All he could see and hear was water. The rush and gurgle surrounded him, covered him...was drowning him. He couldn't breathe, was trapped - he was going to die here. In the place where he should have been safest...he was going to die? No...I can't die here! Not like this! Panicked, he kicked at whatever was holding him down, flailed his arms in an attempt to escape the ice-cold torrent. Gradually, the entanglement around his legs and arms loosened, and he gasped for much-needed air, forcing open azure blue eyes. He stared into the darkness, breathing heavily. Oddly, the rush of water, which had been his constant companion for what felt like an eternity, had gone...it was totally silent, save for a steady tick-tock, tick-tock. A clock?

Sitting up, he realised that what had entangled him - were blankets and sheets. He was in a bed. Lying back down against the soft pillows, he ran a hand over his face. Did that mean that what he had seen just now...was a dream? It didn't feel like a dream...

The place he was in..he didn't know it. It was a small room, the bed he occupied taking up most of the space. A dresser stood against the far wall, and a small cabinet stood beside the bed. Stretching out, he reached for the tiny clock sitting on the cabinet. 4AM. Okay, so now I've established that I'm not drowning, and that it's early morning. But...where am I?

He was about to get up and look around, but before he could, the door opened, warm light spilling into the room. A slender figure was silhouetted against the light, wrapped up warmly in a fluffy robe and pink pyjamas. Closing the door, the figure tip-toed into the room, and sat down on a chair by the bedside. "Oh..." the figure said softly. "You're awake.."

He smiled, recognizing the gentle voice. Who else would it be? Around the person's neck was a golden chain, a tiny figurine of an angel hanging from it. As the figure moved, the crystal wings of the angel caught the faint light. "I'll never take this off..." she had promised, and in the two months that had passed since he had given her the pendant, she had been true to her word. Reaching out, Mwu brushed his fingers against the tiny angel, then moved his hand up to cup the person's delicate face. "Hey there.." he murmured. "This is a nice surprise..." She smiled, tilting her head to lean into his touch. "Are you feeling better?" she asked.

"Better?" Mwu replied, confused. What does she mean, 'better'? Did something happen? Is this her house? How did I get here?

"You don't remember, huh?" Murrue asked, leaning down to adjust the layers of blankets around his body. "It's not surprising." She took a deep breath, and reached out to take his hand. "The snow melted...and the river burst it's banks. And..." Mwu sighed, staring up at the ceiling. "My house flooded, huh? Dad always told me it was too high up to flood. Guess he was wrong. But..how did I get here?" Murrue was silent for a moment, mind running through the events of the night. She had been woken up around 11.30 by someone banging on her door. When I answered, I didn't recognise the person standing there. But he told me that he'd found someone in the middle of his field about half a mile away, soaked through and freezing cold. He didn't know who they were, but he'd found something in their pocket - my address. And the person he'd found...it was Mwu. Seems that the snowmelt had caused the river to rise, and the water had flooded his house. Mwu managed to escape, but...

"How come you had my address in your pocket?" she asked in curiosity. "Is that how you found my house that time when we went walking?" He nodded cheerfully, sitting up a little. "So someone brought me here 'cause of that?" he murmured. "Sorry 'bout that.." Murrue smiled, shaking her head. "You don't need to apologise. I was worried that you might have gotten sick due to the cold, but it looks like you're okay..." She pressed a thin hand to his forehead, nodding in satisfaction. "You don't have a fever.."

The blonde man pouted slightly, reaching up to catch her hand. "But you're freezing. And you've been awake all this time?" Without waiting for an answer, he tugged at her hand, pulling her into the bed with him. "Here, c'mon. You'll catch cold.." She squeaked in alarm, flushing bright red. "H-hey!" But he held on to her, letting her lean against his chest. "Don't worry," he told her gently, nuzzling his face into her hair. "Nothing bad will happen, I promise..." Murrue was still nervous, but she did trust him, and simply nodded. Mwu leaned back in the bed, pulling her with him, and was soon asleep, her wrapped in his arms.

It's strange...she thought. Even though he was so cold when they found him, now...he's so warm... He smelt of cologne and sandalwood soap, and was so comforting that she couldn't help snuggling close to him, and closing her eyes.

Over the next few weeks, the two of them settled into a comfortable routine. Mwu had intially decided to move into a hotel in the city until the water subsided and he was able to salvage what he could from his house. But Murrue wouldn't hear of it, instead making him stay in the spare room, the one he had woken up in that first night. And in truth, he really didn't mind. Staying here - living here, with someone like her...it was wonderful. He knew that it would only be for a few weeks, but deep in his heart...he wanted to stay here with her forever.

And Murrue felt the same way. She loved him, despite everything her rational mind told her. Seeing him there, sitting on the sofa and squinting at a book, or coming in from work to find him cooking dinner - it made her heart feel warm. If his house was never rebuilt..would that really be so bad? Would it be so bad...to live with him? Especially since...well... Once or twice, she had seen him coming out of the bathroom in a towel, clearly not knowing she was there - and she had blushed so fiercely it had made her dizzy. I knew that this could happen, didn't I? It's been so long since...I've had that kind of relationship with anyone. And I don't even know if he feels the same way...

The two of them had grown used to living together, and they were happy with the way things were...wasn't it best to leave it at that? Wasn't that what would be best for both of them?

And she continued believing that..until the night of the storm.

That night, a fierce thunderstorm lashed the heavens, forks of lightning streaking down to illuminate the darkness. The wind howled around the little house, making the windows rattle, and making it impossible to sleep. Murrue was sitting up in bed, huddled in the blankets, shivering violently. I hate storms...I have ever since I was a little girl... A particularly loud crack of thunder rumbled overhead, and the young woman couldn't contain a slight whimper of fear.

"Are you all right?" The voice was soft, almost a whisper, but she knew who it was. She didn't answer, only flinched as another crack of thunder sounded.

Mwu gazed at her fondly. She was trying her best not to show her fear, but the wide amber eyes betrayed everything she was feeling. Murrue was terrified. Crossing the room, he sat beside her on the bed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "It's all right," he murmured into her hair. "It's just a lightning storm. It can't hurt you.." She nodded, but nuzzled into his embrace, closing her eyes. "I know," she replied quietly. "But I can't help it..."

His arms around her were warm and soothing, and despite her fear, she smiled as he pulled the blankets over the two of them. The storm still raged outside, and she still shivered, but this time, it wasn't due to the thunder. He was stroking her bare arms, his touch feather-light, but enough to raise goosebumps on her skin. "What are you doing?" she murmured, curious, but not wanting it to stop. She heard his soft chuckle in her ear, and Mwu brushed a lock of her hair aside to nuzzle kisses to her neck and shoulder. "The best way," he informed her, his warm breath making her shiver again, "to forget something that frightens you...is to think about something else, right?" Murrue nodded faintly, his touch making it difficult for her to think straight. "But..." she managed, and he stopped the gentle caresses. "I know, it's okay. Nothing will happen that you don't want. If you don't want this...then I'll stop.." But she smiled, turning over to face him. "No...it's all right.." she replied, reaching up to drift her fingers over his face. Mwu blinked, surprised, then smiled back, moving close to kiss her. The young woman closed her eyes at the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. A faint purr of bliss emitted from her throat as his hands brushed down her sides. However hard I tried to deny it...this is what I wanted. And it seems as though...he wanted it too...

The storm had passed, raindrops falling from trees to land in puddles. Birds sang from where they had taken shelter from the weather, their sweet song heralding the first rays of dawn. In the bedroom of the tiny cottage, two people slept soundly in each other's arms, the woman's head nestled on the broad shoulder of her companion's. Both faces wore peaceful, contented smiles. During the night, after their passion had died down, the two of them had told each other the words they had been keeping secret for the last three months...that they loved each other.

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( Aww, Mwu's house got flooded. But, on the upside, now he gets to live with Murrue-san, ne?

:snickers: And we also have ze lime I promised onee-chan XD. Please read and review! )