Chapter 18............Somthing wonderful
She was pregnant. Very pregnant. They were expecting her to deliver her baby two weeks ago. But here she stood, pregnant, sipping a lemonade, while watching Alec curse while attempting to put together a baby crib. She looked over at Andrea, who was just trying not to laugh. Andrea looked over at her and they exchanged a glance. "Mark, why don't you just let George or Francis help you" Andrea suggested in her heavily Irish accented voice.
Max shook her head, "Don't even try to suggest it" Max said. "We've had that crib for about three months now, he started to put it together the day we got it" she told the red headed woman.
"Come on Cammy, let's go sit in the living room and play with the babe" Andrea suggested. Max nodded and followed the other woman into the living room, where Zack and George were sitting with Andrea's baby.
Zack was holding the baby, and Andrea's four year old son, John, sat next to him. "Cammy" he said when Max came into the room, "Look, a baby, so cute, come, hold it, her" he said. Zack wasn't really fond of kids. Though, John seemed to like Zack.
Max took the baby from her brothers arms, and looked down at the little girl. She had a small feathery bit of red hair on her. Her skin was a pale creamy color, and she already had the smallest dust of freckles over her noes, which was right under a pair of bright green eyes. "Andrea she really looks like you" Max said looking up at the mother. The baby's name was Julia, named after Andrea's mother. Max handed the baby over to Andrea, who happily cooed to her child.
"God damn son of a-" they could here Alec yelling from the baby room. After a moment he came out into the living room. "Max, our baby doesn't really need a crib, does she?" he asked smiling.
"Yes she most certainly does" Max said putting her hands on her hips.
"But we have that cradle thing" Alec whined.
Max shook her head, "Okay, that's it. You had a chance, you can't do it. Francis, George" she said. The two Men stood up and went in to the room.
"Max, come on" Alec said. Max just shook her head. Alec pouted and plopped down on the couch next to the small boy. Max had noticed that though Zack wasn't to fond of children, Alec seemed to get along with them fine. She told herself that it was probably because he was on the same maturity level with them. "They don't respect me at all" he said to the little boy, who smiled up at him. Max lowered herself down on to the couch next to Alec, and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Oh Max, your already tired and you haven't even had your babe yet" Andrea said. Max pouted. She never used to get tired, she could go days without sleep, and even then she only needed a couple hours. But for the last four or so months of her pregnancy, she had just been exhausted the whole time.
"Oh I'll be fine as soon this the child gets out of my belly" Max said.
"Or so you think" Andrea informed her "but that little girl is gonna have you up all night every night until she becomes a toddler, then she'll have you running circles chasing her around the house" She said smiling. Max and Alec groaned. Alec rested his head on Max's. "Do you want to hold the baby Mark?" Andrea asked Alec.
"Uh... I don't really hold babies" Alec said. As the words left his mouth, he regretted them.
Max and Andrea both looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "Well you better start holding them because this baby is coming out of me any day now" Max said in an angry tone.
"Okay, I'll hold the baby" Alec said. He stood up and took the baby from Andrea. The weight of the baby in his arms made him feel uncomfortable. Like he would drop her. "Are you happy now" Alec glared at the two women.
"Yes" Max said smiling.
Andrea laughed at them, "You guys will argue over anything wont you" she said with a grin.
Max smiled, "yeah, we really do" she said.
Zack and George came out into the living room, a satisfied grin danced upon Zacks face. "We are done" he informed them.
Alec frowned and pouted a bit, "I could of done it" he said, "you guys were just rushing me." he defended himself.
"Sure you could" Max said smiling sweetly. Alec walked over and sulked in a corner, mumbling down to the baby how he never got any respect.
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From the moment Max had entered the hospital, half delirious from a painful contraction, she smelled him. And as she was brought to the delivery room, she thought she saw him. Standing in the door way to another room, smiling at her lightly. She had turned back, expecting him to be gone, but he remained there, she said his name, not being able to help it, but no one seemed to notice.
She lay half asleep now. Looking at Alec holding their baby, standing by the window. This should of been a happy moment, there was her husband, holding the small little bundle that was her baby. And she was a beautiful baby to. Her skin was a creamy tan shade, and she had dark eyes like Max. And she did bring Max joy, as did the look on Alecs face as he stared down at their child. But she felt a great sadness. Her brothers presence continued to haunt her, no matter how hard she tried to put him behind her. She had to fight not to cry. She was glad that Alec though she was asleep, he was paying to much attention to the baby to notice the sadness in her face.
She wanted to get out of bed and go back the room she had seen Ben at. As much as she was trying to push him away, there was still a part of her that wanted him back, that didn't care if she was crazy. Now more then ever. She wanted Ben to be here, she wanted him to hold her baby and to tell her stories about the good place. She needed him. Nothing compared to the pain of killing Ben that day. Not even when she had chose to send Zack to that farm. It had been painful, but Zack was still alive. She allowed herself to slip into an uneasy sleep after a while, hoping that the sleep would ease the pain. When she woke up, she was alone.
"Alec, Zack?" she said into the empty room, to make sure no one was there. Her baby slept in one of the hospital baby beds in the corner of her room. Max climbed out of the bed, and walked over to see her child. It was dark, but she could see better in the dark any ways. She smiled at the baby, thinking happily to herself about how beautiful she was. She ran a finger over the baby's soft cheek, "I'll be right back love" she said, and tip toed out of the room.
She was lucky, the halls were empty, except for the figure of a man. As she walked towards the man, she realized it was Ben, and he as still standing outside the same room. "Ben?" she said softly. He disappeared. "Ben" she said louder. Nothing. "Ben" she sobbed out his name, but he wasn't there anymore. She looked at the door to the room. She should leave. She should turn around and leave. She knocked softly on the door. No answer.
She shook her head. She really had lost it. The room was probably empty But there was a chart hanging on the little space by the door. She picked it up and looked at it. John Doe. Admitted nearly two years earlier, with severe neck wounds. Had been in a coma, but they couldn't figure out why. Neck wounds had healed, and there was no apparent head injuries. Max put the chart back, and stepped away.
It couldn't be. It had to be a coincidence. What were the odds? A billion to one. She slowly opened the door, keeping her eyes tightly shut. A soft beeping sound moving with a heart beat hit her ears. She stepped into the room keeping her eyes shut, until she hit a bed. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
She nearly crumpled to the ground when her eyes fell upon his face. His smooth pale beautiful face. His dark eyelashes fell in an almost feminine fashion on his cheeks, and his light brown hair fell in bangs in his forehead. He looked much paler then she remembered, and his full pink lips were chapped. She resisted the urge to run her hand across his face. This wasn't real. It couldn't be. It was just another delusion. It had to be. She had killed Ben, she had felt him die in her arms. He was dead.
So was Zack, but they brought him back an off part of her mind whispered. And if Lydecker did bring him back, he would have wanted to send him away. Max knew that that much was true. Lydecker had some sick twisted fatherly love for them, and wouldn't of wanted Ben to receive the fate that would have awaited him. If he had been found some how alive, then Lydecker would of sent him as far away a possible.
But there was almost a zero chance that Ben was alive. Zack. She had to find Zack. If Zack saw Ben, then it would be real. Her enhanced hearing heard a baby cry down the hall. Her maternal instincts took over her little girl instincts, and she quickly raced back to her room.
The babies face was wrinkled up as soft tears ran down her cheek. "Shhh" she whispered, "Mommy's here" she said and picked up the baby. She looked at the clock on the wall. She was wrong, it wasn't night, it was morning. She looked out the window and saw that sure enough the sun was rising. It was already Seven o clock. Max wondered how long she had stared at Ben, or who she thought was Ben.
Max walked back over and settled down on the hospital bed, and began to breast feed her baby. "Poor Morgaine" she said to the child. "You'll grow up with a crazy Mom, and a Dad that calls your Morgana and has the maturity of a twelve year old" she smiled.
"I heard that" Alec said walking around the corner. He came over, kissed Max on the cheek, then kissed the baby on her head. Max smiled up at him, and he kissed her sweetly on the mouth. Max scooted over a little and Alec sat on the bed next to her. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"How cute" Max looked up and saw Zack standing at the foot of the bed. "A nurse told me that you're being released today" he said smiling.
"Zack" Max said urgently. Zack, you have to see something. She pulled the baby away, and little Morgaine made a soft noise of protest. Max pulled her gown up, and handed the baby to Alec. She got out of the bed and handed the baby to Alec.
"What is going on?" Alec asked confused.
"If I'm right, then you'll know soon enough" Max said. "Please Alec, just wait here" she pleaded with him. He finally nodded his head after a moment. Max grabbed Zacks arm and pulled him out of the room and down the hall, until they were outside of the room that had the man Max thought was Ben.
"Max what is going on?" Zack asked. Max didn't answer, she opened the door and tried to pull Zack inside, "Max, I'm not going in to this strangers room" Zack protested.
"Zack please, just please" Max begged him.
He let her pull him into the room. He looked at the unconscious man laying in the bed and gasped. "Oh my god" he said. He quickly walked over to the brother, and placed a hand on his shoulder. He needed to be sure this was real.
"Zack you see him, you see him don't you" Max asked. Zack didn't answer her. He couldn't think of anything but his brother who was alive. Alive and in front of him. "Please Zack. Please, tell me I'm not crazy, tell me he's there" she said through tears.
Zack looked back at his crying sister. She looked small and young again. Like she was an inch away from breaking. Zack grabbed her hand and pulled her to stand next to him. He placed her hand on Ben's white cheek, "He's real Maxie" Zack whispered, afraid that if he would say it, then Ben would disappear. But he didn't,
Max threw her arms around Zacks neck and began to cry into his chest. "It's Ben" she said through tears. Zack rubbed her back comfortingly, until she pulled away to look at Ben again. She leaned down and touched her full lips against Ben's forehead. She grabbed on of his limp hands in her and began to stroke it. "It's Ben" she kept repeating. Zack rested a hand on Max's shoulder, and his other hand on Ben's.
"What are you doing in here" the old tight voice of a woman said behind them. Max and Zack both turned to see a small woman that looked to be in her late forties. She had her hands on her hips, and was taping a foot.
"This is my brother" Max said quietly.
"Her brother in law" Zack said when he saw the skeptical look of the woman. "He disappeared almost two years ago, and we hadn't seen him since. Now we know why" He lied. "It's true, her husbands down the hall, you wont be able to deny the family resemblance" he said.
"I'll make that decision for myself" the woman said. "I f you know this man, do you feel like giving him a name?" the woman asked.
"His name his Ben. Ben Pierce" Max said softly.
"Okay, well why don't you take me to see this husband of yours, just to be safe" The womans face softened slightly. "I hope your telling the truth though. It breaks my heart to see such a nice looking young man in this condition. and with know one to claim him" she mumbled to herself. Max nodded and led the woman to her room. The woman took one look at Alec and nodded, "Well you're right, there's no denying the family resemblance" the woman said. "Okay, visit the room, it will be nice to have a name for this man" she said leaving the room.
"Max, what is going on?" Alec said after the nurse left.
"Oh Alec" she said, her face broke into a grin, now being able to accept the greatness of the situation, "something wonderful has happened" she said. She took the baby from Alecs arm and motioned for him to follow her and Zack.
When he walked into the room, he nearly turned and ran. There he was. The infamous Ben. The good twin, at least that's how everyone else seemed to see him. Of course Max and Zack both seemed to be over looking the fact that there was a psychotic killer laying in this bed. "So this is your beloved brother" Alec said.
Max nodded. "This is Ben" she said. she handed the baby back to Alec. She unclasped the golden chain that hung around her neck. She gently put it around Ben's neck. "And he's alive" she said.
Alec looked at the man that had caused his life nothing but pain. He was alive all right. But he appeared to be in some sort of coma. Who knew if he'd ever come out of it? He didn't want to say any of this to Max though. She looked to happy. Alec looked down at his baby. He wondered if Max would still even want to be with him. Maybe she just kept him around because he filled in a gap that Ben's absence had created. Max leaned against him and put a hand on their baby's stomach, and smiled up at Alec.
Well, he wasn't forgotten yet.
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A/N- Ben's reappearance will be explained more thoroughly in the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy this. La la la. And Mickey, if you are reading this, Damn you!! you said you wouldn't read this one;) Lovies to all
.
She was pregnant. Very pregnant. They were expecting her to deliver her baby two weeks ago. But here she stood, pregnant, sipping a lemonade, while watching Alec curse while attempting to put together a baby crib. She looked over at Andrea, who was just trying not to laugh. Andrea looked over at her and they exchanged a glance. "Mark, why don't you just let George or Francis help you" Andrea suggested in her heavily Irish accented voice.
Max shook her head, "Don't even try to suggest it" Max said. "We've had that crib for about three months now, he started to put it together the day we got it" she told the red headed woman.
"Come on Cammy, let's go sit in the living room and play with the babe" Andrea suggested. Max nodded and followed the other woman into the living room, where Zack and George were sitting with Andrea's baby.
Zack was holding the baby, and Andrea's four year old son, John, sat next to him. "Cammy" he said when Max came into the room, "Look, a baby, so cute, come, hold it, her" he said. Zack wasn't really fond of kids. Though, John seemed to like Zack.
Max took the baby from her brothers arms, and looked down at the little girl. She had a small feathery bit of red hair on her. Her skin was a pale creamy color, and she already had the smallest dust of freckles over her noes, which was right under a pair of bright green eyes. "Andrea she really looks like you" Max said looking up at the mother. The baby's name was Julia, named after Andrea's mother. Max handed the baby over to Andrea, who happily cooed to her child.
"God damn son of a-" they could here Alec yelling from the baby room. After a moment he came out into the living room. "Max, our baby doesn't really need a crib, does she?" he asked smiling.
"Yes she most certainly does" Max said putting her hands on her hips.
"But we have that cradle thing" Alec whined.
Max shook her head, "Okay, that's it. You had a chance, you can't do it. Francis, George" she said. The two Men stood up and went in to the room.
"Max, come on" Alec said. Max just shook her head. Alec pouted and plopped down on the couch next to the small boy. Max had noticed that though Zack wasn't to fond of children, Alec seemed to get along with them fine. She told herself that it was probably because he was on the same maturity level with them. "They don't respect me at all" he said to the little boy, who smiled up at him. Max lowered herself down on to the couch next to Alec, and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Oh Max, your already tired and you haven't even had your babe yet" Andrea said. Max pouted. She never used to get tired, she could go days without sleep, and even then she only needed a couple hours. But for the last four or so months of her pregnancy, she had just been exhausted the whole time.
"Oh I'll be fine as soon this the child gets out of my belly" Max said.
"Or so you think" Andrea informed her "but that little girl is gonna have you up all night every night until she becomes a toddler, then she'll have you running circles chasing her around the house" She said smiling. Max and Alec groaned. Alec rested his head on Max's. "Do you want to hold the baby Mark?" Andrea asked Alec.
"Uh... I don't really hold babies" Alec said. As the words left his mouth, he regretted them.
Max and Andrea both looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "Well you better start holding them because this baby is coming out of me any day now" Max said in an angry tone.
"Okay, I'll hold the baby" Alec said. He stood up and took the baby from Andrea. The weight of the baby in his arms made him feel uncomfortable. Like he would drop her. "Are you happy now" Alec glared at the two women.
"Yes" Max said smiling.
Andrea laughed at them, "You guys will argue over anything wont you" she said with a grin.
Max smiled, "yeah, we really do" she said.
Zack and George came out into the living room, a satisfied grin danced upon Zacks face. "We are done" he informed them.
Alec frowned and pouted a bit, "I could of done it" he said, "you guys were just rushing me." he defended himself.
"Sure you could" Max said smiling sweetly. Alec walked over and sulked in a corner, mumbling down to the baby how he never got any respect.
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From the moment Max had entered the hospital, half delirious from a painful contraction, she smelled him. And as she was brought to the delivery room, she thought she saw him. Standing in the door way to another room, smiling at her lightly. She had turned back, expecting him to be gone, but he remained there, she said his name, not being able to help it, but no one seemed to notice.
She lay half asleep now. Looking at Alec holding their baby, standing by the window. This should of been a happy moment, there was her husband, holding the small little bundle that was her baby. And she was a beautiful baby to. Her skin was a creamy tan shade, and she had dark eyes like Max. And she did bring Max joy, as did the look on Alecs face as he stared down at their child. But she felt a great sadness. Her brothers presence continued to haunt her, no matter how hard she tried to put him behind her. She had to fight not to cry. She was glad that Alec though she was asleep, he was paying to much attention to the baby to notice the sadness in her face.
She wanted to get out of bed and go back the room she had seen Ben at. As much as she was trying to push him away, there was still a part of her that wanted him back, that didn't care if she was crazy. Now more then ever. She wanted Ben to be here, she wanted him to hold her baby and to tell her stories about the good place. She needed him. Nothing compared to the pain of killing Ben that day. Not even when she had chose to send Zack to that farm. It had been painful, but Zack was still alive. She allowed herself to slip into an uneasy sleep after a while, hoping that the sleep would ease the pain. When she woke up, she was alone.
"Alec, Zack?" she said into the empty room, to make sure no one was there. Her baby slept in one of the hospital baby beds in the corner of her room. Max climbed out of the bed, and walked over to see her child. It was dark, but she could see better in the dark any ways. She smiled at the baby, thinking happily to herself about how beautiful she was. She ran a finger over the baby's soft cheek, "I'll be right back love" she said, and tip toed out of the room.
She was lucky, the halls were empty, except for the figure of a man. As she walked towards the man, she realized it was Ben, and he as still standing outside the same room. "Ben?" she said softly. He disappeared. "Ben" she said louder. Nothing. "Ben" she sobbed out his name, but he wasn't there anymore. She looked at the door to the room. She should leave. She should turn around and leave. She knocked softly on the door. No answer.
She shook her head. She really had lost it. The room was probably empty But there was a chart hanging on the little space by the door. She picked it up and looked at it. John Doe. Admitted nearly two years earlier, with severe neck wounds. Had been in a coma, but they couldn't figure out why. Neck wounds had healed, and there was no apparent head injuries. Max put the chart back, and stepped away.
It couldn't be. It had to be a coincidence. What were the odds? A billion to one. She slowly opened the door, keeping her eyes tightly shut. A soft beeping sound moving with a heart beat hit her ears. She stepped into the room keeping her eyes shut, until she hit a bed. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
She nearly crumpled to the ground when her eyes fell upon his face. His smooth pale beautiful face. His dark eyelashes fell in an almost feminine fashion on his cheeks, and his light brown hair fell in bangs in his forehead. He looked much paler then she remembered, and his full pink lips were chapped. She resisted the urge to run her hand across his face. This wasn't real. It couldn't be. It was just another delusion. It had to be. She had killed Ben, she had felt him die in her arms. He was dead.
So was Zack, but they brought him back an off part of her mind whispered. And if Lydecker did bring him back, he would have wanted to send him away. Max knew that that much was true. Lydecker had some sick twisted fatherly love for them, and wouldn't of wanted Ben to receive the fate that would have awaited him. If he had been found some how alive, then Lydecker would of sent him as far away a possible.
But there was almost a zero chance that Ben was alive. Zack. She had to find Zack. If Zack saw Ben, then it would be real. Her enhanced hearing heard a baby cry down the hall. Her maternal instincts took over her little girl instincts, and she quickly raced back to her room.
The babies face was wrinkled up as soft tears ran down her cheek. "Shhh" she whispered, "Mommy's here" she said and picked up the baby. She looked at the clock on the wall. She was wrong, it wasn't night, it was morning. She looked out the window and saw that sure enough the sun was rising. It was already Seven o clock. Max wondered how long she had stared at Ben, or who she thought was Ben.
Max walked back over and settled down on the hospital bed, and began to breast feed her baby. "Poor Morgaine" she said to the child. "You'll grow up with a crazy Mom, and a Dad that calls your Morgana and has the maturity of a twelve year old" she smiled.
"I heard that" Alec said walking around the corner. He came over, kissed Max on the cheek, then kissed the baby on her head. Max smiled up at him, and he kissed her sweetly on the mouth. Max scooted over a little and Alec sat on the bed next to her. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"How cute" Max looked up and saw Zack standing at the foot of the bed. "A nurse told me that you're being released today" he said smiling.
"Zack" Max said urgently. Zack, you have to see something. She pulled the baby away, and little Morgaine made a soft noise of protest. Max pulled her gown up, and handed the baby to Alec. She got out of the bed and handed the baby to Alec.
"What is going on?" Alec asked confused.
"If I'm right, then you'll know soon enough" Max said. "Please Alec, just wait here" she pleaded with him. He finally nodded his head after a moment. Max grabbed Zacks arm and pulled him out of the room and down the hall, until they were outside of the room that had the man Max thought was Ben.
"Max what is going on?" Zack asked. Max didn't answer, she opened the door and tried to pull Zack inside, "Max, I'm not going in to this strangers room" Zack protested.
"Zack please, just please" Max begged him.
He let her pull him into the room. He looked at the unconscious man laying in the bed and gasped. "Oh my god" he said. He quickly walked over to the brother, and placed a hand on his shoulder. He needed to be sure this was real.
"Zack you see him, you see him don't you" Max asked. Zack didn't answer her. He couldn't think of anything but his brother who was alive. Alive and in front of him. "Please Zack. Please, tell me I'm not crazy, tell me he's there" she said through tears.
Zack looked back at his crying sister. She looked small and young again. Like she was an inch away from breaking. Zack grabbed her hand and pulled her to stand next to him. He placed her hand on Ben's white cheek, "He's real Maxie" Zack whispered, afraid that if he would say it, then Ben would disappear. But he didn't,
Max threw her arms around Zacks neck and began to cry into his chest. "It's Ben" she said through tears. Zack rubbed her back comfortingly, until she pulled away to look at Ben again. She leaned down and touched her full lips against Ben's forehead. She grabbed on of his limp hands in her and began to stroke it. "It's Ben" she kept repeating. Zack rested a hand on Max's shoulder, and his other hand on Ben's.
"What are you doing in here" the old tight voice of a woman said behind them. Max and Zack both turned to see a small woman that looked to be in her late forties. She had her hands on her hips, and was taping a foot.
"This is my brother" Max said quietly.
"Her brother in law" Zack said when he saw the skeptical look of the woman. "He disappeared almost two years ago, and we hadn't seen him since. Now we know why" He lied. "It's true, her husbands down the hall, you wont be able to deny the family resemblance" he said.
"I'll make that decision for myself" the woman said. "I f you know this man, do you feel like giving him a name?" the woman asked.
"His name his Ben. Ben Pierce" Max said softly.
"Okay, well why don't you take me to see this husband of yours, just to be safe" The womans face softened slightly. "I hope your telling the truth though. It breaks my heart to see such a nice looking young man in this condition. and with know one to claim him" she mumbled to herself. Max nodded and led the woman to her room. The woman took one look at Alec and nodded, "Well you're right, there's no denying the family resemblance" the woman said. "Okay, visit the room, it will be nice to have a name for this man" she said leaving the room.
"Max, what is going on?" Alec said after the nurse left.
"Oh Alec" she said, her face broke into a grin, now being able to accept the greatness of the situation, "something wonderful has happened" she said. She took the baby from Alecs arm and motioned for him to follow her and Zack.
When he walked into the room, he nearly turned and ran. There he was. The infamous Ben. The good twin, at least that's how everyone else seemed to see him. Of course Max and Zack both seemed to be over looking the fact that there was a psychotic killer laying in this bed. "So this is your beloved brother" Alec said.
Max nodded. "This is Ben" she said. she handed the baby back to Alec. She unclasped the golden chain that hung around her neck. She gently put it around Ben's neck. "And he's alive" she said.
Alec looked at the man that had caused his life nothing but pain. He was alive all right. But he appeared to be in some sort of coma. Who knew if he'd ever come out of it? He didn't want to say any of this to Max though. She looked to happy. Alec looked down at his baby. He wondered if Max would still even want to be with him. Maybe she just kept him around because he filled in a gap that Ben's absence had created. Max leaned against him and put a hand on their baby's stomach, and smiled up at Alec.
Well, he wasn't forgotten yet.
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A/N- Ben's reappearance will be explained more thoroughly in the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy this. La la la. And Mickey, if you are reading this, Damn you!! you said you wouldn't read this one;) Lovies to all
.