Author Note – I have never been to Iceland so most this information I either found off the Vatnajökull National Park Website (which is even less helpful than U.S. National Park websites) or I made up. All the place names are real and the features mentioned are real, but the hiking time and ability to camp at certain locations are not real. If you have any real knowledge of this park let me know and I will fix the story.

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Chapter 7

As Bree walks out of school with a group of friends, Gunnar is leaning against his Jeep wearing a pair of hiking pants and a t-shirt. One of Bree's friends leans over and says "How did you manage to land the hottest guy in Iceland." Bree looks Gunnar up and down appreciating the view and responds with a chuckle "I have no idea."

She walks up to Gunnar and stands on her tip-toes and gives him a quick kiss. Gunnar opens the door and helps Bree up since his Jeep is designed for off-roading. Once he enters the Jeep, Bree asks so where in Vatnajökull are we going?"

"I was thinking since it's your last trip to Vatnajökull you choice. So where are we spending the night tonight Jökulsárgljúfur or Skaftafell"

"That a hard choice, how about Skaftafell since we camped at Jökulsárgljúfur last time"

"Ok, that works. Next question is where do you want to camp out there and day hike or do an overnight. I brought gear for both."

"How about tomorrow we day hike and then an overnight backpack"

"Ok, so what's the plan for tomorrow?"

"How about hiking up from Skaftafell to the glacier and then over Svartifoss falls and then up to Morsárjökull glacier and then over to the Kjós Dells?"

"Ambitious aren't you that's going to be what 18-19 miles total"

"Something like that worried you will not be able to keep up"

"Worried about keeping up with you, NO and where are we going to backpack too?"

"Did you bring glacier and climbing gear?"

"Of course."

"I was think we should go up to Kverk via Sigurdarskáli Ice Cave, spend the night and then come down"

"I like this plan, you, me and a mountain top at sunset and sunrise."

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Four hours later, they arrive at the campsite. Bree fell asleep about 2 hours into the drive. He lets her sleep while he pays the campsite fees and selects a campsite far away from the other campers. Then, he wakes Bree up with a kiss. "We have arrived my lady, your castle awaits your set-up."

As Bree rubs the sleep out of her eyes, Gunnar reaches into the back and grabs some of the fire wood. He has just gotten the fire started when Bree joins him outside and starts to set-up the larger of the two tents Gunnar brought.

Bree makes quick work of putting the tent up and un-rolls their sleeping bags. She joins Gunner by the fire he is now building up.

Gunnar finishes building the fire and he and Bree wander over to the Jeep. They get out a cooler with food, camping stove/grill, and a ground cloth. Gunnar sets up the stove and once it's hot he adds two steaks. Meanwhile, Bree lays out the ground cloth and sits down close to the fire. Once Gunnar closes the lid to the stove, he sits down next to Bree and stretches out.

"Sorry, I fell asleep. I just can't seem to stay awake in long car rides to save my life."

"It's fine. I am use to it" with a good natured chuckle. "You think your mother is pissed?"

"Yes, but it doesn't matter. This is my second to last weekend here and next weekend is the Embassy annual spring gala. Which by the way, will you be my escort?"

"Of course, I was getting worried that you were not going to ask."

"Yea right, you worried" Bree gives Gunnar a playful shove and Gunnar lets himself fall backwards pulling Bree with him. Bree lands on top of Gunnar, and tries to give him a playful punch but he grips her arm and kisses her hand.

Gunnar sits up and checks the steaks. "Medium work for you?"

"You know me so well"

Just as the sunsets, Gunnar pulls the steaks off and they enjoy there meal by a campfire and beautiful sunset. After they finish, Bree washes the dishes in the campground sink while Gunnar pulls s'more stuff out.

"I still don't get why you insist on having these every time we go camping."

"Because they are so warming chocolaty and good" states Bree as she puts a marshmallow on a stick and starts to roast it.

Gunnar chuckles are her response and mumbles "weird Americans." What he doesn't expect is for Bree to playfully punch his arm.

"I object to that, and happen to have in under good authority that you love me"

"You know I do, but that doesn't change the fact s'mores are a weird American invention" Just as Gunnar responds Bree finishes making her first s'more. She looks up and glares at Gunnar, and he uses her momentary distraction to steal her s'more. Before she has a chance to stop him, he takes a rather large bite.

"Hey, I though you didn't like s'mores"

"I don't care for them but they taste much better when stolen from you."

Bree pouts at Gunnar, and he grabs the bag of marshmallows. He sticks one on Bree's stick and pulls her into his arms. After about an hour, Bree has had her fill of s'more and is starting to doze off in Gunnar's warm embrace.

Gunnar gentle wakes Bree up. "Hey you are falling asleep on me. Let me put the fire out and we should head to bed. We have a long hike ahead of us tomorrow."

Gunnar starts to pore water on the fire while Bree changes for bed. She changes and then sits down to start the process of removing her prosthetic. By this time, Gunnar enters the tent. He can tell Bree is struggling to get it off, but knows from experience it's better to wait for her to ask for help.

Bree gets frustrated and gives the prosthetic her trademark glare. "Gunnar can you give me a hand?"

"Yea" Gunnar scoots over to her and helps her slip the prosthetic off and they both climb into their sleeping bags.

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So the blue button is calling your name. Even if you don't review, I still thank you for reading my story.