The previous day (Canada)
Max parked her bike in a small town in Canada. She heard that some black humvees had been seen in the area. With any luck, she hoped they were Manticore troops and she could take Lydecker out once and for all. Since Lydecker didn't get any X-5's in his first attempt, Max knew he would still be in the area.
Max walked cautiously along the outskirts of town where the locals said they had seen the humvees. All her senses were at their highest sensitivity. Soon she came upon the camp and crouched down behind some bushes. The men were relaxed and calm as if they were at home. They were drinking coffee and talking to each other. Looks like Lydecker gettin' soft. Max thought. Back at Manticore, the closest anyone got to being relaxed was hyper-paranoia. Even as a child, Max and the other X-5 knew that the Manticore personnel would backstab each other, literally, at the slightest chance of a promotion.
All of a sudden, the soldiers stood at attention, some of them even spilled their drinks on themselves. Slowly, Lydecker came into Max's line of vision. She knew she should be listening to the orders he was giving, but she couldn't. All she could do was stare at him. She imagined Lydecker giving the order to burn the barn with her children still inside. She saw Brandon pounding fiercely at the door and Eva crying. Then Brandon's hits on the door got slower…and slower… and slower, until he stopped and melted off the door. Eva's cries got louder in Max's head and something in her snapped. Before she knew it she was on her feet, ready to run and got a temporary, but vivid image of her breaking Lydecker's neck. In mid-sprint someone grabbed her arm and pulled her back down. Instantly, the whole camp aimed their guns in her direction.
Lydecker walked in front of the men and stood silently. Max and whoever was holding her were frozen in place and controlled their breathing to be as silent as possible. Then Max saw a reddish blur speed pass her.
"Down, men." She heard Lydecker call, "Just a fox."
The men kept their weapons raised for a second and then put them at their sides. Lydecker turned, ever so slowly, and cautiously walked back to camp.
As soon as Max was sure he was out of hearing range, she turned to punch the person with her and then stopped.
"Zack, what are you doing here?" she whispered angrily.
"I'm trying to help you," he replied.
"Help me?! Zack, I can take Lydecker out myself. I don't need you."
"Guess again. Cause that isn't even Lydecker."
"What?"
"Look for yourself."
Max moved the leaves around just so her eyes would show. She increased her pupil size and found that Zack was right. The man who she thought was Lydecker had the same build as him, but his face was completely different. Max turned around and sat down on the forest floor.
"How did that happen?" she wondered, "How could I mistake someone else for him."
"Cause its what you wanted to see." He replied calmly, looking at the ground. Then he looked at Max.
"You're no good to anyone this way."
Max's head popped up to face Zack.
"What are talking about?"
"Max. You've been nearly useless for the pass two weeks. All your energy has been spent on finding Lydecker and training to kill him," he responded.
"Can you think of another place I should be spending my time?"
"Yes," he responded curtly, "On your daughter."
That stunned Max for a moment and a sorrowful expression crossed her face. Eva. she thought and then suddenly regained her composure.
"I will. But I gonna free the world of that son of a bitch, first."
"That's more important than Eva? Killing Lydecker won't bring Brandon back, Max."
"No. But it's one last thing I can do for him."
"For him… or for yourself. Lydecker will get what's coming to him. You don't have to enforce it."
"How? Karma," she answered sarcastically.
"Max, it's not your fault Brandon died."
That hit Max hard. It was a fact she knew in her head, but no matter what she wasn't sure.
"I keep on running it over and over in my head. If I would have done something differently… If we didn't come over that day, he might still be alive." Max stifled.
"You don't know that, Max. There is not point in analyzing the past. We have to do something about the future."
Zack took Max's hand.
"Brandon knows you love him, but Eva won't unless you are there with her."
"But Zack…" Max started.
"Max, what did you promise to Brandon and Eva when you were pregnant?"
"You heard that?" she asked.
He nodded and Max closed her eyes. She pictured herself on a long, thick tree branch looking at the stars. She remember the fear she felt that day, but her pride and love for her developing children overshadowed that in the twilight.
"You won't have my life." She opened her eyes.
"When we escaped and I found out about parents and families, I started to wonder about where we came from. Who were our parents? Where were our families?"
"You wanted to know that too?" Max asked unsure.
"I told you… even I have my moments of weakness. Don't let her grow up with our questions, Max. Our lives."
At this point, Max gave up her fight to hold back and let her tears flow freely.
"How… How do I go back?"
"I don't know, little sister. But I do know this. We will always be your family, but you need to go home."
Max sighed and gave Zack a weak smile.
"Home."
* * * * * *
When Max arrived at Foggle Towers, all the feelings that started her on her journey were gone. Now all she had was the fierce determination to do what she knew what right. She was terrified, to put it simply. As she went up the elevator she wondered if Jimmy Cricket had possessed Zack when he, of all people, convinced her to come back. When she came to Logan's door she heard Original Cindy and Logan on the other side.
"Guess it's part of bein' a double "S"" she heard Original Cindy say. Max smirked, Only Original Cindy.
"What?" Logan asked.
"A special shorty…" Max tuned out then and hid because someone was coming down the hall. Then Original Cindy left.
Now it was just her, Logan and Eva. She watched him taking care of her and silently followed them with her eyes in the apartment. She watched as he played with her and fed her, he was a better father than she imagined. But I'm no better a mother. Not yet, anyway. When she saw Logan putting Eva in the sink for a bath she thought it was time to make her presence known. Max assumed Eva was about to go to bed and then they could talk. Then Eva started splashing all over the place and Max had to stop to get her giggles out.
"Eva, please, I begging you, cooperate," Logan said to the child. C'mon Max, she said to herself. You're stalling.
She knocked on the table twice and then Logan turned around. His eyes were wide with surprise.
"You know," She walked closer to him, "She behaves better when you sing to her."
Max moved to stand beside Logan and looked at him in the eyes.
"I know we have a lot of things to talk about, but…" her eyes drifted to the baby, "Let's put her to bed first."
Logan started to bathe Eva again to distract him from the tension… and the woman in the room. Max touched his wrist.
"Let me do that…please." she said.
Logan swiftly gave her the rag, making sure not to touch her, and sat down on the couch. Max let out a slow breath and then started to bathe her daughter.
"I thought I would never see you again," she said to Eva.
"Likewise," Logan replied looking at her. Max's head snapped around to face him.
"I…" I wasn't talking to you, she thought, but she didn't want to started this off wrong.
"I'll speak more softly," She returned to bathe Eva and Logan stayed quiet. Soon the tension was too much for Max, but she didn't want to talk to him… not yet. So she decided to take her own advice and she sang to Eva.
"When you feel all alone," Max sang and Logan suddenly looked at her again. Max is singing, he thought in shock.
"And the world has turned its back on you," Logan stood up. Max is singing Savage Garden. He was still in shock.
"It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold." Max washed Eva's back and ears.
"When darkness is upon your door and you can't take anymore," Max took Eva out the tub and started to dry her.
"Let me be the one…" Max stopped and started searching for something.
"Why…" Max's hand went automatically to his throat. Her eyes went wide when she realized what she did and released him.
"I'm sorry. Reflex," she apologized and when on searching.
"It's okay. I should expect things like that by now," he replied rubbing his neck.
"What are you looking for?" he asked.
"Diapers. Where'd you put 'em"
"Here. Let me take of it,"
He finished putting on Eva's diaper and took her to his room. Max followed and tried to ignore the memories of the last time she was in the room. Logan laid Eva down on the bed.
"Her pajamas are in the bottom drawer next to the bathroom." He directed.
"What?" Max was still in the doorway and distracted by her thoughts.
"Her pajamas."
"Right," she replied curtly and retrieved them. Logan dressed Eva and put her in the crib.
"Night, Beautiful," He kissed Eva on the forehead and left Max alone with her.
"Sweet dreams, special one," She put the blankets at the end of the bed over her and put her hand on Eva's cheek. I love you. Do you know that?
"I promise you. I will never leave you again."
Max left Eva and closed the door behind her. When she turned around, Logan looked directly at her on the door across from his room. They walked to living room in thick silence. He sat on the couch and Max squatted in the chair across from him, neither daring to speak first.