{Foggle Towers} after the ceremony--May 12th

After the wedding, everyone headed over to Logan's penthouse for the reception. Max walked among the guest, meeting most of Logan's family for the 2nd time. When she was talking to Original Cindy and the others, Logan came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and shuffling back and forth.

"Hey handsome" she said, tilting her head up and around to look at him. She then reached a hand up and settled it on the side of his head, playing with his hair.

"Hey yourself" he replied, leaning down and barely brushing his lips against hers. "Enjoying it?"

Sketchy came up with a plate piled with food and said "The food is great man"

"You're welcome." Logan replied, still grinning at Max

"We gonna leave you two lovebirds alone now" Original Cindy said, pulling the others away with her.

"Speaking of lovebirds" Logan said suddenly coming out of his reverie and walking into his bedroom, returning with a large box. "Here" he said, handing it to Max, who proceeded to open it, smiling uncertainly at him.

When she pulled out a birdcage, with two lovebirds in it, her smile widened, and she turned to Logan.

"Where am I going to keep them?" she asked, waving her hand around to indicate the crowded room, even more so, since she had moved most of her things in a week ago.

"How about the bedroom?" Kendra suggested, then continued "That way you can see them all the time!"

((is that all she thinks about?)) "I'm gonna get you for that!" Max said, starting after Kendra, chasing her around the table. Logan reached out and grabbed her as she raced past him,

"Sounds good to me" he said, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"If I weren't so drowsy from the wine, I would have an appropriately venomous comment. Be warned, I owe you one." Max replied giddily, standing on her tip toes to look Logan eye to eye.

"I'll take that into consideration" was his response, as he looked into the never ending depths of her eyes, drinking them in, never wanting to stop.

Max pulled away from his lips, as she felt someone watching her. Scanning the room, she caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. "I'll be right back" she told Logan, going to the kitchen to see who it was. Rounding the corner, she stopped dead in her tracks. "Zack" she whispered, still staring at the man in front of her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice soft

"Are you happy Max?" he asked, not bothering to answer her question.

"Yes. I am very happy...Why are you here?"

"Where's Logan?" he asked, once again ignoring Max's question.

"In the other room..." She began, not having time to finish before Zack quickly left the kitchen to, presumably, find Logan.

"Wait, Zack!" Max called out, catching up to him and grabbing his arm. "What are you going to do?" she asked

"First, I wasn't invited to the engagement, or the wedding, and now that I am here, I can't even congratulate the groom?" Zack said, pulling free of her grasping hands and continuing towards the other room, followed closely by Max.

Logan glanced up from his conversation, sensing Max back in the room. When he looked up, instead of the doe brown eyes he expected, he was met by icy blue ones. Logan took a small step back as Zack advanced, and Logan said sarcastically,

"So nice of you to join us, to what do I owe this honor?"

He was taken aback, when instead of the quick biting comment he was expecting, Zack thrust out his hand, stating, as Logan shook it hesitatingly,

"Congratulations. Take good care of her."

Managing to overcome his initial shock, Logan replied "Thank you. I assure you I will take good care of her." Breaking the hand shake, both stepped back, somewhat uncomfortable. Logan was chagrinned to admit he noticed that he was taller then Zack.

"So..." Max began timidly "Did you come alone?" then "Never mind, you always come alone" she answered herself.

"Actually" piped a voice from behind her

"We came with him" continued another, as Max turned around, knowing the speakers as soon as she heard them. She was immediately gathered into a hug, by both Tinga, and Jondy.

"I can't believe you guys came!" Max said, holding them at arms length

"Yeah, wouldn't Deck be proud" Tinga said dryly, "It's practically a reunion"

"The truth is, we can't stay long...in case they begin to wonder why four of us are in Seattle....." Jondy told them

Max's eyes took on a haunted look "Why couldn't we just be normal.....No one looking for us, free to be whatever we want to be."

"I'm with you on that one" Jondy agreed

"Me too" Tinga added

"Not me." Logan said, coming up behind her, and pulling her close. "I wouldn't have you any other way" Max's face lost the haunted, pained look, and gained an equally happy one.

"Ditto" she responded, relaxing in his arms.

Zack interrupted their moment of peace "Well, sorry to interrupt this little tet a tet , but I'm out here. Then he started for the door, only to have Max grab his arm to stop him once again. Surprisingly, he didn't put up a fight as she turned him around and drew him into a hug.

"Thanks for coming." she told him, hot tears beginning to well up behind her eyes, at the thought that he might not come back again.

"Yeah, well, the Manticore welcome back party was booked." he replied bitterly

"Zack" she said, her voice stopping him this time, as he reached the door. "Don't stay away too long...maybe stop by just for the heck of it? I love you."

Zack turned his head away rapidly, as he felt the tears gathering. Wiping them away he replied, "I....love you too little sister. Congratulations, I'm happy for you."

((if only you knew how long I've waited for you to say that!)) Max thought, giving Zack another quick hug, and a goodbye kiss on the cheek. "It's not all phony sentimentality."
she told him softly. Searching his eyes with the hopes that he would believe her. She was rewarded with a rare smile, one which she returned gladly.

Zack departed with, "Take care of yourself."

"I will" Max promised, her reply met by a solid wooden door. Sighing, she went back to the party.