Copernicus
May 26th
They'd stayed up for the entire night, tangled in the sheets and in each other, whispering quietly until the sparks of the sun was rising in their hotel window. Oddly enough, neither of them felt the need to sleep, too excited and happy to calm themselves down for the rest. They'd spoken about everything, and still they hadn't run out of things to talk about.
His fingertips continuously brushed against her stomach, caressing the unborn child with the utmost tenderness. She still had a hard time deciding what was most appealing to her eyes, the tiny bulge in her middle or the way he was staring at it with brilliant adoration. She'd never seen that look on his face, though she was fairly certain the way she looked now was pretty close.
"Who should we call first?" Mu asked lazily, looking up from her belly to see her gentle smile, not able to resist giving her another warm kiss before curling her into his arms again. He nuzzled into her neck, kissing her ear before adding huskily, "It doesn't really matter who we call, someone will be mad that they didn't find out first..."
"True..." Murrue sighed into the embrace, snuggling closer into her arms, one hand snaking down between them to rest on her stomach. It was still oddly amazing, to think that deep inside her womb there was a little child growing there, her little one. His hand rested on top of her own, and she smiled warmly, correcting herself inwardly, 'Our little one...'
"Maybe we should cut the honeymoon short and go home?" Mu suggested almost casually, glancing up from his caresses to monitor her expression. He knew that she was enjoying their time here, but then again she'd been so excited he bet that she wanted to tell everybody to their faces so she could enjoy seeing their reactions.
"Mmm, that's a good suggestion." Murrue laughed quietly, imagining the expressions on everyone's faces when they arrived home so early, they'd get suspicious almost immediately. But it would be a good experience and she was sure the way everyone would respond to the news would definitely be worth it. She sighed pleasantly as he kissed her ear, and answered softly, "I guess we could... I don't really want to go but it'd be so fun..."
"It would be, and better to tell the lot all in person." Mu added with a little smile, knowing exactly what was forming in his wife's mind. She knew her friends better than anyone, and the odds were good that at least one of them would be hysterically pleased. He muttered into her ear, hand skipping up her thigh seductively, "Erica is going to kill us."
"Yeah."
"Lacus is going to kidnap you for nine months and then steal the baby after you give birth."
"Probably."
"The missy will laugh at you until you want to kill her."
"Odds are."
"What did we get ourselves into?"
"No idea."
They spent the next day talking and planning while packing, really too excited to feel bad about anything they may have missed out on. It was strange but oddly exciting, eclipsing the things they'd figured they would spend their holidays on. Before they really knew it, they were on the shuttle back to ORB, both a little happy and a little disappointed to be leaving.
How they managed to get back to their little place later that night without being seen was a miracle, but they enjoyed the last bit of the waning night together, they always had tomorrow...
Murrue sighed and curled up into a ball on the couch, sipping her coffee sparingly, peeking up at the clock every so often. She'd called everyone and told them to meet at their home, ignoring their surprised and curious questions and simply telling them to just come. She curled under the thin blanket she had thrown over herself, peeking into the kitchen to spy on he husband, who was probably rooting around for sweets.
She wasn't surprised when he came back in, a package of cookies under his right arm and a mug of hot chocolate in the left. She had to laugh when he sat down next to her with a thump, putting the package between them before downing a third of his drink in one go.
"When are they all coming?" Mu asked after placing his mug down on the coffee table, snatching the cookies before she had a chance to open it, settling it in his lap and tearing the top off the package with a neat tug. He took a few of the small treats out, grinning and shuffling away when his wife reached for one. "Nope."
"Oh c'mon." Murrue grumbled, reaching forward again but he shrank back with a laugh, hiding the bag behind his back with an even larger grin. She frowned and crossed her arms, a little annoyed with the teasing. "Please?"
"Nah uh. Mine." Mu chuckled again, leaning backwards when she tried again, but he was too quick, hoisting the back of sweets up above his head. She scowled at him, but he just grinned and winked.
Sensing a way to get around his defences, she crossed her arms and pouted, making her lower lip tremble with magnificent perfection. She noticed the way his eyebrows shot up and then furrowed, expression becoming concerned, and it was all she could do to not slip up and smile. "I guess you wouldn't do everything for the mother of your child."
Mu raised both eyebrows as high as they would go, before laughing and snatching her up into his arms, tugging her right into his lap before peppering the back of her neck with kisses. She giggled and tried to squirm away but he didn't release her, growling into her skin, "I've turned my angel into a demon."
"I've always been bad, you just never got to see it." Murrue laughed, swatting at his hands as they began to drum along her skin, the tickling sensation eliciting another set of breathless giggles. He stopped though, kissing her cheek tenderly before handing her a cookie, but he never let her leave his lap, not that she minded.
She felt him nuzzle into her neck, murmuring those sweet nothings she loved to hear, arms winding protectively around her middle. She smiled dreamily, idly sifting through her dazed thoughts, feeling too perfectly at ease to really worry about what she was going to tell her friends once they all arrived. 'Natarle was right... Everything was still the same... I can't believe I even worried...' She laughed inwardly, placing her hands on top of his, which were resting on her stomach. 'Well... Maybe not really 'the same'... But then again... I'm glad for this change... I've always wanted a family...'
She peeked up at her husband, the term was growing more familiar each time she used it, noting his contented smile and the way he closed his eyes, face titled up to feel the sunlight through the window. He seemed so at peace, something she was happy to see. She hadn't given herself much time to really think of what had happened before she told him, but now that they were back home and had time... The seeds of worry were growing in the back of her mind. She knew his history with his own father, and she couldn't help but worry if he was dwelling on those facts too now. He never gave the impression, but she knew him, he didn't like her to know that he was worried, just as she hated to worry him.
She gently hooked her fingers through his, watching his smile widen a little before he lazily opened one eye and glanced down at her curiously, as if sensing that she wanted to speak with him. He saw the concern and worry in her eyes and sighed half-heartedly, kissing her tenderly on the cheek. "I'm really alright..."
"Mu..."
"I... I was worried at first, when you told me." Mu confessed quietly, closing his eyes, his grip never loosening. He felt her hands tighten around his gently, giving him silent support that he was grateful for. He kissed the crown of her hair, breathing in her scent before continuing softly, "But I was happy, I am happy about this, I want our baby, I want a family. I'm a little scared, I don't want to turn out like Al." He felt her tense and take a breath, knowing that she wanted to argue but he gently cut her off with a sweet kiss to the cheek, smiling warmly into her concerned eyes. "But... When I'm with you..." He reached out, gently brushing his fingertips along her cheek, "I feel like I can take on anything."
Murrue smiled wryly, turning to kiss his palm, resisting the urge to quip a joke. She said nothing though, just reached out to trace the forked scar on his face, telling him what she felt without words. She was confident that he knew exactly what she was thinking.
"As long as I have you with me, I'm not going to worry." Mu promised gently, giving her another kiss to seal the deal, smiling when the concern left her eyes, replaced with a warm tenderness that he'd grown to love. He however grew concerned, brushing back a lock of her hair before asking seriously, "Are you worried about anything?"
"To be honest?" Murrue answered with a rueful smile, kissing him on the cheek, "I was more worried about you than anything else." He smiled a little and nuzzled once into her neck, waiting patiently for her to finish. Her hands squeezed his gently and she murmured, "I'm in the same state of mind as you are... As long as we're together, I'm sure we can do anything." A sudden knock on the door jolted the couple and Murrue added with a low mutter, voice sarcastic but oddly affectionate, "I lied, I'm terrified of that."
Mu was laughing all the way to the door. Murrue grumbled a little and crossed her arms, chin tilting towards the floor as she heard the indistinct voices of her friends. Natarle and Justin were in first, the former smiling when she saw her friend on the couch, clearly happy to see her back, regardless if it was early. Erica followed in shortly after, looking more curious with Kira and Lacus taking up the rear, both in the same mind as the older redhead.
"So, what's with the family meeting?" Erica finally piped up after they all got seated, facing the young couple expectantly. Natarle grinned a little and bit her lower lip to keep from laughing when Murrue rolled her eyes skyward. "Well c'mon, don't leave us here hanging, I think we'd all like an explanation for your early arrival."
Murrue glanced shyly at her husband, not exactly sure what to say. It was a little different now, dealing with her friends and not her husband. She loved them all dearly, but she was a bit nervous to hear their responses to the big news, Erica especially. She had a good idea how Erica would react as a friend, but it was the boss side of the redhead that got her scared.
Mu smiled and squeezed her hand a little, silently encouraging her to speak. He really didn't want to say anything either, he knew exactly what reactions he would get, it would probably be a lot better coming from Murrue.
"Well, um... See, we came home early from the honeymoon because..." Murrue wondered why she suddenly wanted to laugh, knowing it was probably just a nervous reaction. She swallowed hard, leaned into Mu almost unconsciously, and murmured shyly, "Mu and I... Well... I'm pregnant."
There was a long moment of silence following her words, and Murrue felt oddly like it was the silence before the bomb went off. She hid her face in Mu's shoulder, too scared to face any wrath that may or may not be directed at her.
"You're pregnant?!" Erica shouted in shock, her eyes wide and entire body tense as two different reactions warred inside her body, just leaving her in a state of awe. "Pregnant!"
"Miss Murrue!" Lacus squealed excitedly, bouncing up and down on the couch, clapping her hands together. She bounded off her seat and raced over to give the blushing woman a hug, looking so excited Mu could barely hold back a laugh of his own.
"Oh. My. God." Natarle finally managed, blinking a few times in shock, trying to register what she was feeling. She shook her head a few times and smiled at the couple, winking at Murrue before snickering, "Nice job, Mu."
"Wow." Kira repeated, struck dumb where he sat, only really able to watch as Lacus basically jumped back into her seat, bouncing up and down so hard she'd become a pink-haired blur.
"Well that was bloody quick!" Justin burst out, earning an elbow in the rib on both sides, one from his lover and the other from Erica, followed by a nervous chuckle from Mu and a palmed face by Kira. Lacus seemed way too excited to care. "Well it was..." Justin grumbled after a long moment, and he was promptly elbowed twice more.
Erica finally got over her shock, moaning loudly and burying her face in her hands, shaking her head as she did so. Natarle understood the redhead's anguish immediately and started to laugh, the two women having already had that conversation. She leaned on her lover, burying her face in his shoulder as she kept on laughing, much to Murrue's confusion.
"Erica, what's wrong?" Murrue asked worriedly, leaning forward to face her friend, genuine concern on her face. That only made Natarle laugh harder, and she was trying to stifle her amusement with her hands but it wasn't working so well when Murrue repeated her question.
"I'm going to lose you for who knows how long!" Erica moaned into her hands, shaking her hands and looking for all the world like she was in tears. She glared at Natarle, who was laughing so hard she looked like she was going to fall off the couch, and then scowled ferociously at Mu and accused him, "It's all your fault!"
"Yes of course it is, because I was sleeping when he took advantage of me." Murrue glowered at her friend unhappily, noticing that Natarle looked dangerously close to fainting from laughing so hard. "What's so funny?"
"You. And her." Natarle choked out between giggles, nodding towards the still annoyed Erica, unable to stop herself from laughing, her breathing hitched and tears of mirth trickling down her cheeks. "We had this talk already, that's what makes it so damn hilarious!"
"You talked about me getting pregnant?" Murrue demanded, her tone appearing angry but the blush on her face gave way to her real emotions, embarrassment.
"Well what was I supposed to do, I figured I'd be losing you to maternity leave eventually!" Erica growled back, swatting at the still laughing Natarle with a faux-glare, ordering crisply, "Stow it, will you?" Natarle laughed once more but managed to be quiet, wearing a huge smile that had Murrue giggling silently. The redhead glared sullenly at her friend and asked, "When are you due?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I think I must be along a good deal, I mean see..." Murrue gently lifted up her shirt to reveal the subtle bulge along her stomach, slightly amused how Erica leaned forwards with raised eyebrows, Natarle blinked and stared while Lacus' bouncing only increased. The boys seemed too polite to look, instead they both glances away while Mu glowered at them.
"Well, not very long then." Erica concluded after Murrue pulled her shirt back down, snuggling happily into her husband's protective arms. She seemed to smile for a moment, seeing the couple so happy, and added, "Soon you'll be as big as a house."
"Thank you Dr Simmons." Murrue commented dryly, which had Justin smirking oddly in the background. She threw a pillow at him, nearly missing her friend by an inch, but smacking him right in the nose. "Oh shut up."
"I didn't say anything!"
"You were going to!"
"Yeesh mom..."
Murrue stuck her tongue out at him, earning laughter from around the room. She smiled up at her laughing husband, earning a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose. With a contented smile she curled up closer into his lap, watching her friends laugh and talk around her, all seeming just as content as she was. She sighed happily. Life... Was good.
AN
Lol, I ended it like 'bleh'. It doesn't help that I had a killer headache when I was finishing it, lol. Go figure. Anywhosit, next chapter I shall be getting back on track, lol, meaning back to the half n half sequences, I feel like I've been ignoring my Nat. (Huggles Nat plushie) Heehee. Anywhosit, please review and tell me your thoughts, and if you'd like to see anything next chapter, feel free to holler at me, I need the ideas! See ya later!
Sky