Doesn't belong to me, and it didn't the last time either. Thank you whoever wrote the first review. Next time leave any kind of name at the end so I can thank you properly. K and please feel free to point out any mistakes that I make.

Newly Found

Sophie sat sewing in a chair by Calcifer's hearth. It was quite late but, as Calcifer had gone out, there was no one for her to disturb. So there she sat, sewing, looking into the fire and thinking about all the amazing things that had happened to her since Howl had saved her from the guards that day. The biggest one was that she was no longer Sophie Hatter, she was Mrs. Howell Jenkins, and this was the point she was pondering over.

She had been married to The Wizard Howl for a week, and, other then when the priest had said "kiss the bride," he'd left things the way they had always been. She went to sleep in her own room even.

Now, she was sure that there had to be a reason, Howl was more then likely still getting used to having a heart and wanted to be more familiar with all the feelings he now had before he made them a proper man and wife. Sometimes, however, like now she would wonder if Howl had married her out of a sense of honor. That maybe he thought, he owed her something, and didn't love her. He hadn't had his heart back long, four months. Love was a hard thing to understand in four months.

"Has he made a mistake then, maybe?"

Sophie said as Calcifer came floating back into the room. He heard her sigh but . . . it sounded so sad. Sophie wasn't a sad person, what could possibly be wrong? As far as he knew she was happily married to Howl. What had he gone and messed up without him? What a mistake to leave Howl to his own devices!

"Sophie? Why are you crying? Did Howl . . . do something wrong?"

"Cal . . . Calcifer! What? Ummm no, Howl didn't do anything wrong. I really don't know why I'm crying. Sorry I didn't mean to disturb you I thought you were out."

"I just got back. Sophie if something is bothering you, you should tell somebody. It doesn't have to be Howl, if you don't want him to know you can tell me."

"It's really nothing, Calcifer. I'm just being silly. I'm going to go to the garden. Please tell Howl not to worry about me when he notices I'm gone."

And with that she did a very Howl like thing. She fled.

O.oO.o

The grass already had dew on it and it made the hem of her dress wet was the causing of her fall. She still loved this place and would miss it terribly if she ever had to leave. Everything seemed connected here. The land, the water and the sky, all one flawless picture for her to enjoy. She pushed herself into a sitting position and took in her ruined dress.

"Oh what have I done? I didn't want my happily ever after at the cost of his! What shall I do now? I'm a wife who cannot make her husband happy. I've failed him." She said to the flowers. Trying to smile while she cried. The weather must have felt for her because just then it started to rain.

"Sophie?" She smiled. Now she was imaging his voice. She loved his voice and everything else about him. Everything he did seemed magical to her, even when he wasn't doing magic.

So she stood there and started humming trying to think of her next move.

Feel the rain on your skin.

No one else can feel it for you,

Only you can let it in.

No one else, no one else,

Can speak the words on your lips

Drench yourself in words unspoken,

Live you life with arms wide open

The rest is still unwritten.

"Sophie?"

This time she knew the voice was real. She turned her head to see him standing there in the rain water falling from his bangs.

"Howl? What are you doing out here? You'll catch a cold."

He smiled and she felt herself melt right down to her toes. It was amazing the effect his smile had on her. Right at that moment he could ask her for anything and she would have promised it to him

"I was just about to say the same thing to you. Do you even know how ghastly pale being sick makes' me? I'd have to hide inside my room till I had my skin tone back."

"Dear me, you'd run me ragged."

"Hmmm. More then likely." He paused and leaned down to breathe her in. "What are you doing out here crying Sophie?"

She just looked at him before more tears welled up in her eyes.

"Sophie! Tell me what's wrong? Please tell me what I have done to make you so upset! I promised you happily ever after . . . "

He never got to finish his sentence. Sophie leaned forward and stopped his mouth with hers. She kissed him till she had to stop for air. Then pulled back to take in the shocked look on his face.

While she was looking it seemed to her that the rain was turning into steam as it came toward them.

"Sophie?"

"I don't want a happily ever after at the cost of yours. If you're not happy with me Howl, please tell me. I know that I'm plain and boring and mess up your bathroom, so if you'd really rather not have married me . . . "

"Don't go any farther with that sentence. Is this what your upset about? You think I'd be happy without you? Where did you get an idea like that?"

She opened her mouth to answer then closed it again, her face the colour of a tomato.

"Sophie? I'm your husband. You can tell me anything no matter how scandalous it may seem, no matter how improper you think it would be. This is our place and no one but us is here. Just me and just you. I'm not going to frown at the things you say Sophie, so please just tell me."

"You'll think it's silly . . . "

"Nothing that causes you this much distress could be silly."

"It's just that youdon'ttreatmelikeawife." She rushed through the explanation hoping to make it less embarrassing that way. Howl just shook his head at her.

"Try again, and not in code this time."

Sophie stared at him for a minute trying to see if he was kidding her, but his eyes remained the steady serious blue as when she had first turned around.

"You don't treat me like a wife. I'm sure there's a reason for that and being tired is just making me silly, but some nights I have to wonder if you married me before you had time to get used to your heart and know what love was."

He stared at her for a long time before standing up, face unreadable.

"Come."

"Howl, I'm sorr . . . "

"Come. We're going to finish this up inside before we get sick." And with that he reached down and pulled her to her feet, heading for the house. Seeing no other choice Sophie gathered up her courage and followed him.

As soon as she walked through the doorway, he scooped her and whisked her up the stairs, when she next opened her eyes, they were standing in his bedroom.

"Howl, I really do trust that there's a reason, I didn't mean to hurt you. It's silly like I said before."

He just stood there looking at her.

"Howl?"

"Sit down, Sophie."

She nodded and went for the chair. Before she got there, she found herself spun around and landing on the bed.

"That's better. Now," he said as she tired to get up. "We're going to sit right here on the bed and discuss this like a couple. Agreed? Neither of us runs away till this is done."

"Agreed."

"Now, since you're the ones with the question I get to go first. Your right, I haven't been treating you like a wife, and yes there is a reason for it. Before when I was with girls, and I'm not going to lie and say there wasn't any other, there were. But I didn't have a heart before, they were just things to me, and your not. As a wizard your magic can also react to your feelings, anger, hate love . . . " he paused for a second. "Lust. All these things can make you lose control of your powers and have them go out of control, sometimes with bad results."

He reached out and lifted her face up so he could see the hope shining in her eyes.

"It would kill me if I hurt you Sophie. Some part of me would never recover, even if you did, I wouldn't. So making you, my proper wife seemed a little too much like tempting fate. I would like to believe me. I would. So let me suggest this to you. Why don't you sleep right here with me, and we'll see what kind of control I can keep? If that works out all right we'll go a little farther tomorrow night, and we'll keep going like that till your mine in every way that counts."

She smiled up at him.

"I'd like that. Nothing would make me happier then waking up to you." She smiled stood up and dropped her dress to the floor. She smiled at him shyly. "Now you, that way it's a true test."

Howl wasn't even listening. He was caught up in the beautiful sight before him. He reached out and took her hand.

"Turn in a circle for me. Let me see all of you Sophie."

She blushed, but did as asked, turning slowly in place for him, breath taking by the wonder in his voice.

"Wow. Sophie you're so beautiful. How could you ever have called yourself plain?"

At that she raised her eyes to meet his, having lowed them in embarrassment at his request. He was looking at her with such a primal joy in his eyes that it took her breath away.

"Howl?" she breathed. She didn't want to be the cause of pain for him, so she called out to make sure he was still in there.

"I'm here Sophie. And I think I'll be keeping my clothes tonight, thank you. There's no way I could keep control of myself with your body brushing against mine all night."

He stood up and got in on the other side of the bed, holding the blankets up so she could slide under them.

"Will you get any sleep like this?"

"I'm going to try, and Sophie? I'm sorry. I should have explained the situation to you right away and none of this would have happened."

"I love you Howl. More then life it's self."

"And I you. Which is saying something considering how much of a coward, I am. Now sleep love, or we'll both be too tired to do anything tomorrow."

"Good night Howell Jenkins."

He smiled at her voice in the dark, and tried to ignore the demands of his body as she curled up into him.

"Good night Mrs. Jenkins"

Okay again. Just the movie and the Fanfiction on this site. R&r please it makes the Fan world go round, flames are welcome I can always use a laugh, any problems let me know, I'm still not so good at this so, if I made a faux pas please tell me so I can fix it.