A/N; Thanks to everyone for your kind words of condolences and support... as you guys know I haven't written for ages so don't know if the quality of this chapter suffered because of the lack of practice...I hope I have done this chapter justice and hope it was worth the wait for you guys...I did try my best to write it to my normal standards...pls, let me know what you thought of this chapter...LOV U ALL XXX

Chapter 36 -

There was a chill in the air that cut deep to the bone, the rose-pink light of dawn casting shadows on the Ocean surface. The ocean waves were hitting the shore, breaking the silence that was otherwise blanketing the entire nation of Deania. The nation's inhabitants were all in bed or at least home if not in their bed. Except one.

Max sighed deeply as she sat on the roof-top of the Command building, eyes never leaving the horizon. She hadn't been able to sleep despite Alec's efforts to calm her. On a normal night, she only slept for a few hours. Less than most. But, tonight hadn't been a normal night. She had things on her mind that wouldn't let her rest. Add to that the fact that she was away from her kids in such a tense situation and she wasn't going to get any sleep even when she knew they were safe. After spending hours in the bed for Alec's sake more than her own, she got up. She needed to be alone, needed a high place where she could think without distractions. Because, for the first time in a very long time, she felt fear seep into the very core of her being.

Failure, remorse, anxiety, hurt and guilt. These were the raw emotions that she felt right now, sitting alone on one of the few high platforms on the roof. It was one of the only places that she could call her own as no transgenics ever came here. She hadn't allowed herself to think in the presence of her mate, knowing he would feel her mood, smell her fear. Wasn't ready to admit her feelings to him or to talk about it to him. What would she say even if she was capable of doing so, that she was sorry for being wrong, for putting them in such a situation where they were all in view of anyone who would want to harm them. No, she couldn't say that. Not only for the reason that it hurt to admit it, but rather because it implied that she was giving up and insulting the memory of those transgenics who had lost their lives for their freedom. She shuddered as the thoughts penetrated her mind. She clenched her fists, wanting to let off some of the steam she felt building up inside her by busting the very platform she was sat on. Her inner voice's insistence that she had failed to deliver on her promise to her people raced through her head again. She couldn't avoid the truth of the voice of her own conscious. She had let her people down, though they didn't know yet. People, who despite being capable of looking after themselves had placed their trust in her. How was she going to tell them that all the sacrifices they had made, as a family, a nation and a race, were going to go to waste, had been pointless.

A feral cry escaped her. The next moment, the tears she had been holding back broke free. Quenching her desire to call for her mate, she hugged herself instead. When she felt a presence behind her, she tensed. She knew who it was. That didn't mean she was ready to face him. 'Why are you here?' She asked in an aggressive tone.

'I could ask you the same thing.' Was Alec's reply. Feeling annoyed as well as miserable, he threw his hands up in the air in defeat and walked over to Max's side. He sat down beside her and pulled her in an embrace. 'What's wrong?' He was concerned for her. He had felt her feral cry and her intense emotions. It was the only reason he was up at such an ungodly hour. Rubbing his hand soothingly on her arm, he leaned forward and planted a chaste kiss on her head.

'Smartass. You should be asleep...you shouldn't have come here.' Max said in a small voice, quivering from her sobs and not meeting Alec's gaze. She was scared of what she would find in those beautiful eyes of his.

Alec sighed out loud. 'How can I sleep when I can feel my mate feeling all these negative emotions? Max, you beating yourself up over our potential security situation isn't going to help the matter. It's not your fault. How many times do I have to tell you that?' He understood her feelings. Being her mate for over a decade had allowed him to get through every defensive wall she had built around her heart and mind. He was proud to be the only one who knew whatever Max thought about and the extent of her true feelings for her people. Anyone who knew her love and dedication towards the transgenic race would be able to guess what was eating at her and keeping her awake.

Max rested her head against Alec's chest and let herself relax. 'Alec, I failed.' Hearing Alec's gasp at her admission of her defeat in such a manner, she burrowed into his warmth by squeezing her arms around his torso. 'I was wrong. I forced everyone to come out of hiding and look now what position are we in. If we lose, we lose everyone and everything.' She added, remorsefully.

'Max, if you put it that way then I was wrong too. And, so were all the first generation transgenics wrong who believed that they deserved to live free like any human in the world. Were we all wrong, huh?' Alec paused. 'Max, I want you to stop blaming yourself because you have gotta see that this security situation is the fault of that bastard, Sullivan. He's the one hell bent on conquering the entire world or those nations who he thinks he can win against. I won't let him win. I promise.' He grabbed hold of her chin and forced her to look into his eyes. Glowing them, he let her know that he intended to keep his promise. When Max nodded in acceptance, he gave her a smile.

Maybe Alec was right about everything. Maybe she was taking it the wrong way. She should try to focus her attention on their battle plans rather than wallowing in her guilt. What was done couldn't be changed but she could make sure her nation, her family didn't have to make sacrifices ever again. Wiping her eyes and face of the tears, Max decided to change the topic of discussion. 'Do you think we should go and check on the kids?' The sun was rising now over the horizon which drew her eyes to the magnificent sight. She subconsciously linked her hands with Alec's and rubbed her body against his.

'No. They'll be okay. I'll call Cade later so he can wake the girls for school on time. Anyway, they need to learn to live without us being there all the time. We'll have to spend more time here at Command from now on.' Alec moved so he was sitting behind Max with her between his legs. Placing his head on her shoulder, he bit down on her exposed skin making her moan. 'I love you, Maxie.'

Max turned around slightly in Alec's arms. 'I love you too.'

A couple of hours later, Alec called his son's phone as he'd promised Max he would.

Zeva woke up to the sound of Cade's cell-phone ringing. She looked over at the owner of the phone and rolled her eyes in annoyance. Cade didn't seem to want to answer the phone, judging by the way he had buried his head under the pillow. Huffing and gritting her teeth, she reached over him to where the phone was on the bedside table. Flipping the phone open, she said. 'Yes?'

'Zeva, baby, where's Cade?' Getting this reply, Zeva quickly looked at the caller ID. She nearly dropped the phone.

'Daddy, are you okay and is Mommy okay?' She asked, trying to deflect questions about Cade. What was she supposed to say, oh hey daddy, Cade is sleeping beside me and refuses to wake up that's why I am answering his phone. Like hell she'd say something like that. She shoved Cade with her free hand. When he peeked from under the pillow, she glared at him which earned her a smirk from him.

'Yeah, we're okay. I called you to remind you to wake your sisters up for school and get them to Cece's on time.' Her Daddy answered in a tired tone.

'I know, Daddy. I was going to wake them up now. In fact, I'm in the kitchen and Cade's in the bathroom. That's why I answered his phone.' Zeva hoped her Daddy didn't pick up on her lie. She felt bad for lying but she couldn't tell the truth. Seeing Cade grin like a mad hyena made her want to strangle him for putting her in such a predicament.

She heard her Daddy laugh softly. 'Yeah, yeah, okay. I should let you go now. And, you and Cade should be here at your posts on time too. I'll see you later.' The phone went dead.

Zeva sighed as she shut the phone. Looking over at Cade, she found him trying to hide his laughter. In her anger, she threw the phone at him and tried to distangle her body from him and the sheets. 'You dumbass. I hate you.' She got out of his bed and marched out of his room. Last night, he had insisted they sleep in his bed because his room was closer to the girls in the case they needed them. She had agreed. A part of her had known that it was a significant event because no male invited a female he was interested in sexually into his territory unless she meant something more to him.

'I love you too.' Cade shouted back, winking at her when she turned before leaving.

Zeva quickly grabbed her things and went to the bathroom. Minutes later, having had a quick shower to wash off the scent of Cade's ever-wandering hands and lips, she emerged fully dressed and ready for the day ahead. Not bothering to try to get Cade up, she opened her sisters' room to wake them instead. Lima was already up, trying to wake Mila. 'Hey, L. Go, use the bathroom before the others need to go. I'll get her out of bed.' Zeva ruffled Lima's hair and nuzzled her neck in affection when she went past her. After Lima had left, she made her way over to Mila's side of the room and sat down beside the sleeping form. 'Mi, wake up baby. I'll make you pancakes.'

'Did I just hear pancakes?' Came a groggy voice from the doorway.

Zeva turned to find a shirtless Cade leaning against the door-frame. She blushed at the sight of his muscles and chest. He looked so damn hot with his bed-hair, bleary eyes, and cute pout. Trying her best to not show him her true lustful thoughts, she stared at him in a fiercely angry way. 'Cade, get lost. I'm trying to wake my baby up.' She faced Mila again. However, Mila seemed to be very awake following Zeva and Cade's little conversation. 'Good, you're awake. Get up now. If you're late for school, L won't be the only one mad at you.' She warned her little sister and then left to go to the kitchen to make everyone breakfast. As she passed Cade, he quickly stole a kiss from her, in the process making Mila squeal in delight.

At 8.56 a.m. pacific time zone, Cade, Ryan, Zeva and Sara entered the Command building. Immediately, the girls left the boys to go to their work spaces but the two teenage male weren't so enthusiastic about their duties to run off to their posts in such haste. They decided to look for their Dads, just to kill time.

On their way to Biggs' office, they passed Riya. 'Hey, is Dad in his office?' Ryan asked the female transgenic who looked a lot like a horse with her weird face.

'Nah. There's gonna be a meeting at 9 so he's there.' The female curled a strand of her red hair around her finger.

'Okay, thanks.' Cade quickly grabbed hold of his brother's arm and dragged him alongside himself as he strutted over to the meeting rooms. He could tell where the meeting was taking place because Ale, his parents' PA was standing outside the door as though she was keeping the place under her guard. 'Hey, Ale.' Cade was stopped in his tracks before he could try to open the conference room door. He looked at the female, raising his eyebrow in an annoyed manner. 'What?'

'You are not allowed in. It's a classified meeting. You don't have clearance.' Ale responded, blank face and emotionless tone of a soldier in place.

'What the fuck? I'm Max's son.' Cade was furious. Nobody told him what he could or couldn't do.

'You still have no clearance. I'm sorry.' Ale shrugged, clearly not in the least sorry. 'Go and do the jobs you have been assigned. I'll tell Max you were asking to see her.' She added, giving the two teenagers a silent pleading look to listen to her without causing trouble.

Ryan nodded in acceptance and put his arm around Cade's shoulders. 'Come on. Let's go. We can see them later.' Relief flooded him when Cade moved away from the door in agreement.

DADADADA

I will try to update again by saturday or sunday...