The Moose, the Tree, and the Irish Writer

Viggo nearly killed himself running into touseouse.

"Tabby?!" He ran in the door just in time to see her start to crumple to the floor. He caught her in his arms and saw why she was screaming.

"Shit, Dave you scared her half to death." Viggo yelled.

"Didn't do me much good either, V." ." Dave said quite pale faced as he watched Viggo carry the limp form to the couch.

"You look like some kind of weirdo Dave you realize that don't you...standing in the middle of my kitchen in that damn greasy uniform and why the fuck do you have an ax in your hands?" Viggo asked.

"I borrowed it remember? I saw how bad the weather was getting and figured you might need it back to chop wood. I didn't meo sco scare her...really...I actually...well hell I planned on scaring you...didn't expect her to come bounding into the kitchen like that." Dave said guiltily.

Viggo just started laughing. "You are such an ass, Dave."

He leaned over Tabby and rubbed her hands in his. "Tabby sweetheart wake up...it's ok...Dave isn't an ax murderer really...he's my friend..'s o's ok."

After a few seconds her eyes started to flutter open and she saw Viggo...she flinched but she didn't scream. Then she sat up and saw Dave standing there.

"I am so sorry Miss." He said trying to apologize but nearly before he got all the words out Tabby was up and was slapping him with the loose cuffs of the too big sweatshirt. Smacking him all over his chest and calling him very unkind things in Gaelic. Viggo just sat on the coffee table and laughed...he couldn't help it and then she turned on him.

"And YOU sitting there laughing. Go n-ithe an cat thú is go n-ithe an diabhal an cat!!" Then she sputtered more words Gaelic he didn’t understand before she calmed down.

Viggo just laughed, “I doubt the devil is handy right now.”

She just glared at him, “Póg mo thóin!” and then stomped up stairs to her room.

"Shit." Dave said softly.

"She didn't hurt you did she?" Viggo asked trying to contain his laughter.

"No...nothing more than my pride...what was she saying to me anyway?" Dave asked.

"She basically said ‘may the cat eat me and the devil eat the cat’ and on her way out she told me to kiss her ass. Trust me you do not want to know what she said to you at least the parts I understood of it."

"So she is the one who hit the tree huh? A little high strung?" Dave asked.

"She is a little jumpy but not normally that excitable but you did scare the hell out of her standing there with a fucking ax you moron." Viggo said shaking his head. Sean is going to absolutely hurt himself laughing over this one.

Viggo walked with Dave back out to his truck and waved as he left. He looked up and saw Tabby standing at her window...she was crying. Shit.

He ran upstairs and knocked on her door but she didn't answer. He opened the door ly. ly.

"I am sorry, Tabby." Viggo started.

"Don't." She sniffed. "Don't...it's ok… Tá mé ceart go leor....I always cry when I get upset like that...I don't do it often and I always cry when I do. Emotional roller coaster we Irish are. Shit Viggo I fainted I was so scared...I just saw this big man with an ax and lost it."

Viggo tried to keep from cracking a smile...it was just too damn funny and sad at the same time. Plus the fact when she is upset she slides in and out of Gaelic just makes her even more endearing to him.

"It wouldn't have done me any good either even though I know Dave I was shocked too. I didn't even remember that it was MY ax I had loaned him last month." Viggo said walking toward her.

She turned away from him but Viggo took her shoulders and turned her back to him.

"I am sorry Tabby." He said looking into her teary eyes.

"It's not your fault, not really, and I don't really blame you for laughing...well I do but by tomorrow I will probably be laughing over it too. Maybe it’s material I can use in one of my books." She said looking down studyine bue buttons on his shirt as if they were something of great importance.

Viggo tipped her head up with his finger under her chin.

"You are magnificent you know that. Tá tú go h-álainn." He said smiling down at her.

"Why would you say that? I wouldn't exactly say what I did was particularly brave…and don’t tell me I am beautiful. I am a mess." She said shaking her head.

"You are beautiful. Plus who cares if you were brave or not...you scared the shit out of Dave you know...when you attacked him with your shirt sleeves I thought he was going to cry...he was very sorry you know." Viggo said softly stroking her cheek.

She laughed at that. "God Viggo look at us...look how we met...we are just plain weird aren't we?"

"Yeah, but I like us like that." Viggo whispered just before he leaned in and claimed her lips. He had wanted to do that since last night. He had dreamed about it but the dream was never as good as being here with her now, warm and kissing him back. His tongue slid into her mouth slowly and then she sighed. It caused his knees to weaken. God he wanted her...he wanted to take her right then...then a noise invaded his thoughts. It was a car horn. Shit. Perfect timing. He thought.

He broke off the kiss and stepped back. They both turned and looked out the window.

"What the hell?" Viggo growled gazing at the car in the yard.

"For someone who lives in the middle of nowhere you sure get a lot of visitors." Tabby said smiling at him. Viggo just groaned and headed for the door.