Maddie and David arrived at the cabin a little past 2. David was almost feeling like his old self and was whistling as he brought in the bags of groceries. He was dying for a beer. As David pushed open the door he couldn't believe his eyes. The cabin was small. Tiny. It was one room . David's eyes were immediately drawn to the centerpiece of the room. A huge bed that took up half of the space. Oh boy, he thought . He did notice there were also a small sofa and a small table with a couple of chairs. That was it. Oh and he saw there was a bathroom. Thank God for that! Maddie couldn't wait for Maddie's reaction when she saw the room. He sighed and put the bags on the table and his overnight case on the floor.

Maddie's eyes widened as she took in the room. Her eyes went from the bed to the table to the couch and back to the bed. Wild thoughts were going through her head. Why do you hate me God? I try to be a good person. Why must you torture me so? She looked at David and he laughed. Should we flip for the bed? Maddie threw him a nasty look "No, I got the bed David. You take the sofa. You are still gentlemen aren't you?"

David: "Never said I was one. And sure I was just joking the sofa is fine." There was that word again!. Neither noticed the snow starting to fall outside. The weatherman was predicting a blizzard. Agnes was smiling in LA.

"So where's the cabin we're supposed to be staking out? David asked Maddie as he looked at the window at the swirling snow.

Maddie: (shaking her head) "I don't know David. I didn't notice a cabin nearby when we pulled up and I can't see anything outside except snow falling. A lot of snow falling." She turns to David "Maybe we should leave."

David: (shaking his head) "I don't think it's a good idea to drive down a mountain in the middle of a snow storm."

Maddie: "Well, I suppose we can't do much until it stops. I hope it stops soon! I can't see anything out there never mind a cabin."

David: "Maybe I should take a walk around. See what I find."

Maddie looks David up and down "With sneakers and a leather jacket? In this storm? I don't think it is a good idea."

David flashes her a smile "Worried about me?"

Maddie scowls at him "Get over yourself Addison. I was just being level headed."

David felt his smile instantly dissolve. 'Always level headed. Right Maddie?"

Maddie "And what is that supposed to mean?"

David shrugging. "Nothing, it means nothing." He started checking out the small room for some form of entertainment. He notices an old TV and heads for it. Maddie watches as David attempts to turn it on to no avail. "Shit." He mumbles.

Maddie noticed a pile of magazines on the old coffee table and rifles through them. Old issues of Cosmopolitan. She hadn't read it in years but beggars can't be chooses she thinks to herself. Taking magazines, Maddie tucks her legs under her and makes herself comfortable on the battered sofa. She loses herself in an article.

David couldn't help but notice Maddie relaxing on the couch as he went to the tiny refrigerator for a beer. "Would you like a drink Maddie?"

Maddie looks up from the magazine. "Sure, I glass of wine would be nice. Thank you."

David opened his beer and poured Maddie a large tumble of wine. He handed her the wine as he flopped on the couch beside her. Boy, it was a small couch both noticed. Their legs were inches apart. David looked over her shoulder at what she was so absorbed in. David started to read the headlines in a high falsetto tone of voice.

"How to Get His Attention!" he read "I Want to Know!" he continued 'His G-Spot and How to Find It. I never knew I lost it. Or had it." David was amused at the headlines and couldn't help laughing. Despite herself Maddie found herself laughing with him David could always make her laugh. That was part of his charm.

Maddie joined him in the headline reading. "How to Get Him to Behave." She read. "And to think all these years I should have been reading Cosmo to find the answers to how men think!" she laughed.

David smiled at her "How men think? That's easy! It's you women who are so hard to figure out."

Maddie put the magazine down and looked carefully at David. "Are you kidding" Pray tell let me know how easy men are to understand." She stares at him. "Take you for example. What is it you want?"

David knew it had put himself in a precarious situation. "I want a pizza and a good ball game. See that was easy!" David got off the couch and walked over to the window. Maddie frowned at his back disappointed in his flip answer. "Whatever David. I wish we had a radio or something so we can hear what's going on with this storm." David looked around and suddenly hit pay dirt. He held up a small battery operated radio. "Your wish is my demand." David turned on the radio just in time to hear the weatherman "The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning to the San Gabriel Mountain area. A foot or more of snow is expected to fall through the night. People are urged to stay inside and keep off the roads."

"Well might as well make ourselves comfortable. Looks like we're gonna be stuck inside for a bit." David flops back on the couch reaching for a magazine. "At least we have such wonderful reading material to pass the time." David opens the magazine and starts to laugh.

Maddie throws him a look. "What's so funny?"

David shows her the article he is reading. "Do women really believe this crap? No wonder you're all nuts!"

Maddie takes offense "We're nuts? Look who is talking old nuttier than Mr. Peanut Dave!"

David: "Hey, hold the phone! I'm not nuts. Fun lovin, crazy in some ways but nuts. Nah."

Maddie: "Really? And I for one do not read these rags.' Realizes she had been reading it. "I mean, well you know what I mean. Not when I'm home. Anyway, I don't need a magazine to figure out men!"

David smirks at her. "You don't huh?"

Maddie can't help but mentally shiver at the huskiness of his voice. "So you have me all figured out? Do you?"

Maddie looks at David measuringly and shakes her head. "You? No, you are one of a kind. Can't figure you out."

David: (smiling at her) "Really? I'm not hard to understand at all."

Maddie: "WRONG!"

David: "And you think you're easy to figure out?"

Maddie shakes her head. "I never said that."

David: "Ok. So what is it you want Maddie? What rocks your boat? What's gonna make you happy? I want to know!"

David is patiently waiting for Maddie to answer.

Maddie carefully weighs her words. "I guess I want what every woman wants. A good man, a family, and a home someday. A man who wants me and only me."

David: (snidely) "A man like Sam huh?"

Maddie is taken aback: "Who said anything about Sam?" I turned him down David." She lowers her voice. "Remember?"

David: "Oh yeah! Before that night. The night that happened but never happened and won't happen again. I remember now."

Maddie: "Forget it! Why do I bother trying to talk to you at all! You are despicable!" She gets up and heads to the bathroom. 'I'm tired and I'm going to bed. You can sleep here on the couch." She slams the bathroom door.

David to himself. 'I missed that slam." David is mentally kicking himself. He can't understand why he won't allow himself to open up to her. Maddie wasn't Tess or Jillian. Sure she said she wanted a good man. But he doubted that man was him. She gave him the impression that she didn't think he was good enough for her. And that bothered him. A lot.

Maddie quickly showered and changed into her nightgown and robe. She is furious with herself for opening up to David. When will she learn? She has decided that when they get back to LA she will sell her half of the agency to David and leave Blue Moon. She couldn't be around him any longer. It was killing her and she may wind up killing him!

When Maddie came out of the bathroom, David could see by the redness of her eyes that she had been crying. Had he made her cry? Why? How? He sure was a bonehead sometimes.

David: "Maddie can we talk?" David walks toward her. "We need to talk."

Maddie: 'There really is nothing to talk about David. I'm tired."

David in a cajoling voice. "Please." How could she resist the pleading tone in his voice?

David sits on the sofa and beckons Maddie over. "Come here." Maddie sits on the sofa as far away from David as possible. He shifts uncomfortably not knowing exactly what he was going to say but knowing he had to say something to knock down the walls between them. Or walk away forever.

David begins, not looking at Maddie: "You asked me what I wanted and I said I didn't know. Well, I lied." David looks at Maddie who is looking at him patiently. "I know what I want but am too much of a jerk and a coward to after it. My heart has been stomped on a few times over the years and it has made me gun shy. You know about Tess and Jillian?"

Maddie nods listening to David not sure of where this conversation was heading. But knowing it may be the most important conversation of their lives. David stops. Maddie prods him. "Go on David. I'm listening."

David looks over at her. He notices her damp hair and satin robe and he feels his words sticking his throat. Then she smiles at him and he feels braver. "Anyways, over the years I have stayed clear of relationships. Steered clear of wanting and needing just one woman. That is until you walked into my life. The first time I saw you I knew. I said to myself this one is going to be trouble. This one can get at me. I saw behind your icy snow queen exterior to the warm, generous woman you really are. I put up roadblocks between us using my jokes and banter. I tried to keep you at arms' length. I didn't want you to get too deep under my skin. I think I felt like you thought I wasn't good enough for you."

Maddie: "That's not true David!"

David: "Let me finish. I didn't want to try with you. Then came Sam. I knew I couldn't let you go? How could I live without you?"

Maddie suddenly feeling a weight lifting off her chest. 'What are you saying David?"

David: "What do you think I'm saying?"

Maddie shook her head. "Don't know."

David sidles close to Maddie and starts running his hand up and down her arms. She shivers with wanting but pushes his hand away.

David is irritated. "What are you doing? Don't you want me?" He leans close to her. So close their lips were almost touching. "I know you want me."

Maddie pushes him away and stands up. She is angry and disappointed. "You know nothing!" Maddie goes to the bed and pulls the covers over her head. David follows her and pulls the covers off her head.

David sounding annoyed and tired. "I lay my cards on the able. Open up my heart to you and you push me away and hide under the covers? What's with that?"

Maddie sitting up. "Are you kidding? You opened your heart to me? You told me nothing!" She pushes him off the bed. 'Go away Addison! Leave me alone!"

David pushes himself up from the floor. "No, I won't leave you alone."

Maddie feels tears in her eyes ready to spill over. Why must he aggravate me? Why must he torture me? "Why? David? Why?" she cries out.

David feels the words gushing out of his mouth before he knew what he was saying. "Because I love you Maddie." He sits beside her on the bed and lowers his voice. "And I hope you love me. Do you?"

Maddie pulls him closer to her. "You big dope. I love you with all my heart!"

David's smile was so wide it almost split his face in two. "YAY."

Maddie: "Then why if you love me did you act that way after the night that happened but never happened?"

David: "I told you. I'm a jerk and a coward. I was running scared. I love you so much but the thought of being with you and then you leaving me scares me."

Maddie: "I'm not going to leave you David."

David: "Yeah you say that now."

Realization finally dawns on Maddie. 'David, I'm not them. I'm me. When I give my love, my body I don't do it lightly. I give my heart forever. Come here you big dope!"

David takes Maddie in his arms and…. (Use your imagination. It is more powerful than any pen)

Afterward, Maddie smiles down at David. "Shall we make a pact?" she asks.

David feels like he has been punched in the gut. Maddie laughs at the expression on his face. "A pact that what happened tonight happened tonight and will happen again and again. Forever."

David takes Maddie in his arms kissing her neck with slow feathery kisses. 'Now that's a pact I can live with."

THE END