Warning: I don't know that much about pregnancies or child birth so if this is really inaccurate, I'm Sorry. BTW, all you people who complained about spelling of Tinga… I got the message. Thank You. So read, enjoy and review.
Peace.
Two
Months Later
"Jondy, please. Let's go back!" Max complained. Not that she was really tired.
"Come on, solider. This is no time to start slacking," She replied.
They had been walking for three miles. When Max was gaining weight and started pushing a size 7, Jondy made it her personal mission to make sure Max stayed in shape…by minimal Manticore standards. That meant being able to run four miles in any terrain, but Jondy decided to take it a little easy on Max since they were in the thick Canadian forest.
"Time doesn't stop cause you're pregnant, Maxie"
"I know. But we can stop walking," she begged.
They went through this every day. Max would complain on and off about the walk (or push-ups, pull-ups, jog etc.) and Jondy would either ignore her or go into Manticore mode. No matter what happened, Max completed her exercises. Although Jondy said that the reason why she wanted Max to exercise was to stay healthy, everyone knew that real reason was Lydecker. He still was looking for them and with most of the X-5 within a 100-mile radius of the barn; it was likely that he would find them soon. If and when that happened, they couldn't let Max slow them down. Max would have to keep up with them or get taken back to Manticore.
"Alright. We can go back now," Jondy announced finally. Max instantly turned a started walking back.
"Wait, Max," she ordered and Max froze, "We're jogging."
They started jogging and Max tried to ignore a nagging pain in her thigh. When they reached the second mile Max knew something was wrong. She stopped and rested on a tree and looked down at herself.
"Come on, little sister. We only have a bit more to go." Jondy jogged in place in front of her.
Max looked up at Jondy.
"I think my water broke."
Jondy stopped moving and her eyes got bigger. Then her posture changed and her expression was void of any emotion. She went into her X-5 persona.
"Then we need to get moving, solider," stated Jondy. Max looked at her sister for a moment. She changed so much in… She couldn't finish the thought, a sudden sharp pain that started from her womb exploded into her entire body. They only way they would get to barn in time was if they focused on the mission and used Manticore mentally. As much as Max hated to do it, she knew it was the only way to make sure her babies weren't born in the forest She switched her emotions off and ran.
* * * * * *
"Zack! Tinga! Syl! Get your butts down here! Max is in labor!" Jondy screamed as soon as they walked in the barn. She led Max to the makeshift delivery room they had organized. It was a lot cleaner than the rest of the barn. There was a double sleeping bag and three medical kits. Syl had worked as a nurse in a local hospital so she stole some to the maternity doctors materials. She was a little shorter than Max, but just as strong. She had dark brown, almost black hair, which was done in cornrows and greenish-hazel eyes.
Tinga and Syl raced down the ladder while Zack jumped from the loft. Syl organized everyone.
"Jondy. Get the medical kits. Tinga …" ordered Syl.
"Hey," Zack interrupted, "When did you become the Field Commander?"
"Aaarughhhh!" a short scream escaped Max as everyone looked at her.
"You okay?" Tinga asked.
Max snapped her head toward her.
"HELL NO!" Max screamed.
Syl rolled her head to face Zack.
"What do you know about pregnancies?"
"Uh…"
"What do you know labor?"
Zack opened his mouth to say something than shut it. This wasn't his field of expertise.
"Until you came up with a coherent answer and a PhD, I'm in charge!" Syl stated and started giving orders again.
Jondy gather the utensils she need and gave them to her. Tinga went outside and pumped two buckets of water. Zack was given the job of holding Max's hand. He liked being given that responsibility, even though he hated taking orders. He got to be close to Max and comfort her like he always wanted to. He didn't understand why holding her hand was such an important job…until the contractions began and she started pushing.
"Come on, Max. Breathe," coached Zack, ignoring the suffocating grip Max had on his hand.
"I see a head… it's coming. Jondy. Hand me the scissors," stated Syl.
"It's boy!" Jondy exclaimed and hand the baby to
Tinga. Tinga cleaned the baby up, wrapped it in a towel and gave it to Zack.
Zack stared at him, the child that wasn't his, but still his responsibility…for
now. As much as tried, he couldn't be mad at the boy. The baby tuned toward
Zack's chest and calmed down a little. He's really…
"One more big push, sis." Syl announced.
"Aaarggghhhhhhhhhh." Max grunted as she partly rose up.
"It's a girl." Jondy stated smiling from ear to ear as she went through the same process as her brother. Tinga handed the baby to Max and Zack gave her the other one. Max took both of them and started to cry.
"What's wrong Max?" Zack asked.
She looked at him with watery eyes.
"Nothing…and everything." She replied, "They're perfect, Zack… but I wish…I wish…" I wish Logan were here. She thought.
It was so easy to say in her mind, but she couldn't say it out loud. It was too hard, all her memories and feelings for him came back as soon as she heard the babies crying. It was a miracle she didn't break down right there.
Zack hugged her from the back.
"I know you do," he said, " I know you miss him."
"I do," she smiled. She sensed something different in Zack. Something that calmed her down. A feeling of acceptance that she never felt from Zack before. She rested her back on Zack's chest, using it like pillow.
"So what are their names?" Zack asked almost laughing.
"Well, She's Eva," she said lifting her right arm, "I don't know about him though."
"How about Brandon?" Jondy said walking over to them.
"You mean as in Prince Brandon?" Max asked. Jondy nodded.
Back at Manticore, she and Jondy would stay up some nights. They made up their own stories to tell each other, but they weren't as good as Ben's stories. Their favorite ones were about Prince Brandon, the Blue Lady's brother. He was stronger than Zack and smarter than Lydecker, in their stories he helped them got them out of Manticore to The Good Place.
Max smiled. "Yeah, you're Brandon, protector and
symbol of hope." Just like your dad.
"Those are good names, little sister," Zack commented.
* * * * * *