( This is my very first totally AU fic. I hope it's all right...)

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Every morning, he would be there, sitting across from her. The train into the city was always crowded, people packed into the small metal carriages like sardines in a tin. But somehow, he always had a seat. He would sit there, in the same seat every morning, engrossed in the newspaper he always had with him. She would sit there and watch him sometimes, wondering where it was that he worked. He dressed quite casually, in an open-necked white shirt and jeans, whatever the weather. His blue eyes were magnified a little by the steel-rimmed spectacles that he wore, and his blonde hair was always messy. He was, quite simply, the most handsome man she had ever seen, and the reason she looked forward to the journey to and from work every day.

I wish...I could talk to him. Just once. To find out his name, to know a little about him...

She would be sitting there every morning, in the seat opposite, gaze focused on her hands. She got on at the stop after him, and would always sit across from him, slender frame dwarfed by the people who sat around and beside her. Sometimes, when she wasn't looking, he would gaze at her over the top of his newspaper. She wore a skirt suit, sometimes blue, sometimes grey, but always perfectly fitting. Her hair was the colour of burnt toffee, her eyes...well, he had thought long and hard about just exactly what colour her eyes were. Like a topaz, or a shade of amber, or marigolds, perhaps. She was...well, she was stunning. I wonder where she works? I wonder..well, I wonder a lot of things. Like what her voice sounds like, whether she's single...but I don't think I'll ever get chance. to find out...

When the train reached it's city destination, the two of them would head in their separate directions, her to her office, where she would spend her days at her desk, designing various new models of vehicles and machines, devices to make everyday life a little easier. He, in turn, would go to his own workplace, a facility for testing new cars and motorcycles, putting them through their paces. The job was often dangerous, but he enjoyed it. And more than once, throughout the day, the two would think of each other, wonder what the other was doing - and look forward to the journey home.

One morning, she was waiting at the station near her home, the chatter of the various other passengers almost drowning out the sound of the announcement that the train was approaching. She stood there, thin fingers clutching her bag tightly, heart racing wildly. She looked forward to it every day - the time when she could see him. I wish...that just once, I could sit beside him. To talk to him. But most of all...I wish that I wasn't so shy. I know that...if he ever looked up when I did, and our eyes met - I wouldn't be able to breathe..

A blast from the train's horn broke her concentration, and she smiled as the vehicle made it's way to where she was standing. As the metal doors swished open, the crowd around her surged forward into the train, the oppressive mass of humanity almost suffocating her. One or two of them brushed past her a little too roughly, knocking her off balance, and she stumbled, falling sideways with a soft cry. Closing her eyes, she prepared for the painful contact with the hard concrete of the platform.

That never came.

A split second before she hit the ground, a warm arm slipped around her, cradling her carefully, and helping her back to her feet. "Are you all right?" The voice was deep, caring - a man's voice. Opening her eyes, she looked up at her rescuer...and flushed scarlet. "You.."

It was him. He was smiling, blue eyes gentle behind the spectacles, and she felt her cheeks go so hot it felt like they were on fire. Glancing down at her feet, she took a deep breath, twisting her fingers together nervously. "T-t-thank you.." she managed to stutter. "B-but why weren't you on the t-train? Don't you normally get on the stop before me?" He laughed, the sound kind and cheerful. "I do," he replied, helping her pick up her bag, and steering her away from the crowds of people on the platform. "But...today, I wanted to be here at this stop..because.." He led her to a bench, where they sat down together. She glanced up at him curiously, still blushing. He seemed...embarrassed. "I wanted...to meet you.." he said softly, his own cheeks pinking slightly. "I see you on the train every morning..and I've always wanted to talk to you - even if it was only to find out your name..."

He wanted...to talk to me? He noticed me? I... Closing her eyes, she took another deep breath, and looked up at him. "M-my name...my name is Murrue. Murrue Ramius." The man beamed in delight at that. "That's a pretty name. I'm...I'm Mwu. Mwu La Fllaga. All right then, Murrue Ramius...can I buy you a coffee?" He pointed over at the nearby concession stand, patrons browsing around that and the newspaper stand next door.

At her nod, he made his way over to the drink stand. As he waited in line, Mwu gazed over at the young woman sitting on the green-painted bench. He had waited a long time for this...to be able to meet her properly, to talk to her. He had watched her as she sat across from him every morning, wished for a chance like this. So this morning, he had taken matters into his own hands. He had caught an earlier train, and gotten off at the stop she waited at. All I wanted...was to meet her, and now I have. And her voice is just as soft and sweet as I imagined. Murrue...what a beautiful name...

"Here ya go," he said quietly, handing her the foam cup full of hot coffee. "I didn't know if you took sugar, but I didn't put any in. Is that okay?" Murrue nodded, smiling shyly. "Yes. Thank you again.."

"Am I making you late for work?" he asked, suddenly worried. "I'm sorry.." But she shook her head, taking a sip of the bitter beverage. "Don't worry," she replied softly. "I.I..I wanted this too...to meet you." Her cheeks were a vivid red. Mwu grinned happily. "You did, huh? I never saw you watching.."

"I only looked when you were reading the paper," she murmured. "So you didn't notice me.." Returning her attention to the coffee, she inhaled the scent of the drink. This gave Mwu time to study her properly. She was pale, her skin almost porcelain, at the moment stained pink by her blush. She seemed like a very shy person - but also a very beautiful one. Even if we never meet again after today...this will all have been worth it.

Murrue was thinking the exact same thing. She had so often berated herself for not being more bold, for not sitting beside him, for being too shy to even make eye contact with him. But now...at least she knew his name. And he's so kind. He helped me, even bought me coffee...this is more than I ever dreamed possible. But I wonder...Gazing up at him, she smiled a little. "So...now that we've been able to meet..why don't you tell me about yourself? Where does the train take you?"

Mwu smiled, leaning back against the bench and gazing up at the ornate iron and glass ceiling of the train station. "I live about a mile away from here, in a house by a river. I work testing cars and bikes...and I'm single.." The last part was accompanied by a wink, his bright blue eyes trained on her. And, just as she knew would happen, Murrue blushed, her heart racing. What...does he mean by that? The blonde man chuckled gently, removing his spectacles and putting them in his pocket. "What about you?" he asked, draining the last of his coffee. "Where does the train take you?"

"I..I work in a studio..I design things.." she murmured. "I live just a short way away from here, and ...and I'm single too.." The last part of her sentence was barely above a whisper, but he heard it, his lips curving into a smile. "You live near here? Is there anywhere nice you like to go?" Murrue nodded, smiling herself. "The park.."

The next thing she knew, Mwu had gotten to his feet, throwing his empty coffee cup into a nearby bin. She blinked, surprised. Is he..leaving now? I...She didn't want him to go - she wanted to stay here like this with him...

"Can you show me? This park, I mean.." he said, holding out his hand. Murrue stared at the outstretched palm for several moments, her mind for some reason unable to process what he had just said. Then, almost as if her body was moving by itself, she reached out her own hand and placed it in his. The man's face lit up into a brilliant smile, and he closed his fingers around hers. She blushed again at the smile and the warmth of his hand, but let him pull her up, and the two of them walked out of the station together.

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( This rambles a lot, but I thought it might be a cute idea. And Mwu in glasses...well, I imagined what he might look like and it came out hawt XD. And shy Murrue...well, lol.

Please read and review! )