A pale crescent moon was high in the cloudless night sky when Barney and Valancy crossed the water to return home to their blue castle cabin on the lake. Valancy hummed a song that was playing in the dance hall scene of the movie that they had just watched.

"What is the name of that song?" Barney asked as he steered the prop motor.

"I don't know. I've heard it before yet I can't remember where."

"You can hum it beautifully."

"No. I think that all that bubbly Champagne has softened my voice." She laughed as she spoke.

"It was good. It ought to be." He clicked his tongue.

"It was expensive wasn't it?"

She knew that answer already.

"Does that matter?" He wasn't going to admit it if it was.

"That means yes." Valancy made a face and looked away.

"So you didn't like it?" He gave her a sideways glance.

"To be honest, I prefer the flavor of Cousin Georgiana's homemade dandelion wine. I think that we still have an unopened bottle in the pantry. I will go look for it."

"What did you think about the grand hotel?"

"Oh, it was lovely, even better than I had imagined it would be. Is that what hotels are like in the city? They must be even more grand than that."

"They are, yet they come a dime a dozen, each one trying to outdo the other until its all the same."

"I should like to see that for myself and yet..."

"Yet even more than grand hotels?" Barney leaned forward with interest.

"No. How could glittering chandeliers be any more mesmerizing than the moonlight on the water that we have here right now?"

"You amaze me every time." He shook his head.

"Because I like things simple the way they are now? If a simpleton, I am, than I embrace it fully." Valancy dramatically hugged herself.

"This evening, I've been thinking about how these extravagances might...influence you to think differently in the future. Still, you would rather stare at the moon instead. I think we're becoming more alike everyday."

"I hope so."

At the landing, Barney helped Valancy out of boat and on to the dock. He kissed her in the way that he had on the night of their wedding, soft and quick. With their arms linked, they walked up to the dark cabin. Valancy lit a couple of lamps and started searching the kitchen for that bottle of wine. Barney was in the main room up front, starting a fire at the hearth. After several minutes of searching, Valancy found the bottle and took out the stemmed glasses that were given to her as a gift. She found Barney still in the main room. Candles had been lit on each side of the room.

"I found our country folk version of champagne if you're in the mood, Barney."

He was leaning against the mantle staring into the fire.

"Dear, is everything all right?" Something seemed strange to her.

He looked up into her eyes with an intensity that said that he was in fact in the mood. Valancy Stirling would have gone weak and fainted under his gaze yet Mrs. Redfern reacted without any hesitation. She wrapped her arm over his shoulder and he took the bottle and glasses away with one hand and placed them on the mantle. She attempted to pace her breathing as his fingers traced the curves of her face and neck. She touched his collar bone and shoulder feeling the tension of the muscles in his arm. Her other hand felt the curve at the back his neck and burrowed into his soft hair. His eyes were closed. She felt a soft kiss against her neck and wished that his lips were already on hers. He kept her waiting as his exploration slowly reached to her face. There was no holding back in their kiss or embrace. They had always been so careful before since Valancy did not know how much he really felt for her and he did not know how much her weak heart could take. Their passion was now beyond previous limits.

In a quick motion, Barney picked her up in his arms. She expected to be carried into the other room. He surprised her by gently lowering her to the soft rug on the floor. Valancy felt desire and at ease with him being over her in this way. He loosened his shirt. She placed her hands on his smooth back underneath. She could feel his hand move from her shoulder, all the way down her side and leg until he raised it at the knee and removed her sandal, tossing it aside.

"Now, my girl, how is this footsie game played?" His voice was rough.

Valancy gave a low laugh

"You win, I concede, darling." She jested in short breaths.

"I thought that you might, sweetheart."

He tugged at the loose neckline of her dress exposing her shoulder and tasted it with kisses. She kissed him just under his ear. That's when he raised up and carried her to their room.

Hours later, they lay together in the dark listening to the birds sing their invitation for the sun to rise soon.

"Moonlight, how are you feeling now? Be honest with me." Barney requested as he wiped away the sweat at her forehead and pushed back her hair.

"I feel like...I'm yours in every way. We were somehow always meant to happen."

"I know. That's not what I was asking though. I can feel your heart beating against my own chest. Are you truly well?"

"Oh yes, stronger than ever it seems. Believe me, its true. I love you."

"I want to believe you. I love you intensely. I was remembering those nights that you weren't feeling well..."

"Careful, remember our agreement?" She took ahold of his chin.

"Yes, I know." He recalled as he stroked her bare shoulder. "It's part of a husband's duty to worry about his wife's well being, I can't help that."

"As it is for a wife to take care of her husband's well being too."

"Oh, you've done that tonight, love. Many times, I would dare say."

"Stop." She laughed as she pat him on the arm.

Valancy reached for a robe and sat up.

"Where are you going?" He whined playfully.

"To make our breakfast, of course."

"Neither of us has slept in over two days, lets get some rest."

The collar of the robe slipped down from Valancy's shoulder when she got to the edge of the bed.

"Somehow, I think that if I stay in here, we won't get any rest."

She made the mistake of looking over her bare shoulder back at him and before she knew it he pulled her back in the bed next to him.

"Valancy Redfern, I will love you forever."

"Barney Snaith, I will love you forever—more."