"Is that the last of them?"
She nodded, heaving the packed bag into the trunk of the little red car. Finishing her task, she turned and took one last look at the wooden mountain cabin that had served as home for the last week. The small house rested in a clearing of pine trees, peaceful and quiet, and she smiled.
"So, was this a good holiday, or what?" The familiar deep voice tickled her ear, and warm arms wound around her waist. She nodded, leaning back into the embrace and closing her eyes. "Of course it was." she replied. She stretched out her right arm to regard the silver bracelet she had recieved as an anniversary gift. "How could it not be?" Mwu chuckled, planting a soft kiss on her cheek. "I'm glad." he said. "It's kind of a shame we have to go home, huh?"
Murrue nodded. "Can we come here again next year?" she asked, turning around in his arms. "Just the two of us again?" He grinned, kissing her lightly. "Sure we can. Next anniversary. Or, next time, we could just come for a holiday. and bring the munchkin. It's be easy to set up a camp bed in the front room, huh?"
She smiled. "That sounds like fun. I was worried that there wouldn't be much here she'd be interested in, but looking around, I think that she'd love it here...it's so different from what she's used to." The couple turned from the view of the tiny cabin, and climbed into their car for the trip home. Murrue sighed as they began to drive away, comparing the peaceful serenity of this place to the noise and bustle of the city where they lived. Her husband reached out to ruffle her dark hair. "Cheer up! I know, I don't really want to leave either, but we can come here again next year, okay?"
She nodded quietly, settling back into her seat for the long drive home. This holiday had been wonderful, short as it was. She and Mwu had spent almost every waking moment outdoors, exploring the woods around the cabin. They had found a lake to paddle in, and Mwu had even swum in it, despite the water being ice-cold. Due to this outdoor existence, the two of them had become more than slightly tanned, a healthy glow to even her pale skin. But she knew, even though she had loved it, that they couldn't have stayed there forever. Work and home were waiting..as was a tiny four-year-old girl.
"You think she's been okay?" she asked, drowsy due to the long drive. Mwu laughed, shaking his head to clear his vision of the long blonde hair that had fallen into his eyes. "Okay? She'll have had the time of her life. Most likely been out on the beach all the time with the other kids.." Murrue giggled. "Probably. She did sound like she was having fun when we called...although she reminded me that we promised to take her out for ice-cream when we got back.."
"That's my girl." was all Mwu said, smiling. His wife rolled her eyes. "You two are far too much alike. It makes me nervous.."
"But you know..." she continued, gazing out of the window at the countryside flying past, "I'm glad that she was able to spend this time with the other children. Lacus-san and Kira-kun are so kind to take care of her so often. Stellar's much less shy than she used to be thanks to them. I just wish we had been able to help her so much.."
"We do," replied the blonde man. "Just in a different way. People are drawn to her 'cause she's so cute and kind, like her mom." Murrue flushed, but smiled. "And because she can be a real clown, like her dad?" she asked innocently, giggling at his mock-outraged expression. "But I guess you're right. And she starts school next year, so it'll be okay.."
As the little car pulled up on the dirt track outside the wooden beach house, the couple were struck by how quiet it seemed. Usually there were at least a few of the orphan children in sight...but today there was nothing.
"Did they forget we were coming?" Mwu wondered aloud, stretching out after the long trip. Murrue frowned, shaking her head. "They shouldn't have. I called Lacus-san this morning to remind her that we'd be here sometime today.."
"Did you have a nice holiday?" The soft voice startled the pair, and they spun around to see Lacus Clyne smiling gently at them. "Sorry.." she said apologetically. "There's only me here right now. Stellar-chan is out with Kira and the others...they should be back in a little while."
Presently, Murrue sat on the porch of the house, sipping cool juice. Mwu was out on the beach, bare feet being cooled by the breaking waves, looking out at the horizon.
"So," came a soft voice beside Murrue as Lacus sat down, "how was your trip? Was it romantic?" The older woman blushed, but said nothing, which made Lacus giggle. "That's a pretty bracelet..was that a present?" she asked, taking a closer look at the delicate silver links. "Fllaga-san really spoils you, doesn't he?" The young girl's smile was mischievous, and again, Murrue said nothing. But she did smile.
After a little while, a group of young children appeared from around a corner created by the towering cliffs, each of them carrying a small bag. They were all chattering animatedly, including one little girl with auburn braids. She was right in the middle of the crowd, laughing and talking with everyone, a sight which made this little girl's mother smile. As the crowd neared the house, the little girl noticed the dark haired woman sitting on the porch, and her blue eyes widened. "Mama!" Dropping her bag of pebbles and seashells, Stellar broke away from the others and ran towards her mother.
Murrue smiled as her daughter jumped onto the porch and scrambled into her lap, wrapping little arms around her. "Hi there, sweetie.." she said gently, hugging the child back. "Did you have a good time? You were good for Auntie Lacus and Uncle Kira?" Stellar nodded firmly. "Yep! Did you and Papa have fun too?"
"We sure did," Murrue replied. "And you know, next time we go, you can come too.." The little girl beamed in delight at that, hugging her mother even tighter. "Really? Yay! 'Cause you know..." she said, her expression saddening a fraction, "even though I had fun, I missed you and Papa lots.."
"That right?" remarked Mwu, walking over and sitting beside Murrue on the porch. "Even though you spent all day on the beach?" He reached out to tickle his daughter's feet, making the little girl wriggle and squeal. She climbed from her mother's lap onto her father's cuddling close to him. "Papa..." she murmured, "can we all go for ice-cream now? 'Cause..you promised.."
Mwu blinked, looking to his wife, who smiled, shrugging. "Uh, sure, I guess..." he said. "You already ate lunch, huh?" Stellar nodded. "Uncle Kira's mama made stew for everyone.." she said happily. "Pleeeease, Papa?" The blonde man's shoulders slumped, causing Murrue to giggle. He never could resist it when the little girl asked like that...
Which was how they all ended up at an ice-cream parlour in the city, Mwu and Murrue sharing a vanilla and chocolate sundae, while the four-year-old Stellar dug into a large bowl of strawberry ice-cream. "Next time you go, you'll really take me with you?" she asked, voice muffled by the frozen treat. Managing to swallow, she looked up at her parents. "Promise?"
"Promise," replied her mother, poking Mwu in the ribs. "But if he doesn't stop hogging all the ice-cream, it'll be just you and me going," she said mildly, ignoring Mwu's stricken expression. "But I thought..." he whined, as Murrue pulled the sundae glass back towards the middle of the table. "Yes, I know what you 'thought'." she told him, scooping a large spoonful of the treat. "But you never asked."
Stellar giggled as her mother ate the treat happily. Her father, realising that he wasn't going to get any more of this sundae, slumped in his chair, sulking mightily. "You should have shared, Papa," said the little girl wisely. The man sighed. "I should have remembered that your mama developed quite a taste for ice-cream before you were born. That's probably why you like it so much.."
"Really?" Stellar asked, eyes wide. "I like ice-cream 'cause Mama does?"
Mwu nodded, sunny nature restored, and wrapped his arms around Murrue's waist. "Funny thing is, that before, Mama didn't like it so much. But now she does.." he said, managing to steal a kiss from his wife. "And she says it's my fault.."
Murrue flushed, finishing the last spoonful of the sundae. "It is..." she replied. "I never used to like sweet things that much...but now I do. It's because she's so much like you. She made me like sweets and ice-cream, and..."
Mwu raised an eyebrow. "But no-one made you eat sweet things after Stellar was born. That's just an excuse." Stellar giggled at her mother's embarrassment. "Is that why you buy so many cookies, Mama?"
"Well," Mwu replied, "she buys them mostly for me. But she eats a lot of them herself..." At his wicked grin, Murrue huddled into herself, cheeks bright red. "Quit picking on me..." she mumbled. Her husband laughed, hugging her tightly. "Sorry, sweetheart."
"It's still your fault.." she said, hiding her face in his neck.
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( This is a sequel to my older story 'Onsen', ot 'Hot tub', where Mwu and Murrue-san went on a holiday to a mountain cabin for their fifth anniversary. I remembered that they promised to take Stellar for ice-cream when they got home...so that's where this came from. :grins: Sorry for picking on poor Murrue-san...
Please read and review! )