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PAGE 1

Content Warning: violence, swearing, adult situations, and
images of child experimentation (basically that means Max's
memories from Manticore)

Author's note: Some of the 'Manticore' history may not
be 100% accurate, also I changed some of it around to
fit the storyline...but the important ideas are still there

*****

10:30 a.m.

The loud noises coming from the street was what

woke Max up. She opened her eyes and did a double

take.

This wasn't her apartment. This wasn't her bed.

She became more awake as she saw the sleeping

form of someone next to her.

<What the fuck did I do, or rather *who* did I do?>

she rephrased the question in her mind.

Heat. That every four month, full moon bitch that

made her want to get it on with anything male that

was warm blooded. She hated it, feeling like a

trashy fifty cent whore every time her animal

chromosomes wanted her to pass on her Alpha genes.

She quietly inched her way over to the bed's other

occupant, she needed to see who she had "chosen" in

her feverous passion to mate.

<Oh shit> That was the first thought that came to her

mind as she gazed at Logan, still asleep beside her.

He looked so innocent, like a little boy. And he was

obviously nude under that cotton blue sheet. Come to

think of it...

<Yep> she said mentally, checking herself. <So am I>

Further evidence to this revelation lay strewn about

Logan's hardwood floor. A pair of jeans, a blue ribbed

man's sweater, her own black tank and leather pants.

<We must have been busy> she remarked with a small

smirk.

Flashes of the night suddenly came to her <"You're so

beautiful Max" his voice was husky, "I never thought

I could do this again" He kissed her and wrapped a

leg around hers>

Wait, back that up...he used his *leg*..but that can't

be. She looked around for his wheel chair, but didn't

find it. Another memory filtered it's way into her mind.

<"I can't believe this" she cried enthusiastically

launching herself at him> <"Neither can I" he hugged

her back "But here I am, or rather here I *stand*">

Now she remembered everything. He had recovered,

was able to walk again, and had surprised her

with dinner, which turned into *other* things later.

She had told him that she was in Heat, but he said

that he didn't care, that if this was what she needed

every four months, who was he to deny it. <"But, it

won't be *real* emotion Logan, I'll just be responding

to instinct" she said while trying to contain her

treacherous hormones> <"Don't you get it Max?" he held

her face in his hands "I *do* have emotions for you,

and I know that you do also, and after this cycle is

over I will still be here for you">

He had sounded so sincere, so reassuring that she

had given in, let him give her what she needed, and

what he wanted. And after that memory, came a bolt

of realization that struck her like a blow to the

gut by one of Lydecker's goons.

Fuck! she was in Heat, and she *gave* in. She had

never given in, always being strong enough to ward

off the urges, because she knew of the consequences.

She jumped out of the bed and raced towards

the bathroom. She retched, again, and again until

there was nothing left but noxious stomach acid,

and when she was done she slid, exhausted to the

floor.<What have I done?>

"Max, are you okay?" Logan's voice came through

the door of the bathroom

"Yea" she called out with more reassurance then she

felt. Her mind was racing as well as her heart, and

her stomach ached from all that heaving.

Logan came through the door, obviously unconvinced.

He kneeled by her on the floor. He took in her

appearance, of her sweat soaked hair, and pale

face. "What happened?"

"Nothing" she replied "Something I ate just didn't

agree with me"

She stood up, wincing as she did, and then realizing

that she was still naked, she yanked a towel around

her body.

She walked back on shaky legs to the bedroom and

retrieved her clothes off the floor.

Logan had disappeared, and now came back with a damp

cloth. He took her hand and made her sit down, and she

followed him, without argument.

"You sure you're okay? you look pretty crappy" Logan

asked again, wiping her face with the cloth.

"I'm *fine*" she spat back.

He just shot her a look, setting the cloth down.

There was an uneasy silence that hung about them.

Max pulled some lint off the towel that she wrapped

around herself, and Logan re-adjusted the sash on his

robe.

"So about last night" Logan began, but Max interjected

"If this is one of those 'I'm sorry, but it was just

a one time deal' speeches, spare me now" she said with

an assertive tone.

Logan shook his head "I wasn't going to say that,

I was *going* to say that it was incredible, and if

you do THAT every time you're in Heat then you can

hide out here all the time" he finished his remark

with a smile.

Max didn't reply at first, she was to busy thinking.

<I have to see the doctor, I have to know>

She looked back up. Logan was still waiting for a

response. She didn't have one.

"Hate to screw and run, but I have to get to work"

she stood and went to get dressed, leaving Logan

sitting there.

*****

Upper Seattle

Women's Health Center

One Week Later

11:30 a.m.

<This room is fuckin' freezing> Max noted sitting on the

examine bench in the shitty little paper gown they made

her put on. She glanced back at the clock for about the

twentieth time in five minutes

<What the hell's taking so long?> The doctor told her

it would only be a minute, and that was forty minutes

ago. She was already late for work. Normal was going to

blow a gasket, if he hadn't done so already.

The door to the room opened, and the doctor came back

in. "Sorry that took so long" she apologized walking up

to Max "I had to see another patient who re-scheduled

at the last minute"

<That's why these people MAKE appointments so they

can KEEP them> Max fumed to herself, but said to the

doctor:

"I understand" She fell silent, unable to think of

the right words to use for her next statement, but

finally decided on: "Am I knocked up?"

It seemed like forever, but it was actually three

seconds later when the OB/GYN responded "Yes, the test

was positive"

Max let the information seep in. She was pregnant.

There was a baby growing inside her, LOGAN'S child,

and she was terrified. She had successfully avoided

him all week. Coming over only when necessary,

this put a terrible strain on their relationship,

but she needed space to think.

"You're only about seven days along, so right

now I can't tell you anything other then that the

embryo is healthy" the OB told her

<Thank god for small favors> she mused. "Can I go

now?" her tone was edgy,  she wanted to get out of

this place.

"Yes" the doctor responded, and handed her a

pill bottle "This is an iron supplement, take it

twice a day, and avoid things like asbestos, cat

hair, these can harm the developing embryo"

"Doctor" Max began in her 'you-don�t-know-shit-tone'

"In case you haven't realized, it's a crappy, dirt

ridden world out there, how can I avoid stuff like

that when it's just one big land fill outside?"

The doctor looked at her for a long moment before

speaking "Ms. Guevara, I am fully aware of what life

is like out in Seattle's 'real world', and I KNOW about

all that "stuff" as you like to call it, but for the

health of your baby, you will just have to take extra

care" her tone was like that of a exasperated mother

telling her child that the sky was NOT purple, it was

blue.

"Fine I'll do that" Max spat out snatching the pill

bottle from her. She collected her clothes from where

they lay on a table.

"Do you want me to run a paternity test?" the doctor's

tone made her turn back around.

<The nerve of this snobby, upper crusted BITCH!> Max's

thought's were angry. She knew EXCATLY what the doctor

was getting at, that she slept around, basically that

she was putting all those girls on the streets out of

business

"No that's all right" she responded coyly "I'm sure I

haven't crossed paths with any of you're married

lovers" She spun back around and went to get changed,

ignoring the doctor's enraged look.

<play with fire you get burned> Max slammed the door

to the ladies room

She yanked her clothes back on, her thoughts were racing.

<I can't tell Logan> she decided suddenly. <It will just

be another liability that he has to worry about> She pulled

the navy blue sweater over her head, and smoothed her hair

down.

She exited the room, and walked out the building.

*****

Jam Pony X-Press

12:40 p.m.

"Well well, you finally decided to show" Normal said

to Max as she peddled her way into the building on her

bike "To what do we owe the privilege of you lateness?"

"I had business" was all Max said as she dropped the

bike in a heap on the floor.

Normal just looked at her

"The only 'business' you have is here, with me" he

said to her.

"Normal, leave my girl alone" Original Cindy told him

straight up "So she's a little late, people have LIVES"

Cindy crossed her arms, daring him to say anything more.

As usual Normal was up to the challenge.

"No, you use to have lives, NOW you have jobs, and

next time I want comments from the peanut gallery,

I'll buy some Planters" he paused and looked at Max

"Next time I'm gonna start deducting your pay for

every minute you're late"

"Whatever" Max muttered under her breath. She walked

over to where Cindy was siting on an over turned crate.

"So what's the dealio girl?" Cindy asked looking up at

her "You've been actin' weird all week" her voice was

that of a concerned friend.

"I just have a lot on my mind" Max answered truthfully.

She flipped an old office chair around and sat, resting

her chin on the back.

"Things okay between you and Rich?" Original asked

"I guess" Max shrugged

Cindy pounced on her "What does that mean? either you're

in pixie land, or you're bitchin', ya know what I'm sayin'?

There's not much of an in between'"

"Okay, I haven�t spoken to him in a week" Max answered.

"See, Original Cindy knows what she's talkin�' about"

Cindy said, scoring one for herself.

Max just rolled her eyes. "That's not what I meant,

we TALKED, just not on a-" she paused, searching for

the right phrase "deeper level"

"Oh, I hear ya" Cindy stated.

"Max, this one's yours" Normal shouted at her.

Max groaned in annoyance and walked up to him. He handed

her a package. "It's headed for Indigo Valley"

"Ooo.." Max  shook the box "I bet it's drugs"

"We don't worry, about the contents, we just deliver

the stuff" Normal told her.

Max sighed and retrieved her bike.

"Wait up chica" Cindy called out "I'll go with you"

"You're working remember?" Normal interrupted

"I'm taking a break 'kay?" Cindy glowered, and Normal

was actually silent.

*****

"Thank you for using Jam Pony" Max said with over coated

sweetness to the tall black man, who accepted the package.

He slammed the door in her face.

"Same to you pal" she sneered and walked down the

rickety wooden steps that led back down to the ground.

Her stomach suddenly did a one eighty, and she hopped

off the steps to yap in the bushes.

"Hey Max, you all right?" Cindy approached her concerned.

Max nodded, and heaved a few more times. <Damn morning

sickness> She had gotten it everyday like clockwork for

the last week. This was another reason she wanted to

avoid Logan. She couldn't very well hide the fact that

she was carrying his child if she was visiting the Tidy

Bowl man all the time.

After she was done, she wiped her mouth off, and

stood up, meeting Cindy's scrutinizing glare.

"What is up with you Max? You're all keyed up all

week, you haven't spoken to you're man in all that

time, and now this"

"It's nothing" Max shot back, walking back over to

her bike.

"That ain't nothin'" Cindy stated, looking at the

stained grass, before going after her.

They peddled for about five minutes, when Cindy spoke

again. "Ya know I'm only askin' ya 'cause you're my

home girl, and I care 'bout you're well being"

Max stopped peddling "You're not gonna let this go

are ya?"

Original shook her head

"Okay" Max began "I'm uh, sorta pregnant"

Cindy nearly fell off her bike "What?" she looked

Max full in the face "Are you serious?"

She nodded "About one week along"

"Does Logan know?"

Max let it slide that she had jumped to her obvious,

but in this case CORRECT, conclusion, and answered her

"No, not yet"

"Why are ya holdin' out on him?" Cindy wanted to know

"I have my reasons" Max shot back "Anyway, I just

found out today"

"ARE you going to tell him?" Cindy went in another

direction.

"I don't know" Max answered honestly, finding the dirt

filled road a little more interesting. She stared at it

a few more seconds before looking up. "Don't tell anyone

about this okay?" her tone was more demanding then

asking.

Cindy nodded "Original Cindy knows when to keep her mouth

shut, but you DO have to tell him sometime"

Max didn't say anything more.

*****

Upper Seattle

7:30 p.m.

"Logan?" Max called out to him. She entered his penthouse

cautiously.

"In here" he called out.

She followed the sound of his voice and found him

sitting at his computer chair in his office. He was

typing feverishly, the glare of the screen was bouncing

off his glasses.

"I need a favor to ask of you"

"What is it now?" he asked not bothering to turn

around.

Max tried not to cringe under his stinging remark

"I need you to delete some stuff for me"

"What kinda 'stuff'?" he asked still facing the screen

and not her.

"Uh" Max stumbled for the words "In the women's health

center on Lindsor" She waited as Logan typed up the main

data base before going on "Under the OB/GYN section"

Logan went where she said.

"Who's the patient?" he asked

"You'll know it when you see it" she replied, suddenly

feeling the need to distance herself from him. She stepped

back across the room.

Logan scrolled down the list on names and diagnosis�s,

and stopped at the listing on her. His eyes scanned the

screen for a few seconds, reading the information, before

he turned back around.

"Why didn't you tell me?" his tone was demanding. He

deleted the file and then stood up and walked over to

where she was standing in the middle of the room.

"I didn't want to burden you with this" she said, her

eyes down cast.

"That's why you avoided me all week?" he asked raising

her chin up to look at him.

She nodded.

"Who's the father?"

Max was taken aback. That was NOT what she wanted him

to say. She then did something she didn't normally do to

Logan, she slapped him, hard.

"Hey" he cried out rubbing his cheek "Why the hell did

you do that?" he rubbed the red spot that was forming on

his face.

Logan!" her voice was razor sharp. She got all up in

his personal space, her breath hot on his skin. "You're

suppose to be a INTELLIGENT man, not revert back to

those prehistoric ways"

"It was an honest question" Logan said in his

defense "I haven't seen you that much all week,

how was I to know?"

Max's anger grew "I am NOT a scank Logan, I don't

party harty, I worked my ass off all week so I wouldn't

have to see you, but here I am, and I THOUGHT you would

be different, that you wouldn't ask me that kinda shit"

she back away from him, eyes glowering.

"You wanna know who the fucked up father is Logan?"

Max shot back when Logan didn't say anything else

"YOU are, and believe me you we're fucked up long

before you got me KNOCKED up"

Logan was taken aback. HE was the father? This was

his child?

"How?" he asked, but then be-rated himself for asking

such a stupid question. That was something he learned

in third grade.

"That is a stupid ass question Logan" Max said his

thoughts out loud "Remember that little romp from last

week? Remember the remark I made about being in HEAT?

well I kinda forgot to mention that I get my groove on

during then I get seeded" she finished.

"You should've told me" Logan stated "I wouldn�t have

done it if-"

"If what? If you found out that you'd produce heirs

by me in one sitting?" her tone was very high, and

very pissed.

"I didn't say that" Logan interjected.

"Yea, but I can read you like an open book" Max retorted.

She backed off from Logan and whirled around, but then at

a second thought she faced him again "Ya know I thought

you we're going to be different. This is terrifying the

hell outta me, and I thought that since this was

partly YOUR fault, that you would help me, but maybe

Zack was right, maybe you are just a liability" her voice

was no longer angry, it suddenly became heart achingly sad.

A solitary tear wove a path down her cheek.

"Gotta blaze" she said wiping the moisture off her

face. She spun back around and walked out of the office.

"You come by later, and we'll talk?" Logan's tone had

softened from earlier.

"It's to late for that" she said not turning around or

stopping.

She left him there, standing alone in his cold office.

*****

The Crash

Lower Seattle

9:30 p.m.

"The nerve of men!" Kendra shouted out, pounding her fist

on the table. She took a swig of her beer before going on

"They expect you to play nice in the bed, and then bolt

when they realize they've planted a seed in the field"

"Why did you have to tell Kendra?" Max asked Original

Cindy who was seated next to her at their usual hang.

Cindy placed a hand over hers "'Cause suga, your girls

are here for ya"

Max didn't say anything, she just played with the froth

on her cappuccino.

"Anyway" Kendra stated "If Cindy didn't tell me I WOULD

have noticed all that weight you would be putting on" She

paused "Have you thought of a name yet?"

Max shot her a look "Kendra, it's about the size of a

walnut, and it has NO sex organs yet, so how can I name

it?"

"Still you could CHOOSE one, didn't you ever do that

when you we're little?"

"I had an unusual childhood" Max replied. <I had enough

of a time keeping MY name without a guard killing me

for it>

"How about Tamarki?" Kendra asked "It's a very popular

in Japan"

"Girl this ain't no pagoda" Cindy interrupted "This is

the good 'ol Pulse stricken US of A, so we got to give

him a good name, how 'bout Trevon?"

"How do you know it's male?" Max asked with the first

smirk on her face in days.

"I told ya, Cindy knows these things" she said "And it

got you to smile"

Max just rolled her eyes teasingly. "Trevon is an unique

name" she admitted.

"Yea" Kendra said "But it has to go with 'Cale'  How

about Morgan?"

"I like Trevon better then 'Morgan'" Cindy shot back

"It sounds less like a car salesman"

"Well Trevon sounds like the guy who runs the local

Ring on Palo" Kendra replied "What about you Max?

Which one do ya like?"

"I think their both to much to the extreme" Max answered

honestly. "I need something that's in-between car seller

and Ghetto Seller" she ignored the looks Cindy and Kendra

shot her and searched her mind for a good name "How about

Jesse? that way if Cindy's wisdom is off, it's also a good,

but not to lacy name for a girl"

"Jesse Cale" Kendra tried it out "He need a middle name

though, so how about what I mentioned earlier?"

Max shook her head "Personally I like Cindy's better,

I don't want him being beat up by the Sector Police for

a whimpy name" she laughed at Kendra's hurt look.

"Jesse Trevon Cale" Kendra spat it out at first, but

then she grinned "Gotta admit it's catchy"

Original Cindy smiled "See that Jesse" She leaned down

towards Max's flat abdomen "Aunt Cindy and Aunt Kendra

are getting along"

Max looked at her with a raised eyebrow "Aunt Cindy?"

"Damn right" Cindy said pulling back "I better be something

to this kid of yours"

"Of course" Max agreed "The 'aunt' part sorta threw me off"

She grinned at her to let her know no hard feelings, as they

began talking again.

*****

Logan's Penthouse

Upper Seattle

10:30 p.m.

"..and that's why I asked you over here" Logan finished

and looked up at Bling. He had just spilled his guts over

the incident that happened a few hours earlier.

"Man" Bling said leaning against the table "That's a no

brainer, just *apologize* to her" He crossed his arms

over his chest.

"For what?" Logan replied.

Bling just knocked him upside the head "You're dense

for a smart guy"

Logan rubbed his head "Yea I get that a lot"

Bling went on "YOU did the wrong here guy, it was

obvious that she was scared about this and you sorta

fucked it up even worse, after you fucked it up I

mean" he tripped over his words near the end.

Something flickered across Logan's brain. Despite Bling's

slightly broken english in his last statement he got the

meaning of it. <Bling is right, I screwed up, oh god did I

make her cry? Smooth move you shit, you actually brought

a revved up super solider to tears with your damn lack of

sensitivity> Logan mentally kicked his own ass for his

previous actions.

Bling looked at him knowingly "I know, now how are you

gonna fix it?"

*****

10:45 p.m.

"What is it?" Max snarled stepping into Logan's penthouse.

He had nearly blown up her pager at Crash, so she, along

with an admirable amount of 'just TALK to him girl' lines

from Kendra and Cindy had come back to the place she swore

she would never set foot in again after what happened.

She found him standing in almost the same position as before.

"I wanna have that talk now" he said approaching her, but she

backed away defensively.

"Max please" Logan held up his hands "Just hear me out"

he took another step towards her, and this time she didn't

back away.

"What I said earlier-" he paused "I was shocked, I didn't

mean that you were a bed hopper" his tone was sincere.

"Yea well, what you meant *isn't* what you said" she

stated matter of factly, her eyes as hard as tempered

steel "You got me knocked up, and then accused ME of

being a whore" despite her outward anger her voice

sounded lost and vulnerable.

Logan was about to interject, but realized that she

was right. He didn't say the word "whore" but he might

as well have made her parade around Seattle in a scarlet

cocktail dress with a sign that said 'free for all'

He looked up again to meet her gaze and was shocked

at the sadness he saw in her eyes, an emotion that *he*

had placed there. "You're *not* a whore Max" he replied

in all honesty.

She gave a humorless noise of what would have been a

laugh if she was in a laughing mood, but rather it came

out as a rush of air "I know that Logan" she shot back

"I've always known that, and I could even deal with

that bitch OB callin' me one, but-" here she paused,

her voice becoming colored in the same sadness as her eyes

"I thought that you believed that I wasn't"

She turned away from him so he wouldn't see her tears.

She didn't want him to know how badly he had hurt her.

<Damn him> she thought half angry half dejected <Damn

him for making me think that he cared about me, that he

*loved* me>

She hugged her arms tightly around herself, and tried to

stiffen the sounds of her crying <I can't break down

I'm a soldier, soldiers don't cry>

Logan came up behind her, wanting to say so much,

to fix things, only he didn't know where to start.

"Just go away" she said, her voice so low he might

have missed it if she wasn't right beside him. She had

never sounded so unhappy before. Her normally hard and

straight composure had broken under the strain of her

emotions. Logan could feel a tug at his heart. His strong

and beautiful angel had fallen by his own

hand.

He placed a tentative hand on her shoulder, feeling her stiffen

at his touch. "We have to talk about this" he said in a strong,

but gentle tone

"We already did" she pointed out, still not facing him

Logan applied soft, but firm pressure to her shoulder with

his hand "Not on the level we should have"

She turned to face him, her eyes wet "what the hell other

*levels* are there?" she demanded,  "You already gave me a

clear idea as to where you stand on this" she placed a hand

on her abdomen, her intense gaze never wavering from him.

Logan reached out to touch her hand where it lay on her

stomach, and he was glad when she didn't pull away. Her hand

did clench a little and he knew that if she wanted to she could

easily take him out, but he was willing to risk it, should it

come to that.

"I was wrong" he admitted in a strong tone "I should have had

more faith in you"

"Damn right" she spat out, but her tone held no mirth as

it usually did when she offered him a snide remark, it

was just desolate sounding.

"If I could take it back I would" Logan went on. He kneeled

beside her and replaced her hand on her belly with his.

"I'm sorry little guy" he spoke to his unborn child in

Max's womb "You deserve better then that, you and your

mom, and I only hope she'll forgive a asshole like me"

he kissed her stomach, and stroked it softly.

It was that gesture that was Max's undoing, a tear fell

from her eye landing softly on Logan's head. He stood up

once more to meet her gaze.

"I.." he trailed off, searching for the right words

"I'm sorry Max, sorry for what I made you go through

alone, and sorry for causing you so much pain"

Her eyes filled with more tears. His apology wouldn't set any

new standards, but it was the sincerity in his tone that got

to her. "Damn you bastard, for making me love you so much

despite why I shouldn't" she closed the small distance

between them and embraced him.

He wrapped his arms around her holding her close, feeling

the tension released in her toned shoulder muscles. And he

silently thanked what ever deity might be around for giving

him a second chance.

"I love you too Max" he responded to her statement

from earlier

She pulled back stunned for a moment <did he just say

love?> <Shit, did *I* say just say love?>

Her thoughts were silenced as Logan kissed her. A sweet

gentle kiss, but one of pure emotion.

They pulled back and Logan held her face in his hands

"Do you still hate me for knocking you up?"

She shook her head "No" she had that mirth in her

tone that was missing the last time "But ask me later

when I'm in estrogen overdrive"

Her statement induced a smile from Logan. The tension

had been lifted. This is the way it should be.

"In that case I better do this now"

Max was confused "Do what?"

His response was to walk to his dining room table, only to

come back a moment later with a small velvet jewelry box.

She took it when he handed it to her, opening the lid

carefully. It was a band made out of a deep purple jade

that had been criss crossed with thin silver as fine as

silk thread.

"This is beautiful" she remarked, not daring to say

anything more. Things seemed to be going at an incredibly

fast pace.<never engage anyone without a good look at what

you're getting into> her soldier side warned her, but this

was Logan standing here, looking at her with such love,

such remorse at what he had done earlier, and she knew *excatly*

what she was getting into

He took it out of the case "I had it made at one of those

specialty jewelry stores that still exist around here" he

took her hand and placed the ring on her right ring finger,

and then in an old fashioned gesture he kneeled on one knee

in front of her

"I made a promise like this before, and I got burned.

Valerie loved to play games, and it cost us our marriage,

but-" here he paused, looking deep into Max's eyes "you are

more amazing and more beautiful then she could ever be. You

have such a fire in you Max, and I don't want to ever

loose that, what I'm trying to say is-"

"Yes" her voice interrupted him. She knew where he was

going with his little speech, and she already made up

her mind. Baby or no baby she *did* love this man, and

she didn't plan to stop loving him anytime soon.

Logan looked at her quizzically "Yes?"

"To the proposal" she replied <he's a little dense

sometimes, but I love him anyway>

Logan's face broke with the widest smile she had ever

seen. He stood up again and caught her in a fierce hug.

Max wrapped her arms around him as well, gasping

slightly at the pressure he was applying to her ribcage.

"Oh god, I'm sorry I didn't hurt you did I?" he asked,

pulling back in alarm

"Logan" Max began in slight exasperation "I'm not made

of china, I won't shatter under pressure, and neither

will Jesse"

Logan looked at her "Jesse?"

Max nodded "Yea, something the gals and I came up with,

Jesse Trevon Cale"

"Trevon was Orginal Cindy's contribution huh?" Logan

asked teasingly. He was a little surprised that Max had

used his last name for the child. After what he did, he

figured that she would want nothing more to do with him,

but yet again this woman surprised him, and he wasn't

about to complain.

"Is that a problem?" she asked with a raised eyebrow

He shook his head "No, it's nice, it sorta rolls off

your tongue"

She smiled wickedly "I have something else that'll roll

off your tongue" she kissed him, shoving half her tongue

in his mouth. Logan groaned and slid his tongue in her

mouth as well, dueling with hers.

The sound of the door made Max pull back, but she still

remained in close proximity to Logan's body. As in he

could see a small portion of black lace from her bra

peeking out of her red v-neck sweater, which was not

a bad view either

The guest was Bling. He walked through the doorway

and then stopped a few feet short of where they were.

"Damn" he drew out the middle syllable, surveying the

scene before him.

Max just smiled, before realizing that she had to

throw up *again* she raced to the bathroom before

she heaved all over Logan.

Logan watched her go in slight alarm, but then

realized what she was doing <I have to get use

to things like this>

"What did you give her man?" Bling asked with a

raised eyebrow

"Nothing" Logan responded "She's pregnant remember?"

It still felt weird to think about Max as being pregnant,

and it was even harder to grasp that it was HIS baby that

she was carrying.

Max came out of the bathroom a moment later, feeling

slightly better. <I won't have to do that for about

three more hours>

She walked back over to Logan "Sorry, this kid is doin'

a number on my stomach" she wrapped her arms around him

"now where were we?" she smiled and began to kiss a line

down his neck.

"You sure you didn't give her anything?" Bling asked "I'd

swear you turned a Femi-Superwarrior in to a Nypho" he

finished teasingly

Logan, shook his head, well as much as he could with Max

attached to his jugular vein "I just asked her to marry me"

Bling stood dumbfounded "You serious?"

Max pulled back from her task and looked at Bling with a

smile "Straight up" she wagged her engagement ring-ed hand

in the air

A shit eating grin broke across Bling's face "It's about damn

time" he said walking over to them. He hugged Max, and turned

to Logan

"You gots a good thing here guy" Bling said "two for the

price of one"

Logan laughed "I know my stuff"

"Don't be getting to cocky 'bout this Logan" Max warned "I

still know *my* stuff" she finished with an air of teasing

in her voice

Logan laughed lightly "Yes ma'am"

*****

Eight Months Later

Life had become different in Seattle. Oh sure, their we're

still homeless people living in shanty towns, and Sector

police beat up everyone when ever the hover cams were not

focused on them, but for Max and Logan it had changed, and

for the better. Two weeks to the day of Logan's proposal,

they we're married. There was only about a twenty people

in attendance. Logan was afraid anymore would attract to

much attention, and that Lydecker would be able to locate

Max.

Bling was there, along with Max's friends from Jam Pony.

Natalie had talked to Max before the ceremony, saying how

happy she was for her, and a little disappointed because

she and Logan were tying the knot after a two week engagement,

while her and Sketchy have been shacked up for a while and

haven't set a date yet. But, nonetheless, she wished Max

eternal bliss.

Along with Max's gang there were a few decent members

of the Cale family, and some who just heard about

the nuptials and wanted to see who Logan had snagged.

The ceremony was held on a small beach over looking

Puget Sound. Max had not wanted to wear in her words

a "white nasty ass dress that cost more then rebuilding

my baby from scrap" so she had settled on a simple, yet

elegant dark purple silk slip dress. She had done up her

hair in a basic sweep and covered it with small white

flowers. Logan still could smell their fragrance and

could still remember the way she had looked walking up

to him on the beach, wearing that dress that matched the

Jade in her engagement ring. Even the most hypocritical

of Logan's relatives took a liking to Max when they saw

her.

He remembered the way Bling, who was his best man

slapped him manly on the back and whispered "You did

good this time around"

Twenty minutes later they were pronounced man and wife.

And after the vows we're exchanged they partied all

night, and through part of the next morning, since

this was a 'high social affair, meaning Logan could

pay off the law, the Sector Police did not complain

about the late hours they kept. Max could not drink,

but that did not stop her from having a good time.

Cindy told Logan more then once during the reception

he had better treat her girl well or she would attack

him in the night, which was a remark that still made

him laugh when he thought about it.

And after the ceremony the newlywed couple had ridden

off on Max's Ninja to their honeymoon at the cabin

that belonged to Logan's parents. They had to take extra

care to not leave a paper trail for Lydecker. This meant

deleting sector checks, although Max was a little

disappointed that the file at that last check stop

that addressed them as Mr. and *Mrs* Cale had to go.

She rather liked the thought of the new attachment

to her name.

Whilst Max and Logan were away Bling kept Logan's

penthouse clean, collected his mail, and answered the

phone. One time he didn't pick up fast enough and the

machine kicked in. Logan's dull and monotone 'You have

reached the number you dialed' message had been

replaced with Max's "Can't talk, getting screwed, leave

a message, if you don't I can hunt you down anyway"

Cindy thought it had been kinda funny when she called

one time, but Logan's Aunt Claire thought it was

'distasteful' when she called to tell her 'favorite

nephew' congratulations on finally being practical

again and starting a family.

Bling had to spend a full thirty minutes trying to

convince the woman that Max was not something cheap that

Logan had picked up in a bar when he had to many. He

was glad when she finally just gave up and ended the

call, he knew that Logan detested the woman, and it wouldn't

make him any happier if he knew she thought that his wife

was a sleazy call girl.

Max had moved in with Logan when they got back from

their honeymoon. She had no attachment to her old place.

It was nasty and filthy, not a real home, and even Cindy

remarked that with her expecting a kid it wouldn't help

for her to find a rat on her leg, or *in* her leg, seeing

as how they loved to bite people. So she had relented the

crap hole for Logan's nicer digs.

Her Ninja had it's own spot next to Logan's Aztec, and

across from that was the candy apple red Impala Logan

gave her for their one month anniversary. "You can't

ride that cycle anymore" he had told her once teasingly,

rubbing her stomach that was now noticeably swollen.

The pregnancy was the normal thing, she got that shitty

morning sickness for a few months, her ankles started to

swell, and she was always full of emotion. That pissed

her off more then anything. She had always been an

independent woman, hard as steel, and now she actually

lost it over the fact that she couldn't find ANYTHING

in her closet that matched her (stretchable) black sweater.

She had given up leather pants two months ago, but refused

to wear the flowery shit they made for pregnant

women.

She came out of her daydream as she found the sweater she

wanted, it had fallen on the floor. Logan had caught her

one day in a fashion panic, an would have laughed at her

if she didn't look so sad. He instead, wrapped  his arms

around her, which was no small feat now.

"Baby just calm down" he rubbed her back in gentle circles

"I can't" she sniffed "I look like a *whale* and NOTHING

of mine fits anymore, and their ain't now way in hell I'm

gonna drape a flowered canvas over my body"

He had soothed her as best he could, and the next

day had promptly maxed his credit card on every piece

of high fashion and stylish maternity wear he could

find. He even got her a full length leather coat after

she remarked how hers wouldn't fit anymore.

After she pulled on the sweater she pulled on the

cotton twill pants. <Didn't even know that they made

these for expectant mothers> She brushed her hair and

added a little lip gloss. She didn't need to use

anything else, she was positively glowing. That, and

the newly acquired cleavage was one of the few things

(besides Jesse of course) that she liked about being

pregnant.

Satisfied with her appearance, she walked out into the

living room.

Logan was sitting at the dinning room table with Bling.

He stood up when he saw her.  "Hey sweetheart" he gave her

a kiss "How are you?"

"Fine" she spat, she hated being doted on, but he was

just being nice, so she added "Sorry, I just have a

short fuse lately"

Logan grinned softly "That's okay" He handed her a

cup of decaf, which she took.

"There's a seat right here" Bling said patting the

empty chair next to him.

She walked over and sat down where he indicated. Needless

to say she had to back up the chair a few inches from the

table. Logan sat down opposite her.

"So how are you Max?" Bling asked

"Can't complain" she replied sipping her coffee. She made

a face. She hated decaf.

"No you just do that to me" Logan teased.

She flipped him off, but her eyes were still light.

Bling held up his hand "Hey now, none of that, I just

stopped by to give ya'll a baby present"

"ANOTHER one?" Max shot back. Bling had gone out of his

way by supplying enough stuff to last until Jesse was six

years old.

"I'm just you're basic doting friend" he remarked. He

pulled out a basketball from his lap and laid it on the

table top.

"Uh Bling" Logan began "That'll be as big as him when he's

born"

Bling laughed "It's for later man, when me and my boy can

shoot hoops with his dad"

"And his mom" Max remarked

"Of course his mom too Max" Bling replied "You know you're

my girl" He tossed her the basketball, which she caught in

one fluent motion.

"You still got it" Bling said with a smile.

"Mmmhmm" she responded standing up "I'll just put it

with the others" She walked off to the nursery.

It was located adjacent from their bedroom. It use to be

the spare room but now..

She stepped into the room with the purple walls. Kendra

had done that, she said that blue was so stereotypical,

and Max had agreed whole heartily. Pink for girls and blue

for boys was something she always hated.

Purple might have been a color of controversy in the last

century, but Max liked it. Next to the large window was a

black crib, and a few feet from that stood a wooden rocking

chair. It had belonged to Logan's mother.

Logan's Aunt Claire had invited Max over to her house one day,

and Max had decided to go, if she despised her she would simply

tell her so. When she got there, the first thing she noticed

was the chair in a corner of the sitting room.

The damn woman was using it as an end table! Logan had told

her how much that piece of furniture had meant to him, how

his mom use to snuggle in with him when he was sick, or

at bed time and read to him, and she wanted him to give

those same kind of memories to their son.

She had told her idea to Aunt Claire, adding a few choice

words like 'damn thief' and 'bitchy snob' making the elder

Cale woman furious.

"Listen to me honey" her eyes were cold "You just married

into this family, so how can you *possibly* know about what

my nephew needs, other then a good screw now and then"

Max became lividly angry then, pinning the woman down with one

arm. She tried to squirm to free herself, but the five foot five,

one hundred and twelve pound blonde was no match for a Manticore

warrior such as herself, even at six months pregnant.

"I *hate* it when people jump to conclusions" Max's words were

clipped and angry to the other woman she was holding down

"As I recall Maxine, *you* called me a bitch" Claire's voice

was angry, but not as hard as Max's

"That ain't jumpin' to conclusions woman" Max shot back "You

*are* a bitch, and as for your comment I am a little fucking tired

of being called a whore by snooty people like you" she released

her grip then. She then proceeded to swipe everything off the rocker

and carry it out the door to her car.

She drove home, angry thoughts swirling through her head, the

rocker bumping around where she had lashed it to the back of the

car.

When she got there Logan had asked where she went, to which her

immediate response was to run into the bedroom crying. A knock on

the door a few minutes later revealed Logan. He approached her,

and asked her again what was wrong.

She had promptly told him, a little embarrassed at her flood of

emotions, but Logan was awestruck that she had done something

like this for him, and being called a whore by Aunt Claire too!

He thanked her repeatedly, and more so later that night, but

not before telling Auntie Claire over the phone that he no

longer wanted to see her unless it was to her own funeral.

Max placed the basketball on the floor and settled down in the

old chair.

She rocked back and forth, lost in her own thoughts. During the

first few months she had several ultra sounds, which showed that

the baby was healthy, no abnormalities, which was a relief to

her. It also showed something else, a small growth in between

the fetus' legs.

"I knew it!" Cindy had remarked with a look of triumph when

she had gone with them to the doctors one day.

Logan's hand on her shoulder startled her out of her memories

"Sorry" he remarked

"S'okay" she said "I was just thinkin'" She checked her

watch "Oh shit, I'm gonna be late" She moved to stand up, but

found it a little hard.

Logan laughed at her lightly "Trouble?" he said offering her

a hand up.

She just glowered at him and went back out to the living room.

"Sorry I can't stay Bling" She remarked, grabbing her coat

off of the couch "Duty calls"

"That's okay" he said rising up to meet her at eye level

"Ya gotta do what ya gotta do"

"That's right" she replied "even if It's boring"

"Why don't you just play hooky?" Logan said to her.

"Can't babe" she told him "I'd go crazy without anything

to do" She walked over to kiss him goodbye.

"I would've found something fun" his tone was seductive.

"Logan I'm eight months pregnant, I'd crush you" she

remarked and he laughed.

"Don't work to hard" his tone was serious.

"Moi?" she teased leaving the apartment.

******

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