( Teh AU XD. For Sis! )
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The sound of the sea was soothing, the waves crashing endlessly upon the sandy shore. People wandered here and there along the beach, some with ice-cream, some with their loved ones, some just enjoying the bright sunny day. On the wide promenade beside the sands, a little family was walking. A tall man, grinning broadly, strode along the pavement, a little boy riding on his shoulders. Beside them walked a woman, dark hair fluttering in the light breeze. She pushed a stroller carefully, smiling down at the occupant, and hummed a little tune. The man chuckled, looking up through messy blonde curls at the toddler. "You gonna share that, squirt?" The little boy giggled, kicking his legs. "Nope. 'Cause Mommy said if I did, you'd eat it all!" The man raised his eyebrows in mock outrage, turning to his wife. "Is that right? Mommy said that?" The woman pressed a hand to her mouth to try and stifle her laughter, but her attempt was unsuccessful. "Well it's true, isn't it?" she asked, amber eyes dancing with merriment.
Mwu scowled, hearing his toddler son still laughing. "C'mere!" Lifting Alex from his shoulders, he tucked the little boy under one arm and raced down the beach towards the sea. "Time for a swim!" Alex squealed in delight, wriggling to try and get free, but his father had a firm hold on him. "Let go, Daddy!" he yelled through his laughter. "Mommy said it!"
"I know," replied Mwu mildly, setting his son down on the sand and sitting down beside him. "And I'll get Mommy later.." His scarred face wore a mischievous smile, and Alex giggled, climbing onto his father's lap to snuggle close. Above the beach, still on the promenade, Murrue watched with a smile. Things were just as they should be..
A soft gurgle stirred her from her thoughts, and she gazed back into the stroller, her smile growing as she saw the wide-awake infant smiling back at her. "Hey there, sweetie. Have a nice nap?" Her baby daughter gurgled again, waving little arms, and looking around herself with big blue eyes. "He's not here, sweetie.." Murrue told her. "He's down on the beach with big brother.." She gazed back down the golden sand to where her husband sat, still with the two-year-old Alex on his lap. Mwu pointed up at the sky to the sea birds, and the little boy watched, marigold eyes rapt.
I'm glad it's worked itself out..A few nights ago, she had been reading a bedtime story to Alex, but her son hadn't seemed too interested in the tale. Finally, he had turned to her, tiny fingers clutching his comforter nervously. "Mommy?" he'd asked, dark eyes wide. "Does Daddy like little sister more than me?"
Murrue had gasped, and reached out to stroke the little boy's copper hair, book forgotten. "Oh honey, no, of course not. Daddy loves you, you know that.." Alex nodded, but still looked worried. "But he's always with little sister.." The woman had understood. Ever since baby Chloe had been born, six months before, Mwu had been besotted with her. She remembered him telling her how much he would love a daughter, and his expression as he had held that daughter in his arms had been nothing short of awestruck. Murrue knew perfectly well that he loved Alex every bit as much as Chloe, but the little boy needed reassurance. "Don't you worry about that," she had told her son. "Daddy was just the same with you when you were a baby."
"Really?" Alex had asked, sleepy now. "You promise, Mommy?" Murrue had smiled gently, still stroking his hair as he fell asleep. "I promise.."
Later, she and Mwu had been curled up together on the sofa, her head nestled on his shoulder. "Mwu?"
"Hmmm?"
"You know Alex is scared, don't you?" Mwu had blinked at that statement, looking down at her. "He is? Of what?" The dark-haired woman had smiled, closing her eyes. "He's scared that you love Chloe more than him..."
"Wha - but...why would he think that?" he'd stuttered.
"He's just a bit jealous, that's all. Think about it," Murrue had replied. "Alex is only two, and he's having to get used to sharing us with someone who naturally takes up a lot of our attention. And anyone can see how much Chloe loves you, small as she is."
That was true enough. Baby Chloe was a real daddy's girl, her blue eyes following her father everywhere he went, and she would always gurgle happily when she saw him, holding out her little arms to be picked up. But Alex...he hero-worshipped his father, listening awed to Mwu's stories about being a pilot. And the little boy...he was growing up to be more like Mwu every day, a prospect that always made Murrue smile. I wonder what it'll be like when he gets older?
"What are you dreaming about?" She looked up to see him smiling at her, blue eyes twinkling merrily, and couldn't help smiling back. The little family continued walking, Alex back riding on his father's shoulders. Chloe had fallen back asleep from the stroller's motion, wispy auburn curls falling across her face, not stirring once, not even when a group of noisy children ran past. All was peaceful, until a little voice spoke up.
"Daddy?"
Mwu peeked up at Alex with a smile. "What's up, squirt?" The toddler looked almost thoughtful, which amused his parents no end. "Who does Daddy love most in the world?"
The blonde man smiled, reaching up to lift his young son from his shoulders and carry him in his arms. "That's easy. Mommy." Alex looked up at his mother, who was blushing. "Daddy loves Mommy most?" Mwu nodded happily.
"More than me?" asked the little boy, lower lip starting to tremble. His father hugged him close. "It's not that I don't love you. But you see, if I'd never met your mommy, you and Chloe wouldn't be here right now. I love you, and I love your sister, but Mommy...Mommy's special. Okay?" Alex considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Okay.." Mwu wasn't sure how much of this the toddler understood, but Alex closed his eyes and curled up in his arms, seemingly reassured. After a few moments, he fell asleep, worn out by the excitement and actions of the day. Mwu smiled, leaning down to drop a kiss on the boy's curly hair.
Murrue regarded the two fondly, and reached out to take her husband's free hand in hers, twining their fingers together. "You're such a good daddy..." she said softly.
Mwu didn't answer that, but he did squeeze her hand, his cheeks faintly pink.
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( I just wondered...I always thought that Mwu would make a great dad..so I decided to write about it. I hope it's okay!
Please read and review! )