The Moon is Not Enough by ThePekingNoodle
----------------------------
Chapter Nine: Scratching an Itch
In which our hero finds out something new about himself…
Thunder continued to boom and the rain poured down on the barn, but inside it was dry and warm. Logan had arranged some hay and then spread a blanket over it making a comfortable although somewhat noisy bed for them.
Max hung the lantern on a hook just above them and it cast a cozy glow over the area. It was drafty in the barn, especially in their wet clothes so they made quick work of discarding them and climbing under the second blanket. For a few minutes they concentrated on getting warm again, especially Logan who didn't have Max's higher resistance to cold and damp. Their body heat in the confined space soon had them comfortably warm and Logan's thoughts turned to other things.
He smoothed Max's still wet hair back from her face and looked down at her as she lay there curled up against him.
"What?" she wanted to know wondering what was putting that serious look on his face.
"Just thinking."
"About what?"
He hesitated. "Things. Lydecker and Manticore and about our marriage and who would want it stopped…things."
She sighed. "Logan?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure you want to stay married? I mean this is your chance if you want out. Seeing as how you never intended it in the first place." She looked him straight in the eyes.
He frowned at her. "Why would you bring that up again? I thought we already went over that. Unless you want out? You never exactly intended it either as I remember."
They stared at each other for a moment as unspoken doubts insinuated themselves in each of their thoughts.
Then Logan took a breath. "Max, I think this whole marriage thing is intended to drive a wedge between us, if it isn't intended for more. I love you. I'm married to you and I intend to stay married to you. No matter what's going on."
She smiled at him finally. "I love you too. So what do we do next?"
He leaned in to kiss her with that familiar look in his eyes. "Since it looks like we're stuck here for the night with no television or other entertainment we'll just have to make our own."
"Since when do you watch television anyway?" she wanted to know.
"Shhh…I'm busy…" His hands and mouth were indeed busy and she began to shift restlessly as he
worked.
"Ahhh…I like this entertainment…" she murmured.
"So do I."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When they work in the morning the rain had stopped and sun shone in through the dirty windows of the barn. Logan glanced down at Max who was lying there looking at him sleepily.
"Morning," he said with a smile.
"Morning." She responded.
He shifted and then he frowned.
"What is it?" Max was concerned.
"I think I'm allergic to hay…" he began, ending with a sudden sneeze. "I itch all over."
Max started to laugh and he glared at her. "It isn't funny."
"But it is. Look at you."
Logan glanced down to see that his torso looked almost as
if he had a bad case of sunburn. "Great."
"I think we need to get back and you should wash up. Maybe we can find something to put on it."
"Maybe." Logan sneezed again and jumped out of the bed of hay at the same time.
"What?" Max looked at him curiously.
He stood there for a moment looking somewhat shamefaced.
"Logan? Is there something wrong besides the hay?"
"I hate spiders. There was a spider crawling up my arm."
Max couldn't resist and burst out laughing at the look of disgust on his face. "Would you like me to find it and kill it for you?" she asked sweetly.
Logan just glared at her and then turned his back to her to slip into his clothes. Max lay there watching appreciatively. When he finished he turned to look at her. "Aren't you getting dressed?"
"I was just enjoying watching you."
Logan snorted, still miffed over the spider and his hay allergy, and he walked over to stare outside as he waited for her to dress. He was standing there looking out when two small hands slipped around his waist and he felt her leaning against his back.
"Am I forgiven?" she wanted to know.
He was silent for a moment but then he reached down and pulled her around to stand next to him. He sneezed once more and picked a piece of hay out of her hair. "As long as you don't decide to make this a part of your daily wardrobe." He tickled her nose with the hay and then tossed it away.
"I won't." she smiled, "But we better get back and try to find something for you to take." Logan was absently scratching at his bare arm and she slapped his hand away.
He took her hand in his and hand in hand they left the barn and headed back to the guest house, their way being marked by periodic sneezes followed by giggles.
End of Chapter Nine…TBC…