Title: Beyond Eden

Author: Lucy Mars

Rating: PG-13? Eh, does it really matter?

Disclaimer: Bleh, I don't own Dark Angel_and I don't have any money at the moment.

To sue me would result in a long boring battle. Wait till I'm 21, then I inherit my money.

A.N. Sorry for taking so long to post. Yesterday was a big day for me. It was my five year anniversary for being cancer free! ;) My mom flew in all my best friends, my two older brothers (do you pity me now? You should, because I have three older brothers) my sister in-law, and my little baby niece. It was amazing and I lost track of time. After tons of food, champagne and dancing, we all slept in till now! :) Enjoy this chapter, because I had so much fun writing it! AND a big thank you to everyone who REVIEWED my story!!!!

Chapter #2

"Come on Max," Kendra sighed pulling her along, "this is the store I told you

about."

Stopping, Max leaned wearily against Original Cindy, "Kendra can we take a

break? We've been to 5 stores in the last 3 hours. I think that I've tired on a hundred

different dresses_"

"I promise," Kendra cut in, "you'll find the perfect dress here."

Helping Max stay up, Original Cindy scoffed, "That's what you said about the last

5 stores. She is tired Kendra_and I think a little grumpy too."

Smiling sympathetically Kendra dug around in her purse and pulled out a

chocolate bar, "If you just go into one more store, I'll give you this."

Snatching the chocolate bar away from her, Max scowled at Kendra, "I asked you

if you had food an hour ago. You said no! Are you trying to starve a pregnant woman?"

"Please Max," Original Cindy laughed, "we've stopped three times to get you

food. I don't think that your baby is anywhere near hungry."

Rubbing her stomach defensively, Max tore open the package and bit into the

heavenly chocolate, "I happen to be eating for two now."

Taking Max's arm, Kendra led her into the store, "I know that you'll find the

perfect wedding dress here Max! I have this feeling."

Turning to Original Cindy, Max grinned, "How many times has she said that

today?"

"Original Cindy has lost count!"

----------

"Logan?" Bling yelled stepping into the quiet apartment, "Anyone home?"

"In the computer room!" Logan yelled not taking his eyes of the computer.

Finishing up what he was doing, Logan spun around to face a very amused looking Bling,

"Hey."

"Hey," Bling smiled leaning against the table, "where's your wife?"

"She's not my wife yet," Logan said getting up, "but soon."

Watching Logan, Bling couldn't help but smirk, "I don't think that I've ever seen

you happier."

Leading him to the kitchen Logan grinned, "That's because I've never been

happier."

"So where is Max? I thought that you two were inseparable."

Pouring them both some tea, Logan sighed sarcastically, "Tell that to Kendra. I'm

just joking. The ladies went shopping for a wedding dress today. I wasn't allowed to go

along."

"Really?" Bling asked pretending to be appalled, "You weren't allowed to go

along? Those girls are so unreasonable."

"It reminds me thought. We need to be fitted for our own wedding attire."

Grimacing, Bling frowned at Logan, "You mean I need to stand still and have

another man measure me?"

Patting his back reassuringly, Logan smiled, "It's not that bad Bling. I know this

guy who will come here, so that you won't have to go into a store full of people, and it'll

be over before you know it. Max has even decided that we may choose our own tuxes."

"How thoughtful of her." Bling laughed, "She's getting a little control crazy?"

"No, she's just excited. So far we've just been looking over our options.

Tomorrow we start the really planning though. The invitation list, where we're going to

hold it, what food we're going to serve, what music we'll play, what kind of flowers we

want_" Logan said gesturing to the piles of wedding magazines that littered the entire

apartment.

"Is it getting a little wild around here? With all the planning and Max

being_well, a little emotional?" Bling asked, having experienced Max's mood swings.

Smiling knowingly, Logan knew exactly what Bling was talking about, "Very

much so_but I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Good answer Logan." Bling said raising his mug, "You are going to make a

perfect husband."

Raising his own mug to met Bling's, Logan smiled shamelessly, "Because I have

the perfect wife."

----------

Stepping into the store both Max and Original Cindy were skeptical of what they

would be able to find. But the moment they looked around they knew that this was the

store.

"Ohhh," was all Max seemed capable of saying. There were beautiful dresses on

display. Everywhere you looked, every dress you saw screamed elegance and beauty.

Kendra watched both Max and Cindy, and to say that she was pleased with herself

would be putting it lightly. "So? What do you two think?"

"On Kendra," Max sighed clutching her friends arm, "these are all beautiful."

Raising an interested eyebrow, Original Cindy let out a low whistle, "Original

Cindy seconds that. These are magnificent."

"I saved the best for last," Kendra said very proud of herself.

Pointing to her very sore feet, Max shook her head, "Next time_don't."

Smiling sympathetically, Kendra nodded, "I promise."

"Can I help you ladies?" a perky sales person asked approaching the three of

them.

"I need the perfect wedding dress_and I think that I've found it." Max declared

suddenly looking at the display behind the sales lady.

Catching Max's look, the sales person turned around and pointed at the most

amazing dress, "This?"

"Is perfect." Max breathed coming closer and actually touching the dress.

"Would you like to try it on?" the lady asked leading them to the dresses that

were hanging on a nearby wall. Pulling out the right one, she turned to Max, "This is a

Vintage Classic. A Pre-Pulse Vera Wang dress. I think that it will look beautiful on you."

Taking a moment to admire the dress, Max felt her face grow brighter by the

second. Pulling her hand away from the dress suddenly, Max placed her hand over her

stomach, "Can you do alterations? The wedding isn't for another month."

Smiling kindly, the sales lady followed Max's gaze to her rapidly growing

stomach, "With this particular dress, yes we can. Would you like to try it on?"

"I'd love too."

----------

As Logan put the last touched on dinner, he went back to check on their chicken.

Well, to make sure that the oven was on. It was silly, but after what had happened last

time, Logan wasn't about to risk dinner. A satisfied smile plastered on his face, he did

one last check of the apartment.

Max had called earlier to tell him that she would be home soon. The search for

the perfect wedding dress was done. She had sounded so giddy and hyper on the phone.

Lighting the very last candle, he stood back and admired the intimate ambiance that he'd

created.

----------

"You guys," Max whined as Original Cindy and Kendra followed her into the

elevator, "I think that I am perfectly capable of riding the elevator all the way, and all by

myself. If you haven't noticed, I am a big girl."

Rolling her eyes, Original Cindy pushed the right button and the door slid shut,

"Just be quiet boo. If you haven't noticed, you pregnant."

"What does that have to do with anything?" she asked annoyed, "Being pregnant

does not deem me incompetent."

"Just let us walk you to the door, so that we can enjoy the rest of our night worry

free." Kendra sighed watching the numbers on the panel go higher and higher, "Okay?"

"Fine." Max said crossing her arms in defeat.

As the doors slid open, Max walked out and the very short distance to the door.

Getting her keys out of her bag, Max spun around to see them attempting to follow her,

"Stay right there. I can go through this door all by myself."

"We know you can Max," Kendra said with an exasperated sigh, "but we are

going to wait here till you go through the door."

Frustrated and flustered at how much they cared, Max didn't know whether to

throw her keys at them or hug them both. "This is only going to get worse isn't it? The

bigger I get, the more annoying you all get?"

"Bingo." Original Cindy said holding her hand out to stop the elevator from

closing, "Now get in and have dinner with Logan, so that I can go down to Crash and

have my dessert."

"The stories I'm gonna have for my baby," Max muttered as she unlocked the

front door, via a key.

"The stories that we'll have for your baby, about how LONG it took for you and

Logan to get together!" Kendra laughed, "How me and Cindy were right."

Rubbing her stomach, Max leaned against the unopened door, "You know, Logan

thinks that it's girl."

"Really!?" Kendra and Original Cindy asked forgetting about their own plans and

stepping out of the elevator.

"What Original Cindy wants to know is what you think it is."

"It?" Max asked pretending to be offended, "All I want is a healthy baby. I don't

care what sex."

Sighing, Kendra place her hand over Max's stomach, "You are so lucky Max.

You are going to be marrying a man who loves you, and you're going to be a mom."

Nodding vigorously, Max was about to answer when the door that she was

leaning on opened. Losing her balance, Max let out a distressed yell.

"Max!" both Original Cindy and Kendra yelled out in horror.

----------

Hearing someone at the door, Logan smiled in anticipation. He knew that is was

Max's voice. Grabbing the bouquet of wild flowers he had bought for Max, Logan held it

behind his back and went to surprise her.

He was about to open the door when their conversation caught his attention.

"You know, Logan thinks that it's girl."

It made him smile that Max was telling others this. She was becoming more open

with each passing day. After a few seconds of muffled voices, he could hear Kendra loud

and clear.

"You are so lucky Max. You are going to be marrying a man who loves you, and

you're going to be a mom."

"I'm the lucky one," Logan said to himself as he prepared to open the door and

surprise Max. Throwing the door back with one swift swing, he saw Max falling back

towards him. Everything around Logan became a blur. Nothing mattered but Max.

Dropping the bouquet he threw out his arms and caught her.

---------

Feeling the door disappear and air surround her, Max let out a yell of panic when

she realized that she was falling. Summoning all of her super human powers in vain, Max

could feel the dread in her grow. A fall would not be good for her baby. Closing her eyes

and expecting the worse, Max held her breath. Than as instantly as there was air, there

wasn't. Max could feel herself being caught by strong arms.

Her eyes fluttering open, Max saw Logan holding onto her. He'd caught her.

Everything around her became hazy as Logan picked her up into his arms. The floor

seemed so far down. There were voices coming from every direction. Max could faintly

hear Kendra, Original Cindy and Logan all taking at once. It was all muddled and murky.

--------

Feeling his arms shaking, Logan willed himself to be strong and picked Max up.

Carrying her into the living room. She hadn't said a word, made a sound or even moved.

He knew that she was in shock. Hell he was still shaking. Putting Max down gently on

the sofa, Logan brushed her hair back, "Max? Max talk to me please. Are you all right?"

Her hands shaking, Max didn't respond. It was all coming to her. In a second she

could have lost their baby. Bring her hand to her stomach, she could feel the bulge of life.

The most important thing to her. Looking up and meeting Logan's concerned eyes, Max

felt herself begin to crumble, "Logan_" she said with desperation dripping through.

Letting out the breath that he had been holding, Logan pulled a sobbing Max into

his arms. Rubbing large comforting circles on her back, Logan held on tight. He was

always going to be here for her. To protect her. "Shh, don't cry Max. It's okay. I've got

you."

`Cry?' Max thought faintly. It wasn't until that moment that she realized that she

was crying. Sobbing forcefully would be a better description. Her arms were locked

around Logan, and her head was pressed against his chest. "I was so scared," Max

confessed burying herself deeper against Logan, "I_I could have_"

Closing his eyes, Logan felt his arms go around Max tighter. Logically, he knew

that Max wasn't hurt. He had caught her before it was too late. Shuddering at his own

thoughts, Logan knew that he had to be strong. For Max and the baby, "But you didn't."

he said sternly, "You didn't Max. You and the baby are fine."

Nodding, Max felt Logan pull away and didn't want to let go just yet, "No_not

yet Logan. Please."

"Okay, okay. I'm not going anywhere." Logan whispered keeping his arms around

her. Remembering Kendra and Original Cindy, he looked up and saw them standing right

there before him. Logan could see that they were just as worried and shaken he was.

Fighting down a lump in his throat, Logan tired to be calm and collected, "She's okay

you guys. You don't have to stay here."

They both looked engrossed with doubt. It wasn't that they didn't trust Logan, it

was just that they were still distraught with the entire situation.

Kendra could see that Logan wanted to be alone with Max, and in the more

reasonable part of her brain she knew that Max and the baby were all right. Getting down

on her knees so that she was level with the back of Max's head, Kendra rubbed her

shaking back, "It's okay Max. Me and Cindy are going to go now. Okay?"

Max didn't tear herself away from Logan's arms, but she gave them a muffled,

"Okay, bye."

"Bye boo." Original Cindy soothed placing a her hand on Max's shoulder, "Me

and Kendra will check on you tomorrow after work."

They started to leave, but Kendra turned back and placed a comforting hand on

Logan's shoulder, "She's all right Logan."

Not trusting his own voice, Logan nodded and met Kendra's eyes. He had a new

found respect for this woman. A woman he hadn't really known to well before. A woman

who sincerely cared about his own little family.

Logan and Max sat together for who knows how long. Time was irrelevant for the

two. At that moment it didn't exist. All that existed and all that matter were each other

and their baby. Max's tears had long run out, but not the ache in her heart. She was still

shaking with the fear of what could have happened. What would have happened if Logan

hadn't caught her. Shivering with disgust at her own thoughts, Max burrowed deeper

against Logan.

Feeling her shiver, Logan automatically began rubbing her arms, "Are you cold?"

"No," Max whispered taking a deep breath and trying to calm herself, "I'm never

cold anymore Logan. I'm always warm in your arms."

Kissing the top of her head, Logan rested his cheek against her head, "Do you feel

better?"

Sighing, Max moved her head so that she could look at him, "Yes," she said

truthfully, "I do."

"I'm so sorry Max." Logan said his voice wavering.

"Why?" Max asked alarmed at his sudden expression and the tears shining in his

eyes.

Looking away from her soft eyes, Logan blinked back his abrupt tears, "If I hadn't

opened the door_"

"No Logan," Max said taking his face with both of her hands and forcing him to

look at her, "don't say that. There was no way you could have known that I was leaning

against the door. You didn't mean too."

"But I could have hurt you and our baby." he said stubbornly. The guilt was

eating away at him. Making him feel like the biggest idiot.

Taking his hand and placing it over her stomach, Max looked right into his sad

eyes and smiled, "You would never do anything to endanger our baby. Or me either. If

anything, you are obsessively and excessively protective_of your girls." she added

playfully.

The corners of his mouth twitching upwards, Logan rested his forehead against

Max shoulder. Now it was her turn to hold him, and protect him. To forget about time

and just be with him. Her soon-to-be husband, her family. "I love you." Max whispered

as she tenderly stroked Logan's hair.

"I love you too Max," he responded kissing her cheek and moving down towards

her neck, "so much."

Bringing his mouth to hers, Max felt her heart leap when they met. Every kiss that

they shared was like their first. Each kiss held it's own memory, it's own power over the

two. Without warning, Max's stomach began growling in protest.

Laughing, Logan pulled away and patted her stomach affectionately, "I think that

you're hungry."

"I think you're right."

Pulling Max up, Logan lead her to the lavish dinner he had set up. Sitting her

down, he picked up the food and headed for the kitchen, "It's all cold. Let me heat it up."

It was at that moment that Max realized how Logan had decorated their

apartment. There were candles everywhere. The smell of the food was still lingering in

the air, and something else. Something sweet. Getting up, Max followed the luscious

fragrance. Letting her heightened senses take over, Max found what she was looking for.

In the foyer lay a discarded bouquet of wildflowers. Picking it up gingerly, Max made her

way back to the dining room, where Logan was waiting. "They're beautiful Logan."

"I'm glad you like them." he said pulling a chair out for her. As soon as Max was

seated, Logan hurried back into the kitchen. Re-appearing seconds later with their

magnificently smelling dinner, "Dinner is served."

"Oh it smells delicious Logan." Max sighed closing her eyes and inhaling the

savory aroma. Picking up her fork, she bit into the chicken first, "And it tastes even

better."

Max looked up and caught Logan watching her savor her meal. Logan's dinner

lay forgotten. "Aren't you hungry? Because I'll eat your dinner soon, if you don't." Max

said playfully.

Laughing, Logan quickly picked up his fork, "I get this feeling that you're

serious."

Eyeing him mischievously, Max took at quick bite, "Always take a pregnant

woman seriously when it comes to food. If you don't be careful, you'll end up with no

dinner."

"Hmm, I'll have to remember that." Logan said feeding Max a piece of his

chicken, "However, dessert would be enough for me."

Grinning, Max went back to her own dinner, "Dessert is even better."

---------

After dinner was finished and dessert devoured, Logan and Max sat in the living

room going over wedding magazines. Logan sat comfortably in a pair of sweats and a t-

shirt. While Max was only donning one of Logan's huge t-shirts. All her clothes had

become to tight and uncomfortable. Logan's clothes on the other hand, were perfect. Big,

loose and they smelled just like him.

Shifting positions after awhile, Max lay with her head in Logan's lap. He stroked

her hair with such ease and affection that she was ready to fall asleep. Max's comfort

didn't go unnoticed by Logan. Taking extra care, Logan wove a lock of her silky hair

around his finger. Coiling and uncoiling it. Seeing Max fight to keep her eyes open,

Logan chuckled and picked her up, "Let's go to bed."

"No objection here," Max sighed contentedly, "it's been a long day."

As Logan set her down gently, Max pulled him in right against her. Settling

comfortably, Max pulled the covers around them and tangled their legs together.

"Good night Max." Logan whispered drawing her closer against him, and kissing

the top of her head.

Laying her head against his chest, Max listened to the steady beating of his heart.

The most comforting sound that never failed to lull her into sleep, "Good night Logan.

Sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams." Logan echoed.

`~`~`~`~`~`

Did you like? Sorry I didn't approach the subject of the 'person looming in the dark' but I wanted to address that later. ;) Soon later, don't worry!!! THANK YOU again to everyone who reviewed the first chapter. It was really a great method of getting me to write the second chapter as fast as I could!!! So, therefore it would be completely logical for you to REVIEW this chapter so that I'll get the third done as soon as possible!!!

-Lucy