Title: Beyond Eden

Author: Lucy Mars

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

Disclaimer: HA! 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. Aren't lawsuits suppose to make money? Not lose money? ;)

Chapter #3

Groaning in disgust, Max sat back and survived the current state of the living room. Wedding magazines lay everywhere possible, crumpled sheets of paper where blanketing the floor and sofa...and Max was sitting right in the middle of it all.

Logan had wisely opted for a chair on the other side of the room. Where he was safe from Max's paper projectiles. With the sudden absences of Max growling and muttering, Logan looked up from the magazine that he had been flipping through to see Max sitting there with her eyes closed and doing her breathing exercises. The doctor had been very vocal about keeping Max calm and relaxed. Something that wasn't easy, even when she wasn't pregnant and planning a wedding. Getting up, Logan made his way through the mess and sat himself down behind Max. As quietly as possible, he began massaging her tense shoulders, "Breathe deeply," Logan soothed, "and try to relax."

"I am trying," Max complained, "but I'm pregnant and attempting to plan a wedding here."

Kissing her head, Logan brought his arms around her so that she could lay her back against him, "One thing at a time Max. We'll get through this in no time."

"We've been sitting here all morning and we still cannot decide on what flower we want to use."

"I still say that whatever you want is fine."

Shifting so that she could face him, Max rested her forehead against his, "Problem is...I don't know which one I want."

His eyes shinning with amusement, Logan kissed her softly and reached behind her for the magazine she'd been flipping through. "Then we'll just have to go through it together, and just narrow the field a little."

"No carnations." Max said settling down against Logan.

"All right, no carnations. How about roses?"

"Roses are beautiful. There are so many colors and so many different shapes." Max sighed.

"Lily's?" Logan offered.

"Those are beautiful too."

This went on for a few pages, before Logan stopped, "Is there any flower you don't like?"

"Carnations," Max said not hiding her dislike, "I hate carnations."

Grinning, Logan thought for a moment, "Okay, so we've established the fact that you love every flower but carnations."

"Exactly. Do you see the problem here Logan?" Max asked.

"No," he said calmly, "I see the perfect solution."

"You do?" she asked skeptically, "And what pray tell, may that be?"

"This," Logan said pointing to the picture on the very last page, "is our answer. We do an assortment. Something with roses, lilies, freesias, tulips, orchids, and maybe a mini anthurium or two."

Her face lighting up with excitement, Max squealed with delight, "Oh problem solved!"

"Yes. Now onto the others." Logan laughed pointing to the list that they had, "We still need to figure out where we want to hold it, who we want to invite, what music we want..."

Silencing him with a kiss, Max wrapped her arms around his neck. Leaning all her weight against him, they fell down onto the floor with Max pinning Logan down.

"One second," Logan said pulling away slightly breathless, "is this your way of celebrating having decided on something, or your way of avoidance?"

"A little bit of both." Max laughed, "Why, don't you approve?"

"I never said that," Logan said mischievously, "just curious."

Laughing, Max brought her lips back to meet Logan's.

--------

"Max!" Logan called from the living room, "if you don't come out now, we'll never go for our walk."

"Keep your pants on!" Max yelled back, "I'm trying to find something to wear."

Laughing, Logan got up and made his way to their bedroom. Leaning against the door frame, Logan watched as Max flung the clothes everywhere. "Do you need some help?"

Pouting, Max sat down onto the bed, "Nothing fits Logan! I'm a human blimp."

Sitting down next to Max, Logan kissed her forehead lovingly, "I think that it's time we go shopping."

"Shopping?" Max whimpered.

"I promise," Logan laughed pulling Max up and handing her one of his discarded sweatshirts, "this won't hurt one bit. You just might have fun."

"I doubt it." she sighed pulling the sweatshirt over her head.

"Come on." Logan laughed leading her out of the apartment.

-------

"What about this?" Logan asked handing Max a nice black t-shirt, "No big flowers or happy faces."

Smiling sarcastically, Max took the shirt from his hand and went back into the change room. Pulling the curtain shut, she let the smile that she was trying to hide split. She couldn't deny it anymore. Max was definitely having a good time. Over the last hour, she and Logan and gone to so many different stores. There were so many choices, so many colors.

"What are you doing in there?" Logan asked snapping Max out of her little reverie.

"Changing," Max laughed coming out, "and you went to university right?"

Grinning like a fool, Logan led Max to the mirrors, "You look beautiful Max."

"How many times have I heard that today?" she teased rubbing her stomach.

"How many different outfits have you tried on today?" Logan asked wrapping his arms around her.

Gesturing to all the packages and bags that they had sitting on the ground, Max chuckled, "I've lost count."

"You're having fun," Logan declared when she saw her eyes sparkle, "lots of fun."

Feeling a slight blush creep up, Max pulled away and headed back towards the change room, "What do you have for me next?"

"This." he said handing her a simple white sun dress.

"It's beautiful." Max sighed not hiding her smile.

"It'll look even better when you put it on." Logan assured nudging her back into the change room.

"I'm going, I'm going." Max laughed taking the dress from him. "How did you know about all of these stores Logan?" Max asked as she changed.

"I looked them up. By the way you started to steal all of my clothes, I figured that you would need some maternity clothes."

"You're so sweet." Max laughed pulling the curtain back and stepping out of the change room, "So? What do you think?"

His mouth gaping open, Logan just grinned. "I...I think that you're beyond beautiful. You're radiant, dazzling..."

"Careful Mr. Cale," Max laughed slipping her arms around him, "you're earning some serious elevator time here."

"Am I?" he asked giving her a light squeeze.

"On yeah." Max whispered before giving him a quick kiss.

"We are definitely going shopping more often." Logan muttered as he made a trail of kisses around her face.

Laughing, Max pulled away, "Let me get changed out of this and we can go to the next store."

"Wait," Logan said catching Max's hand, "why don't you just wear that dress? It looks a lot better than my sweatshirt and a pair of shorts."

Looking at her own reflection, Max had to grin. Her stomach was obvious, but not in a vulgar sort of way. And, the dress made her look like a mother. A young mother in love. "I think that is a very good idea."

"I'm glad." Logan laughed picking up their bags as Max grabbed all the clothes that she had tried on, "Come on, lets go pay."

The pair spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around Seattle. Most of their bags in the car. The day was warm and sunny...a rare occurrence. The air felt fresh and new. Others bustled around them, as the two walked at a leisurely pace. Having the time of their lives.

Max shone in her new dress. A mixture of happiness and tranquillity. Like she had finally found the secret of a long lost world. She had found her one true love. Often catching the eyes of admiring men, and jealous women.

Logan didn't look to shabby either. There he stood tall and proud, in a pair of beige khakis and a blue t-shirt. Max's favorite shirt because she thought that it made his eyes shine big and bright. His arm was wrapped around Max, their fingers curled together and their hearts entwined.

Stopping suddenly, Max smiled up at Logan, "Let's go in."

Giving her a curious look, Logan looked into the display window. There were baby toys and baby clothes. Turning back to Max, he saw the delight dancing on her face, "Sure."

With Logan in tow, Max made her way through all the different displays that they had. Randomly picking up toys and brushing the soft exterior. "Isn't this cute?" Max asked holding out a small bunny to Logan.

"I think that everything in here is perfect." Logan said holding out a baby duck, "How about we buy some?"

Biting her bottom lip, Max tilted her head to the side, "You don't think that it's to early? I'm only 4 and a half months along."

"It's never to early to buy gifts for our baby." Logan said rubbing her stomach gently, "Anyway, I think that I'm gonna have to buy a few of these for me and you. They're so cute."

Laughing, Max and Logan made their way around the store. Picking up cute toys and baby accessories. Studying some of the items with confusion, Max frowned at how she didn't know what some of the items were. Noticing some baby books, she put down the toys and began flipping through the parenting and pregnancy books.

His arms filled with plush toys, Logan noticed Max standing at the back to the store reading something very intently. Handing the toys and his credit card to a very excited store clerk, Logan headed over to Max, "What are you reading?"

"A parenting magazine. There are so many things that I need to learn Logan." Max said softly.

"Both of us Max." Logan said catching her chin and looking her right in the eye, "I don't know a single thing about raising kids either."

"Than I guess that we'll be needing all these books and magazines then." Max laughed leaning against Logan.

"Each and everyone!" Logan declared as he began to pluck the books and magazines off of the shelf, "We've got an entire lifetime to learn. I guess that our first child can be a test run."

Laughing, Max hit his with a magazine, "No, we'll get it perfect the first time."

"Confidence huh?" Logan asked kissing her cheek, "I like it."

"Good." Max laughed as she choose some books too.

Exiting the store, hands full of bags Max nudged Logan, "I think that sales girl has a little crush on you."

Turning around, Logan caught her staring at him through the window. Putting one arm around Max, Logan kissed her cheek, "Are you jealous?"

"Ha!" Max laughed as they headed towards their car, "Me jealous? Did you see the way men have been looking at me all day? Were you jealous?"

"No, because I love you and I know, you love me."

Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, Max turned up to Logan and beamed with delight, "Now who's the confident one?"

Feigning hurt, Logan put his hand over his heart and sighed dramatically, "Oh break my heart!"

Laughing, Max caught his face between her hands and pulled his lips towards hers. Soon they both forgot about the rest of the world buzzing by. They were in their own little world.

Dragging his lips away for air, Logan smiled down at a very flustered looking Max, "I lied," he confessed, "I was insanely jealous every time one of those guys looked at you."

Giggling, Max wiped her lips stick off of his lips, "I lied too. I had to command all my self-control, so that I wouldn't go into the store and snap her neck."

Chuckling, Logan pulled Max into his arms and hugged her, "From now on we ignore all those people. All that matters is me, you and our baby."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Max said looping her arms around Logan. Holding onto each other for a moment, Max caught someone out of the corner of her eye. Scanning the area, she didn't see anything suspicious.

Feeling Max tense, Logan pulled away so that he could look at her, "What's wrong Max?" Noting her frown, he placed a hand over her stomach, "Are you in pain?"

"No," Max said still scanning the area, "but I think that someone's following us Logan."

His own eyes doing a sweep of their surroundings, Logan clutched Max's hand, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Max whispered, her voice laced with nervousness and determination, "I'm positive."

"What do you want to do?"

"It's not Manticore Logan. This isn't there style." Max said looking into his worried eyes, "It's someone...or something else. I want you to leave without me."

"No!" Logan exclaimed, "I'm not leaving without you. No way in HELL Max!"

"But..." Max protested.

Taking both of her hands, Logan intertwined their fingers, "No Max. We're a team now. We either stay together or go together."

Blinking back her sudden tears, Max smiled, "I love you, you know that?"

"I know." Logan said relieved that she wasn't going to fight him, "So what do you want to do now?"

"We walk to the car and pretend that nothing's wrong." Max replied picking up the bags that she had put down, "Stay close Logan."

Slipping an arm around her, Logan kissed her temple hastily, "I will."

The short walk to the car seemed like an eternity for both Max and Logan. They each kept a calm exterior, but inside they were going through turmoil. The soldier in Max told her that she should run. Leave Logan and just run for cover. But she couldn't. She wouldn't. He was right, they were a team. Rubbing her stomach on instinct, Max sighed. She didn't want Logan or their baby to get hurt because of her, but she didn't want to leave them either. They both meant more than life to Max.

Logan was going through all the possible people who could be following them. Max had said that it wasn't Manticore, and Logan trusted her. Than who could it be? Who could possibly be following them? The Reds? No, they were to small and poor now to be trying to find Max. Could it be someone that knew he was Eyes Only? Was Logan endangering his soon-to-be wife and child? Glancing down at Max, Logan grimaced at the thought of him putting his family in danger.

Catching Logan's glance, Max gave his hand a light squeeze of reassurance. Smiling softly, she noticed something in the reflection of a store window. 'He's too close.' Max thought in horror. Acting on instinct, Max pulled Logan around a corner suddenly and pushed Logan against the wall. Waiting to strike whoever it was that was putting a threat on her family.

Counting down the seconds, Max wasn't disappointed when a man suddenly came around the corner. Grabbing this person, Max slammed him violently against the wall. Causing a sickening thud to result.

Surprised Zach fell into full military mode. Pushing Max off of him, he hit her.

Stumbling uncharacteristically, Max saw a fist coming at her. Throwing out her arm, she blocked the fist from pounding into her stomach. Then kicked her leg out to stop his. Landing a successful on his chest, Max finally caught a glimpse of the predator. Panting, Max pushed her hair out of her face, "Zach?"

Still acting out of training, Zach saw the sudden moment of weakness. Grabbing Max, he was about to slam her to the ground when he heard Logan yell, "Stop!" Realization hitting him full force, Zach let go of Max immediately and stepped away in horror.

Roughly pushing Zach aside, Logan gently cradled Max's face in his hands, "Are you all right Max? Did he hurt you anywhere?"

Taking deep breaths, Max leaned all of her weight against Logan, "I'm okay...I think."

"Let's go home. I'll call Zoë to come and check you and the baby out." Logan said hastily as he supported Max with one arm and picked up their bags with the other.

Stepping out in front of the two, Zach held out his hand.

"What the hell are you doing!?!" Logan growled fiercely.

"I'll carry your bags." Zach said simply in his military monotone.

Shoving all the bags into Zach's arms, Logan led Max to their car. Settling her in as gently as possible, Logan started the engine and they were off. The ride was relatively quiet, except for Max's deep breathing.

After a few minutes, Max opened her eyes feeling calmer and composed. Looking over at Logan, she saw how he was clenching and unclenching his fists around the steering wheel. Reaching over, she lay a hand over his.

Trying to keep from stopping the car and beating the crap out of Zach, Logan pretended that the wheel was his neck. Slowly and methodically strangling and releasing. Without warning, he felt Max place her hand over his. Clutching her hand, he brought it to his mouth and kissed it gently. Afraid that she would break if he wasn't extremely gentle.

Zach sat silently in the back the entire ride. Averting his eyes from the two sitting up front. Opting to watch Seattle fly by.

When they pulled up, Logan ignored Zach and helped Max out of the car. Over the last two weeks Zach had been watching Max from afar. Now close up he could see her stomach. There was not point in denying it now. Max was very much pregnant. Neither of the three said a word the entire ride up. Zach was to engrossed with his own pain. Logan was trying with every fiber in his being to keep his anger in check. And Max was just concentrating on keeping calm, for her baby and her own sanity.

Throwing the door open, Logan led Max straight to the bedroom. Zach trailed behind, taking in the state of their apartment. Wedding magazines, floral samples, and wads of paper lay discarded everywhere. What caught his eye, were the wedding invitations that lay stacked in a neat pile on the coffee table. 'Adding one more incident, to the worst moments of my life.' Zach thought as he followed Logan and Max.

Helping Max into bed, Logan tucked the covers around her and gave her forehead a quick kiss, "I'm gonna go and call Zoë now. Okay?"

"Yeah." Max said rubbing her stomach slowly. Watching Logan brush past Zach, Max studied her brother carefully. His face was blank of all emotion, but he looked thinner. Zach looked tired. "What are you doing back in Seattle Zach?"

Standing awkwardly at the foot of the bed, Zach let his eyes scan the room. Not meeting Max's eyes. "I came to get you." he said matter-of-factly.

"This is my home Zach." Max sighed resting against the pillows, "We've had this conversation before."

"You need to leave." Zach stated stubbornly, "This is all getting to dangerous."

"No, I think that you're the one that needs to leave. If you can't accept my decision to stay...than you shouldn't be here." Max said her voice raising a notch, "I am marrying Logan, and we are going to start our own family."

"It's risk Max! A dangerous one."

Massaging her stomach, Max sighed, "Logan and I have discussed the risks Zach. We understand them. Sometimes you just have to take those risks."

"How can he love you...if he's risking your life by asking you to stay?! What kind sick type of love is that?" Zach asked disgusted with the entire situation.

"Don't push it Zach," Max snarled, "or I swear I will kick your ass."

"What happens when Lydecker gets to close?" Zach asked ignoring her comment, "What are you and lover boy going to do then?"

"My husband and I have plans." Max said not hiding her annoyance, "If we need to, then we run. The three of us run together."

Stopping abruptly Zach let silence flood the room. After a few moments, he turned to face Max, "Are you really pregnant?"

Unmistakably glowing, Max looked down to her growing stomach and the life forming inside. "I am Zach. I'm going to be a mother. Logan is going to be a father...and you'll be an uncle."

Looking away from her glowing face, Zach focused on the dimming skyline. It hurt him to see her so happy with another. With another man. And to hear her say "uncle" just intensified that pain two-fold.

-------

Logan had finished the call long ago, but stood outside the room. At first he was going to give the two some privacy, but their conversation caught his attention. He felt all his doubts and fears melt away when he heard Max defending her decision to stay with him and marry him. Especially when she told him that he could leave is he didn't accept it. As silence engulfed the room, Logan finally entered. Ignoring Zach, he sat down on the edge of the bed and handing Max some juice. Stroking her hair, Logan remembered why he had left the room in the first place. "Zoë will be here in 15 minutes. She said to try and give you some juice and to keep you calm."

Leaning her face into his open palm, Max sipped the juice slowly, "Okay. I hope that we didn't take her away from anything important."

"No, she assured me that she wasn't doing anything important." Logan said as he tenderly stroked Max's stomach, "How you doing?"

"Okay really...just odd." Max confessed putting the juice down, "I should have been about to kick Zach's ass."

Scoffing, Zach didn't turn away from the window, "Always the self-confident one. Can you trust this doctor?"

"Yes." Logan said bluntly, "How long will you be in town?"

Turning to face Logan, Zach carefully kept his expression neutral, "I'll be leaving tonight. No point in staying now."

"Come to my wedding Zach." Max pleaded, "I want my brother to be there...hell, all my siblings if I could."

Looking at Max, Zach cringed at how happy she appeared. How sincere she was being, "I can't," he said seeing the disappointment in her eyes, "but I'll pass on the message."

"You will?" Max asked frankly bewildered.

"Yes." Zach said curtly as he headed out the door. Halfway over the threshold, he stopped and turned back. "Take care of her." he told Logan.

"I will." Logan said meeting Zach's said eyes.

Nodding, Zach quickly stepped out of the room and out of the apartment. Throwing the door open, Zach saw a women standing there ready to knock. "Who are you?"

"I could ask you the same thing." she retorted.

Raising an aggravated eyebrow, Zach noticed the medical bag that she was carrying. "Are you the doctor that Logan called?"

Scrutinizing Zach, Zoë nodded, "Yes, I am. Now who are you?"

Leaving the door open Zach brushed past her, "That's none of your business."

Scoffing, Zoë watched as Zach got into the elevator. "The nerve of that guy." She muttered entering the apartment.

`~`~`~`~`~`

Jesus Murphy that was long!!!! Did you guys like it? Yes? No? All you Logan and Max shippers (who all RuLe!! By the way) are all probably like "Yes! Ha! Up yours Zach!" Now, if you feel that way than I've only got one thing to say = "Oh Yeah!!!" Can you tell that Zach is really my favorite character? Yeah? Good. Hehehe...I hate him so much...and I just needed to write that in. I didn't want to be to mean, because all the Zach people would have hunted me down!

Sorry it's taken me so long to post this. I just haven't had time!!! I've just decided that I'm never leaving France. Nope...never...uh huh. I love it here!! Life is so different here. Especially in the south of France. Life is so laid back!! I'm just gonna stay here and drink coffee and write fan fic! ;) We've rented a house and there's satellite TV!!! I finally got to watch DARK ANGEL!!!!! Hmm, I'm not obsessed...No! ;)

SO, I hope that this EXTRA long chapter will suffice! I'll post the next chapter (regarding the wedding) in two days! Till then, please REVIEW!!

Sorry there's so much psycho babble...but it's 1 am in France and frankly I've had to much coffee. And here...it's coffee!! So thick and full of caffeine!!! Bye!

-Lucy