This is Prompt No. 6-Happiness

A week later, Mitchie was organizing the weapons Caitlyn had given her and putting them into their different cases. She wiped each one with a warm cloth and then dried them, sharpening the blades on the stone Caitlyn had given her for that purpose. She stopped momentarily to wipe the beads of perspiration off of her forehead and sighed. Weapons were fun, and useful, but they were a pain to have to take care of.

A knock at the door gave Mitchie the reprieve she had been hoping for and she eagerly stood and went to open it. "Shane!" she exclaimed, happy to see the young man standing there. "Come in."

He stepped inside so that she could close the door. "Thanks," he said. He glanced down at the weapons on the floor and looked back at Mitchie. She had her hair up in a plain hairstyle and it was covered by a handkerchief. "Cleaning day?" he guessed.

Mitchie smiled at him and asked dryly, "How could you tell?"

Shane pretended to think. "The expression of utter exhaustion in your eyes," he teased.

Mitchie nodded and went along with his teasing. "Wonderful guess," she said.

Shane motioned to the knives and guns on the floor. "May I help you?" he offered.

Mitchie nodded gratefully. "Thank you!" she exclaimed. "Yes."

Together, they sat down and began cleaning the rest of the weapons together. For a long time, they worked in silence, but Mitchie kept having the distinct feeling that Shane kept looking expectantly at her, so she finally sat back on her heels and asked, "Is there something you want to say to me, Shane?"

In response, Shane blushed and nodded, setting the gun he had been working on carefully on the ground. "Remember when you asked me to find out about your brother and his wife?" he asked her.

His question sent a chill through Mitchie and she dared let herself hope that he had news. "Yes," she said.

"Well," Shane began, digging into his pockets, "I found them."

The simplicity of the statement stunned Mitchie for a moment before she leapt to her feet and stared down at him. "Really?" she cried.

Shane nodded. "Really," he assured her. He pulled out a large sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it to her. "It got a little squished on the way here, but I didn't think you'd mind too much."

The rapture in Mitchie's eyes told him that she wouldn't even notice the creases. She would be far too busy drinking in every word written that she would fail to look at the paper itself. "Thank you, Shane," she said softly. "I feel so happy right now."

Shane smiled. "Happiness is a good quality to have," he assured her. He motioned towards the door and said, "I'll let you read your note in private. When you're done, come get me and we'll finish these off." He pointed to the weapons on the floor and Mitchie nodded absently, still grinning at the page she held in her hands.

Shane, with a smile of his own, slipped out the door and closed it softly behind him. He walked down the hallways full of people, yet barely noticed any of them. He felt himself swell with happiness as well, for he would do almost anything to see that look of happiness on Mitchie's face. Yes, he was glad that he hadn't given up and had tracked them down.

Back in her room, Mitchie sank down on the bed and tucked her legs under her body. Slowly, her hands shaking as she did so, she unfolded the letter and began to read.

Dearest Mitchie,

You can't imagine our surprise when that Lieutenant Grey came knocking on our door, saying that you were alive and trying to find us. We were overjoyed! He said that you were serving the side you wanted to be on this time, but that he couldn't tell us what you are doing. I do hope that you are safe and not getting into trouble.

Mitchie smiled at that line. "So like Anna," she said, smiling as she looked at the flowery script that she herself had taught her friend.

Mitchell and I made it up north relatively easily and were married soon after. I am expecting a baby sometime in autumn. If it's a girl, Mitchell and I have agreed to name it after you, Mitchie, the most courageous young woman we've ever met. We heard from Lieutenant Grey that you were well, so we are happy to hear it. Maybe one day, when the war is over, we can see each other again. We miss you, Mitchie, and you are in our prayers.

Love Always,

Anna and Mitchell

Mitchie brushed away the tears that had formed in her eyes as she held the letter close to her heart. The happiness she felt amazed her. The fact that a single sheet of paper could bring such joy to her heart solidified just how much she loved her brother and his new wife. And the baby on the way! Mitchie felt herself smile all over again as she thought of Anna holding a little one of her own, with Mitchell standing over her as the proud father. If she lived in a perfect world, Mitchie knew that she would have been standing right alongside her brother, just as proud as he was soon to be.

For a moment, the realization that the world wasn't perfect, so…, weighed on her heart, but Mitchie quickly brushed it aside. Nothing would ruin her happiness today, no matter what tomorrow might bring.

A/N: Well? Did you like it? let me know! :D