Max had been given Gunnar time to recover and wind down, she hadn't seen him for over a week but she received phone calls every evening just as she was climbing into bed. He wouldn't say much, she knew he only said what he had too generally but slowly he was letting her in, he would ask about her day and tell her about his. He would wish her sweet dreams and mutter an almost silent whisper of "goodnight Cupcake" before hanging up.
He told her that he was renovating his place with the guys help and he finally had called his sister back home. She was so happy to hear from him, she had been so worried and thought him dead, he felt incredibly guilty but she had apologised say that she had turned her back on him when he needed her the most and he said that he was clean and sober over a year now. She was so proud of him and they had talked ever few days. Her name was Malin, he told her and she had young sons named Vikor and Erik and she was a single mother after the boy's father was killed in a car accident. She asked about Gunnar's life and he said his sister was very excited when he said was seeing someone he loved deeply. Gunnar went silent before finally asking Max if she would go with him back to Sweden during the Christmas period.
Max smiled at the phone sweetly saying she had always wanted to see Sweden, she wished him goodnight and the next day she asked Barney for Gunnar's address. Barney smiled at her and woke down an address on the back of a slip of paper, Max pulled into the drive way of the address. It was down on the water and Gunnar's place had its own dock, it had a long drive way and the house was a modest two storey brick building. It had a separate garage that held Gunnar's pride and joy of a chopper with what looked like another partly assembled on among the parts and tools. A work bench held wood clippings and Max could see Gunnar made furniture as well as chess pieces, she wandered through the open garage into the yard and noticed it was split level.
One side had some paved space, with chairs on it and some shady trees as it led to the water's edge, a hammock swung between two trees with a wooden coffee table next to it. The other side had citrus trees, a herb garden and raised garden beds full of fresh fruit and vegetables. Compost, mulch and a potato filled drum sat next to a small shed at the end of the space. She walked into the open back door of Gunnar's house and saw that it had been entirely renovated inside, wooden floorboards, warm walls and rugs in plush fabrics. Endless bookshelves filled with books and a kitchen with hanging pots above a butchers block in the centre. She noticed a chess set around, more books and as she approached the door she noticed that only the front room had a tv. It was a decent sized TV but other areas had been completely TV free. She noticed a throw rug over the back of the second lounge room and a coffee cup next to the paper. She by passed the down stairs bathroom and laundry, she reached the stairs and finally called out
"Henrik?" as she walked up the stairs slowly, she noticed photos on the wall and shoes, books and bottles filled with sand or pebbles on the stairs neatly stacked.
"Max?" Gunnar called back clearly puzzled why she was there, she rolled her eyes fondly
She noticed a room with a large computer, more books and what looked like a lab set up in one room, a spare room and another bathroom. She kept walking
"Henrik you up here?" She called again
"Hang on" He answered from the last door that she pushed open
The main bedroom was incredibly large, it had almost ceiling to floor glass along one side that gave off the most stunning view of the water. The custom-made insanely large wooden bed sat against the wall, Max guessed Gunnar made the frame and got the mattress made. Bedside tables, a free-standing wardrobe and a matching chest of drawers filled out the room. More books sat at Gunnar's beside table, only one being used with lamps on each and she noticed another door that she knew must hold Gunnar in the en suite. She sat on the bed and waited
"Cupcake" He called out loudly coming around the door into the room in only a white towel tied around his hips, he stopped short seeing her perched on the bed and rubbed the back of his neck still shaking water out of his hair
"Hi" She smiled
Gunnar walked over to the chest of drawers and turning his back on her pulled out a pair of jeans, he wandered back into the bathroom and returned doing the jeans up.
"How you feeling" She smiled noticing the new scar on his right arm
"All healed" he answered looking at it as well
"All healed?" She asked
"Yep, got the all clear from the doc" he added
"Good" Max smiled as she walked over and wrapped both arms around his still slightly steaming neck, she placed a kiss on his left cheek and placed another on his right, she moved her kisses closer but never reached his lips. She placed a kiss just on the corner of his lips before leaning back, she was held upright by Gunnar's strong arms. She smiled at him shyly
"is it okay that I let myself in?" She asked
"Front door wasn't locked?" HE asked
"Yeah but I wandered in from the back yard" She smiled
"Do you like the house?" He asked suddenly
"Its amazing" She smiled placing another kiss after another along his jaw watching his eyes flicker close
"Do you really want me?" Gunnar asked eyes still closed
"Yes Henrik" She sighed placing a kiss against his ear she had just whispered into
"I…" Gunnar stuttered before opening his eyes and looking down at his Cupcake, he lent forward and kissed her lips chastely
"I think I love you Max" he finally admitted
Max flashed a quick grin and pulled his head down crashing her lips onto his, she moulded her lips to his, enjoying the tingle that ran down her spine as his hands slip lower. She pushed herself flush against him as he deepened the kiss and she slowly ran one palm down Gunnar's bare chest. Gunnar hummed deeply in his chest as she did it and she kissed him back as passionately as she could, when she needed oxygen to breath she broke away. She stepped back and picked up Gunnar's hand, she lead him over to the bed and sat him down on the edge. Gunnar had both hands on her hips and Max pulled her t-shirt up over her head showing Gunnar her apple green lace bra. The same bar that Gunnar had picked up from the street when the young guy had tried to steal it.
"Nice" Gunnar grinned repeating his words from that meeting, his eyes noticing a small scar that covered her stomach, leading around her hip slightly. He ran a finger over it looking at her with sadness in his eyes
"Stabbed?" he asked knowing the answer
"Yes" Max answered looking down at her scar sadly
"Roy?" Gunnar asked softly
"Yes" she confirmed
"Im sorry Cupcake" He answered kissing her lips softly
"Henrik" She sighed happily as he pulled her closer and standing up he scooped her up easily in his arms and layed her on the bed carefully before he finished undressing her and removing his own jeans. He crawled up her body placing kisses along her thighs, abdomen, and up her neck as she started to wither underneath him. He kissed her lips eagerly and smiled at her
"Jesus Max, I do love you" he sighed