The door slid open quietly, and after a moment, a figure poked it's head out of the open doorway. This late at night, it was unlikely that anyone would be around, but better safe than sorry, right? Looking to the left, then to the right, and seeing no-one, the person grinned. Perfect. Stepping out of their room, and closing the door behind them, the figure, clad only in a faded blue T-shirt and a pair of shorts, tip-toed across the corridor to another room, diagonally opposite their own. Again checking to make sure there was no-one around, the figure tapped in the code for the door, and slipped inside. The room was dark, the only sounds to be heard the quiet hum of ship's systems...and the soft breathing of the one sleeping in the bed. The man smiled again, taking in the sight of the slender figure huddled under the sheets. I'm glad she's sleeping. Usually when I'm here this late, she's working, leaning over that desk of hers. She always looks so tired... Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he drifted his fingertips along her face, brushing aside a lock of her hair. She stirred slightly, but didn't wake up, a small smile curving the corners of her mouth. Carefully, Mwu pulled back the thin coverlet, and slipped into the bed beside her, winding one arm around her slender waist. Nuzzling his face into her dark hair, he closed his eyes in comfort..better able to sleep now that he was with her.

"Mmmmmm?" Slowly, amber eyes flickered open, glancing around in the darkened room. At first, she wasn't sure what had woken her, but gradually, as awareness returned, she began to feel the arm wrapped around her waist, and the warm breath on the back of her neck. Confused, she turned around in the embrace - and sighed. Of course. Who else would it be? He was snuggled up against her, blue eyes closed, face innocent and peaceful in sleep. And despite her slight annoyance at him sneaking into her room, she couldn't help but smile, reaching up to brush aside blonde curls from his forehead. Her touch, light though it was, caused him to stir, and he slowly opened his eyes, the sleepy blue lighting up when he saw her there. "Hey, beautiful.." he murmured, pulling her into a tighter hug. "Did I wake you?" Murrue shook her head, nestling into his shoulder. "No. It's all right..." I'm glad you're here... He smelled familiar, of spicy aftershave and sandalwood soap mixed with warm skin, and she moved to kiss him gently. "Go back to sleep.." Mwu didn't answer, and for a moment, she thought that he already had. Then he spoke up.

"You know, I still wonder..." When it became apparent that he was waiting for an answer, she raised her head to gaze up at him. "Wonder what?" The blonde man smiled softly, rolling onto his back and staring up at the bland grey ceiling. "Why it was the Alliance wanted me off this ship at Alaska. I mean, I can understand why they'd want the Lieutenant, after all, she's still useful to them. But why me?" Murrue blinked at the question from out of the blue. "What brought this up?" she asked, settling into a more comfortable position in his arms. Mwu smiled. "Not sure, but it's something I've been thinking about for a while. They'd pretty much decided that we were all tainted, or whatever, by the kid. That we were too familiar with Coordinators to be worth anything to them. So...why transfer me? Wouldn't it have made sense to just leave me here with everyone else?"

"Well, you're a pilot.." she answered softly, smiling as he trailed his fingertips up and down her arms. "They don't have many of those...well, who aren't rookies, anyway. They needed you.." Closing her eyes at his intoxicating touch, she sighed happily. He nodded, but didn't seem convinced. "I guess...But in the end, I stayed anyway, huh?" Murrue's smile grew at that, and he noticed, chuckling softly. "You're happy about that?"

"Aren't you?" she asked, a giggle escaping her as he nuzzled his face into her hair. "Sure I am," he replied, breath tickling her ear. "If I'd left, I'd probably still have come back to find you. I'd have missed you too much.."

And so would I...."From California? That's a long way from Alaska.." she murmured, tilting her head to the side to let him kiss her a little more. Mwu laughed again at that. "It doesn't matter how far away it is. And even if I had gone, I wouldn't have left without taking you with me."

"What, so we could have run away together?" The idea was funny, but at the same time, very nice. The thought that the two of them could have left the war behind so easily, just run away to California together...it made her smile. "It sounds kinda nice.." she admitted, turning around in his arms, her amber gaze meeting his blue one. Mwu grinned, reaching up to brush a hand through her hair. "It makes me wish I had now, although I guess that we couldn't really have done it.." She nodded, moving up in the bed to touch her forehead to his. "But if you could," she wanted to know, "would you really have taken me with you?"

"Sure I would." was his answer, he winding a hand in the hair at the back of her neck, and pulling her down for a kiss. "Cause even before I was transferred, I knew that I loved you. I...didn't want to leave you.." Murrue blushed at his words, but smiled, absurdly happy. When he left...I thought that I had lost him. I realised at that moment...what I felt for him. What I'd been feeling for him for longer than I'd cared to admit, or even known about. And when he came back - I could hardly believe it...

She didn't tell him all this however, as she was sure that somehow...Mwu already knew. Instead, she just kissed him again.

When they broke for air, he smiled, planting another kiss on the tip of her nose. "You know that's why I came back..." She nodded, snuggling back down beside him and resting her head in the hollow of his shoulder. After a moment, there was a tiny yawn, which made the blonde man chuckle. "Sorry 'bout that. Guess it could have waited till morning, huh?" Murrue made a little sound of sleepy comfort, and he tilted his head to kiss the crown of her hair, pulling the covers up to tuck them securely around her, before wrapping his arms around her waist. "We could have run away together.." he remarked, glancing down at his lover. "Do you think we'd have been happy?"

"I think that we would have been," she replied drowsily. "But then again...things haven't worked out so badly, have they?" Mwu grinned at that, settling into a more comfortable position. "You're right.." We're here, and the war's still going on. But right now, it's just me and her together, and we don't need anything else to be happy. "Love you.." Murrue smiled, almost asleep due to the late hour and his warmth. "Love you too.." she murmured, barely audible. He closed his eyes, letting her own warmth and scent surround him. One day... he thought, sleepy himself now, perhaps you and I will be able to be together in a world without war. If there was one thing I'd want more than anything else, it would be that...

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( Scary randomness XD

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