"Mmmmmmm..."
He tried hard to ignore the soft tickling kisses being pressed to the back of his neck, ignore the warm arms wrapped around his waist. But as hard as he tried, he couldn't fall asleep against the sensations - they wouldn't stop. "Mmmmph.." he mumbled again, and he heard gentle laughter, the hands wound around him moving to tickle him lightly. Mwu scowled, squirming in his drowsy slumber. "C'mon...cut it out..." He heard the laughter again, and sighed, shifting around in the bed to fix his tormentor with an accusing glare. "You're mean," he informed Murrue, but she merely nodded, planting a quick kiss on his nose. "Maybe I am," she replied. "But we have to report for our shifts in an hour. Come on, get up." With that, she pushed back the covers and made to climb out of bed, only to squeak in surprise as Mwu suddenly lunged to grab her around the waist and pull her close to him.
"Did you hear a word I said?" she said grumpily, but her annoyed expression faded into a smile as he nuzzled gentle kisses to her neck and cheek. "Stop it..we have to get ready for work!" But she didn't try to push him away, and even giggled as he pulled the covers back over the two of them. "You're impossible.." she murmured, snuggling close to him. Mwu grinned, running a hand up and down her back. "How are you feeling today?"
"Not bad..." she replied. "Just tired. But we have to get up. Cagalli-san will be here today - she's coming to space on the Kusanagi." The blonde man grumbled audibly. "The missie, huh? Seen her before. Let's stay here..." Murrue shook her head, swatting his arm. "No, we can't stay here, and you know it." Managing to wriggle free of his embrace, she got out of bed, stretching and smoothing down her rumpled auburn hair. Smiling to herself, she brushed down the front of her pyjamas, examining her stomach. Over the last week, a just-noticeable swell had begun to form. Mwu watched his fiancee from where he still sat in the bed, a smile on his own face. He loved to see her like this, to see how happy she was...
"Has anyone noticed yet?" he asked, and she looked up at him, marigold eyes softened. "Noticed what? This, or this?" She held out her left hand, examining the tiny gold and amber engagement ring he had given her almost a month ago. No-one had seen it...or if they had, they had been too polite to say anything. She shrugged. "I don't know. But does it matter?" Picking her uniform up from where it was carefully folded on a chair, she made her way into the bathroom. Mwu stretched out himself, feeling at the side of the bed for the hopelessly crumpled uniform he had left discarded the night before. Suppressing a mighty yawn, he heaved himself off the mattress, getting dressed slowly.
"How come the missie's coming here anyway?" he called out. Murrue poked her head out of the bathroom, washcloth in hand. "The preparations for the peace talks are all done now...so Cagalli-san's heading off to PLANT with Lacus-san to meet with the Supreme Chairman." He nodded. "Hm," was all he said. Flinging on his jacket, he peeked in to see if she was ready. She was standing there peering at her reflection in the tiny mirror. "Whatcha doin'?" he asked cheerfully, and she frowned. "I didn't know I looked that bad.." she mused softly.
"You don't look bad at all," he reassured her. "Just tired - which is understandable. You still try and do too much.." Taking her arm, he gestured towards the door. "Shall we go, Captain?"
Later that day, he was working on Akatsuki, the cockpit open...when a shadow fell across him. "Huh?" Looking up, he saw a pair of golden-orange eyes staring into his. Nothing new there...except for the fact that these eyes didn't belong to his captain - but to a young girl. "I see you took care of it," she said without preamble, and Mwu had to smile. "Sure did, missie..." Cagalli raised an eyebrow at the informality, but let it go. "Did it help you?" she asked.
The scarred man nodded, patting the instrument panel. "This guy saved Archangel...and me too, in more ways than one.." Leaning back in the seat, he regarded the young Representative with a casual eye. "You're here to see Murrue and the princess, huh?" Cagalli smiled. "I'm meeting with Lacus and Captain Ramius in a little while, yes..." Then she blinked. "You used her first name.."
Mwu simply grinned...and winked.
In the tiny office, Murrue sat back in her chair, sipping at an illicit cup of coffee. Lacus sat across from her, a cup of tea held in one delicate hand. She smiled as she noticed her friend's expression. "You shouldn't be drinking that, huh?" The brunette rolled her eyes, taking another swig at the bitter drink. "Mwu says I drink too much of it..and that it isn't good for me. But a cup once in a while won't hurt her.." Lacus frowned. "'Her'?"
"The doctor said at my last checkup that I was having a girl," Murrue replied, cheeks turning rosy. "Mwu's thrilled...he keeps trying to think of names for her. It's five months until we have to worry about that..but.."
"But you can't help trying to think of names too?" Lacus asked mischievously, and the woman giggled. "I have to admit - it's fun.." She ran a hand through her auburn hair...the ring on her left hand catching the light. The pink-haired girl raised an eyebrow. "What else are you hiding?" she asked, reaching to catch the captain's hand to examine the small piece of jewellery. "When did he ask you?"
Murrue pinked again. "It's..almost a month ago now. He asked me after we'd been out to the city for the first time. We keep meaning to tell people, but it's hard knowing what to say. What do we tell people first, that we're going to get married, or that I'm pregnant?" Sighing, she leaned back in the chair, gazing at the ceiling. "The more I hide things, the more guilty I feel. The crew...they deserve to know, but I don't know how to tell them.."
"It's your decision, Murrue-san.." said Lacus softly. "No-one can tell you what to do but you. Does Fllaga-san feel the same way?"
"He says..that he'll be fine with whatever" was the reply. "But I think he feels the same way I do. Happy...but privately happy. Everyone knows the two of us are together - but they don't have to know everything, right?"
Lacus smiled, sipping her tea. "It sounds like you've already made your decision.."
A soft knock at the door roused the two. "Come in!" called Murrue, and the door opened to reveal Cagalli. The young woman smiled, although the expression was a little embarrassed. "Sorry...am I late?" The captain chuckled, waving a hand. "Of course not. Lacus-san and I were just talking, that's all. Come and sit down.." The girl nodded, slumping into a chair beside her friend. Murrue had to suppress a smile. For all that power and rank - sometimes it was hard to hide the fact that you were an eighteen-year-old girl.
"We're heading off to PLANT in a few days," the Representative said softly, rubbing her eyes. The effort of the last few days had clearly taken their toll on her. "I don't know how long this is all going to take...maybe a few days, maybe a few weeks. But however long it takes, we have to work at it. The chance at real peace is too important to pass up.."
"How many will be in the delegation?" Lacus asked, smoothing her skirt. Cagalli shrugged, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Better more than less, but not too many. Perhaps five or six as well as bodyguards and advisors. You, me, Kira, Athrun probably, and Captain Ramius." Murrue blinked. "Me? But I'm not a diplomat.."
"Maybe not," replied Lacus. "But Archangel is well known, if not notorious, to ZAFT. If you were to go, it would prove that we're serious about all this - make a statement." She noticed the stricken expression on the older woman's face, and sighed. "I understand, Murrue-san...you have other things to think about. But.."
"But this is more important. I know..." said Murrue softly. "I know..."
"You're going to PLANT? How long for?"
She couldn't meet his gaze...the confusion and pain she felt would only be reflected in his azure eyes. "I...don't know," she replied. "Lacus-san and Cagalli-san say it could take days - or weeks..they can't be sure.." Mwu scowled, slouching back on the bed. "Fair enough, I guess. But why do you have to go?"
"Because of how famous this ship is. The Alliance ship that ZAFT couldn't shoot down. And I'm...it's captain." was her soft answer. "You understand, don't you? I have to go..."
"No, I don't understand!" he shouted, sitting up. His eyes blazed with anger. "You fought their war, followed their orders - but it's over now! Why are you letting them push you around?" Murrue turned to face her fiance, her own eyes narrowed. "Because I'm still a soldier, that's why." In contrast to his heated anger, her own was calm, glacial. "You know how important this peace is. If we want a world we can live in - a world we can bring our daughter up in, we have to do this."
Mwu huffed, turning over in bed...facing away from her. The woman glanced away, eyes closed. She loved him with all her heart..but he could be so stubborn and childish sometimes. Was this how things were always going to be?
"I don't want to go." she said quietly. "I'd rather do almost anything than go." A silvery tear trickled down her cheek. "I don't want to say goodbye...ever again.." Mwu didn't say anything for a while, and she got up to leave. But before she could...he caught hold of her hand. "Wait.."
She looked down at him, more tears escaping. He squeezed her hand, and pulled her back towards him into an embrace. "I'm sorry..." he murmured, stroking her hair. "I'm being selfish, I know - but I want to keep you with me always..." Murrue smiled through her tears, hugging him back as tightly as she could. "It won't be for that long," she reassured him gently. "And you have to take care of this ship, okay?" Mwu chuckled softly. "Okay.."
A few days later, the two of them stood facing each other in Archangel's hangar bay. Mwu gazed at his captain and fiancee, scarred face betraying nothing of what he was feeling. Calmly, he saluted her silently. Murrue looked up at him, tears shimmering in those hauntingly beautiful eyes. Without a word, she returned the salute. This was the same. Almost exactly the same as it had been two years ago. That time, I was the one leaving. If I'd known then what she was feeling...I'd never have left her...
"Take care, Captain," he said softly, and she nodded. "You too. Please keep watch over the ship," she replied. But despite the dry formality, the two of them were speaking words only the other could hear - telegraphed with eyes and hearts.
"Look after yourself and the little one, and come back soon.." he told her, and she nodded without moving. "I will, I promise," she replied. "I love you.."
"I love you too," he said. "When you come home, I'll never let you go again.."
Murrue smiled a little at that, the curve of her lips barely visible. Ending her salute, she turned and walked towards the shuttle that would take her and the others to PLANT. Mwu watched her go, never speaking once, just gazed after her as she entered the small craft. He knew she would keep her promise.
"Murrue-san..is everything okay?" he could hear Lacus say. "I thought..the two of you would have had more to say than that.."
"No...we told each other everything we wanted to say," replied the captain.
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( Nothing ever wants to be easy for them, ne?
Please read and review! )