"He looks a lot better."

"Doesn't he?" Brushing the soil from her knees she got to her feet, leaning on the low garden wall to watch him better. Mwu was standing a short distance away looking out to sea, straw hat pushed back over blonde curls, bare toes peeking out from the bottom of the too-large borrowed jeans he wore....his whole demeanour was relaxed, contented. "He loves it here."

"Glad to hear it. Did he have some weird idea that he didn't deserve it?"

"Partly, and also partly that this is the first time he's ever been anywhere like this. He didn't have a good time of it growing up.."

Erica nodded slowly. "I guessed that there might be some sort of story to it. Some things around the house or between Matt, Ryuta and I he looks at like he doesn't quite understand them."

"I want him to." Moving to sit on the wall Murrue looked up. "I want him to understand everything. To have everything he couldn't before."

"And you want to have it with him."

She pinked and smiled. More than anything. She'd tried not to think about it - being at war still meant it was tempting fate - but hope was a difficult feeling to ignore. They'd been here a couple of weeks now, and though she knew the war was far from over it was very easy to imagine what life might be like when they finally had peace. Her friends' home was beautiful, the garden just like the one she'd had herself back at the big house, and to top it off Mwu was happy here....it was perfect.

"I always wished I could," she admitted softly. "In odd moments I did use to picture what it might be like to live with him. I think he'll drive me crazy, but it'll be fun."

"Why him? Why pick him, I mean?"

"I think he picked me. He always hung round, told me jokes and stories to make me laugh....he was there when I needed him. I think he'd decided quite early on that he was going to try his hardest to win me over, and he succeeded."

Erica grinned and ruffled her hair. "A bit too well. He's a good guy, though."

"Yes, he is." Hopping off the wall Murrue ran across to him, standing on her tiptoes to rest her chin on his shoulder. He chuckled softly, reaching up to tangle fingers in her hair. The nervous tension he'd displayed since practically the day she'd found him had all but vanished, leaving behind the Mwu she'd known so well. And all he needed was someone to scold him. Not what I expected...

"How's the sun?"

"Hot. But I think I'm getting used to it." Turning around he scooped her up in his arms, scarred face lit up in a grin. "Can we go for a swim later?"

"I thought you'd ask that." He loved the ocean, spending hours in or by the water, and was always reluctant to go back to the house. Sunbathing he had no patience for, as she'd expected - it involved being still, which he never did unless he was asleep. Too much to do, too much to see...just like a child. And like a child, he hated sunblock, but she'd insisted. His scars, especially the ones on his back were still quite nasty, the healed skin still tender, so it was either high factor sunblock or he wore a shirt. "More sandcastles?"

"Why not? Let's see if we can make a bigger one this time." Not long after coming here they'd taken Erica's son Ryuta to the beach, and the first thing he'd done was use his bucket and spade to build a sandcastle. And Mwu had been fascinated. I never stopped to wonder whether anyone had taken him to the ocean when he'd been younger... So she and the little boy had taught him, and his delighted smile at creating his own castle had brought a lump to her throat.

"You can put me down now."

"Nah. You're my prisoner."

"Is that right?" Absently she reached out and brushed his ear with her fingertips - then squeezed hard.

"Oww!" Startled by the pain he let go, she landing easily to look up at him with a sweet (if slightly wicked) smile. "The hell?"

From her vantage point in the flower bed Erica was watching with a grin. "Self-defence. Go on, Murrue, show him what you've got."

Mwu looked baffled, blue eyes flicking from the two women to himself and back again. "Are you sure? I mean, I.."

"What, you're worried about hurting her?"

"Well, yeah.." Embarrassed he looked away, cheeks faintly ruddy. Doing her best not to laugh she took his hand.....then before he knew what was happening she swiped his legs from under him so he landed flat on his back on the lawn. And he lay there for a good five minutes, blinking up at the sky in obvious bewilderment. She knelt down beside him and brushed a lock of hair from his face, ducking to kiss the tip of his nose.

"You okay?"

"I think so." Running a hand over his face he peeked up at her with a sheepish grin. "Had no idea you could do that."

"I practiced a lot. I didn't know whether anyone would come looking for us - I wanted to be sure I could defend myself."

"I'd say you were pretty good."

"Thank you." Holding out her hand she helped him to his feet, squealing with laughter when he caught her around the waist and slung her over his shoulder, taking off running down the garden with her and down the steps to the beach before he set her down carefully on the sand. Both were laughing, he so much so he had to sit down.

"That's not self-defence," she observed mildly once she'd gotten her breath back. "I'd call that cheating."

"Would you? I wouldn't. Fun, yes, but not cheating." Which was true enough, so she smiled and sat down beside him, head on his shoulder when he wound an arm around her waist. Everything was quiet save for the waves on the shore and the sea birds - very relaxing, and it seemed as though her companion thought so too.

"Erica says Ryuta wants to play when he gets home from school." Despite his not being used to children he and the little boy had grown fond of each other, Ryuta following Mwu everywhere he went. Of course, Erica had teased her about it - sly comments about how good he was with kids and whether she'd noticed - but mostly Murrue thought her friend was glad of the break. And so am I. The two of them together have enough energy to power the city for a month. "He likes you."

"He's a good kid."

"Yes, he is. And you're good with him. Erica's quite relieved about it."

"Really?"

"Mmm-hmm. He has a lot of energy and usually never wants to go to bed. But after he's been out in the garden with you he's out like a light by nine-thirty. And so are you."

He raised an eyebrow. "You calling me a kid?"

"You were playing with his toy cars."

A sheepish smile. "I....I never had anything like that when I was a kid. Mom used to bring me picture books and once a tub of those stacking brick things, the kind you can build houses and stuff out of, but I never had much else." Obviously embarrassed he rubbed the back of his neck, managing another smile when she kissed his cheek.

"When we come back here, you can have whatever you want. I'll buy you a train set."

Mwu laughed and hugged her close. "I always wanted one of those."

"I guessed as much. All boys are the same." She'd buy him one, as big a one as he wanted if it made him happy - he deserved it. "What else would you like?"

He beamed. "Don't need anything else. You, me, a place to live and an optional train set. It sounds perfect."

"Nothing else?"

"What else would we need?"

"It's not about what we need, really. It's about what you'd like. Besides the train set, is there anything else you wanted?"

That question brought quiet contemplation, he repeatedly taking a handful of white sand and watching it trickle through his fingers. "To know what kind of life I could have had," he replied finally. "If I hadn't been picked up by the Alliance, if I could have come back here with everyone else - if I didn't have to be a soldier."

Murrue nodded and squeezed his hand. "You can have that. We both can."

"You think we'll both be okay?" His words and tone were cautious, he obviously remembering she'd never liked to think about the future....but the last two years had changed her just as it had him. I gave up too much. Hid myself away too much. Instead of dreaming too much I never dreamed enough...

"We have to believe we will be."

"I'll make sure we will be. Both of us." He smiled, tipping his head back let the sun warm it. "I don't want to fight anymore."

"I know. Hopefully it'll all be over soon."

"Yeah.."

She ruffled his hair gently. "C'mon you. Let's go build that sandcastle."

He knew exactly where she was. Ryuta had managed to squirrel himself away pretty well, making finding him a challenge he'd rather enjoy, but Murrue.. Closing his eyes he turned around...then smiled, looking up. "I see you."

"Jerk." Swinging from the branch of the tree she'd been hiding in she landed easily beside him, amber eyes narrowed in a scowl. "That's four times now. Am I ever going to be able to hide from you?"

"Doubt it."

"I'm sure that's cheating."

He grinned, pulling her close for a hug. "I told you, didn't I? The better I know a person the less chance they have of sneaking up on or hiding from me. And who do I know better than you?"

She wrinkled her nose but didn't complain, and by the pink tint to her cheeks he guessed she was pleased. It's true, though. She and I have a connection. It's different from the one I had with Klueze, or the one I seem to have with that ZAFT kid. Instead of a shiver down the spine, this is like a warm glow. It feels nice. "You don't mind, do you?"

"No," she admitted. "I just wish it went both ways. Then I'd always know where you were."

"I won't go far, I promise. And I'll always come back."

"Alright. Just....don't take so long about it next time.."

Ducking down he kissed her forehead. It was a promise he might not be able to keep and both knew it, but they needed the reassurance. He'd left her alone for too long.

"Is Murrue-san 'it' now?" Ryuta stuck his head out of a nearby bush, expression hopeful, and the two adults smiled.

"I'd say she was," he replied. "Shall we go hide together and see if she can find us?"

She just shook her head, gesturing to where Director Simmons was standing in the open doorway of the house. "I think dinner might be ready.."

"Yay!" Ryuta took off running but Murrue was quicker, chasing after him and scooping him up in her arms before carrying him inside, the kitchen echoing with laughter. Mwu grinned, shaking his head and leaning against the wall. She was great with kids. When they'd first gotten back here they'd gone to a small house not far from the missie's place where Kira's mom was living along with that blind priest and a bunch of kids. They'd been happy to see the kid and the princess, but the little guys had all but thrown themselves at Murrue, all hopping up and down trying to be hugged and talking so fast it was hard to tell what they were trying to say. The kid's mom says she's their favourite. Not just 'cause she reads them stories and plays with them and stuff, but 'cause something about her draws them to her. Maybe that's why I was drawn to her too...

"You can tell she was a teacher."

He grinned and nodded, leaning against the door as the Director came to stand beside him. "She never really stopped being one. The kid and the missie say they relied on her a lot, and she always helped them out even when she had her own problems. And she teaches me something new every day."

"The alphabet?"

"No, smartass. Stuff about people, I guess. Back with the Alliance I only saw the bad side, how low people would go to get what they wanted or something to go their way. But Murrue.."

"Motivation by kindness." The older woman nodded herself, smiling fondly. "She's the same at Morgenroete."

"I don't doubt it." He peeked round the doorframe, watching his girlfriend help Ryuta wash his hands. Her crew probably loved her. "I'll make sure she's able to go back there."

"I appreciate it - as long as you're waiting for her when she goes home."

He smiled. "I'll do my best."

"She needs to get a bigger bathtub."

"Stop sulking."

He did a pretty good imitation of one of her 'huffs', slumping down beside the white enamel tub. Half-submerged in the hot water she opened one eye to regard him mildly, but said nothing. The attic room was only small, and it's bathroom smaller still, so it really was only to be expected it would have a bathtub just big enough for one. But that didn't mean he had to like it.

"When we get our own place we're getting one we can both fit in."

She smiled. "You've been spoiled by the bath on the ship."

"Probably I have." Swirling a hand in the soapy water he tickled her stomach, grinning when she giggled and squirmed. He'd been spoiled by a lot of things. Being home, being forgiven, being able to stay here.. "You don't think she minds I ate so much, do you?"

"No. I think she was pleased. I would be too. If people like the food you make it's a real compliment. And pasta's her specialty."

"I'm not surprised." He'd eaten at least three helps of the pasta and sauce and still had room for the instant whipped dessert. "I liked the chicken stew you made the best though."

"Flattery will get you everywhere."

"Glad to hear it. C'mon now, sit up and I'll wash your back."

To his amusement she practically fell asleep in the water, leaning into him as he moved the sponge in lazy circles over her back. She'd always loved attention there. She was so far gone she never even stirred when he rinsed the soap away and lifted her from the bath to wrap her in a warm fluffy towel. She needs this. She's been working with the other Morgenroete guys for weeks trying to get Archangel fixed.. Settling her in bed he sat on the comforter, watching the stars through the open curtains with a definite sigh of contentment. It was nice to have a place to call home, nicer still when you had someone to share it with. And he wanted to feel that all the time.

Yeah, I'll make sure to come back. I'll make sure we both do. We have too much here to give up.

( blah ending lol but fun anyway. Brought to you by Boursin, tea and lemon cake. Not at the same time. That would just be weird.

please read and review! )