"Is Captain Ramius all right now?" The voice to his right startled him, and he turned to see Andrew Bartfeld standing there, also gazing out at the busy lunar port. His face was calm, but the concern could be read easily in his dark blue eyes. Mwu smiled again, placing a hand on the cool glass of the window. "She was discharged from sickbay a couple of days ago, even though the doc wasn't too happy about her leaving. She's back in her room now...she's mostly slept for the last few days."
Bartfeld nodded. "I remember her saying that she wasn't able to sleep - because she couldn't face her dreams.." Mwu looked away at that, pain clear to see on his scarred face. But either not noticing, or not caring, the other man continued. "She told me that you had things to work out, but she never said what those things were. But she was obviously unhappy about it." His voice softened. "I found her after she'd fallen, and took her to sickbay. But all she said was 'please find Mwu'. Even though she was lonely, and sad that you weren't there...still, all she wanted was you"
The blonde man sighed, understanding. "You love her, don't you?" He had been able to tell from the glances Bartfeld had given Murrue sometimes that the older man had feelings for her, and despite her gentle reassurances, Mwu couldn't help but be jealous.
Bartfeld smiled a little. "I care about her," he admitted. "You know as well as I do that it's impossible to know her and not care about her. And I don't deny that part of me wishes you'd never come back - that I could have had what you have with her." He sighed, laughing softly. "But then again, even if you hadn't come back..she'd still have waited for you.." He placed a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Take care of her - and the baby"
Mwu blinked in surprise, glancing around to see if anyone else had heard. "You know too?" he whispered, and Bartfeld tipped his head a fraction to indicate a nod. "One of the doctors mentioned it while she was being taken in to surgery...and she pleaded with them to save it." At the blonde man's expression, he smiled. "If you don't want anyone else to know, I'll keep it a secret - for her sake. Just as long as you take care of her"
"I will," replied Mwu softly. "I won't make that mistake again.."
She didn't know what it was that woke her up, just that one moment she was dreaming peacefully, and the next she was wide awake. She felt comfortable, and warm, and happy, cocooned in the bedsheets. There was some slight queasiness, but none of the violent sick feelings she had been experiencing. Smiling, she patted her stomach. Are you starting to settle down now, little one?
Stretching out, Murrue closed her eyes. In the past few weeks, she had been torn between absolute love for the tiny being growing within her, and resentment that it might have cost her the cherished relationship she had with Mwu. But after her accident..after the fall, she had realised how much she wanted this child, and how terrified she had been at the thought of losing it.
But I didn't. I didn't lose my baby...and I didn't lose Mwu. He told me...he said that this was our baby...I'd wanted so much to hear him say that..
Her thoughts were disturbed by a gentle hand brushing across her cheek, and she opened her eyes with another smile. "Hi.." she murmured, reaching up to trail a hand across the scarred face of the man kneeling beside the bed. Mwu smiled back, the expression kind and loving. "Hi yourself," he replied. "How are you feeling today?"
She made a face. "Like I've been hit by a bus," she replied. "But the sickness seems to be settling down.." The blonde man beamed. "Good to hear," His hand still lingered on her face, drifting up to brush through her hair. "The doc told me that you're gonna be feeling like this for a while, and that you're gonna need some iron and vitamin pills to help get your strength back." Murrue sighed, slumping back against the pillows. "I hate pills"
Mwu chuckled at that, moving to sit on the bed beside her. "But you want to get better, right?" The young woman nodded, sitting up a little in bed to snuggle close to him, her head resting on his shoulder. She sighed happily, warmth flooding through her. He grinned, wrapping an arm around her waist, and kissed the top of her head. "You hungry?" he asked. "You need to eat something, you know..." Murrue rolled her eyes, but she couldn't deny that she was hungry. It had been a long time since she had eaten properly.
"I thought so," said her lover cheerfully. Getting up off the bed, he crossed to the desk, gathering her pale pink robe from where it was hanging on the back of the chair, then he held out his hand. The brunette woman raised an eyebrow. "Like this?" She was clad only in a pair of pink pyjamas. "I can't go to the mess hall looking like this"
"Why not?" Mwu asked, taking her hand and helping her carefully to her feet. She wobbled slightly, a wave of dizziness washing over her, but he was there to steady her, placing the robe around her shoulders. "Easy there. You okay?" Murrue nodded, a faint tinge of rose to pale cheeks. He smiled, offering her his arm for support, which she gratefully took. "Thank you..." she murmured shyly. The two left the darkened room, slowly making their way towards the mess hall. Crewmembers smiled and waved at the sight of their captain, pleased to see her getting well again, even if none of them really knew what had been wrong with her...
"You look like you needed that," Mwu said with amusement, watching the young captain eagerly spoon chicken and vegetable soup into her mouth. "Just go a bit slower, okay? Remember to breathe.." Murrue blushed fiercely, setting down her spoon. "You were the one who wanted me to eat," she replied shortly. "Which would you prefer"
"Okay, okay.." he said, holding up his hands in surrender. "Just as long as you get well again, both for you and the little one." A thought occured to him, and he sighed a little. "Bartfeld knows. About the kid, I mean.." Murrue blinked, large amber eyes widening in surprise. "He does? How? Has he told anyone else?"
"He heard about it from one of the doctors when he took you to sickbay. And no, he hasn't told anyone about it." Mwu smiled, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "He was worried about you.." She smiled back, finishing her soup. "He's a good friend. He's helped me so much...I need to thank him"
"I think he knows.." replied Mwu. "He's glad you're okay, just like I am. I owe him a lot..for finding you and getting you to sickbay. If he hadn't..if you'd.." He broke off when Murrue gently placed a hand over his. "But he did. And I'm all right...so don't worry.." He seemed to cheer up at that, leaning forward to kiss her softly. "When you're strong enough, we'll go out to Copernicus...for a date. That sound good? But only when you're better..." Her face lit up in a smile, and she hugged him tightly, almost upsetting her soup bowl in the process. The blonde man laughed, hugging her back. "I'll take care of you, I promise." One hand moved down to rest on her stomach. "Both of you"
Murrue flushed pink again, and leaned down to kiss him. "I know.." she replied.
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( hehehehehe I played on Tiger's jealousy a bit there, ne:crawls out of bomb shelter for some fresh air:
Please read and review! Next chapter is the date XD )