Consequences, Choices, and Confessions
by pari106

Disclaimer, rating, etc. found in Chapter 1.



Chapter 10

Later, Zack was sitting at the small table in Zane's kitchen. It was late, and Fluffy was sleeping at Zack's
feet. Zack shook his head and sighed. Damned dog. But he still reached down and patted the mutt's head,
affectionately.

Max had gotten tired and had gone up to bed. Zane had asked her about that, concerned, but she hadn't
said anything. Zack had intervened and said it had just been a long day. They hadn't mentioned Max's
pregnancy yet. Zack had been reluctant to voice the issue, and Max had followed his cue. Zack figured
Max and Zane had enough catching up to do as it was. And Max had already had to make her revelation
once that day. He'd hoped he was doing the right thing by steering Zane away from talk about the baby.
He'd thought Max might not want to have to explain herself again. And if the smile she'd given him before
going up to bed was any indication, Zack had been right.

Also, he wanted to talk to Zane about the situation himself. In fact, he'd wanted to tell Zane himself. He'd
gone up just a moment ago and had gotten Max's permission. She'd looked puzzled at his request, and he
didn't blame her. It probably wasn't his child, so he really had no right to being the one to tell Zane about
it. But he had this odd desire to do so. He was glad Max didn't question him about it. He wasn't sure
what he'd tell her.

Now he was just waiting for Zane to get home. He'd volunteered to take his truck and go get Zack's bike.
Zack had insisted it was unnecessary just yet, but Zane had said he was too hyped up now to sleep anyhow.

When Zane got back, Zack realized he was unusually nervous. That realization pissed him off, but he
pushed that sensation away.

Zane came into the kitchen and straddled a chair across from Zack with another huge grin.

"Wow," he said, shaking his head. "Max. I can't believe it."

Zack had to smile at the total shock in the other man's voice.

Then Zane reached over and punched him in the arm.

"Man, you were really serious about doing this thing different, weren't you? But, still…coming here. I
didn't think you had it in you to do the reunion thing."

Zack rolled his eyes. It wasn't like he'd done anything miraculous. But then, for Zane, who hadn't ever
seen any of the other X5s, tonight must kind of seem miraculous.

Then, more serious: "Thanks, Zack," Zane said.

For the first time Zack really felt bad about all those years he'd kept his brothers and sisters apart. For the
very first time. He'd taken a lot of ribbing for it before, but none of it had ever registered. Even when he'd
talked with Tinga. He'd felt cornered into making the decision to lighten up on the X5s. He'd felt there
was no other way to prevent chaos. His troops were unhappy with leadership; leadership had to
compromise. It was as simple as that. And he'd *wanted* to do things differently. Of course, he'd always
wanted the kind of life Tinga talked about. He'd wanted real life. He'd wanted to see his brothers and
sisters together again. He'd just never felt comfortable admitting it. Even to himself. He'd felt more
comfortable with doing things the old way. The soldier's way. It was the only way he'd ever known.
He'd only considered changing for Max. And for the sake of order with the X5s.

Now, though, he realized it wasn't just his siblings' obedience that concerned him the most. He really did
want them to be happy. He could do that by bringing them together. And he wanted to – to bring all of
them together. He would, one day. Maybe he should have done things differently from the very beginning.
He'd just been trying to keep them safe. But still…

"I was just looking out for you, brother," Zack told Zane. He got an uncomfortable feeling of déjà vu; like
he was talking to Tinga again, that last time, all over again. But Zane wasn't Tinga. Zane probably knew
him better than all of the other X5s. As much as Max, though on a different level. Zane just smiled.

"I know," he said.

Then things were quiet a moment.

"So, you're really doing this? Max knows, I guess."

Zack shrugged, non-committal.

"We still have some talking to do," he said evasively. He had some talking to do. Hopefully Max would
listen. Right now Zack wasn't sure. If that last time they were together really was a fluke, and Max didn't
love him, he was starting to think that he might sound like an idiot. He could be a hardheaded, hard-
hearted son-of-a-bitch sometimes; he'd admit it. He'd lived alone, on the run, for a long time. He was
used to answering to no one but himself. Why the hell would any woman want to spend her life with a man
like him? And that was what he was offering. He wasn't religious, like Ben had been. He didn't know if
love entailed licenses and rings, like it had for Tinga and Charlie. He knew Zane always talked about
settling down with one woman – the "forever" kind of settling down. And Zack didn't know if that were
possible, but that was what he was considering now. Forever. If for no other reason than he didn't think
he'd be able to live without Max once he'd learned how to live with her. He'd accept a more temporary
arrangement, if that was what Max wanted. He couldn't guarantee he'd do the noble thing and just let her
go when it came time. But he'd try to accept it.

"She's beautiful," Zane was saying now, dreamy-eyed. If Zack didn't know any better, he'd take offense to
that comment. But he knew the look in Zane's eyes was brotherly affection, nothing more. He was just
doing what he had been all night – trying to get his mind around the fact that Maxie was here. All grown
up.

Zack found himself frowning. He wasn't good at beating around the bush. Usually, if he had something to
say he said it. So he should just say it: 'Max is pregnant.' Why the hell was he waiting?

"But I'm worried about her health. She never had to sleep much before. Why again did Logan…"

Zack interrupted Zane mid-sentence.

"Max is pregnant," he blurted.

Silence.

"Wha…" Zane stared at his brother, wide-eyed.

"Max is pregnant," Zack repeated uncomfortably. He could swear Zane was about to start sputtering.

Zane just stared at Zack for a moment. Then he slowly began to smile.

"I don't believe it," he breathed.

Zack frowned again.

"Why? I told you about Tinga. We can have children."

Zane rolled his eyes. "I know that," he said, as though talking to a child. Then he smiled again. "But
Max…our baby sister. And *you*."

Zack stilled. Oh, shit, not this. He got up and headed to Zane's sink, staring over it and out the window.

Zane, sensing he'd said something wrong, frowned. "Hey, Zack. I was just…"

"I didn't say it was mine," Zack said quietly. He wasn't going to think about it, right? He wasn't going to
torment himself with the thought. He wasn't going to grip Zane's counter in a white-knuckled grip and
stare out that window, trying to look casual…

Oh, shit, he was. Zack turned back around and shoved his hands in his pockets.

Zane didn't know what to say. If he weren't X5, he wouldn't even have heard his brother. They looked at
one another for a moment.

"Are you sure?" he asked, as serious as Zack was. "Did Max…"

Zack shook his head. "No, Max didn't say so."

"Then…"

"She didn't say it was mine, either, Zane."

Zane came around the table to stand by his brother. He wanted to be supportive for his brother, but he
really didn't think Max would sleep with Zack and then go and get pregnant by someone else. He'd seen
the way Max looked at Zack tonight. It was obvious she cared about him. The fact that this wasn't obvious
to Zack only emphasized his older brother's inexperience with relationships.

"Do you really think Max would be with somebody else? After having just been with you?"

Zack sighed.

"I don't know. She was confused, Zane. I took advantage of that…"

"Bullshit."

"She'd just had a fight with Logan."

"You told me that fight was days before you and her hooked up."

"Well, yeah. But…"

"What if she wasn't confused? What if she was just figuring out something she'd known all along?"

"She left the next morning, Zane."

Zane shrugged. "So she was scared. So were you."

Zack looked at him with surprise. Zane was probably the only person in this world who would ever accuse
Zack of being "scared". But he was probably right.

"You left, too," Zane reminded him.

Yeah, he'd left. After he'd waken up to find Max gone, he'd left. He shouldn't have.

"So…what do you think?" Zack finally asked.

Zane leaned against the counter beside him.

"About the baby?" Zack nodded, and Zane grinned.

"Excellent. I'm going to be an uncle. Again," he added. "How 'bout you? You gonna be a daddy, or
what?"

They looked at each other. Zack knew Zane wasn't rehashing the possible paternity of Max's baby. He
was asking what Zack planned to do about it.

Finally, Zack nodded. "If Max'll let me."