It was like a weight had gone from her shoulders. She smiled more, laughed more, teased the kids....it was great fun to watch. She'd even huffed when one of the other captains had reminded her about paperwork. Normally I have to drag her away from her desk, now she won't sit there for more than five minutes.. She was sitting there at the moment, staring at the papers littering the surface but didn't appear to be paying them much attention, and after a while she sighed. He smiled and moved across to join her, pecking a kiss to the crown of her hair. "Need some help?"

"I can't concentrate..." She smiled herself a little ruefully. "Don't know why."

"Cause you don't want to anymore."

"Got that right."

"Need a break?"

"I don't though, do I? If I go do something else I won't want to come back here." She slumped forward, chin resting on her hands. "M'all irresponsible."

He grinned. "You're the most responsible person I know."

"Because I'm more responsible than you?"

"Probably."

"What about the paperwork though?"

"We go take a walk, then we come back here and tackle it together. There's not that much."

"True.."

"C'mon." He held out a hand to her. "I'll get us some coffee." She hesitated for a moment then smiled, taking the hand and letting him pull her to her feet.

"You'll get us both into trouble."

"Ah, no bother. There's nothing that can't wait."

"So you'll stick up for me?"

"Don't I always?"

She grinned, leaning into him as they walked. "Yes, you do. And I promise I'll stick up for you when we see Erica again."

Mwu groaned. "Thanks for reminding me of that. She finds out what I did with Akatsuki and she'll cut my fingers off."

"Don't be silly. Akatsuki doesn't have a scratch on it. If no-one tells her, she'll never know."

"Oh, she'll know," he replied gloomily. "She'll find out."

She kissed his cheek. "Don't worry. If she does, I'll talk to her."

"You'll protect me?"

"Of course I will. What's family for?"

That word sounded better each time he heard it. Family. Embarrassed for a reason he wasn't sure how to explain he rubbed the back of his neck, smiling a little when she brushed a small hand over his face. She understood - she always did.

"It'll be okay."

"I know it will. Just a lot to get used to."

"We have plenty of time."

"Yeah.." To have the same stuff others did, the kind of stuff the Director and her other friends had. A place to work, a home of their own, and whatever else came afterwards. Murrue had admitted shyly that she'd like children, which was something he'd been giving a lot of thought. I've no idea whether I'd be any good at it. Ryuta and the little orphan guys are good kids but they're not mine - someone else brought them up. Would I be able to do as good a job? He had no doubt whatsoever that Murrue would make a terrific mom....everyone from the orphan kids up to Kira and his friends loved her. But..

Murrue kissed him. Unprepared for it his eyes widened, he fighting for breath when she broke the exchange. "Wha.."

"You're worrying again."

"No I'm not."

She poked him in the chest, expression one of mixed affection and annoyance. "Yes, you are."

He sighed. "Can't hide anything from you, can I?"

"Not when it's bothering you."

"It isn't. It's just dumb."

"How is it dumb?"

"Cause.." He leaned against the wall. "Ah geez, I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know how to be a regular guy. I'm just a pilot."

"You can learn. We both can." She moved to face him, placing a hand on his heart. "It'll be fine."

"Thought I was the one who inspired confidence."

Murrue smiled. "I told you that you were rubbing off on me."

He chuckled. "Yes, you did. And you're a quick study." Taking her hand he kissed the fingers. "Thank you."

"You have nothing to worry about." He must have still looked doubtful, because she stepped forward and hugged him. "You think I'm not nervous? I've never done anything like this before either."

She has a point. She lived with Tiger but they were just room-mates. This'll be living together as a couple - a married couple - and neither of us knows what that's like. Pretty steep learning curve...

"I can't cook."

"I'll teach you."

Everyone was making the most of the war being over. Instead of the tenseness that had permeated the ship before the Messiah battle, there was a relaxed and happy air. Miriallia-san gleefully related all the gossip about new relationships, including Athrun-kun and Meyrin-chan, and, to Mwu's great satisfaction, Kira-kun and Lacus-san. I always hoped those two would finally get together. They both deserve happiness. Murrue always refused to give her younger friend any details of how her own relationship was going, however. She and Mwu were a little too old to be gossiped about.

"Is he behaving himself?"

"Of course he is."

Miriallia-san grinned, swinging her legs as they sat on the hangar gantry together. "There was a pool going with the guys down here as to whether you and the Commander would get married before the war ended. I think one of the junior engineers won it."

Murrue palmed her face.

"Don't be like that. Murdoch-san says he wanted to use the money to buy you both a wedding present. Apparently a lot of the juniors we took on at Orb have crushes on you."

"Eh?"

"It's true. Has the Commander ever come off shift looking kind of mad?"

"Sometimes." He'd never say what it was about, just muttered something about being tired or needing a shower. It was so unlike him to be grumpy, but she'd never asked too many questions, just kissed him and left him to calm down on his own. It never took long for his usual sunny nature to reassert itself.

Miriallia-san nodded. "They said that sometimes he overheard them talking about you. I think he's the jealous type."

"I never thought he would be.."

"He's probably been pretty lonely in the last couple of years. Now he has a part of his old life back, and he doesn't want to let go."

"He knows me better than that."

"I'm sure he does. But there are still other guys whispering about his girl, and I've known people be jealous about a lot less."

"You have?"

The teenager grinned. "I've gone through high school."

Murrue smiled. "Good point."

"So what will you and the Commander do when you get home?"

She leaned on the railing and looked out over the hangar. "Have everything we wanted but couldn't have before. A home together, a life together.."

"A family?"

She blushed faintly. "We've started to talk about it." He'd admitted he wasn't sure whether he'd make a good father, but that he was willing to give it a try. They'd planned to try babysitting the orphan children first to see how things went. "Don't know whether it'll work out, though."

"It will. I'm sure of it."

"Thank you." In truth, it was easy to imagine. He was wonderful with Ryuta-kun and the orphans, never too tired or busy to play. Maybe it's because he's still a child himself at heart. Yes, he'd be a good father - he'd be a great one.

And we have all the time in the world to find out.

Home. They were home. Standing on the upper deck, jacket shrugged off and lying discarded she closed her eyes, stretching out in the sunlight with a happy sigh. The outline of the island country lay just ahead, shimmering in the afternoon heat....she could hardly wait till they reached it.

"Thought you might be out here."

"Did you?"

He wandered over to stand beside her, one arm slung over her shoulders. "You've been pretty homesick, huh?"

"It's weird. I never realised how attached to this place I was."

He smiled. "It's home."

"Yes, it is. For both of us."

"Can we go by a different route so the Director won't be waiting for us?"

Murrue squeezed his hand gently. "She'd find us. Besides, she said we can stay at her house while we find a place of our own, so you'll have to put up with it."

"Dammit.."

"Now c'mon, she's not that bad. And she likes you."

"She has a funny way of showing it."

"You like her too, don't you?"

Mwu grumbled softly, cheeks a faint pink and she hugged his arm with a laugh. Despite their complaints and arguments the two of them did like each other, having a sort of younger brother/older sister relationship. He rubbed scarred nose, scuffing a foot on the deck. "Don't tell her."

"I won't, I promise."

And just as they'd thought, their friend was waiting, along with Cagalli-san and most of the Morgenroete crew - the dock was packed. As the ship moved into port there was a spontaneous outbreak of cheering, those on the dock waving so enthusiastically some nearly fell into the water. Thoroughly embarrassed by all the attention she hid her face in Mwu's jacket, much to his amusement. "C'mon, they're happy to see us."

"They don't have to make such a fuss.."

"We helped save 'em. I'd say that was worth some fuss. Maybe even a party."

Murrue made a face. "I don't want a party. I just want things to be how they were."

He kissed the crown of her hair. "Then if the Director's okay with it, we'll go right home."

Erica was a little grumpy about it - she loved parties - but agreed, sweeping Murrue into a hug and even ruffling Mwu's hair. "Let me see."

The younger woman grinned, holding out her left hand. Erica examined the two silver rings with a critical eye before glancing up at Mwu, who seemed to shrink several inches.

"She didn't want expensive ones.." he murmured, staring at his feet like a chastened schoolboy. Erica sighed, looking back at Murrue, who shrugged with a sweet smile.

"You're hopeless."

"They're pretty."

"They are, but.." She shook her head with a fond smile. "Never mind. I should have known better. Still want to get it blessed? I talked to Malchio-sama."

"And?"

"He said he'd be happy to do it. He suggested that when the chapel on the island is rebuilt you have the ceremony there - it'd be totally private that way. Cause I just know you won't want a fuss making."

"That sounds perfect." She looked up at her husband, who smiled and wound an arm around her, leaning close to kiss the crown of her hair.

"She looks a lot better. You both do."

La Fllaga smiled, swinging his legs as he sat on the wall. Murrue was down at the bottom of the garden playing with Ryuta, who was delighted to have his grown-up friends back. She was laughing, falling backward onto the grass as the little boy pounced . Erica was pleased. They went to fight again so all this would still be here when they got back. It was the best possible outcome - not only was the war finally over (hopefully for real this time) but her best friend was finally able to settle down and be happy, even if the one she'd chosen was an idiot.

"You still mad at me?"

She smiled. "I should be, shouldn't I? For eloping and what you did with Akatsuki?"

La Fllaga blanched. "How'd you find out about that? Murrue said.."

"She didn't tell me. But you know, gossip has a way of getting around. I found out pretty early. But since you haven't done it any damage and you did use it to save Murrue I'll let you off, and not tell Cagalli-sama about it."

He managed a lopsided grin. "I was less worried about her finding out than you."

"You thought I'd be more likely to kick your ass?"

"Yes." he answered honestly, shrugging when Erica laughed. "Not like you haven't threatened me with violence before."

"Very true."

"So you'll let me off?"

She patted his shoulder. "This time, I will, because both you and Murrue are all right. But pull a stunt like that again and.."

"I know, I know. Ass-kicking."

"You got it." Pushing herself off the wall she ran down the garden to join her friend and son, La Fllaga following with a laugh and scooping up Murrue to twirl her around. Erica herself lifted Ryuta into her arms and watched the two of them, smiling when Murrue stood on her tiptoes to touch her nose to his. They were home, and they could start their life.

And they'll be happy. I know it.

( :D

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