The room was dim, the only light emitting from a small lamp on the dressing table. At this dresser, a dark-haired woman sat, carefully applying make-up to her already flawless face. Her hair was braided and piled up atop her head, and she was clad in a long, simple ivory dress. So focused was she on her task, that when she felt a light tug at her dress, she jumped, startled, and looked around. Then down...and smiled.
Gazing back impassively at her was a little girl dressed in pink pyjamas, her blue eyes wide. Without a word, the child held out her arms. The woman's smile broadened, and she lifted the girl to sit on her lap. "You sleepy, sweetie?" she asked, brushing curly auburn hair from the little face. The girl shook her head, and nuzzled closer, reaching out to wrap tiny fingers around the golden heart-shaped locket her mother wore. The woman smiled, gazing into the mirror to apply the last of her make-up.
"So, what do you think? Does Mama look pretty?" she asked her daughter, and the little girl nodded, a smile on her cherubic face. "Mama's pretty.." she replied.
Murrue grinned, leaning down to kiss the toddler, and tickle her sides. Stellar squealed and giggled, wriggling to try and escape. Finally, her mother stopped the tickling, leaving the little girl breathless and red-cheeked. She cuddled up to Murrue, resting her curly head on the woman's shoulder. Murrue began to rock Stellar back and forth, humming gently.
"Will Papa think I look pretty?" she asked after a moment, and her daughter nodded sleepily, thumb firmly in mouth. The young woman smiled, bringing the tiny girl closer and closing her eyes.
"I always think you look pretty..." came a deep voice from the doorway. Murrue looked up at her husband, slight pink to her cheeks. "Are you ready to go?" she asked, carefully getting to her feet so as not to disturb the drowsy child in her arms. Mwu nodded, leaning down to brush hair aside from his daughter's flushed face. "The munchkin's sleepy early, huh? One of Mama's lullabies, I'll bet.." Stellar opened her eyes at the sound of her father's voice, and smiled, holding out her arms.
"You woke her up," Murrue accused, handing the little girl to the blonde man. Mwu just grinned. "It's okay. The sitter's here, anyhow, so at least the munchkin gets a kiss goodnight.." He chuckled softly as Stellar reached out to catch hold of his long hair. "Hey, c'mon, you'll mess me up.." He brushed down the front of his white shirt, and ruffled the toddler's hair. "You gonna be a good girl?"
Stellar nodded, but her happy smile faded somewhat as her parents walked downstairs. In the living room, the sitter waited, a young woman from across the street. Mwu set the child down, and knelt to give her a hug and goodnight kiss. "See ya, sweetie.." As Murrue followed suit, the little girl clung tightly to her mother and refused to let go. "Want to come too!" she whimpered, nuzzling her face into the woman's neck. "Stellar comes too!"
"But honey...we won't be back until really late.." Murrue said softly, stroking her daughter's hair. "And there won't be anyone there to play with.." But Stellar still wouldn't let go. "Please, Mama!" she wailed, tears filling her eyes.
Murrue sighed, looking to her husband for guidance. Mwu frowned slightly, then his scarred face brightened. "Why not?" Both his wife and daughter stared at him at that, identical expressions of surprise on their faces. "But Mwu..." Murrue protested, and he smiled. "It'll be fine. The kid and the princess won't mind...in fact, I'd bet they'd love to have her there." The dark-haired woman considered this for a moment, trying not to notice the hopeful look on her little girl's face. Finally, she sighed again. "All right.." Reaching for a fluffy blanket from the back of the sofa, she wrapped the child up, lifting her into her arms. Stellar beamed, delighted.
The place they were headed to was Government House. One of the grand staterooms had been set aside for a very special party - to celebrate the engagement of Kira and Lacus. Cagalli had been so pleased that her twin brother had finally worked up the courage to propose, that she had gladly offered a venue for the party. Everyone was there, friends and family. Some of Lacus' relations had even ventured down from PLANT, causing Kira to become rather nervous. The event was in full swing when Mwu and Murrue entered the room, the scarred man carrying their toddler daughter in one arm. Stellar stared all around at the large room, with the shiny floor and the people dressed in their best. Lacus noticed the little family arrive, and ran up to greet them. "I'm so glad you could make it!"
Murrue smiled, then gestured to her little girl. "You don't mind? That we brought her?" The pink-haired girl laughed gently, reaching out to tickle Stellar's cheek. "Not at all."
The three of them found a table, Mwu going to fetch drinks. Murrue settled herself into a chair, her daughter on her lap. Stellar watched wide-eyed at the dancing couples, at the shining lights and beautiful outfits. "What they doing, Mama?" she asked, trying to get a better view. Her mother smiled. "They're dancing..."
The toddler turned to look at her. "Stellar dances too?" Her wide blue eyes shone with happiness, making her look so like her father that Murrue couldn't help giggling. "Sure. Come on!" Picking up the little girl, she walked onto the dance floor, beginning to spin around in time to the soft music. Stellar laughed happily, waving her arms in the air. Other dancers stopped to watch, smiling at the pretty sight of the woman and child.
"Scuse me. Mind if I butt in?"
Murrue gave a coy smile at the familiar voice. "Oh? Are you asking for a dance?" She turned to gaze at her husband, looking up at him through her eyelashes. Mwu nodded, holding his hand out. But before his wife could react, little Stellar held her arms out to her father.
"Huh?" he asked, one eyebrow raised. "I didn't know that it was ladies' choice already..." With an apologetic smile to Murrue, Mwu lifted his daughter into his embrace. The young woman pouted, pretending to be jealous, and stalked off to sit down. Picking up her glass, she swirled the clear liquid inside idly, a smile quirking her lips as she watched Mwu spinning Stellar around on the dancefloor.
"Murrue-san?" The soft voice belonged to Lacus, who sat down beside her. "Are you enjoying the party?" Murrue nodded, sipping her drink. "Very much. Thanks for inviting us." She looked to her family again. "Are you sure us bringing her was okay?"
"Of course." replied the young girl. She followed Murrue's gaze to the two on the dancefloor. "He's so good with her, isn't he? The way he is with her...he seems so much gentler. I wonder...if Kira could be like that one day?"
Murrue smiled fondly. "When we got together for real..after the war, I thought that Mwu would make a good father...and he's a wonderful one. I'm sure Kira-kun will be too."
After a few moments, Mwu came back to the small table, Stellar fast asleep in his arms. "Guess I was a boring dance partner.." he remarked mildly, glancing down at the little girl. Lacus giggled. "Here, I'll take her," she said softly, reaching out to take the sleeping toddler from Mwu. "You two go and dance."
"Really?" Murrue asked, surprised. "But it's your party..." The pink-haired girl shook her head. "It's okay. Kira's busy trying to avoid Cagalli-san, and the longer I stay off the dance floor, the easier it is to avoid my relatives. Go on, have fun.."
Mwu hesitated for a second, then grinned, holding out his hand to his wife. Murrue took it, letting him pull her up out of her chair and onto the marble dancefloor.
"You look beautiful tonight.." he told her gently as they danced, so close together their foreheads touched. Her hands held his shoulders tightly, and his arms were wrapped firmly around her waist. Murrue blushed, which made him chuckle. "How come I can still make you blush after all this time?"
"Anyone would..at being called beautiful.." she murmured in reply. He shook his head, kissing the tip of her nose. "But I always call you beautiful..."
Murrue smiled, her cheeks still pink, and leaned her head on his shoulder. He closed his eyes, letting her scent surround him, and they danced in silence for a little while, hearing nothing but the music, and the beating of their own hearts. The two of them didn't get much chance to dance together, and both loved it, the feeling of getting carried away by music and emotion, able to tune out everything else in the world except for the one they loved.
And Lacus smiled as she watched them, the sleeping Stellar resting in her lap. This was one of the reasons she had invited her friends to this party..because she loved seeing the two of them together - they were so right for each other.
Please... she prayed, please let myself and the one I love be as happy together as those two are...
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