Adriann
Chapter 10: Love Always
~>Okay people here you go. It's the last and final chapter of Adriann. Thanks to everyone who read it and a big ole hug to everyone who reviewed. I'm think of doing a sequel to either Adriann or I'm Scared, so if you have a preference tell me. Hey lets make it a contest, story with the most votes gets a sequel. It's up to you!
~> And without further adieu, the conclusion to Adriann. (Leave me alone. it makes me feel special. :~})
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Dear Logan,
I can only imagine how odd this must be getting a letter from a girl that has been dead for about a month, if I timed it right. I trust that you found the disks I lifted from Renfro's desk and I hope they were helpful. Oh, I would check your hard drive for some new files on Manticore. Actually that would be all the files on Manticore and it's projects. You'd be surprized by the crazy things Manticore was involved with. Genetics, assassinations, the pulse...
Anyway, how's Maxie doing? Do you see now why I never wanted Maxie to know I was alive, or that I was even there? She had a hard enough week as it was and I didn't want to add to it, with the whole finding a sister long since thought dead only to lose her again. But, it was nice to talk to Maxie, Syl and Krit again. To finally be out in the open, no longer hiding in the shadows. Logan, I want you to know that I hated leaving Maxie and everyone else like that. If I had a choice in the matter, I would have done anything to be able to stay but, I didn't. It wasn't fair, but life never is, is it.
I know that we didn't always agree on things when it came to Max, and that's why I'm trusting you with her heart. There is no one else that I would ever trust so completely with Max or any of my sibling. I figure any man who isn't afraid to stand up to a genetically engineered psychic super soldier, wouldn't take any crap from anyone. I know how much you love Max. Your eyes completely give it away when you look at her, when you talk about her, when someone else talks about her, or if you just hear the name Max. When everyone else thought that Maxie was dead, you still believed that she was alive, and prayed for her safety. Logan, you knew she was alive, you could still feel her. Sure you felt a void but it was only because of distance, a distance that could be overcome. But if Max really was gone that void would be so large with in you, that part of you soul would be gone. Because whether you know it or not, you and Maxie are soul mates. Max loves you more than anything in the world. After I broke her out of Manticore she was drifting in and out of sleep. Logan, she was talking to you the whole time. Asking you to forgive her for getting caught, apologizing for not telling you sooner that she loved you, wishing that you had more time together. Maxie would do anything in the world for you. If it meant saving your life or somehow helping you, Maxie would turn herself in to Manticore - if it still existed. Never doubt her love for you Logan, she may be scared to show it sometimes but she will never run. Especially not now, because she almost lost you and she knows how awful that feels. So please take of my baby sister. And if you ever hurt her, I will come back from the dead just to beat your sorry butt.
Speaking of taking care of Maxie, will you stop worrying about your whole financial situation. When your Uncle Jonas leave you two, count 'em two hefty nest eggs in Germany and Romania (that Margo doesn't know about) you are pretty much set for life. BUT.. when you have classified information that shows the real reason for the Pulse, and who was really behind it, money will never be an issue for you. You were always Jonas' favorite, that's why he was so hard on you. The access number to the accounts is your birthday for Germany and the date your parents married for Romania. With those you'll have complete and total access to the accounts.
Before I close I have a favor to ask. Could you keep an eye out for the x7's and x8's. I know that you already do and will with the x5's, but if anything comes up about them while Eyes Only is at work just check it out for me. Just make sure they're okay. Please. Thank you for everything. You let a total stranger come into your home and invade your life and privacy, and offered friendship. After everything you did for me, what do I do to thank you? I bust your sky light and your window. I am really sorry about that. If I had any money to pay you back I would but I'm broke. I got by as a cat bugler robbing rich guys and selling their stuff on the street. I guess it runs in the family. But thank you again for everything, Logan. You were a true friend and I'll always be grateful for that. Take care of Maxie for me.
Love Always,
Adriann
P.S. Just ask her!
Logan pushed away from his desk and walked over to the window. Looking down at the letter in his hands he let out a long sigh.
"Adriann, it's a window. I don't care." Logan laughed slightly as he thought about Adriann's guilt concerning the broken windows.
"As for the disks, yeah we found them. There is a ton of information on them but it's all encrypted. I'm working on cracking the code, but it will take a while. I will definitely check for that little 'gift' on my hard drive."
Logan ran a hand through his hair as he shook his head. Adriann had a way of leaving little things behind for someone to find. First the disks, then the letters, and now the new Manticore files. Logan had to wonder what was next.
"Look at me, I'm talking to you like you're in the room." Logan laughed to himself.
"You're right. Life isn't fair. It wasn't fair for Zack to chose between his life and Max's, it wasn't fair for Max to be captured by Renfro and be tortured by the knowledge that she now had her brothers heart, and it wasn't fair for us to lose you so soon. But, like you said, you had no choice. None of us do when it comes down to it." Logan said as he watched the people on the street below.
"So, Jonas left me money? Who knew? I never would have known if it wasn't for you. Thanks. I didn't anyone to know how anxious I was about the money. Actually that would be the lack of money. But I was wondering how I was going to support my expensive tastes." Logan smiled picking up a crystal glass that was filled with a pre pulse wine the previous night.
"You know that I'll look out for all of the kids. Some of them are actually staying in Seattle for a while. Syl and Krit are helping to find the x8's good homes with people who are open minded, because we don't know how they are going to turn out. It's not going to be easy though. How many people are actually going to want genetically engineered kids? Especially when they're complete mysteries. I promise nothing will happen to them Adriann. And I will protect Max with my dying breath. Nothing will keep me from her, nothing." Logan leaned against the door frame while he watched Max open an envelope as she flopped down into an over stuffed chair.
"But, Max misses you, Adriann. She misses you a lot."
Dear Maxie,
Hey sweetie. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't have a choice, I really didn't. Maxie, I didn't die in the explosion. I was dying when I went in there. You noticed that something was wrong after Brin showed up, and I think that you knew something was really wrong. But you refused to think about it. To make it simple, the very abilities that gave me a second chance at life were killing me. Surprisingly, it was Lydecker who helped me at the end. Because of him, I didn't feel a thing, so don't worry. I wasn't alone either. Bling was there and so was Ben. It's hard to explain sis, but Ben was there, he took me to the Good Place. So Maxie, stop beating yourself up about you not being with me when...I wasn't alone and I wasn't scared.
But Maxie, I want you to know that I am so proud of you. You have turned into a smart, beautiful, caring, and compassionate woman. I could only hope that I was half the woman you are. You've made a wonderful life for yourself Maxie. You have friends who adore you, a good job -even if Normal's a jerk sometimes- and a man who loves you more than anything. I know how much you love Logan, you told me in the car.
Maxie, you have found your soul mate in the midsts of a terrible situation. It's awful how we never admit to ourselves and others how we really feel until we're faced with tragedy. But now, both you and Logan have gotten your feelings out in the open, and that scares you. The intensity of your feelings, the vulnerability involved, and the idea of staying in one place for more than a year. Maxie don't run from this. You know what it feels like to lose your Love forever. You thought you lost Logan when you were back in Hell, but fate brought you back to him. You love Logan, Maxie. We both know that, and you never want to lose him. So instead of run from your fears and emotions, face them head on. You will be amazed at what you will find at the end of the rainbow. Never think that Logan doesn't love you. It's impossible. No matter how hard people may try to tear you apart, your love for each other is stronger.
Don't be afraid to let your guard down, because that's when you learn to ask for help and we all need it sometime. Even us genetically enhanced super soldiers need help sometimes. Zack eventually learned how to do this, unfortunately it was late in his life. I glad to see that you have occasionally asked for help, it makes life easier.
I love you baby sister, never forget that, and I'm not really gone if you remember me. If you talk about me, think of me I'll live on in your heart, memories and the memories of others who knew me. Don't forget about Maxie. And don't let Ben forget about me. I know that you aren't the biggest fan of the x7's but please, don't let Ben forget me.
I know that the question of who's going to look out for the others now that Zack is gone has been on your mind. It's up to you now Maxie, and Krit, and Syl.....you're all going to look out for each other. Which is the way it should have been from the beginning, but Zack as you know, was a control freak. But it is up to you to contact the others. Zack's contact number is on the card that was also in the envelope. I'm surprized that Zack would actually use a number so easy to figure out if you knew him, x5 + your barcode. The boy musta been slippin'.
I found out some stuff for you while I was inside Renfro's office. Your birthday is October 10 and you were born in the year 2000. I know how much it bothered you to not know your own birthday, but you played it cool pretending you didn't care. But I think it's time for you to have a birthday party. And I know you always wondered about your Mom. Who she was, why she signed up of the project, where she is now, how she's doing, if she misses you, if she's ever looked for you? Well, I did some digging and I found her Maxie. I found your Mom. Her name is Emiele Warren and she's living in Northern California. She managed to break out of the psych center shortly after the pulse. I don't know much else, but you should be able to find her with that info and Logan's connections.
I love you Maxie, always. Now go chase your dreams and forget all about Manticore. It's gone now and it's all over. You'll never have to run again. Be happy, and live the normal life that we all dreamt of.
Love Always,
Dre.
Max wiped away the remaining tear from her face as she stared at the letter in her hands. It's not everyday that you get a letter form your dead sister.
"Why didn't you tell me you were dying Dre? Why?" Max shook her head in frustration.
"Dre, I wish that I was more like you. You're always in control, calm, you care about others in a way I didn't know we could. Why would you want to be like me?" Max said to the air as if her sister could hear her question.
"Because she can see what an incredible woman you are." Logan said walking over to join Max in the living room.
"But, she's so much more.." Max trailed off as she became engulfed in her own thoughts.
"You okay?" Logan asked sitting down on the table across from Max.
"She found my Mom, Logan." Max said in disbelief.
"That great Max." Logan said taking her hands in his. "Where is she? We'll go see her."
"California." Max said flatly.
"What's wrong?" Logan asked concerned.
"She gave me Zack's contact number and wants me to have an x5 reunion of sorts so we can all take care of each other." Max told Logan quietly.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"Yeah. It's great! But,..."
"You wish that she could be there."
"I miss her so much Logan. I just found her again and now she's gone. For good this time." Max said as she broke down once again. Logan wrapped Max in his arms as she cried for her sister.It seemed so cruel to lose Adriann so soon after finding her again.
"Dre told me not to run from my fears, but to face them." Max said pulling back to look Logan in the eye.
"Logan, all my life I had been told that any sort of relationship was just phony sentimentality, and that it would get me and those I love killed. But, now even if that was true, it doesn't matter because Manticore is gone forever." Max kissed Logan gently before she continued, knowing that it would give her the strength to finish.
"I love you Logan Cale. Nothing will ever change that. I can't imagine my life without you in it. That was one of the worst things about being trapped in Manticore when I was conscious. You weren't there. I held on to the promise you made about us having all the time in the world. Logan, I don't want to waste any time we have together with stupid little fears of mine. Dre taught me so much. I don't want to miss anything just because I'm scared or because it goes against my soldier instincts. Logan I want to live a normal life. With you. I'm tired of running, of always being scared or ready to fight dome Manticore goon. I want to be normal." Logan wiped away a tear that had rolled down Max's cheek.
"Life is too short Logan to waste it what ifs. I've never had the option of what I want. I always had to make decisions based on the worst case scenario. But now, I'm going to do what I want,and I want to be with you." Max said taking a deep breath slowly exhaling all of stress she had built up during the past few weeks.
"Max?" Logan asked with a slight smile.
"Yeah." Max said smiling. She couldn't help smiling. Dre was right. When you face your fears everything changes-for the better. In this case anyway. Max felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Who knew that facing fear could bring such freedom.
"From the moment I saw you, I knew that there was something special about you. So I did some digging and some snooping and I found out about your past. The more I saw you and the more I got to know you, the more I had to see you. Max I fell in love with you the minute saw you. I fell in love with you everyday after that and I'm still falling. I never want to spend a single minute without you again. Max, please make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife."
Max stared at Logan in shock as he pulled a delicate ring from his pocket.
"What is the great Max Guevara speechless?" Logan quipped nervously. Max just looked from Logan to the ring and back to Logan.
"Well?" Logan ventured.
"Oh, God Logan. Yes! Yes! Of course I'll marry you!" Max squealed when she finally found her voice again and threw herself into Logan's open arms.
"Adriann was right about yet another thing." Logan said casually placing the ring on Max's finger.
"What?" she asked holding her hand out to look at the ring. It was beautiful. A simple platinum setting for a modest diamond.
"She told me to 'Just ask her.' And I did. So now here we are engaged." Logan took Max's face in his hands and kissed her forehead.
"Let's go hunt down Mom so I can have her give me away." Max said excitedly as she dragged Logan to the computer room.
"That's it! No more chocolate for you." Logan laughed as he followed his new fiancee to the computer.
"Where's Bling? Isn't he normally here by now?" Max asked with sudden seriousness.
"He called to say that he couldn't make it over today. I think he got a letter from Adriann too." Logan said wrapping his arms around Max's waist.
"It's been really rough for him."
"Think he went to go see her?" Max asked sadly.
Bling sat on top of a massive rock near the edge of a beach as he toyed with an unopened envelope in his hands. It was beautiful here, Bling could see why Dre loved it. Taking a deep breath, Bling opened the envelope.
Dear Bling,
It's beautiful here isn't it? God, Bling you don't know how badly I wish I tell you all of this to your face, to hear your voice, to have one last kiss..... But, I can't. We both know that. And I think that's why you came here, to this beach, this rock, to where I buried Ben, to where you buried me. Just so you could feel closer to me. I can't thank you enough for bringing me here Bling. I knew that you would find it. Thank you. Bling, you know that Ben carved his name along with mine in this rock. I want you to add your name beside mine. I don't want any arguments Bling, just do it. Please.
There are so many things that I never go to see, to touch, to feel, to do. I always wanted to see a rainbow, I heard they were beautiful, but unfortunately far to rare these days. And I wish I could have held a fuzzy little kitten, and I wanted to go on vacation someday, and fall in love. But, I never got the chance. I know how childish all of this sounds but in a sense I am a child. After all if you want to get all technical I'm only 11 years old. But I have lived two lifetimes. I guess that I just wasn't meant to live past 11. But, I always thought of myself as an adult, a mature 21 years old because I lived that long. So what if one half was in one life and the other life was in another. As for the falling in love issue, I'm not sure exactly what love is. But, Bling if how I feel about you is anything even close to love, this world is even more worth saving than I ever thought possible.
I don't know what it was about you, but I trusted you completely. But for some reason Bling, I trusted you from the second I pick you up of the floor. Maybe it was your eyes, so warm, so sincere. Maybe it was your smile, genuine and true. Maybe it was your quiet strength, always ready to protect with no punches thrown. Or maybe it was your sweater, comforting like your touch. It was probably all of these and more, Bling, or it could be none of them. I don't really know and I don't really care. Why try to find reason behind your feelings? You can never truly find the answers you are looking for, just be happy that you can love.
Bling, I'm sorry that I forced you to watch me die. I wasn't fair to you. I unloaded all of my problems on to you, trying to make myself feel better. Then I'm lying on the ground I can't move, I can barely breath, and what do I do? I call you, so I won't be alone when I die. I forced you to be there, knowing that there was nothing you could do to help or save me. Not only was unfair, but it was cruel. And I'm sorry.
I wanted you with me for selfish reasons, because I felt safe with you. The only time that I came close to relaxing was when I was with you. I knew that as long as you were there I didn't have to play the cold unfeeling soldier. I could be myself, human, a woman, a scared little girl. I didn't have to hide behind anything or anyone with you.
You are the best friend I've had since Ben. You're the only person I told about my 'condition'. I don't think that I would even have told Ben. Not that he wouldn't have figured it out on his own. You were a good and true friend Bling, and so much more.
Thank you for always being there when I needed you, to offer a shoulder to cry on, someone to lean on when I lost my balance or just needed some confidence. Bling, I don't really know what to say, except I'm sorry. You deserve to find someone who isn't screwed up, doesn't have a secret government faction looking for her. Bling, you deserve someone normal. And normal is something I am not.
Look at sunset Bling. Beautiful colors reflecting off the water. I want you to think of our time together like that sunset. It's beautiful for the time it exists, but that time is brief. And soon the sunset is extinguished by the sea and that same sunset will never be seen again. Bling I want you to remember me, but I want you to be happy and move on. I know that you cared about me, I'm just not sure how much. Go find yourself someone who makes you happy, someone who makes the world a better place in your eyes. Bling you'll hold a special place in my heart for all time, but I want you to move on.
If only I could change what happened. We would have the chance to see if there was anything real between us. With all of the things that I saw coming I never saw us, so I could do nothing to protect it.
Bling, all I know for sure is how I feel about you and what I wish could have happened. I love you Bling. I love you and I'm sorry for everything I put you through. I hope that one day you can forgive me. My only regret is that I didn't find you sooner. I will never forget you Bling. Never.
Love Always,
Dre
Bling lowered the letter as his gaze fell to the sunset. Turning his attention once again to letter Bling looked at the tear stains on the paper that belonged to both Adriann and himself.
"Sorry I never told you, all I wanted to say. And now it's too late to hold you cause you've gone away. Never had I imagined living without your smile (AN: One Sweet Day -Boys2Men and Mariah Carey)Dre, I glad you called me. I would have found you anyway, but I'm glad you wanted me there with you." Bling folded the letter and placed it in his jacket pocket.
"I have never met anyone like you Dre. You had so much on your mind, you were sick, and you were scared, but you were thinking of Max, and the others, not of yourself. It amazes me every time I think about it."
"You were so different for all of the other x5's I met. You weren't afraid to show your emotions. You weren't wrapped up in the 'mission' or protocol. You were more concerned with the people involved. And no, you were definitely not normal,but that's what I love about you. Dre, how could you not know that I love you?" Bling sighed as tears began to form again in his eyes.
"There's so much I wanted to say. I just don't know how to say it." Bling said feeling completely helpless.
"I miss you Dre. I don't know if I can ever really move on. Every woman I meet or date will always be compared to you in some way. I'm not sure what it is about the pent house in Fogle Towers, but every guy there falls for a Manticore escapee. Maybe it's just because we know who you are and we forget about the rest. I love you Dre. I always will." Bling jumped down from the rock and picked up a sharp rock form the sand. Carving his name beside Adriann's, Bling thought aloud.
"I will always think of you as more beautiful than the sunset." Bling told the sky as he lifted his head to heavens. As he continued working on his name, Bling felt a kiss as light as a butterfly's wings from Dre on his cheek.
Waking with a start the sweat soaked girl rose from her bed and walked to the window that over looked the city. As she looked at the sleeping city she ran her hand through her shoulder length hair.
{{The ring!?}}
{{It's still there. It was just a dream.}}
The girl fingered the promise ring that had given her so much comfort in the past month as she breathed a sigh of relief.
"You okay?" a man asked quietly from the hall.
"Yeah. Yeah I'm fine." she whispered back.
"Did you have the dream again?" he asked walking over to her and placing his hands on her shoulders.
"I hate it. It feels so real." she said as she look at her reflection in the window.
"But, it's not Dre. It was just a dream. You're here, alive and safe." Bling turned Adriann around and framed her face with his hand.
"I know. That's the only good thing about it. Every time I wake up from that nightmare, I know that you're here." Adriann turned back around so she could lean her back against Bling.
"And I'll always be here for you. You don't have to worry about losing me." Bling said as he wrapped his arms around Dre.
"Who knew all I needed was a vacation? Exhaustion is a terrible thing, but if it gets me a trip to Tahiti I'm all for it." Dre said trying to hold in a laugh.
"I think not. You scare me like that again, I'll send you to the Bermuda Triangle." Bling laughed as he took Adriann's hand walking down the hall.
"Go back to be Dre. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow." Bling said taking the door knob in his hand.
"Yes, Dad." Dre mocked.
"Hey, I have seen Max shop on a normal day. Shopping for her wedding dress is going to be rough. I'm glad I'm not going."
"You just can't keep up with us girls. Shopping is in our genes."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Night sweetie." Bling walking over to Dre and kissing her lightly.
"Love you." Adriann said sleepily.
"I love you too. See you in the morning." Bling said as he closed the guestroom door in Logan's pent house.
"Maybe Manticore kids can have happy endings." Adriann whispered as she drifted off to sleep, in the sweater Bling had given her weeks ago.
~> Well there you have it. The conclusion of Adriann! Sorry it took me so long but I think it was worth it. Maybe.
~> Like I said before: it's up to you if this gets a sequel or if I'm Scared does. Or maybe neither? It's your decision.
~>Lady Callie: Surprise surprise! I got a little attached to Adriann myself and I just couldn't kill her. I know it was sorta like AJBAC with Max's dream sequence, only in reverse. Bad stuff was a dream and the good stuff was real.
~> Remember to review. That's the only way I know if you like it and if I should write more.
@If anyone knows how to get rid of the AB write junk at the top of each chapter let me know, cause it's getting very annoying!@
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Thanks for everything guys!
Amanda