you said she was your friend?" The blonde man nodded, moving from his position on the snowy ground to sit beside her on the fountain edge. "I saw the necklace in her shop a few days ago, and wondered if you would like it. I...needed some advice.." His cheeks pinked ever so slightly, and he rubbed the back of his neck. "I've never...bought anything like that before..." Murrue giggled. That's so sweet..."Never?" she asked, tone faintly sly. Mwu shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. "No, never. That's why I needed my friend's help. I asked her if...it would make a good gift - for someone special. She said that it would be perfect.."

Murrue nodded, understanding. "And that's why you hugged her?"

"Yeah," he replied softly. "I'm sorry for making you cry.." Moving closer, he slipped a warm arm around her shoulders. "Will you forgive me?" She smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Of course. I'm sorry too - for overreacting. I just didn't expect it to...hurt so much to see you with someone else. But sometimes.." Her voice trailed off, and she swung one leg idly, her boot making a trail in the snow. "Sometimes it feels like...I've known you forever.." she finished. She glanced up at her companion worriedly. "Does that sound odd to you?"

"No..." the blonde man replied, his arm pulling her a little closer. "That's the way I feel too. Like we've always been together. That's why I wanted to get you this, even though we've only really known each other three weeks.." Taking the box from her, he carefully took out the pendant, and fastened it around her neck. "It looks...great on you.." Murrue gazed down at the tiny golden angel, touching the figurine gently. "Thank you so much," she murmured, a single tear escaping to trail down her cheek.

"Merry Christmas, Murrue," was all he said before hugging her tightly. She returned his embrace, although something was worrying her. "But what about you? I didn't get you anything.."

The blonde man chuckled. "That's okay. Just being able to be here with you like this is the best present I've had in a very long time.."

"So, where are you spending Christmas?" she wanted to know, as the two of them walked through the streets hand-in-hand. "With relatives?" She herself would be spending the holiday at home, since her own family either lived too far away, or had died when she was younger. Mwu shrugged. "I don't have any relatives left.." Murrue sighed, her hand squeezing his. We're the same...but it doesn't have to stay that way...

"Why don't we.." she took a deep breath, flushing. "We could spend Christmas...I-I mean, we..." The man beside her smiled, understanding. "Spend Christmas together? You'd be okay with that?" She nodded, her face almost crimson. "I'd like that...very much.." I couldn't imagine anything I'd like better..."We could have dinner at my house, then go for a walk or something..."

"That sounds great!" Mwu replied happily, pulling her into a hug. "But I get to cook, okay?"

She had to laugh at that. "Okay. You're probably a better cook that me anyway.." Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed his cheek. He smelled of cologne and cold skin, and she smiled, nuzzling closer. Mwu grinned, wrapping his arms around her. "Then it's a date.." Leaning into her a little, he kissed her lips gently. She closed her eyes and returned the embrace, wondering just how it was that he had captured her heart so quickly. After their meeting on the train, things had progressed so quickly...I've fallen in love with him..

Christmas dawned bright and crisp, the sun reflecting dazzlingly off the packed snow. Outside in the tiny garden of her house, Murrue was feeding the birds, the little feathered creatures fluttering around her booted feet. One of the birds landed on her shoulder, and she giggled as it's wings tickled her cheeks.

"I've never seen birds do that before.." The voice startled her, and she glanced up, the birds flying away. Mwu was leaning on the fence, watching with a cheerful smile. His blue eyes twinkled with amusement, and she could feel the heat rising to her face. "Oh...g-good morning.." she murmured, looking away, and he chuckled. "Merry Christmas, sweetheart," She blushed even more at the endearment, but smiled. "M-merry Christmas.." He opened the gate, revealing the bags he carried. "I brought some stuff.."

The kitchen was warm and inviting, despite it's small size, and already smelt of roasting turkey. Mwu set down the bags on the worktop. "Here now, go sit down.." Murrue shook her head, tying her hair back into a ponytail. "No, I'm helping," she replied. "It's my kitchen after all.." Taking a couple of glasses from an overhead cupboard, she poured them both some wine. "And things like this are always more fun with company.."

After dinner, the two of them sat curled up together on the sofa, a fire crackling merrily in the hearth. The lights from the Christmas tree twinkled in the dim room, making the whole place seem more cosy. Mwu sighed, closing his eyes and leaning back against the plush sofa. It's weird. Nothing special happened, we just ate lunch together. But..it was great... Murrue's head was nestled on his shoulder, and she was smiling. "You want to go for a walk later?" she murmured, her hand finding his. Mwu shook his head, gazing down at her. "Nah. It's more fun being here like this, don't you think?" She replied with a sleepy affirmative, nuzzling a little closer. He smiled, stroking her hair gently until she fell asleep.

It feels great...to be here like this. Here, in this place, with someone so beautiful. I'm so lucky to have met her - after so long watching her on the train every morning, I'm so glad I worked up the courage to talk to her that day...

"I love you..." he whispered, knowing she couldn't hear him, but happy he was able to tell her anyway.

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( This waffles a lot, but things did turn out okay in the end, didn't they?

Please read and review! )