Disclaimer: the usual
Note: This is nota long chapter, and I'm not quite sure how to continue this story, but I think I eventually will. Hang in there and maybe you can give me some ideas- review and let me know!
First night at home
Bling arrived right on time as usual, Max was just about to dress her jacket and check on the baby one last time. "And don't forget to feed her when she wakes up, the diapers are in the dresser beneath the..."
"Max, cut it out, you sound like a mother hen!" Logan smiled at her. "It's gonna be fine, we are big boys and will be able to deal with a sleeping baby. Besides, if she proves to be too much for us to handle i can beep you. Thanks to modern communication."
"Haha, keep making fun of me and you will be the one changing diapers for the next year, buddy." She stuck out her tongue. "I won't be too late. Have fun guys!"
"You too, Max!" Bling returned from the kitchen, carrying two bottles of beer which Max frowned at, but didn't say anything. Instead she let the door fall shut behind her.
**
Bling dropped on the couch and held out one bottle to his friend who was still sitting in his chair next to it. "So what are you up to?"
Logan shrugged. "I don't know."
"This has been quite a shock, you know. I mean, I'm glad for you guys, but are you sure you have given it enough consideration?" Bling came straight to the point.
Logan hadn't expected anything else, but still wasn't quite sure how to respond. He knew himself that they had acted on impulse, and that was not very much like him. Then the baby made a sound in her sleep and Logan smiled. "We are gonna work things out as we go along. This is how Max always did it, and she's good at it."
"Max, but what about you?" Bling pressed.
"What do you want me to say, Bling? Can't you just be happy for me?" Logan snapped.
"I said I was, and I meant it. I'm just not sure you have processed all, and I'm trying to be honest with you..."
Logan closed his eyes for a second, preparing his answer. "I appreciate that Bling, the last year has been all about processing and trying to work out a new life. This is a glimpse of the normal life I always dreamt of before- and I thought my chance had passed with the shooting and all. I'm in my thirties, Bling. I think I'm mature enough to have a family- and this might have been my one and only chance to have one- because in reality I don't have a normal life."
"Max is much younger..."
"Give her some credit, will ya!"
"Are you sure she knows what she had gotten herself into?"
Logan swallowed. So far he had always been the one in question. He had seen in his grandparents' faces, and in the faces of all the other people invovled that they saw him as the weak link. For the first time somebody also questioned Max's position. And Logan wasn't prepared. What if Bling was right? What if she was just enthusiastic about having a baby, about staying with him? What if she grew tired of having to change diapers, of having to go to bed with half a man, of having all those responsibilities at such a young age?
He took a long moment to answer. "I don't know," he admitted. "I have no clue if she will eventually regret what she did, but I sure as hell know that she will not give up easily. She loves this baby, and she loves me..." he added in almost a whisper. Like he was afraid to say it out loud. It just sounded too good to be true. Maybe he had just made a fool of himself. Why would she love him of all men? What if tonight in Crash she met a nice young guy who could stand up to her and her dreams? He shook his head. "No matter what's gonna happen, I'm not gonna regret I took the risk. There is no guarantee for a relationship, but right now I'm sure she wants it to work out, just like I do. That's what matters. There is no use to live in the future, just as there is no use to live in the past. We have to enjoy the here and now. I learnt that lesson in my life."
**
At the same time Max entered her old neigbourhood bar with Original Cindy. Immediately she was surrounded by friends and by people she could hardly remember the names but was glad to see anyway. It felt good to be here. On her way she had worried about Logan and Emma, but the further away from home – she had smiled, home- she had gotten, the more she had relaxed and now she looked forward to a carefree night out with her peeps.
Cindy observed her for a few minutes, grinning until Max finally looked straight at her. "What?"
"Nothing. Just glad to have my boo back, 's it."
"You sound like you had lost me."
Cindy shrugged. "When I saw the baby that thought crossed my mind. Don't get me wrong, I'm real happy for you and rich boy- but things are not gonna be the same again."
"That doesn't mean you'll lose me. You are my best boo for life, ya know?"
Max put her arm around Cindy's shoulder and drew her close.
"And tonight all we have to do is celebrate, aiight?"
"Aiight." Cindy held on tight for amoment but then straightened to get a pitcher of beer. "Up for a game of pool when I'm back?"
"Sure." Max tooka deep breath, this felt so good. She definitely loved Logan but she was aware of the fact that they were very different in some things, and she would never be able to hav ethis kind of thingw ith him. He wasn't like that...Not a bad thing though, I can have this with my peeps and then go home to have him. She realized that he would probably always be at home when she returned from night's out. He didn't have any friends he would go out with. Sure, Bling was always there, but that was pretty much it.
Max made a mental note to confront him and maybe make him get in touch with old friends again. She wondered if his loneliness was due to the shooting or if he had been on his own even before it, burried in his work- too busy to care about the people around him. She would have to find out.
Skecthy brought her out of her thoughts when he leaned close for a hug, smelling like he'd had quite a few bottles of beer already.
"Max! Good to have you back. Normal is really a pain in the ass and it's about time you kick it."
"Sorry, Sketch," she giggled. "But I'm not gonna come back to work any time soon."
"Whoa, you finally hit it with rich boy and he's gonna pay for a society life?"
"I woudln't necessarily put it that way, but yes."
"Congratulations!"
"Sketch, get off my girl, she ain't on the market anymore." Cindy playfully slapped the other bikemessenger and handed Max a glass. "To you and your new family!"
**
Max sneaked into the apartment early in the morning, she could make out Bling's form on the couch and silently made her way to Logan's bedroom. It was their bedroom now! She would take some time to get used to that. Her first action was to check on the baby sleeping in the cradle in the corner of the spacious room.
She smiled lovingly down at emma, sleeping peacfully. "Your Daddy did fine, huh?" She went to the bathroom to undress and throw her clothes into the hamper, hoping Logan would take care of that.
She brushed her teeth and eventually sneaked under the blanket next to Logan.
"Max?" His voice was heavy with sleep.
"Hey," she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.
"How was your evening?"
"Fun, but I missed you," she replied sincerely. "Any trouble back here?"
Logan shook his head, trying to make out Max's face in the darkness, knowing she could see him with her enhanced vision.
"She was a nice girl and fell asleep pretty early. Not been awake since then."
"Great. Go back to sleep, Daddy."
"Only when you move closer." Max willingly obliged and Logan drew her into a light embrace. "Luv ya."
"And I love you. Night."
**
TBC
Note: This is nota long chapter, and I'm not quite sure how to continue this story, but I think I eventually will. Hang in there and maybe you can give me some ideas- review and let me know!
First night at home
Bling arrived right on time as usual, Max was just about to dress her jacket and check on the baby one last time. "And don't forget to feed her when she wakes up, the diapers are in the dresser beneath the..."
"Max, cut it out, you sound like a mother hen!" Logan smiled at her. "It's gonna be fine, we are big boys and will be able to deal with a sleeping baby. Besides, if she proves to be too much for us to handle i can beep you. Thanks to modern communication."
"Haha, keep making fun of me and you will be the one changing diapers for the next year, buddy." She stuck out her tongue. "I won't be too late. Have fun guys!"
"You too, Max!" Bling returned from the kitchen, carrying two bottles of beer which Max frowned at, but didn't say anything. Instead she let the door fall shut behind her.
**
Bling dropped on the couch and held out one bottle to his friend who was still sitting in his chair next to it. "So what are you up to?"
Logan shrugged. "I don't know."
"This has been quite a shock, you know. I mean, I'm glad for you guys, but are you sure you have given it enough consideration?" Bling came straight to the point.
Logan hadn't expected anything else, but still wasn't quite sure how to respond. He knew himself that they had acted on impulse, and that was not very much like him. Then the baby made a sound in her sleep and Logan smiled. "We are gonna work things out as we go along. This is how Max always did it, and she's good at it."
"Max, but what about you?" Bling pressed.
"What do you want me to say, Bling? Can't you just be happy for me?" Logan snapped.
"I said I was, and I meant it. I'm just not sure you have processed all, and I'm trying to be honest with you..."
Logan closed his eyes for a second, preparing his answer. "I appreciate that Bling, the last year has been all about processing and trying to work out a new life. This is a glimpse of the normal life I always dreamt of before- and I thought my chance had passed with the shooting and all. I'm in my thirties, Bling. I think I'm mature enough to have a family- and this might have been my one and only chance to have one- because in reality I don't have a normal life."
"Max is much younger..."
"Give her some credit, will ya!"
"Are you sure she knows what she had gotten herself into?"
Logan swallowed. So far he had always been the one in question. He had seen in his grandparents' faces, and in the faces of all the other people invovled that they saw him as the weak link. For the first time somebody also questioned Max's position. And Logan wasn't prepared. What if Bling was right? What if she was just enthusiastic about having a baby, about staying with him? What if she grew tired of having to change diapers, of having to go to bed with half a man, of having all those responsibilities at such a young age?
He took a long moment to answer. "I don't know," he admitted. "I have no clue if she will eventually regret what she did, but I sure as hell know that she will not give up easily. She loves this baby, and she loves me..." he added in almost a whisper. Like he was afraid to say it out loud. It just sounded too good to be true. Maybe he had just made a fool of himself. Why would she love him of all men? What if tonight in Crash she met a nice young guy who could stand up to her and her dreams? He shook his head. "No matter what's gonna happen, I'm not gonna regret I took the risk. There is no guarantee for a relationship, but right now I'm sure she wants it to work out, just like I do. That's what matters. There is no use to live in the future, just as there is no use to live in the past. We have to enjoy the here and now. I learnt that lesson in my life."
**
At the same time Max entered her old neigbourhood bar with Original Cindy. Immediately she was surrounded by friends and by people she could hardly remember the names but was glad to see anyway. It felt good to be here. On her way she had worried about Logan and Emma, but the further away from home – she had smiled, home- she had gotten, the more she had relaxed and now she looked forward to a carefree night out with her peeps.
Cindy observed her for a few minutes, grinning until Max finally looked straight at her. "What?"
"Nothing. Just glad to have my boo back, 's it."
"You sound like you had lost me."
Cindy shrugged. "When I saw the baby that thought crossed my mind. Don't get me wrong, I'm real happy for you and rich boy- but things are not gonna be the same again."
"That doesn't mean you'll lose me. You are my best boo for life, ya know?"
Max put her arm around Cindy's shoulder and drew her close.
"And tonight all we have to do is celebrate, aiight?"
"Aiight." Cindy held on tight for amoment but then straightened to get a pitcher of beer. "Up for a game of pool when I'm back?"
"Sure." Max tooka deep breath, this felt so good. She definitely loved Logan but she was aware of the fact that they were very different in some things, and she would never be able to hav ethis kind of thingw ith him. He wasn't like that...Not a bad thing though, I can have this with my peeps and then go home to have him. She realized that he would probably always be at home when she returned from night's out. He didn't have any friends he would go out with. Sure, Bling was always there, but that was pretty much it.
Max made a mental note to confront him and maybe make him get in touch with old friends again. She wondered if his loneliness was due to the shooting or if he had been on his own even before it, burried in his work- too busy to care about the people around him. She would have to find out.
Skecthy brought her out of her thoughts when he leaned close for a hug, smelling like he'd had quite a few bottles of beer already.
"Max! Good to have you back. Normal is really a pain in the ass and it's about time you kick it."
"Sorry, Sketch," she giggled. "But I'm not gonna come back to work any time soon."
"Whoa, you finally hit it with rich boy and he's gonna pay for a society life?"
"I woudln't necessarily put it that way, but yes."
"Congratulations!"
"Sketch, get off my girl, she ain't on the market anymore." Cindy playfully slapped the other bikemessenger and handed Max a glass. "To you and your new family!"
**
Max sneaked into the apartment early in the morning, she could make out Bling's form on the couch and silently made her way to Logan's bedroom. It was their bedroom now! She would take some time to get used to that. Her first action was to check on the baby sleeping in the cradle in the corner of the spacious room.
She smiled lovingly down at emma, sleeping peacfully. "Your Daddy did fine, huh?" She went to the bathroom to undress and throw her clothes into the hamper, hoping Logan would take care of that.
She brushed her teeth and eventually sneaked under the blanket next to Logan.
"Max?" His voice was heavy with sleep.
"Hey," she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.
"How was your evening?"
"Fun, but I missed you," she replied sincerely. "Any trouble back here?"
Logan shook his head, trying to make out Max's face in the darkness, knowing she could see him with her enhanced vision.
"She was a nice girl and fell asleep pretty early. Not been awake since then."
"Great. Go back to sleep, Daddy."
"Only when you move closer." Max willingly obliged and Logan drew her into a light embrace. "Luv ya."
"And I love you. Night."
**
TBC
