( This is a request from Sky :smiles: I asked her if there was anything she wanted me to write about, and this was her suggestion. Hope this is okay, Sky! )

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The sun shone brightly from a cloudless sky, the light sparkling from the wide expanse of ocean. The waves crashed upon the fine white sand of the beach in a gentle, neverending dance, wetting the feet of the two women who walked along the shore. One of them, a tall, slender brunette, held the hand of a little girl, who skipped happily along, peeking at colourful pebbles and seashells exposed by the sea's waves. "So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" She glanced to the younger woman by her side, who's pale, pretty face wore an expression of worry. "You sounded scared when you called earlier.." The young woman sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "It's...hard to find the right words.." she replied, her soft voice barely audible. Shaking her head, she moved further up the beach to sit down on the sand, blue eyes focused on the endless horizon.

Murrue frowned, walking to sit beside her friend, and placing her hand on her shoulder. "What is it?" Earlier that day, Lacus had called, sounding incredibly scared, and she had driven straight over. Lacus wouldn't talk in front of Kira or Mwu for some reason, preferring to sit outside and stare out to sea. Murrue had managed to persuade a very confused Kira to take Mwu and some of the orphans to the dock and teach the blonde pilot how to fish. Of course, Mwu had no idea how to fish, and he had been clearly confused at her suggestion. But after one raised eyebrow from his wife, he had gone along with it, wandering off down to the dock with a homemade bamboo fishing pole, and an adorably bewildered expression on his scarred face.

Lacus took a deep breath, pushing candyfloss-pink hair back over her shoulder. "It's been nearly two years now..since Kira and I got married.." she said softly, smiling a little at the memory. Murrue nodded. She remembered the tiny wedding ceremony for her two young friends, which, like her own, had been held at Malchio-sama's chapel. Cagalli had been obviously irritated at the simplicity of her brother's wedding, but Kira and Lacus had been adamant that this was what they wanted. Murrue's own daughter Stellar had been one of the bridesmaids. "Well..." Lacus murmured, gazing at Stellar with a gentle smile, "now...something has happened. And...and I don't..." Her voice trailed off, and she breathed in again. Murrue frowned, not understanding for a moment. "You don't what?"

Then it hit her.

"You're..." she breathed, amber eyes widening. Lacus smiled a little, nodding. Leaning back, she gazed up at the sky. "I'm not sure how far along," she admitted. "I haven't been able to get to the doctor's yet. But I'm not worried about that. It's...I don't know what Kira will say. We...we've never discussed anything like this.." She glanced back at Murrue, noting that the woman was smiling. "I need some advice.."

"I can understand why you'd be scared," Murrue replied softly, looking to where the five-year-old Stellar was making patterns in the sand with seashells she had found. "It's a big responsibility...becoming parents. Mwu and I never got around to discussing it either, just assumed that we'd talk about it one day...when we were used to being married. But things just...happened." A faint smile crossed her face at the memories. "And what we have now, with each other and Stellar...I wouldn't swap any of it for the world..." She turned back to Lacus. "Tell me something. What is it that you want?"

The young woman looked surprised for a moment, then smiled, rubbing her stomach gently. "I've wanted to be a mother for a very long time.." she murmured. "I just wonder if I'll be a good one.."

Murrue was about to answer, before she was interrupted by little Stellar, who had climbed onto her lap. "What's the matter, Auntie Lacus?" she asked, noting how her adopted 'aunt''s hand was resting on her stomach. "Don't you feel very well?" Lacus smiled, reaching out to ruffle the little girl's auburn hair. "I'm just fine.." Murrue nodded, placing an arm around her young daughter's shoulders. "Auntie Lacus just found out she's going to be a mama, that's all." Stellar frowned, bewildered. "But I thought you already were a mama? The boys and girls who live here all say that you and Uncle Kira are their mama and papa..." At the child's words, Lacus flushed bright pink, and Murrue laughed softly. "You see? You have nothing to worry about. If there was anyone who would make a perfect mother, it would be you..."

After their talk, the two women went back to the small wooden house, Lacus making drinks for herself and her friend. Settling on the threadbare, patched sofa, Lacus looked over to Murrue, who was watching Stellar play on the porch. "Murrue-san? Have you and Fllaga-san ever thought about giving Stellar-chan a little brother or sister?" The dark-haired woman blinked, the question not registering for a moment. Then...she flushed a vivid scarlet. "W-what?"

"Well," Lacus said calmly, sipping her tea, "Stellar-chan is five now. And seeing the way she is with the orphans...I think she'd love a sibling..." She smiled at the flustered look on her friend's face. "There's nothing to worry about, is there? You and Fllaga-san are wonderful parents to Stellar-chan...don't tell me you wouldn't want another baby.."

"I would," Murrue admitted, still pink-cheeked. "Very much. But..." she sighed, toying with the china cup she held. "I don't know whether I should talk with Mwu about it, or wait and see what happens.." Glancing back out at her daughter, she couldn't hold back a smile, knowing how happy Stellar would be if she was told she would have a baby brother or sister. She'd love it. And...and I want to be a mom again... Lacus giggled at the dreamy expression on her older friend's face. "I think you should talk to Fllaga-san.."

A few hours later, the two friends had migrated to the porch to watch Stellar, Murrue having been persuaded to discuss certain 'issues' with her husband, and Lacus persuaded to tell her own husband that he was going to be a father. "If you want, tomorrow I'll drive down and take the two of you to the doctor's to get you checked over. There shouldn't be a problem, but you should at least let them take a look..." Lacus nodded, stretching out. "I will. Thank you. Oh.." Her face fell for a second. "I have to tell Cagalli-san she's going to be an aunt. Telling Kira will be a breeze compared to that..." Murrue burst into a fit of giggles, imagining the feisty Representative's expression.

"Hey, ladies!" The familiar voice caused both women to glance up and smile. Mwu was striding across the sand, broad grin on his face. He was soaked to the skin, dirty-blonde hair plastered to his head...but he looked delighted. Kira and the orphans walked a little way behind, the younger man smiling at his friend's happiness. Murrue giggled. "What happened to you?"

"I fell in," he announced proudly. "But..." He held up something he'd been hiding behind his back. "Look." In his hands...was a fish. A rather large fish, to be exact. Stellar, who had run over to her father the moment she'd seen him, giggled. "A fishie? Did you catch him, Papa?" Mwu nodded happily, running up to display his prize to his wife. "Dinner?" And Murrue couldn't help laughing.

When Mwu's fish was safely in an ice box to preserve it, he and Kira sat on the porch of the house with their wives, all of them laughing and joking. Murrue, curled up with Mwu's arms wrapped firmly around her waist, smiled at her younger friends. "Lacus...don't you have something you want to say?" Her younger friend blushed, but nodded, gazing at her lap. "K-Kira...I...we..." Takng a deep breath, she closed her eyes, trying to get the words out. "Kira..I'm going to have a baby."

Kira froze, violet eyes fixed on his young wife. "You...you're..." he managed to gasp, and Lacus nodded, glancing at her lap. Murrue smiled gently, glancing up and behind her at Mwu. His blue eyes twinkled with merriment, a smile quirking his lips. "Now you're gonna know what it feels like to be a dad, kid..." Kira blinked once, then twice, then managed to get the words out. "Lacus...I..." Then he just hugged the young woman close, kissing her cheek. "This is so great..." Lacus beamed, delighted, and nuzzled into his embrace.

"You think those two will be okay?" Mwu asked later, snuggled with his wife on the plush blue sofa in their room. Murrue nodded drowsily, resting her head on his shoulder. "They'll be just fine. They've had so much experience taking care of the orphans, that a baby of their own won't be any problem.." Her eyes closed, she smiled. Stellar was asleep, her husband was in an even happier mood than usual due to catching the fish that afternoon...it was the perfect time to ask.

"Mwu?"

He glanced down at her, noting that her amber eyes were shining with an odd emotion. "What is it, sweetheart?" Murrue turned around in his embrace to face him, cheeks pinked for some reason. "Can I...can we..." Her blush deepened, and she glanced away. "I..." She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, then looked back at him. "Can...can we have another..." Her voice broke off, and she shook her head, trying to collect herself. Mwu studied her for a moment, then it dawned on him what she was trying to ask. Reaching out, he stroked her blushing cheek lovingly. "You want another baby." he said softly. It wasn't a question...he knew what it was she wanted. Murrue glanced up at him, startled, then looked hopeful. "You...I..."

Mwu smiled. "If that's what you want, sweetheart, then you can have it.." Brushing aside a lock of her hair, he kissed her gently. "I'd love to be a dad again..." The experience with the munchkin...being a dad is more fun than I ever expected. To have that again... Murrue's face lit up in delight, and she moved to hug him tightly. "Thank you!" He chuckled, nuzzling his face into her neck. "You're welcome.."

She closed her eyes in bliss at his kisses, and the gentle touch of his hands stroking her arms. "We're starting now?" she asked, slightly breathless from his attention, her hands reaching up to tangle in his long blonde hair. Mwu grinned, moving so the two of them were laid down on the sofa, his lips working his way down from her neck to her shoulder, before unbuttoning her blouse to continue further. "Any reason we shouldn't?"

She never did manage to answer that...

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( There we go, Sky. That okay?

:laughs: Please read and review! )