An Umbrella Built for Two

By Starling

 

 

                Mei looked over at her husband who sat across the room from her.  He was deep in concentration, staring at the computer screen in front of him.  Mei glanced at her watch.  It was almost time for them to head home.  She leaned back in her chair and picked up a letter.  It was a letter from Arys just to catch up on each other.  Mei smiled.  Normally, Arys would have written an e-mail, but she had jokingly mentioned in the letter that she thought Mei would enjoy actually getting to hold real paper.   Mei scanned her desk.   It was covered with wanted posters, criminal profiles, and photograps, all on real paper.  The two women led very different lives.  Arys' job focused on computer work, while Mei was constantly carrying around a file folder full of paper.  Still, it had been nice to get a handwritten note instead of an e-mail from a friend.

                Wufei made an annoyed sound and slammed his hand down on the desk.  Mei recognized his anger and went to his desk to see if she could pacify him.  As she walked across the room, Mei realized that it had begun to rain outside.  The climate control system must have been malfunctioning again.  She mentally kicked herself.  She had left her umbrella at home.  She stopped by her husband's desk and noticed that his umbrella was propped up against the wall near his chair. 

                "Mei, why are people such idiots?"  Wufei asked her, looking up.

                "I don't know, dear."  Mei leaned down to kiss him on the cheek.  "It's almost quitting time."

                Wufie looked at his watch and logged off his computer.   He leaned back in his chair and yelled loudly, "Hey, Ed!  We're leaving!"

                "Sure! Sure! Leave!  See if I care!"  A voice yelled from the back room. 

                "Good night, Ed!"  Mei called out as she watched her husband pack up his papers.

                "It's raining out, Wufei."  Mei picked up his umbrella and handed it to him.  He took it.   She gave him a sheepish grin.  "And I left my umbrella at home."

                Wufei gave her a puzzled look.  "You can share mine."

                Mei eyed the black umbrella.  "But it's so small..."

                Wufei took her arm and dragged her toward the door.  "Don't get shy on me, Mei.  We're married.  We can huddle." 

                He opened the door and opened the umbrella, motioning his wife outside first.   Once Mei was safely outside, he followed her and put an arm around her waist as they walked down the street toward their apartment building.  Mei snuggled close to Wufei, trying to stay warm.  The rain was cold, and her feet were getting all wet.

                Wufei hugged Mei.  "You okay?"

                Mei smiled.  "Yeah, just a little cold."

                "Watch out.  There's a puddle there."  Wufei pointed in front of them.  It was a large one that covered the whole sidewalk.  "Can you jump it?"

                Mei nodded and grinned at him.  "You're talking to an expert puddle-jumper, Wufei."

                Wufei laughed lightly.  "Mei, you're a woman of many talents.  I think that's why I fell in love with you..."  He gripped her arm as they prepared to jump the puddle.

                Gracefully, Mei made it to the other side without stepping in the puddle at all.  However, Wufei was another story.  He was concentrating so much on getting Mei across that he didn't notice that the edge of the puddle continued past what he thought was its edge.  With a loud splash, Wufei landed on the other side.  He grimaced and held the umbrella over Mei as he tried to swipe the water from his pants.  Mei hid her laughter behind her hand and took the umbrella from him as he tried to sweep away as much water as possible from his shoes. 

                "My socks are wet," He stated flatly.  Straightening, he took the umbrella back from Mei and pulled her back against him. 

                "Thank you," Mei replied.

                "For what?"  Wufei asked as they stopped in front of the door to their apartment building.  He waved Mei into the building, closed the umbrella, and then entered the hallway himself.   He set the umbrella against the wall and looked down at his pants.

                Mei brushed off Wufei's shoulders and grinned up at him.  "For worrying about my not being able to get across that puddle.  Now, you're all wet because of me."

                Wufei shrugged and held Mei's hands in his.  "I'll dry."  He kissed her quickly on the lips and then led her down the hallway to Michi's apartment. 

                Wufei knocked on the door, and there was a loud "Who is it?" from inside the apartment.  Wufei and Mei grinned at each other when they heard Hana's voice.  

                "Who do you think?"  He shouted through the door.

                "Wu-chan!"  Hana threw open the door and hugged her father around the waist.  She let go of him and wrinkled her nose at him.  "You're all wet."

                Mei picked up Li who had come running to the door and straight into his mother's arms.  "Your father got into a fight with a puddle on the way here."

                Hana's eyes danced with laughter.  "Dad, really?"

                Wufei frowned at her darkly and then scooped her up into a bear hug.  "Yeah, really."

                Michi came into the living room looking distraught.  "Oi, Mei!  The power just came back on and I haven't had time to make dinner!" 

                Mei put Li down and the boy instantly ran to his father.  Mei took Michi's hands in hers.  "It's okay, Michi.  Wufei and I can go pick up something."

                "But in this weather?"  Michi asked, her face wrinkling with displeasure.

                Wufei heard Michi's statement and came over, holding Li under one arm.  The boy was struggling to get out of his father's grasp, but Wufei was too strong.  Li started giggling when Wufei began tickling him.  Hana laughed loudly at the picture the two made.  Wufei put Li down and the little boy latched onto his father's leg. 

                Wufei smiled at Michi.  "We'll be fine, Michi.  We have an umbrella built for two." 

                "Do you have one built for four?" Hana asked mischievously.

                Wufei winked at her.  "No, sorry, Hana.  It's just going to be Mom and me this time."

                Hana grinned and took Li's arm.  "Let's go, Li.  Mom and Dad are going to get all lovey-dovey."

                Li wrenched his arm away from Hana, grimacing at Hana's touch.  "Women."  He darted away to a back room.  Hana chased him down angrily.

                "What are we going to do about those two?" Mei sighed as she put her hand through the crook of Wufei's arm.

                "We'll take care of them when we get back."  Wufei led Mei back to the door.   He looked over his shoulder to glance back at Michi.  "We'll be back soon, Michi.  We promise."

                "Take your time, Wufei.  I'll take care of the children."  Michi's eyes beamed at them as she smiled.  

                Wufei and Mei left the apartment and headed toward the front door of the complex.  Wufei picked up their umbrella.  With a flourish, Wufei pushed open the door and stepped outside, opening the umbrella as he did so.  Mei followed, standing under the protection of the umbrella.  She took Wufei's arm and was getting ready for another rainy stroll when she realized that Wufei was not moving.  She looked up at her husband to see him gazing down at her. 

                "What is it?"

                Wufei's hand reached out to touch her cheek.  "It's nice and private under an umbrella, isn't it?"

                Mei nodded, smiling as Wufei bent down.   He kissed her and she circled her arms around his neck to return the kiss.   His arm slid around her waist and he drew her close. 

                "Wo ai ni," He whispered as he kissed her.

                After the kiss, Mei pulled away and the two began walking down the sidewalk.  Mei slipped her arm through her husband's and squeezed his hand, the one holding the umbrella over them.  She grinned up at him.

 

Note: “Wo ai ni”                is Chinese for “I love you.” 

 

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