Reaching for The Moon by The Peking Noodle
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Chapter Sixty-Three: Seven Years Bad Luck? Or Not?
In which our hero and heroine get to know each other a bit better…
Max opened her eyes to see gray light leaking in through the blinds that covered the cabin's windows. Logan was sprawled next to her snoring lightly. He had evidently grown restless during the night and the sheets were pushed down around his waist. She smiled as she looked at his lean torso, which was covered with a light sprinkling of dark blonde hairs. As she watched he mumbled something and rolled to his side, reaching out an arm for her. She let him pull her closer and then relax his arm, leaving it lightly thrown over her waist.
Now what? You've got yourself into a real jam here.
What?
You know what. Emotional attachment. Love. You can't afford that, and Logan can't afford for you to love him. It's too dangerous.
Lydecker didn't come after me. He came after him.
So that makes it safer for you? If the Colonel's watching Logan, the last place you need to be is around him. You should get on that bike and hightail it out of here before he wakes up. For his sake as well as for yours.
I can't.
It's on your head then.
"Max?" She must have done something to disturb Logan because he opened his eyes and looked at her blearily. "What time is it?"
"By the light I'd guess just after dawn. Too early to get up."
"Oh I wouldn't say that…."
"Logan!" Her protests were lost as Logan proceeded to show her just what it was early enough for…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Several hours later Max sat back from the cabin's rustic kitchen table and pushed her plate away. "You are definitely the right person to get lost in the woods with, Logan. That was delicious."
"I was a Boy Scout. You know their motto 'Always prepared'' he smiled back at her.
"Guess I can't argue that one. So what's the game plan for today?"
"First thing I need to do is find the laptop that should be stashed somewhere here. Then I can get in touch with my friend Sebastian, and have him take over the negotiations with the Colonel."
Max looked at him with worry showing on her face. "Is that safe for your friend?'
"Sebastian is the best computer hacker I've ever met. He's legendary in the field. He'll be negotiating with Lydecker electronically and believe me, Lydecker won't have a prayer of finding him. Last one who tried to trace Sebastian ended up hiking over the Himalayas because that was where the trail Seb gave him ended up. It was pretty funny to hear how he arrived on top of a mountain, only to find a monastery full of monks who didn't even have electricity or running water, much less computers."
Max laughed at the story. "If you're sure he'll be safe."
"Sebastian has been complaining of boredom lately. This'll give him some entertainment."
Max jumped up and started to clear the table. "I'll do this while you find the laptop."
"You sure you don't mind?" Logan looked at her quizzically.
"Clean up I can do. It's the cooking that I fall a little short on."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Logan found the laptop he was looking for, stashed away in a closet. He spent several hours setting things up to his satisfaction with Sebastian and with Millenium, and then shut the computer down.
He looked around for Max, but soon realized she wasn't inside of the cabin. The weather wasn't particularly wonderful outside, but he decided to check for her there. Sure enough he found her sitting on the top of the steps that led up to the cabin's porch. She seemed preoccupied as she gazed out into the woods that surrounded them. It was a dreary day and the air was damp and heavy. There was an occasional bird call, but the silence was mostly broken by the sound of water dripping from tree branches.
"Penny for them?" Logan said as he sat down next to Max.
Max started, "Oh. I didn't notice you coming."
"You must have been deep in thought. Never thought I could sneak up on a genetically enhanced supergirl," he teased in an effort to lighten her mood.
"Logan…"Max paused.
"Yeah?" he looked at her curiously, wondering what was bothering her.
"I was just thinking about my parents."
That had never even occurred to Logan, and it took him a minute to reply. "Oh. You miss them don't you?"
"Yeah. I do."
Logan dropped an arm around Max's shoulders and pulled her close. She let her head rest on his shoulder as she accepted the comfort he was offering her.
"It's just that with everything that's been happening, it hit me for the first time today that they're really gone. I'll never see them again."
"And…?" he prompted.
"And I never even got to say goodbye to them. To tell them how much I loved them."
Tears were flowing down Max's face.
"They knew, Max."
Max continued to cry silently and Logan put his other arm around her hugging her to him. He murmured soothingly to her, but made no effort to stop her as she cried it out. She finally lifted her head from his chest where it had been buried, and looked up at him with an attempt at a smile.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to turn into some weepy female on you. I don't know what happened."
"Don't worry about it. If anyone has a right to cry it's you. Things haven't exactly been all roses for you lately."
"Thanks, Logan." Max hesitated, "I really appreciate your being there for me. I mean I've kind of made a complete mess of your life and all."
You've made my life into something wonderful, don't you realize that?
"You haven't made a mess of anything, much less my life. I'm glad you came along, Max."
She looked at him doubtfully. "You don't have to be nice, Logan."
"Me? Nice? Ask Ashley about that. Or Kendra. They'll tell you I'm completely selfish and out for what benefits me." Logan shot her a grin.
Max rolled her eyes. "Ashley is a complete airhead from what I saw, and Kendra adores you." She reached over and smacked him lightly. "You know that."
Good job. Got her out of that mood. Keep it light. She doesn't need any more heavy emotion right now.
"Damn. I was hoping you didn't. You mean I can't get any ego boosts from you?"
"Like you need one."
Their eyes met and feelings sparked between them, as had become the norm.
"No but I need this…" Logan pulled her to him for a sweet kiss that soon turned passionate. A few minutes later he looked up, "Um Max, unless we want to give a show to that raccoon who's sitting there watching us we should go inside." She didn't protest, so he rose and pulled her up after him.
"Logan, you aren't doing this just to make me feel better?" Max paused just inside the cabin door.
Logan gave her a mock glare. "I'm selfish remember? This is to make me feel better." He took her hand and demonstrated what he meant. Max smiled smugly as she felt her effect on him. "Anyway this is supposed to be our honeymoon. Can't defy tradition – that's bad luck for seven years."
"Isn't that breaking a mirror?" Max rolled her eyes at him.
"No I'm sure it's something to do with not spending enough time in bed on your honeymoon. And I really can't afford any bad luck right now. I mean I seem to remember a black cat crossing my path not too long ago."
Instead of heading to the bedroom, Logan led Max over to a large fluffy rug that was set in front of the fireplace. Before he had gone outside he had started a fire, and it was crackling merrily. He pulled her down onto the rug, next to him.
"Let me love you, Max."
Max felt herself melting inside at his choice of words and at the look in his eyes. "Yes, Logan." She whispered softly as she let herself fall into his embrace.
End of Chapter Sixty-Three…TBC…
AN: Okay this really will not do. You guys are turning the Peking Noodle into a complete sentimental fool here. This has to end. We need to get back to action and adventure and humor. The PN has a reputation to uphold. So enjoy this while you have it. Things are gonna change very shortly for our hero and heroine… ;)
