Backslide

The walk back to her apartment seemed longer than normal to Max. Perhaps it was emotions. Perhaps it was hormones. Or, perhaps life was just finally starting to invade Max's view.

Life had just been as normal as Max could've hoped for. Sure, there was the constant threat of Lydecker, but that had eventually become part of the normality. Now, her past was dead, the people that had been her only connection to the life she once had-dead; she was confused as ever about two men she both cared for deeply; and, there was a child on the way.

Max climbed slowly up the rickety stairs and prayed she would just be able to get a hot shower and sleep the rest of the day. She tried twisting the doorknob, but found it locked. With pained knuckles, she knocked slowly on the door.

Original Cindy opened the door tentatively. When she saw Max standing in the doorway, the door immediately flew open, and Max was greeted in a warm embrace. "Boo!" Cindy cried as she ushered Max inside. "Where have you been?"

Flopping down on the couch, Max sighed. "You want the full story or just the summary?"

"No, before you tell Original Cindy anythang, you get yoself comfortable on the couch. You wanna change into some betta clothes?"

Max smiled faintly and shook her head. "No, I'll get changed later."

"If you insist," Cindy replied and sat down next to Max. "Please, tell Original Cindy ev'rythang. She has been worried 'bout you like crazy!"

"Glad to know I'm still loved," Max laughed. She pulled a pillow off the arm of the couch and rested it in her lap, crossing her arms about it. "You remember how I told you about Manticore?" she asked, looking her friend straight in the eye.

"Uh-huh."

"Zack, and how he was like me?"

"Rememba that too."

Max sighed, ready to now relive everything again. "After you left, he left too without me knowing. He headed back to Manticore to save the other kids-"

"There's othas?"

"Yeah, if you can believe that. Anyhow, he went back and I followed. We both got ourselves captured by Lydecker. To make a long story short the building burned down and everyone but me, Zack and Lydecker died in the fire…" Max paused and swallowed, trying to keep the tears down as she remembered the rest of her friends. "Zack left for God knows where, and I'm the only one left."

"Wait, wait, why did this Lydecker guy capture you anyhow?"

Max paused before answering. Could she really tell her friend everything? Of course she could, Cindy knew nearly everything anyhow.

"I'm pregnant."

"You're what?" Cindy asked, shocked.

"Pregnant."

"Whose it is? If they ain't careful, Original Cindy gonna give them the smack-down-" she began, ready to defend her friend.

"Zack's." This remark caused Cindy to stop and stare blankly at Max.

"Did you say what Original Cindy thought you say, boo?"

Max nodded mutely. "It's not like it seems though, Lydecker…he…wanted to make his own child, so he combined our cells and crap, forming this child."

"You didn't go by your choice then?"

"No."

"You don't hafta keep it, you know that."

"Cindy," Max said with a sigh. "I've been through hell and back…most literally. I've seen some pretty bad ass shit, but it only made me realize-"

"Realize what?"

"That I can't get rid of the baby. It stays, now and forever."