AS204 Glory Days Chapter One, a dark angel fanfic

Glory Days by Star24

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Chapter One

Open Air Produce Market, Next Day

Max and Original Cindy strolled along slowly, enjoying not only the unusual sunny day in Seattle, but also the fact that it had happened on a weekend.

"You know it feels really good not to be worrying about what's hiding in my head." Max observed to her friend.

"So you're sure they're gone for good now?" Original Cindy asked her.

"Yeah, thanks to Logan."

"Speakin' of Logan, you and your boy are really going to go see how the old school gang is livin' it up these days?" Original Cindy asked curiously.

"Why not?" Max picked up an apple and examined it but then dropped it back into its bin, ignoring the glare the vendor gave her. "We decided we'd try to do some normal everyday kind of things together. See how it went and all. This seemed like as good as anything."

"Max." Original Cindy stopped and stared at her friend. "You and Logan are goin' on a date. Never thought this girl would see the day. Not with the dance you two been doin' for so long."

Max blushed a little. "Yeah, I guess you could call it a date. Speaking of which, I have to get a dress. You know, one that'll suitably impress Logan's nose in the air crowd."

"Logan's buyin' this time around?" OC gave Max a sharp look.

"He insisted. But hey, I could always return it afterwards, right?"

"Whatever you gotta tell yourself, sugah." Cindy stopped to haggle with a vendor for a minute over some bananas, and ended up with a half dozen which she dropped in the canvas bag she was carrying. "So when's the big date?"

"Next Saturday night."

"Not a lotta time to find the perfect dress."

"We can do it."

"We?"

"C'mon OC. You have to come with me. I figure we can cut out for an hour or so one afternoon. Hit some of the snooty uptown stores. Give 'em a heart attack."

Original Cindy laughed. "And then you whip out the magic Cale plastic, and they fall all over their snooty little selves tryin' to please you."

Max grinned, "That's the fun part. You in?"

"You know I'm in. We gonna find you a dress that's gonna make your boy's eyes roll right back in his head when he sees you in it. Not to mention, makin' him spend all night thinkin' about how he's gonna go about gettin' you out of it."

"OC!"

Original Cindy just looked at Max. "Boo, you finally headin' in the right direction but I never saw two people move slower than snails before. We gotta do somethin' to get you two together before you get old and gray."

"We're moving along just fine." Max protested.

"Whatever you say, but a fine dress never hurt a relationship. And you can't give me that 'we're not like that' line anymore, so shut your mouth."

Max had been about to toss something along those lines at Original Cindy, but she met Cindy's look and backed down.

"I put myself completely in your hands, oh wise one," she said instead.

"Yeah well, speakin' of hands we gotta start on some treatments tonight. You ain't gonna go to this do with hands that feel like sandpaper. Get over to that stand and see if you can score some glycerin. Original Cindy's gonna mix you up a batch of her own, guaranteed-to-make-your-hands-feel-like-silk-in-five-days-or-less, magic recipe."

Fogle Towers, several days later

Logan looked up in annoyance from his monitor as his phone rang insistently. He sighed as he reached over to answer it and saw that the number showing was an out of town one that he didn't recognize.

"Hello?"

Logan? Logan Cale?" the voice was slightly familiar.

"Yes." Logan answered cautiously.

"It's Gavin."

"Gavin." Logan paused, "It's been a long time. How are you?'

"I'm okay, buddy. You?'

"Not bad."

"The reason I'm calling is…"

"Let me guess, the reunion."

There was a laugh on the other end of the line. "Yep. You know that my family moved away from Seattle a while back so…"

"You're coming in to town for it and were hoping for a place to crash?" Logan hazarded a guess.

"Well you know, the hotel shortage since the Pulse and all. Anyway, it's been too long. I'd kind of like to catch up on old times."

"Old times." Logan said slowly.

"What do you say? Oh, are you married? Do you need to ask the little woman?"

"No, I'm not married." Logan hesitated. "It'll be fine. I'd love to have you here. When do you think you'll be coming in?"

"Tomorrow. If that's okay with you."

"Sure. I'll look forward to it. Do you need a ride from the airport?"

"I'll find my way."

Logan gave him the exact address of Fogle Towers and then ended the call. When he hung up the phone he sat there for a few minutes with a pensive look on his face. He glanced at his computer, but then he reached over and closed the program. Then he headed over to the windows where he stayed, staring blindly out over Seattle, for a long time…

The Cale Estate, Seattle: June 2008

The evening was warm for Seattle in June, and for once the sky was missing its usual overcast. Stars could actually be seen overhead. Logan wrapped an arm around the girl who stood beside him on the dark terrace. She seemed petite next to his tall frame, even though she was actually slightly taller than average. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders in shining waves as she leaned in closer to him.

"It's so beautiful out here, isn't it, Logan?" she said to him softly, her brown eyes shining up at him.

Logan looked down at her and smiled. "It is."

"Logan, I meant the sky and the stars," she laughed.

"Are there stars out, Carly? I didn't notice." Their eyes met and he slowly lowered his head, allowing her a chance to pull away. She didn't move and their lips met in a sweet kiss. His other arm went around her pulling her closer to him, and her arms crept up and around his neck.

* * * *

Logan raised his head from the pillow of the bed in the small guest house that was located in an isolated corner of the Cale estate. He smiled as he looked down at the girl lying there next to him, and he reached out a hand to brush her hair off of her face.

Carly mumbled something and her eyes slowly opened. She regarded Logan shyly.

"Are you okay?" he asked her. "You should have told me that you never…"

"I'm wonderful, Logan. If I told you, would you have?"

"Probably not." He paused, "I love you, Carly."

"I love you too."

A small private airport outside of Seattle: August 2008

"I'll write to you, Carly. Before you know it, I'll be finished with school and back here," Logan said, smiling down at her. A Lear Jet stood waiting on the runway outside of the small private aviation building.

"Promise?" She tried to smile back, but her eyes were sad.

"I promise. When I come home for good in the spring, we can tell your family about us."

"I think Gavin already knows." She said glancing over to see her brother walking toward them.

"Hey, Logan buddy. You ready to roll?" Gavin threw his arm around Logan's shoulder. "It's time to get back to the grind."

"Yeah, I'm ready."

Gavin pulled Carly into a hug. "Take care, baby sis. And don't worry about this ape. I'll keep an eye on him for you."

Carly blushed. "Gavin!" she protested.

Gavin winked. "I'm heading out to the plane. Don't be too long, Logan." He pushed open the door that led to the tarmac and left the two alone to say their goodbyes.

The Cale Estate, Seattle: May 2009

Logan sat in his room with the phone held to his ear. "Carly, I don't understand. Why won't you see me? Why have you been ignoring my letters for the last two months? Things were so good between us when I came home for Christmas. What's happened since then?"

"I met a friend of yours during spring break, Logan. Her name is Daphne."

Logan groaned, "Carly, it isn't what you think. She's past history."

"You asked her to marry you."

"Last year. Before you and I…"

She cut him off before he could finish. "I won't be your rebound choice, Logan. I love you too much."

"Carly, it isn't like that. It was never like that."

"Goodbye, Logan. Don't call me again."

He heard a click as the phone was disconnected…

End of Chapter One