Since You've Returned

CHAPTER TWO

Author's Note: Wow, none of my stories can stay OneShots, can they? Ah, well, Wolfram loves it because he's getting attention, and Murata doesn't mind, so the die is cast. (Three days after the end of Chapter One.) Begins in Wolfram's point of view, and somewhere changes to 3rd person.

Walking through the courtyard, with Murata's arm about my waist and Greta's hand in my own, I reflected that Blood Pledge Castle had never seemed so appealing to me. Winter was coming, and the trees began to shed their golden leaves, blanketing the ground with reds, oranges, and yellows. Greta had disrupted a whole day of Dorcas's labor by diving into a pile of freshly raked leaves, and Yuuri strictly punished her by keeping her home today while he, Gunter, Yozak and Conrad went to the Harvest Festival. Like a good father, I stayed with her. What good is a festival anyway? Besides, now I could be with Murata out in the open, and see how my daughter would react.

While Greta ran off to chase a monarch butterfly through the flower garden, I leaned over and quickly stole a kiss from my new love--but not quickly enough, it seemed. Greta turned around too fast, and looked at us peculiarly. I was at a loss for an explanation. She spoke first.
"I've just figured something out," she said contemplatively, "You've never kissed Yuuri like that, but he's never kissed you either. And you've been engaged, but never married. You two don't love each other, do you? You have another love, and so does Yuuri, doesn't he?"

I considered this before answering. I thought of Yuuri, who was so quick to avoid me, whose smile and charm enraptured every girl (and most of the men) in Shin Makoku, whose eyes were always cast at another, never in my direction. "Yes, I'm sure he does. But Greta, listen," I took her hand in mine, and knelt down to be at her level, "No matter what may happen between Yuuri and I, I will always love you." I kissed the top of her head and smiled at her. "You're my princess, and I'll always be there for you." She nodded and flew forward to hug me. Murata surveyed the scene with a Mona Lisa smile.

Later they resumed their walk through the courtyards, and Murata talked with Greta like he never had. (Of course, she didn't remember getting to know him through those forgotten months.) She told him about her mother, of whom she still dreamed, and about her kittens, Fivel and Lucia. She even told him about Yuuram, her glass bearbee. Murata winced a little at the name, but then he glanced down at the blonde in his arms and the pain was gone. Wolfram was his now, and that was all that mattered. Murata told Greta a few things too. He shared with her his love of reading, and that he adored her colorings. It was true, he had a picture of a sunset Greta drew for Wolfram hanging in his bedroom. Suddenly, he stopped walking and stared at a breathtaking circlet of flowers in the center of the courtyards. He knelt down and fingered the petals of a blue flower.
"What is this? I've never noticed it before, but it's quite enchanting"
Wolfram explained that his mother liked to name flowers when she ruled the kingdom, and she was quite experimental with the coloring.
"It's called Beautiful Wolfram!" Greta piped up, "Because it's the color of his eyes"
That explains why it amazed me so, Murata realized, It was the same startled feeling I get every time I remember that by some miracle, Wolfram loves me.
Without a word, he stood suddenly and encased Wolfram in a tender embrace. The blonde wore an expression of disbelief that only Greta could have seen, but the little Princess was still playing in the flowerbed.
Then they walked back inside and all became normal again.

Until Yuuri and the others returned. Then, Greta had some stories to tell.

Author's Note: Review or else the story dies here!