here's 10! enjoy

10.

I had finally decided. I would corner her in the bathroom, and we would talk. It was the one room in the house without a window, or two doors, and I didn't want her bailing on me at the last minute.

I know what you're thinking. Who in their right mind would use a window to escape a conversation? Well I don't know, I mean, we've used them as escape routes enough in the past that I wasn't going to take any chances.

So the Monday after Iggy's enlightening insight, I was up at 5:00am, waiting. Like I said, not taking any chances.

It was a good thing I wasn't. At 6:13, the sun's barely over the horizon, and she's up. She walks into the kitchen, vulnerable and fragile looking, but seemingly at peace with the world.

After a glass of water, she turns and enters the washroom, with me trailing quietly after.

She stares at herself in the mirror for a minute, and starts combing her hair. Then I enter. Her gaze shifts from her silky locks to my face, and she freezes mid stroke. Her eyes harden, and the rest of her face goes carefully impassive as well.

"We need to talk." I say, and close the door.

"Uh…o-okay…"

"Well um…" wow, the moment of truth, and once again my tongue is on sick leave. So I tell it that it better have it's but back in here in two seconds, or else. Meanwhile, Max is staring at me blankly.

"Okay, well back at the cave….you…what you told me, I mean…what I didn't tell you…" Okay, remind me to hire a new tongue. I'm better off without this one. But the show must go on, so…"Well, what I meant to say is, well, I feel the same way. I was just too scared or stunned or something to say so…you sort of caught me off guard, and I didn't know what to say, or how to say it. But I guess I do now." I take a deep breath. "I…" embarrassed I look away. "I love you." I sort of mumble, and then I feel like an idiot. But I look her in the eyes, so she can see the truth of the statement.

"R-really?" she smiles.

"Yeah." I answer, and a smile slips out. Oh well, go with the moment, and all that.

She hugs me. "Thank you."

"Um…yeah…" I say, only slightly embarrassed now, and hug her back.

She looks up at me, and smiles again. She really does have an amazing smile. "Lets go start breakfast." She takes my hand and starts leading me to the kitchen. I decide not to point out that neither one of us can cook worth beans. See? I can be sensitive. Sometimes.