Tonight's a moonlit night and the world seems quiet and peaceful. It's Meilin and my 5th wedding anniversary and we're having dinner at home like I wanted. Of course, the candles were Meilin's idea because she thought they looked pretty like they usually do in the restaurant tables.

Meilin looks so beautiful tonight. She always had graceful movement and I remember it as I watch her put the spoon of soup into her mouth. Her onyx eyes look contented and her black hair still captivates me. I must add, she looks gorgeous in red. Five years together and nothing seems to have changed.

"Mmm ... Meilin you're a great cook."

"What's new?" She says less haughtily than she would 5 years ago.

I smile to myself. Maybe, it's my influence, or not.

She lifts the glass of champagne to her lips. She sips it and puts it down. A nostalgic look appears on her smooth face.

"What?" I grin.

"All these memories," she smiles in a bittersweet manner. "All these memories of you and me- it makes me feel like an old hag."

"You noticed then?" I laugh.

WHACK!

"Hiragizawa Eriol! You are never to call me old again! Never!"

I wince, rubbing the back of my head.

"I was just pulling your leg."

"Hmmph."

An uncomfortable silence follows, my big mouth and me. I'm forced to have another helping of soup.

She looks nostalgic again.

"Eriol," she calls me softly.

"Hai annata?" I sip my soup.

"Remember that time when we were engaged and we went shopping for bed-sheets and all that stuff because I told everyone that we had better get furniture as wedding gifts?"

I chuckle softly. "Oh yeah..."

~* Flashback ~*

"Hmm ..." I examined some of the bed-sheets on display. "I want the blue one- it's a very soothing colour and the birds on it look lovely."

"Please," she snorted. "I want the red one. Red's the colour of passion, inspiration and ... it's cool!"

I sighed. "I thought your parents didn't approve of red."

"Oh yes, you're mother's boy aren't you? They sure didn't like me and hell, we're engaged!"

A drop sweat fell from my head. She's intimidating when she's angry and also careless of the crowd.

"I want the red one because I like it! And you ... you ..." she stammered, suddenly realising what she had just said.

We were both blushing and it was uncomfortable.

" ... But no one was going to make Sakura and Syaoran out of us." She laughs.

"I agree. We're a far more tactful couple than those two, aren't we?"

~* Flashback ~*

" ... And I love you?" I suggested.

She blushed a deeper shade of red. The silence got less uncomfortable. I know my love; she won't stay quiet.

"Eriol," she said in a dignified tone. "We're going to buy the blue one."

That's a mouthful.

"You sure?" I teased.

"Yeah, yeah. Don't rub it in."

The rice smells and tastes so good, prawn is my favourite.

"I always seemed to have got the better you."

"Yeah, right Mr. Charming. Might I remind you the candles and the course were my idea."

"Yes, but we stayed home for our anniversary because I suggested that we do."

"Remember that time when we were newly-weds and ...?"

~* Flashback ~*

It was hard day at work. Business is tough. I went into the kitchen to my err ... loving wife.

She was washing the plates. She looked pretty miffed.

"How are you, dear?" I asked smoothly.

"How do think I am?" Here we go ... "I've been so busy cleaning up this godforsaken house that I think my back's going to break. Ugh, why did you tell them to come today?"

"Well, we really ought to invite Touya and company for dinner. They've been so kind ..."

"It's easy for you to say. You don't do much of any work ..."

"Excuse me, madam but this family is going on because of me!" I yelled.

"It's just that ..."

"What? Damn it! What?"

"It's just that ... I'm not used to all this." She looked frustrated and there were tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, let me help you." I leaned over the sink as she moved away.

"Okay, thank you!" She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and pranced off. "I've got shows to watch!"

"The horror of that afternoon, I had to put lotion in my hands."

We both laugh.

"Never underestimate me," she warns.

Sometimes, I find myself fascinated by her.

"I never have," I smile.

I put my hand on her soft cheek.

"But I have the upper hand no matter what you say."

"Hmmph," she gives a defiant sneer. "The 11 years we spent together ..."

Suddenly she stops. Petrified looks cross our faces. Meilin and I are young spirits. We prefer not to know of our current age.

"Let's just ..."

"Yeah." We eat some more.

"You do cook well, annata. I'll always maintain that."

I put the stereo in the other room and come back to the table.

I scoop out some chocolate ice-cream with my spoon and hold it to her mouth. She accepts it.

"So," she sighs. "This is the part where we dance."

"Unless I'm mistaken."

We get up from the table. She gives me her hand and I pull her close.

Heather Nova's 'Paper cup' plays as we dance to it's tune.

She lays her head on my shoulder.

"Meilin?"

"Hmm?"

"Remember our first date, we were going to the prom?" I inquire wistfully.

"Seeing you in that grey suit does remind me."

"And we were going to dance and you said ..."

"... That I wasn't used to being lead and we ..."

"... Made a deal that you would lead me half the ..."

"... Time and I would lead you the other half and then ..."

"... We didn't really care. In the end we had a ..."

"... Grand time. Yes. It was a beautiful night. You were such a terrible dancer back then."

"You were too."

"We've improved though."

"I couldn't agree more."

I softly twirl her and she faces me.

Our eyes lock into a loving gaze. She softly kisses me on the lips.

"I love you."

"I love you too." I whisper softly.

She lays her head on my shoulder again and we both close our eyes, dancing softly to that heavenly tune.