Note: The entire story except for the ending is in Alec’s POV.
Note 2: This is similar to Legacy in the sense that the transgenics don’t age after a certain time.
Note 3: I have to give a big thanks to Arwendle for reworking my story. I can’t thank you enough. You’re the best!!!

Summary: 15 years after Alec’s departure from Seattle, he discovers a secret and reunites with a past love.

Alec’s POV

Zack had summoned me. Summoned, damn it! The man is annoying. Even with my extra ten years, and the fact that I have the same ranking, he still treats me no differently than anyone else. I suppose that on some level, I should be happy about this because it means that he is treating me like family. It’s still so weird.

So here I am, driving towards LA to meet him and the family again. I wonder what could be so important. We haven’t gathered in years, and even when we have, Max has never been invited. But now, something is up, and we’re all needed. I am scared. Has something happened to Max? Something probably has. My gut is telling me so. Zack would never call us all to one place unless his baby sister was in trouble and in need of help.

Fuck! Even after all these years, I still didn’t think I was ready to see Max again. That last time we were together, I had thought it was going to be forever. She obviously didn’t think so.

Flashback

“Max, you know what’s going to come out of this night, right?” I asked her.

Max had gone into heat a few days ago. The result was certain pregnancy. Statistics had proved that female X’s always got pregnant during a heat wave. There was no doubt about it.

“So?” she said.

“It’s dangerous for us to stay here. We have to leave Max, for the baby’s sake.”

I could see the look on her face. She didn’t want to leave. And there was Logan. Damn him. He was still in her life despite everything. Yes, the virus was gone. But Max never did decide who she wanted to be with.

“I can’t Alec. My family is here. Besides, who would look after Terminal City?”

“Max, they can take care of themselves.”

“I can’t Alec, I’m sorry.”

“You mean you won’t,” I said angrily. I got out of the bed. I didn’t want to hurt her, but in this state, one could never tell.

“Alec,” she pleaded.

“You won’t. You’ve never said who it was you wanted in the end. So make the decision now, who is it do you want?”

She knew exactly what I was talking about, yet she turned away. Fuck! I should’ve figured. I stalked to the bathroom, got changed, and left. I needed some time alone.

End of Flashback

In the end, I left Seattle. I figured that with Max’s indecision, she’d abort the baby. After all, it’s not like she wanted me, so how could I assume that she’d want my baby?

I’ve never told the others about this. Hell, if they knew, I’d be dead! Simple as that. The entire family is extremely protective of Max, and I understand why too. She is always too rash and too impulsive. She needs people to look after her, even if she doesn’t want it.

So now, I can only assume that she needs help. I don’t want to think of the possibility that she might be dying or anything like that. If she is, I will crumble and die too. No questions there.

Los Angeles

I’ve finally arrived along with the rest of the family who have also made it in around the same time as me. Zack has decided that it is much easier for us to hold fort at Zane’s instead of a hotel. Right now we are all lazing around Zane’s apartment for Zack to arrive. What’s taking him so long?

The door opens and Zack walks in, speak-of-the-devil. I glance at Zack casually, ready to make some sarcastic remark about his tardiness when I notice the girl that is with him and stare. I don’t know why, but I feel like I know her from somewhere. She has a look about her.

We wait silently for Zack to introduce her. He doesn’t. It is the teenage girl who breaks the silence.

“Hi, I’m Jamie,” she says. “Um, I need to speak to, ah, Alec.”

I am stunned, why does she need to speak to me? I look at Zack and he nods. I shrug, then I get up and walk to the den with Jamie trailing behind me.

The Den

I am still rather lost by what is going on, but I figure that she probably knows, so I let her speak. I sit down on the couch and motion for her to do the same. She sits directly across from me. I study her closely. She looks scared and tired.

“I’m Alec,” I say light-heartedly. “So you wanted to speak to me?”

“Um, yeah,” she replies hesitantly. “There’s something I need to give you.” She hands me a letter. I take it and look at the script carefully. Shit! It is Max. Damn it! I hope nothing is wrong. She had better be alive.

I say nothing. I just open the letter carefully. I don’t care that Jamie is here while I read this. I am thoroughly lost in my own world. Heck! For some reason, I feel that Jamie needs to be here.

Dear Alec,

There’s so much I need to tell you, but there’s so little time. God, I don’t even know how to tell you all this, but I’m going to try.

First, I need to say that I’m sorry, truly sorry. I never should’ve let you walk out that day. I just didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t ready for a commitment. I was still too scared, and too confused. Hell! I didn’t even realise that I loved you until you left. Yes, I, Max – the biggest bitch, fell in love with you. I love you. Get it?!

Second, I guess you’ve met Jamie by now. Damn! How do I tell you this? Alec, she’s our daughter. Yes, our daughter. The child that was produced those few days we were together. I know you probably thought that I had aborted or something, but I didn’t. She was all I had left of you and I didn’t want to lose that. I could never destroy such a precious gift. I’m sorry for hiding this from you. I went after you when I found out I was pregnant, but I couldn’t find you. You really were good at disappearing. In the end, I returned to Seattle hoping for the day that you would come back, but you never did.

As to why Jamie is here now, that’s the other thing. Terminal City is under siege. Once again, we’re fighting for our lives. But this time, it’s different. You’re not here, and I don’t know if I’ll survive this. I don’t know if any of us in TC will. But I want Jamie to. No, I need her to, so I sent her to you. Besides, she needs to get to know her father. Please take care of her. She’s only 16. She does know about you. I’ve never hidden that from her, even though I’ve hidden it from the rest of the world.

She needs you Alec. There’s so much you can teach her that I can’t. She needs her father. I’m sorry that you’ve missed out on the first sixteen years of her life. I can never make that up to you. But hey, I’ll probably miss out on the rest of her life. Who knows?! All I’m asking is that you take care of her. I know you’ll love her. Your heart was always bigger than mine was.

I love you Alec, always. Give Jamie a kiss for me.

- Max

Oh my god! I don’t know if I should cry or yell. I am mad at Max for keeping this from me, but I am incredibly happy that she kept the baby. Oh, and she loves me! Why couldn’t she have told me this before, before I left? If she’d only told me, things could’ve been so much more different. And now, with her future unknown, Max had sent Jamie to me in safekeeping, in hopes that I will love her as much as I love her mother. Yes, I still love Max. Nothing could ever change that.

I look closely at Jamie again and now I understand why she is so scared. She isn’t sure if I will accept her or not. I that is not even a question; Of course I will accept her. I have figured out now why Jamie looks so familiar. She is a younger version of Max, only she has my hair and my eyes. But everything else is Max’s, the figure, the lips, and the attitude.

I quickly get up and pull my daughter into my arms as tears run down my cheeks. I am crying because Jamie is here, and I’m crying because of the unknown state of Max. Jamie is crying too. I think it is from relief, but I can’t tell.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

“Why?”

“For not being there all these years.”

“It’s not your fault. I’ve never blamed you for this.”

“Still.”

“Just don’t leave me again, please. I don’t know if I could handle that now. If anything, I blame mom for not telling you about me.” She smiles.

Damn! She even smiles like me. I chuckle. Who would’ve thought?

“Don’t blame her,” I say. “Sometimes, there’s no one to blame for things like these. I hid, and well, your mom, she was never good at tracking. That’s all.”

“Sounds like her alright.”

We chuckle.

“So um, can I call you dad?” she asks hesitantly.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Let’s join the others, okay?”

“Yeah.”

“And we’ll continue this talk later. I want to know what I’ve missed.”

As the two of us walk out into the living room, I notice that everyone is silent.

“Zack, did you tell them, or should I?” I ask. I know that he knows, but I don’t think the others do.

“No, I thought I’d leave that to you.”

“Guys, this is Jamie,” I say as I gesture to her. “My daughter.”

Everyone is in shock. The looks on their faces say everything. “Where had she come from?” Is probably the main question. “Who’s the mother?” Is probably the next one.

“Jamie, why don’t you tell everyone what’s going on?” I suggest. It is probably best that she tell them instead of me. I don’t think I can hold back the tears if I have to repeat what I know.

As she quickly tells them what is happening with Max and TC, I look at them and can tell that they are speechless. Quite frankly, I would be too. Now what am I to do? Go back to TC and try to save Max; stay away and watch her die and take care of Jamie instead? I know either way, I have to go back to Seattle, to get some more answers from Max.

Later that Night

“Guys, I’ve got to go back,” I tell them.

We are all sitting around the living room discussing our options. Jamie is asleep on the couch with her head on my lap. Her trip has been a long one, but she doesn’t want to leave me. Insecurities I guess.

“Alec you can’t,” says Jondy. “You have to take care of Jamie. If you go and something happens, what is she going to do?”

“I know Jondy, but I have to, for Max.”

“Alec,” pleads Syl.

The guys have yet to say one word. I think they are planning on going back to Seattle, but they just haven’t said anything yet.

“Maybe Alec is right,” says Krit hesitantly. “We can’t just leave our baby sister like that.”

What Krit said shut everyone up. We all know in our hearts that we have to go for Max. But right now, we are letting our rational minds do the talking.

“Zack,” I ask. He’s been silent for so long. I want to know what he was thinking.

“I don’t know Alec. We shouldn’t leave her there, but I don’t know if we can help her. Besides, she wants Jamie to be safe. Maybe we should keep our word to her and protect Jamie.”

“Let’s go back for my mom,” says Jamie suddenly.

I hadn’t even realised she was awake much less listening to us.

“Jamie,” I say as I look down into her eyes, trying to read her.

“Dad, we can’t leave her there. I don’t want to lose her. Please.”

I look at Zack and then to the rest of the family. I know they are with me on this, and I am grateful.

“I guess we’re going then. Let’s pack.”

Seattle

We’ve arrived. I’m back. The city is bringing back a lot of memories, both good and bad. Seattle looks older now, but I looked the same. Emotions are running high for me and on some level I don’t want to be back. I am afraid of what I might find. Will Max be alive? Will she still want to be with me? Or is she with Logan now? I don’t know what to think. Jamie, as if sensing my feelings, takes my hand into hers and smiles at me. I smile back. I am grateful that she wanted to come back. I know this is hard for her too. What will we find? Thankfully, everything up to this point has gone smoothly and we have not encountered a single problem during the trip. I can only pray that things continue going our way.

When we get to Terminal City, what I see shocks me. It looks almost obliterated, bombed to pieces. In fact, I am sure it has been bombed. The ruins tell me so. I am even more scared now. Will I find Max in the wreckage, or is she ok?

Seeing what had happened, the ten of us run towards TC headquarters. I pray that someone there is still alive to tell me what is happening. Please, let someone be there. I pray again.

Terminal City Headquarters

When we get there, we see a few people around. One of whom is Logan. We aren’t happy about this. What the fuck is he still doing here after all these years?

I see Logan walking towards us with a smile on his face.

“Jamie, thank god you’re back,” he says, trying to hug her.

She recoils as I pull her back. I don’t want that asshole touching her. I still don’t like him even after all these years.

Then as if noticing something was wrong, Logan looks towards us.

“Alec, you’re back,” he says with disgust. “And what are you doing with my daughter?”

“Your daughter?” I am shocked that he even thinks that Jamie is his. It is evident to everyone in HQ that Logan is nuts.

“I’m NOT your daughter!” Jamie cries as she holds onto my hand. “I was NEVER your daughter. Didn’t you ever think it was strange that I never once called you ‘dad’?!”

Ah, she really is Max’s daughter, even their outbursts were alike. Logan looks shocked. I chuckle. The man is so dense. I still don’t understand how he can think Jamie is his. I mean, they don’t even look alike. Granted she doesn’t look much like me either, but it is noticeable that both her parents are X’s. Jamie is stronger than most second generation X’s, like Max Jr., who has only one X-5 parent.

“But, but…” says Logan. “How could you not be, your mom wasn’t with anyone else but me?!”

“Logan, I was never with you. I know you’re thinking about that night. You wanted me to think that we had been together. But I knew that you were lying. I just ignored it,” said the voice that was approaching.

It is Max. I am so relieved that she was ok.

“Mom!” cries Jamie as she jumps into Max’s arms.

“Sweetie, what are you doing here? I thought I told you to go to your father’s.”

“I did go,” says Jamie as she turns and gestures to the group that is standing with me. “Look who came back with me.”

Max walks forward. I find myself once again staring into those brown eyes of hers.

“Max,” I say as I pull her into my arms.

“Alec,” she says breathlessly holding me as well. “You’re back.”

“Yeah, I am.” I look at her again and smile. She is alive, thank god.

“Max,” says Zack as he tries to get her attention.

“Zack, oh my god, you’re all here!” Max exclaims.

“Yeah, to make sure you’re safe sis,” says Krit.

All this while, Logan is staring at us with his mouth wide open. I guess the man is even dumber than I thought. He actually thought that Max would stay with him. Ha! Like that would ever happen. I guess by the looks of it, he still hasn’t accepted the fact that I was the father. Denial! Ah well, I’ll just have to torture him later with that little bit of info.

“Let’s go up to my suite, we’ll talk there,” suggests Max.

We all know that we need some time alone without outsiders, so we take her up on the offer and follow her.

“But Max, what about…?” asks Logan.

“I’m sure you can handle it,” she says sarcastically. “You always have.”

I can’t believe the new attitude Max has developed towards Logan. I wonder what is wrong.

Max’s Apartment

“So what are you all doing here?” she asks.

We all sit down somewhere in her living room. I am sitting next to her. There is still some tension between us because we haven’t talked yet, but we are holding hands nonetheless, glad that we are here together. Zack, Brin and Jace are sitting directly across from us. Zane, Jamie and Max Jr. are on Max’s right, and Jondy, Syl and Krit are on my left.

“We came to check up on you,” says Zack in that stern loving way of his.

“You really shouldn’t have,” says Max. “I sent Jamie to you guys so you’d take care of her, away from here.”

“We know,” I say. “But we couldn’t leave you.”

“Yeah mom, we couldn’t just leave you behind,” says Jamie.

“Jamie, that’s sweet. But I wanted you safe. Safe is not here.”

“Mom, I wanted to be here. I didn’t want to lose you,” she said as she started to sob. I handed her some Kleenex.

“Max, she’s 16. Let her make this decision,” I say.

Max just nods. She is a little speechless too. I guess in her mind, Jamie is still a little girl that needs to be protected.

The others, as if sensing that this is a private moment needed between the three of us, get up and leave, saying something about seeing if they can help. I know that they can, but it is just an excuse to leave. I look up and nod in thanks.

“Max,” I say as I take her hands into mine again. “I’m sorry, for leaving”.

“Alec, you have nothing to be sorry for. It was my fault. I should’ve said something,” she sobs.

“Shh… Max, it’s ok. It’s all in the past. I’m just glad you decided to keep Jamie.”

“Mom, it’s ok, no one blames you for this,” sooths Jamie as she pulls Max into a hug.

We sit there silently for a little bit, just enjoying the fact that the three of us are finally together.

“Max,” I say. “We need to talk about what’s going to happen now.”

“I know,” she says.

“Jamie, could you give us a little time alone?” I ask.

“Sure dad. I’ll be downstairs with uncle Zack.”

I wait until Jamie is out the door before I start. I don’t need my teenage daughter listening in on this, not that she won’t find out about it later, but I need to do this without an audience.

“Uncle Zack already?” inquires Max, trying to avoid the subject we arre about to approach.

“Yeah, he loves her too.”

“Max,” I start. “My feelings for you haven’t changed.”

I look at Max. I am hoping for some sort of reaction, but I don’t get one. So I just continue.

“I still love you. When I found out about Jamie, I was so elated. You were right, I did think that you had aborted, but subconsciously I had hoped you wouldn’t. And when I knew the truth, I wanted so bad to have changed the past. But we can’t change the past. We can only move forward.”

I look at her again. I see tears running down her cheeks. I quickly wipe them away, caressing her face at the same time.

“I want us to be together Max. I want us to take care of Jamie together, start a new future together. I know that you still love TC, but you’ve seen what happened.

I know that she understands what I mean. I am asking her to leave TC and I know it will be hard.

“I don’t’ know Alec. I don’t know if I’m ready to leave.”

“Max, there’s not a lot left. From what I can see most people are either dead, or have fled.”

“I know Alec. I’ve sent a lot of people away. Many of the kids are in Canada right now, regrouping, waiting for my command.”

“Wow! You’ve definitely changed.”

“Yeah, I had to. What else could I do? I didn’t want them to die. They were all so young.”

“Max, then there’s every reason for you to leave too. You can always rejoin the others later.”

“I know. I’m just not sure I’m ready to leave Seattle. It’s been my home for so long.”

“I understand Max. But sooner or later, we’re going to have to go.”

“What do you mean ‘we’?”

“You don’t think we’re going to leave you here right? The family is with me on this, even Zack.”

She just smiles. “I know. Just let me think about it, ok?”

“K.”

Since it is late, we all find places to stay for the night. We decide that we will talk again in the morning. I am just glad things are being sorted out. Well, at least she is thinking about leaving. That’s good enough for now. What more can I ask for?

The Next Morning

Everything is surprisingly quiet. I would’ve expected to be woken up by Jamie and the rest of the family today. But obviously I am wrong. I quickly get up, change and head down to headquarters to see what’s going on.

I’ve been away for so long, but everything is coming back to me. It is like routine again. Going down to HQ to check on things and make sure everything is ok, then heading off to breakfast, then going to bug Max. I chuckle inwardly. Is this how I was like before?

When I get downstairs, I notice everyone sitting around a large table planning some sort of mission or something. I guess they are planning where to go next, and when to regroup. Instead of joining them, I go in search of Max. I find her in Jamie’s room, talking, catching up.

“Morning,” I say, going over to give both Jamie and Max a peck on the cheek.

“Morning dad, guess what?”

“What?”

“Mom says she’s leaving with us.”

I turn to look at Max. She nods. I am so happy, I can’t believe it. She is coming with us. I pull her into my arms and just hold her. I am speechless.

“Let’s go tell the others,” I say when I finally find my voice.

The three of us walk towards headquarters. Zack and the others see us, and they smile. I speculate that they will figure it out. They are always very perceptive.

“So, what’s the verdict?” asks Syl.

I smile. “Guess.”

Everyone smiles and cheers. Zack and the others quickly go back to do more planning on where we are going to go and how we are going to get out without being killed. Getting in is easy. Getting out will be a lot harder.

“What’s going on?” asks Logan as he walks up.

“Logan, there’s something I need to tell you,” says Max.

“What is it?”

“I’m leaving.”

“You’re what?”

“I’m leaving Logan.”

“You can’t leave. What about TC? What about us?”

“Um, I think maybe this conversation would be better held in private,” I suggest.

“You stay out of this,” says Logan pointing at me.

“I really can’t, since it involves me too. But I’d prefer that we didn’t have an audience.”

I can tell that he is shocked when I say that it involves me too. But what can I say? I really don’t want an audience around, and I know that Max would appreciate the privacy more, even if she isn’t asking for it.

“No, it’s ok Alec. We can do this here,” says Max as she takes my hand into hers.

I nod silently.

Logan just stares at our joined hands. I think it is finally starting to sink in for him.

“Logan, I’m leaving with Jamie and Alec and the rest of my family. If you haven’t noticed there’s not much left of TC anymore. I want a new start. In fact, I need a new start. I don’t know where yet, but just not here.”

“But Max, what about us?”

“Logan, there is no ‘us’. There never was an ‘us’. In a moment of weakness, I turned to you for comfort. And instead of being a true friend as I thought you were, you lied to me. You made me think that something had happened when nothing did. Luckily for me, I knew otherwise.”

“That must mean…”

“Jamie isn’t your daughter. I was telling the truth yesterday.”

“Then who is her father?” he asks sceptically. “You weren’t with anyone else at the time.”

“I was with someone, you just didn’t know it. Alec is Jamie’s father. Get it?! You’d always asked why Jamie was so much stronger than the other kids here, even the ones who had X’s for both parents. That was because she is Alec’s and mine. I knew that Jamie was the perfect one. I had her DNA done up after she was born to see if Renfro had told me the truth. She did. Jamie’s DNA had no flaws, none whatsoever. It was the reason why she was faster, stronger, and smarter. It wasn’t because of you.”

“So that’s it, Jamie isn’t my daughter; you’re abandoning TC because you no longer have use for it, and you’re leaving me for Alec.”

“Logan, if you haven’t noticed, there aren’t many people here. Reason being, I’ve sent them away. Most of them are in Canada and other places hiding out, waiting for my command. I can’t abandon them by staying here and risking my life again. Yes, originally I had planned to stay till the end and eventually turn everything over to Zack. But now, I know that I can’t do that. I have a loving family waiting for me. I have a future ahead me that isn’t lonely anymore. It isn’t just about leading the Transgenic Cause; It’s about my life with the ones I love. I’ve been waiting for Alec’s return ever since Jamie was born. He’s back, and he wants us to be a family. I can’t say no to that. Just accept this, and leave it be.”

“I can’t Max. I’ve always loved you, and wanted you by my side. When you refused my proposal, I just thought it was because you couldn’t marry me because you weren’t a citizen. I never realised that there was someone else.”

“We’re too different, Logan. It never would’ve worked. I am a leader of ‘the’ Transgenic Community. They would never accept me if my partner in life was an ordinary. Besides, after everything, I found that I in fact didn’t know you, and you don’t truly know me either. I really need to go. I think it’d be best if you leave TC as well. I may not love you, but I don’t want you dead either.”

Max who has had enough of this conversation, takes my hand and leads me away. During the entire time, I did not say one word. I didn’t need to. She said it all. I am relieved by what was said. She’d been waiting for me all this time. Maybe I should’ve come back earlier. But I really can’t dwell on that now.

We quickly join up with the family. They have figured out how to get out without much fuss. I am glad. I don’t want to lose any one of them. Max has just found them again, and I finally have home with them. We need each other, even if we’ll never admit it, and losing anyone of them isn’t an option.

2 Years Later: Max’ POV

As I sit here in my living room on this quiet night, I think of how lucky I am. My entire family is with me again. Alec and I were reunited two years ago, and our lives have been richer because of it.

The entire group of us now resides in Vancouver, Canada. We decided it would be a good place to start up a new base. The conditions here are better than in Seattle, and it is an ocean port. It took us a little over a week to establish a base, and then afterwards we regrouped. It was fast and efficient. After getting everyone back, things we started to look up for us. In Canada, we didn’t have much hassle with the government, and we were basically left to ourselves. Zack and Alec took over the command for me, and I was grateful, especially by the time I found out I was pregnant.

Ah, the pregnancy. When Alec and I told Zack, he nearly had a heart attack. I think he’d thought I’d given up on having children after Jamie. I had, but then Alec was back, it was inevitable we’d have more. Surprisingly enough, Jamie wasn’t jealous when we told her I was pregnant, she was actually happy about it. Nine months later, we had a boy – Anthony. He’s such a sweetheart; He’s identical to Alec. I’m so grateful for him, it was like he symbolised a new beginning for Alec and I. Jamie was happy too, she dotes upon Anthony just like the rest of the family.

Jamie, when I think of her, it makes me infinitely glad that I decided to leave TC that fateful day. If I hadn’t left, I would’ve missed out on so much of her life. We haven’t quite got to all those special moments, like grandchildren, yet, but soon. My little girl found love quite recently, in the arms of a second-generation X series in the name of Jake. Sometimes when I look at Jake, I could see traces of Biggs in him. Maybe I’m just seeing things. Alec’s not so happy about Jake, but I think he’ll come around.

Sometimes, I wonder what life would be like had I not left TC. I realise that it wouldn’t have been a good one. All the years I stayed in Seattle were because I was waiting for Alec, if not, I would’ve left long ago. There was not much left of TC in the later years and as the government pushed us, I had started sending more and more away, praying that they would survive. In the end, I realised I would’ve died in TC had Jamie not returned with her father.

As I was nearing the end of my musings, Alec walked in.

“Honey, you ok?” he asked as he sat down next to me, flinging an arm around my shoulder.

“I’m fine.”

“What are you doing?”

“Just thinking, about the past two years.”

“You’re not having regrets are you?”

“Alec, of course not. I don’t want to be anywhere but here, in you arms.”

“Well, that’s certainly good to know.”

“You put Anthony to sleep.”

“Yup.”

It felt good to finally have a quiet evening to ourselves; I mused as I snuggled up to Alec. It was definitely good to be here. I quickly thanked whoever was up there watching me. They finally granted me my wish, of having a new life with Alec. Life was good, finally.

THE END