Remember the song I mentioned from the earlier chapter? Yeah well, I know some of her songs aren't always romantic, but I absolutely LOVE this song, go listen to it! XOXO

Howl's POV

I walked through the doorway to the esteemed bath house, holding my wife's, Sophie, hand and holding my toddler in my arms. Her name is Claire and she is only two years old. She looks like her mom with silver hair; not like an old person's but shimmery and beautiful.

We were here to visit my good friend Haku, whom was a River God. I hadn't seen him in over three years, since I'd been so busy with Sophie and mine's marriage. I'm a wizard, which also gave Claire some of my powers through the descendant.

We strode over to the elevator, nodding to the frog manning the front post. I pressed the button to go up, and we waited for the elevator to come down. As the doors slid open, we stepped in. Claire started playing with my black hair, tugging on the ends. Sophie softly intoned "Stop, Claire. Be nice to your father," and gently pulled Claire's tiny hands away from my locks. I patted my daughters head, kissing the bridge of her nose to show her I wasn't angry.

The doors swung open and Haku stood in front of us. A curvy woman in pink polka-dots stood off to the side of him. He looked even taller than last time, standing maybe at my height now. He seemed older than before, with stubble growing out of his chin. Haku's arm was wrapped around the lady, pulling her in closer to the spirit. She looked like a human.

"Howl, Sophie, Claire. Welcome!" Haku hugged my wife, kissed the top of Claire's head, and gave my hand a shake.

"Kohaku, how are you?" I replied, steadily looking into his eyes. He looked happier than the last time I had seen him; maybe he was completed.

"I'm good, great actually. This is my girlfriend, Chihiro Ogino." By touching her waist, he brought the young woman closer. She had a surprised look on her face, looking up into the face of Haku.

"Hi, nice to meet you," her timid voice was like pouring water into a warm mug, becoming hotter and steaming lightly from the glow of the heat. She took my hand in hers and gently shook it up and down. I clasped my other hand on top of ours, making her smile and look up at me. She moved to Sophie and reached out her hand, but my wife hugged her tightly instead of shaking. Chihiro let out a nervous little laugh, causing Claire to giggle in rebuttal.

Chihiro looked at my daughter and Claire reached over to the woman, clasping her finger. Chihiro smiled and I lifted my infant into the arms of the girl. Chihro brought her tightly to her chest, making sure not to let her go. Even though Claire was already two and was plenty capable of walking, she really enjoyed being held.

Haku looked at the two girls and smiled and pulled lightly at Claire's pigtail making her squeal in delight. "Come on, let's head into my private dining room."

Haku's POV

It was good to see his friends whom I haven't seen in a long time. Howl had told him through a letter that they had had a daughter, and it was good to finally meet her. Chihiro and Claire seemed to be getting along; Claire was constantly asking for Chihiro to do braid her hair.

We had eaten five courses: appetizer, soup, salad, main dish, and dessert with coffee. All the adults were stuffed but Claire was still running around, chasing after imaginary butterflies. I liked the way Chihiro interacted with children. She truly cared for them. She enjoyed looking after them and playing their mindless games. She looked comfortable talking with them, naturally guiding them to safer toys other than the sharp edges of tables.

"Do you ever want children?" Sophie was looking at me, expecting an answer. Chihiro peered up from her babblings with Claire, also waiting for me to speak.

"I don't know, I guess it's just nothing I ever thought about before," I hope the answer satisfied these women; they were still staring at me.

Howl guffawed and said "I never thought about it either, not in my wildest dreams, until Sophie came along!" That ended my side of the conversation, but the married couple was exchanging loving glances with one another as Sophie's lap was filled by Claire's sleeping form.

After a while of idle chit-chat, Sophie and Chihiro went off to go talk about girly things, while Claire, Howl, and I moved to my office. Claire was still asleep in her father's arms, dozing with her head against his chest. She had started sleeping after talking with Chihiro about birds; apparently little Claire enjoyed the colors of their feathers and the lengths of their wingspans.

I sat in my oversized, swivel chair behind the desk while Howl crouched onto the leather couch. "Do you really her, Kohoku?" Howl looked at me with a pensive face. What was it with all these questions tonight?

"That's kind of a tough question, Howl. We've only been in a relationship for a few days now."

"Really! You guys seemed much more comfortable together than most new couples. How long have you known her?"

"Since she was ten… so a little over six years if I did the math correctly." I awkwardly sat there, not knowing what to say next when the girls came in, talking about someone named Channing Tatum. Chihiro was giggling and holding her chest from lack of air, and Sophie was blushing and holding back tears of joy.

Howl rose, clutching his daughter and placed a hand over his wife's shoulder. "I think it's time to head home, we have to get Claire to bed now."

Sophie and Chihiro hugged, Chihiro kissed Claire's forehead gently and her and Howl shook hands. I embraced the mother and daughter and then gruffly gave Howl a pat on the back. We said our goodbyes and after they left I looked over at Chihiro.

He cheeks were slightly red from her laughter, and her eyes were wide with mirth and happiness. I looked back on the night we had spent with my friends and realized that they all accepted her, and she had a great time. She really seemed to enjoy being a part of my life.

Without saying a word, I picked her up and slung her over my shoulder. She squealed in girlish delight as I whisked her away to the shower, turning on the hot spray. Soon our clothes were soaked and I could see the outline of her lacey bra through her dress. My, oh my.

I gently unzipped the polka-dotted fabric and slid it down her butt, trailing my fingers down as I went. She moaned happily and looked into my eyes and whispered my name "Haku."

Y'all know the movie Howl's Moving Castle? Anyways, it's by the same director as Spirited Away and it's just as amazing (that's who these new characters are based on, but with my own twist)! GO WATCH IT NOW! There's also a book, but I have failed to read it… but I will soon. Ok, you don't have to but it's a life changing event.