10 Years Ago- Killers Den –

"Shh, My Love," he smiled, smoothing back her long blond hair. "You're home and safe now."

Jocelyn shook her head and scrambled back from him, as far as her binds would allow. "Please! Let me go! I won't tell anyone."

"Now, you know that is not true. I don't enjoy liars. You are home now."

The others…the stories I heard. It's all true? "I don't belong here."

"You will be a lovely addition to my collection," he continued, stroking her flat stomach with his thumbs. "You will provide for our family here, Laila."

"That's not my name."

"I have named you now," he said, removing her clothes completely. "It is time for you to begin your duties to me."

2 Years Ago – Rome – John & Max

Max looked through her hair at her date. Don't pick a fight. Don't antagonize him. He's being very sweet to me…like he knows how nervous I am with him.

"Max?"

She smiled at him, despite her nerves. "John?"

"You were a million miles away."

She settled back against his side, more comfortable than she wanted to admit with his arm slung around her shoulders, his fingers resting on her bare shoulder. "Just enjoying the good company."

Way too pretty, John thought, just looking at her. Max, in this lacey top, tight jeans, with her hair all blown out, nervous and flirting with me at the same time. "Well, my very lovely date, we have all night."

She cocked her head to the side and just looked at him. "And where are you taking me?"

Researched her, he thought, not a dinner and movie kind of woman. As much as I want to ogle her all night, show off this very beautiful and sexy date on my arm…she is a bundle of nerves right now. Casual, slowly, she didn't pull away when I put my arm around her, instead she snuggled in closer to me and wrapped her arm around my waist and smiled at me. My prickly and feisty deputy. "Up to Windsor, there is a concert in the park, and then I hear you're a bit of a pool shark. Drinks, wings and pool?"

She broke into a grin. "Where did you hear that?"

"I have my sources."

Flirt, don't be a freak, I can do this. He is a great guy, who is in my head, and I really like his arm around me. I can do this…I don't care if people stare at us. I do like talking to him. It's like he sees who I am underneath it all. "Do you?"

He brushed her long hair, letting his fingers drift down her cheek by his car. Ah, I like her. "I'm not divulging them. Come on. Let's have fun tonight.

Oh, that smile, she thought, I do prefer it to him scowling at me. I'm going to be kissing him by the end of the night…I really want to right now. Stop it. Date. Have fun. Smiling back at him. "Fun, huh?"

He grinned back at her. She's flirting with me, she knows what she's doing right now…these clothes, perfume, that smile on her face, how she fits in my arms. "Can you handle that?"

Do it, she thought, go out with him. I want to do this with him. "Take me away."

10 Years Ago- Killers Den –

"There, there," she murmured, washing Jocelyn down. "You're one of us."

"Please," Jocelyn begged. "Let me go. I want to go home."

"You are home. You are his," she smiled. "We are all his, Laila."

She shook her head. "Never."

"You will bare him children, they will live with the others. This is our home, he is our lord and master. You will follow our ways here very soon."

Jocelyn shivered at that. No…I won't. I can't stay here. "I have family, friends, they'll find me."

She sighed. "You were meant to be found by him. To join us. You will be bound to this bed until you truly become one of us and contribute a child to our family, Laila. You must let him into you."

She stared at the woman, not much older than she. "How long have you been here for?"

She smiled at that. "I was born here. My mother bore me with him and now I reciprocate baring my father's fruit."

2 Years Ago – Rome – John & Max

"Really?" John teased, as she sunk the final ball. "I had my doubts."

She looked up and smiled at him. "You didn't believe the rumors?"

"I needed the hard evidence. You're good."

Oh, he's handsome…really handsome when he smiles like that, she thought, why did I push back at this? "We can go again, really make your case."

He grinned back at her, taking her hand in his and feeling relieved when she intertwined her fingers with his. She's very touchable right now. "I'll stipulate to it. Come on, let's get out of here. You want to take a walk? It's a nice night."

I want you to not let go of me, she thought, I want to keep talking to you. I want your lips and hands on me. Don't rush it, let it flow naturally…we have nothing but time. "I'd love that."

"Max," he said, keeping her close under his arm as they made their way down the street. Ah, don't kiss her yet, I want to kiss her. "What's going on in there?"

"In my head?" she smiled, looking at him. "Just that I'm having a really great time with you…and I'm so sorry I was being ridiculous and stupid about us going out. Thanks for the second chance."

He held her gaze, seeing her flush as that. Screw it, she's here now, looking soft and vulnerable, ah Max. "You can even have a third. Max, I really like spending time with you, I want to see where we go."

She smiled at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and looked up into his smiling eyes. "You really are too good for me. I'm a disaster. Relationship dynamite. I blow it every time. I pick crazy people. I'm really bad at this. You don't have any deep dark secrets?"

His grin broadened. Adorable, awkward, and suddenly very wary. "You're not bad at this. I like you, Max, you're smart, funny, and a bit softer and kinder than you let on. I like talking to you, touching you and…No deep dark secrets. Single dad, just trying to do the best I can…and that includes dating you."

"See, way too good for me."

"Get over yourself. You're great. Sure, you know how to irritate and antagonize me, but…there isn't anyone else I want to spend time with."

Damn it, she thought, just damn it with him. What am I doing? I can't stop touching him. He makes me smile. "We should do this again then."

He tugged her closer and rested his forehead against hers. "We should."

I need to get away from him…damn it Max. You're acting like a lovesick fool with him. His hands, oh his hands on my waist, that smile… "John?"

"I love how you say my name."

She nodded, snuggling in closer to him. I'm doing this…Smiling up at him again. "John."

He smiled at her again, his fingers tangled in her hair. "Max."

She nodded, as they just looked at each other. "What are we doing?"

"Things we should be doing in private."

She shifted in his arms, as his fingers trailed gently down her face. Wrapping her arms around him, she let out a sigh at his gentle touch. "This is private."

He smiled at that, not taking his eyes off her. "Max."

I can't even think, she thought, his roaming hands and… "I'm going to kiss you if you don't do it first."

His grin broadened at that, as he pulled her in. "Come here, Honey."

10 Years Ago- Killers Den –

Jocelyn rubbed her swollen stomach in wonder and horror. I can't…I can't have this baby here. Wherever here is…how can no one know? Trees, nothing but trees, this cabin and the caves. These chains…he's going to take my baby…then I'll have another and another…like the others. I need to save my baby. No…

"Laila," he smiled, laying his hands on her stomach. "How are you feeling?"

She stared at him for a long moment. "I need a doctor. I can't have this baby here."

"All my children are born here, Laila. This is your home now, just like our baby."

The children in the woods, she thought, I hear them laughing. A pack…with the mothers. The pack I'm joining. He's touching me…I hate him. I completely hate him.

2 Years Ago – Rome – John & Max

"You're way too good at this," John murmured, as they stood in each other's arms. Kissing her again, she wrapped herself around him. "Max."

She kissed him back, laughing as he nuzzled her neck and not letting her go. "Oh, what are you doing to me?"

He smiled, as he pressed his lips to hers again. "Something better done in private."

Oh, I like this, she thought, as they kissed again. Breaking a part, she sighed, as he hugged her tightly to him. I like him. Complicated…it feels so easy right now…I just want his arms around me. "We have all night."

He tilted her face to his. Beautiful, he thought, so soft and feminine right now. Where is that prickly deputy that I fight with? Ah, Max. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I kind of want to do this."

He nodded, brushing his lips against hers for a brief moment. "Kara has ballet and then a playdate. Lunch?"

She nodded at that, as he combed through her hair. "I'd like that."

"And I have to get home to that four-year-old," he admitted, as they just looked at each other. "And I want to keep kissing you."

"You can kiss me whenever you want…except at work?" she teased, pressing her lips to his one more time before interlocking her hand with his. "John, are you okay?"

Dangerous, he thought, what she's waking up in me. This flirty, smiling, incredible kisser, who I'm really enjoying tonight with. "You surprised me."

"How?"

"I expected my prickly, feisty, argumentative, deputy," he smiled. "I like this side of you."

She broke into a grin at that. "Is that because I kissed you?"

"Not going to lie, Honey, that has a lot to do with it."

She laughed, as they made their way to his car. "Let's keep it up then."

Rome – Present

"Jesus Christ," Kenny said, as he brought their patrol car to a stop. "What is this?"

Max felt her heart leap into her throat. No, this is…What? "I don't know."

"What are you doing?" Kenny asked, as she made to get out of the car. "Look at that."

She looked at his hand on her arm before back at the road. "They're dirty and scared looking kids, Kenny."

"Look at their teeth."

Max stifled a gasp. "Points? Someone…oh. Who could do this? We can't leave them here."

"Stay in the car."

"Seriously?"

"I know you're all mom these days with Littleton's kid, but these ones aren't her."

"I know that."

Such a mom, Kenny thought, it's nice to see this side of her coming out. How she lights up with Littleton, she smiles more, she opened herself up to him…they don't let it show at work, but Littleton adores her. She loves his daughter…Max has never been this happy. "Then don't let it get in the way."

"Do you really think I would do that?"

Smiling, taking his kid to the park, ballet, kissing him…she is going to marry him. I'm surprised he hasn't asked her yet. "I think they've made you go soft and it's not a bad thing. Stay put and back me up."

"Be careful."

A Killers Den – Present

Run, they ran, I can run too. No one will ever find us here again. They won't know what to do. All they will do is mark another to join us. No one will ever truly leave here. They probably found her already. No…I'm his now, I can't go back. I've seen and done too much.

"Laila."

She looked up, smoothing her tattered rags. "Solomon, I've been waiting for you."

Present - Rome

"They bit me, Max," Kenny said. "There is something wrong with them."

She stared at him. "They're kids, Kenny."

"We found them on the side of the road, Max," he stated. "Screaming and eating squirrels. What? You want to take them home with you?"

"What's your problem?"

"I got bit by a feral kid and you're going all mom on me."

"Do you really want to discuss this now? Something happened to these kids…look at them."

"The doctors are coming to look at them. Come on, we got a case to file."

Max glanced behind her…what happened to them? Kara hasn't made me go soft either…I do adore her and my life with her and John. Focus, Max, focus. Who could do this to kids? Filthy, in rags, malnourished…they can't even speak. We'll catch them. Maybe Kenny is right, this is breaking my heart a bit. And the other thing…that made John's eyes light up, kiss me…I don't think I've ever seen him that happy. Softie. I'm kind of liking it. "Yeah. Let's go."

"Mama!" one called, as they left. "Mama!"

Present – John & Kara

"Is Max coming over?" Kara asked, looking up from coloring on the couch in his office. "Do you think she'll like my picture?"

John looked up from the brief on his desk. "You know Max loves your pictures."

"Are you having a sleepover?"

Things Max and I need to talk about. Things she's unsure and afraid to really confront. How shaky she was…how it wasn't what we planned on. She isn't ducking me, I know she isn't ducking me. "You want Max to stay over?"

"Daddy, you and Max love each other."

"How do you know that?"

Kara giggled. "You kiss her all the time. Daddy, I'm not stupid."

"Yeah, Kid? You like Max too?"

"She takes care of me, Daddy. We get ice cream after ballet. Is Max going to be my mommy?"

Ah, I want her to be. She is good with Kara…and she's going to be great with what we're 99% sure is growing inside her. She shouldn't be on patrol, she should be seeing a doctor to get it confirmed. Tonight, we're sitting down and doing this. "What would you think of that?"

Kara smiled and put down her crayons. "She is my mommy, Daddy. Not from her tummy, that was my other mommy. I want her to live with us"

A lot of changes…on top of me wanting to marry her. She won't say yes because she's probably pregnant. She'll balk and push back at that. Slowly, I need to ease her into this. "She is going to live with us. Remember? She's moving in."

"Then Max can be my mommy?"

"Don't call her Mommy yet, Kid. Max loves being your friend and doing things with you. Let me talk to her first about it."

"Can I still give her my picture?"

"She can add it to her collection. Come on, pack it up, we'll go find her and go home."

Rome - Present

"Mama, huh?" Kenny said, looking at her. "It was the first clear word."

Max nodded. "The search party is out there…if she's there, something happened to these kids. This isn't shock, this is…them not developing right."

"Good call, Mama."

She shot him a look. "Is there something you want to say to me?"

Max and Littleton. Her with his kid. Her smiling with him, kissing him, completely committed to him and the family they have with his daughter. The relationship you never see at work.

"The shrink is with them."

Max shuddered despite herself. Lost kids…not just that, abandoned, no one is taking care of them. Damn it. I will never do that to this baby, or what I'm fairly certain is a baby in my belly. Or wherever babies actually grow. My uterus? Focus, Max, focus. I need to get it confirmed. I'm going to be a mom…John is an amazing dad, Kara is the best kid…who I love. We're a family…and we're having a baby. I think. Damn it.

"Max?"

"Sorry, I," she started, shaking her head. Stop thinking about this maybe baby. "We won't know anything until tomorrow?"

"Max!" Kara cried, throwing her arms around her and hugging her tightly. "Are you coming over?"

Max hugged her back, breaking into a grin. I can't resist her. "I think so. Hi."

Ah, John thought, my girls. I never thought Max would be so good with Kara or that Kara would like her this much. She is becoming Kara's mom in a lot of ways…and of what's in there. "Hi yourself. Are you ready?"

My ride, she thought, mentally kicking herself. I can't duck him. I need to deal. Oh, he's smiling at me. I do practically live with them…and I'm about to really live with them. "Uh, I think so. We're done?"

That kid is wrapped around Max and she is hugging her back. Smiling at this kid, Littleton can't take his eyes off her, and she is glowing. How have they been together this long? "Yeah. We won't have anything until tomorrow. Get out of here."

2 Years Ago – Rome – John & Max

"Hey," John said, opening his front door. "I'm glad you're here."

Meeting Kara, she thought, I've met her before but…dinner with them. After a month of really good dates with John…who I still haven't gone to bed with. I'm kind of liking the slow burn of this. "Me too."

He brushed his lips over hers for a long moment. Dinners, drinks, long talks almost every night, he thought, I'm falling for her. Nah, I already have, this antagonistic deputy, who is way to touchable in leggings and a soft sweater. "You look great."

She smiled at that, as she kissed him back. "You're biased."

"And so very kissable."

She leaned into his strong hug, inhaling the scent that was all him, before he released her. I didn't think it would feel this way, that we would connect so well…that I can really talk to him. I really like him…heading into more than like. "Anytime."

"Daddy?"

"Hey, Kid," he said, as she ran to him. "You remember Max?"

She nodded, as John picked her up with a grin. "She's a deputy. Do you kiss all the deputies?"

"Just Max. Can you say hi?"

Oh, she is adorable, Max thought, and he's such a good dad. Just a good man.

"Hi, Max," Kara said. "Are you my daddy's girlfriend?"

I can't answer that, we haven't even talked about it yet. One month of dating…I haven't been seeing anyone else. Neither has he. I'm not sure I'm ready to label it yet. "Your dad and I are really good friends."

"Who are getting to know each other, Kara," John stated. "Remember? I want you to get to know Max too. Are you up for that?"

"Are you going to kiss her again?"

Probably, he thought, kissing Max is one of my favorite things. She should stay tonight, we can…is she there? She has to be there. "Maybe after dinner. Didn't you have something you wanted to show her?"

Kara looked at Max, as John put her on her own feet. She reached out and tugged on Max's hand. "Come on. I want to show you my picture."

Present – Rome – John & Max

"I'm not avoiding it," Max stated, as she sat cross-legged on his couch eating popcorn. "I know what the six tests said and…I'm not sure..how are you so sure about this?"

"You are a wonderful mom to Kara. You know she thinks of you like that."

"She's easy to love, John."

He wrapped his arm around her and squeezed her for a long moment. Dropping a kiss on the top of her head, he tilted her face to his. "So are you."

"Are we ready for this? You're such a great dad, we didn't plan on this and…it makes it real if a doctor confirms it. Not just the home tests and me throwing up in the morning. It means we're really having a baby."

"I know it changes stuff, Honey. You're about moved in already."

Don't propose, she thought, please don't ask me yet. I'll say yes and it's just…oh, it's a lot. "I know."

He felt her flat stomach before smiling at her. "If you're not...you want to try? You know, to have a baby."

She broke into a grin at that. I do, I really do. "Yes."

"And, don't get mad," he said. "Doctor. Tomorrow. We need to know."

She bit her lip, laying her hand over his on her stomach. Our baby…our family here together. Kara is going to be an amazing big sister. This was never what I pictured growing up, but it doesn't matter. John is my guy, the guy I love with everything in me. "Will you come with me?"

He kissed her again and she melted against him. Ah, Max, she is going to be a great mom. "To find out if I'm going to be a dad again? Where else would I be?"

She looked at him for a long moment. "As nervous as I am about…being pregnant…having a baby…John, I'm excited to do it with you. We're going to make a great baby."

Sheriff Station – Present

"Mama," he said nodding at his sister. "She Mama."

She shook her head. "Not Mama."

He frowned at her. "Need a Mama for Papa."

"Baby. She have baby. New Mama."

"We find."

Thayer Hospital

"Breathe," John smiled, giving her a long squeeze. "You're okay."

"I threw up for 15 minutes this morning," she trailed off, snuggling close to him. "We're doing this."

"Making Kara a big sister, Mom?"

She looked at him with that. "Oh, that sounds weird."

"And you're going to be a great mom. You've got a big heart in there, Max. We can have a dozen babies."

She groaned at that. "I'm having trouble wrapping my head around one right now. John? I want to tell Kara we're making her a big sister…I love you so much."

He smiled at her, squeezing her again. Ah, Max…she is glowing. Radiant. Even if she is a bundle of nerves. Move in. Baby. I want to marry her. "I love you too."

Jill smiled as she looked at them. They are a beautiful couple, a lightening rod here, but so sure together. Even Max looking really nervous about this, she lights up with John, who can't take his eyes off her. "Hello, you two."

Max looked up, her heart pounding in her chest. "Hi."

"I have your rest results," Jill said, looking at the happy couple in front of her. Two years? They've been very private about this, but never hid it. "Congratulations. You're about eight weeks pregnant."

TBC