Chapter 17.............Two men and a pregnant woman
Max sat under a large tree in the area of land behind their house. She turned a page in her book. It was an amazing novel, and she couldn't seem to stop reading it. She sat with the book balancing on her stomach. She was now six months pregnant, and eternally grateful for this book. She could just read through it in a few hours, thanks to manticore, but she'd rather read at a slow normal pace. She wanted to enjoy the experience of reading this book. Besides, she had a lot of spare time, and here wasn't a lot of things she could do.
A strong wind came and blew the pages of her book. She groaned and looked up. Large gray clouds were forming in the sky above her. Rain was coming. She closed her book and tried to stand up, which, being six months pregnant, was easier said then done. "Zack" she called to her brother, who was sleeping a few yards a way. He didn't stir. She made a mental note to leave him out in the rain. After another moment she managed to get to her feet. She slowly walked back to the house, kicking Zack on her way, to wake him up. He grunted. "Rain" she said pointing up at the sky.
He jumped up wrapped an arm around her shoulder, forcing her to lean on him. She did so happily, her legs had been cramping allot lately. According to the baby book it could be from lack of calcium. She made the mistake of telling this to Alec, who now forced her to take calcium pills, and shoved a glass of Milk in her hand every chance he got. The leg cramps, along with many other awful things, were all the lovely side affects of being pregnant.
As they walked inside, Max groaned as a pain shot through her back. "I will give you ten thousand dollars to give me a back rub" she said to Zack.
"No problem" he said smiling, "Assuming of course, that I get money" he said.
Max slapped his chest with a smile, "How 'bout you just do it 'cause I'm your baby sister, and you love me" she said.
"Okay, but next time I expect to get ten thousand dollars" he said. She sat down on the couch sideways, bringing her legs up and crossing them in front of her. Zack did the same behind her. "Next time you get pregnant, I get the job, and Alec stays home" Zack said rubbing her shoulders. She didn't answer, only softly sighed as his Manticore made hands worked magic on the aches and pains of her back.
Max looked up at the clock. Any minute Alec would be home, and would want to know how her doctors appointment went. He was very disappointed that he couldn't get time off work to come with them. "So, am I going to have a little niece, or nephew?" Zack asked her.
"Zack, I already told you, I promised Alec I would tell him first. When he gets home, I'll tell you both, now stop asking me that, because my answer is not going to change until he gets home" Max said.
"This is so unfair. I take care of you, break you out of Manticore, save your life a countless number of times, and what do I get in return? Nothing that's what" he said laying on a guilt trip. "I mean, if it weren't for me you'd be dead, that's my heart you have beating in your chest, yet still, you can't even tell me a simple thing like the gender of your baby". He put a hand to his chest, "Sometimes I can almost remember what it's like to have a heart-".
"Oh come on" Max said interrupting him. "Alec will be home any minute, and you'll both know" she said. "And don't think you can guilt me into telling you. Alec has saved my life also, of course he has also tried to kill me...." she trailed off. "Ya know what, he is lucky to have me. I should of killed him by now" she said.
"Works for me" Zack said, "just say the word, and he'll be dead before he knows what hit him" he told her.
Max laughed, "Now, you get back to rubbing my back, well get back to our plans of killing Alec latter" she said.
"Who's planing on killing me?" Alec said coming inside from the now pouring rain. He closed his umbrella and shook the water off of it. He set it down by the door, and closed the door.
Max smiled. A normal man wouldn't of been able to hear their conversation, but a transgenic could. "Hi honey" she said sweetly. "Don't worry, if you never try to kill me again, then we wont kill you" she said.
"God, you make one mistake, and you never hear the end of it" he mumbled. He walked over and kissed her on her cheek. "So, Morgana, or Ben?" he asked.
"Hmmmm, ya know, I can't remember, go get me the phone, I'll call the doctor and ask" she teased. Alec crossed his arms and glared. "I'm just joking" she said smiling, "in three months, we are going to have ourselves a little baby girl, named Morgaine".
"Well, you'll have a girl to keep you company then" Zack said.
Alec grinned, "I bet she'll look just like you" Alec said, "and we can dress her in pretty little dresses, and buy her those little porcelain doll things, and can have those cute little pink shoes that little girls always have. Oh, and we can get her a little pink blanket with Morgana embroidered on it" he said happily, sitting down in front of Max on the couch facing her.
"Okay, first of all there will be no little dresses, no little pink shoes, the blanket will be lavender, and it will say Morgaine" she said.
"You guys better figure out what your gonna call her before you have her" Zack commented, continuing to rub Max's back.
"A little lower Zack" she said, and sighed when he hit just the right place. "Any ways, now that we know the baby's going to be a girl, we should start getting some stuff for her. I don't really know enough people to have a baby shower. My friends basically consist of you guys and Andrea" she said.
"Don't forget your old friends, speaking of which, I have something for you" he said. He went over to the door and grabbed his messenger bag. He brought it over to her and grabbed a medium sized package out of her bag. I have a delivery for the most beautiful woman in the world" he said.
"Some one is in a good mood" she said smiling. She took the package and began to open it. There was two letters in it, one from Oc, one from Logan. She set them aside, and looked at the present. I was a teddy bear, one of those really old classic kinds that looked like the older version of whinnie the pooh. She picked it up and looked at it smiling. She set it down in Alecs lap, and opened the letter from Oc, and began to read it.
Hey Boo, how ya doing way over there in Ireland? Do ya know if it's a boy or a girl? I bet it will be a girl. I wish I could be there with you. How's living with Alec and Zack? they driven you crazy yet? just say the world and Original Cindy will be out there to kick both of their asses. Send my love to them by the way. Any ways, me and Logan picked out the cute little bear, there's a book to, unless the boy forgot to send it.
Max put the letter down for a moment and looked in the package again. At the bottom, under some of the tissue paper was a book. A whinnie the pooh book. Max smiled, how appropriate. She handed that also to Alec, and went back to her letter.
Joshua's doing fine, I know you hated to leave him, but he really is okay. A little sad sometimes, but okay. Normal is horribly upset however with out his golden boy Alec. I think Normal might be a little bit gay, but that's his business. You better send us lots and lots of baby pictures, and if you don't start writing to us, I'll fly out there and kick your ass.
love ya lots
~OC
Max put the letter back in the envelope, "She sends her love" she said to Zack and Alec. She turned around on the couch and put her feet down on the ground in front of her. She didn't open Logans letter yet, she just wasn't sure she was ready. "Well, I should get dinner ready" Max said standing up. Alec nodded and leaned back. Zack did the same. "Oh no no honey, let me make dinner" Max mumbled under her breath. Zack and Alec chose not to hear.
Max walked into the kitchen, and Alec looked over to Zack. "I can't believe your going to just sit there while your pregnant sister is in the kitchen slaving over a hot stove" He said, giving Zack a shame-on-you look.
"Me? She's your wife" Zack said. "I can't believe how you let her prance around and be on her feet all day like this, if she were my wife-"
"Well Zack she isn't your wife" Alec interrupted him. "She's my wife, now, I'm going to go help her cook dinner" He stood up and walked into the kitchen.
"Alec, I'm not giving you any bits of food until dinner is ready, go and wait with Zack" Max said irritated.
"I'm in here to help you" Alec said. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his hands on her swollen belly. He smiled happily as he felt the baby kicking. "Oh yes, definitely an X5" he said jokingly.
"Max turned around quickly, "No, no, no, don't even say that. This baby is going to be normal. One hundred percent normal. Like every other kid" Max said.
Alec put his hands comfortingly on her shoulders, "Max, you can say that all you want, but you know as much as I do, that this baby will not be normal. She'll be better then normal. We're better then normal. She'll be special. She'll be strong, smart and she'll have hair, my eyes, and she'll have this lovely creamy tan like skin color. Oh, and hopefully my nose" he said.
"And what is wrong with my nose?" Max said.
Alec let out a small sigh of relief escaped Alecs lips. He had managed to distract her. "Nothings, nothing's wrong with your nose. It's just not my nose" he said grinning. She hit him. Hard. She smiled as he made a small oof sound. He stood up a moment later though and recollected himself. "So, what are we cooking?" he asked.
"Burgers, frys and salad" she said. She went the the refrigerator and grabbed a bag of frozen French frys out of the freezer, and tossed it at Alec. "Put those on an oven tray, then put the tray in the oven" she said turning on the oven.
Alec did as he was told. When he was done he leaned against the counter, watching Max forming the ground meat in to hamburger patties. "Nothing is more attractive then a woman cooking for her man" he said.
She turned around and glared at him, "You are such a pig" she said. She had been going way to easy on Alec, she made a mental note to give him a hard time. "And if you don't stop with this piggish behavior, then you are going to get some raw meat chucked at you" she said.
Alec put his hands up in defeat, mumbling, "so unfeminine".
Max was not in the least bit amused, "We can't all be as feminine as you Alec" she said with a sarcastic smile.
Alec looked at his wife. She was wearing a pale yellow sun dress with blue and powder pink flowers on it. It fell right above her knees. Her black curls were tied back behind her with a blue ribbon. Some trendils of hair had escaped the ribbon, and were now gracefully falling around her face. She looked young. Like a small porcelain doll that someone had added a little belly to as an after thought. "You do look pretty though, you've got that whole pregnant woman glow working for you" he said walking over to her and brushing some of the hair out of her face. He left his hand on her cheek, and brought up his other hand, resting on her other cheek. He leaned down and kissed her softly.
She kissed him back, then pulled back and smiled. He could be so charming when he wanted to be, "You are forgiven" she said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Alec woke, he heard rain lightly falling on their roof. He waited a moment before opening his eyes. It was a gray morning, the room was dark. He moved to get up, sticking his foot out from under their thick down blankets. His foot was kissed by icy air, and he quickly brought his foot back into the warmth of their bed. He rolled over looking at Max. Her dark curls formed a veil over the smooth skin of her face. She lay peaceful in sleep. He brought a hand over to brush back her hair so he could look down at her face.
Alec decided that he definitely liked Max best when she was sleeping. She looked only of peace, and not of troubles that plagued her when awake. Plus, she insulted him less. He wrapped his arms around her, and brought the blanket tightly around them, protecting them against the cold. A soft noise escaped Max's lips as she awoke. She yawned and moved a bit in his arms. "Alec, what time is it" she asked quietly.
"Seven thirty" he said back, closing his eyes trying to slip back into the peacefulness of sleep.
"You're gonna be late for work" Max said softly.
"I don't want to go to work" Alec said in a voice that resembled that of a young child telling his mother he did not wish to go to school. He was reluctant to leave the warmth provided by Max and the pile of blankets.
"Okay" Max purred softly into his ear. "You can come shopping for baby stuff with me and Zack" she told him.
Now here arose an interesting choice. Leave the warmth of his home and go to work, or stay here for most likely ten more minutes at the most, and go shopping with Zack and Max. Well, he figured he might as well have a say in the things that they bought. "Yeah okay" he said burying his face in her hair.
"Okay, let's get up" Max said. Alec groaned. "Oh don't whine so much, rise and shine now, come on." Max said attempting to rise from bed. Alec held onto her though, refusing to let her go. "Alec, let go, we are getting up" she said sternly.
"Come on Maxie, some of us need our sleep" Alec said in a whine.
Max froze and tensed at his words. The sounded so familiar that it hurt, but she couldn't help remembering.
FLASHBACK;
"Come on Maxie, some off us need our sleep, we're not all like you ya know" Ben said coming out of sleep.
"I know, but I can't sleep" she whispered softly to him.
Be responded by scooting over in his bed and lifting up the blanket for her to crawl under. She did so happily. She closed her eyes and sighed. Her bed always seemed cold, or lumpy, of stiff. Ben's bed was always warm and soft and welcoming.
Present;
Max quickly jumped out of bed. Alec opened his eyes and stared at her. "What's wrong Max?" he asked her.
"Nothing, nothing's wrong" she said. He didn't believe her. She stood hunched over a little bit. Her hair fell in her face, and stuck to her mouth. Her long white night gown graced the floor, beautifully framing her pregnant form. "It's just time to get up" she said.
Some how Alec got the feeling that something was bothering her. But if she didn't want to talk about it, then Alec knew it was pointless to try to get her to open up to him. Alec mad a small groaning noise as he left his warm bed was chilled by the cold air. "I hate the cold" he protested softly.
"Alec, your genetically engineered and trained to tolerate extreme temperatures. Why must you be such a baby when it's a little chilly?" Max asked.
Alec didn't answer. He just got down on the ground and began his pushups. Max rolled her eyes, some things never change. she went into the bath room.
She looked in the mirror at herself. She took a deep breath and backed up into the wall as she smelled him. She shook her head, trying to ignore it but it was there. The scent of her dead brother. That good old scent of happiness and sunshine. Of hope and care and love. It filled the room, it was everywhere.
Why must he continue to haunt her. She wanted to be alone. She loved him, and she missed him terribly, but she needed to be normal, for Alec, and for Zack. she saw how Zack continued to look at her, with concern and worry. And when he thought she wasn't paying attention, he got the look. Every time she spaced out or looked off for a moment he got the look. The look full of fear. Fear that he was loosing her, fear that she would break like a china doll.
She walked back over to the sink, and turned on the water. She rinsed her face with some cold water. She looked up into the mirror again. She dried her face off with a hand towel, and ran her silver comb through her hair. She began to brush her teeth. She could do this. She could get through the day and be normal. Well, as normal as an X5 could be. She took a deep breath, out on a big smile, and went out into the living room.
She sat on the couch next to Zack, who was already up, dressed, and watching the news. "You guys are so boring. There is way more interesting things on then the news" Alec said coming into the room. He was wearing a pair of dark blue corduroys, and had no shirt on yet. Max noticed that he was wearing a pair of bright red socks. She shook her head. "What?" he asked, noticing that she was looking at him weird.
"Nothing" she said. She got up and went back into her room to get dressed. Alec followed her into their room and put on a gray shirt. Max but on a long sleeve black shirt and a pair of blue overalls. She turned to find Alec looking at her. "What?" she asked him.
"Nothing, you just look like such a.. a.. never mind" he said shaking his head.
"No what" she said putting her hands on her hips and glaring at him. She tapped a foot on the floor, and raised her eyebrows up. Alec laughed at her. This just made Max angry. "what is so amusing?" she asked annoyed.
"Well, it's just, I mean your Max. Tough chick Max. And your standing there six months pregnant, wearing overalls. And to top it off, we're going shopping for baby things. It's just kind of funny" he said with a cute little Alec smile.
Max was not won over by his small smile though. She walked over to him and smacked his head. "First of all, you got me pregnant. Second of all, you got me these overalls. And last, the baby has got to have something to wear, sleep on, and play with" she said angry.
"Okay" Alec said, "First of all, WE got you pregnant. Second of all, are you sure I bought you those overalls, it doesn't seem like something I would do. And last, well, okay, the baby does need stuff. You got me there, but still, it is kind of funny" he said.
"You did buy me these overalls for the record" Max said. "And there's nothing funny about it. Next time, you can get pregnant" she glared.
"Actually, I can't" he said. "I'm fairly certain that it's impossible for a male to get pregnant" he said smiling.
"Oh I'm sure our old buddies back at Manticore could find a way" Max said.
"you know, I don't think I really want to have another kid" he said back. "I mean, I never saw myself having any children, one is going to be more then enough".
"Oh, well I'm sorry for getting pregnant. I'm sorry for.." she started to cry, "For making you settle down. I'm sorry for ruining your life, I'm sorry for letting you out of Manticore, I'm sorry for everything. EVERYTHING" she turned and walked over to the window ad looked outside.
"What?" Alec said confused, "Where did that come from? One minute I thought we were joking around, and the next your yelling at me" he said walking over. "Listen Max, I'm sorry. This wasn't my plan, that's true enough, but that doesn't mean I'm upset that it turned out like this" he said putting a hand on her shoulder.
She brushed his hand away, and went over to the door of their room, "I am going to be with my brother. He enjoys my company. And we are going to buy stuff for this child inside of me who is so unwanted by her father. Because it's not her fault that your a stupid immature child" she spat out at him. She stomped out of the room.
Alec let out an exasperated sigh and stood still for a few moments. He took a deep breath and went out into the living room, Max was siting on the couch with her arms wrapped around Zacks neck, crying into his chest. Zack had his arms wrapped around her, and was rubbing her back, attempting to pacify her. "What did you say to her?" Zack said glaring at him.
"Who knows what I said this time" Alec said. Everything he said had been making her mad lately.
"Oh you know what you said" Max said turning and glaring at him. She turned back to Zack, "I'm gonna get my shoes on, lets go" Max said to Zack.
"Um, Max there's not that many stores open this early in the morning" Zack said.
"Max, Come on, I'm sorry, now I'm coming with you" Alec said.
"What ever" she said. "Zack come on, it's already eight, we can get breakfast on the way. We'll go and sit down in some restaurant. Alec can wait in the car" she said. "Now, I'm going to wait in the car" she said and walked outside.
Zack stood up and crossed his arms over his chest, and glared at him. "Alec, she's pregnant, is it to much to ask for you to be nice to her?" He said in an angry tone.
Alec shook his head and crossed his arms, "Everything I say upsets her. I'm apparently just a stupid immature child" he said.
"I heard" Zack said, "Any ways, come on, if your coming. I don't like Max waiting our there in he cold" he grabbed is jacket on his way out.
"Are you sure you want us to do this shopping with you?" Zack was saying to Max as Alec climbed into the back seat of the car. "Andrea would probably be better company for this type of thing. Plus, she seems to know an awful lot about these types of things" he finished.
"Andrea is eight and a half months pregnant, and prefers to stay home" Max said. And she knows about these things because she has another child. she figured it out on her own the first time, so can I. Here that Alec, she's going to have two children. I think maybe I'd like two children, or three, or maybe even four" she said.
"Four?" Alec choked out the word. Four children. Four....
"Oh she's just trying to scare you, you moron" Zack said. He started the car and they drove off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.
Max sat under a large tree in the area of land behind their house. She turned a page in her book. It was an amazing novel, and she couldn't seem to stop reading it. She sat with the book balancing on her stomach. She was now six months pregnant, and eternally grateful for this book. She could just read through it in a few hours, thanks to manticore, but she'd rather read at a slow normal pace. She wanted to enjoy the experience of reading this book. Besides, she had a lot of spare time, and here wasn't a lot of things she could do.
A strong wind came and blew the pages of her book. She groaned and looked up. Large gray clouds were forming in the sky above her. Rain was coming. She closed her book and tried to stand up, which, being six months pregnant, was easier said then done. "Zack" she called to her brother, who was sleeping a few yards a way. He didn't stir. She made a mental note to leave him out in the rain. After another moment she managed to get to her feet. She slowly walked back to the house, kicking Zack on her way, to wake him up. He grunted. "Rain" she said pointing up at the sky.
He jumped up wrapped an arm around her shoulder, forcing her to lean on him. She did so happily, her legs had been cramping allot lately. According to the baby book it could be from lack of calcium. She made the mistake of telling this to Alec, who now forced her to take calcium pills, and shoved a glass of Milk in her hand every chance he got. The leg cramps, along with many other awful things, were all the lovely side affects of being pregnant.
As they walked inside, Max groaned as a pain shot through her back. "I will give you ten thousand dollars to give me a back rub" she said to Zack.
"No problem" he said smiling, "Assuming of course, that I get money" he said.
Max slapped his chest with a smile, "How 'bout you just do it 'cause I'm your baby sister, and you love me" she said.
"Okay, but next time I expect to get ten thousand dollars" he said. She sat down on the couch sideways, bringing her legs up and crossing them in front of her. Zack did the same behind her. "Next time you get pregnant, I get the job, and Alec stays home" Zack said rubbing her shoulders. She didn't answer, only softly sighed as his Manticore made hands worked magic on the aches and pains of her back.
Max looked up at the clock. Any minute Alec would be home, and would want to know how her doctors appointment went. He was very disappointed that he couldn't get time off work to come with them. "So, am I going to have a little niece, or nephew?" Zack asked her.
"Zack, I already told you, I promised Alec I would tell him first. When he gets home, I'll tell you both, now stop asking me that, because my answer is not going to change until he gets home" Max said.
"This is so unfair. I take care of you, break you out of Manticore, save your life a countless number of times, and what do I get in return? Nothing that's what" he said laying on a guilt trip. "I mean, if it weren't for me you'd be dead, that's my heart you have beating in your chest, yet still, you can't even tell me a simple thing like the gender of your baby". He put a hand to his chest, "Sometimes I can almost remember what it's like to have a heart-".
"Oh come on" Max said interrupting him. "Alec will be home any minute, and you'll both know" she said. "And don't think you can guilt me into telling you. Alec has saved my life also, of course he has also tried to kill me...." she trailed off. "Ya know what, he is lucky to have me. I should of killed him by now" she said.
"Works for me" Zack said, "just say the word, and he'll be dead before he knows what hit him" he told her.
Max laughed, "Now, you get back to rubbing my back, well get back to our plans of killing Alec latter" she said.
"Who's planing on killing me?" Alec said coming inside from the now pouring rain. He closed his umbrella and shook the water off of it. He set it down by the door, and closed the door.
Max smiled. A normal man wouldn't of been able to hear their conversation, but a transgenic could. "Hi honey" she said sweetly. "Don't worry, if you never try to kill me again, then we wont kill you" she said.
"God, you make one mistake, and you never hear the end of it" he mumbled. He walked over and kissed her on her cheek. "So, Morgana, or Ben?" he asked.
"Hmmmm, ya know, I can't remember, go get me the phone, I'll call the doctor and ask" she teased. Alec crossed his arms and glared. "I'm just joking" she said smiling, "in three months, we are going to have ourselves a little baby girl, named Morgaine".
"Well, you'll have a girl to keep you company then" Zack said.
Alec grinned, "I bet she'll look just like you" Alec said, "and we can dress her in pretty little dresses, and buy her those little porcelain doll things, and can have those cute little pink shoes that little girls always have. Oh, and we can get her a little pink blanket with Morgana embroidered on it" he said happily, sitting down in front of Max on the couch facing her.
"Okay, first of all there will be no little dresses, no little pink shoes, the blanket will be lavender, and it will say Morgaine" she said.
"You guys better figure out what your gonna call her before you have her" Zack commented, continuing to rub Max's back.
"A little lower Zack" she said, and sighed when he hit just the right place. "Any ways, now that we know the baby's going to be a girl, we should start getting some stuff for her. I don't really know enough people to have a baby shower. My friends basically consist of you guys and Andrea" she said.
"Don't forget your old friends, speaking of which, I have something for you" he said. He went over to the door and grabbed his messenger bag. He brought it over to her and grabbed a medium sized package out of her bag. I have a delivery for the most beautiful woman in the world" he said.
"Some one is in a good mood" she said smiling. She took the package and began to open it. There was two letters in it, one from Oc, one from Logan. She set them aside, and looked at the present. I was a teddy bear, one of those really old classic kinds that looked like the older version of whinnie the pooh. She picked it up and looked at it smiling. She set it down in Alecs lap, and opened the letter from Oc, and began to read it.
Hey Boo, how ya doing way over there in Ireland? Do ya know if it's a boy or a girl? I bet it will be a girl. I wish I could be there with you. How's living with Alec and Zack? they driven you crazy yet? just say the world and Original Cindy will be out there to kick both of their asses. Send my love to them by the way. Any ways, me and Logan picked out the cute little bear, there's a book to, unless the boy forgot to send it.
Max put the letter down for a moment and looked in the package again. At the bottom, under some of the tissue paper was a book. A whinnie the pooh book. Max smiled, how appropriate. She handed that also to Alec, and went back to her letter.
Joshua's doing fine, I know you hated to leave him, but he really is okay. A little sad sometimes, but okay. Normal is horribly upset however with out his golden boy Alec. I think Normal might be a little bit gay, but that's his business. You better send us lots and lots of baby pictures, and if you don't start writing to us, I'll fly out there and kick your ass.
love ya lots
~OC
Max put the letter back in the envelope, "She sends her love" she said to Zack and Alec. She turned around on the couch and put her feet down on the ground in front of her. She didn't open Logans letter yet, she just wasn't sure she was ready. "Well, I should get dinner ready" Max said standing up. Alec nodded and leaned back. Zack did the same. "Oh no no honey, let me make dinner" Max mumbled under her breath. Zack and Alec chose not to hear.
Max walked into the kitchen, and Alec looked over to Zack. "I can't believe your going to just sit there while your pregnant sister is in the kitchen slaving over a hot stove" He said, giving Zack a shame-on-you look.
"Me? She's your wife" Zack said. "I can't believe how you let her prance around and be on her feet all day like this, if she were my wife-"
"Well Zack she isn't your wife" Alec interrupted him. "She's my wife, now, I'm going to go help her cook dinner" He stood up and walked into the kitchen.
"Alec, I'm not giving you any bits of food until dinner is ready, go and wait with Zack" Max said irritated.
"I'm in here to help you" Alec said. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his hands on her swollen belly. He smiled happily as he felt the baby kicking. "Oh yes, definitely an X5" he said jokingly.
"Max turned around quickly, "No, no, no, don't even say that. This baby is going to be normal. One hundred percent normal. Like every other kid" Max said.
Alec put his hands comfortingly on her shoulders, "Max, you can say that all you want, but you know as much as I do, that this baby will not be normal. She'll be better then normal. We're better then normal. She'll be special. She'll be strong, smart and she'll have hair, my eyes, and she'll have this lovely creamy tan like skin color. Oh, and hopefully my nose" he said.
"And what is wrong with my nose?" Max said.
Alec let out a small sigh of relief escaped Alecs lips. He had managed to distract her. "Nothings, nothing's wrong with your nose. It's just not my nose" he said grinning. She hit him. Hard. She smiled as he made a small oof sound. He stood up a moment later though and recollected himself. "So, what are we cooking?" he asked.
"Burgers, frys and salad" she said. She went the the refrigerator and grabbed a bag of frozen French frys out of the freezer, and tossed it at Alec. "Put those on an oven tray, then put the tray in the oven" she said turning on the oven.
Alec did as he was told. When he was done he leaned against the counter, watching Max forming the ground meat in to hamburger patties. "Nothing is more attractive then a woman cooking for her man" he said.
She turned around and glared at him, "You are such a pig" she said. She had been going way to easy on Alec, she made a mental note to give him a hard time. "And if you don't stop with this piggish behavior, then you are going to get some raw meat chucked at you" she said.
Alec put his hands up in defeat, mumbling, "so unfeminine".
Max was not in the least bit amused, "We can't all be as feminine as you Alec" she said with a sarcastic smile.
Alec looked at his wife. She was wearing a pale yellow sun dress with blue and powder pink flowers on it. It fell right above her knees. Her black curls were tied back behind her with a blue ribbon. Some trendils of hair had escaped the ribbon, and were now gracefully falling around her face. She looked young. Like a small porcelain doll that someone had added a little belly to as an after thought. "You do look pretty though, you've got that whole pregnant woman glow working for you" he said walking over to her and brushing some of the hair out of her face. He left his hand on her cheek, and brought up his other hand, resting on her other cheek. He leaned down and kissed her softly.
She kissed him back, then pulled back and smiled. He could be so charming when he wanted to be, "You are forgiven" she said.
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When Alec woke, he heard rain lightly falling on their roof. He waited a moment before opening his eyes. It was a gray morning, the room was dark. He moved to get up, sticking his foot out from under their thick down blankets. His foot was kissed by icy air, and he quickly brought his foot back into the warmth of their bed. He rolled over looking at Max. Her dark curls formed a veil over the smooth skin of her face. She lay peaceful in sleep. He brought a hand over to brush back her hair so he could look down at her face.
Alec decided that he definitely liked Max best when she was sleeping. She looked only of peace, and not of troubles that plagued her when awake. Plus, she insulted him less. He wrapped his arms around her, and brought the blanket tightly around them, protecting them against the cold. A soft noise escaped Max's lips as she awoke. She yawned and moved a bit in his arms. "Alec, what time is it" she asked quietly.
"Seven thirty" he said back, closing his eyes trying to slip back into the peacefulness of sleep.
"You're gonna be late for work" Max said softly.
"I don't want to go to work" Alec said in a voice that resembled that of a young child telling his mother he did not wish to go to school. He was reluctant to leave the warmth provided by Max and the pile of blankets.
"Okay" Max purred softly into his ear. "You can come shopping for baby stuff with me and Zack" she told him.
Now here arose an interesting choice. Leave the warmth of his home and go to work, or stay here for most likely ten more minutes at the most, and go shopping with Zack and Max. Well, he figured he might as well have a say in the things that they bought. "Yeah okay" he said burying his face in her hair.
"Okay, let's get up" Max said. Alec groaned. "Oh don't whine so much, rise and shine now, come on." Max said attempting to rise from bed. Alec held onto her though, refusing to let her go. "Alec, let go, we are getting up" she said sternly.
"Come on Maxie, some of us need our sleep" Alec said in a whine.
Max froze and tensed at his words. The sounded so familiar that it hurt, but she couldn't help remembering.
FLASHBACK;
"Come on Maxie, some off us need our sleep, we're not all like you ya know" Ben said coming out of sleep.
"I know, but I can't sleep" she whispered softly to him.
Be responded by scooting over in his bed and lifting up the blanket for her to crawl under. She did so happily. She closed her eyes and sighed. Her bed always seemed cold, or lumpy, of stiff. Ben's bed was always warm and soft and welcoming.
Present;
Max quickly jumped out of bed. Alec opened his eyes and stared at her. "What's wrong Max?" he asked her.
"Nothing, nothing's wrong" she said. He didn't believe her. She stood hunched over a little bit. Her hair fell in her face, and stuck to her mouth. Her long white night gown graced the floor, beautifully framing her pregnant form. "It's just time to get up" she said.
Some how Alec got the feeling that something was bothering her. But if she didn't want to talk about it, then Alec knew it was pointless to try to get her to open up to him. Alec mad a small groaning noise as he left his warm bed was chilled by the cold air. "I hate the cold" he protested softly.
"Alec, your genetically engineered and trained to tolerate extreme temperatures. Why must you be such a baby when it's a little chilly?" Max asked.
Alec didn't answer. He just got down on the ground and began his pushups. Max rolled her eyes, some things never change. she went into the bath room.
She looked in the mirror at herself. She took a deep breath and backed up into the wall as she smelled him. She shook her head, trying to ignore it but it was there. The scent of her dead brother. That good old scent of happiness and sunshine. Of hope and care and love. It filled the room, it was everywhere.
Why must he continue to haunt her. She wanted to be alone. She loved him, and she missed him terribly, but she needed to be normal, for Alec, and for Zack. she saw how Zack continued to look at her, with concern and worry. And when he thought she wasn't paying attention, he got the look. Every time she spaced out or looked off for a moment he got the look. The look full of fear. Fear that he was loosing her, fear that she would break like a china doll.
She walked back over to the sink, and turned on the water. She rinsed her face with some cold water. She looked up into the mirror again. She dried her face off with a hand towel, and ran her silver comb through her hair. She began to brush her teeth. She could do this. She could get through the day and be normal. Well, as normal as an X5 could be. She took a deep breath, out on a big smile, and went out into the living room.
She sat on the couch next to Zack, who was already up, dressed, and watching the news. "You guys are so boring. There is way more interesting things on then the news" Alec said coming into the room. He was wearing a pair of dark blue corduroys, and had no shirt on yet. Max noticed that he was wearing a pair of bright red socks. She shook her head. "What?" he asked, noticing that she was looking at him weird.
"Nothing" she said. She got up and went back into her room to get dressed. Alec followed her into their room and put on a gray shirt. Max but on a long sleeve black shirt and a pair of blue overalls. She turned to find Alec looking at her. "What?" she asked him.
"Nothing, you just look like such a.. a.. never mind" he said shaking his head.
"No what" she said putting her hands on her hips and glaring at him. She tapped a foot on the floor, and raised her eyebrows up. Alec laughed at her. This just made Max angry. "what is so amusing?" she asked annoyed.
"Well, it's just, I mean your Max. Tough chick Max. And your standing there six months pregnant, wearing overalls. And to top it off, we're going shopping for baby things. It's just kind of funny" he said with a cute little Alec smile.
Max was not won over by his small smile though. She walked over to him and smacked his head. "First of all, you got me pregnant. Second of all, you got me these overalls. And last, the baby has got to have something to wear, sleep on, and play with" she said angry.
"Okay" Alec said, "First of all, WE got you pregnant. Second of all, are you sure I bought you those overalls, it doesn't seem like something I would do. And last, well, okay, the baby does need stuff. You got me there, but still, it is kind of funny" he said.
"You did buy me these overalls for the record" Max said. "And there's nothing funny about it. Next time, you can get pregnant" she glared.
"Actually, I can't" he said. "I'm fairly certain that it's impossible for a male to get pregnant" he said smiling.
"Oh I'm sure our old buddies back at Manticore could find a way" Max said.
"you know, I don't think I really want to have another kid" he said back. "I mean, I never saw myself having any children, one is going to be more then enough".
"Oh, well I'm sorry for getting pregnant. I'm sorry for.." she started to cry, "For making you settle down. I'm sorry for ruining your life, I'm sorry for letting you out of Manticore, I'm sorry for everything. EVERYTHING" she turned and walked over to the window ad looked outside.
"What?" Alec said confused, "Where did that come from? One minute I thought we were joking around, and the next your yelling at me" he said walking over. "Listen Max, I'm sorry. This wasn't my plan, that's true enough, but that doesn't mean I'm upset that it turned out like this" he said putting a hand on her shoulder.
She brushed his hand away, and went over to the door of their room, "I am going to be with my brother. He enjoys my company. And we are going to buy stuff for this child inside of me who is so unwanted by her father. Because it's not her fault that your a stupid immature child" she spat out at him. She stomped out of the room.
Alec let out an exasperated sigh and stood still for a few moments. He took a deep breath and went out into the living room, Max was siting on the couch with her arms wrapped around Zacks neck, crying into his chest. Zack had his arms wrapped around her, and was rubbing her back, attempting to pacify her. "What did you say to her?" Zack said glaring at him.
"Who knows what I said this time" Alec said. Everything he said had been making her mad lately.
"Oh you know what you said" Max said turning and glaring at him. She turned back to Zack, "I'm gonna get my shoes on, lets go" Max said to Zack.
"Um, Max there's not that many stores open this early in the morning" Zack said.
"Max, Come on, I'm sorry, now I'm coming with you" Alec said.
"What ever" she said. "Zack come on, it's already eight, we can get breakfast on the way. We'll go and sit down in some restaurant. Alec can wait in the car" she said. "Now, I'm going to wait in the car" she said and walked outside.
Zack stood up and crossed his arms over his chest, and glared at him. "Alec, she's pregnant, is it to much to ask for you to be nice to her?" He said in an angry tone.
Alec shook his head and crossed his arms, "Everything I say upsets her. I'm apparently just a stupid immature child" he said.
"I heard" Zack said, "Any ways, come on, if your coming. I don't like Max waiting our there in he cold" he grabbed is jacket on his way out.
"Are you sure you want us to do this shopping with you?" Zack was saying to Max as Alec climbed into the back seat of the car. "Andrea would probably be better company for this type of thing. Plus, she seems to know an awful lot about these types of things" he finished.
"Andrea is eight and a half months pregnant, and prefers to stay home" Max said. And she knows about these things because she has another child. she figured it out on her own the first time, so can I. Here that Alec, she's going to have two children. I think maybe I'd like two children, or three, or maybe even four" she said.
"Four?" Alec choked out the word. Four children. Four....
"Oh she's just trying to scare you, you moron" Zack said. He started the car and they drove off.
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