"So what do you want to do today?"
She thought about that, spoon paused halfway in midair between her cereal bowl and her mouth. "I don't know. I was going to dig over the garden some more..." He rolled his eyes at that, reaching out to take her free hand. "You spend half your life in that garden. How about we go for a walk instead?"
"A walk where?" she asked, finally eating the spoonful of cereal. "You have anywhere in mind?" He studied the young woman sitting across the table from him, smiling at her still-sleepy face and rumpled auburn hair. "Nowhere special." he replied, letting go of her hand. "Just out. To get some fresh air. That sound okay?" She considered this for a moment, then gave him a warm smile. "Yeah."
Which is how, later that morning, the two of them left the large red-brick house, locking the door carefully behind them, and set off down the street towards the city. Halfway down the road, however, she turned around to look back at the house, soft smile to pink lips. He grinned, wrapping an arm around her slender waist. "Whatcha lookin' at, beautiful?"
"It still feels strange.." she said quietly. "To look at that house and know that it's ours. That we live there." She looked up at him, amber eyes bright. "Don't you think so?"
"Kinda." he admitted. "But it's a nice feeling too.." Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to her pale cheek, and the couple continued on their walk. As they strolled, Mwu turned to glance at his girlfriend, a fond smile growing as he watched her. Murrue hadn't noticed his gaze, eyes focused straight ahead. Her dark hair was fluttering in the slight breeze, as was the hem of her floaty blouse. She was still smiling, her hand still clasped his tightly...and all he could do was stare. Even harder to believe than the fact that I have a house and a life like this...is the fact that I get to share it with you...
"And what are you staring at?" He blinked cobalt-blue eyes at the sound of her voice, and saw that she was watching him, a teasing twinkle in her eyes. "Uh, nothing, I mean...sorry..." Murrue giggled at how flustered he sounded. "Looked like a nice daydream..." she mused, focusing back on the street again. But she was still smiling.
The city was quiet for the time of day, only a few dozen people visible on the broad paved streets. The sun shone down brightly, causing the couple to take respite from the sub-tropical heat under a shop's awning. Mwu stretched out lazily, sighing in comfort. "Isn't this better than just spending the day in the garden?" The dark-haired woman by his side chuckled. "I guess..."
"So, anywhere you want to go? Or want to do?" he asked, leaning down and adjusting the broad-brimmed sunhat she wore. Murrue paused to think about it, then smiled. "I think that...I'd like something cool to drink." The blonde man beamed. "Sounds good to me. Soda okay?"
"Yep." she replied. "And it's your treat." Her smile became impish, playful, especially when Mwu's own smile faded. "Mine? How come?"
"Because it was your idea to come out like this." was her answer. "And it's so hot today..." She wiped the back of her hand across her forehead theatrically, and sighed loudly. Mwu shook his head, trying not to laugh. "Okay. But you have to buy the ice-creams later..."
Crossing the road, he bought two ice-cold sodas, handing one to his girlfriend. Murrue smiled sweetly, and kissed his cheek. "Thank you. Now where shall we go?" He shrugged. "Does it really matter?" He reached out to take her hand again, and the two continued walking, pointing out landmarks, window-shopping, and chatting. Mwu drained the last of his soda, and his scarred face lit up as he saw a tiny shop nestled at the corner of the street. "Hey, let's go in there!"
The shop was dark and quiet, and smelled wonderful. As the man pushed open the door, he closed his eyes and smiled. Murrue wandered in curiously behind him, peeked around...then sighed. "You can be such a child..." The glass counters of the shop were piled high with sticky treats, cakes, cookies, pastries, and various other sweet things. Mwu turned to her with a bright grin. "Which one would you like? C'mon!"
"I thought you already paid for the soda.." she pointed out, one eyebrow raised. "Shouldn't it be my treat this time? Go on, you pick one, and I'll buy it." The blonde man looked surprised for a moment, then beamed, pulling her close for a hug. Letting her go, he browsed the shelves of sweets, face lighting up as he came across a large chocolate-chip cookie, the treat freshly baked and still warm. Murrue rolled her eyes, but couldn't help smiling as she paid for the cookie.
"You aren't having anything?" he asked, mouth full, and she shook her head. "I'm okay. Not hungry." Mwu's face fell, and he gestured around himself at all the sweets. "You sure?" Murrue nodded, and made her way out of the cool shop to the sunny street.
"So, now where?" she asked, smiling up at him as they continued walking. In reply, he caught her hand and pulled her down the steps onto the promenade, and from there onto the beach. The large stretch of white sand was practically undisturbed by other footprints, and seemed to go on forever. As the couple strolled along the ocean's edge, the surf wetting their feet, Murrue looked up to the one beside her. "So, why did you want us to go for a walk today?"
Mwu gave her an innocent look. "What do you mean? It was a spur of the moment thing..." Her expression let him know that she didn't believe a word of it, and he sighed. "I didn't get away with it, huh?" Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small box, and handed it to her without a word, looking rather shy. Murrue took the small object carefully, turning it over in her hands to click open the catch. Her heart was racing. "What's this?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper. Opening the box, she gasped. Inside, resting on a velvety cushion, was a beautiful silver necklace. "What...Mwu, I..."
He looked embarrassed, but was smiling. "I just thought...well, it's been a month since the end of the war...a month since we got back together, and I..." He looked away, cheeks pink, and Murrue giggled. Moving around to face him, she stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him gently. "It's beautiful. Thank you so much..."
Mwu beamed, taking the necklace from the box to fasten it carefully around her neck. "It suits you, just like I thought it would." he said, wrapping her up in a hug. "I'm glad you like it..."
"I love it," she replied softly, closing her eyes and resting her head on his shoulder.
The two of them stood there together in the late afternoon sunlight, heedless of the ocean waves lapping at their feet, and the cry of the sea birds overhead. This moment belonged to them, and them alone.
"Shall we go home?" he asked after a while, and she nodded, opening her eyes. Pulling away from her, he reached for her hand again, but instead she grinned...and hopped onto his back. Mwu blinked. "Huh?" Murrue laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck and snuggling close. The blonde man pretended to sigh, but couldn't hold back a smile. "Okay.." He looped his arms around her slender legs, and set off running up the beach, his laughter blending with her own.
It was a strange anniversary, but somehow...it was perfect.
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( This rambled a bit, but it was partly inspired by Sky's chapter in her fic about their two-month anniversary. Only I'm too much of a chicken to write it as lime XD.
Plus I had a really cute image while I was at work of Mwu giving Murrue-san a piggyback ride, and I had to write about it...
Please read and review! )