Chapter Fifteen

DC: I don't own Howl's Moving Castle

Howl coughed as the warmth spread through his body. The blue flames, from what he saw, enveloped on Davies. It took him a second to realize what was going on and that his friend was giving him some time.

"I'm not doing this for my health, Howl! Get a move on it!"

Howl couldn't help but to smile. He silently thanked Calcifer, before turning to Sophie. She was hanging on, the back rising to cover most of her face and her arms, but she was still breathing. Markl lay next to her, his chest rising and falling. Asleep. Howl would have to do this on his own.

He fumbled around his pockets finding spare chalk chunks. They've broken so many times from being in Howl's pocket for so long. Howl knew that if he could get a move on it, he could make a holding spell to trap Davies long enough for he and Calcifer to finish the dark demon. He took a piece of the broken chalk and started his work.

Calcifer raged and roared. Howl tried to move faster, knowing his fiery friend was holding this dark demon as long as he could. The markings for his spell were complicated, and it didn't help that the little chalk chunks kept on breaking and running out on him. Little angry sparks and flames shot out from Howl's fingers as they fumbled and tried gently to make the lines of the holding spell. Several times he dropped chunks, and in frustration Howl would have to kick them out of the way and start with a new, small piece.

Just as Howl was drawing the last line, there came a moan, and the blue went out. Howl watched as Calcifer flew to the corner of the dark, trying to spark his own light back. The cold surrounded Howl, once again attacking his chest, though this time he was actually being choked. Davies was on top of him, icy claws around Howl's throat. He could feel warmth running down his neck as Davies nails dug into his skin.

"You're not going to get away." Davies voice sounded contorted and messy. Calcifer did some damage, Howl could see, as the evil demon had burn marks all over. Davies gave Howl a wicked smile, placing his free hand over Howl's heart. "Maybe I'll just eat your heart and call everything even."

Howl gasped for breath as Davies hand tightened around his throat and his other cold hand was placed on his chest; slowly putting pressure around his fast, beating heart.

"It's…it's not over yet!" Howl gasped. Spreading out his fingers, Howl placed his hand in Davies's face, sparks shooting out onto his smile.

The spark fire distracted Davies enough for Howl to scramble out of the lock and go for the kicked away chalk. His hand reached almost touching the bits, but Davies was faster. Howl kicked at him, but nothing would take his grip off of him. Davies scream of a laugh pierced Howl's ears. He lost all thought to the piercing noise and covered them, leaving himself wide open. Davies stuck his fingers into Howl's back, lifted him and threw him away from the chalk. Howl lay on his side, twisting in the sudden pain.

"You're right it's not over!" Davies's grin grew sadistic. "I haven't had this much fun in ages. Why don't we play some more, Howell?"

Howl watched, his ears popping, as Davies tried to take a step forward. He couldn't. Howl frowned. Was Davies playing with him? He watched as Davies tried to move once more, but couldn't. He screamed, though no noise came out.

Howl moved. He got onto his feet, and that's when he noticed that his spell was in effect. With no time to waste to see who finished the last line, he started to chant.

Davies's eyes popped in frustration as he tried to chant his own spell, but to no avail, with no voice he wouldn't be able to do a simple charm. He thrashed as much as his unmovable legs could let him as his life was being sucked clean out of him. The room itself, with every line in Howl's spell, seemed to grow brighter until it was just an empty burned out building again. When Davies was hardly a skeleton with skin attached, his lips still moving and his arms still flailing, Calcifer, who also gained a glow with Howl's spell, surrounded him again.

Howl collapsed onto his knees the palms of his hand digging into the floor under him. He welcomed the warm summer sunlight that leaked through the holes of the boards to warm his aching body. His skin was stained with cold sweat and blood, and he had an aching back, no doubt, cut and bleeding; but he couldn't fall down yet. His eyes swept the room and found his wife.

He got back onto his feet and stumbled over to Sophie. Markl still lay sleeping, and his wife lay still. Not knowing what exactly to do, Howl carefully took Sophie's head in his hands and turned her towards him. The curse was drifting away into nothing, the black marks no longer covering her body. Her breathing was stable and relaxed. He checked her all around, noting that everything seemed normal. He sighed, relieved, looking her up and down.

Howl, as he was using the last of his strength to lean over and check on Markl, noticed that Sophie held something in her hand. Knowing that Markl was really okay and breathing, his curiosity went to her fingers. He pried her hand open to see a piece of the chalk dusting her fingers. He smiled, laughing a little. "Oh, Sophie," he moaned, before his head spun from exhaustion, and he fell down beside her.

---

Sophie made herself busy by pealing the last of the potatoes and cutting the carrots. It was nice to finally have some peace and quiet in the moving castle. Without Howl to hover over her existence and comment on everything she carried, she was able to make dinner in record time. Good time too, because her stomach was screaming out.

"You probably shouldn't carry that, Sophie."

"Oh, don't you be Howl Jr., Calcifer. Open up. I need this heated."

"I's justh thayin thath with your bafie and alth."

"Don't talk with your mouth full."

Sophie smiled, stirring in the spices as Calcifer groaned under the pot. As the soup heated up, Sophie sighed and sat back in her chair. She rubbed her bulging belly smiling at what was to come. She sighed again, reviewing the past few months. All was well, and nothing was wrong with the baby or herself after the whole ordeal. Markl was home and everything was almost normal. She thought almost because with every passing month, Howl became increasingly nag-like because of the baby.

Sophie laughed at the incidences where Howl made a fool of himself just to make sure she was comfortable; and had to laugh again, because whenever the baby kicked Howl missed it. He was growing impatient and wondered to her all the time if the baby had a schedule to its movements. She would tell him no and that he would just have to keep on hovering over her long enough so that he'd be there.

They've had to change the house twice just to make more room for the new things Howl found and brought in for the nursery. Sophie almost lost her mind trying to calm him down when she carried little bags or baskets full of supplies she would need for her shop.

"It's almost over. It's getting colder, and then soon the baby will be here," she told herself, and Calcifer, who was still mumbling under the pot. "I miscalculated Calcifer. I thought the baby would be here at the end of the winter season, but it's actually almost the middle when he or she will be—"

"Shshhh. I canth thalk!" Calcifer growled, sparking a little. Sophie laughed.

The latch on the door turned, and in walked Markl. He shook off the snow off his boots, before rushing past Sophie. "Hey, what's the hurry?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm meeting a friend!" Markl yelled from upstairs.

He came tumbling down the steps, Sophie held up a hand. He stopped. "Who is this friend?"

Markl's face turned a little red. Sophie wasn't going to let him through until he said it. She gave him a look. "Say it. Or you can't go."

"Madge…" Markl's face was bright red. "I promised her I'd go and eat dinner with her. Sorry."

Sophie smiled warmly. "It's okay. All you had to do was say it. Go on. Go have dinner with your little girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend!" Markl left hurriedly, hiding his blush from Sophie.

Sophie laughed, holding her back as she managed to get out of the chair to stir the soup. The smell made her stomach rumble.

The door opened again, and in came Howl. His nose was cherry red and his checks matched. He rubbed his face with gloved hands, trying to bring life back into them. Sophie smiled at him. He frowned. "I'm not moving. I'm making dinner," she said to him, knowing why he was frowning. "I can move around. Don't worry I haven't tripped or anything."

Howl sighed and walked up the steps. He took off his boots and winter things. He stood behind Sophie, wrapping his arms around her. "How is Sophie today?"

"I am hungry." Sophie jumped when Howl's cold face found the niche of her neck. "Now I'm sharing your cold."

"You're so warm."

"Hey go thumbwhere elsth and be thuggly."

"What?" Howl looked over Sophie's belly to the blue flame below. "What did he say?"

"He said go somewhere else and be snuggly." Sophie smiled down at her blue friend. "You can't let dinner burn then, Calcifer. Mind your fire."

Calcifer garbled out something Sophie knew wasn't pleasant as she led Howl to their room. She carefully sat on the bed, Howl removing wet trousers and finding warmer, drier ones. "Everything okay in the outside world?"

"Everything is in order, love." Howl sat next to her and wrapped his arms around her again. He kissed her cheek. Sophie held his face in her hands so that his lips could find hers. They shared a deep kiss, then Sophie laid her head on his shoulder. Howl absentmindedly rubbed the peak of Sophie's stomach.

"Oh!" Sophie jerked back a moment. Howl jumped a little away.

"I'm sorry!" he said, worriedly. He held up his hands in a surrender kind of way.

"No, no!" Sophie grabbed his closest hand and rested it on one point on her belly. Howl was confused, but then his face melted into surprise.

"Oh is right!"

"You've always missed the kick." Sophie's smile grew. "So, now you've felt it. I want no more complaining in the last two months."

"It's so far away." Howl let Sophie come back to his shoulder. "I don't know how long I could possibly wait."

Sophie rolled her eyes, but kissed his shoulder. "You've waited this long Howl. You know how long and frightening it's been. Just relax and remember the peace we have before we'll never have any quiet." Sophie felt his chuckle rumble in his chest.

She felt that things were right in the world again, when she could be like this with her husband, and that she could truly relax and get this family started. There was no more curses and no more fighting. Sophie really wanted this to last forever. She sighed deeper into him. "I love you Howl."

"I've always loved you Sophie." Howl brought the hug in tighter, resting his dark headed hair onto her starlight one. "Don't you ever forget it."

---

Lala Rue here and here you go. The last chapter.

So you know how I said "Oh I'll update in like a week." Sorry I need to stop unintentionally lying. It's a bad habit.

I really hope you liked this story. It took a long time to make, and it was a very big emotional roller coaster for me. Soo much stuff happened in life while writing this story... I started this story in the 10th grade and now I'm a freshman in college...wow. Man.

Well. Thank you my faithful reviewers who waited for me to throw this at you! Thank you for waiting sooo long for it! (Who knows? Maybe I'll make another.)

Have a Happy Holidays and a good life!

Love, La'Ruelia!

(PS I don't know why but I've updated this like twice and it just hasn't stuck. Sorry to those who keep on getting the little alert things. Bye Bye!)

((Edit: This isn't the last chapter. There is an Epilogue.))