Title: Beyond Eden

Author: Lucy Mars

Rating: R(ish)

WARNING: I am in a total Alt. U. mood. If I followed what the tv show has set-up then none of this would happen!! This is total Max and Logan shipperness...and some people (okay one person) has voiced their dislike. Well all I have to say is: "Tough...don't read it then." Ah...I feel better now. Well enjoy all the shipperness.

Chapter #8

Idly rocking in her chair, Max played with her book. Concentrating more on Logan, who was frankly sitting to far away. He was stretched out on the sofa reading intently. Presently going through a thick baby book. Highlighting, underlining and using his precious neon post it notes. He'd been at it for days now. Concentration all of his energy in learning everything at once. Only stopping when Max needed to be fed, and when reminded that he himself needed food to survive.

Smiling at how cute he looked Max dropped her book down carelessly. Letting the pages flutter down to the hardwood floor, and produce a loud 'thump' when actually coming in contact with it. Waiting for Logan's reaction, Max was surprised when he didn't even flinch. Frowning in aggravation, she pulled herself up and made her way through all of the books and pamphlets that Logan had neatly piled within arms reach for him. Sitting down, Max gently pulled his book away and threw it hazardously across the room.

"Hey," Logan protested in surprise, "I was reading that."

"Take a little break." Max soothed running her hands through his hair, "Please."

"I just want to be prepared Max..."

"I know," she said cutting him off and placing a finger over his lips, "but you are going to burn yourself out Logan. So take a little break...please?"

His eyes flashing with amusement, Logan captured Max's hand and placed a kiss in her palm, "All right, but it's important that we are prepared."

"It's also important that Daddy spend sometime with Mommy." Max pouted.

Kissing her cheek and moving down her face, Logan whispered against her ear, "Are you feeling neglected Mommy?"

Shuddering in response, Max arched her neck to give Logan better access, "Maybe a little bit," Max managed to say.

"Hmm, I'm sorry." Logan said softly, all the while exploring the sensitive contours of her neck, "Can you ever forgive me?"

Her eyelids fluttering closed, Max moaned in response. Any and all of her coherent thought evaporating at an amazing speed. Melting away like ice on a hot summer day.

Kissing the most sensitive parts of her neck and biting her lightly, Logan grinned to himself when he heard Max moan deeply. Adding his hands into the mix, Logan delicately brushed his fingertips over her bare arms. Relishing in the feeling of his wife responding to his touch.

Knowing that Logan had the upper hand, Max decided to try and take it away. Not an easy task, considering what he was currently doing to her and her already heightened senses. Running her hands over his broad shoulders and down his back, Max slipped her hands under his shirt. Inching her hands and the back of his shirt up languidly, Max cherished the feeling of her skin against Logan's.

Now it was his turn to groan in response. His lips halted all movement the instant Max ran her hands over his back.

Seeing her chance, Max placed a soft kiss on the corner of Logan's mouth. Not missing the desired target, but not hitting it either. Moving down, she was equally as attentive with his chin, neck and collarbone. Knowing exactly where to kiss and where to bite mildly. Her hands had long left his back. Now concentrating on all of the buttons that Logan had on the front of his shirt. Undoing the first few successfully, Max let her lips linger on the front of his chest. Smiling to herself when Logan moaned and brought her face back to his.

Fusing their lips together, Logan enveloped Max into his arms. Molding their body into one. Then suddenly, his arms went slack. He held his wife loosely, because the knowledge of her condition was still lingering in the back of his mind.

Nipping his bottom lips, Max was puzzled to feel his arms abruptly become loose. Pulling away pouting, Max looked at Logan questioningly and even a bit hurt, "What's wrong?"

Panting still, Logan brushed her hair off of her flushed face, "I don't want to hurt you."

Her expression softening, Max wrapped her arms around Logan tightly so that their bodies became one, "You won't. You can't. I promise."

"Are you sure?" Logan asked the doubt obvious in his voice.

Laughing at her overly protective husband, Max grabbed his face and kissed him with all the passion and love that she felt. Finally parting from lack of air from both sides, Max let her lips brush against Logan's as she assured him, "I'm positive."

With all the reassurance that he needed, Logan wrapped his arms around his wife and made them one.

-----------

"How are my girls this morning?" Logan asked coming up from behind Max and wrapping his arms around her.

"Afternoon, late afternoon." Max corrected.

"Really?" Logan asked surprised, "I didn't even notice."

"You were really busy."

Rubbing his hand over her swollen belly, Logan kissed her shoulder softly, "So how are my girls?"

"Active," Max sighed rubbing her back, "very active. I think that they're doing some kick boxing this morning."

Smiling sympathetically at his wife, Logan led her to the couch and sat her down and began massaging her shoulders, "What can I do to help?"

Relaxing and letting Logan's fingers do their magic, Max rubbed her stomach slowly, "For one, don't stop."

Laughing, Logan kissed the top of Max's head quickly, "All right. What else?"

"Hmm...could you finish wrapping Zoë's birthday present? I told Bling and Cindy that we would meet them at the restaurant in an hour. They're going to pick up the balloons." Max sighed at Logan worked out an annoying knot.

"Wrapping a present, I can handle that. Have you decided what dress you're going to wear yet?"

Groaning, Max shook her head, "No, I still need to decided. If Zoë weren't such a good friend, I think that I would just show up in a t-shirt and some shorts."

"Oh please." Logan scoffed in an Original Cindy sort of way, "Admit it Max. You enjoy getting dressed up. I saw the way your face lit up last week when I suggested that we go shopping to find you some more maternity clothes."

"What?" Max asked her blush betraying her, "I was just happy to be able to find some more comfortable clothes. It's not my fault I'm the size of a blimp."

"Really?" Logan asked sitting down next to his wife and massaging her soft hands, "Than who's fault is it?"

"Yours." Max shot back smiling, "Because if my memory serves me correctly, you were the one on top."

Not thrown off by her remark, Logan only smirked back at her and tangled their fingers, "Are you sure? 'Cause I distinctly remember you being on top Max."

Sticking her tongue out playfully, Max was shocked to feel Logan suddenly kissing her. The shock wearing off quickly, Max encircled her arms around Logan. Ultimately pushing him back on the couch so that she lay onto of him. Pulling away a fraction of an inch, Max smiled down at her flushed husband, "Maybe you're right Logan. Maybe I was the one on top."

Laughing, Logan lay there and studied his glowing wife. "You know us Max. If we don't move now, we're not going to make it to the party."

"We could be fashionably late." Max offered knowing very well that they would miss the whole thing.

"Arriving while the other guests are leaving doesn't really fall under 'fashionably late.'" Logan chuckled running his hands through Max's growing hair, "Anyway...we're in charge of picking up the guest of honor Max."

"All right, all right." Max sighed getting off of Logan. Rising to her feet, she smiled down at her grinning husband, "Well, I'm going to go and take a shower. Know anyone who'd like to join me?"

Raising an interested eyebrow, Logan sat up and smiled, "As tempting as that sounds, I think that separate showers would be a better idea."

"Perhaps," Max said smiling down at Logan, "but I think that I'm going to need some help Logan. With the soap and everything. I have a hard time reaching my lower back and my legs too."

Standing up so that he was facing her, Logan ran a finger down Max's arm, "Are you trying to seduce me Mrs. Cale?"

Giving him a 100 watt grin, Max tilted her head to the side, "Absolutely."

"Good." Logan said leading his laughing wife to their bathroom.

----------

Pacing the living room waiting for Max, Logan played with his tie. Max had decided that he should wear his black suit, white shirt and bright red tie. Something about his attire complementing hers. Running his hands through his still damp hair, Logan glanced at the clock nervously. He and Max had managed to get distracted in the shower and now it seemed that they were going to be late after all.

"Come on Max!" Logan yelled to the closed door, "We are going to be late if you're not ready in five minutes."

"Keep your pants on!" Max called back laughing, "I'm almost done."

"You're not wearing sweats are you?"

"No!" Max yelled back as she shuffled though the bedroom, "I was tempted but no."

"There's a dress code Max." Logan said, "And they won't let you in if..."

"If what?" Max asked finally emerging from the bedroom wearing a stunning red dress. A dress with two fine straps, a tight tube-like first half and a just as snug bottom half. With just enough material and glitter to make Max glow. It didn't matter that she was 6 months pregnant, because she was still a knock out.

"Holy shit," were the first words out of Logan's mouth, "no...I mean...WOW!"

Fixing his crooked tie, Max smiled at her husband, "You really know how to flatter a girl Logan, you know that?"

"You're beautiful," Logan declared softly as he leaned down to kiss Max, "and my wife."

"You're not that bad either." Max laughed grabbing her wrap and leading Logan to the door, "Come on, lets go get the birthday girl and get to this party."

----------

"Where are they?" Original Cindy asked impatiently pacing the slowly filling room.

Watching her pace the floor like a madwoman, Bling sat back and enjoyed his champagne, "Will you relax? Most of the guests are here already and everything's set-up."

"Yeah, but we're still missing the guest of honor!" Original Cindy shot back.

"Logan and Max will pick her up and then bring Zoë here. Don't worry so much." Bling sighed handing her a beer, "Here, have this and relax."

Plopping down into the seat next to him, Cindy took a nice long sip. Watching the other guests mingle and laugh, Cindy tried to find some of her own friends, "Do you see Kendra anywhere?"

"She's on the dance floor with Walter." Bling laughed pointing to the odd couple, "I still don't get that relationship...but hey, whatever floats her boat."

Rolling her eyes, Original Cindy easily spotted Herbal and Sketchy. Scanning over the people that she didn't know, Cindy focused on the banner hanging: 'Happy Birthday Zoë.'

Hearing Cindy laugh, Bling nudged her lightly, "What's so funny?"

"Do you realize that less than 5 months ago we hated this woman?" Original Cindy asked, "And now we are at her birthday party? Hell! We helped plan this party."

"Yeah." Bling said nodding agreement, "I remember. I guess that she's not evil after all."

"I suppose not. Original Cindy has noticed that she and Max are becoming good friends."

"Jealous?" Bling asked smiling smugly.

Raising an interested eyebrow, Cindy gave Bling her best intimidating look, "Excuse me?"

"I asked if you were jealous of the growing friendship between Max and Zoë."

"Of course not!"

"Are you sure?" Bling asked calmly.

Raising her head, Original Cindy nodded, "Positive."

Watching her, Bling rolled his eyes and chuckled, "Liar."

Her shoulders slumping in defeat, Original Cindy shrugged it off, "Well maybe a little bit."

"You're crazy. You and Max are best friends."

"I know," she sighed, "it's just that I don't see her as much as Zoë does."

"You do realize that Zoë is her doctor right? That the majority of time that Max spends with Zoë is under a doctor/patient thing," Bling stated, "And the time that she spends with you is under a friend/boo thing."

Smiling at Bling, Original Cindy patted his shoulder, "Thanks Bling."

"No problem."

"But don't say boo." she laughed just as Bling's cell phone went off.

Rolling his eyes at her again, Bling flipped on his phone, "Hello?...Hey Max...yeah we're ready...ah huh, we got the balloons...Where are you guys right now?...In the lobby? Where's Zoë?...oh, okay...yeah...she's coming?...okay, sure...I'll tell them...Yeah...Five minutes...bye."

"What was that?" Original Cindy asked as she follow Bling up to the stage.

"That was Max calling. She and Logan are in the lobby. Zoë went to the restroom to freshen up. She thinks that they're waiting on a table." Bling said as he made his way quickly to the band and flipped on the microphone, "Hey guests. The birthday girl is going to be here any minute. The lights will go off soon and we'll wait for her to come in. The moment the door opens and the lights come on we'll all yell 'surprise!'"

The crowd of 22 murmured in excitement and waited among their own little groups.

----------

"I really want to thank you two again," Zoë said as the waiter led them through the restaurant, "I mean, for treating me to dinner and everything."

"You're our friend," Logan said patting her shoulder, "and that's what friends do for birthdays."

"Exactly." Max said grinning like a loon.

Zoë was to excited to notice that the waiter had led them to the far side of the restaurants. Where all the private rooms were. "Here we are." The waiter said stopping at the doors.

It then dawned on Zoë that something wasn't right, but she didn't have anytime to dwell on it. The moment the waiter open the door, Max and Logan led her into the dark room. Sudden bright light flood the room and a group of people yelled, "Surprise!"

"Oh my god!" Zoë laughed when it all fell into place. In the room where a group of her friends and co-workers. Turning to Max and Logan, Zoë was at a loss for words, "You two didn't."

"We did," Max laughed, "with the help of Original Cindy and Bling."

"Thank you." Zoë said throwing her arms around Max and Logan, "So much...you don't know how much this means to me."

"No problem." Logan laughed gently nudging Zoë to Original Cindy and Bling.

Teary, Zoë threw her arms around Bling and Original Cindy, "And you two! How could you not tell me? I had lunch with the two of you just last week."

"See I don't have a medical degree...but wouldn't that defeat the purpose? To tell you about your surprise party?" Original Cindy asked laughing.

Blushing, Zoë let her eyes soak in the room. There were balloons, and a banner handing on the far wall. "Thank you guys...really. Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before."

"No crying," Bling laughed, "not yet anyway. Come on, you've still got 21 other guests to see."

Watching Bling led Zoë off, Max stood between Original Cindy and Logan, "I don't know about you two, but I feel pretty damn good about myself right now."

Smiling, Original Cindy had to agree, "Ditto on my account boo."

"Ditto?" Max and Logan asked in unison.

Feeling her own blush rise, Original Cindy composed herself, "Oh hey, I think that Kendra needs me."

Watching Original Cindy rush away, Max leaned back against Logan, "We did a good thing today Logan."

"Yeah...we did. Would you like to dance Mrs. Cale?"

Her eyes shinning, Max took Logan's out stretched are, "I was beginning to worry that you were never going to ask."

Laughing, Logan led his beautiful wife onto the dance floor.

-----------

As the party drew on, Zoë found herself finally getting a moment alone. Sitting down, she watched as her friends danced and joked around. Logan and Max were dancing, Kendra and Walter were feeding each other, Original Cindy and Bling were flirting with the same girl, and poor Sketchy seemed ready to fall over he was so drunk. Laughing, she couldn't believe that her friends had gone through all of this for her. Nobody had ever been this nice to her. Blinking away the sudden tears, Zoë stood up and smoothed over the invisible wrinkles in her dress.

"I though that you were suppose to be happy at your own birthday party." came a distinct deep voice.

Turning around in surprise, Zoë found herself looking at a very different Zach. He was still the arrogant jerk that she'd met at the wedding, but he seemed different somehow. 'Maybe it was that suit,' Zoë though briefly, 'he looks good...' Stopping that train of though, Zoë calmly approached Zach, "What are you doing here?"

"Hi to you too doc." Zach said shifting from foot to foot.

Crossing her arms defensively, Zoë quickly gave Zach a once over. 'He does look good...' her mind whispered. Shaking her head to clear it, Zoë shrugged, "I'm just surprised to see you here at my birthday party."

"Yeah..." Zach mumbled shifting from foot to foot, "Max and I talked and she told me about this."

"Uh huh."

"So...yeah. Happy birthday." Zach blurted out shoving Zoë a package.

Taking the gift, Zoë looked up at Zach astonished, "You got me a present? That's so sweet of you."

Shifting uncomfortably under her gaze, Zach merely shrugged his shoulders, "It's no big deal. It's what you're suppose to do at these things...right?"

"Right," Zoë said sniffing her nose, "thanks Zach."

"Well aren't you going to open it?" he asked impatiently.

Smiling, Zoë slowly tore away the wrapping paper to find an odd shaped box. Looking at Zach curiously, Zoë pulled the lid off. Gasping in surprise, Zoë acted on instinct and threw her arms around Zach.

"What the..." Zach yelled when Zoë threw her arms around him and caught him in a hug.

"Thank you Zach," she whispered effectively cutting him off, "I really like it."

To his own surprise, Zach didn't pull away. He actually brought his own arms around her and held her against him. "It's nothing really. I only got you a silly charm."

"But I love it."

"I'm glad." Zach said softly.

Both were two caught up in their own worlds to notice the curious glances. The questioning ones and the very amused ones.

"Well, well," Max chuckled, "what do we have here?"

Following her amused gaze, Logan was surprised to see Zoë hugging Zach, "I'm thinking that hell just froze over." he laughed.

Hitting his arm playfully, Max looked up at Logan and smiled, "I think that 'phony sentiments' remark is about to come back and bite Zach in the ass."

"And not a moment to late." Logan laughed pulling his wife closer against him.

`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`

Ehhh! I'm evil for stopping here I know!! WELL? Did you like? Were you shocked by the whole Zach and Zoë thing?!?!?! *I gotta lay off the coffee I know* ;) Whoo...I know, I know, this ain't realistic BUT if you hadn't noticed, I really do prefer my own little fantasy to reality! Until LaTeR!! pLeAsE rEvIeW!!!

-Lucy