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Howl was a perfect gentleman--a boy who simply was not interested in having sex and a movie. Even if he had been interested, he wouldn't have known the first thing about how to go about it. Although he hated anyone to know it, he was quite innocent in many things. Ladies were for courting with songs and poems and the wonder of your clothing and the sheen of one's hair, not for doing things like that with.

After all, he was from a children's book.

In many ways, Howl was still a child, despite having grown seemingly overnight. He simply did not possess the mind of the average teenage boy. A large gap in his memory was still missing--a rather important gap, at least, when it came to reproducing. Oh, he could do kissing; he fancied himself to be quite an expert at it. Certainly, he was Gaia's greatest when it came to snuggling, and hand holding went without saying.

Things beyond that were--well, beyond Howl. He did not think of them, for he knew nothing of them. He knew he had a son, he just didn't know how Morgan had come into existance. Which might have appeared bothersome--if the teenager had remembered that he had forgotten something. And though remembering that he had forgotten something would have made his story much easier (and less interesting), the teenage wizard did not.

He was positively oblivious. Happily so, even. His magic, like his height, had returned to him in the night. No more would he struggle to perform spells he had been able to do in Ingary. No more would he have to relearn things from books. No longer would he stumble over words when courting the ladies. He knew what to say, and when to say it. He knew when to remain silent and act mysterious, and when to compliment a woman's looks. He knew precisely the way to look at a girl; whether they were single or not. He knew how to look interested about something when he was being bored.

Despite everything that had come back to him, however, Howl did not feel entirely complete. Perhaps it was that he was two inches shorter than he would have been as a thirty year old man. Perhaps it was that he was thinner than he ever remembered being. Perhaps it was because he had not yet regained his sophisticated air. Or maybe it was something different all together.

(To be continued--Thali just didn't want to forget to save.)

Howl was trying and failing to write neatly. He was bent over his desk, an expression of absolute determination on his face. One didn't have to be a wizard--or a genius to realize he was writing a love letter. What else would the great wizard Howl be working on so dilligently? The letter seemed to be asking questions; though if one read between the lines, one might have realized the wizard meant far more than what he was saying.

He paused from his writing for only a brief moment, to study a small, square, velvet covered box. He had gone through this process before--infact, with the very same person he was writing to.

Dear Sophie,

You see, there's this fairly important holiday for couples coming up in Febuary, and I was wondering if we could spend it together. It wouldn't be nearly as fun if we had to spend it alone; and I have missed spending as much time with you as I feel I should.

I have a present for you. I do hope you'll like it. Calcifer said that you would when I showed it to him. Of course, he said he would have given you something far better--

There was another pause, in which Howl took the box and opened it. Inside was not gold, but a silver ring. Two stands of beautiful silver enbedded with diamonds twined together. A larger stone had been carefully set in the center. The silver's intricate design spoke of a master's work. It was clear that Howl, though he claimed to be greedy, believed Sophie to be worth more than any amount of Gaian gold.

If we do meet up, Sophie dear, Valentines Day might be a good time to--you know. Ask Calcifer how to get my heart back. Hearts are often a symbol of the holiday, and I thought--well, it would be rather romantic, wouldn't it?

Another pause. The wizard dripped his quill into his ink bottle and snapped the small, velvet covered box shut. He wasn't sure Sophie would like the ring, even. His wife had always preferred the simple things. Perhaps he would do better with a ring with less complexities? Perhaps a ring with just one diamond, rather than the many the one he had already purchased bore. No matter; if worse came to worse, and Sophie did not like the ring, he would simply transform it and give it to her again.

Quill hit paper, and the wizard began to write with a renewed vigor.

I have an important question to ask you when we meet up, and I do hope you will say yes. You see, the question is quite important to our futures. The answer to said question is even more so. When I get to asking you that question, you should say yes. Our happily ever after depends on it, you see. If you are to say no, we cannot possibly live to have a happily ever after; or at least, I won't.

You may, however. Please say yes? Please, please, please say yes?

Please?

I suppose you can't say yes if you don't know what the question I'm going to ask you is. Unfortunately for you (and perhaps me) I am not going to tell you. You will have to guess until then. I think you will be able to guess the question I have for you; you being the clever, nosy witch I married. And will marry again, of course.

In case anyone but you happens to get their hands on this letter, I hope that Adrian knows I hold him in the highest form of admiration.

Lie.

I needn't go on about how much I admire him, for surely it is clear to him that I do.

Lie. Lie. Lie.

As long as he doesn't plan to make me one of his meals; which I am sure, are well refined and--not at all unrespectable like myself. I daresay he would find me rather tasteless. Assure him of that, won't you Sophie?

I have good news for you, as well. Calcifer's been dropping more hints. It seems Morgan will soon be joining us. If that witch of a--no offense darling, I should say Witch of a girl even attempts to get her hands on him, she'll find herself a warty, speckled toad. Or perhaps something even more disgusting. Do you have any suggestions on how to rid Gaia of that trouble maker? Honestly, I ask about Morgan and she goes deaf. You'd think I'd asked about the end of the world or something.


No matter. I have decided; as soon as Morgan as returned to us, that girl, and her entire family (except Jaella, I'm rather fond of the girl), are being turned into toads. On that note, I think it is time for me to say goodnight. If all goes well, this letter will come to you in the morning.

I love you,

Howl