I hope you didn't mind the cliffhanger, but it was the perfect moment to stop:-)
I've decided that it's no use going back to my books today. I'll study a lot next week (hahaha).
Hope you have fun reading the story. Just don't be too hard on me when it comes to grammatic, spelling or whatever. I just seem to be blind to mistakes when I check the chapter before posting. Maybe one day I will corret them all!!!


"Max Guevara. You are the best thing that ever happened to me, you're everything I ever dreamt of. And I don't want to be without you ever again. Do you want to become my wife?"

Max stared into Logan's deep blue watery eyes and felt tears welling up in her own.

"Yes! Yes! Oh my god, yes! There's nothing I want more!" she threw her arms around him. "I love you so much that it hurts, I don't want to lose you either."

Then they engaged in a passionate kiss.

"Wait, Max. Just a minute." Logan awkwardly leaned forward and fumbled with his purse, finally he held up a beautiful golden ring, one small diamond glittering on it.
"It's been my mother's and I've never given it to Val, don't ask me why. But I want you to have it."

One look in his soft eyes told her how important that was to him and that it was not the moment to refuse. Instead she held out a slightly trembling hand. "Thank you so much."

The ring fit perfectly.

**

When they arrived at the house of Logan's grandparents Max helped him into his chair. They'd discussed before that he would have to accept her help if he didn't want to risk further damage and a return to the hospital.

Anna and Peter instantly knew that something had happened.
"You both have a smile on your face and in your eyes. You look happier than I've ever seen you."

Max couldn't hold back. "Logan proposed to me."

"Oh my god! This is fantastic! Congratulations!" Anna embraced Max and then her grandson, so did Peter.

"There's something else though." Logan wheeled over to the round table in the living room. "You might wanna sit down." His grin showed that it wasn't going to be something bad.
"It's about Hope. We talked about it last night, and we thought it through. We want to try and adopt her."

Anna and Peter stared at him, openmouthed.

"What o you think? Is there a chance?" Max held Logan's hand.

"You're really serious, aren't you?" Peter stood up. "This is huge, do you know what it means to raise a child? It will change your entire life."

"Yeah, we both know." Logan felt like an immature schoolboy, but Peter wasn't finished yet.

"It's not gonna be easy- for you. Logan, are you dealing well enough with your own life to be able to take the responsibilty for a kid? I'm sorry, but we both know you had serious problems adjusting."

"I know, but I'm fine now. And with Max I'm just looking forward. No regrets, no looking back."

They knew that it wasn't quite true, but all three of them knew Logan had come from deep down and how much strength and will it had required to reach the point where he was now. He had the power within him, and even though there would be bad days, they all were positive he would make it. And maybe being responsible for a child even helped him.

"You know, London is independent when it comes to adoption. And the guy who decides about it happens to be a good friend. You might remember him from one of the parties. If you are absolutely sure I don't think there is gonna be a problem. England isn't half as corrupt as the States since the Pulse, but even over here, there have been changes."

"Please call him."

"But only when you are going to lay down, Logan. You are pale."

Max agreed with Anna and pushed his chair over to the bedroom.

"I'm fine."

"You were shot yesterday."

"The doc said it wasn't serious, I'm in no pain anyway..."

"Because you can't feel it doesn't mean it's not there." Max carefully observed his eyes, there was something wrong. They were not as bright and clear as they should be. And Max couldn't believe that being shot didn't leave any marks. She would press on until he was going to talk.
But first she helped him into the bed and threw the blanket over his legs.

"Logan, please let me in."

"I don't know what you are talking about." His jaw tightened.

"You are not doing fine" I want you to tell me, that's what I'm talking about!"

"I'm afraid you are wrong, I didn't even notice when I was shot." His tone was bitter. Apparently that was part of the whole problem.

"Why are you doing this? We just promised to spend therest of our lives together, so no secrets. At least not when it's about something like that." Max suddenly felt anger rise in her. "I'm tired of having to worry about all the things you keep bottled up, you pretend all the time that you are fine, but nobody can take that much! You're no superhero!"

Suddenly she saw his features crumple. "Don't make me think about it, Max. Please."

"It's better to face it, and now I'm here to support you." She caressed his cheek, feeling sympathy for the man she loved so much. "Trust me."

His eyes grew distant, and when he finally spoke he seemed to be far away. "It felt like the missing part, for a long second I was back in that street, right before my life was ripped apart. And I knew what was about to happen, and I knew what I would have to go through. Back then I never saw the guy aiming the gun at me, this time I did" He had to take a deep breath before he could continue. "Those eyes, there was so much hate, and he knew what he was about to do and still didn't flinch. It's the missing scene Max, that could have been Bruno. He must have had the same look of hate in his eyes."

"You don't have to go through all that again, not alone."

And then the walls he'd built so throughly over the past months fell, that was the outbreak Bling had been hoping for. And Max was there to cushion the fall, to support him when he re-live the biggest nightmar of his life. She joined him as he battled the frustration and pain again. She held him while it all broke out of him. She kissed the tears away that streamed down his face.

Max had no idea how long she'd been kneeling in front of Logan, holding him, trying to calm him. But finally she felt him relax, finally there were no more tears to shed, and eventually he fell asleep, spent from the emotional war he'd just fought.

**

"Max?" Anna peeked into the room. "It's way past noon, do you want to eat something?"

"Yeah." She stood up from where she'd sat in his wheelchair, watching him lying on the bed, sleeping peacefully.

**

"How is he?" Anna asked, worriedly.

Of course they must have heard him weep.

"I think fine." Max smiled reassuringly. "May that was what he needed. You know, Bling, his best friend, always told him to scream or else he would explode."

Peter nodded in thoughts. "I know that you really want this kid, I believe you when you say you thought it through. And despite your age, I think you know what you are doing. But you need Logan's help, right?"

Max nodded. "I couldn't do it alone, and I don't want to do it alone."

"And are you sure Logan is ready for that? Is he stable enough?"

Max didn't answer immediately, but when she did her voice was full of conviction. "I know that it isn't helping to convince you when you see breakdowns like this, but no matter how bad some days are, Logan always sees the bigger picture. He will always, always, pull through and he will never forget abouthis responsibilities. If he says he'll be there for Hope, hemeans it- and I trusthim."

"Ok, that's all I wanted to hear." Peter nodded his thanks to Anna who put two plates on the table.

"I've talked to George, and he promised to deal with this first thing Monday morning. You'll have to go see him, he wants to talk to the two of you."

Max grinned from ear to ear. "Thank you so much."

**
They'd just finished lunch when Emily called and asked if she could come over after doing her homework. Of course she could.

Max returned to the bedroom with a plate full of spaghetti. Logan still lay on the bed, awake, his eyes were red and puffy.

"Hey, sleepyhead. Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry."

"No big dealio." She knew he was embarrassed and wanted to play it down for his sake. "Emily is coming over."

"Great." He sat and moved so he could lean against the head of the bed, then he took the plate from Max.

"What?" He asked when he found his beautiful fiancee staring at him. "Never seen somebody eat spaghetti?"

"No, I'm sorry. I was just thinking about what a great guy I'm with."

"Well, no arguing about that." He had an idea. "Listen, do you want to go out tonight? I mean, we have been sightseeing, but the nightlife in London isn't bad either."

"I'd like that."

"I'm afraid we have to leave out the dancing part though."

"I can live with that. So we are having a date, huh?"

"Max, we're engaged. I think we're past the dating."

"Right. We didn't do much dating though..."

"Excuse-me?! What would you call all those evenings when we played chess?"

"Staying at home?"

Logan grabbed a cushion and threw it in her direction. But as he still has the plate on his lap, there was no way he could hit her. Max just giggled and opened the door. "I promised Anna to help do the dishes. You bring your plate when you are done."

"Ok."



I hope you liked it!!!Review!!!!!