Morgenroete

January 10th

"You're getting married?!"

Natarle resisted the urge to clap both hands over her ears and find a nice rock to curl under, she should have expected such a reaction from her friend. She preoccupied herself with gently bouncing the newborn Paige in her lap, the little girl's tiny hand curled tightly around her godmother's finger. She had smartly relieved the brunette from the girl before she'd told her the news, and she was glad she had the distraction, Murrue was pretty much blurring around the edges.

"Oh my god, when did he ask you? Did he give you another ring? When's the date? Details Natarle, I need details!"

"I knew I shouldn't have told you." Natarle shook her head sombrely, barely unable to conceal the smile that was twitching in the corners of her mouth. She just continued to bounce her adopted niece on her knee, smiling when the girl looked around with still serious eyes. Paige, even though she was almost only a month old, seemed like one of the most serious children ever. She would stare at her surroundings for ages before cracking a smile, and she seemed only able to laugh and play with the people she had seen more than once.

"Have you told Erica yet?" Murrue asked excitedly, still bouncing up and down uncontrollably.

"No, I've told you, that's about it." Natarle answered calmly, really having to fight the urge to smile in the face of her best friend's eagerness. She shuddered at the thought of telling her boss, she knew exactly what the woman would say, and she wasn't in the mood to be embarrassed. "I'll tell Erica later."

"Tell me what?"

Murrue was laughing when Natarle jumped a foot, her hold on little Paige as protective as ever. Murrue scooped her baby out of her friend's arms and was shivering with mirth when Erica grinned broadly at the recovering Natarle. Paige whimpered unhappily and with a tiny hand gripped her mother's finger, snuggling as close as she could into the front of Murrue's shirt. "She has news."

"What news?" Erica looked over at the suddenly shy Natarle, and she smiled broadly again. The redhead crossed her arms and studied the abashed woman closely, before turning to the beaming new mother. She was pretty sure she knew what was going on now, but she wanted to hear the former soldier say it.

"I'm... Getting married."

"Finally!" Erica laughed out loud, and Murrue immediately began to snicker, trying to cover it up with coughs but it didn't work out so well. Erica grinned at Natarle and added cheerfully, tousling her hair, "You made us wait till old age, thanks."

"At least it's happening." Natarle grumbled under her breath, feeling the familiar heat surging up into her cheeks and painting her face red. She glared down at her lap, but the joy in her eyes couldn't be disguised, and both of her friends could see it clearly. "Stop it..."

"So," Erica asked as casually as she could, but the obvious laughter was shaking her warm voice, "when are you having kids?" She wasn't disappointed with Natarle's reaction, the woman went ramrod straight and turned such a dark shade of red she literally looked as though steam was going to pour from her ears. Erica caught sight of the woman's fiancé in the corner of her eye, but so did Natarle. The woman practically teleported behind him and refused to come out, much to the other's delight.

"You're getting ahead of yourself." Murrue teased her friend after Natarle pretty much dragged Justin away in an attempt to hide. Erica took Natarle's vacated seat with a broad grin, earning a tender elbow in the ribs for her trouble. "She won't speak to you for a week now, she'll be so embarrassed."

"Meh. Someone needs to plant the idea in her head." Erica replied with a very conspicuous wink, gently taking Paige into her arms and settling the little one into her lap. She turned to Murrue who was eying the doorway where her friend had vanished and added gently, "But you already took care of that, huh?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Murrue replied with as much innocence as she possibly could, but the bright smile on her face completely gave her away. She absently reached out to caress the small cap of golden hair on her daughter's head, the look of her being as much of a mother as Erica had expected to see.

"You totally knew that your little devil would bewitch Natarle from the second she held her." Erica accused her genially, tousling the woman's hair and pretending to tug Paige out of her mother's touch. "I know you, you're a sly little minx when you want to be. Tell me that wasn't your plan from the beginning."

"I can't lie, I did want Natarle to want her own family, she deserves as much." Murrue replied seriously, frowning a little as she remembered how their first talk about families had come around. She hadn't liked the way Natarle had simply shut herself out from the world, the woman was a caring sort, even if she wouldn't admit it out loud. "I hoped that her having a connection with Paige would make the desire stronger... I'm glad to see that it did."

"She wanted her own family for years I think." Erica mused out loud, glancing towards the doorway too, absently remembering all the times she'd been forced to kick the dark-haired woman out for working so long. She smiled a little, remembering the other things that she had noticed, as a mother herself. 'She always seemed so wistful when the news came about someone getting married or having another child... But maybe she just didn't understand the want at that time.' "She just never let herself think about it."

"She has the time now." Murrue said firmly, scooping Paige back into her arms after another long moment. They'd began to feel strangely empty after only a few minutes of Paige not being there, and she felt better the moment her daughter was back in her lap. She honestly was very happy to hear that Natarle was going to get married, she was pretty sure children wouldn't be far behind... "I'm happy for her."

"I am too. She's turned out pretty great." Erica nodded in a solemn manner, but it only lasted for a moment before she was laughing silently to herself. 'She's changed a good deal, but it's been a good change. Justin was good for her, but Murrue I think was what really made it possible... And probably the munchkin...'

"I better get the monster home, she's tuckered right out." Murrue said after awhile, cradling the half-asleep baby close to her chest as she got to her feet. She shared a short hug with Erica before adding pleasantly, "Tell Natarle I said 'bye', okay? See you later." She walked back to her car slowly, lest she woke up Paige, humming quietly to herself as she went.

She was still having trouble believing that it had been a month since she'd brought Paige home for the first time. It only really seemed like yesterday. 'I'm having trouble believing that everything happened so long ago.... Well maybe not so long ago, it's only really been about a year since Justin came to Lacus' house and told me that Mu was alright... It's like time just hit fast-forward... Not so much time has really passed since then, but already so much has happened...'

She idly buckled Paige into her car-seat, carefully tucking in the small blanket around her before getting into her own seat, starting the car. She was grateful that it was so quiet, and pulled onto the highway towards home, her mind still on other things. 'Natarle getting married... Those are words I'd never have put in the same sentence three years ago... But now I'm so happy for her... It's so strange how much happened in just a year...'

As if to remind her of what else had happened over the course of the year, Paige hiccupped in her sleep, and Murrue smiled to herself. 'Yeah... I had a little one of my own, and got hitched too... I never thought that would happen to me... And I'm blissful too... Yeesh... When I think about it, everyone is so much happier now. Everyone deserves it...'

Murrue smiled to herself and turned on the radio, making sure to keep the volume low. She looked in her rear-view mirror and was pleased to see that Paige was fast asleep, and she was smiling as she drove all the way home. Life just didn't seem to get any better than this.

"She's getting married? About time." Mu laughed as he took the sleeping infant from the car and walked into the house with his wife close behind, trying hard not to laugh the entire time s she wouldn't wake Paige.

"That's what Erica said." Murrue informed him through giggles, really having trouble as she remembered Natarle's embarrassed reaction. She informed him of what had happened next, and she was glad he'd waited until he'd put Paige down before bursting into a near-silent roar of laughter that shook his entire body.

He collapsed on the couch, still laughing, and tugged Murrue down with him. She neatly arranged herself in his lap and snuggled close with a happy murmur, waiting until his laughing fit died down before she continued. Winding both arms around her lithe waist, he pulled her flush against him and slumped back into the couch, letting her snuggle even closer to get more comfortable. "So she's really getting married..."

"Surprised?" Murrue asked curiously, peeking up through her hair to see him smiling sheepishly at her before sitting up a little bit straighter. She curled her arms around his shoulders and continued to watch him, waiting for his explanation. "Hmm?"

"Well, I guess I am... It makes me think about how much time's really passed since I woke up with her there, you know?" Mu laughed quietly, relaxing when she nuzzled into his neck. He shifted her into a better fit lazily, and looked up at the ceiling. She was silent, sensing his need to speak, and he kissed the crown of her hair gratefully before muttering, "She's changed so much... I woke up thinking I was dead or something... I guess it's just really strange, it seems like yesterday that happened, and now she's getting married. Like hell, I never thought of putting 'Natarle' and 'married' in the same sentence before!"

"Neither have I, before..." Murrue told him gently, knowing exactly what was on his mind. It had been on hers too. There was this disbelief she still felt from time to time, whenever she really thought about her life now, like it was all really just a dream that she was supposed to wake up from at any given moment. Leaning on his chest, she murmured, "I keep on expecting to wake up I guess... It doesn't seem real, too good to be true..."

"It is too good to be true, that's why I'm so startled." Mu laughed into her hair, but it came off too weak and he sighed before looking back up at the ceiling. "Everything's changed so suddenly, I guess it's really taking a lot of getting used to... I'm real happy for her, don't get me wrong, but it's just happening so fast."

"It's been over a year since you came back you know." Murrue teased him softly, trying to lighten the suddenly sombre mood. She kissed his cheek and added gently, "She's just as shocked as we are you know. I mean, she's never thought of getting married or of having a family before she met Justin. It's just going to take some getting used to, that's all."

Mu nodded and hugged her close again, feeling better almost immediately. He glanced over his shoulder at the nursery and smiled wickedly at his wife. "Can we have another one?"

"Another one?" It took Murrue a long moment to realize just what he was talking about, and her eyes widened to the size of saucers and she swatted him hard above the ear. "Do I not get a rest period!?"

"Do you not want more kids?" Mu whined, having a lot of trouble not laughing as he ducked another one of her well-aimed swats. He put on his expert puppy-dog face and asked pathetically, "Or just not with me?"

"You're impossible!" Murrue exclaimed, poking him in the sides and when he doubled over she promptly knocked him clean off the couch. She jumped on top of him quickly, laughing triumphantly when he looked winded and shocked. "I'd love more children, I want a huge family." She leaned forwards and gently kissed the tip of his nose and added softly, "But the doctor did say we can't exactly start now."

Mu looked as though she'd just condemned him to death, and she smiled innocently at him, leaning forward to give him a chaste kiss. He grumbled and wrapped both arms around her waist to hold her there, but she slyly wriggled her way out of his hold, trailing her fingertips down his chest.

"There are other ways to have a little bit of fun..." Murrue purred into his ear, laughing wickedly at his quiet groan as her hands trailed lower down his body. "Hmm?"

"I've made a devil out of you." Mu groaned, tugging her down to him and kissing her again. Even if he had... He didn't really mind.

Natarle's Apartment

"Erica's just teasing you." Justin chuckled into his lover's hair, trying not to smile when she grumbled and ducked away from his advances. He easily captured her in his arms again, tugging her back into his lap and fixing the sheet around her. "C'mon, you love her."

"Yeah but she's not making it easy..." Natarle sighed, leaning her head to the side as Justin began to kiss her neck to soothe her embarrassment. She had to admit he was very good at making her forget how she felt sometimes, and with that thought in mind she relaxed into his arms.

"She's just happy to see you happy."

"You made me happy." Natarle reminded him with a gentle poke to the nose, murmuring contentedly when he nuzzled back into her neck. She knew that he knew that and he was perversely proud of it too. Glancing up at the ceiling, she was idly aware of his fingers running up and down her sides, and his lips marking out a map of her skin. 'So much has happened...' "I want to thank you for that..."

"Hey, I ought to thank you for winding up in Copernicus in the first place." Justin told her cheekily, earning a flick in the ear but he didn't mind, laughing and pulling her in for another bear-hug. "I'm really happy I met you..." She laughed into his chest and didn't move when he flopped back into the bed, taking her with him. They lay there for a long moment, neither speaking and enjoying the comfortable silence. "Natarle...?"

"Mmm?" Natarle was nearly asleep, contentment making her drowsy. She wriggled a little out of his tight hold, resting her chin on his chest as she looked up at him, missing the sound of his steady heartbeat. Blinking a few times to wake up, she tilted her head a bit to the side curiously. "Yes?"

"Will you marry me?" Justin asked lazily, closing his eyes and relaxing against the bed with a deep sigh, enjoying how Natarle never made a move to wriggle out of his arms.

"Haven't we been through this already?" Natarle laughed, gently thumping him on the chest before lying back down, listening to his heartbeat. He chuckled and kissed the top of her hair, and she felt his hand snake under the sheet to find hers, and his thumb gently caressed the dolphin ring he had given her. "And if I remember correctly, I was the one who asked you..." She added mentally, 'And that's a secret I'm taking to the grave if I can help it...'

"Only after I gave you the ring." Justin grumbled back, pretending to whine. She snickered and kissed his chin, which was the only part of his face she could reach, and settled back onto his chest with a soft purr. Absently stroking her hair, he spoke casually, "But regardless... Where should we go for the honeymoon?"

"Mmm... I don't mind staying here, no need to ship ourselves off to someplace..."

"Ah ah, where have you always dreamt of going for your wedding? And don't say 'nowhere' I know for a fact every single little girl had a dream once when they were young." Justin poked her in the nose, and she rolled her eyes but humoured him anyway by continuing to cuddle into his arms with a happy sigh. "So? Any ideas?"

"Well..." Natarle pursed her lips and thought hard for a long moment, searching through the darker memories of her childhood to find what he had been talking about. She tried not to dwell on the thoughts that included her parents, and quickly skipped back to her youth, searching... After a moment she turned a light pink, and murmured shyly, "Well... I guess... I always wanted to go to Paris..."

"Paris?" Justin looked curious for a moment then smiled broadly, kissing the top of her head. "Then Paris it is. I have a few contacts there, it'd be fun to move into a hotel for a week or so... Enjoy the sights..." With a devilish grin, he studied her blushing face for a moment then asked cheekily, "Do you speak the language?"

"I went to a military school, I'm fluent in about five different languages." Natarle told him haughtily, though her violet eyes were alive with humour as she tried to free herself from his hold as she knew what he was planning. He was too quick for her however, easily laying her flat on her back and straddling her, grinning wickedly when she tried to glare up at him but ended up laughing. "C'mon, you had your fun, now get off!"

"Nah, I like it up here." Justin mused with a coy smile, watching with delight how she rolled her eyes and looked honestly annoyed, but he'd learned to read her like the books she loved. Her eyes were twinkling with amusement, and the corners of her mouth were turned up in a smile. "So, Paris?"

"Sounds fun to me." Natarle replied with a little smile, reaching up to tousle his hair absently, enjoying the way he turned his face to kiss her palm. "Hmm... I bet you we won't even need to plan most of this out, Erica and Murrue will be having a field day with all of this..."

"You're probably right..." Justin chuckled, flopping down beside her after a moment, wanting to wrap her in his arms again. He grumbled unhappily into her neck when she promptly curled closer, "Murrue loves parties, except when she's the one they're being thrown for."

"She just doesn't like the fuss." Natarle attempted to defend her friend but she found herself giggling too much, he was completely right of course. 'She does hate parties... We gave her a surprise birthday party and she wouldn't talk civil to us until Mu finally admitted that it was his idea... It was hilarious....'

"I hate you."

"No you don't."

"Oh yes, I do." Murrue glared at the group who'd assembled in her living room, looking as though she was moments away from killing one of her guests. The women were snickering to themselves, obviously not affected by her threat, while the boys were hiding behind their significant others, clearly not in the same state of mind. She focussed her gaze on her redheaded friend and boss, and growled, "This was all your idea, wasn't it? I distinctly remember you saying something about a surprise birthday party."

"Oh yeah, I said something about a surprise party, and don't get me wrong missy, I was going to do it." Erica replied sweetly, tweaking her friend's nose affectionately and dancing out of reach. She grinned at Mu however and nudged him gently. "But..."

"I beat her to the punch." Mu finished for her rather sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck as his pregnant wife stared him down with flaming marigold eyes. "You deserve one, everyone wanted to pitch in..."

"I hate surprises."

"You hate the fuss." Natarle corrected her with a little laugh, hugging Justin a little bit closer in an attempt to shield herself from her friend's angry glare. She was still giggling when she tried to soothe her friend's annoyance, "C'mon Murrue, it's your birthday, have some fun."

Murrue grumbled before she visibly twitched, and then her eyes flew instinctively to her stomach. She sighed grudgingly and pat her stomach, her thoughts clear on her face. She looked at her friends again, arms crossed over her womb, and she murmured unhappily, "Well she's all for it, what can I do?"

"She just wants cake." Kira chimed in, a chorus of laughter quickly following the comment. Murrue was smiling the widest, as though she agreed with the statement, and the rest of the party almost immediately continued as planned.

'Regardless... I can't help but feel so grateful for the life I have now...' Natarle sighed contentedly, closing her eyes as her lover's hand continued to rhythmically stroke her hair. 'I'm just so happy...'

AN

Lol, I am so lazy it should be illegal... Damn it took me so long to get this up, so sorry about that! Damn block... That's no excuse, I only have a few more chapters left before I finish it off, lol. I'll work hard, promise. Ja, also, Murrue strikes me as the type who'd like to fuss over her friends and have fun doing it, but not being the centre of attention for some reason.... Which is oddly amusing... XD Hit me up with a review please if you feel the need!

Sky