<em>Elijah and Maddi</em><br/><br/>Elijah just enjoyed the light byplay with Maddi as they relaxed in each others' arms.  Then for a moment, Elijah saw a cloud over Maddi's face.  He pursed his lips to ask the question, but before he could even frame the reply, it was gone and Maddi was on her feet and heading for the surf.  He paused for a moment letting the feelings wash over him.  She had a skeleton in her closet.  It was all clear to him now.  But he didn't care about it, whatever it was.  Inside he laughed at himself, at least she was not previously a man, he would have seen the scars.  No, the cloud came after telling him that she never wanted anyone as much as him.  This led him to believe that, like himself and Rachael, she may have had a really bad previous relationship or maybe more than one.  Well, Elijah was determined to make sure she never had another bad one again.<br/><br/>While he was thinking about their long term, Maddi had been working on their short term...job.  She had gathered her equipment and started swimming butt naked to the reef.  Elijah sighed and swam after her.  It was slow going as Elijah was not the strongest swimmer, but eventually he caught up to Maddi who had already arrived.  She held out her hand and Elijah took it gratefully.  "Thanks for the hand.  I'm not the strongest swimmer, though I can keep myself from drowning.  I usually let the other boys handle the fishing, so you'll have to give me some quick instructions  to the best method.  I know the concept, just haven't worked much on the practical application."<br/><br/>Elijah watched and listened carefully to Maddi's explanations.  Sometimes he caught himself just watching Maddi and how she moved, in what felt almost like an out-of-body experience.  Once the two of themselves got situated and began to fish, Elijah cautiously asked, "Maddi, I know this may seem like an asinine question and part of me doesn't want to ask it, but part of me needs to know.  You are beautiful, strong, and funny...looking...Sorry, I get silly during serious moments.  Anyway, you are a dream come true to me.  This makes it hard for me to believe that prior to your crashing our party here, that you could have been truly single.  I promise you that whatever the answer, I do and will love you.  But...Are you married or Do you have a boyfriend who will want you back if we...when we return?"  Elijah tried to look Maddi straight in the eye, but he was too afraid of the answer.  How could this gorgeous creature not be, at least, seeing someone?