Chapter One: Shooting Stars

I got the inspiration for this story while sitting at Thunder Over Louisville. Thunder is something we do in Louisville, KY to kick off the Derby Festival. It's a huge fireworks show (Over $1 million of fireworks) and since it's held in April every year, we expect nice weather. Well this year it was 47 degrees, with a 22 degree wind chill factor, and it rained. THAT'S COLD! ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE SITTING LITERALLY ON THE EDGE OF THE OHIO RIVER! So during the 11 hours I was there, my friends and I resorted to laying on a tarp with 5 blankets covering us. Although my friend Nick enjoyed it since he was in between 2 girls on said tarp... All in all it was an entertaining day. We saw numerous drunk people dancing when there was no music playing, and in front of us were 2 people...uhh...well to put it quite frankly, having wild sex under a quilt... (Let me tell you, THAT was freakin' funny.)

This hasn't been beta'd, so any mistakes are compliments of yours truly.

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Friday, March 18, 2005
Virginia Wilderness
2145 EST--
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"So what are we doing out here?" Mac asked, as they carried a tent, two folding camping chairs, two sleeping bags, and two backpacks up a hill.

"Well, since we're far enough up that you won't go back, I'll tell you. We're going to watch a meteor shower." Harm replied.

"Oh."

"Weren't expecting that were you?"

"No, I wasn't. But I like the idea."

"I thought you would."

"What time is it supposed to start?"

"About 2230. We'll hopefully have enough time to get the tent set up before it starts."

"Where are we stopping?"

"The top of the hill. It's about another 100 yards."

"Good. It's freezing out here."

"Well once we get to the top you can start a little fire while I set everything up."

"I don't want to leave everything for you to set up by yourself. Plus with a fire we won't be able to see the stars as clearly."

"It's just the tent basically. After I set it up I'll use the footpump to inflate the air mattress." He said, turning slightly to speak to her. "Speaking of which, I only have one of them. I think some others had the same idea that I did because I not only couldn't find a larger tent, but I couldn't find another air mattress."

"It's okay. With you being a Navy-Baby and all, I'm sure you'd have ended up being scared by the sounds of the night and come climb into bed with me anyway."

He stopped, turned around, and looked her straight in the eyes.
"If I climb into bed with you, it won't be because I'm scared." He said, then turned and started walking again leaving Mac stunned.

A few minutes later they arrived at the top of the hill and set all their gear down. Harm immediately started to set the tent up, while Mac took the two camping shairs out of their carrying sleeve and set them on the ground. She took a few blankets out of their bags and sat in one of the chairs to watch Mister 'I-can-do-it-myself' set the tent up.

He did that with little trouble, and then inflated the air mattress and spread the two sleeping bags out on top.

"Alright, all done. Now we just sit and wait I guess." He set the battery powered lantern he'd been using down on the ground, then took a seat beside Mac.

"It shouldn't be too much longer."

"Are you going to use all three blankets?"

"Yes."

"And what if I'm a little chilly and want one?"

"Are you cold?"

"Yeah, kind of."

Mac stood up with all three blankets around her and took a seat on his lap.

"I'm not letting go of my blankets..."

"This works just as well, if not better." He put both of his arms around her and pulled her down against him.

She laid her head in the crook of his neck.

"Comfortable?"

"Yeah." She sighed happily.

"Hey, look." Harm pointed up into the sky, where meteors were dancing across the night sky.

For the next few moments the sky had Mac's undivided attention.

After about 30 minutes of watching Mac began to yawn.

"Are you ready to turn in for the night?" Harm asked her.

"Yeah, I think so. It's been a long day."

They both went into the tent.

"Crap! Harm, I forgot to put something to sleep in in my bag..."

"Oh... Well I have a pair of boxers and a t-shirt if you want them."

"I don't want to take your clothes for tomorrow."

"Don't worry about it. I'll be fine. Sleeping in those clothes you have on won't be very comfortable, so take my extra ones. Although you might get kind of cold." He tossed her the clothes.

"Well, I guess I'll have to invite myself over to your sleeping bag, which appears to be a double..."

"It is. And you don't need to invite yourself. I'm inviting you."

"Thank you." She started to get undressed.

Harm just watched, mouth hanging open.

"Are you okay, Harm?"

"Yeah, just.." He might as well be honest "enjoying the view."

She smiled and walked toward him.

"Then maybe you would prefer it if I didn't borrow your clothes and just stayed like this." She said seductively.

"Whatever would make you most comfortable..." He all but screeched. His voice had risen in pitch.

"Harm, you're so funny." She kissed his cheek.

"Yeah... Uhh, I'm going to go to...uhh..find a bush... You get the picture."

"Don't get lost." She said as she started to put the three blankets on the air mattress.

When he came back she was already inside his sleeping bag.

"Hurry up and get inside here. First of all, I'm cold. Second I need to use you as a pillow, since you failed to bring any..."

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to have to carry too much." He said, slipping his jeans and shirt off, leaving him in a long underwear set.

"Nice pajamas there."

"Well at least I remembered mine."

"Ha ha..." She said sarcastically.

He grinned and crawled in beside her. He pulled all the blankets up around them, mostly around her though, and then got deeper into the sleeping bag.

Mac laid her head on his shoulder and buried her face in his neck.

"Your nose is cold." He said.

"I know. All of me is cold. See?" She suddenly put her ice cold hands under the top to his long underwear set.

"AHH! That's cold! How would you feel if I did that to you?" He snaked his hands under the t-shirt she was wearing.

"That's not fair! You're not supposed to do that to me. Just me to you."

"And why is that fair?"

"It's an unspoken law among us. Women are supposed to be able to put their cold hands on any warm part of their man's body."

"I wasn't aware of the fact that I'm your man..."

"You are. You're the only person who's always been here with me through almost everything. I think that's makes you mine."

"Well, had I have known I was your's, I would have probably already taken advantage of certain perks and/or privledges."

"Like?"

"Being able to do this whenever I please." He moved his head to kiss her gently.

"Who said you couldn't do that now whenever you please?"

"Well, we men have our laws too."

"Such as?"

"One of our rules is that we're not supposed to kiss a woman more than twice in a 12 hour period unless we ask them out on a date for tomorrow night at about 1900."

"Harm, is that your way of asking me out on a real date?"

"Yeah, I suppose it is."

"Than I guess I have no choice but to accept. For no other reason than that my lips are cold and could use warming." She grinned at him.

"Easily arranged." He kissed her again.

The End.