( Okay. I know I should update 'Winter Holiday', but I can think of at least one person coughsirishdragoncoughs who would rather like to read about a night mentioned in that fic - Murrue-san's 31st birthday XD. Hope you like! )

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Are you sure you've got everything?" The blonde man gazed up at his wife from his vantage point on the sofa. Murrue nodded happily, looking down at herself. She wore a red top and black skirt, combined with black heels, and her hair was slightly curled. She wore no jewellery, save for the golden wedding and engagement rings on her left hand. Glancing back up at Mwu, she smiled. "Do I look all right?" The man had to chuckle. All right? She looks incredible..."You look beautiful, sweetheart," he told her, grinning at her sudden blush. Turning to his left, he addressed the person on the sofa beside him. "Whatcha think, Rin? Does Mommy look pretty?"

Their fifteen-month-old daughter gurgled happily, clapping her hands. "See?" asked Mwu. Murrue bent down and lifted little Rin into her arms, kissing the baby's cheek lovingly."Thank you, sweetie!" Rin giggled in delight, little hands reaching up to tangle in her mother's thick dark hair. Leaning back against the sofa, Mwu watched his wife and daughter, scarred face wearing a tender expression. So much had changed in just two years. From having almost no life at all...being a puppet, almost - to this, being able to be reunited with the one person in the world who loved him, and build a life with her. Their house was small, their life simple, but they were happy together...the two of them and their infant daughter.

Shifting baby Rin to her other arm, Murrue picked up her little bag from the coffee table, and bent down to kiss her husband gently. "I won't be that late, I promise. I'm not going out to get drunk, just to have a good time. Besides," her smile grew impish, amber eyes sparkling, "if I really wanted to drink, no-one else would be able to keep up with me..." Mwu laughed at that, running his fingers along the soft skin of her cheek. "I'm sure they wouldn't. But try not to be too late, okay? I have your present waiting..." The young woman blushed a faint rose pink, and scuttled out of the living room, stopping to pick up Rin's overnight bag from the kitchen. The little girl was staying the night with Lacus and Kira, in the rebuilt wooden beach house. The toddler looked faintly bemused as her mother left the house, only stopping to blow a kiss to her husband. "Mommy?" she asked softly as Murrue carefully strapped her into the child seat. Her wide blue eyes moved to gaze out of the window at the tiny one-story house. "Stay with Daddy?" she said, looking up at her mother. Murrue smiled gently, nuzzling the little girl's cheek. "We'll be home soon.." Rin nodded, but her eyes filled with tears, and her lips began to tremble.

You love Mwu almost as much as I do, don't you, sweetheart? thought Murrue as the small red car drove away down the quiet streets. Rin was fast asleep in the booster seat, the trails of tears clear to see on her chubby face. She never stirred once, not even when her mother reached out to brush away an auburn curl from her face. She felt bad for making the little girl cry, knowing how much she loved her father, but Mwu had asked her to do this, to let her stay the night with Lacus-san. Idly, Murrue wondered why, but then decided that she didn't want to know, the same reason she hadn't wanted to know about her present. It's much more fun not knowing what to expect, after all... she thought, a delicious shiver of excitement running through her.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He had been sitting on the sofa, drink on the coffee table, when she walked in. Or, more accurately, tottered in. Her beautiful face was slightly flushed, and she was rather giggly. Setting her bag down, she wandered carefully over to where he sat, and settled herself on his lap, cuddling close. Mwu grinned, kissing her cheek. "Did you have a good time?" he asked, and she nodded happily, resting her head on his shoulder. "I got lots of presents," she replied, holding out her slim wrist to show him the silver bracelet that gleamed there. "Do you like it?" Examining it, he nodded. "That's pretty. Do you want to see my present?"

Murrue smiled, and let him lead her into their room. There, on the patchwork comforter, was a box. The young woman made her way a little unsteadily over to the bed, and her husband couldn't help laughing. "How much did you have to drink, anyway?" That question made her pause, and she appeared to think for a while. Then she smiled. "I don't remember." she admitted. "But I think it was a lot." Opening the box, she gasped in amazement at what lay inside. Carefully, she lifted out the silky garment, shaking it so it unfolded to shimmer in her grasp. "Oh Mwu...it's beautiful..." It was a nightdress, the hems and shoulder straps trimmed with delicate lace. Mwu smiled at her delight, wrapping arms around her waist. "You like it, huh?" She nodded, turning around in his embrace to kiss him gently. "Shall I try it on?"

At his nod, she gently pushed him out of the room, closing the door behind him. Her heart was racing as she donned the garment, the thin silk feeling like a second skin. He ...bought me this? When did he have time? And it must have cost so much... Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped out of the room, twirling around. "Do you...like it?" she asked, suddenly shy.

Mwu stared. He couldn't help it. The nightdress clung to her curves perfectly, the pale pink of the silk echoing the rose in her cheeks. She looked..."Wow..." he managed to stutter, voice hoarse. "You look...amazing.." Murrue blushed, peeking up at him through her eyelashes. "Really?" she asked in a small voice. The unexpected shyness, combined with the way the dress showed off the outline of her body, made her look so damn...hot, that Mwu could barely form a coherent sentence. Instead, he simply moved forward and lifted her up in his arms, and carried her into their bedroom, kicking the door shut behind them.

Initially surprised, Murrue's bewilderment quickly gave way to amused understanding as he gently laid her on the bed. "Oh, I see," she mused, smile impish. She reached up to brush away a lock of his blonde hair, fingertips softly skimming along his scarred face. He closed his eyes at her touch, which made her giggle. "You think this dress looks that good on me, hmmm?" she asked, her voice a seductive purr. Mwu's response was to lean down and kiss her passionately, hands moving slowly down her sides. She moaned softly into the kiss as his hand met the bare skin of her leg, and opened her eyes when the kiss broke. "Are you taking advantage of someone who's drunk?" she asked, sliding her hands under his t-shirt to caress his chest. "Shame on you..." His answer was to smile, leaning down to kiss her neck and bare shoulder. "But you're not really drunk, are you?" he murmured between kisses, the heat from his breath making her shiver in desire. "Just kinda tipsy. But if you want me to take advantage of you...well, that's another matter..."

Murrue smiled, closing her eyes as his hand trailed down over her chest and stomach, the soft touch easy to feel under the thin fabric of the nightdress. "So you're planning to seduce me?" she asked, voice a breathless whisper. Mwu simply grinned, moving his hand lower, and chuckled at her sudden gasp, and how her amber eyes shot wide open. "I think I already have, don't you?"

She didn't answer, just moaned quietly, her breathing heavy. Her eyes were still open, but glazed over with desire, and one small hand was curled tightly around the bedcovers, quivering a little at his gentle caresses. "Besides," the blonde man continued, "if I can't seduce you on your birthday, then when can I?" His wife's reply was to cry out softly, arching her back, then she collapsed back onto the bed, gasping for breath. Opening her eyes again, she curled an arm around his neck and brought him closer, a smile curving her lips at his own obvious desire. "So.." she murmured, still trembling slightly, "what else did you have in mind?"

Mwu pretended to think, then grinned, pulling off his t-shirt. "More seduction?"

Murrue grinned back, pulling him on top of her. "Yes please..." She closed her eyes in bliss as he pressed himself to her, and reached behind her to flick off the light.

Nine months later, Amber was born - a lasting reminder of the best birthday present her mother had ever recieved...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

( blushes, and scuttles to hide in a corner Sis wanted this! Blame her! blushes more

Please read and review! )