Howl's Moving Castle Fan Fiction ❯ Revelations About the Birds and the Bees... ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: “Howl's Moving Castle” and all its characters belong to Diana Wynne Jones, whom I have to add is very much alive. Which I can't cheerfully say the same with Edward Thomas, a dead Welsh poet-dude who penned “And You, Helen” of which a short excerpt I have stolen for story purposes. Another poem reference, “Gododdyn” was written by an even deader Welsh poet-dude by the name of Anerin. I'm very much alive and very much poor, so please don't sue me for stealin'. I only wish to spread some Howl and Sophie lovin'…

 

September 6, 2005

 

Revelations About the Birds and the Bees…

(and other things not mentioned as the aftereffects of “Happily Ever Afters”)

 

Chapter Four

by Ina-chan

 

 

 

“Are you all right?”

 

His quiet murmur was the first thing she heard after her sniffles had subsided. Not yet trusting herself to speak, Sophie simply nodded her head in silent reply.

 

Howl let out a relieved sigh as he gave her a little squeeze and tucked the crown of her head under his chin. “Good lord, woman! Promise me that you won't ever do that again.”

 

Sophie looked up to apologize, only to stop with a start as she saw him. He was literally a fright! It was as if the blood had completely drained from his face and he looked as if he was going to faint any minute. Sophie instantly struggled out of his grasp in alarm. She maneuvered herself so that she was straddling his lap and looking at him face to face. She brushed his hair out of his eyes then rested her hands loosely on his shoulders. “What's wrong?”

 

“Seeing women cry usually just annoys the hell out of me.” He closed his eyes. His hands cradled the nape of her neck as he rested his forehead against hers. “But when I see you crying, I just fall into a panic. I don't know what to do…”

 

She didn't know how to react to that. She still hadn't quite found the right way to respond whenever her husband fell into his rare lapses of honesty. He looked utterly miserable that Sophie immediately felt guilty and foolish for suddenly bursting into tears. She bent down, intending to simply plant a chaste peck over his lips in apology.

 

Her intentions were dissuaded when he gave her a not-so-innocent reply. Before she knew it, she was gasping to catch her breath as her husband kissed the sensitive spots on her neck. Sometime along the way, he managed to partially unbutton her blouse. His exploring fingers simply added to the torturous unfamiliar sensations he was making her feel, forcing a soft moan to escape her lips.

 

Howl reluctantly pulled his hands away upon hearing the sound, and reached out to kiss another sensitive spot behind her ear. “You have no idea how harder and harder it is to stop, cariad.”

 

“Stop? Wha---?” came Sophie's garbled reply, her mind not really comprehending what he said, as she tried to capture his lips once again for another kiss.

 

Howl complied before speaking once again. “I'm serious. For one thing, we're not in the privacy of our own home.”

 

Sophie raised her eyebrows at that but said nothing. Since when did her “disreputable” husband become such a prude? She gave him a mischievous smile as she bent down and started kissing the sensitive areas on his neck. She felt him shiver as she kissed the small spot under his ear. She couldn't help but shiver in excitement as well as she caught a whiff of sandalwood soap. She hadn't noticed it earlier, but then again, she had been noticing and feeling other things. It would seem that she had made him hurry with his bathroom ritual to the point of him forgetting to put on any of his flowery perfume. She hadn't told him yet, but she preferred it when he smelled like this.

 

“There are children downstairs,” Howl warned, but made no attempt whatsoever to stop her.

 

Sophie paused with that. She wasn't as willing stop teasing him though. She breathed softly to his ear. “Mari's asleep and Neil is busy with his school work.”

 

Howl looked at her in surprise. He looked taken aback, though not displeased, by her boldness. Sophie closed her eyes as he ran his fingers through her hair, then held her breath as she heard him whisper once again in her ear, “The window behind you is wide open.”

 

“WHAT?!?” Sophie cried out sharply as she quickly tumbled off him in complete mortification and started to fumble with the buttons of her top.

 

She made a quick glance behind her, and sure enough, there was an open window. It was overlooking a window from the identical square yellow house across the street. Whether there was someone looking out that window, she really couldn't tell from the dimness of the evening. She glared at her husband who was still seated, on what she realized was an old, shabby chesterfield. He was trying hard not to laugh aloud, and failing, as he watched her horrified reaction.

 

Sophie flung herself at him again, only this time, she attempted to pound him with the bottoms of her fists. “You are a horrid, horrid man! I hate you!” She hissed angrily, mindful of the house's other occupants below them. “If you knew the window was open, why didn't you say so from the beginning?”

 

“I'm just a man, cariad,” Howl managed to gasp between chuckles as he raised his arms to shield himself from her attacks, “if my beautiful wife wishes to play with me, who am I to resist?”

 

“You're impossible!” Sophie growled in exasperation. It was obvious that this was his `revenge' for their `duel' at their dinner table. “And to think I was actually worried about you!”

 

“Worried about me?” Howl echoed as he arched an eyebrow curiously. “About what?”

 

“It doesn't matter anymore. I've changed my opinion of you,” Sophie replied huffily, sitting beside him with a loud thump as she crossed her arms in a sulk. Just when she had hope that her husband was hiding a streak of maturity within him, he turned around and proved her wrong. “You can rot in hell for all I care.”

 

“Is this about what Neil said?” Howl inquired softly as he reached out to tuck a long strand of red gold behind her ear

 

Sophie simply jutted her chin and ignored him. There was no way he was going to regain her sympathy after what he had just done. She was even starting to feel a little silly for reacting how she did after what Neil told her about his uncle's past. Whatever was she thinking bursting in to tears at the thought of losing Howl?

 

“It wasn't anything like he said at all,” Howl explained patiently, “It was a rugby match. People get drunk and do stupid things.”

 

Sophie frowned again at the realization that her husband was referring to something else. It simply added fuel to her anger as she was suddenly reminded of Neil's revelation at the dinner table. Whatever was left of the sympathy she felt completely evaporated. “I said I don't care anymore!” She snarled again through clenched teeth

 

A confused expression flashed over Howl's features as he studied his wife. Sophie turned away uncomfortably and kept her expression as stony as possible. She hated it when he stared at her like that. It almost felt as if his green eyes were boring right through her soul and he was reading her thoughts. At the moment, she didn't feel like sharing the real reason why she had gotten so upset. It was just too embarrassing to suddenly burst out crying over something so silly. Not to mention the fact that it would probably make her husband's already over-inflated ego even bigger.

 

“My, my… Can it be?” Howl stated with his voice laced with amusement, “Mrs. Jenkins, I do believe you're jealous.”

 

Sophie spun around to glare at him again. `If looks could kill…' She'd already completely pushed all that to the back of her mind because she had been so worried about him. But instead of noticing her concern, he simply saw all this as a jealous fit? The idiot was even looking pleased at the thought that she was jealous! Sophie wanted to bash him on the head with the closest item that she could get her hands on.

 

The pleased look on Howl's face was getting on her nerves. It was obvious by now that this mysterious ailment that Megan was worried about was a figment of her sister-in-law's anxiety-ridden imagination. He was just as vain and arrogant as a peacock as ever. Any reaction that would feed on his belief that her whole tantrum was jealousy-based would only make him more smug. She wasn't about to let him have that satisfaction. But at the same time, she was not quite ready to share what she was truly feeling either. It would probably just make his ego inflate to gargantuan proportions if he knew compared to something petty with the belief that she was simply a jealous shrew.

 

So, she thumped back to her seat with a scowl, “Any woman in her right mind would feel this way if she had a husband like you.”

 

“And what exactly do you mean by that?” Another puzzled expression flashed across Howl's face upon hearing Sophie's comment. This time, however, there was no trace of amusement or teasing in his voice. He even started to look upset, which made Sophie begin to fear that perhaps her tone may have been too sharp.

 

Sophie started to feel uncertain. It may have been inappropriate to bring this particular subject matter at this time… but if she didn't say her fears out loud right then, she knew she would probably never have the opportunity again. Her husband, after all, was a top-notch slither-outer. It was surprising as it was that he hadn't attempted to crawl away yet.

 

Thus, Sophie squared her shoulders and faced him to finally tell him what had been in her mind since their wedding day, “I may not have been an elusive catch like Lettie or even Miss Angorian for one of your games, but that does not make me any less a woman. It's very unsettling to be your wife all this time and not have the slightest clue about how you feel… about me.”

 

“What?” Howl gaped at her in disbelief.

 

Sophie sighed in exasperation. It was either her husband was a better actor than she gave him credit for, or he really was an idiot. She shifted uncomfortably on her seat, but there really was no turning back now. She raised her chin and looked at him straight in the eye with serious determination. “Have you realized, that the whole time we have been together… not once have you told me that you loved me?”

 

Howl stared at her as an unreadable expression crossed his features. It was almost as if Sophie had grabbed an object just within reach and bashed him on the head with it. As soon as his bewilderment had passed, he took on the appearance of a wounded animal. After a few moments, he turned his gaze from her and gave an indistinct spot ahead of him a stoic glare.

 

Sophie knew that he was angry now. Not his theatrical-tantrum-with-a-possibility-of-a-dollop-of-green-slime type of angry. But the serious like earlier-that-mid-morning-when-he-discovered-Sophie-went-off-to-Wales-on-her -own type of angry. With that bland expression and in a deadpan voice, he replied with, “Then I strongly suggest that you listen harder.”

 

“And what do you mean by that?” Sophie demanded, her own temper getting the better of her. How dare he look betrayed? She only spoke the truth! She readied herself, anticipating another one of their arguments.

 

Instead of snapping back, Howl stood up hastily and strode towards the open window. He was obviously attempting to slither out now. Sophie had half a mind to stomp after him to continue their argument, if the pale moonlight from the window didn't bathe him with an unearthly glow. In its light, Sophie thought he even looked more tired and vulnerable than she originally thought. His light hair exaggerated the paleness of his skin and the dark shadows on the sharp angles of his profile, which Sophie hadn't noticed before.

 

All at once, Sophie started to regret saying what she had just said as she remembered her conversation with Neil once again. The fact that he didn't give his usual huffy reply after what she said already made it clear that she hurt his feelings deeply. She immediately got on her feet and moved toward him, “I'm… I'm sorry.”

 

She didn't know what else to say. If he heard her, he didn't give any indication that he did. She stepped closer until she was almost beside him. It was only then that she noticed that his eyes were closed and his lips were forming almost inaudible words. She moved even closer, her curiosity getting the better of her, trying to get wind of what he was whispering “Howl…?”

 

“…If I could choose freely in that great treasure-house... Anything from any shelf, I would give you back yourself, And power to discriminate…. What you want and want it not too late…” Sophie heard him whispering softly to himself. He paused, then opened his eyes with a troubled expression. “What's the rest…?”

 

“The rest?” Sophie echoed. It almost sounded as if he was uttering some sort of spell. Sophie instantly felt worry pierce her entire being as she remembered Calcifer's advice about her husband refraining from using magic. “Howl, the rest of what?”

 

Howl blinked and looked at her as if he just noticed her standing beside him. He shook his head and turned his gaze up ahead again.

 

Sophie frowned. Now he was giving her the silent treatment. Normally, it irritated her to no end when he was being particularly obstinate about an argument. But somehow, seeing him passive only made her feel worse. Sophie studied her husband's face again, this time with twice the anxiety, “Howl, what is it? If you're feeling unwell, you should tell me…”

 

Seeing her close to tears once again, Howl's shoulders drooped, finally replying with a tired sigh, “Nothing. Being here for extended periods of time just takes a lot from me, that's all.”

 

She was sure that he was slithering out again, but at the same time, she couldn't help but sense that he was also telling her a sliver of truth. She really didn't want to return to their earlier conversation. As much as she wanted to confront her husband regarding admitting his feelings for her, she didn't think she could bear it if the answer he gave was something she didn't want to hear. At the same time, she didn't want him to completely withdraw from her.

 

“Being in Wales tires you?” Sophie asked. She vaguely remembered Howl making a comment once… about loving Wales, but his country rejecting him.

 

“Being near Megan,” Howl corrected. “And being anything closely connected to her.”

 

“Well, I don't blame you,” Sophie agreed lightly. “The children are quite a handful and your sister… well… no offense, but she does suck the life right out of things.”

 

There was a funny expression on his face, making Sophie think that she completely misunderstood what her husband was saying. If she did, he didn't say anything. He gave her a pained smile as he reached out to stroke her cheek. Sophie closed her eyes, stepped even closer to him until she was pressing herself against him.

 

“I'm sorry for putting you through this. I'm an even bigger coward than I originally thought I was,” She felt him take her hands in his and give them a gentle squeeze. “Sophie… Do you ever regret… meeting me?”

 

Sophie's eyes widened, completely bewildered by his words. The expression on his face frightened her. Why wouldn't he just say what he meant? If he didn't love her, why didn't he just get it over with and say so? Of course, she knew those weren't the words that she wanted him to say. Remembering how her tears upset him, she lowered her eyes, bit her lip and didn't dare trust her voice. She clung to his shirt tightly and shook her head vigorously.

 

She was concentrating so hard on trying not to cry that she didn't even notice that her husband had tilted her chin up until she felt his warm lips over hers once again. Her grasp loosened as she instinctively moved her arms to brace herself against his chest.

 

“AUGH! Stop it! That is so gross! And in front of the neighbors, too!”

 

Sophie instantly broke away from her husband to find his nephew's head sticking up from the open door on the floor. Neil was shielding his eyes and was wearing an expression of utmost disgust at the scene that he had just walked in on.

 

“Neil, what do you want?” Howl asked in a strained voice.

 

“I finished my homework,” Neil announced, still covering his face.

 

Howl frowned irritably. “And?”

 

“You said that if I finished my school work, I could go over to Tom's,” Neil replied in a patient tone.

 

“I said if you finished your school work, I'd consider it,” Howl corrected, imitating the boy's tone sarcastically.

 

“THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!” Neil glowered at his uncle with that impressive manner of his, his melodramatic disgust forgotten. “You promised!”

 

“Lower your voice, your sister's already asleep,” Howl replied in a stern voice, “And it's already too late in the night to go over and play at your friend's house.”

 

“But Tom's house is just across the street! His Mum doesn't mind if we go to each other's houses as long as we ask permission. She expects me to sleep over now and then. She even offered to take me in for the weekend but Mum was set on shipping us off to Nana Gwen's that's why I couldn't… Tom's got a new game and…” Neil rambled desperately

 

“If I vaguely remember, the main reason why your Mum doesn't want you spending the night at Tom's was because of a certain incriminating magazine that you `borrowed' from Tom's older brother,” Howl rebutted in a knowing tone

 

“How---” Neil's face flushed bright red at the remark, but somehow recovered, “Well, the dirty magazine will rank next to nothing when Mum finds out about the `live show' that was happening here while she was away.”

 

Howl crossed his arms and gave his nephew a bland stare, “Do you honestly believe that I will even consider giving this a second thought now that you've resorted to blackmail?”

 

“THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!” Neil wailed once again, realizing his lost cause, “As if you didn't do anything remotely like that when you were my age. You're acting just like Mum!”

 

Howl fell silent at that.

 

Sophie, who was watching the exchange with quiet fascination after recovering from her indignity, could have sworn that she saw a slight twitch at the corner of her husband's left eye upon hearing her nephew's complaint. She couldn't help but smile with amusement at the realization of who won the argument based on her husband's expression. She made silent note of the boy's strategy.

 

“Be back before lunch tomorrow, and don't tell your mother,” Howl finally stated in a low voice.

 

Neil's face brightened. “Yes! I promise.” He exclaimed excitedly, as he disappeared from the attic entrance

 

“And watch your steps, your sister's sleeping,” Howl called out uselessly

 

“No she's not! She's downstairs, jumping on the sofa!” Neil called back

 

“Well, you definitely showed him who's boss,” Sophie commented as her husband slumped beside her in defeat

 

“Don't you start,” Howl snapped irritably as he started to make his way out of the room “Mari's up again. It'll take forever to put her back to bed.”

 

Sophie followed her husband downstairs. Sure enough, they found the little girl in the family room. She was bouncing gaily on the chesterfield while she flipped channels randomly on the television. Howl started towards her while saying something rapidly in Welsh in a mock angry tone. The little girl squealed, jumped off the couch and ran, giggling, towards Sophie for protection. Sophie let out a good natured laugh as she took the little girl in her arms

 

“Oh, don't you dare,” Howl began in a warning tone, “We made a bargain, and you're not holding your end of it!”

 

“But I'm not sleepy yet!” Mari complained with an adorable pout as she wrapped her arms around Sophie's neck, “I want to stay up with Aunt Sophie a bit more.”

 

“Mari, don't you want to grow up big and strong? To do that, you need to go to sleep at your bed time,” Sophie reasoned gently

 

Mari let out an adult-like sigh in reply, “Grown-ups are such hip… hippo-grits.” Before turning towards her uncle with a proud grin, “That's my big word for the day, Uncle Howell! Mummy said that I have to learn one big English word every day and try to use it in a sentence.”

 

Howl arched an eyebrow before responding, “Is that so? That's very smart of you, Mari. But why would you think that way?”

 

“Because…” Mari began all-knowingly, “grown-ups tell kids to go to bed so they can stay up all night and have all the fun. Like Mummy and Daddy for one thing. They don't know that I know. But I know exactly why Mummy makes me and Neil go to bed early.” The little girl turned towards her Aunt with wide solemn eyes, to emphasize the seriousness of her parents' erring ways. “It's so that she and Daddy can stay up all night to jump up and down on the bed!”

 

Sophie's jaw dropped in horror and instantly looked at her husband only to meet his eyes gaping back at her, speechless, with an identical expression. Sophie felt her face flush with heat once again, and looked away in embarrassment. She turned back to her niece, who was still busy recounting her grievance against her parents' rules.

 

“Which I think is very unfair, because Mummy makes such a big fuss when I jump up and down on the sofa. She says that I make too much noise and I'll fall off and break my arm. But she and Daddy are much bigger than me and make louder noises…” Mari continued on innocently. “That's just unfair, isn't it, Aunt Sophie?”

 

“Errm… w-well…” Sophie stuttered as she looked up once again to her husband for help, only to find that he had disappeared. Sophie scowled at the realization that her husband had slithered out to somewhere again. She glanced back at her niece, who was looking at her expectantly for an answer. She never had to deal with a situation like this before, and was quite unsure of what to do. All of a sudden, it occurred to her that in situations like this, her husband actually had the right idea, “Ah, well… why don't I sit with you and read you a bedtime story until you fall asleep?”

 

“Uncle Howell already read me my favourite parts in Gododdin earlier,” Mari said thoughtfully, “Do you like Gododdin?”

 

“I'm afraid not,” Sophie admitted regretfully, “What is it about?”

 

“It's a very very very old and very very sad poem about a war that happened a long time ago. Way way back before there was just one king,” Mari explained excitedly. “Uncle Howell reads it the just the right way. My favourite part is when the armies started fighting…”

 

Another look of dismay crossed Sophie's features as her niece recounted one bloody incident after the other that the members of Gododdin's army contributed. While Wales was an entirely different country from Ingary, she knew well enough that bedtime stories about severed heads and blood-soaked fields were not appropriate bedtime story materials for little girls. She was actually very shocked that Mari had kept such a sweet disposition after all the wicked things that her husband planted in the little girl's imagination.

 

“Why don't I tell you another story instead?” Sophie finally interrupted as she sat down on the chesterfield, still holding the little girl on her lap

 

Mari cocked her head to one side, “All right… will it have a battle in it? It's not a love story is it? I don't like the fairytale books about princes rescuing princesses that my Mum likes to read me. They're not quite as exciting.”

 

“Ah… well…” Sophie stammered, with the sudden realization that she didn't even have a story in mind yet. Mari definitely was not the typical child who would be content with the stories Sophie was familiar with from her childhood. They were mostly about princes rescuing princesses. Of course, with adult hindsight, Sophie had to silently agree with her niece that those stories were definitely not as exciting as the fast-paced, though disturbing, battle scenes that Mari described.

 

Thus Sophie simply decided to start with a basic story and make up the rest as she went along, and hoped that it would satisfy the little girl. Unfortunately, there was only one story that she knew by heart at the moment.

 

“Once upon a time… well, there was this young girl... An evil witch decided to put a curse on her for no apparent reason,” Sophie began uncertainly.

 

“That doesn't sound fair,” Mari protested

 

“That's why the witch was evil,” Sophie explained

 

“So how did she get out of it?” Mari asked curiously

 

“Well, she had to endure a lot of hardship. But her first task was to find someone who could help lift her curse,” Sophie continued with a lot more ease. “Unfortunately, the only person who could help her was a horrible Wizard, who had no heart.”

 

“He had no heart!” Mari exclaimed. “That can't be right. A person can't stay alive without a heart.”

 

“Ah, but the Wizard did. It was because…”

 

To Sophie's surprise, the more she told her story, the easier the words came. Soon enough, Mari stopped asking questions altogether and simply stared at her with wide eyes, and listened to her voice completely mesmerized. A short while after that, the little girl was lying in her arms, sleeping soundly.

 

Sophie shifted the load in her arms carefully as she stood up and made her way to her niece's room. She found her husband in the hallway, scribbling neat lines, diagrams and words that she couldn't understand on the wall with white chalk. From the look of things, he had probably been at it since he'd disappeared from the family room because almost the entire hallway was covered with it.

 

“What are you doing?” Sophie asked, careful not to wake the sleeping child in her arms.

 

“Don't distract me when I'm working by poking in that big nose of yours again. I'm just putting a sound proofing spell on the walls. But it can be a big mess if I make a mistake,” Howl chided irritably, without bothering to turn around to look at his wife

 

“Didn't Calcifer say that you're not to use any magic while we're in Wales?” Sophie countered

 

Howl stopped immediately upon hearing that and slowly turned to face her with an accusing glare, “And just where did you hear that?”

 

“Arr… erm…” Sophie froze and looked away uncomfortably, realizing that she just let on that she had been eavesdropping on her husband and the fire demon's conversation earlier. “But should you really be doing that? I don't think your sister would appreciate you making alterations to her house without her knowledge.”

 

Howl took in a long patient breath before replying, “The way I see it, there is only one other logical option to solving this particular situation. When my sister comes home tomorrow afternoon we stand there and say, `Oh, things went well. The house is still in one piece and we managed to keep Neil and Mari from ripping each other apart… oh, and speaking of which… did you know that the children can hear you and Gareth have sex?' You see Sophie, I'm too much of a coward to say that to my sister's face. But if you think you can muster enough nerve, you are more than welcome to do that in my stead.”

 

Sophie blinked at her husband's words. Tell her sister-in-law about that? All at once, she understood Howl's logic as a twinge of inexplicable terror pierced through her entire being. Sophie turned her gaze away from her husband, suddenly not able to meet his eyes.

 

“Well?” Howl demanded.

 

Sophie felt her face heat up again at the realization that her husband was actually expecting her to give him an answer. She shifted Mari in her arms uncomfortably as she stared at an indistinct spot on the carpet before mumbling, “Don't forget the bathroom as well.”

 

Howl let out a sound that sounded like a cross between a snort and the beginning of a laugh. Sophie raised her eyes cautiously and saw that her husband had turned away to go back to work, but not without noting that he had turned a fair shade of red as well. Despite herself, Sophie couldn't help but feel amazed at having witnessed this side of her husband. She had never really seen him openly flustered, although, she had caught a glimpse of him cowering helplessly before his sister's anger once. Otherwise, he always seemed to manage to hide his embarrassment under his collected and charming persona… or slither out of sight conveniently. It was rather endearing.

 

“It's going to be a pain coming back every couple of weeks to reinforce it,” Howl commented idly

 

“Every few weeks? Aren't there any stronger spells that you can use instead?” Sophie stared at the magic pentagram on the wall in confusion

 

“Megan doesn't look it, or had any proper training, but she would have been a formidable witch if she even had the slightest faith in magic,” Howl smirked, “It's all instinctive for her, but I'm afraid her greatest talent is to significantly weaken and eventually neutralize my magic.”

 

“You mean you can't do any magic when Megan's around?” Sophie's eyes widened at the revelation

 

“I can do little parlour tricks like shape-shifting clothes and such,” Howl replied, “But none of the big impressive ones. The stronger the magic I use, the more her powers weakens me. Fortunately she doesn't seem to have any effect Calcifer's magic. Otherwise, the Wales entrance would have been rendered useless years ago.”

 

Suddenly everything about Howl's behaviour around his family started to make sense. No wonder he wasn't too keen about visiting his sister's family so often. Looking back, it also made a whole lot of sense why he attacked the Witch of the Waste the way he did, that particular midsummer's day as compared to the earlier impressive battle he and the Witch fought in Porthaven. It also explained why he looked a lot more tired since their arrival in Wales.

 

Sophie worriedly watched her husband work for a few moments. It occurred to her that while it would be easy for Howl to weave the spell now, since his sister was away, there weren't going to be any easier opportunities in the future. It would only get harder for him to continue this… if Megan even allowed it, that was.

 

She let out a sigh, as she realized an easier solution to the problem. She stepped closer to her husband and handed him the sleeping little girl before he could protest. Fortunately, Mari slept through the whole exchange without even a hint of a whimper.

 

“What the blazes are you up to now?” Howl inquired as he cradled Mari's head in the crook of his neck

 

“Watch and learn,” Sophie announced haughtily with a mischievous grin. She then squared her shoulders, put her hands on her hips and faced the walls of the hallway sternly. “Walls, you've all been disgraceful! It's your purpose to ensure privacy within yourselves. Letting people hear what's going on inside your rooms, well, that's completely unacceptable. From now on, make sure that no one can hear a peep through you…” Sophie paused for a minute as a thought occurred to her, “… unless it's something very important of course.”

 

With that, she turned back to her husband with a satisfied smile, “I hope that meets your approval, Mr. Jenkins.”

 

“Very much indeed, Mrs. Jenkins,” Howl replied, smiling back as he took her hand in his free hand.

 

A short time later, Sophie was tucking Mari in bed while her husband stood beside her. It wasn't until they were out of their niece's room that Sophie glanced up at him to find her husband watching her with an unreadable expression on his face. “What?”

 

“Nothing,” Howl replied with a small shake of his head, “I was just thinking how seeing you tuck Mari in looked rather befitting. A pleasant thought just occurred to me that this could be us in a few years.”

 

Sophie gaped at him in surprise, completely taken aback by his comment.

 

Her husband seemed to notice her disbelief and instantly frowned at her reaction. “What?”

 

“I'm just pleasantly surprised,” Sophie replied as she gave him an impish grin, “Do you realize that you just pinned yourself down to spending at least seven years of your life with me?”

 

“What exactly is that supposed to mean?” Howl demanded, looking genuinely offended at what his wife was implying

 

“Well, I figured that it will take at least that long for our own child to be born and grow up to be Mari's age now,” Sophie replied in a very serious tone. “But of course, that's a very modest estimate. It could actually take even longer at the rate you're going.”

 

“Is that so?” Howl remarked in the same tone

 

“I may not have a great deal of knowledge and personal experience in the subject matter,” Sophie continued on. “But I know well enough that children do not pop out of the ground overnight like mushrooms. It involves a great deal of… effort.”

 

“Why Mrs. Jenkins,” Howl whispered softly as he reached out to caress her cheek. He leaned closer until she could feel his breath against her neck, “are you proposing something?”

 

“No,” Sophie murmured back, feigning innocence, “just merely stating the facts about the birds and the bees.”

 

Howl let out a small laugh at that, though it didn't last long as Sophie reached out to capture his lips. They didn't appear to have said much after that. The walls weren't going to tattle if there were other sounds made within its rooms either.

 

 

End of Chapter 4

To be concluded…

 

 

 

Author's squawk:

 

Okaaaaay… Before I rant, here are a couple of reference notes.

 

“Gododdyn” is an epic Welsh poem in the 6th Century by a Cynfeirdd (them early Welsh poets) called Aneirin. It documents the tragic attempt of King Mynyddawg Mwynfawr to regain Catterick for the Welsh-speaking kingdom of Gododdin from the English with 300 men. It has an impressive bloody battle and ends with disaster, with only one man and the poet surviving from the 300. Very tragic and very angsty stuff, but if you love testosterone, blood, and violence set in the 6th Century… I highly recommend it.

 

The poem that Howl was whispering is an excerpt from a very sweet poem that I stumbled by accident when I was leafing through “The Oxford Book of Welsh Verse in English” (1977), during my research for Dafydd Ap Gwilym. The poem is “And you, Helen” by Edward Thomas. Poem not recommended for diabetics and sitting nect to friends who have a tendency to squeal at your ear when they hear romantically sappy poems like these being read aloud by a handsome latino guy who has a low bedroom voice with a sexy Spanish accent... rowr!

 

Now… I know a couple of people are wondering why I chose this wedding route. Well, its mainly because I wanted to write something to set apart from the usual Howl and Sophie get married scenario! Nothing puts a couple in a more awkward situation than a shot gun marriage, I always say! ^_^.

 

BTW… I just finished reading “Fire and Hemlock” yesterday… and that counts 3 couples that I've read so far! (The third are two characters from “Deep Secret”) What is DWJ's fascination with pairing a young girl with a man almost 10 years older (or more)? Well, Howl is 9 years older than Sophie…

 

Anywayz…

 

Thank you for all the reviews! Your comments and criticisms are all very appreciated!

 

Thank you very much to Mimea! I dunno how you do it. But you have the patience of Buddha! ^_^.

 

One more chapter to go… and when I post that chapter, I think I might need to move the fic to the “M” section. Though, this chapter is already pretty racy as it is, don't you think? If you think the rating needs to get heavier, let me know and I'll move it.

 

Ja!

Ina-chan