no Shuyaku wa Wareware da (Wrwrd)

Emile~ Forward

[Name]! Are you done yet?" your husband called from the living room.

Taking a look at the half-packed boxes surrounding you, you called back, "Not even close!"

You're almost envious of how handy Emile's was when it came to things like moving. It certainly saved time when it came to taping boxes shut. Who knew the two of you had so much stuff?

"Don't strain yourself too much, okay?" Emile's voice came again, much closer this time. A second later he appeared in the doorway of your shared bedroom, clad in a dress shirt without his vest, his chestnut hair held back in a slick style.

Strangely enough, he really hadn't changed much in appearance since his high school years. He'd grown a little taller and his hair a little longer, then his silver blank eyes that shown like stars, but his wide smile, the smile you fell in love with, remained entirely unchanged by adulthood.

Rising to your feet, you maneuvered around an obstacle course of boxes, making your slow way to where Emile waited, ready to embrace you. Arms wrapping around his waist, you snuggled into his warm chest, breathing in the scent of him.

"Someone's cuddly," Emile teased, lips brushing your temple affectionately.

"Blame it on the hormones," you mumbled with a deep sigh, closing your eyes. "Cuddle me more."

Chuckling, he granted your demand, his arms tightening around you just a fraction, careful of your pregnant belly. "I'm not made of glass," you grumbled, peering up at him from the corners of your eyes.

"I know, but how else am I supposed to act? If anything were to happen to you, especially right now..."

"Nothing's going to happen!" Pulling away, you grabbed his cheeks, forcing them into an imitation of his usual smile. "Now stop worrying! You're making me more worried than I already am and you know that isn't good for us!"

"Okay, okay!" Emile relented, chuckling. Leaning down, he placed a sweet, swift kiss to your waiting lips before his silver eyes flickered to the mess behind you, amusement glittering in the blank pools. "Wow, have you gotten anything done here?"

Pouting, you answered, "It's not my fault! I keep finding stuff that makes me sentimental."

"Hmm?" He tilted his head to the side curiously. "Such as?"

Turning, you shuffled back towards where you had been sitting moments before, slightly laboring to pick up what had captured your attention as you had gone through the contents of the bookshelf. "It's an old scrapbook I made back in first year at High School."

"Oh? I didn't know you were a scrapbooker." The beginnings of a teasing smile made his lips twitch as he made his way over to join you, and you silenced whatever he was about to say with a scoff.

"Please. Making one crappy scrapbook on a whim doesn't make you a scrapbooker." Flipping through the hand-bound pages, pictures of your younger self provided brief flashes of your teenage years. Your club members and your friend group- they all flew by in glimpses of your shared past. Another familiar face made you stop, your husband's grin staring up at you though from a slightly younger face.

It was the last page of the scrapbook, a single picture stuck on a field of brown paper with the words 'FORWARD TO SECOND YEAR!!!' written below it in big black letters. In the picture, you and Emile stood next to each other, his arm around your shoulders and wide smiles on both of your faces. Your younger self offered the camera two fingers in an excited peace sign. It had been the first day of second year, both you and he so young and hungry for what the future would bring. It was still so strange to think that that day had been years ago. The faint sting of incoming tears stung the backs of your eyes.