Sorry it took me so long to update, but I really should better be studying, I just can't help I rather write this:-)
Hope you are gonna enjoy it, and keep on reviewing!!!


Together with Anna Max sat next to her sleeping boyfriend, they'd called Peter who was on his way. The doctor had ensured them that Logan just needed some sleep, that there would be no permanent damage. And as he wasn't in any pain and could not starin the injured limp he'd be allowed to leave the hospital the next day. Only he wouldn't be aloe to fly to Seattle the day after the next.

"Why hasn't the mother picked up the baby?"

"She doesn't have a Mom, she'd the orphan I told you about."

"What's going to happen to her?"

"No idea, if she'd lucky she can stay at Arlington House and grow up here."

"Why can't you find a family for her?"

"It's not that easy. There are lots of children waiting for parents." Anna smiled at Max sadly. "And few people who are makinga good enough imprssion to adopt a child."

"But what about those couples who who have paid a fortune to havea baby?"

"Illegally, because theywere not able to adopt a baby in their own countries for whatever reasons."

Max nodded. "May I?" Anna handed her the little girl and Max carefullyand a little hesitantly held her in her arms. "Hey little fella. What's her name?"

"Hope. That's what we named her at least."

"Hello Hope." The baby smiled at her and strechted out a tiny hand to grab a strain of Max's hair.

Both women were concentarting on the little girl that they din't notice Logan watching them.

"Hey..."

"Logan!" Max turned towards her boyfriend. "This is Hope."

Groaning he lifted his head so he could have a look. "Guess she was worth the trouble, huh?" His voice still sounded tired but there was some color back in his face.

**

Max stayed at the hospital with him that night, knowing how he hated it and how he would probably feel a lot better with her around. Anna ad Peter had taken Hope home with them.

It was in the middle of the night that Logan woke up, feeling Max's body lying next to him. "Are you awake?"

Max hadn't slept for a minute. "Hmmm."

"What are you thinking about?" Logan knew her too well.

"Nothing really, just stupid stuff."

"And what exactly?"

"Hope."

"Hope." He laid his strong arm around her shoulders and Max took the invitation to cuddle closer, careful not to touch his leg.

"You know, she doesn't have a family and probably never will have."

"Like you, huh?"

"In some ways. I mean she won't have to learn how to kill at the age of five and stuff...but apart from that..." She caressed his cheek.

"She'll be taken care of."

"You know, I was just thinking about how we talked about havinga family..."

"Max." Logan though to know in what direction that was going.

"I mean, we love each other, don't we? And we wanna stay together, right?"

"I love you, and I want you to stay with me for the rest of my life. That's all true, but..."

"Why can't we adopt her then?" Max held her breath.

"It's not that easy."

"Why not?"

"We are not a normal couple Max. We lead risky lives. Do you want to go on a mission knowing you're responsible for a child?"

"If I was pregnant, I'd have to deal with that aswell. I wouldn't have a choice."

"But right now we do have one." Logan couldn't see her ace in the darkness, but he knew exactly what she looked like right now, lips pressed together, frowning.
"Max, you are a genetically enhanced killing machine on the run!"

"And?" she asked, knowing that was not everything.

He sighed and then continued, his voice barely a whisper. "And I'm a guy in a wheelchair. I mean, I couldn't be a normal Dad. Coaching her soccer team, camping, hiking, teaching her how to play baseball..."

"That's crap."

"You think we would make her happy?"

"We'd love her. You didn't have that for along time, and I only got it when I met you. Don't you think that's the only thing that matters?"

"We are not married, and we are not even British. We wouldn'tget her anyway." By the way his reasoning was going she could tell that he started to like the idea.

"I wouldn't count on that. So what do you say?"

"Let me think about it, OK?"

"Is tehe chair your problem?" Max's voice was harsher than she had intended.

"If you really wanna know, on some level, yes." He swallowed hard. "It's not easy for me, I can barely deal with my own life. Everyday actions turn out to be obsatcles for me, Max. I don't know if I have it in me to care for a baby."

"I'm here! And you are the strongest person I know, of course you can make it. Don't let the chair get in the way!" She grinned. "Guess I said that before- but I've always been right."

"You are right. But I still have to think about it. This would be a life changing decision. You should give it another thought aswell."

"I know, but the way she looked at me today..."

"And can you imagine how Kendra, Original Cindy and Bling would react? I mean, we left as friends and would return with a baby."

"They'd say they told us so, they wouldn't have expected it to go that fast, but they told us so."

"I love you Max Guevara."

"Dito."

**

The next morning Logan desperately tried to escape te hospital as fast as possible. It stirred too many bad memories of endless pain, humiliation and desperation. The doctor examined him once more, bandaged the leg and ordered Max to exchange the bandage frequently, always being aware of changes. Again he explained how serious a paraplegic patient needed to take injuries like that. Logan endure the session impatiently.

**
Finally they were on their way home, Anna had left then hercar at the hospital.

"Listen Max, about last night and the baby..."

"Loagn, I know it's been a fast decision and I know it must've sounded pretty nuts." Her voice became a whisper. "But I'm still sure I want to have her. It's just that I can't do it alone, and if you are not willing to d it, I have to accept it. On some level I even understand it, though the wheelchair part was bullshit..."

"Could you let me say something for a change?" He looked over at her, slightly amused.

"Sure, go ahead!"

"Thanks. If this means so much toyou I'm going to support you. I've thought about it for the rest of the night- and I'm Ok with it."

Without saying a word Max parked the car and turned to look him in the eyes. When she saw that he wasn't kidding she bent over to embrace and kiss him. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome. But I tell ya, you are the one who gets up in the middle f the night to change the diaper or to sooth her when she's crying."

"I swear!"

Suddenly Logan felt 100% happy, th doubts he'd still had before saying it out loud had vanished. It was a good thing to do, it tasted of normal life. And maybe they'd never be able to have kids, for whatever reason. And that little girl needed a chance they could offer.
"I'm gonna talk to Grandma, maybe she can help."

"You're incredile. I love you."

"But you know that means moving in with me, right?"

Max only nodded, smiling happily. She was not afraid of the commitment she was making, and that surprised herself.

"And..." Logan grabbed her hand. "There's one more thing." He couldn't believe what he was about to do, but it felt so right.