A/N: Okay I know this is short but I wanted to get it up – seems there is a serious lack of M/L these days and people need some encouragement and hope. So I'll post this today and probably the next part tomorrow. As you will be able to tell this is where things start to take that change from S1. There is still going to be some angst and awkwardness coming but hopefully only that that is integral to the personalities and character of these two.
I'm a little surprised that Max is actually ringing the doorbell rather than just breezing in as she normally does but I head over towards the door. On the way I notice my phone and on impulse I reach over and switch off the sound. Any messages tonight can go straight to voicemail. For once I am going to give Max and myself some time just for us. No outside world interruptions.
I open the door to see Max standing there looking beautiful as always. She smiles at me and I smile back and for a moment we just stand there somewhat awkwardly. If I need any further confirmation that tonight is different and that Max knows it as well, this is it. Collecting myself I motion her inside and towards the counter where the wine awaits us.
"Hang on a minute." I tell her as I go to the kitchen to switch on the broiler. That done and the timer set for 5 minutes I look back to see she has already poured two glasses of wine and perched herself at the counter.
After placing a couple of small plates on the counter along with some cocktail napkins I go back to the kitchen just the timer goes off. The cheese squares are perfectly toasted so I transfer them to a plate and finally head back to spend time with Max. She sniffs the treats appreciatively and I smile as she helps herself to one.
"Dinner won't be ready for a while so I thought you'd like something to hold you over." I explain smiling at her. She pops the square into her mouth and I swallow as she savors it before slowly swallowing.
"Mmm. These are delicious, Logan. You know me too well." Gathering myself together I lift my wine glass in a toast and wait as she raises hers, looking at me curiously.
"To us Max. To everything we've already shared and to all the possibilities still open to us." Where did that come from I wonder as I raise my glass. She hesitates a moment then raises hers and gently touches it to mine. Our eyes meet over the rims as we drink and I am relieved to see that she doesn't seem rattled by my impulsive words. For a few minutes silence reigns as we sip the wine and munch on the food.
"So how was your day?" I finally venture. Max shrugs and tells me a funny story about Normal and Sketchy ending with,
"…anyway I swear one of these days Normal is just plain going to lose it and kill him he is such a total airhead." I laugh and then there is silence as our eyes make contact I set my wine glass down and reach over to take Max's and set it on the counter. Still without breaking eye contact I lean down and our lips meet. She tastes like wine and cheese and I enjoy her sweetness for long minutes. Finally we break and both sit back on our chairs. I am silent allowing Max the next move.
"Logan. We need to talk about this." She doesn't sound upset, just unsure which I find both encouraging and endearing. I smile at her and reaching out take her hand in mine. Rising from the stool I stand and lead her over to the couch pulling her down to sit next to me. I don't release her hand once we are seated and she makes no move to pull it away. Things are definitely going even better than I had hoped.
"I'm listening Max." I tell her still letting her take the lead, sensing she needs to.
"About this, us. About…" she trails off and looks at me almost imploringly.
"About the kisses, Max?" She nods. "I've been attracted to you since we met. You know that. There's no mystery here. I'm attracted to you; you're attracted to me so we act on it. Nothing new, it's been happening since Eve ate that apple." I deliberately address only the physical aspect of what is going on.
"I know that, Logan." Good she's getting impatient. "I'm not exactly 13 years old you know. I know what physical attraction is and how it works." She pauses but I remain silent. Not for nothing was I once an investigative reporter. "Damn it Logan is it only physical? What do you want from me? Do you want to fuck the genetically engineered super babe to see if she can blow out your brains? Is that what all this is about?"
"Is that what you think it's about, Max?" I ask her gently. She stares at me for a moment and laughs bitterly.
"Well I'm not exactly in a class with Valerie and Daphne and probably all of your prior girlfriends."
"No Max you aren't," I reply. I pause then go on, "You're in a class of your own. One they couldn't begin to approach in a million years. You're special Max. I knew that the first time I saw you." She stares at me and I can see in her eyes that she wants to believe me but is afraid to. "Who hurt you so badly, Max? Who made you feel that all you are is some body good for nothing but physical relief?" There is silence then she turns away from me and her words are so soft I can hardly hear them.
"Logan you don't understand about me. I'm different from other girls. I'm not normal." I laugh at her words.
"Max, I knew that when you went headfirst out of my window. Normal is boring. "
"No Logan its more than that. I mean you know about my mixed up DNA…" she stops and I wait for her to continue. She sits silently and then it comes out in a rush. "I have cat DNA Logan. Have you ever had a female cat? Have you ever seen them in their mating cycles?" She has finally managed to surprise me. I am silent a minute digesting what she has just said.
"Oh." Great response, Logan. "You mean you have cycles?" She nods miserably and I stop and think about what to say next. "Let me guess. You've hooked up with guys as a result of your cycles? And since that was all it was about to begin with, when your cycle was over they didn't get it? They never knew you did they, Max? Never cared about you." I hear the anger in my own voice as I realize what she has probably gone through. She is still looking away from me but her grip on my hand has tightened. I reach out with my free hand and gently turn her head to face me wanting her to see my eyes as I speak to her.
"Max I do know you. I know who you are and where you come from. I know the real person inside that super soldier façade you show the world. I want you physically, I'm not going to lie about that, but it's more than that. I've had the pure physical relationships and that's not what I'm about anymore." Her eyes are glistening with…tears? That's it I can't stand to see her cry. I reach out and pull her into my arms cuddling her against my chest.
"Damn it don't cry on me. I didn't plan tonight to make you cry." At that she lets out a choked sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob and pulls back to look at me.
"Logan you can be such a dork sometimes. That's one of the things I …" She stops midsentence.
"You what?"
"Nothing." She is silent and I realize now is not the time to push that point any further. She continues to look at me and something tells me the time for words is past.
A/N: Please please please if you guys like my fics – reward me by sending postcards to Fox and DA letting them know strongly that we need Logan back full force next season and that there is Nobody but Max and Logan. Thanks ! If you need the website address email me and I'll get it to you.