"So how's Copernicus? Did he take you out?"

She grinned, hiding her left hand under the desk. "He sure did. We've been out a couple of times - a couple of days ago we went to see a movie. I can't remember the last time I went on a movie date, and he couldn't even remember the last time he went to the movies, so it was fun for both of us."

"Very good. Cuddling in the back row?"

"Erica, we're soldiers. We have to look dignified."

"Rubbish. I know you, and I know that boy. Who started it, him or you?"

She sighed, running a hand through auburn hair. "He always starts it."

"Like you'd mind. I bet you didn't push him away."

Murrue pinked. "He can be very....persuasive."

"I'll just bet. So what, kisses? Cuddles? All of the above?"

She folded her arms and looked prim, ignoring her friend's snort of amusement. "Now that alone tells me everything I want to know. Did you see the end of the film?"

"No..."

Erica cackled. "No, I'll bet you didn't. Leave halfway through? Three-quarters?"

"About two thirds."

"Hell of an intermission."

She buried her face in her hands, convinced she must be beetroot by now. "Why do I end up telling you these things?"

"What are friends for? But it's good you have the chance to act like a regular couple. Make the most of it. Find a night when neither of you are on duty and get some wine in. You never know, he might ask you something important."

Murrue smiled, holding up her left hand. "Something like that? He asked me on our way to the moon, and bought me this the first time we went out to Copernicus together."

"Doesn't waste any time, does he?" Erica remarked sourly. "He's going to get it when you get home."

"Yes, I thought you'd say that. Don't be too hard on him, though - he was nervous enough about asking. You can throw a party when we get back....well, if.."

"Hold it right there, miss. You're coming back. You both are. Understand?"

"So we can't elope?"

Her friend laughed. "I'd hunt you down."

"No doubt."

"Where is he, anyway? Sleeping? It must be pretty late by now.."

"It is late. But he's not sleeping - he isn't even here." Huffing softly she poked at the desk, good mood evaporated. "He's with Akatsuki."

Erica smiled gently. "Then go find him. If you want to be with him, go be with him. Don't wait."

"The voice of reason like always."

"You know it, honey. Go find him, and I'll talk to you later."

Managing a smile of her own Murrue waved to her friend, flicking off the computer and slumping back in the chair. In truth she found it hard to be mad, either at Erica or Mwu. Her friend was like always, and Mwu was just... She smiled again a little, glancing at the engagement ring. Mwu was Mwu, and so much like he used to be it was as though he'd never been away. And if it was two years ago, I'd go find him, wouldn't I?

The hangar bay was relatively quiet. She could see Murdoch at his workstation, music issuing quietly from a radio on the desk, but no-one else was around. Nodding to herself she made her way to Akatsuki's dock, glancing up for any sign of her fiance. The mobile suit seemed to stare back, gold face impassive, and she smiled, climbing up the steps in the rigging to reach Akatsuki's chest. The cockpit hatch was open, and she climbed across to peek inside. "Mwu? Are you there?"

Silence. No, not silence. Faint snoring, but not from the cockpit. Confused, Murrue climbed up a little further - and grinned. He was there, stretched out on the maintenance platform just under the suit's chin. Fast asleep.

"I should have guessed, shouldn't I? That you wouldn't have forgotten?" Tiptoeing across to sit beside him she watched him for a while, stifling a giggle when his nose twitched. "I should give you more credit."

"You already give me more than I deserve." He peeked up at her through half-open eyes. "M'sorry. Didn't mean to sleep so long."

"Did I wake you?"

He smiled. "You did. But not 'cause I heard you. I knew you were there." He tapped his forehead.

"I can never sneak up on you, can I?"

Shuffling close he rested his head on her lap. "I can always tell when you're sneaking up on me. Until just a while ago I was only able to sense Klueze and my dad. And Kira sometimes. But now I can sort of sense you too." He reached up to brush a hand over her cheek. "It feels all warm."

Murrue smiled. "I like it. So if I ever got lost, you'd be able to find me?"

"What makes you think I'd let you out of my sight long enough?"

She ducked down to kiss the tip of his nose. "Everyone gets lost sometimes."

"True." His gaze was faraway, pensive - perhaps he was thinking of the time he'd been lost. "Yeah, I'd come find you. You found me."

"We found each other." she corrected gently. Mwu smiled at that, taking one of her hands in his and pressing kisses to the fingertips.

"I promise I won't get lost again."

"Next time, we can get lost together. Maybe on our way home now that Erica knows we're engaged."

He groaned softly. "Damn woman'll be waiting at the dock with a baseball bat."

"I asked her not to be too hard on you."

"That doesn't mean she won't be. Can we elope? Or get married here?"

She laughed. "She said she'd track us down if we eloped. I think she sees herself as a kind of mother of the bride crossed with a maid of honour. So we'd better behave ourselves."

"Mmph."

"Don't sulk. You know what she's like."

"I owe her for letting us stay at her place, but I don't get why she has to be the boss of us. That's why I waited till we were up here before asking you. Our decision, not hers."

She smiled, smoothing his hair. "I understand. But you know, when we do get married, I'd like all our friends to be there. After all they've done for us, we can't really elope and forget them.."

"No, I guess not." He grinned rather mischievously. "You think I'd be used to tough women by now. I'm going to be henpecked twice."

"What does that mean?" Pretending to be cross she leaned over and tickled his ribs. His eyes widened, he laughing so hard his face turned bright red. She loved to see him like this - he'd had so little to laugh about. But he will. I'll make sure of it. We'll both laugh. "Do you want me to henpeck you?"

Fighting for breath he looked up at her, gaze one of sheer affection. "Do you know, I think I might enjoy it."

She was singing in the shower. Though half-asleep he smiled, shuffling around to hear her better. Though she had a beautiful voice she rarely sang unless she was in a very good mood - she was always rather embarrassed about it. She doesn't have to be, though. I wish she'd do it more often... Rousing himself Mwu crossed to the bathroom door and peeked inside. There was steam, mostly, smelling of her shampoo and he chuckled quietly, tiptoeing in to see her better. The song had changed, becoming lilting and gentle...almost like a lullaby. If she sang like this more often I don't think I'd have nightmares anymore... Not wanting to disturb her he tiptoed a little closer to listen better, seeing her silhouette through the frosted glass of the shower door.

"Did you want to join me?"

He blinked. "Huh?"

The glass door slid open a little way and she peeked out, dark eyes full of smiles. "I said, did you want to join me? Room enough in here for two.."

He grinned. "Now how can I refuse an offer like that?" Climbing in beside her he gazed at her for a moment, brushing a lock of soaked brown hair from her face to cause pink to steal into her cheeks. "And you still blush, even after all this time."

"Anyone would, being looked at that way.." she protested softly. "You always do it."

"Because you're beautiful."

Murrue crinkled her nose. "Am not."

"Of course you are. I've always thought so. And I've always told you so."

"Yes, you have." She smiled, reaching up to wind arms around his neck. "You definitely know how to flatter a girl."

"Not any girl." He ducked down to kiss the tip of her nose. "Just you."

"Just me, huh? Well, it does help you get your own way a lot."

"Cause I'm dating my boss? Or because," he nuzzled kisses to her neck to cause a purr of delight, "I can make her forget she's my boss? Am I right?"

Murrue murmured softly, closing her eyes as he ran hands down her sides - then squealed in alarm as the hot water suddenly turned ice-cold. He laughed, helping her out of the shower and shutting off the water. "Guess we timed that wrong.."

She managed a nod, shivering violently until he wrapped her in a towel and hugged her tightly. "N-not much of a s-shower..."

He kissed the top of her head. "It was great up to a point."

"N-no kidding.."

"C'mon, princess. Let's get you dried off." Mwu led her back into the bedroom, helping her get dried then wrapping her in a blanket, smiling when she clambered onto his lap and cuddled close to try and get warm. "Poor Murrue.."

"Are you laughing at me?"

"No, I'm not laughing. The shower's not a fan of romance, though."

She giggled. "No, I don't think it is." Glancing up at him she kissed him gently, her happy sigh becoming a squeak when he caught her around the waist and flopped backward onto the bed. The blanket still wound around her shoulders she shook her head with a smile, sitting up to brush fingertips over a scar on his chest. As always, the touch sent shivers through him - the skin over the healed wounds still quite new and rather sensitive. Closing his eyes he settled back into the covers to enjoy her attentions a little more, his own smile growing when her touch slipped lower.

"You know what'll happen if you keep doing that..."

"Yes, I know." He peeked up at her, noting that her fond smile had become decidedly seductive. "I planned on it."

"Did you now?" Sitting up he brought her closer, slowly unwinding the blanket and kissing the skin it exposed before letting it fall to the floor. "What else did you plan?"

His fiancee's answer was to push him flat to the bed.

"Think anyone saw us come out here?"

"A couple might have. But we're both off-duty, and we haven't gone far. If they want us, they can come find us."

She nodded, floating over to the dock window and placing a small hand on the glass. From this side of the dock the city wasn't visible, just an endless panorama of stars, and on quiet nights they'd spend hours here talking. Moving to stand behind her he kissed the back of her neck, winding arms around her waist as she leaned into him. "Think you'll miss it?"

"Miss what?"

"The stars. Archangel. All of this."

"Not really."

"Oh?"

She smiled. "We can see the stars from Earth. And I won't miss Archangel if it means she'll never be needed to fight again. All I want now is for us to go back home."

"And have a house like the Director's."

"Really? It wouldn't be too big?"

"No, I don't think so." He'd been giving things some thought. If everything did turn out like they hoped it would, then he knew just what he wanted. A place like the Director's, with enough room for as big a garden as Murrue wanted - he'd seen how much care she took with the older woman's flowers and the Director herself had admitted she'd sometimes had to drag Murrue away from them. "If the Director's in a good mood maybe we can borrow bits of her plants."

"You mean cuttings. And she's already promised me some - all I need is a garden to put them in."

"Then we'll have to make sure you get one."

She smiled, squeezing his hands. "What else can we have?"

"I thought you didn't like thinking about this?"

"Yes well.." She glanced down, biting her lip. "After what happened, I started thinking differently. We could have had so much more in the time we had together if I hadn't kept you at arm's length for so long..."

"We had a lot. We still have a lot. And I was happy."

"So was I." She turned to face him, amber eyes gentle. "I'm sorry I didn't show it enough."

"You did."

Murrue smiled at that but the expression was bittersweet, she resting her forehead against his chest. "I wanted to apologise for the longest time," she murmured, so quietly he could barely hear her. "I pushed you away. Pretended work was more important. But nothing was, and I knew all along. I kept telling myself I'd make it up to you, but I.."

"You have." He hugged her close, breathing in the floral scent from her hair. "And you never needed to."

"I did. And I'm glad I got the chance to."

"You were just worried. Neither of us knew what was going to happen - it's natural to not want to get too close."

She shook her head. "I'd known before and that didn't stop me. I didn't know...when the right time was to move on, I guess. Didn't realise that it's possible to love more than one person." She leaned against him with a little sigh. "But when I did, it was too late."

"I'm here now."

"Yes, you're here now. And I was able to tell you. So, will you forgive me?"

"But.."

"Please?"

He sighed, running a hand over her hair. "I do. I'd forgive you for anything. Even when you don't need to be forgiven."

Murrue laughed. "Indulge me. I do it for you."

"Yes, you do." He kissed her gently. "So tell me, if you've started thinking differently, what else would you like?"

She pinked slightly, looking down at her feet. "There is one thing....but I wanted to know what you thought first. I....always wanted a family."

Mwu nodded. Not unexpected. He'd seen her with Ryuta and the orphan kids, seen how good she was with them - she'd be a terrific mom. But him..

"M'not sure I'd be any good as a dad. Not after the stuff I've done. Not a good enough person."

She smiled, placing a finger on his lips. "You're the best person I know. I think you'd be perfect."

"But my dad.."

"Isn't you. You're nothing like him, or Klueze. I'm not asking you to make a decision right away - just to give it some thought."

"I will, I promise."

And he would.

( nyo.

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