Disclaimer: I don't own any of them. Oh, and I did use one line here that's not mine. (I just loved it when I saw that eppy)
Timeline: before LAtR and obviously FN.
Sumary: Response to Pai's Not My Heat Challenge. Max goes into Heat and gets pregnant, but not by Alec.
A/N: I have to thank a few people: Pai, for insisting I write this and her wonderful ideas; CindyZ for checking it out and making great suggestions and corrections (all the prettiness is hers); and all of the people who reviewed. Thank you all SO MUCH. And of course to all the Nuns.
Tough Call Decisions"Will you let me be its father?" Alec's words echoed in Max's head still.
She was sitting on the edge of the Space Needle, looking down at the city without actually seeing it. She still couldn't believe she was pregnant. She didn't think she was ready to be anyone's mom. She was barely able to take care of herself, how was she supposed to look after a baby? Sure, she took care of Joshua, but he was a big guy. Babies were another thing altogether. They needed constant attention, someone around at all times… Even with her shark DNA she couldn't stretch herself that thin.
*You're not the first single mom in the world, you know?* a little voice in her head announced.
Well, I don't think any of them is a genetically engineered bike messenger with cult loonies on her tail
*Poor Max… Why is it that everything has to be a tragedy with you?*
Probably because everything is when it comes to me.
*Oh! Puh-lease! Give me a break. Besides, you don't have to be alone on this one*
Alec's beautiful eyes shined in her mind *That's right, see?* the annoying little voice continued.
He did sound sincere…
*Damn right he did!*
Max bit her lips and started to frown And he was sweet about it too…
*Just `sweet´?*
He was being nice, wasn't he?
*Where you not there?*
Uhm…, so I guess hitting him on the stomach was not the answer he deserved, huh?
Alec was sitting in Max's bed, wincing as he applied alcohol on a nasty bruise just below his ribs. She just had to hit him exactly there. Darn woman had a radar for his sore spots. He let out a little laugh as he replayed the scene in his head. He should have known. This was Max, obviously the first thing she would do was beat him. It was her natural response to everything. Especially if she felt scared. She had just looked so lost and vulnerable… And he had meant every word. Only he should have been more careful, and say them a safe distance away.
So now here he was, nursing his own wounds, waiting for her to return. Because she would, once she had time to process everything. Maybe he should have given her more time between announcements, but he thought it was better this way. Now she could worry about having a baby, but knowing at the same time she didn't have to be alone. No matter what she decided, she had to know he was there.
And she would want to talk this out with him. Whatever she thought of him, he was the only one she could discuss it with. He was her own kind.
He put his sweater back on and sat on the couch, eating a cold slice of pizza while he waited for her.
Max's shoulders were crumpled as she opened the door to her apartment. She'd gone to Joshua's looking for Alec, but he hadn't been there. She went to his old place, but to no avail. She'd even gone to Crash, maybe he was having drinks – being hit when trying to be nice and all. But he wasn't there either. He hadn't been there all night, from what they'd told her. Where the hell was he? She had started to get angry. Typical, the first sign of trouble and he disappeared. So much for his offer. He was just an irresponsible, insensible…
Her thoughts stopped as she saw the sleeping form on her couch. He'd been there, waiting for her all along.
Of course he had. When had Alec not been there when she needed him? Irresponsible? He had offered to be the father of a kid she hadn't known she was carrying. He could have said nothing and she'd never have known he knew. Why was it she always jumped to the worst possible conclusions when it came to him? He was a great friend, always there, never demanding anything in return. Maybe that was part of it. He was so unobtrusive about his help, it went unnoticed most of the times.
She sighed and went to take the empty glass from his hand, noticing the bruised knuckles but forgetting them immediately as he opened his eyes. He smiled at her, eyes still a little blurry, only to jump from the couch and back a few steps as complete wakefulness assaulted him, raising a hand as if to protect himself.
"I guess I deserve that," were her words, watching his defensive stance.
"Why, Maxie, that sounded awfully close to an apology."
"No. That was me saying you were right." She stepped closer to him, "This is an apology: I'm sorry I hit you. It was totally uncalled for and you did not deserve it," she stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
"Uhm, Max?" She smiled at his dumbfounded, disbelieving expression.
"Yeah, yeah. But you better not get used to it, cuz that's probably the last one of those you're gonna get from me, ok?" she said belligerently.
He smiled at her. They stood there for a few minutes, neither of them moving. Finally Alec motioned to the half empty box on the small table. "You eaten anything?"
She glanced at it and her stomach growled. She sat down on the sofa grabbing a slice and sighed at the first bite. "I was starving."
The tension lost, he filled a glass with milk and handed it to her, sitting by her side and watching her eat.
"So…" he started.
"So…" she said playing with a strand of her hair.
"You ok?"
She nodded, and then "I'm not quite accustomed to the idea yet, but…" she shrugged. His smile widened. He had been sure she would come to terms with it, but it was good to hear her say it.
He cleared his throat and said "I… uhm… I want you to know I meant what I said before,"
"I know." she whispered softly.
He continued, not having heard her "I know you think I'm a screw up, but I would not let you or the baby down."
"You are not a screw up, Alec. I know you wouldn't let us down." They smiled at each other again.
"Hey, Max? Not that I'm complaining, but I did expect more of a fight from you."
She faked a hurt expression "From me?"
"Yeah, you know, bitchy old Max, yelling at me…" He expected her to kick him right there, but she surprised him once again.
"Yeah, well, she decided to take a break, but don't worry, she'll be back tomorrow, full force," she said chewing on the last bit of pizza. "As a matter of fact, she's gonna come back tonight and kick your ass if you don't go get me another pizza. Right about now."
"Well, since you ask so nicely…" he got up and headed to the door "Vegetarian, right?" he closed the door just in time for the glass to shutter on it.
"Hey, boo," OC smiled at seeing her friend sitting on the couch, an empty box in front of her "Ya finally decided to join the world of the living?" Max gave her a half smile "So, ya wanna tell Original Cindy what was wrong with her girl?"
"I've been a little depressed." At OC's raised eyebrow, she corrected, "Fine, a lot depressed. But I'm alright now."
"Boo, I seen ya depressed. An' where you were is way beyond that," OC countered, a hand on her hip. "So, where's your boy?"
"He's not my..- How did you know he was here?"
"Cuz, honey, Original Cindy been trying to get ya out o' this bitch and nothing, she mentioned Joshua, and still nothing, she even called Logan and nothing. And now pretty boy's back from wherever he was an' big coincidence, all of a sudden you aiight? Nah, OC ain't buying that. Just surprised it took him this long."
Max blushed a little. "Yeah well, he made me mad enough, I had to forget about my depression and get up to kick his ass," she said, trying to sound nonchalant about it.
"Well, boo. Isn't that what he always does?" Original Cindy replied seriously.
Max opened her mouth to speak but closed it again. Max had been lying, but OC did have a point there. She'd never thought about it that way.
"So spill it, boo" OC interrupted her thoughts.
"Huh?"
"I swear girl. You're worst than that computer freak o'yours. Useless talking to."
"I'm not..-" *Oh-my-god Logan!*
She had forgotten about Logan. Completely. He hadn't even crossed her mind. Not during her heat, not in the following days, not today when she was considering having a baby. How the hell did that happen? Sure, they weren't together, but he was the love of her life, right? And she had forgotten about him?!?
OC watched Max's eyes go wide as she stopped talking. So her boo had come out of a mean depression and not even thought about her saint, can't-do-no-wrong non-boyfriend? She tilted her head and looked at her friend speculatively. "Aiight, boo, what's going on with you an' that gorgeous transgenic o'yours?"
"Did I hear someone mentioning me?" Alec said from the door, two large bags of food in his hands. He was smiling smugly, but his eyes were fixed on Max. He looked back at OC and asked with a smirk "You were talking about me, weren't you? I mean I know there are other transgenics on the loose, but there couldn't possibly be any other gorgeous ones, right?"
OC saw straight through his attempt to lighten the mood and change the subject "Aiight, suga'. Leave it there for now, but you," she finished looking pointedly at Max "You gonna have to have a looong heart to heart with Original Cindy," before turning and going to her room.
Alec sighed as he watched her go. He'd arrived just in time to hear OC's comment about Logan. He'd seen Max's surprise at being reminded of him. He'd been about to leave, and let Max mope over her wonder-boy, when OC started asking about him and Max. He'd seen her panic and once again had come to her rescue. Sure, he hadn't fooled OC, but he'd gotten the time alone with Max he needed to sort things out.
He sat beside her once again. "I guess we have to come up with something to tell people, huh? Maybe we can stall it with the others, but OC here won't be fooled for long." He ran a hand through his hair, he wasn't thrilled about having to address this so soon. "Look Max, what I said… you don't have to feel any pressure. Just because I want to be the father of your child, doesn't mean anything should change between us, you know?" he paused, "I mean I know you don't want any sort of relationship with me, and that you're with Logan, well sort of, so…" he shrugged.
Max turned around so he wouldn't see her pained expression. She didn't know why it had hurt her to hear him say nothing would change among them, but it did.
He continued speaking. "I just need to know what we're gonna tell people. You know, about you having a baby that I'm the father of…" he smiled sadly at how weird that had sounded. "I guess the truth? You went into heat, had sex, got pregnant," she shrugged in response. "I mean if – sorry, when people see I'm around all the time they'll just assume it was me, right?" He stood up "But will that be all right with you? People assuming you and I… you know," He blabbed on, as if to himself, "Yeah, except … you think they're gonna believe you and me had sex? You're always proclaiming to the world how much you hate me," he paced around the room, not noticing her blush "Well, they have to know it was heat, not like we could do anything about it," he looked at her, with a frown of concentration. "It's not very flattering, but hey, we have to make some sacrifices, right?" He tried to joke, but failed to smile himself.
"Actually, I don't think it will be such a surprise, Alec," Max said nervously.
He stopped walking "It's not?" He started to make another remark, but noticed her averted eyes "What is it Max? Why won't it be?"
"Well, it's kinda like, some people might think we are together already."
Alec laughed "And why would anyone think that?"
"Uhm, because I uhm, might have made some comments that could have led this people to uhm… arrive at that conclusion?"
Alec could not believe his ears "You told people you and I were together? When? Why?"
"It's just… Logan saw us when you were leaving my place that day and he just assumed… and he'd been… I had to push him away."
"Yeah, so blame it on Alec, 'cause he's just the kind of jerk that'd steal another guy's girl!" He was furious! "So tell me Max, who else just assumed I was the bad guy? Sketchy? OC? Nice to know all of my friends think I'm such a bastard."
"I'm sorry, okay? I never thought..-"
"That's the problem, Max. You never do. You just act and damn the consequences. I'm sick of it. Just tell me whatever you decide is more appropriate to tell everyone and then I'll just go along with it. As usual!" he stormed out, but not fast enough to hide the hurt look on his eyes from Max.
It was his turn up on the Space Needle. He knew he'd overreacted. Hell, he had suggested the same thing to her just minutes before. It was the best way to deal with it. And it probably had been the best way to deal with it when she had used it. But it still hurt.
He tried so hard to be better than that. Even earlier today he'd volunteered to be the father of this kid, and still he'd made no attempt at getting her, as much as he had wanted to. He just couldn't do that. He didn't really like Logan and he knew he was wrong for Max, but he knew the older man was basically a good guy and he loved Max in his own way, even if Alec didn't understand it.
Well, there was no helping it now, was there?
The worst part was knowing Max had so little consideration towards him. He knew she didn't think that badly of him, it was the fact that she never thought about his feelings. She probably thought he had none.
When he came back Max was asleep on the couch. Alec wondered distractedly if her pregnancy was modifying her sleeping habits. He opened the refrigerator and took out some of the food he'd brought earlier. He stiffened when he heard the soft rustle of feet against the floor. He didn't want to face her, didn't want to see the contempt in those beautiful dark eyes. He took a deep breath, plastered his happy-go-lucky expression on his face.
"Hello Cindy," he said, smiling as he turned to look at her.
She was looking at him seriously. "Now you, suga' are going to come clean an' tell Original Cindy what the hell is going on," she concentrated so much on his features, that she was able to catch a glimpse of surprise in his eyes, before the mask was back on.
Max hadn't told her. That was weird. He thought she would have embraced the opportunity to talk to OC alone. "You should probably ask her."
"Oh no, honey, cuz I know my girl an' she just gonna keep stalling an' running."
"And what does that have to do with me?" he asked, moving the food around the plate with his fork, not eating anything.
"Oh it's got everything to do with you, super soldier. You the only one who can cause such a change of mood in my boo."
He'd been prepared for it, but it still hurt like hell "Yes, of course."
OC watched with a mixture of awe and fear how his stunning smiling face turned into a blank expression, his eyes completely devoid of emotion. She followed him to her own bedroom, where he sat on the edge of the bed, hands on his knees and started speaking, eyes fixed on a spot on the wall.
"Max went into Heat. She had sexual intercourse," OC cringed at the harshness of his words, "The effectiveness rate of X5's breeding is 98.375% while the female is in Heat."
It took her a second to move past the coldness in his voice and really understand what he had said.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait. You telling me my boo is pregnant?" He nodded. "Oh, my…" she raised her hand to her forehead and stood in that awkward position for the longest time.
When she found her voice again she asked Alec "So how come no one's ever introduced Original Cindy to this other Manticorean in town?"
"Excuse me?"
"Well, You just said she was with an X5. I'm asking who he is."
"What makes you think it wasn't me?" he barely moved a muscle to speak.
She narrowed her eyes at him "Well, for starters you weren't here when she went all cat-crazy," she pointed out matter-of-factly.
He blinked, and OC realized it was the first time he'd done that since they'd come into this room. "You don't know that for sure."
"Oh, yes I do, suga'."
Alec looked at her, a tiny bit of confusion taking away the edge of his stare "How?"
"If you had been here, boo, she'd never have had to face the last two weeks alone and depressed," she answered simply.
Alec blinked twice before the mask he'd been wearing vanished from his face, leaving only a little boy's lost expression, his eyes searching his friend's face.
OC kneeled in front of him and run a hand through his hair while she laid her other hand on top of his trembling ones. "Alec, I know you'd never do anything to make her suffer," she said reassuringly.
"But before…you said I was the one… the mood swing…" He was a soldier damnit! Why couldn't he utter one logical sentence?
"Oh, boo! I meant the one out of depression." She said softly.
A smile tugged at his lips and he let it out, shocking OC with the shear power of it.
And he sat there, watching this wonderful person stroking his hair, and marveled at how lucky he was.
He had a friend.
A real one.
