Hey guys, I'm so sorry that I haven't been writing, school has been a real
bitch and with rehab and all, there hasn't been much time. Here's the
episode you've all been waiting for, Max and her ma finally meet for the
first time. Please review and let me know how I'm doing, remember that this
is a special treat for all the wonderful M/L shippers.
Logan placed Dylan securely in her car seat and got in the car, he put it in march and made his way to the hotel.
" Daddy?" Dylan's soft baby voice interrupted his thoughts.
" Yes baby?" He really liked to hear her calling him daddy. It was a wonderful feeling, much like when Max called him baby or honey or whatever fitted her mood.
" Is nana Angie comin' home wit' us?" Logan smiled at her innocence.
" I don't know baby, I don't know."
Meanwhile, back in the hotel suite Max and Cindy talked about the whole situation. Max was uneasy and nervous; she even threw up because of the strangling feeling in her stomach.
" I don't know if I can do this, I mean, what am I gonna tell her? What can say?" She muttered, pacing through the room.
" Boo, you gotta calm down. Think 'bout how nervous she must be now, I mean, she's meetin' her kid for the first time since she gave birth." Cindy remarked calmly from the spacious bed.
" I can't. I'm just gonna go there and say ' hi mom, I'm your daughter Max? Please Cindy. I've never had a mom, never had the pleasure of feeling my mother's kisses or her hands on my hair. I…was born, bred and raised to be a soldier, I don't know how to do the mom thing and she'll probably expect me to just go and hug her and call her mom." Cindy sighed deeply, she knew her girlfriend was stubborn but she was really getting on her nerves this time.
" You're doin' fine wit' the lil' boo, you're bein' a much betta mommy than the one she had. You just gotta get a grip and breathe, everythin' will be aiight." Max sat on the edge of the bed and layed back.
" You're right Cindy, everything will be aiight." She closed her eyes trying to believe what she was saying.
In that moment the door of the suite opened and Logan came in with a giggling Dylan clinging from his leg. Max smiled at the scene and so did Cindy.
" Well, what's got my little girl laughing so much?" She asked accepting Logan's kiss and taking Dylan in to her arms.
" We had a little chat in the car, apparently our little princess likes tickle wars." He said tickling her some more.
" So, what's up wit' my boo's mom, did you find her?" Cindy interrupted everyone fell silent.
" Nana Angie." Dylan said remembering her grandmother.
" Nana Angie?" Max gulped when she heard it, her nerves getting the best of her.
" Yeah, that's what Dylan calls her now. She's a pretty nice lady, she hasn't forgotten about you and was equally nervous and excited about meeting you." Logan saw the confusion in her eyes and gave Dylan to Cindy. " Mind if she slept with you tonight? Max and I have a lot of things to do, you can take her to the pool and enjoy everything."
" You ain't got to tell me twice. Come on lil' boo, your auntie Cindy's gonna show you a good time." She said leaving the room.
" What did she say?" Max asked softly, her voice cracking slightly. Logan was by her side in seconds.
" She misses you and she loves you, I'll take you to meet her later, would you like that?" Max pondered her answer for a while.
" Yeah, I'd like that very much." She said finally.
Logan ordered room service while Max took a shower; he'd finally managed to calm her enough to get her to eat. After picking at her plate for fifteen minutes, she pushed it away and threw herself on the bed.
" I'm not going." She stated sadly.
" What are you talking about? She's waiting for us." He said buttoning his shirt.
" I can't do this Logan. What am I gonna say? What am I gonna do? I can't…it's too much for me!" She muttered getting frantic.
Logan sighed, he knew that this was a strange situation for Max but he had to help her through it. He went to her and hugged her; she fell in his warm embrace while he caressed her back gently.
" Baby, you don't have to do this if you don't want to but you know that you'll regret it for the rest of your lives. You have an opportunity to get to know your mother, don't throw it away." He advised her softly, he felt her tears and backed away.
" I know, but first I'd like to take a walk, please." She said wiping her tears away. Logan knew that she liked to think on the Space Needle and since they were far away from it he decided it was best if she took a walk.
" Ok baby, I'll be waiting for you here." He said kissing her forehead. She smiled lightly and walked out the door.
Max had left the hotel and was walking through a beautiful park nearby; it was full of trees and flowers, children playing and music.
(Max's POV)
God, what am I gonna do? I know that this is the only chance I'll get to meet my mother but it's so damn hard! She probably still thinks of me as that innocent baby she saw. How will she react when she finds out about my past, about everything I've done? She'll probably hate me I know it. Sometimes I hate myself when I think about all the pain and death I've caused all through my life, I mean, to me death is just the unfortunate consequence of a fight and that's so wrong. Life means so much more than death, I'd rather kill myself than see the people I love being hurt or dead.
(Author's POV)
Soon Max found a beautiful bench surrounded by trees and flowers, she sat and admired the view for a while. Suddenly the soft notes of a song made way in to her ears, she looked around and found a portable stereo in a nearby picnic. Oddly enough the song put her to thinking.
There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach in to your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away
(Max's POV)
Wow! Those are deep lyrics, should I feel like this? I always teased Logan about the super hero thing but I never thought about it this way.
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
Problem is, I don't know if I have any more strength. I've taken a lot of bad things that have happened to me all through the years, but I don't know if I could take seeing horror and fear in my mother's eyes.
It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will dissapear
Emptiness. I have Logan and Dylan and my friends but I think that there's still some part of me that needs something else. Could it be my mother?
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
I wish I could be that hero; for once it would make everything a hell of a lot better.
Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away
Hold on
There'll be tomorrow
In time
You'll find the way
God, I know I haven't been exactly one of your best kids, I'm not even sure that I am one of your kids but I really need your help on this one. I want to meet her but I'm so scared to find out that I'm not what she expected.
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
(Author's POV)
As the song slowly faded, Max's resolution grew stronger. She took a deep breath and stood, she believed she was ready to face anything that came her way. She had waited for this moment all her life and she'd be damned if she was going to throw it away because of uncalled for fears.
" Mama, I'm on my way." She said and made her way to the hotel with a smile.
Meanwhile, in Angela's house everything was squeaky clean and perfectly organized. After Logan's visit she had dedicated the afternoon to make the place the most comfortable and peaceful she could, for her, for Max. She took a shower and wore a deep blue pantsuit, her dark mane lowing and making a perfect match for her eyes. After what seemed hours of looking at the clock and wandering if she was ever going to come, she sighed and laid back on the couch.
(Angela's POV)
What was I thinking? She's never going to come; after all, she's never needed a mother, why would she need her now? But I just want to see her, only for a little while. Is that so much to ask God? You gave her to me and then you took her away, don't you think I deserve at least to meet her, even if it's the only time I'll ever see her. I'm sorry for questioning you Lord, I just want my baby so bad please take care of her.
(Author's POV)
Angela closed her eyes and fell in a light, dreamless sleep, and the nerves of the day finally kicking in. Meanwhile Max finally reached the suite to find Logan watching TV by himself, he smiled when she walked in and she let him envelop her in a tender hug.
" Hey baby, how did it go?" He asked gently.
" Everything's fine, where's Dylan?" She asked suddenly aware that her daughter was nowhere to be seen.
" She's with Cindy, remember?" She sighed relieved and closed her eyes for a second.
" Right."
" So, ready to meet your mom?" He saw all the emotions swirling in her eyes.
" Let's go."
And so they were off to Angela's house, all the way Max tried to muster all the courage she had inside, although she felt her heart pounding faster and faster to her chest. When the got there, she admired the beautiful place her mother had chosen to live in. they made their way up to the porch and Logan knocked the door.
Angela's sleep was disturbed by the insisting knocking on her door, she stretched and walked towards it, suddenly remembering who she was waiting for. She took one deep breath and opened the door.
Logan was there smiling, she exhaled sadly thinking that maybe her daughter wasn't coming and let him in.
" Hi Angela, I hope we didn't keep you waiting?" He said politely.
" We?" She asked softly, her hope growing with every passing second.
" Yes. Max's scanning the area." Upon her questioning look, he replied. " Manticore habits die hard." She nodded in understanding and left the door open.
" Please have a seat while I make some tea." She offered, making her way to the kitchen and thankful for the small time she had to compose herself.
After scanning the whole place, Max entered the house slowly. She took in every single detail of her mother's house. Soft, pastel colors, pictures of children and flowers everywhere. She sat next to Logan awkwardly.
" Where is she?" She dared to ask.
" Making tea." He responded, gently rubbing her hand to calm her. Max couldn't sit still and stood by the door, she looked at the thousands of children pictures curiously.
Angela was bringing the tea when she suddenly froze and dropped the cups. The perfectly slender figure that had made her freeze slowly turned to her and she gasped. It was the most beautiful girl she'd ever seen, big brown eyes, cute nose, pouty lips, the prettiest hair and skin she'd ever encountered.
She was suddenly aware of the curious stares and dropped to the floor to pick up the broken glass.
" I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'm a little nervous right now." She apologized thoroughly.
Two young hands joined hers in her effort and she looked up, making eye contact with the beautiful girl. She smiled to her and Angela felt her heart melt.
" You're not alone." Max reassured with a nervous smile. After picking up all the pieces of broken glass from the floor, Angela took them to the kitchen and disposed them.
Max stood exactly in the same spot, waiting for her. When she came out of the kitchen, she came across with Max and once again gasped amazed by her beauty.
" I'm sorry for before, I-I was surprised…still am. I never thought I'd see you again, God knows I've wanted this all this time." Angela's voice cracked as tears of joy and sadness streamed down her lovely face. " I've pictured you in my mind and heart but you're so much beautiful and big than in my dreams."
She stretched her hand to touch Max's face but retrieved it shyly, when she saw that Max didn't back away, she stretched it again and this time touched it. Max closed her eyes and gulped as she felt her mother's soft caress on her cheek, she'd never imagined anything being so natural and nice.
Angela rejoiced in feeling her daughter's soft skin, she'd wanted this her whole life and now she was actually living her dream. Max couldn't take it anymore and let out the sob she had been holding back. She was happy that she was with her mother finally but there was something else, she was feeling dizzy and a crushing headache was starting, 'oh no, please not now', she pleaded quietly.
Angela stopped her caress when she saw Max trembling, her eyes were tight shut and she was growing paler by the second. Logan noticed this too and rushed by her side.
" Max? Max, answer me!" He demanded gently, never did she open her eyes and Logan knew the problem.
" Logan?" She said in a small voice and finally succumbed to the impending darkness claiming her conscience.
Angela's eyes grew wide with fear as she watched her daughter fall in to unconsciousness.
" What's wrong with her Logan?" She asked getting frantic.
Logan maneuvered Max on to the couch and searched his pockets until he found the small bottle of Trythophan he kept in case of an emergency. Max's body shook uncontrollably and she kept her eyes tightly shut. He managed to make her swallow a few pills.
" She suffers from serotonin deficiency, when the serotonin levels in her brain get really low it causes her seizures. She takes Trythophan to convert the body in to serotonin, it's one of Manticore's precious gifts." He explained while stroking Max's damp hair.
The shaking had stopped and her breathing was normal, yet her eyes were still tightly shut and her face was still pale and beads of sweat on her forehead. Angela felt so useless, seeing her child so weak was something she'd never expected on the first time she met her.
" Is she going to be ok?" She asked in a whisper.
" Yes, she's real strong and she'll get through it. She should be awake though." He muttered more to himself. " Do you have any milk?"
" Um…I ran out of milk a while ago. I was planning on getting some when you came and well, I forgot." She said embarrassed.
" It's ok, I'll go get some but first we need to get her to bed." He said carrying Max's limp form.
" Oh, sure. Come on, you can put her in my bed." Angela suggested eagerly and showed him the way.
Logan laid her carefully on the bed and arranged the pillows just the way Max liked them. Angela went in to the bathroom and came out with a wet cloth, she sat next to Max and started wiping the sweat from her forehead.
" Good idea, I'll go get some milk, any idea where I could get it?"
" There's a supermarket a few blocks away." She said and continued her job.
" I'll be back in a while." He said taking one last glance at his sleeping angel before leaving.
Angela remained by her side all the time, wiping her face free of sweat and admiring tenderly her daughter's sleeping form. Suddenly Max opened her eyes tiredly and found herself in a different sorrounding. She saw Angela looking at her with such worry and love in her eyes and she remembered where she was.
" Hi there." Angela said softly, ver glad that she was out of danger.
" Hi." Max smiled shyly at her mom. " What a way to introduce myself." She said embarrassed, a faint blush creeping on to her cheeks.
" It's ok, it's not your fault. Logan explained everything to me, how do you feel?" She asked with an understanding smile.
" Like I've been ran by a train…but I'll feel better in a while." She responded gently. She sat up on the bed, propped against the pillows.
" How can you live with this?" Angela asked with admiration for her strong daughter.
" You kinda get used to it after…twenty years." She said slowly. " I bet you're disgusted to find out what a freak of a daughter you have." Max lowered her head and tried to hold the tears from flowing. Angela shook her head and lifted her chin with a finger.
" I've loved you your whole life, and you turned out to be even better than my dreams. Please don't say things like that, you're still the most important thing that's ever happened to me." Angela said through tears, Max's own tears were already streaming shamelessly down her face.
Like attracted by some unknown force they hugged each other tightly, reveling in the softeness of skins and the feeling cruising from one to another. Mother and daughter reamined like that for a long while and only did Angela backed away when she felt Max's breathing spaced. She laid her daughter's sleeping form on the bed and laid down next to her and started singing softly to her ear.
I wish I could lay your arms down
And let you rest at last
Wish I could slay your demons
But now that time has passed
Wish I could stay here
Your stalwart, standing fast
But I haven't been there.
She finished in a whisper and just stared at her, mesmerized by the fact that this was her daughter, still not believing it completely. She yawned but forced herself to stay awake, she was scared that if she fell asleep Max would vanish away from her.
Logan finally came back and knocked on the door trying to manage the weight of the groceries he had in hand. Angela opened the door and lifted an eye brown as he hurried inside and placed everything on the kitchen before they fell.
" Logan, I sent you a few blocks away not a few countries away." She teased him.
" I'm sorry, it's just that I haven't been in a supermarket in years, with the pulse they dissapeared. I had forgotten how much I loved them, so organized and filled with great foods, you see I'm a cook, not a professional one but…you know." He babbled with a guilty look, Angela almost laughed.
" It's ok. After you left she woke up and we talked, we also hugged." She smiled greatly at this. " And then she fell asleep again.
" Her seizures get the best of her." He remarked sadly.
" Is it hard for her…the seizures I mean."
" Well, you remember epilepsy?"
" Yeah, I had a student once with epilepsy, his little body trembled so much that he hurt himself." Angela shuddered at the thought.
" Well, that was a little kid but Max is an enhanced human being, she's a thousand times faster, smarted and stronger than anyone. Still the seizures take all her strength, that means they're ten times stronger than Max. it hurts her like hell but we haven't found a cure for them." Logan explained with clinical precision.
" Dear God, my poor baby!" Angela cried.
" She'll be ok, she heals faster too. Due to her shark DNA ahe doesn't sleep more than 3 or 4 hours a week, soon she'll be up and about and really hungry. Do you mind if I use your kitchen?" He asked rummaging through the bags.
" You can cook?" She asked surprised.
" Well, I know something. I have to know something, living with an X5 is not good unless you are willing to cook plenty and all the time." He teased, smiling at the thought of his lovely girlfriend's eating patterns.
Angela laughed whole-heartedly. " Then by all means, it's yours." She said referring to the kitchen.
" Thanks." He replied and proceeded to take out of the bag everything he was going to need, with some assistance from Angela, telling him where everything was.
Back in the hotel, Cindy was in her suite with Dylan. After a day in the pool she came back and bathed Dylan and ordered plenty of room service and a few movies to watch.
There was knocking on the door and she left Dylan on the bed while she opened it.
" Yeah." She said, there was the cute red head she had met earlier in the pool.
" Hey, I was bored so I kinda thought, that maybe we could…do something together." Cindy arched a brow and smiled.
" Sure. Me and baby boo are watchin' some Disney movies, but she's almost asleep, we could watch…other movies together." She suggested, the red head grinned and winked.
" Sure." She said and entered the room followed by Cindy who was busy checking her cute behind.
" Oh, she's already sleeping, how cute!" Cindy took Dylan and placed her on the crib courtesy of the hotel.
Then she grabbed some movies from the table and headed to the bed where the red head had already made use of. She was sitting against the pillows wearing a small, red camisole instead of the robe she had come in with.
" Damn!" Was all Cindy could say.
So they settled and watched a few non mentionable movies, Cindy was horny as hell but she didn't want to scare the red head off. But when she started getting closer and rubbing Cindy's thighs sexily, she knew what she wanted and all conscience was lost.
Max finally woke up and stretched, she remembered everything that had happened and smiled, she felt much better now. She heard some laughter and headed towards it. Logan and Angela were in the kitchen cooking and talking idly.
"…and she kicked his ass." Logan finished with a smile and Angela started laughing again.
" Oh…my…God…she's…so…great!" She managed to choke out between laughs.
Max smiled and stood by the door frame, watching them, she realized just how lucky she was. Logan spotted her and smiled widely.
" Hey baby, I'm glad you're up." He said over Angela's shoulder.
Angela turned and smiled at Max who smiled back. " Hey baby girl, how are you feeling?" She asked concerned.
" I'm ok, really hungry though." Her stomach rumbled at that moment and she blushed.
" What did I tell you." Logan asked Angela, who laughed.
" You're right, you do know her." She said cheerfully.
" Oh, so Mr. Hot Shot knows everything 'bout me, right?" Max teased getting closer to him and stealing a kiss.
Logan smiled and gave her a taste of his sauce and she licked her lips, Angela smiled at the scene and decided that they made a wonderful couple.
" I wanna know 'bout my baby, can I use your phone?" She asked Angela softly.
" Of course, you don't have to ask." She replied gaining a smile from Max.
" Thanks." She headed to the living room and dialed the hotel number. " Yes, room number 2024 please, thanks…Cindy, what up girl, how's my baby?…great…yeah everythin'g fine…what's that noise?…doesn't seem like it…who's that Cindy?…I hope you ain't giving my baby a show 'cause I'll kick both your sorry asses…we'll be there in a few and I'll take her to my room, and I'm warning you she better be sane…ok, see ya." She hung the phone and shook her head.
" What's wrong baby?" Logan asked serving the food.
" Can you believe that Cindy has…company?" She asked him.
" Company?…oh! I get it. I hope she isn't doing anything in front of Dyl."
" She said that she's sleeping and thst they're not doing anything but I don't trust her completely." She remarked with a laugh.
" Well, then we should eat and be heading." Logan said.
So they ate, making cheerfull chatter and teases, after a while when Logan and Max were ready to go Angela got sad.
" I'll be back tomorrow." Max whispered to her ear when they hugged.
" I'll be waiting. We have a lot to talk about." Max nodded and walked to the car.
Angela waved as they left and closed the door, she was so happy. She had finally met her daughter, she had her back, Manticore didn't win.
Hey guys, like it? Hate it? Please review, hope you liked this one 'cause it' real special. Promise that I won't last so long without writing.
Logan placed Dylan securely in her car seat and got in the car, he put it in march and made his way to the hotel.
" Daddy?" Dylan's soft baby voice interrupted his thoughts.
" Yes baby?" He really liked to hear her calling him daddy. It was a wonderful feeling, much like when Max called him baby or honey or whatever fitted her mood.
" Is nana Angie comin' home wit' us?" Logan smiled at her innocence.
" I don't know baby, I don't know."
Meanwhile, back in the hotel suite Max and Cindy talked about the whole situation. Max was uneasy and nervous; she even threw up because of the strangling feeling in her stomach.
" I don't know if I can do this, I mean, what am I gonna tell her? What can say?" She muttered, pacing through the room.
" Boo, you gotta calm down. Think 'bout how nervous she must be now, I mean, she's meetin' her kid for the first time since she gave birth." Cindy remarked calmly from the spacious bed.
" I can't. I'm just gonna go there and say ' hi mom, I'm your daughter Max? Please Cindy. I've never had a mom, never had the pleasure of feeling my mother's kisses or her hands on my hair. I…was born, bred and raised to be a soldier, I don't know how to do the mom thing and she'll probably expect me to just go and hug her and call her mom." Cindy sighed deeply, she knew her girlfriend was stubborn but she was really getting on her nerves this time.
" You're doin' fine wit' the lil' boo, you're bein' a much betta mommy than the one she had. You just gotta get a grip and breathe, everythin' will be aiight." Max sat on the edge of the bed and layed back.
" You're right Cindy, everything will be aiight." She closed her eyes trying to believe what she was saying.
In that moment the door of the suite opened and Logan came in with a giggling Dylan clinging from his leg. Max smiled at the scene and so did Cindy.
" Well, what's got my little girl laughing so much?" She asked accepting Logan's kiss and taking Dylan in to her arms.
" We had a little chat in the car, apparently our little princess likes tickle wars." He said tickling her some more.
" So, what's up wit' my boo's mom, did you find her?" Cindy interrupted everyone fell silent.
" Nana Angie." Dylan said remembering her grandmother.
" Nana Angie?" Max gulped when she heard it, her nerves getting the best of her.
" Yeah, that's what Dylan calls her now. She's a pretty nice lady, she hasn't forgotten about you and was equally nervous and excited about meeting you." Logan saw the confusion in her eyes and gave Dylan to Cindy. " Mind if she slept with you tonight? Max and I have a lot of things to do, you can take her to the pool and enjoy everything."
" You ain't got to tell me twice. Come on lil' boo, your auntie Cindy's gonna show you a good time." She said leaving the room.
" What did she say?" Max asked softly, her voice cracking slightly. Logan was by her side in seconds.
" She misses you and she loves you, I'll take you to meet her later, would you like that?" Max pondered her answer for a while.
" Yeah, I'd like that very much." She said finally.
Logan ordered room service while Max took a shower; he'd finally managed to calm her enough to get her to eat. After picking at her plate for fifteen minutes, she pushed it away and threw herself on the bed.
" I'm not going." She stated sadly.
" What are you talking about? She's waiting for us." He said buttoning his shirt.
" I can't do this Logan. What am I gonna say? What am I gonna do? I can't…it's too much for me!" She muttered getting frantic.
Logan sighed, he knew that this was a strange situation for Max but he had to help her through it. He went to her and hugged her; she fell in his warm embrace while he caressed her back gently.
" Baby, you don't have to do this if you don't want to but you know that you'll regret it for the rest of your lives. You have an opportunity to get to know your mother, don't throw it away." He advised her softly, he felt her tears and backed away.
" I know, but first I'd like to take a walk, please." She said wiping her tears away. Logan knew that she liked to think on the Space Needle and since they were far away from it he decided it was best if she took a walk.
" Ok baby, I'll be waiting for you here." He said kissing her forehead. She smiled lightly and walked out the door.
Max had left the hotel and was walking through a beautiful park nearby; it was full of trees and flowers, children playing and music.
(Max's POV)
God, what am I gonna do? I know that this is the only chance I'll get to meet my mother but it's so damn hard! She probably still thinks of me as that innocent baby she saw. How will she react when she finds out about my past, about everything I've done? She'll probably hate me I know it. Sometimes I hate myself when I think about all the pain and death I've caused all through my life, I mean, to me death is just the unfortunate consequence of a fight and that's so wrong. Life means so much more than death, I'd rather kill myself than see the people I love being hurt or dead.
(Author's POV)
Soon Max found a beautiful bench surrounded by trees and flowers, she sat and admired the view for a while. Suddenly the soft notes of a song made way in to her ears, she looked around and found a portable stereo in a nearby picnic. Oddly enough the song put her to thinking.
There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach in to your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away
(Max's POV)
Wow! Those are deep lyrics, should I feel like this? I always teased Logan about the super hero thing but I never thought about it this way.
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
Problem is, I don't know if I have any more strength. I've taken a lot of bad things that have happened to me all through the years, but I don't know if I could take seeing horror and fear in my mother's eyes.
It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will dissapear
Emptiness. I have Logan and Dylan and my friends but I think that there's still some part of me that needs something else. Could it be my mother?
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
I wish I could be that hero; for once it would make everything a hell of a lot better.
Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away
Hold on
There'll be tomorrow
In time
You'll find the way
God, I know I haven't been exactly one of your best kids, I'm not even sure that I am one of your kids but I really need your help on this one. I want to meet her but I'm so scared to find out that I'm not what she expected.
And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
(Author's POV)
As the song slowly faded, Max's resolution grew stronger. She took a deep breath and stood, she believed she was ready to face anything that came her way. She had waited for this moment all her life and she'd be damned if she was going to throw it away because of uncalled for fears.
" Mama, I'm on my way." She said and made her way to the hotel with a smile.
Meanwhile, in Angela's house everything was squeaky clean and perfectly organized. After Logan's visit she had dedicated the afternoon to make the place the most comfortable and peaceful she could, for her, for Max. She took a shower and wore a deep blue pantsuit, her dark mane lowing and making a perfect match for her eyes. After what seemed hours of looking at the clock and wandering if she was ever going to come, she sighed and laid back on the couch.
(Angela's POV)
What was I thinking? She's never going to come; after all, she's never needed a mother, why would she need her now? But I just want to see her, only for a little while. Is that so much to ask God? You gave her to me and then you took her away, don't you think I deserve at least to meet her, even if it's the only time I'll ever see her. I'm sorry for questioning you Lord, I just want my baby so bad please take care of her.
(Author's POV)
Angela closed her eyes and fell in a light, dreamless sleep, and the nerves of the day finally kicking in. Meanwhile Max finally reached the suite to find Logan watching TV by himself, he smiled when she walked in and she let him envelop her in a tender hug.
" Hey baby, how did it go?" He asked gently.
" Everything's fine, where's Dylan?" She asked suddenly aware that her daughter was nowhere to be seen.
" She's with Cindy, remember?" She sighed relieved and closed her eyes for a second.
" Right."
" So, ready to meet your mom?" He saw all the emotions swirling in her eyes.
" Let's go."
And so they were off to Angela's house, all the way Max tried to muster all the courage she had inside, although she felt her heart pounding faster and faster to her chest. When the got there, she admired the beautiful place her mother had chosen to live in. they made their way up to the porch and Logan knocked the door.
Angela's sleep was disturbed by the insisting knocking on her door, she stretched and walked towards it, suddenly remembering who she was waiting for. She took one deep breath and opened the door.
Logan was there smiling, she exhaled sadly thinking that maybe her daughter wasn't coming and let him in.
" Hi Angela, I hope we didn't keep you waiting?" He said politely.
" We?" She asked softly, her hope growing with every passing second.
" Yes. Max's scanning the area." Upon her questioning look, he replied. " Manticore habits die hard." She nodded in understanding and left the door open.
" Please have a seat while I make some tea." She offered, making her way to the kitchen and thankful for the small time she had to compose herself.
After scanning the whole place, Max entered the house slowly. She took in every single detail of her mother's house. Soft, pastel colors, pictures of children and flowers everywhere. She sat next to Logan awkwardly.
" Where is she?" She dared to ask.
" Making tea." He responded, gently rubbing her hand to calm her. Max couldn't sit still and stood by the door, she looked at the thousands of children pictures curiously.
Angela was bringing the tea when she suddenly froze and dropped the cups. The perfectly slender figure that had made her freeze slowly turned to her and she gasped. It was the most beautiful girl she'd ever seen, big brown eyes, cute nose, pouty lips, the prettiest hair and skin she'd ever encountered.
She was suddenly aware of the curious stares and dropped to the floor to pick up the broken glass.
" I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'm a little nervous right now." She apologized thoroughly.
Two young hands joined hers in her effort and she looked up, making eye contact with the beautiful girl. She smiled to her and Angela felt her heart melt.
" You're not alone." Max reassured with a nervous smile. After picking up all the pieces of broken glass from the floor, Angela took them to the kitchen and disposed them.
Max stood exactly in the same spot, waiting for her. When she came out of the kitchen, she came across with Max and once again gasped amazed by her beauty.
" I'm sorry for before, I-I was surprised…still am. I never thought I'd see you again, God knows I've wanted this all this time." Angela's voice cracked as tears of joy and sadness streamed down her lovely face. " I've pictured you in my mind and heart but you're so much beautiful and big than in my dreams."
She stretched her hand to touch Max's face but retrieved it shyly, when she saw that Max didn't back away, she stretched it again and this time touched it. Max closed her eyes and gulped as she felt her mother's soft caress on her cheek, she'd never imagined anything being so natural and nice.
Angela rejoiced in feeling her daughter's soft skin, she'd wanted this her whole life and now she was actually living her dream. Max couldn't take it anymore and let out the sob she had been holding back. She was happy that she was with her mother finally but there was something else, she was feeling dizzy and a crushing headache was starting, 'oh no, please not now', she pleaded quietly.
Angela stopped her caress when she saw Max trembling, her eyes were tight shut and she was growing paler by the second. Logan noticed this too and rushed by her side.
" Max? Max, answer me!" He demanded gently, never did she open her eyes and Logan knew the problem.
" Logan?" She said in a small voice and finally succumbed to the impending darkness claiming her conscience.
Angela's eyes grew wide with fear as she watched her daughter fall in to unconsciousness.
" What's wrong with her Logan?" She asked getting frantic.
Logan maneuvered Max on to the couch and searched his pockets until he found the small bottle of Trythophan he kept in case of an emergency. Max's body shook uncontrollably and she kept her eyes tightly shut. He managed to make her swallow a few pills.
" She suffers from serotonin deficiency, when the serotonin levels in her brain get really low it causes her seizures. She takes Trythophan to convert the body in to serotonin, it's one of Manticore's precious gifts." He explained while stroking Max's damp hair.
The shaking had stopped and her breathing was normal, yet her eyes were still tightly shut and her face was still pale and beads of sweat on her forehead. Angela felt so useless, seeing her child so weak was something she'd never expected on the first time she met her.
" Is she going to be ok?" She asked in a whisper.
" Yes, she's real strong and she'll get through it. She should be awake though." He muttered more to himself. " Do you have any milk?"
" Um…I ran out of milk a while ago. I was planning on getting some when you came and well, I forgot." She said embarrassed.
" It's ok, I'll go get some but first we need to get her to bed." He said carrying Max's limp form.
" Oh, sure. Come on, you can put her in my bed." Angela suggested eagerly and showed him the way.
Logan laid her carefully on the bed and arranged the pillows just the way Max liked them. Angela went in to the bathroom and came out with a wet cloth, she sat next to Max and started wiping the sweat from her forehead.
" Good idea, I'll go get some milk, any idea where I could get it?"
" There's a supermarket a few blocks away." She said and continued her job.
" I'll be back in a while." He said taking one last glance at his sleeping angel before leaving.
Angela remained by her side all the time, wiping her face free of sweat and admiring tenderly her daughter's sleeping form. Suddenly Max opened her eyes tiredly and found herself in a different sorrounding. She saw Angela looking at her with such worry and love in her eyes and she remembered where she was.
" Hi there." Angela said softly, ver glad that she was out of danger.
" Hi." Max smiled shyly at her mom. " What a way to introduce myself." She said embarrassed, a faint blush creeping on to her cheeks.
" It's ok, it's not your fault. Logan explained everything to me, how do you feel?" She asked with an understanding smile.
" Like I've been ran by a train…but I'll feel better in a while." She responded gently. She sat up on the bed, propped against the pillows.
" How can you live with this?" Angela asked with admiration for her strong daughter.
" You kinda get used to it after…twenty years." She said slowly. " I bet you're disgusted to find out what a freak of a daughter you have." Max lowered her head and tried to hold the tears from flowing. Angela shook her head and lifted her chin with a finger.
" I've loved you your whole life, and you turned out to be even better than my dreams. Please don't say things like that, you're still the most important thing that's ever happened to me." Angela said through tears, Max's own tears were already streaming shamelessly down her face.
Like attracted by some unknown force they hugged each other tightly, reveling in the softeness of skins and the feeling cruising from one to another. Mother and daughter reamined like that for a long while and only did Angela backed away when she felt Max's breathing spaced. She laid her daughter's sleeping form on the bed and laid down next to her and started singing softly to her ear.
I wish I could lay your arms down
And let you rest at last
Wish I could slay your demons
But now that time has passed
Wish I could stay here
Your stalwart, standing fast
But I haven't been there.
She finished in a whisper and just stared at her, mesmerized by the fact that this was her daughter, still not believing it completely. She yawned but forced herself to stay awake, she was scared that if she fell asleep Max would vanish away from her.
Logan finally came back and knocked on the door trying to manage the weight of the groceries he had in hand. Angela opened the door and lifted an eye brown as he hurried inside and placed everything on the kitchen before they fell.
" Logan, I sent you a few blocks away not a few countries away." She teased him.
" I'm sorry, it's just that I haven't been in a supermarket in years, with the pulse they dissapeared. I had forgotten how much I loved them, so organized and filled with great foods, you see I'm a cook, not a professional one but…you know." He babbled with a guilty look, Angela almost laughed.
" It's ok. After you left she woke up and we talked, we also hugged." She smiled greatly at this. " And then she fell asleep again.
" Her seizures get the best of her." He remarked sadly.
" Is it hard for her…the seizures I mean."
" Well, you remember epilepsy?"
" Yeah, I had a student once with epilepsy, his little body trembled so much that he hurt himself." Angela shuddered at the thought.
" Well, that was a little kid but Max is an enhanced human being, she's a thousand times faster, smarted and stronger than anyone. Still the seizures take all her strength, that means they're ten times stronger than Max. it hurts her like hell but we haven't found a cure for them." Logan explained with clinical precision.
" Dear God, my poor baby!" Angela cried.
" She'll be ok, she heals faster too. Due to her shark DNA ahe doesn't sleep more than 3 or 4 hours a week, soon she'll be up and about and really hungry. Do you mind if I use your kitchen?" He asked rummaging through the bags.
" You can cook?" She asked surprised.
" Well, I know something. I have to know something, living with an X5 is not good unless you are willing to cook plenty and all the time." He teased, smiling at the thought of his lovely girlfriend's eating patterns.
Angela laughed whole-heartedly. " Then by all means, it's yours." She said referring to the kitchen.
" Thanks." He replied and proceeded to take out of the bag everything he was going to need, with some assistance from Angela, telling him where everything was.
Back in the hotel, Cindy was in her suite with Dylan. After a day in the pool she came back and bathed Dylan and ordered plenty of room service and a few movies to watch.
There was knocking on the door and she left Dylan on the bed while she opened it.
" Yeah." She said, there was the cute red head she had met earlier in the pool.
" Hey, I was bored so I kinda thought, that maybe we could…do something together." Cindy arched a brow and smiled.
" Sure. Me and baby boo are watchin' some Disney movies, but she's almost asleep, we could watch…other movies together." She suggested, the red head grinned and winked.
" Sure." She said and entered the room followed by Cindy who was busy checking her cute behind.
" Oh, she's already sleeping, how cute!" Cindy took Dylan and placed her on the crib courtesy of the hotel.
Then she grabbed some movies from the table and headed to the bed where the red head had already made use of. She was sitting against the pillows wearing a small, red camisole instead of the robe she had come in with.
" Damn!" Was all Cindy could say.
So they settled and watched a few non mentionable movies, Cindy was horny as hell but she didn't want to scare the red head off. But when she started getting closer and rubbing Cindy's thighs sexily, she knew what she wanted and all conscience was lost.
Max finally woke up and stretched, she remembered everything that had happened and smiled, she felt much better now. She heard some laughter and headed towards it. Logan and Angela were in the kitchen cooking and talking idly.
"…and she kicked his ass." Logan finished with a smile and Angela started laughing again.
" Oh…my…God…she's…so…great!" She managed to choke out between laughs.
Max smiled and stood by the door frame, watching them, she realized just how lucky she was. Logan spotted her and smiled widely.
" Hey baby, I'm glad you're up." He said over Angela's shoulder.
Angela turned and smiled at Max who smiled back. " Hey baby girl, how are you feeling?" She asked concerned.
" I'm ok, really hungry though." Her stomach rumbled at that moment and she blushed.
" What did I tell you." Logan asked Angela, who laughed.
" You're right, you do know her." She said cheerfully.
" Oh, so Mr. Hot Shot knows everything 'bout me, right?" Max teased getting closer to him and stealing a kiss.
Logan smiled and gave her a taste of his sauce and she licked her lips, Angela smiled at the scene and decided that they made a wonderful couple.
" I wanna know 'bout my baby, can I use your phone?" She asked Angela softly.
" Of course, you don't have to ask." She replied gaining a smile from Max.
" Thanks." She headed to the living room and dialed the hotel number. " Yes, room number 2024 please, thanks…Cindy, what up girl, how's my baby?…great…yeah everythin'g fine…what's that noise?…doesn't seem like it…who's that Cindy?…I hope you ain't giving my baby a show 'cause I'll kick both your sorry asses…we'll be there in a few and I'll take her to my room, and I'm warning you she better be sane…ok, see ya." She hung the phone and shook her head.
" What's wrong baby?" Logan asked serving the food.
" Can you believe that Cindy has…company?" She asked him.
" Company?…oh! I get it. I hope she isn't doing anything in front of Dyl."
" She said that she's sleeping and thst they're not doing anything but I don't trust her completely." She remarked with a laugh.
" Well, then we should eat and be heading." Logan said.
So they ate, making cheerfull chatter and teases, after a while when Logan and Max were ready to go Angela got sad.
" I'll be back tomorrow." Max whispered to her ear when they hugged.
" I'll be waiting. We have a lot to talk about." Max nodded and walked to the car.
Angela waved as they left and closed the door, she was so happy. She had finally met her daughter, she had her back, Manticore didn't win.
Hey guys, like it? Hate it? Please review, hope you liked this one 'cause it' real special. Promise that I won't last so long without writing.