This is my 4th story.

Hope you like it!!

Any constructive criticisms are welcome!!!!

I encourage any advice to help me become a better writer. Tell me what I'm doing wrong, should take out, should add, etc.

Summary: Max gives up on her and Logan's relationship and finds comfort in Alec, whom she is the most comfortable around other than Logan. Frustrated and jealous, Logan backs off for the time being and watches the love of his life laugh and tease and argue with another man. Asha tries to take Max's place, but Logan refuses to see her in that way. He wants Max and Max only.

Chapter 1

I am so tired of all this shit, Max thought as she chose her outfit for the day. It's always the same thing day after day after day after-

"Max!" Original Cindy called.

"Yeah?"

"You got a visitor."

Still in her bra and pulling a snug shirt over her fit body, Max walked out of her room and into the living room/kitchen.

"Whoa! I so did not have to see that."

Max tugged her shirt down and glared at the person at the door. "What the hell are you doing here, Alec?"

A bright smile shined her way. "Just want to say good morning to my two favorite ladies," He hooked an arm around Original Cindy's shoulders.

Original Cindy shrugged his arm off. "Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes, freeloader."

Alec put his hands together and gave a small bow. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Max only rolled her chocolate eyes. "The real reason?"

Alec sat on a chair by the counter and said, "Well, your Big Fella kept me up all night. Couldn't even get us a bite for dinner."

Max went up and took a fistful of his shirt. "You left him at home?"

"Yeah."

"Without food?!?"

Alec chuckled and gently pushed her away, trying to ignore how small her shoulders were in his large hands. "Relax. I got up earlier this morning, got some grub, gave it to him, and came here."

"You can't just leave him alone eating by himself!"

"Oh re-lax, Maxie."

Max's glare deepened.

"The kids came by to visit and they're staying with him."

"Kids?" Max's frown disappeared into a shocked expression. "You have kids?"

Original Cindy burst out laughing.

Alec gave Max an incredulous look. "Now wait a second there! I meant my squad is back from Canada." He looked at Original Cindy and said, "Not that I wouldn't mind having kids one day."

"And you'll probably kill them from feeding them too much milk," Original Cindy muttered with an eyebrow lifted.

"They're back to visit?" Max butt in.

"Yeah." Alec leaned forward so that his face was close to Max's. "They miss me soo much unlike a certain person."

Max put her hand on his face and shoved his face back. "Cut the crap."

Alec only chuckled. He took a bowl filled with oatmeal from Original Cindy and passed it to Max. "Besides, they'll keep the big guy company." He lifted his hand when Max opened her mouth. "They know to not let him out of the house and…whatever rules you made with Joshua."

"Thank you," Max said as she started eating. "At least those kids have a brain since you don't."

"Now listen here-"

The phone rang. Original Cindy went to go answer it as the two bickered. "Yeah?"

"Hey, this is Logan. Max there?"

"Hey, Logan." Original Cindy glanced over at Max and Alec. "Um. Why don't you call back later? Max'll be done in a couple of minutes."

"Oh. Okay." Logan tried to hold back the disappointment he was feeling. He was about to say his farewell until he heard a man's voice. Jealousy sparked. "Who's that in the background?"

"Uh-" Original Cindy knew of Logan and Max's relationship; it wasn't hard to miss. Those two were crazy about each other, but they couldn't even touch each other without Max killing Logan because of some virus Manticore injected her with. She also knew that Logan was a jealous man whenever some man came near Max, especially if it was Alec.

"What if I had split it with you for…say…sixty-forty?" Alec said.

Logan's tone dropped. "Sounds like Alec. What's he doing at your place?"

"Food." Original Cindy said. "It seems like every transgenic is attracted to my cooking. Max was the first. Then that dog-man. And now Alec. Man. Things just keep on getting better and better, don't it?"

"Tell Max I need to speak with her."

Startled, Original Cindy pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it for a second before saying, "She's eating. You know what happens when she doesn't have her food in her stomach in the mornings."

"Just put her on,"

"Fine by me. Don't blame me if she gives you an earful." Original Cindy covered the mouthpiece and said, "Hey, Max. It's for you."

"Who is it?" Max asked as she took the phone.

"Logan."

Max's eyes widened with anticipation. "Hello?"

Alec, irritated that they were interrupted by lover-boy, leaned his elbow on the counter and fit his chin into the palm of his hand. He stared at Max as she conversed with Eyes Only.

"I'll come after I finish breakfast." Max said.

"Come now and I'll serve you bacon, eggs, rice, toast-"

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes tops." She hung up the phone.

Damn it, she thought. He always knows when to pick at my weakness.

She absolutely worshiped his cooking. For a man who's rich beyond the richest and lives by himself, he certainly can cook things to make a woman melt. Perhaps that's how he got engaged…twice.

Max wrinkled her nose at the thought. The blondie was a total bitch. The dark headed was a lez. How in the world did he get tied into these things?

She shrugged on her windbreaker and backpack saying, "I'm heading off to Logan's. Any message for him?"

"Thanks for interrupting?" Alec offered.

Max only rolled her eyes and looked at her best friend.

"Tell him to cool off."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Original Cindy just waved her hand. "Just tell him that. He'll know."

"Okay." Max grabbed her bicycle and bid her friends good-bye.

As soon as the door closed, Alec grumbled, "Why does he have to interrupt every single time Max and I talk?"

"Who? Logan?" Original Cindy asked. She scooped up some oatmeal and guided it to her mouth. "Relax. Logan just wants to spend time with her."

"Well, I haven't this past couple weeks because of him!"

Original Cindy lifted a brow. "Sounds like someone's jealous of someone."

Alec blushed a cute, apple-red. "N-No I'm not."

She rolled her eyes. "Sure."

MLMLML

Max picked the Logan's door lock and let herself in. Immediately, she was overcome by the delicious aroma of juicy bacon, scrambled eggs, hot rice, buttered toast…

She sighed. Yep. This is how she liked it whenever she came over to Logan's.

She walked toward the kitchen and heard voices.

"I don't know why you're still with her." Max frowned at the familiar feminine voice. "She's as dangerous as they come."

"Then can you tell me why she saved your life a couple times?" Logan's patient voice answered.

"Th-That's only because you asked her to." Asha argued. "If it weren't for you, she would have left me in jail, rotting in those god-forsaken cells."

"Max isn't like that. She'd never leave anyone who's done good in the world alone. Her heart is anything but evil."

Max scoffed as she hid behind one of the screen walls. Right now she felt like doing something evil to that dirty-blond bitch.

"C'mon, Logan. One of these days you're going to get caught because of her." Asha said. "Manticore goons are searching for her every second of the day. There's no telling if they've already found out where she lives and then they'll make the connection between Eyes Only and her."

Logan was silent for a second. "It doesn't matter. Max can take care of herself. Besides, Manticore created her to be the perfect solider. There's no way they can catch her and break her."

Max smiled at that compliment.

"And what about the virus?"

That wiped Max's smile off her face. She bit her bottom lip.

"Asha, please don't go there." Logan said with a hint of irritation. "I'm looking for a way to cure this thing. There isn't a Manticore agent that can stop me from doing so. I'd rather die than give up on Max."

"Still," Asha began. "What if…What if this is a sign-"

"That we can't be together?" Max finished as she stepped into the kitchen.

Asha slightly blushed in embarrassment.

Logan was speechless for a second. He cleared his throat and said, "Just because we can't touch doesn't mean that this is a sign that we can't be together, Max."

"Hmm. You're friend doesn't think so." Max stared Asha down. She wasn't glaring on the outside, she was just displaying feline dominance. Once Asha looked away, Max addressed Logan, "You didn't tell me that you had…a guest."

Logan shifted uncomfortably. "She slept over. Cops searched her place and she needed somewhere to sleep, that's all."

Max only lifted an eyebrow. Logan's lips pursed at the silent implication and slightly glared at her. Just then, Max's beeper went off. She looked and said, "Well, well. It seems like I've got to get to work." She started for the door. "You two have a nice breakfast."

"Wait, Max! You aren't going to stay?" Logan sounded a little desperate. "I made way too much-"

Max waved him off. "I'll be back if I have the time."

"Max-"

With a dash of inhuman speed, Max left Logan's apartment.

Logan hung his head, sighing frustratingly. "You know, Asha, it would help that you don't talk about my and Max's relationship anymore, all right?"

"I was only trying to protect you." Asha argued. "Every moment Manticore people are inching toward your identity as they look into Max's life. They'll find out who you are and they'll kill you."

Logan lifted his head. His amber eyes glared at her. "Asha, please."

Asha looked away. "Logan, you know how I feel about you-"

"And yet I don't feel the same. You're a friend, a colleague. Max is…" His voice turned breathless and dreamy. "She's everything that I want."

Hurt, Asha winced and said, "I'll go."

Logan stared at her and gave a defeated sigh. "No. Stay. At least have some breakfast before you go."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Eat while I try to settle things with Max." Logan walked to his desk and sat, leaving Asha alone. He took his phone and dialed Max's cell number.

When the answering machine came up, he hung up and dialed her pager. Five minutes later, no call back from her. He called her pager again. No response five minutes later. As he was about to call again, his phone rang. He quickly picked it up.

"Hello?" he answered eagerly.

"What do you want?"

"I just want to apologize for Asha's…words. She didn't know what she was talking about."

"Yeah."

Silence.

"Max?"

"Yeah."

"Are you all right?"

"Fine."

Again, another round of silence.

"Max, Asha didn't mean it."

"Of course she didn't."

"We'll find a cure." Logan knew what she was thinking. His heart quickened its beats in panic of losing her. "We will. I promise."

"Sure."

"Max, don't give up hope."

Max sighed. "I've got to go, Logan." Her voice sounded weary. "I'll stop by later, okay?" She hung up before Logan could say anything.

Logan stared at his phone and gripped it. He'd almost lost her twice when they'd touched. The guilt she carried for infecting him was large and heavy. He did all he could to erase any doubt from her mind that they weren't meant to be.

He already knew that she was the one. He loved everything about her, despite how young she was and how her genetic pattern was different from a human's. He loved seeing her barcode on her elegant neck. He loved the light perfume she wore. He loved her stubbornness. He loved her pride. He loved her willingness to help those in need. He loved her more than the world itself. And he would do anything to keep her at his side, virus or no virus. They were meant to be. And there was no way she'll run from him.