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For those of you who thought it was finished.. Sorry, but we have a few more chapters to go.
I was excited to find out that even Germans read this fic and that the first German DA fic has been posted on ff.net. It's so good to know that I'm not the only one crazy enough..
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Chapter 13: New Year's Eve
Back at home, the four of them were all lounging in the living room, using the last hours before the New Year's Eve party to relax. Sarah and Steven were reading the newspapers they had missed while at the shore. Logan had laid down, his head in Max' lap. Both were talking about what they'd have to do tomorrow before going on the plane and returning but none of them really seemed to care. It wasn't about talking right now, it was only about being together, about cuddling on the couch.
Eventually Max said, "Sorry, Logan, but I've got to get dressed."
He smiled, "Now? We won't have to leave until 7 o'clock."
"Yep. It'll take some time." Max grinned and kissed him on the cheek.
Sarah asked, "Do you need any help?"
"Oh yes, please."
Logan sighed as he sat up to let Max stand up. She already missed his touch and didn't want to go. Looking at him she could see he was feeling the same way, so she stepped back to him and hugged him before she followed Sarah out of the room.
When Max and Sarah had disappeared Logan and Steven were left alone. "You're looking forward to the party?" Steven wanted to know.
"Yeah, but I'm a little nervous. This party is the last thing we'll do here, cause we've got to go back tomorrow and it'll be difficult enough to continue there what we've started here. Won't help much if tonight turns out to be a disaster."
"I got the impression that Max will survive any disaster. She seems pretty easygoing."
"I know, but I want this evening one to be really memorable for her. We're going to meet the people we got to know when we were on the run from Marie. They're really nice."
"Don't you think you'll have fun?"
Logan hesitated then smiled, "Yeah, I think it'll be fun. But it's still our last evening here."
"In Seattle there's nothing you're looking forward to?"
Logan shrugged. "Nothing that's important. I'm looking forward to my car and my bathroom and to some other things in my apartment I've gotten used to. I know that Max is missing her friends and is looking forward to meet them, but I'm a little worried what this thing with us will be like when we can't be together 24 hours a day. We'll both have to go back to work, Max'll go back to her own apartment, and I'm sure she's not going to give it up to stay over at my place."
Steven smiled, "You're talking as if you've never had a relationship before."
Logan stared at his knees and slowly looked back at Steven. "Yeah, maybe. That's exactly how it feels. Everything's so new and special with Max. You know, the grass is a little more green, the snow a little more white and the sky a little more blue, just because she's there."
"Yeah, I know. But it will be like that wherever you are. Just make her happy and it'll last."
Max and Sarah had gone to the large bedroom where there were big mirrors and enough space to whirl around. They talked about makeup and hairstyling, then Sarah asked Max to sit down in front of a mirror so she could lift her hair to show what she could do with it. When she held it up to turn it into a knot she discovered something.
"What's this on your neck?" Max's blood rushed from her face and she turned pale. The barcode. She had hidden it under some makeup this morning but it seemed to shine through. Breathing deeply she slowly said, "Oh, yeah ...it's a tattoo." She hated lying to Sarah but the truth definitely wasn't an option here. "I got it when I was in this crazy teenage rebellion stage." Max sighed quietly when she finished. That was the worst story she'd ever heard. She was lying to this nice lady even though she would really preferred to tell her the truth. But that decision was up to Logan.
Sarah nodded, "We all have these phases. But maybe we should try something that allows us to leave some strands loose?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Are you going to take another shower? You could wash your hair so it'd be easier to style it." "I can do that."
When she returned and Sarah did what she had had in mind, Max looked very pleased.
"I like it."
"Me too. So what about your makeup? You're going to wear the black dress we bought, aren't you?"
"Yes." Both were so focused on getting Max ready to go that they totally lost track of the time.
When Logan had finished taking a shower and had put on his clothes it was almost time to leave and so he wheeled to the bedroom to see what Sarah and Max had been doing all the time. He found both of them standing in front of the mirror, Max standing with her back to him and Sarah hiding her reflection in the mirror by standing in front of her.
"Looks like we have a visitor," Sarah said and smiled. "But I think you're ready to go."
"Thanks, Sarah," Max said.
She nodded. "No problem." And she slowly left the room through the door leading to the bathroom.
When Max turned around and Logan finally saw her, he felt his heart stop beating and his lungs stop taking in air. He had never seen anyone more beautiful than Max at this very moment. It took him some time to realize what made her so beautiful. She wore her hair up and a little curlier than usual, she had put on some makeup, just enough to draw attention to her beautiful face without looking painted, and she was wearing this terrific dress, but that wasn't it. What made her look so beautiful to him was this look in her eyes, this look that was directed at him and that told him that she was truly happy. Max had seen the same look in Logan's eyes, and was thinking almost the same thought about him. It wasn't his clothes that made him look so good but the way he looked at her.
She was the first to find her voice again. "I never knew what this 'inner beauty' thing was about until right now. You look great."
"Back at you. Are you ready to go?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
When they arrived at the hotel the others were already waiting for them. Michael waved at them to show them where their table was and when they had fought their way through all the people standing around, they were greeted by everyone.
Jillian had been very quiet for a few minutes before she asked, "Didn't you tell us something about Max not being your girlfriend, Logan?"
He smiled and took Max's hand in his. "Well, there was this trap with the mistletoe that made us finally talk about some things."
Max smiled at him and nodded when he continued. "Thanks to you guys for that."
Charles and Joe grinned. Michael laughed and said, "Always glad to help."
It didn't take long until the dinner was served and since Max had known Logan long enough to be the willing recipient of many of his culinary miracles, she found herself expert enough to judge that the food was really good.
"So how long are you staying here?" Max asked.
Joe answered, "Another week before we have to go back. What about you?"
"Going back tomorrow."
"Back to depression, corruption, and police brutality?" Charles asked rhetorically.
"You don't talk like somebody who wants to go back at all," Logan answered, and Charles nodded.
"Geena and I have talked a lot about staying here. Life's so much better and easier."
"I agree on easier, but better? Don't you think it would be boring to stay here all the time?" Max asked.
Geena shrugged. "I don't think if it's the task to get enough food and get home without being shot that makes your life interesting that it's reason enough to stay there."
Logan asked, "And have you decided yet? Whether to stay here or go back?"
Charles shook his head. "No, not yet."
It was Michael's responsibility to end that particular topic of conversation. "Hello, guys!? This is supposed to be an evening to enjoy, so stop talking about that depressing stuff."
Everybody nodded and there was a moment of silence before Joe asked, "Does anybody know what's for dessert?"
"No idea, but I'm willing to wait to find out." Michael said.
They continued talking about more enjoyable topics, had dessert, and finally got in more of a partying spirit.
It was Michael who stood up, walked around the table and asked Max, "You wanna dance?"
Max looked at Logan and as he simply smiled she nodded. "Sure. But I've got to warn you, I'm not a good dancer."
"We'll see," Michael answered and waited for Max to follow him. She kissed Logan on the cheek and joined Michael on the dance floor. She soon realized that he was one of those guys who actually knew how to dance and who guided her well.
Logan watched Max and Michael dance together. It was obvious that they moved together perfectly and, of course, he could feel the envy creeping up his spine. Max must have known, because she looked over at him and smiled at that very moment. He smiled back and knew that he was fine with it. He couldn't dance - so what? A lot of other men couldn't dance either. Maybe not because of a spinal cord injury but because of the lack of feeling for music or movements. Remembering the dance he'd shared with Max in that dream he smiled. Not at Max this time, just to himself.
Geena was again the one to recognize the look on his face. "You look happy," she told him, and Logan nodded.
"I am. Believe me, I am. What about you? How long have you and Charles been together?"
"About two years. Why do you ask?"
"I don't understand why you're considering leaving the States. You are young and should be happy together, so why escape? It's a little too easy, isn't it?"
"I always lived my life the easy way. I had a very easy childhood and loving and caring parents. Money has never been a problem.."
"..and still you feel as if there's something missing," Logan finished, as he remembered what he had told Max on Christmas Eve about people being lucky. Geena was one of those who should be happy, but still she wasn't.
He looked over to Max and noticed that she was now dancing with Joe. Michael came back to the table and sat down, reaching for his glass of water, then turned to Logan.
"You should keep her, 'cause otherwise I might want her for myself."
Logan smiled. "No chance. It took me so long, I won't let her go again. You're not seeing anybody?"
"Not really, nothing steady. I go out and have dates but I haven't met the girl that's the right one for me. How did you and Max meet?"
Logan chuckled. "She tried to rob me. Broke into my apartment."
Michael looked surprised. "You're kidding me."
Logan grinned. "No way. It's the truth, I swear. We met and there were sparks flying through the air. I have never met anyone who impressed me the way Max did right from the start."
"How long ago was that?"
"About a year."
"What took you so long?"
Logan shrugged. "We both had to deal with a lot of issues. I got my spine shot out and she had to face some demons from her past. The usual stuff."
"Doesn't sound that usual to me."
Max came back that moment and as her chair was occupied by Michael she sat down on Logan's lap. "Hey!"
"Hey yourself! Didn't know you were such a good dancer."
"I'm not."
"She is," Michael interrupted, and made Max smile.
"That's just because of you. He's the good dancer," she said to Logan and he smiled and kissed her quickly.
"Maybe, but you're the one looking gorgeous and that's the main job of the female dancer, isn't it?"
"Sure. No brains, just looks. I'm good at that." She laughed and Logan hugged her. She's mine, he thought happily.
Geena and Charles returned from the dance floor and it was Charles's turn to ask Max for the next dance, but she refused. "Sorry, but I need to find the restroom first. I've been dancing for quite some time and I'm afraid the wine has made its way through me."
Grinning, she stood up and left the room. When she found the restrooms she couldn't help but overhear some women as they gossiped. She couldn't see the two women but they had to be standing in front of the mirror and redoing their make-up.
"Did you see the woman in the black dress?"
"The one who's too gorgeous to be real?"
"Yeah. Can you believe she's here with the guy in the wheelchair?"
Max stopped breathing and continued listening.
"Not at all. I talked with Jason about it and he's sure she's just after his money or something. He said it's a waste of her beauty."
"Even though he's not looking bad himself."
"You're not lying, but he's in a wheelchair!" one of them cried out and the other one seemed to agree that there was no way either of them could ever fall in love with a guy who was paralyzed.
Max wasn't sure if it'd be better to show herself and kick their asses outright, or just to let it slide. She decided on a compromise; she'd let it slide for now but kept the idea of revenge in the back of her mind.
When the women had left the room, Max left the stall, washed her hands, and returned to the table.
They continued talking and dancing and midnight came faster than anybody had expected. When they were counting down the last seconds, Max sat on Logan's lap and handed him a glass of champagne. He smiled at her, and when they reached "zero" he leaned forward to kiss her. He had a feeling this was going to be a much better year than the one before, and if not - it had definitely started better, at the very least.
Max responded to his kiss and smiled. This was what every New Year from now on should start with - a kiss from Logan. She laughed at herself for turning one kiss into a lifetime commitment, but deep in her heart she knew it was true. Not only did she want every year to start with a kiss from him, but every day.
Logan smiled back at her when he ended the kiss and turned to the others. "Happy New Year, everybody!"
They all wished each other a happy New Year and finally drank the champagne. Afterwards they went out to see the fireworks and after about half an hour returned, freezing cold.
The band had started playing again and as a lot of people had already gone home, there was plenty of space on the dance floor. A lot of younger people had taken the opportunity to dance more "club-style," dancing by themselves and not the more formal ballroom dancing it had been all evening, when there were only pairs on the dance floor.
Max had joined the conversation at the table when she heard a slow love song start to be played. She stood up from the chair she had been sitting on, went over to Logan and bent down to whisper in his ear.
"I wanna dance with you."
Logan looked up, surprised. She seemed to be serious. He didn't know what to say, except what he had told her some time ago. "I can't."
She smiled and remembered. Joining in she said, "I know you can. Mind over matter."
He couldn't help but start giggling when he continued, "See, my problem is I can't walk."
"I'm not asking you to walk. Just dance."
Still smiling he said, "Sorry, but I'm afraid we have to leave out the part where I'm standing up."
She shrugged. "It's not Sibelius anyway," she replied, as she moved towards the dance floor, making sure he followed her. He did and stopped when she did. With a gesture he invited her to sit down on his lap and she happily acquiesced.
Logan decided he was lucky she hadn't decided to dance to a fast-paced song, and started to wheel them slowly around the floor. Max put her arms around his neck and laid her head against his shoulder. She had danced a lot this evening but it had never been like this. Everything was special with Logan and this felt like the way dancing was meant to be.
Neither of them cared about the other people on the floor, and the many odd looks they were receiving; they were much too engrossed in each other to even notice.
They stayed on the dance floor even when the song was over and another one, very romantic but a little faster, began. Logan remembered the song. Crazy for this girl. Yeah, that's exactly what it was all about. He was crazy for her. Looking into each other's eyes, they stayed in a world of their own until somebody roughly bumped against the wheelchair.
Max first looked up, and then stood up when she realized that the couple had not done it by accident. At least not from the way they were looking at the two of them.
"Maybe you could sit around somewhere else?" the man asked.
When the girl added, "Yeah, you were in our way," Max recognized her voice. She was one of those she had heard in the restroom.
"Oh, really? I'm so sorry about that, but I think that we're allowed to sit wherever the hell we want to. It's pretty easy to just go around us. That's what the guy's job is out here.. But maybe that's too much for you."
"Jason, we don't have to listen to that, do we?" the woman said and Max smiled. Jason.
"Not from them, that's for sure," Jason answered and Max had to inhale deeply not to fly off the handle.
She felt Logan taking her hand and looked down at him. "Let it go, Max. It's okay," he said, trying in vain to calm her down.
"Not this time," she replied, and turned back to Jason and his friend.
"So tell me, what's 'not from them' supposed to mean?"
Jason laughed. "Come on girl, just look at yourself. It's obvious that you're playing games. Why don't you come and join us? There's a friend of mine I want to introduce you to "
"No, thanks. Just imagining that he's only half the asshole you are makes me want to throw up," Max said with the biggest fake smile she could produce.
Jason's girlfriend piped up angrily. "She just called you an a.."
"I know, babe, I heard it too." He grabbed Max's arm, and Logan had to say something.
"Is that your style? Hitting women?"
"Well, if you want to go first, that's fine with me," Jason sneered, and released his grip on Max. He raised his foot as though to kick Logan, but Max was faster and startled him by taking his wrist.
"I think it's time you go home," she said, then had to turn away when she smelled his breath. He had definitely had one too many beers that night.
"I don't think so!" he growled, and forgot his manners as he struggled against Max's grip and threw a punch at her with the other hand.. Needless to say, he never had a chance. Before he even realized what was happening to him, he found himself lying in front of one of the tables.
"Lucy," he groaned, and his girlfriend ran to him. "Jason! Jason! Are you okay, honey?"
Max crouched down next to him and said in a lowered voice so Logan wouldn't hear her, "I'm sure he will be okay. And the next time, both of you better think what love's all about. It's not money. And Lucy, you better be careful what you say when you think nobody's listening." She turned her back on them and went to Logan who had been watching the scene.
"What happened to you?" he asked. "It usually takes a lot more than that to get you worked up."
"Sorry, but I had met Lucy before and had been waiting to kick her ass. But getting two for the price of one was fine with me, too."
Logan wondered what had happened with Lucy but Max obviously wasn't ready to tell him.
The music that had stopped when Max had kicked Jason across the room, started again, and once again it was a slow song.
"May I have this dance?" Logan asked, trying to forget what had just happened.
Max nodded. "Of course," and sat down again.
When she leaned against his shoulder, Logan stopped moving and embraced her, his mind still whirling with the events of a few moments earlier.
"What was it all about, Max?"
"Forget about it, Logan."
"I can't. I know it's got something to do with me. And we should take this New Year as a chance to stop hiding things from each other, okay?"
Max hesitated. That was much easier said than done. But of course he was right. What she had heard in the restroom bothered her, and why shouldn't she tell him?
"Okay. I...when I went to the restroom I heard these two woman talking. Talking about us."
Logan had an idea of what he was about to hear, and he nodded. "Go ahead."
"They were saying that the only reason I was here with you was your money and that dating you was a waste." "And that made you angry?"
Max wondered how he could stay so calm when she was seething with anger.. "Should it not?"
"Not necessarily. But it's nice you did, proves to me that it's not like that," he started, but continued before she could reply. "Max, if you're going to stay with me, this won't be the last time you'll hear comments like those. You can't kick every moron's ass, can you?"
She thought about it for a short moment, then smiled at him. "I once told you, you couldn't right every wrong and you told me you've got to at least try. Changed your mind?"
Logan couldn't believe what he was hearing and started laughing. Trust Max to remember everything you've ever said, he thought to himself. Max joined his laughter and only stopped when he said, "Okay, I give up. You're right. Try to right every wrong."
"Thanks, I will."
He caressed her cheeks lovingly and pulled her close for a deep kiss.
"Do you think we should go home?" he asked with a wicked grin Max had never seen before. She wondered if he had in mind what she was thinking. The days at the coast had been wonderful but on the intimacy issue they were still in the same place they had been before going there. Was he willing to change that tonight?
Max shrugged and thought to herself, hell, it's worth a try. She had nothing to lose.
They said good-bye to Michael, Geena, Charles, Jillian and Joe and went out.
Logan asked for a cab at the reception desk but the man just shook his head. "No chance tonight, sorry. Everybody wants to go home right now."
Max smiled. "So we'll have another walk. That's fine with me."
Logan smiled back. "Me too."
For those of you who thought it was finished.. Sorry, but we have a few more chapters to go.
I was excited to find out that even Germans read this fic and that the first German DA fic has been posted on ff.net. It's so good to know that I'm not the only one crazy enough..
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Chapter 13: New Year's Eve
Back at home, the four of them were all lounging in the living room, using the last hours before the New Year's Eve party to relax. Sarah and Steven were reading the newspapers they had missed while at the shore. Logan had laid down, his head in Max' lap. Both were talking about what they'd have to do tomorrow before going on the plane and returning but none of them really seemed to care. It wasn't about talking right now, it was only about being together, about cuddling on the couch.
Eventually Max said, "Sorry, Logan, but I've got to get dressed."
He smiled, "Now? We won't have to leave until 7 o'clock."
"Yep. It'll take some time." Max grinned and kissed him on the cheek.
Sarah asked, "Do you need any help?"
"Oh yes, please."
Logan sighed as he sat up to let Max stand up. She already missed his touch and didn't want to go. Looking at him she could see he was feeling the same way, so she stepped back to him and hugged him before she followed Sarah out of the room.
When Max and Sarah had disappeared Logan and Steven were left alone. "You're looking forward to the party?" Steven wanted to know.
"Yeah, but I'm a little nervous. This party is the last thing we'll do here, cause we've got to go back tomorrow and it'll be difficult enough to continue there what we've started here. Won't help much if tonight turns out to be a disaster."
"I got the impression that Max will survive any disaster. She seems pretty easygoing."
"I know, but I want this evening one to be really memorable for her. We're going to meet the people we got to know when we were on the run from Marie. They're really nice."
"Don't you think you'll have fun?"
Logan hesitated then smiled, "Yeah, I think it'll be fun. But it's still our last evening here."
"In Seattle there's nothing you're looking forward to?"
Logan shrugged. "Nothing that's important. I'm looking forward to my car and my bathroom and to some other things in my apartment I've gotten used to. I know that Max is missing her friends and is looking forward to meet them, but I'm a little worried what this thing with us will be like when we can't be together 24 hours a day. We'll both have to go back to work, Max'll go back to her own apartment, and I'm sure she's not going to give it up to stay over at my place."
Steven smiled, "You're talking as if you've never had a relationship before."
Logan stared at his knees and slowly looked back at Steven. "Yeah, maybe. That's exactly how it feels. Everything's so new and special with Max. You know, the grass is a little more green, the snow a little more white and the sky a little more blue, just because she's there."
"Yeah, I know. But it will be like that wherever you are. Just make her happy and it'll last."
Max and Sarah had gone to the large bedroom where there were big mirrors and enough space to whirl around. They talked about makeup and hairstyling, then Sarah asked Max to sit down in front of a mirror so she could lift her hair to show what she could do with it. When she held it up to turn it into a knot she discovered something.
"What's this on your neck?" Max's blood rushed from her face and she turned pale. The barcode. She had hidden it under some makeup this morning but it seemed to shine through. Breathing deeply she slowly said, "Oh, yeah ...it's a tattoo." She hated lying to Sarah but the truth definitely wasn't an option here. "I got it when I was in this crazy teenage rebellion stage." Max sighed quietly when she finished. That was the worst story she'd ever heard. She was lying to this nice lady even though she would really preferred to tell her the truth. But that decision was up to Logan.
Sarah nodded, "We all have these phases. But maybe we should try something that allows us to leave some strands loose?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Are you going to take another shower? You could wash your hair so it'd be easier to style it." "I can do that."
When she returned and Sarah did what she had had in mind, Max looked very pleased.
"I like it."
"Me too. So what about your makeup? You're going to wear the black dress we bought, aren't you?"
"Yes." Both were so focused on getting Max ready to go that they totally lost track of the time.
When Logan had finished taking a shower and had put on his clothes it was almost time to leave and so he wheeled to the bedroom to see what Sarah and Max had been doing all the time. He found both of them standing in front of the mirror, Max standing with her back to him and Sarah hiding her reflection in the mirror by standing in front of her.
"Looks like we have a visitor," Sarah said and smiled. "But I think you're ready to go."
"Thanks, Sarah," Max said.
She nodded. "No problem." And she slowly left the room through the door leading to the bathroom.
When Max turned around and Logan finally saw her, he felt his heart stop beating and his lungs stop taking in air. He had never seen anyone more beautiful than Max at this very moment. It took him some time to realize what made her so beautiful. She wore her hair up and a little curlier than usual, she had put on some makeup, just enough to draw attention to her beautiful face without looking painted, and she was wearing this terrific dress, but that wasn't it. What made her look so beautiful to him was this look in her eyes, this look that was directed at him and that told him that she was truly happy. Max had seen the same look in Logan's eyes, and was thinking almost the same thought about him. It wasn't his clothes that made him look so good but the way he looked at her.
She was the first to find her voice again. "I never knew what this 'inner beauty' thing was about until right now. You look great."
"Back at you. Are you ready to go?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
When they arrived at the hotel the others were already waiting for them. Michael waved at them to show them where their table was and when they had fought their way through all the people standing around, they were greeted by everyone.
Jillian had been very quiet for a few minutes before she asked, "Didn't you tell us something about Max not being your girlfriend, Logan?"
He smiled and took Max's hand in his. "Well, there was this trap with the mistletoe that made us finally talk about some things."
Max smiled at him and nodded when he continued. "Thanks to you guys for that."
Charles and Joe grinned. Michael laughed and said, "Always glad to help."
It didn't take long until the dinner was served and since Max had known Logan long enough to be the willing recipient of many of his culinary miracles, she found herself expert enough to judge that the food was really good.
"So how long are you staying here?" Max asked.
Joe answered, "Another week before we have to go back. What about you?"
"Going back tomorrow."
"Back to depression, corruption, and police brutality?" Charles asked rhetorically.
"You don't talk like somebody who wants to go back at all," Logan answered, and Charles nodded.
"Geena and I have talked a lot about staying here. Life's so much better and easier."
"I agree on easier, but better? Don't you think it would be boring to stay here all the time?" Max asked.
Geena shrugged. "I don't think if it's the task to get enough food and get home without being shot that makes your life interesting that it's reason enough to stay there."
Logan asked, "And have you decided yet? Whether to stay here or go back?"
Charles shook his head. "No, not yet."
It was Michael's responsibility to end that particular topic of conversation. "Hello, guys!? This is supposed to be an evening to enjoy, so stop talking about that depressing stuff."
Everybody nodded and there was a moment of silence before Joe asked, "Does anybody know what's for dessert?"
"No idea, but I'm willing to wait to find out." Michael said.
They continued talking about more enjoyable topics, had dessert, and finally got in more of a partying spirit.
It was Michael who stood up, walked around the table and asked Max, "You wanna dance?"
Max looked at Logan and as he simply smiled she nodded. "Sure. But I've got to warn you, I'm not a good dancer."
"We'll see," Michael answered and waited for Max to follow him. She kissed Logan on the cheek and joined Michael on the dance floor. She soon realized that he was one of those guys who actually knew how to dance and who guided her well.
Logan watched Max and Michael dance together. It was obvious that they moved together perfectly and, of course, he could feel the envy creeping up his spine. Max must have known, because she looked over at him and smiled at that very moment. He smiled back and knew that he was fine with it. He couldn't dance - so what? A lot of other men couldn't dance either. Maybe not because of a spinal cord injury but because of the lack of feeling for music or movements. Remembering the dance he'd shared with Max in that dream he smiled. Not at Max this time, just to himself.
Geena was again the one to recognize the look on his face. "You look happy," she told him, and Logan nodded.
"I am. Believe me, I am. What about you? How long have you and Charles been together?"
"About two years. Why do you ask?"
"I don't understand why you're considering leaving the States. You are young and should be happy together, so why escape? It's a little too easy, isn't it?"
"I always lived my life the easy way. I had a very easy childhood and loving and caring parents. Money has never been a problem.."
"..and still you feel as if there's something missing," Logan finished, as he remembered what he had told Max on Christmas Eve about people being lucky. Geena was one of those who should be happy, but still she wasn't.
He looked over to Max and noticed that she was now dancing with Joe. Michael came back to the table and sat down, reaching for his glass of water, then turned to Logan.
"You should keep her, 'cause otherwise I might want her for myself."
Logan smiled. "No chance. It took me so long, I won't let her go again. You're not seeing anybody?"
"Not really, nothing steady. I go out and have dates but I haven't met the girl that's the right one for me. How did you and Max meet?"
Logan chuckled. "She tried to rob me. Broke into my apartment."
Michael looked surprised. "You're kidding me."
Logan grinned. "No way. It's the truth, I swear. We met and there were sparks flying through the air. I have never met anyone who impressed me the way Max did right from the start."
"How long ago was that?"
"About a year."
"What took you so long?"
Logan shrugged. "We both had to deal with a lot of issues. I got my spine shot out and she had to face some demons from her past. The usual stuff."
"Doesn't sound that usual to me."
Max came back that moment and as her chair was occupied by Michael she sat down on Logan's lap. "Hey!"
"Hey yourself! Didn't know you were such a good dancer."
"I'm not."
"She is," Michael interrupted, and made Max smile.
"That's just because of you. He's the good dancer," she said to Logan and he smiled and kissed her quickly.
"Maybe, but you're the one looking gorgeous and that's the main job of the female dancer, isn't it?"
"Sure. No brains, just looks. I'm good at that." She laughed and Logan hugged her. She's mine, he thought happily.
Geena and Charles returned from the dance floor and it was Charles's turn to ask Max for the next dance, but she refused. "Sorry, but I need to find the restroom first. I've been dancing for quite some time and I'm afraid the wine has made its way through me."
Grinning, she stood up and left the room. When she found the restrooms she couldn't help but overhear some women as they gossiped. She couldn't see the two women but they had to be standing in front of the mirror and redoing their make-up.
"Did you see the woman in the black dress?"
"The one who's too gorgeous to be real?"
"Yeah. Can you believe she's here with the guy in the wheelchair?"
Max stopped breathing and continued listening.
"Not at all. I talked with Jason about it and he's sure she's just after his money or something. He said it's a waste of her beauty."
"Even though he's not looking bad himself."
"You're not lying, but he's in a wheelchair!" one of them cried out and the other one seemed to agree that there was no way either of them could ever fall in love with a guy who was paralyzed.
Max wasn't sure if it'd be better to show herself and kick their asses outright, or just to let it slide. She decided on a compromise; she'd let it slide for now but kept the idea of revenge in the back of her mind.
When the women had left the room, Max left the stall, washed her hands, and returned to the table.
They continued talking and dancing and midnight came faster than anybody had expected. When they were counting down the last seconds, Max sat on Logan's lap and handed him a glass of champagne. He smiled at her, and when they reached "zero" he leaned forward to kiss her. He had a feeling this was going to be a much better year than the one before, and if not - it had definitely started better, at the very least.
Max responded to his kiss and smiled. This was what every New Year from now on should start with - a kiss from Logan. She laughed at herself for turning one kiss into a lifetime commitment, but deep in her heart she knew it was true. Not only did she want every year to start with a kiss from him, but every day.
Logan smiled back at her when he ended the kiss and turned to the others. "Happy New Year, everybody!"
They all wished each other a happy New Year and finally drank the champagne. Afterwards they went out to see the fireworks and after about half an hour returned, freezing cold.
The band had started playing again and as a lot of people had already gone home, there was plenty of space on the dance floor. A lot of younger people had taken the opportunity to dance more "club-style," dancing by themselves and not the more formal ballroom dancing it had been all evening, when there were only pairs on the dance floor.
Max had joined the conversation at the table when she heard a slow love song start to be played. She stood up from the chair she had been sitting on, went over to Logan and bent down to whisper in his ear.
"I wanna dance with you."
Logan looked up, surprised. She seemed to be serious. He didn't know what to say, except what he had told her some time ago. "I can't."
She smiled and remembered. Joining in she said, "I know you can. Mind over matter."
He couldn't help but start giggling when he continued, "See, my problem is I can't walk."
"I'm not asking you to walk. Just dance."
Still smiling he said, "Sorry, but I'm afraid we have to leave out the part where I'm standing up."
She shrugged. "It's not Sibelius anyway," she replied, as she moved towards the dance floor, making sure he followed her. He did and stopped when she did. With a gesture he invited her to sit down on his lap and she happily acquiesced.
Logan decided he was lucky she hadn't decided to dance to a fast-paced song, and started to wheel them slowly around the floor. Max put her arms around his neck and laid her head against his shoulder. She had danced a lot this evening but it had never been like this. Everything was special with Logan and this felt like the way dancing was meant to be.
Neither of them cared about the other people on the floor, and the many odd looks they were receiving; they were much too engrossed in each other to even notice.
They stayed on the dance floor even when the song was over and another one, very romantic but a little faster, began. Logan remembered the song. Crazy for this girl. Yeah, that's exactly what it was all about. He was crazy for her. Looking into each other's eyes, they stayed in a world of their own until somebody roughly bumped against the wheelchair.
Max first looked up, and then stood up when she realized that the couple had not done it by accident. At least not from the way they were looking at the two of them.
"Maybe you could sit around somewhere else?" the man asked.
When the girl added, "Yeah, you were in our way," Max recognized her voice. She was one of those she had heard in the restroom.
"Oh, really? I'm so sorry about that, but I think that we're allowed to sit wherever the hell we want to. It's pretty easy to just go around us. That's what the guy's job is out here.. But maybe that's too much for you."
"Jason, we don't have to listen to that, do we?" the woman said and Max smiled. Jason.
"Not from them, that's for sure," Jason answered and Max had to inhale deeply not to fly off the handle.
She felt Logan taking her hand and looked down at him. "Let it go, Max. It's okay," he said, trying in vain to calm her down.
"Not this time," she replied, and turned back to Jason and his friend.
"So tell me, what's 'not from them' supposed to mean?"
Jason laughed. "Come on girl, just look at yourself. It's obvious that you're playing games. Why don't you come and join us? There's a friend of mine I want to introduce you to "
"No, thanks. Just imagining that he's only half the asshole you are makes me want to throw up," Max said with the biggest fake smile she could produce.
Jason's girlfriend piped up angrily. "She just called you an a.."
"I know, babe, I heard it too." He grabbed Max's arm, and Logan had to say something.
"Is that your style? Hitting women?"
"Well, if you want to go first, that's fine with me," Jason sneered, and released his grip on Max. He raised his foot as though to kick Logan, but Max was faster and startled him by taking his wrist.
"I think it's time you go home," she said, then had to turn away when she smelled his breath. He had definitely had one too many beers that night.
"I don't think so!" he growled, and forgot his manners as he struggled against Max's grip and threw a punch at her with the other hand.. Needless to say, he never had a chance. Before he even realized what was happening to him, he found himself lying in front of one of the tables.
"Lucy," he groaned, and his girlfriend ran to him. "Jason! Jason! Are you okay, honey?"
Max crouched down next to him and said in a lowered voice so Logan wouldn't hear her, "I'm sure he will be okay. And the next time, both of you better think what love's all about. It's not money. And Lucy, you better be careful what you say when you think nobody's listening." She turned her back on them and went to Logan who had been watching the scene.
"What happened to you?" he asked. "It usually takes a lot more than that to get you worked up."
"Sorry, but I had met Lucy before and had been waiting to kick her ass. But getting two for the price of one was fine with me, too."
Logan wondered what had happened with Lucy but Max obviously wasn't ready to tell him.
The music that had stopped when Max had kicked Jason across the room, started again, and once again it was a slow song.
"May I have this dance?" Logan asked, trying to forget what had just happened.
Max nodded. "Of course," and sat down again.
When she leaned against his shoulder, Logan stopped moving and embraced her, his mind still whirling with the events of a few moments earlier.
"What was it all about, Max?"
"Forget about it, Logan."
"I can't. I know it's got something to do with me. And we should take this New Year as a chance to stop hiding things from each other, okay?"
Max hesitated. That was much easier said than done. But of course he was right. What she had heard in the restroom bothered her, and why shouldn't she tell him?
"Okay. I...when I went to the restroom I heard these two woman talking. Talking about us."
Logan had an idea of what he was about to hear, and he nodded. "Go ahead."
"They were saying that the only reason I was here with you was your money and that dating you was a waste." "And that made you angry?"
Max wondered how he could stay so calm when she was seething with anger.. "Should it not?"
"Not necessarily. But it's nice you did, proves to me that it's not like that," he started, but continued before she could reply. "Max, if you're going to stay with me, this won't be the last time you'll hear comments like those. You can't kick every moron's ass, can you?"
She thought about it for a short moment, then smiled at him. "I once told you, you couldn't right every wrong and you told me you've got to at least try. Changed your mind?"
Logan couldn't believe what he was hearing and started laughing. Trust Max to remember everything you've ever said, he thought to himself. Max joined his laughter and only stopped when he said, "Okay, I give up. You're right. Try to right every wrong."
"Thanks, I will."
He caressed her cheeks lovingly and pulled her close for a deep kiss.
"Do you think we should go home?" he asked with a wicked grin Max had never seen before. She wondered if he had in mind what she was thinking. The days at the coast had been wonderful but on the intimacy issue they were still in the same place they had been before going there. Was he willing to change that tonight?
Max shrugged and thought to herself, hell, it's worth a try. She had nothing to lose.
They said good-bye to Michael, Geena, Charles, Jillian and Joe and went out.
Logan asked for a cab at the reception desk but the man just shook his head. "No chance tonight, sorry. Everybody wants to go home right now."
Max smiled. "So we'll have another walk. That's fine with me."
Logan smiled back. "Me too."