A/N: Hello! Melissa here! I've been writing fanfiction for some time but this is my first Howl's Moving Castle fic! I haven't published anything in a while, but I have a lot of things to say...Reviews and writing tips are welcomed...I hope you like this; it's been stuck in my head for a while. Visit my user profile if you want to know more, yes? You won't regret it, I promise! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Howl's Moving Castle in any way.

It was unbearably hot. The air was thick and muggy and it was impossible to breathe without it choking him. Drops of perspiration evaporated before it could do anything to cool his burning body. He was on fire.

Everything was on fire.

Howl watched helplessly as the people below him burned, as livelihoods were lost forever. They sky around him was red with the glow of the bombs. Despair racked his body. Why couldn't he help these people? Endless questions clouded his mind and he thought of the silver haired girl trapped in a house with a little boy, a senile old woman, and an old dog. He couldn't save them. Howl had failed.

***

Howl startled awake to find himself in a pitch black room. He was lying on his back with his arms and legs pinned tightly to his sides. His palms were sweaty and were clutching at the bed sheets. Sweat tickled his brow and dripped down the sides of his face. The room was freezing cold. Howl quickly turned his head to the right and exhaled the breath he had been holding for what seemed like an eternity. The sliver haired girl he was so frightened of losing was sleeping peacefully at his side, curled into his stiff, unforgiving body. He turned his body so he was facing her, pulled her into his chest and hugged her close. Howl was scared.

***

The next morning when Sophie awoke she knew something was terribly wrong. Howl was still asleep but clutching her to him not as a lover's embrace but as if she were a doll that a child instinctively reaches for when having a nightmare. His brow was furrowed and faint whimpers could be heard from his lovely mouth.

"Howl! Howl!" Sophie shook him awake. Howl's eyes opened wide and a flash of terror passed through them but subsided as quickly as it had come when they met Sophie's. "Howl, what's wrong? Tell me what's wrong," Sophie begged. She reached up and put her hands on either sides of Howl's face. She peered into his cerulean eyes searchingly.

Howl chuckled and removed Sophie's hands from his face. "Sophie, you worry too much. It was just a bad dream." He kissed her fingertips and put on what he hoped was a slightly amused and confused face. Despite his calm façade Howl couldn't help but feel incredibly guilty. Howl strode over to the mirror hanging on the wall opposite the bed and clicked his tongue at the sight of his limp hair. He didn't like lying to Sophie. The dream had troubled him greatly but surely it wasn't anything she needed to know? It was a dream, nothing more. The realms of his unconsciousness couldn't touch him here. Reflected in the mirror Howl could see Sophie making the bed, her slight frame swallowed by the hugeness of her nightdress. Comfortable indeed, Howl thought and he could not help himself think of her dressed in something more form fitting or possibly…

"Stop that!" Sophie's voice cut through his fantasies like a knife. He turned to face her and could not help but be amused at the way she held herself. Scowl on her face, hands on her hips, and she was desperately trying to make herself seem small and huge at the same time. "Go take a bath, you useless wizard. Your hair looks horrible anyway."

Sophie grinned as Howl jumped and scurried into the bathroom. She turned her attention back to the bed. She ran her hand across the surface of her pillow and then Howl's. It was still warm and…damp? Sophie brought the pillow to her face and inhaled. It smelled of Howl, sweet and soft. But in the delicate scent she smelled something sour, something that was not a part of Howl's usual aroma. Sophie sniffed again trying to place the peculiar smell until it clicked. Sweat. Her eyes flicked back to the closed bathroom door where Howl was doing whatever it is he does and singing. Sophie thought of the terrified look he was wearing only minutes ago. What was scaring Howl to the point of sweating? Her thoughts were interrupted by a small series of pitter-patters in the hall, a small yip, and "Shhh! Heen! You'll wake Master Howl!"

Sophie giggled to herself and dropped the pillow, thoughts about Howl abandoned for the moment. Stepping over a stuffed cow, Sophie opened a door that a person glancing at the room would have missed. It was tucked away into a corner and was often missed due to the large and ornate dresser that stood next to it. She stepped through it and walked into another bedroom. It was her room, although Sophie hardly slept in it. She settled herself on the bed and almost as if on cue a small knock could be heard at the door.

"Sophie, are you awake?" Markl's little boy voice could hardly be heard through the thick door that lead into the main hallway. "Heen and I are going to go play outside for a little bit, okay?"

Before Sophie could even open her mouth to respond she heard Markl run down the stairs and Calcifer's sleepy complaint. Smiling softly to herself she got dressed, washed up, and went down to cook breakfast.

When Sophie got downstairs she discovered a very suspicious Calcifer looking at her up and down. "What do you want?" She asked self-consciously as she turned her back to get water ready for tea.

"Why is Howl awake? It's not noon yet," Calcifer inquired, sarcasm laced in his seemingly innocent question.

Sophie shrugged. "Ask him. I don't know why."

"Are you sure you don't know? I think you do. I think-" Sophie turned and slammed the tea pot down on Calcifer's head. "Ahh! Lady! Lady! What are you doing? Stop it! Waahh-mmmpwargh."

They struggled for a few minutes before Calcifer reduced himself to a simple cooking flame. Part of him was tempted to just fly away and let the stupid tea get ruined. It wasn't like he could drink it. Instead he opted for total silence and refused to look at a visibly distressed Sophie. Sophie could tell Calcifer was deeply offended. She almost hung her head in shame for being so cruel to her friend. Almost. Calcifer knew how she felt about it…

"Good morning!" Once again Sophie's thoughts were interrupted by Markl. The little boy ran into the kitchen and skid to a halt in front of Sophie. Followed by him came the placid Witch of the Waste whom everyone simply called "Granny" and the wheezy dog, Heen. "What's for breakfast?"

"I think," Sophie glanced at the furious Calcifer. "I think we'll have bread and jam. How's that sound?" She looked once more at Calcifer. Perhaps he would forgive her if she didn't cook? Markl's face fell slightly. "But we'll go out for lunch, all of us! I promise," Sophie hastily added. She couldn't bear to see Markl disappointed. Howl often teased her for it.

"Tea's ready," Calcifer mumbled from the hearth. Sophie whirled around and picked up the kettle as fast as she could. Calcifer mumbled something indistinct and retreated further into his logs. She handed the pot to Markl and bounded over to the stairs.

"Howl!" She called. "Come have some breakfast!" She tapped the banister and turned her attention back to the table. Just as she was going to sit down, she heard Howl pounding down the stairs. He strode over to where she stood, grabbed her to him, and kissed her.

"Good morning, my sweet," He said when they broke apart. Sophie blushed and Howl smiled deviously before sitting down and starting on his breakfast.

***

It was a lovely day albeit the cold. Sophie, Howl, Markl, and Heen were walking the streets of Kingsbury for Markl's promised lunch out. The Witch of the Waste had insisted on staying at the castle; this cold winter air did not bode well with her. Markl and Heen walked at an excited, if not agitated pace, while Sophie and Howl walked leisurely. The two were holding hands and looked quite in love. Every now and then the pair would stop to kiss and whisper sweet nothings into each other's ears. Finally, the small group reached Markl's destination. It was a small café that was popular for its sweets and pastries. Howl started to follow Markl in but Sophie stopped him.

"Markl, go inside. We'll be there in a few minutes." She handed some money to Markl. "Order whatever you want." Howl looked questioningly at his pretty companion. She waited until Markl was sitting down at a table before turning back to Howl. "Something's bothering you."

Howl looked at her quizzically.

"Maybe I'm overreacting, but this morning…You were so upset, Howl! And then after I woke you-"

Howl interrupted her by putting a finger to her lips. "Sophie," Howl paused and shook his head, laughing a bit. "Sophie, it's nothing. It was just a dream. They don't bother me, not in the slightest. They never have." It was the truth. Howl had had plenty of nightmares shortly after giving Calcifer his heart. He had stopped having them once Sophie came into his life.

Sophie looked doubtful. A wave of gratitude washed over Howl. It was so strange, having his heart back. A kind gesture hit him so differently now. It was as if someone had given him the greatest gift. Before he appreciated kind words but now…But now he needed them. They left him with a sense of overwhelming happiness that he hadn't experienced in a long while. And now Sophie was worried (Worried!) for him. Howl wanted to whoop for joy.

Instead Howl held his hand out to Sophie. She smiled at him timidly, still disbelieving. Her better sense told her this would not go away but instead of pushing it she took Howl's hand.

A quiet feeling had started to build in her chest and Sophie was afraid of what it would lead to.

Reviews are welcome! I'll update quickly if you guys review. Thank you!