Things were comfortable.

They had been living together for a couple of months now, and they were happy. Everything had settled down quickly, and the couple were used to life this way now. Waking up together, going to work, eating dinner, snuggling together to watch TV, going to bed. Things were comfortable, ordered.

Routine.

She sighed, leaning back against the sofa. This wasn't exactly the way she had imagined it all being. Before, she and Mwu had only been able to spend nights together, but it had been wonderful. She had assumed that once they moved in together, it would be the same. But although their lives were happy, secure...something was missing. The spark that had existed between them - had it faded? Lying back on the plush couch, she covered her face with a hand. She did love him, more than anyone or anything, and she wouldn't give him up for the world...but something was still missing.

How would I know...if everything was still the same between us?

One way to find out. Removing the hand from her face, she glanced across at the clock on the windowsill. He wouldn't be home for an hour...more than enough time to prepare. Sighing, she climbed from the sofa, wandering into the bathroom and setting the shower running.

He opened the front door to find the place in darkness. That made him frown in confusion. He knew that she'd finished around two hours ago, and usually he would find his girlfriend in the well-lit kitchen, dinner cooking on the stove. The fact that today was different made him worried, as well as feel guilty. He still couldn't cook very well, having instead to rely on her for all that, and he was painfully aware of how tired her job made her sometimes. How can I make it up to her?

Climbing the stairs, he saw that the bedroom light was on, which made him smile in relief. So..she was okay. Setting down his bag at the doorway, he peeked inside. "Hey, sweetheart..." and that was as far as he got. His blue eyes widened at the sight of her sitting on the sofa. Her dark hair was shiny, curling over her slender shoulders, her cheeks were a pale rose pink, matching the silky nightdress she wore. All he could do was stare at the vision before him. "M-Murrue.."

She smiled at him gently, the expression making her so beautiful, it took his breath away. "Hi.." she murmured, looking away at his entranced gaze. Mwu shook his head, crossing to the sofa and sitting down beside her. "What's this for?" he asked, his hand reaching up to tangle in her silky hair. She didn't reply, but her blush deepened a little. He smiled, leaning to kiss her cheek. "You look amazing.." he told her, pulling her into his arms. Murrue leaned back into his embrace, sighing happily as his lips brushed her hair. Her heart was racing, his touch sending shivers throughout her body. So that spark...it is still here...

"I've never seen that dress before.." he whispered, nuzzling his face into her hair. "It really suits you.." She tilted her head to the side, smiling gently. She had bought the nightdress a few weeks ago, the result of a dare from Erica, but hadn't managed to work up the courage to wear it, finding the satiny garment a little...abbreviated. "I'm glad you like it..." she said. "Would you...like me to wear it more often?"

Mwu gazed down at the woman in his arms. Her dark eyes were closed, and her pale face wore a serene smile. "I'd like that very much.." he replied, letting her rest again his shoulder. His fingers drifted lazily across the silk outfit, moving down to the bare skin of her legs. Murrue gasped slightly at his touch, her eyes not opening, but her flush deepened again. She moved closer to him, making a happy sound...and he finally understood. Understood her reasons for doing this.

Our lives are happy...but each day is the same. This is...she wants to... This was her way of breaking the routine, of making today just a little bit different than the day before.

"Murrue?" he asked, drawing a mumble from the young woman. "You hungry?" She opened an eye at that, smiling. "Kinda.." Mwu reached across to the coffee table for the cordless phone, punching in a well-remembered number.

Later, the two sat curled up together on the sofa, happily eating large slices of cheesy pizza. Murrue's pale face wore a blissful smile, and Mwu leaned down to kiss her gently. "I'm sorry, sweetheart.."

"For what?" she asked, leaning her head on his shoulder. He wrapped a strong arm around her shoulder. "For taking advantage of things. I've gotten so used to things being the way they are...and you never complain. How do you put up with me?" She giggled. "Sometimes I wonder that myself..." was her soft reply. The man blinked at the unexpected answer, causing Murrue's giggles to increase. He watched the young woman laugh, a smile coming to his own lips at her happiness. It had been - how long had it been? - since he'd heard her laugh like that, and he loved to hear the soft, musical giggle. But still...she was teasing him...

Quickly grabbing a throw pillow from the sofa beside him, he swung it straight at his girlfriend, the plush fabric catching her right across the face. Murrue gasped, her face bright red from the unexpected blow, and her dark hair was all over the place. The effect was so comical, Mwu couldn't help laughing. "I...you..." he stuttered through gales of laughter. She regarded him for a second, expression absolutely neutral.

He never saw it coming.

Her return shot with another throw pillow almost knocked him clean off the sofa. Brushing aside the long blonde hair that was stuck to his cheek, he stared at her in amazement. "Huh?" Murrue's face wore a wicked grin, and she brandished the pillow threateningly. Mwu tried to swing back at her, but she was too fast. Expertly dodging his clumsy attempt at payback, she hit him again, this time giggling. The scarred man, realising that he'd bitten off a little more than he could chew, jumped up off the sofa and charged up the wooden steps towards the bed, the young woman chasing him. The two of them were laughing breathlessly, bright, childish grins on both their faces, and Mwu grabbed one of the larger pillows from their bed, this time managing to catch Murrue around the head and almost knock her off her feet. She stumbled a little, and he frowned, worried that he'd hurt her. "Are you okay?"

She didn't respond for a moment, and Mwu climbed onto the bed, moving across to where she stood. "Murrue?"

Suddenly, so quickly he never had time to react, Murrue jumped onto the bed, knocking him flat to the covers. She was laughing again, amber eyes bright, and leaned down to kiss him. Mwu responded eagerly to her kiss, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. But, disappointingly, she pulled away. He grumbled at that, a soft whine coming from him as he tried to tug her back down again. Murrue smiled at the childish pout on his scarred face, and leaned down again. But instead of kissing him...she began to tickle his sides. He yelled, squirming around, breathless with laughter. "Stop it! C'mon, stop it!" Managing to wriggle free of the torment, he caught the woman by the waist and pulled her down onto the bed, this time, she the one to laugh.

She looked up at him, cheeks pink, and reached to wind her fingers in his hair, pulling him down for another kiss. He smiled into the embrace, hands moving down to caress her skin through the thin silk of her nightdress. Murrue gasped, closing her eyes as his lips tickled her neck and bare shoulder. Mwu grinned. "This is what you wanted, isn't it?" he asked, his kisses moving lower.

She nodded breathlessly, crying out softly as he moved against her.

"Are things better now?" he asked, looking down at the woman nestled in his arms. She nodded, snuggling against him. "I just..." she murmured. "I just didn't want what we had before..to fade away. That spark.." Mwu smiled, placing a tender kiss on her forehead. "I don't think there's much to worry about," he said reassuringly. He sat up a little, leaning against the wall, and after a while, Murrue joined him, the bedsheet wrapped around her slender body.

"I think that we'll always feel this way about each other," he said, pulling her closer until she was sitting on his lap. She smiled at that, her gaze moving to the open window, where the pale moonlight lit up the darkened room. "Why did you think those feelings might disappear? I can't imagine not feeling the way I do about you...can't imagine not loving you..."

She shook her head. "It's not that.." she said quietly. "I was never afraid that you didn't love me. I knew we'd be together, but..." She sighed. "It's all so...comfortable now. Like we've been this way forever. It's a very nice feeling, but I wondered if...the spark had gone. That things wouldn't ever be the same as they used to be when we were together on Archangel..."

"Ohhh.." said Mwu, a smirk coming to his lips as he understood her meaning. "You mean that kind of together, huh?" Murrue flushed scarlet, and he laughed gently. "Don't you worry.." Slowly, he began to untangle the bedsheet from around her, pressing kisses to her smooth skin. Her blush deepened, and she closed her eyes with a smile.

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( This really does waffle, ne? I hope it makes sense...

Please read and review! )