Update on my mom...she came through the sugery fine. Things didn't go as smoothly as we hoped, but all's well that ends well. Thanks for all your well wishes!

Thanks for all the reviews on chapter 8. I had several PM's about it, and I'm sorry that it was too graphic for some readers. I've decided not to edit it, but I will be sure to put a huge warning on forthcoming chapters. The M rating should have tipped readers off as the smut warning...don't like, don't read.


"Well, that's it," declared Edgar dusting his hands off, "I don't think the engine has ever looked or sounded so good. Sig's going to be in for a big surprise."

"So on to the hydraulics then?" asked Marie.

"Roger, and then we'll be finished for the summer," Edgar said eagerly, anticipating a few weeks off before leaving for the king crab season.

Marie gave him a playful hurt look, "You trying to get rid of me already?"

"Huh?"

"The engine, the hydraulics? Once they're done I head back, remember?"

Edgar's voice caught, "Oh yeah, it slipped my mind." His gaze caught and held hers; he had been shutting away the thought of their time together ending. Now it was staring him in the face again. She reached out and took his hand, "I don't want it to end either," was her soft reply. Edgar pulled her into an embrace and after a lingering kiss he leaned his chin against her head, "Does it have to?"

"There's not a snowball's chance in hell that I'm joining your crew, and your brother would kill you if you jumped ship on him. Not to mention Junior would pine away if you cut the cord."

"What's wrong with my boat?"

"It's not the boat, it's the crew. You guys are way too uptight. Someone's gonna have a heart attack over here."

"So says the queen of the party barge."

Marie shrugged her shoulders, "So we like to enjoy our work, where's the harm in that? Keeps our stress levels low."

"I guess then we'll have to fish on our own boats, but do we have to end?"

"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?" she teased.

"Yeah, I guess I am," he leaned against the deck rail.

Later that evening Marie and Edgar were curled up together on the couch watching TV. Throughout the day Edgar had been aware that his subconscious was working on the conversation about he and Marie being a couple. He was only half watching the inane comedy on while he absentmindedly rubbed her arm. Marie had been watching Edgar out of the corner of her eye. She could tell he wasn't into the show and judging by his frowning and the way he had been fidgeting for the last hour she assumed he was having second thoughts about them being a couple. She wasn't honestly surprised, she had never been the kind of girl that men wanted to be with anyways. She didn't want to end it with Edgar, but she didn't want him walking on eggshells around her for the next three weeks either. Quickly Marie said a prayer and then hit the mute button. The silence startled Edgar out of his thoughts, "What's wrong?"

She took a deep breath, "Look, you can relax, I'm not going to hold you to the girlfriend comment."

"Huh? You don't want to be with me?" the hurt in his voice was obvious.

"No! Of course I do, but I can see on your face…"

"I frown when I'm thinking. Why would you think I wouldn't want you?"

"Oh please," she huffed, " I'm not the girl guys take home to their families."

Edgar had seen her self-doubt in their many conversations and finally understood where she was coming from. "Yes you are. But I don't think I want to just be your boyfriend," Edgar whispered, but all Marie heard was "I don't want to be your boyfriend."

"Oh," came her quiet reply, "I see." She could feel tears building in her eyes and she refused to let them fall in front of Edgar. She rose abruptly and started to leave the room.

Edgar grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him, "I lied."

"You lied?" Marie choked out. "About what?"

"No promises. I lied about it."

"No promises?"

"I want…more. I want you more than just as my girlfriend, but I can't say I'm ready to walk down the aisle either."

"Its all been so sudden," added Marie softly.

"It has, but I love you Marie." He touched his forehead to hers.

"I love you too Edgar. Soo…."

"Soo….?

"So where does that leave us?"

"I guess if we were in high school I would buy you a promise ring and a teddy bear."

"Thank God we aren't in that hell anymore."

"You'd decapitate the bear wouldn't you?"

"Pull it limb from limb."

"So we're more serious than just dating, but not engaged?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Do you want to go public yet? Although, my brothers are never going to believe me when I tell them we're together."

Marie laughed, "And no one else is going to believe it either."

Edgar howled just thinking about their friends' reactions, "They're all going to think we're pranking them."

"They will! You're right! We could have fun with that ya know."

"Hell yeah, we can. But, we'll plot later, right now I have something else in mind…" Edgar lunged for her, but she was too quick. She giggled, jumped over the back of the couch, and dashed through the hall with Edgar in hot pursuit...