A/N: Thanks for all the kind reviews – when I get such great feedback it makes me want to get this posted for you guys. This chapter kind of just happened. My characters started complaining that they wanted some ship time and wouldn't let up until they got it. The action picks up again in the next chapter I promise.

Max was just getting off the phone after a lengthy conversation with Joshua when Logan walked over to her. Closing the cell phone she looked up at him curious as to what he wanted. She had expected him to be busy for a while on the Internet.

"What's the deal?" she questioned.

"I just spoke to Lydecker and changed the meeting place and time. There was an incident with another trangenic two blocks from the safe house I was planning on using for the meet. I prefer not to go near that sector anytime tonight. Deck agreed so we're going to touch base in the morning and probably meet tomorrow afternoon." Max was clearly disappointed at the delay but she saw the wisdom in Logan's words.

"So now what do we do?" She inquired.

"Turn around. Let me see your neck." Max complied and Logan lifted her thick hair gently. "Amazing. The redness is completely gone. Let's collect Alec and if he's clear as well we can head back to my place for the night." Dropping her hair he let his fingers lightly brush her neck once again and was pleased at the slight tremor of Max's skin.

He would have expected their physical reactions to one another to fade somewhat after the initial intensity inherent in any new relationship but instead they seemed to intensify the more they were together. At the moment his thoughts were far from the meeting with Deck and instead focused on getting Max back to his place and into his bed.

"Logan?" He started at Max's voice and looked up to meet her eyes, which were full of amusement. She shot a quick mischievous glance downwards and he realized that the direction of his thoughts was more than evident. "Why don't I go fetch Alec while you gather your um things together." She teased and Logan felt himself flush at the meaning underlying her words. Before he could respond she turned and tossing her hair back over her shoulder strolled from the room hips gently swaying. Logan realized that she was teasing him and vowed to himself that she would pay in full once they were alone.

Soon enough the three were on their way back to Logan's. The roadblock that had been there earlier was gone and they encountered no problems with the checkpoints they passed. The Sector Police manning them seemed weary and after quickly looking at their papers and glancing at their necks waved them through with no questions.

Logan pulled his car into the parking garage and the three headed up to the penthouse in the elevator. Alec was uncharacteristically silent for which Max was glad. She wasn't in the mood to put up with any of his smart-ass humor.

When they exited the elevator they were greeted by the sound of Logan's television and following it they found Joshua and Asha watching one of Logan's Pre-Pulse movies. Joshua seemed to be fascinated by the colors and music swirling on the screen and Logan quickly recognized the movie as Moulin Rouge an early 21st century musical love story set in the Bohemian Paris of the late 19th century. Max had told him about Joshua's painting so he supposed the movie would appeal to him. Asha however looked more bored than anything and when they entered she jumped up with a smile.

Joshua waved to them to be quiet as they began to talk so Logan, Alec and Asha adjourned to the kitchen where she could be filled in on the events of the day. Max however, dropped down on the sofa next to Joshua curious herself at what was going on onscreen. She had never seen this particular movie and at a glance it seemed very different from Logan's normal taste. Soon she was engrossed in the love story between the poor writer and the beautiful courtesan as it played out in a spectacle of swirling colors and pulsing music.

"So that's the deal." Logan finished explaining to Asha in the kitchen as Alec lounged back against the counter silently. "If you want to get home there's no reason you need to stay here, Joshua and Max both seem to be fine. No need for you to stay confined here"

Asha nodded and glanced at Alec who had been silent through the conversation.

"I'm supposed to meet some friends at Crash tonight. I'll probably stop home and change and head over there then. You have my number if you need me." Logan nodded absently mind miles away from Asha. Alec looked at Asha steadily for a moment then he straightened and sent her one of his charming smiles.

"Mind if I hang with you at Crash tonight? " At Logan's look he shrugged "I'm clear thanks to Sebastian and frankly I'm about to start freaking if I have to spend another minute cooped up here. Not that it isn't a great crib Logan but…"

"You'll be back in the morning to go to the meet with us? " Logan questioned.

"Yeah. Think I'd better find out what wonderful news dear old Lydecker is going to give us. Knowing him it'll be interesting to say the least. "

Asha had stood silent during this exchange but now interjected. "If you're coming with me I'm leaving now. Otherwise I'll see you at Crash. I'm sure my friends won't mind you joining us." Her tone was casual almost dismissive and Logan wondered what kind of game she was playing with Alec. He hadn't failed to notice her apparent fascination with the handsome X5 whenever she thought Alec wasn't looking. Asha was a big girl and could take care of herself he decided. Good enough that she seemed to have gotten over her infatuation with him and was now accepting Max. That had been one more complication he didn't need in his life.

Alec just grinned and sweeping his hand in front of him declared "After you sweetheart."

Asha ignored his gesture and turned and headed for the elevator. Alec chuckled and shrugged his shoulders as he followed in her wake. Logan shook his head and headed to his computer room to see if any messages had come in over the net.

Everything seemed quiet and Logan soon found it impossible to concentrate as he heard intermittent bursts of laughter and then gasps coming from Max and Joshua in the other room. Finally he gave up and rising he headed in to see what was happening. Max was engrossed in the movie but scooted over on the couch to make room for him as he entered, holding her finger to her lips for him to be silent. Glancing at the screen Logan saw that the hero was about to walk away from his love believing she had betrayed him. Max sat fascinated an expression on her face of pure sadness. He dropped his arm around her shoulders to comfort her and she reached over to take his free hand squeezing it in hers. Joshua was a sitting on the floor absorbed in the movie and scarcely spared Logan a glance. Next thing he knew Christian and Satine, the lovers in the movie, had burst into their love song as she made her choice of the poor artist over the rich aristocrat. Max sighed and smiled. Logan watched her more entranced by her reactions to the movie than by the movie itself. As the movie drew to a close with the heroine dying and leaving behind her grieving lover he saw a tear slip down Max's face. The end credits rolled and unable to resist Logan reached out and gently wiped away the tear with his fingertip. Max turned and looked up at him and he was startled by the emotions in her eyes. Joshua grunted something about reading his book and rose and left the room leaving the two alone.

"Max? It's only a movie you know." Logan teased trying to make her smile

"Logan," she hesitated then taking a breath plunged in. "Did you, I mean when you thought I was dead…" Suddenly Logan understood. Max had put him in the place of Christian and was thinking of those months she had been gone He smiled at her gently.

"I imagine I was pretty bad but to tell the truth it all seems like a haze to me now. Manticore and the thought of bringing them down got me through every day. They kept me going until you came back to me. So I guess we have something to be grateful to them for." Max smiled up at him and he leaned down and gently kissed her. Max put her arms around his neck and pulled him close kissing him back fiercely. Logan tightened his arms around her in response deepening the kiss. Finally the two broke for air. It was dark out now and the apartment was silent. Logan and Max had eaten with Sebastian earlier and Asha had told them that she and Joshua had shared dinner just before they arrived.

"Are you hungry?" Logan asked Max huskily. She smiled up at him.

"Not for food."

"Me neither " he grinned. "Tired?"

"Nope."

"Me neither." Max looked at him waiting for his next move. "Will you come to bed with me?" Logan went straight to the point.

"I thought you'd never ask." Max rose gracefully and held out her hand for Logan. He rose and taking her hand led her to his room where he could spend the night showing her just how much she meant to him.

* * * *

Crash was loud and rowdy and Asha's friends were a close knit group. Alec however had his fair share of charm and after buying a pitcher of beer for the table and telling a few stories of his experiences as a cage wrestler they were happy to accept him as one of the gang. Asha alone remained aloof laughing only politely at his jokes and appearing more interested in watching the activities going on around them than in listening to his stories. Piqued Alec remained behind with her when the others went off to play a game of pool. When she continued to ignore him he finally grew frustrated and asked her point blank.

"So what stick got up your butt today?" Startled she turned to him and then coolly replied.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You've been ignoring me all night. I thought we were friends?" There was genuine puzzlement in his voice and Asha turned to look at him finally.

"Sure we're friends, Alec." Her voice lacked conviction; rather it had an undertone of sadness. Suddenly serious Alec probed.

"So why the cold shoulder? Don't friends laugh together?"

"It's complicated Alec." She was silent and then rose to her feet grabbing his hand. "C'mon I love this song, let's dance." Alec let he pull him along onto the dance floor where the pulsing beat of the music made further conversation impossible. The fast number ended and the slow strains of the next song began. Asha turned to leave the dance floor but was stopped by Alec who on impulse pulled her to him for the slow dance. For long moments they swayed together in time to the music each intensely aware of the other. As the song ended Alec looked down into Asha's eyes and the two shared a long glance. Then she pulled away from him and muttering something about needing to get some sleep headed for the door.

Alec stood there for a moment deciding if he wanted to follow her and then caught up with her just outside of Crash. He grabbed her arms and pulled her to face him.

"What was that about?"

"Alec I need to go." Asha tried to pull away from him. "You confuse me. I can't deal with this, with you right now." On impulse Alec pulled her to him and leaning in kissed her. For a moment she returned his kiss but then a noisy group came up the steps behind them and the two pulled apart. Asha took advantage of the distraction and when Alec looked back to her she had left. Shaking his head over women he sighed and decided to call it a night. He had lost his taste for Crash and suddenly wanted nothing more than the silence of his apartment.