In every corner of this garden were hidden surprises. A clump of flowers in an odd spot, tucked away in an alcove perhaps. It had been several months since this place had been lived in, so much of the foliage was choked with weeds. But underneath these invaders were still more flowers. Violets, pansies, orchids...almost every kind of flower she could think of. This place was more than she'd ever dreamed, the garden she used to imagine as a child. Kneeling down and pushing aside trailing ivy, heedless of the dew soaking through her cotton trousers, she smiled as she came across a small patch of cornflowers, the blossoms the exact same shade of blue as his eyes. I ought to pick some and show him... she thought, getting to her feet. The encroaching thistles pulled at her shirt as she made her way out of the quiet dell at the bottom of the garden. Up ahead, she could see the house - their house, framed against the perfect blue sky. The gauzy curtains of their bedroom billowed in the breeze from the open french windows, and the back door was wide open to let in the fresh air. It was strange to imagine...that this was home now. After years of service to the military, then living with various friends, now she had her own place, where she was able to build a life with the one she loved. It felt like a dream.
Making her way to the centre of the garden, Murrue sat down on the stone ledge of the fishpond, trailing one hand in the cool water. The orange fish swam to and fro, their fins tickling her fingers. As she brushed back a lock of long auburn hair, the sound of whistling reached her ears. She giggled, stretching out in the sunlight and kicking off blue flip-flops. This was home, all right. And for her, he made it home. Getting up, she tip-toed across to a tree, and peeked around. Mwu was standing on the small patch of lawn in front of the house, blue eyes closed, scarred face turned up to the sun like one of the flowers that dotted the garden.
She crept up to where he stood...and wrapped her arms tightly around his middle, resting her head against his broad back. She heard and felt his chuckle, and his hands moved up to cover hers. "How's your garden look?" he asked, twisting around in her embrace to face her. Murrue smiled fondly. "It needs some work, but it'll be beautiful when all the weeds have been cleared away. And it's not 'my garden', it's ours."
"Nope." he replied cheerfully. "It's yours. This garden was the whole reason I chose this house, you know. All for you." She blushed vividly, amber eyes focused on the grass, but looked pleased. Mwu grinned, reaching up to brush fingers lightly against her cheek. "So, what do you think of this place? Did I make a good choice?"
She nodded, raising her head to look around. "Very good. It feels like home already, and we've only been here for a couple of days." Standing on her tip-toes again, she touched her lips to his, her eyes closing. "I love it here." she whispered. "Thank you..."
Later that afternoon, she ventured back into the dell near the back wall of her garden with a black plastic bag and a pair of thick gloves, ready to tackle the enveloping weeds. The nettles and thistles had taken firm root, and would take a long time to pull free. As she worked, the plants brushed against exposed skin, stinging mercilessly...but it was as though she never noticed.
A few hours later, Murrue emerged from the tangle of trees, clutching the now full bag. Her thin hands were caked with dirt and stained green, and there were several scratches on her face and arms. But she was smiling in triumph, pleased with herself.
"So that's where you've been.."
She turned around in surprise at the voice, and nodded, holding up the plastic bag. "I got them all." she replied proudly. But Mwu didn't seem so happy. Walking across the grass to where she stood, he trailed a hand over her cheek, showing her the blood on his fingers. "And they got you.." Looking her over, he rolled up the sleeves of the thin shirt she wore. The white blotches of the nettle stings stood out on her pale skin, as well as the myriad scratches. Murrue looked away, readjusting her sleeves. "I'm okay." she said shortly, starting to walk off. But he caught her hand, his grip firm. "Wait.." he asked. "You can't leave it like that...doesn't it hurt?"
Without waiting for an answer, he pulled her gently towards the house. She tried to protest, tried to free herself, but it was no use. And even though she tried to deny it, the stings and scratches really were beginning to hurt now...
In the kitchen, Mwu lifted her to sit her on the table, rummaging through a cupboard until he discovered a small tub of calamine lotion. "Now sit still." he told her firmly, applying the cream gently to her injuries. Murrue flinched slightly, though her face remained calm and composed.
"You're so stubborn.." he scolded, adding sticking plasters to the worst scrapes. "Why didn't you let me help you instead of trying to do it all yourself?" She didn't answer, eyes downcast, and he reached out to tilt her chin so she was looking directly at him. The earnest and worried look on his handsome face made her heart skip. "In the war..both of them..you relied just on yourself. But it doesn't have to be that way anymore..." he told her, kissing her hands. "Now there are two of us. You and me. Okay? If you need help, then ask."
"I didn't just rely on myself.." she replied softly, her hand moving to stroke his hair. "Couldn't you tell? I always depended on you, just as I know you depended on me." Mwu seemed at a loss for words at this simple statement, just staring at her in surprise. "Really? You really thought that?" he asked after a while, and she smiled. "Of course I did. There's so much you've done for me. You always stood by me, took care of me and loved me. You saved my life twice, and gave me a chance at a future with you. I always depend on you."
He didn't reply to that, only moved forward and embraced her, pulling her into his arms. Murrue smiled, resting her head on his shoulder and tangling her fingers in his long blonde hair. "I thought..." he said after a while, "that I couldn't do anything for you. I mean, I left you alone for all that time, and still..." She shook her head. "That doesn't matter. I told you...I forgave you for that a long time ago." The two of them stayed like that for several minutes, lost in the feel of each other.
That night, Mwu emerged from the bathroom, rubbing a fluffy towel over damp hair, to see her standing at the window. She was simply clad in a white nightgown, and her thin fingers were wrapped around a glass of juice.
"Whatcha looking at?" he asked, searching in the dresser for a T-shirt. Murrue didn't answer right away, and he walked up to join her after donning shorts and the found T-shirt. She smiled, pointing up at the sky. "Isn't it beautiful?"
The full moon shone a gold colour, glowing through a bank of low cloud. It lit up the whole garden, seemingly the whole world. "You're right." he replied, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "It is beautiful." The auburn-haired woman sighed, snuggling close to him. "I hope things can always be like this.." she murmured.
"As long as we want them to be, who says they can't be?" he asked, blue eyes still fixed on the night sky. "I mean, it's a pretty simple arrangement. You, me, this place, this life. Nothing too complicated."
Murrue giggled at that. "It does sound nice. But when have our lives ever been uncomplicated? We're both soldiers still...anything could happen." Mwu considered that for a moment. "True. But you know, just because we're soldiers now, doesn't mean we always have to be soldiers. Me...well, there's not much else I'm good at save being a pilot. But you...now that's different. You're an engineer, a mechanic. And judging from what I've heard, you're a real good one. So there's nothing to stop you giving up being a soldier..."
"I could..." she replied slowly. "Erica says my job at Morgenroete is still there whenever I want it..."
"You see?" he asked, moving so he was standing behind her, his arms wrapped around her slender waist. Her hair still smelled the same as it had the day they had met, the rose scent bringing back dozens of fond memories. "I know you'd be happier not being a soldier...and I'd be happier if you weren't. One of us is enough.." Murrue smiled, her eyes closed. She leaned back against him, her warmth making him smile too.
"Would you still love me if I was a civilian?" she asked, tone impish, and he laughed. "I would. 'Cause who you are would still be the same. My Murrue..." He leaned down and kissed her cheek. She raised an eyebrow at that. "I'm yours?"
"Only fair." Mwu replied cheerfully. "Seeing as I'm yours..."
Her only response was a blush, the pink stealing onto her face. But she was smiling.
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( Hurrah for random meaningless fluff!
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