A/N: To all who have given me such great reviews I thank you. I think this fic has run its course. Not to say that I won't be continuing with the relationships and themes that I started in it in future stories. As well, I still have to write that mature chapter and I may add an epilogue, that remains to be seen. For now – enjoy and thanks again.

Alec stood for a moment on the street corner watching as Logan and Max drove off together. He wasn't sure what impulse had led him to have Logan drop him off here or if he was even going to follow through on it; but his alternative was to head back to his crib and settle in. The thought of being alone for the balance of the night held little attractiveness and he briefly considered going back to Crash to see who he could find to bring home with him. Deciding it was too late and not worth the effort he looked up to see that he was standing at the stairs leading to Asha's building. Shrugging he figured he was there so why not see if she was still up and maybe wanted to talk. He was up the stairs in seconds and had the door open easily laughing to himself at the lock on it. The lock on Asha's apartment was taken care of just as simply and as he eased open the door he saw that lights were still on in the apartment.

"Hold it there or I'll shoot."

Spinning he quickly knocked the gun from her hand and then stood laughing.

"You should know by now that doesn't work on me babe." Asha glared at him as he walked over to her and picking up the gun held it out for her to take. "Nice piece."

"What do you want?" her tone wasn't exactly welcoming but it wasn't outwardly hostile.

Encouraged Alec shrugged and walking over sat down on her couch. "You owe me a beer. You didn't show tonight so I thought I'd stop by and collect."

"At 2 in the morning?"

"You're still awake." His gaze swept over her trim figure, clad in loose sweatpants and a tank top.

"Doesn't mean I want company." Despite her words she had put the gun down and was heading to the kitchen. "If I give you your beer does that mean we're even and you go away and leave me alone?"

"If you really want to be alone, sure." he agreed easily. Asha pulled two bottles of beer from her refrigerator and returning to the living room handed one to Alec before she settled herself on the opposite end of the couch from him. There was silence for a few minutes as they sipped their beers but it was oddly companionable.

"Why are you really here?" Asha finally asked him expecting a glib answer.

"I don't know." Alec answered honestly, surprising both of them. "I was in the neighborhood, didn't want to go home alone and really didn't want to head back to Crash so…" he paused. "Can I ask you a question?"

"You can ask, can't guarantee I'll answer."

"This whole relationship thing you norms have…I don't really get it."

"As in male female relationships?"

"As in the whole emotional attachment deal. I really don't get it. I mean Max; she's a soldier like I am. We were raised to perform our missions and do our job. Yet here she is completely involved with Logan and with her friends and with Joshua…." Asha flinched at the reminder of Max and Logan but listened carefully to what Alec was saying.

"So you mean back at Manticore you didn't have friends? Didn't you have any R&R there? You know just kicking back and having a beer and joking around?"

Alec let out a laugh. "Yeah right R&R. No we trained, went out and performed our missions and then came back and trained some more. That's what we were made for." Asha felt a surge of sympathy for the cold harsh life Alec was describing.

"So that's why you're out running around pretending to be the playa playa?"

Alec quickly covered up. "Nah. I doubt I'm made for any kind of emotional involvement I like playing the field. It's easier that way, no baggage."

Asha just looked at him realizing that underneath his smart aleck exterior Alec was as lost and lonely as she was.

"I'm hardly the one to ask about advice on people stuff you know." She told him. "I've spent the last 8 years of my life working with S1W running and hiding. The one guy I thought I could maybe relate to…"she stopped then continued "Anyway just say I haven't exactly formed a lot of close friendships and I certainly don't have any kind of track record with relationships." For a few moments there was silence as each realized how much they had just revealed to the other. Asha broke it before it could become awkward reaching over and taking Alec's empty bottle from his hand.

"Want another beer?" He glanced down startled to see he had finished the one he had.

"Sure unless you want me to leave so you can get some sleep?" he gave her the out, hoping she wouldn't take it, still reluctant to be alone.

"Nah. I was just listening to some old music when you came. I couldn't really sleep, too much on my mind tonight. So if you wanna stay and keep me company for a while, I wouldn't mind." she paused then continued "Just as a friend. I mean I'm not into…"

"Kickin' it?" he finished for her easily, intrigued by the slight blush that washed over her cheeks.

"Yeah. No offense, Alec but…"

"I'm not Logan." he finished for her. Her eyes widened but before she could respond he continued. " I told you once I don't play substitute for another guy. If you come to terms with your thing for Logan and want to give me a call we can see where it goes. So what old music do you have?" She indicated a pile of old CD's on a table next to a player and he headed over to look through them while she got them each another beer.

Shortly they were once again settled on the couch as an assortment of old CD's played on the CD drive. Alec found himself telling Asha more about his life at Manticore and his impressions of life on the outside. In turn she told him about living underground, always wary of exposure, moving constantly from place to place.

Time passed and the music shifted to a mellower album by a female vocalist named Dido. Asha yawned and rested her head on the couch back closing her eyes. Alec sat continuing to listen to the music realizing that he felt more relaxed than he had in days. Lost in his thoughts, he was startled when Asha shifted and looking down he found her curled up against him fast asleep. Fascinated he watched a few moments then unable to resist reached down and pushed a piece of hair off her face, tucking it behind here ear. She stirred restlessly and then softly muttered "Alec?" before slipping back into slumber.

They stayed that way until Alec looked up and noticed that it was getting light outside. He quietly disengaged himself from Asha and rose from the sofa. As he opened the door to leave his enhanced hearing picked up a sound and he turned to find her looking at him sleepily.

"Night Alec." She smiled at him. He felt an odd jolt as she did but simply smiled back.

"Night Asha. See ya around Crash?" In answer she nodded and smiled as she settled herself back down on her couch.

"You owe me a beer this time." She called out as he closed the door behind him and headed off.

*****

Logan pulled his car into his parking spot and turned off the engine. In minutes he and Max were standing at the elevator bank watching the car make it's descent to where they waited. Max was oddly silent and Logan felt the quick thrill of nerves run down his spine. The silence continued as they rode to his apartment and he opened the door.

"Max, I need to get out of the exo. Do you mind?" he began wondering what was on her mind.

"Sure go ahead, I'll be right here." She headed over to the window as he looked at her consideringly, deciding to give her a moment before he pushed to see what was up. He headed to his bedroom where he quickly stripped out of his clothes and the exoskeleton, throwing on a pair of comfortable sweat pants and a soft T-shirt before settling himself in his chair. When he returned Max was standing where he had left her.

"Hungry?" he asked. She started and turned smiling as she saw him.

"For once no." He had stopped his chair next to the couch and he easily transferred himself to it as she came over to join him. He lifted his arm along the back of the sofa inviting her to lean up against him and Max readily accepted, settling herself against his strong chest, enjoying the sound of his heartbeat, low and steady in her ears. Logan idly played with her hair as he waited for her to bring up whatever was bothering her.

"Logan. I can't stay tonight. I mean I want to but I can't." she began.

"Can't or won't? he questioned her gently.

"I don't know." she blurted out, "You, us, this whole thing is just kind of overwhelming me right now. I want to be with you but I'm scared to be with you. What if I can't do this? What about White? I don't want you involved, I don't want you to get hurt."

Her words came out in a rush and Logan sighed. He had expected something like this. He didn't doubt that Max loved him as much as he loved her. He also didn't doubt that she wasn't really ready to move in with him, much as he wanted her to. "Max, I want you here with me 24/7 if you're willing. But I know this is all new for you. I can wait for you. Just don't make me wait too long, okay?" Max was startled by his lack of argument. Turning her face to look at him she was overwhelmed by the look of love and understanding in his eyes. Reaching behind him he handed her a key. "This is yours. This place is as much your home as it is mine now. But you decide how often you want to be here. I'll be here for you whenever that is."

"Logan." Max was stunned by his simple action. Suddenly the feeling of entrapment that had been creeping up on her all evening dropped away. She realized that Logan knew her better than she knew herself. He had done exactly the right thing at the right time. "Thank you." Their eyes met and she knew he understood what her simple words meant.

"Come to bed with me Max. I've spent the entire evening thinking about how much I want to make love to you and counting the hours until I could." His husky tone and the look in his eyes sent shivers down her spine. "Every time one of those guys at Crash looked you over I thought about how he could look but I could touch. Here and here, and… here." His words were accompanied by light strokes of his fingers across her lips and then down her neck and finally across her breasts. Max trembled and closed her eyes as he lowered his head to hers.

When they broke the kiss she rose and smiled at him. "Meet you in the bedroom, Logan." Her eyes were full of promise as she tossed her hair over her shoulder and turning favored him with a provocative glide as she headed for his room. "Don't forget the champagne." were her parting words as he transferred to his chair and prepared to follow her.

Logan smiled to himself as he detoured to the kitchen and pulled a bottle of champagne from the wine chiller and two glasses from his cupboard. Trust Max to keep things interesting. At the last minute he added a bowl of fresh strawberries to his lap and then satisfied with his acquisitions headed off to find his love. He planned to spend the rest of the night demonstrating exactly how he felt about her. Chuckling to himself he figured that with a little help from Max's friends and a little patience on his part he wouldn't be waiting too terribly long to have her with him always.

'Max and Logan getting busy, that's the plan" Joshua had whispered to him the previous night. To Logan that sounded like all the plan he needed and he smiled as he hurried to join his waiting love.