Chapter 4: Back to Normal
A/N: Here it is oh and in case anyone was actually wondering don't worry the story does develop some actual plot soon . . . I swear.
______________________*****_________________________
"Oh my God! I don't believe it!"
Alec had to suppress his laughter as Normal threw himself onto the floor in front of him. Just when he thought that he was going to start kissing his toes Normal finally got up but only to fling his arms around Alec.
"Golden boy your back!"
His amusement changed to disgust and Alec had to try his best not to shudder when his former boss tightened his grip. Five minutes later when Normal showed no signs of breaking the hug Alec realised that something had to be done. "Normal I won't be back for long if you don't get off me, right now," and miraculously Alec had his own personal space back within a matter of seconds.
"So can I have my job back then?" he asked pretty sure he knew what the answer would be, but he had to butter him up to get him to take Max back.
"Hell yeah! I missed you ya know. With you back I will be able to get a break from the good for nothing miscreants that 'work' here."
"Oh and can Max have hers back too?" Alec asked, pouting in an attempt to seal the deal.
"Oh so missy miss is back as well. So why isn't she here?" asked Normal folding his arms. "I mean the two of you just disappeared for over a year without a word, I'm assuming yous were at the same place, and yous just come back wanting your old jobs back. I mean you, being the wonderful human being that you are, had the decency to come and ask for your job back in person, not that you needed to ask but still. So what did she have to do that was so important that she couldn't come beg in person?"
Alec smiled, this would be fun.
______________________***************_____________________
"Boo?" called OC as she walked into Max and Alec's apartment. Normal had been so happy to have his Golden Boy back that she had asked him if she could have the rest of the day of and he had actually said yes. Alec had felt bad for dropping the baby bomb on Normal so was working to the end of the day to make up for it, as he felt that he had been chancing his arm anyway.
OC wanted to talk to Max before he came rushing home to see his daughter as she was now sure he would. She still couldn't believe how much he had changed. She would have never in a million years have pictured Alec as a family guy and yet when catching up with Sketchy and the rest of his friends he spent a lot of the time telling them about Jen.
"I'm in here OC!"
OC found Max in the kitchen with Jen in one arm resting her head on her shoulder as Max heated some milk in a saucepan.
For the first time OC noticed just how pretty Jen was. She already had a head full of dark hair and Max's colouring but she had Alec's bright blue eyes with flecks of green in them that would become more noticeable through time.
"Why aren't you a cute boo now that you're awake and not crying?" said OC bending over so that she was level with her. "Can I hold her?"
"Be my guest."
Max watched with a smile as OC took Jen and sat down bouncing her on her knee. "Her milk is ready, if I put it in a bottle for you do you want to feed it to her?" she said taking the saucepan of the cooker.
"I think we have more immediate problems right now."
Max turned round to see a look of distaste on OC's face as she sniffed Jen while scrunching up her nose.
___________________****************______________________
"Hey Alec! Are you going to Crash tonight?" asked Sketchy, running to catch his friend before he left for the day.
"Nah Sketch, don't think so."
"Why?"
Alec looked at Sketchy with one eyebrow raised and an expression on his face that clearly indicated that he thought Sketchy was mad. "Have you heard a single word I've said today?" he asked wondering if Sketchy just had started having memory lapses instead of being completely thick.
"Oh well," said Sketchy catching on. "So how about we come round to yours? A few drinks, a few friends, a bit of music. What do you say?"
'No, just completely thick' Alec sighed mentally. "Sketchy, it is blatantly obvious that the very idea of a baby goes right over your head. They need constant care and attention and as much peace and quiet as possible, especially at night which is a time were you pray with all your might that they sleep for more than three hours at a time, which by the way the usually don't."
"Well do you wanna go for a few drinks now?" asked Sketchy hopefully.
"Sorry dude, I have to go relieve Max of parental duties."
After seeing the hurt look on his face, Alec went on trying to reach a compromise. "I know you just want to see your friends so I will see if I can talk Max into going to Crash tonight and you can catch up then ok? See ya later!"
Alec walked off leaving a bewildered Sketchy. "So is that a no?"
___________________***************__________________
"There!" said OC holding Jen up triumphantly. Max had spent the past fifteen minutes showing OC how to change a nappy because OC said that she had wanted to learn so that she could baby-sit and give Max and Alec a chance to get out together.
OC's face dropped when the nappy slid right off and Max started laughing. "Stop it! Just cause you have maternal instincts doesn't mean that Original Cindy is going to be a natural at this."
"Well I wasn't too bad but . . ." Max's face lit up at the memory of it. "Well let's just say that you are a 'pro' compared to the first time Alec did it. Now that was funny!" She wiped away imaginary tears of laughter before deciding to help OC out by fixing Jen's nappy.
"He was just so frustrated, he went through a whole pack trying to get one to stay on and when he couldn't he was just like 'We got a faulty pack! I thought they were a bit cheap.' He refused to accept hat he couldn't do it! I mean one time he put it on backwards the next upside down and God knows what else! Poor Jen, she didn't know what the hell was going on, cause I couldn't even help him cause I was laughing that hard! And the harder I laughed the madder he got and the madder he got the harder I laughed. He was like 'it's not like they took me out of sniper training and taught me how to change nappies!' It was just so damn funny! In the end he got a roll of sellotape and kept wrapping it round and round, we had to cut her out of it later! "
"Well that makes me feel better knowing a soldier that was trained from no age couldn't do it either . . . a bit anyway." OC admitted. "It's good to know that I'm not the only one not naturally good with babies."
"So did Alec get our jobs back?" asked Max.
"Of course, Normal quite literally fell down on to his knees when he saw Alec. He wasn't exactly ecstatic bout you, but still. We're all glad though cause he is so happy that he is letting people do what ever they want. You should have seen his face when Alec told him about you and Jen. It was classic!"
"It's good to know that Alec's charms still work on Normal, always comes in handy," said Max mentally picturing the scene OC had described with a wide grin on her face.
"I should warn ya boo, Normal's not the only one glad to have Alec back as a few of the Jam Pony females showed today. They were hanging all over him."
"I'll kill them and then kick Alec's ass all the way back to Canada!" exclaimed Max, standing up, ready to go.
OC laughed at her best friend's reaction. "Sit down you fool, you've got nothing to worry about girl, Alec set them straight. I hate to admit it but I was surprised and touched at the same time, he's totally devoted to ya Max. you've really struck gold with this one."
"Yeah I know and it's weird cause he was under my nose all that time," said Max sitting back down, slightly embarrassed.
"You, however will have to watch out there, you seemed a little too eager to believe that Alec was being disloyal," observed OC.
"Yeah, bad habit, I think I kind of miss ragging on him and threatening to kick his ass all the time!" laughed Max, handing Jen back to OC.
"Huh, I coulda swore this child just grinned at me, exactly like Alec does!"
______________________*************_____________________
Logan sat in front of his computer staring blankly at the screen. He was still getting over the shock of the night before. 'How could she have chosen him over me?' He had spent the day comparing himself to Alec and had begun to think that there must have been something wrong with the air in Canada.
'Why else would she have gotten together with Alec?' That was when he thought of something he hadn't before. 'She must have been in heat! Yes, that was the only reasonable explanation. Otherwise, she wouldn't have left an incredibly handsome do-gooder like himself for a good for nothing screw up like Alec.
He immediately began to plan a way to get her back and to make her see the error of her ways.
________________________***************__________________
When Alec entered his apartment, he heard Max and OC talking in the kitchen.
". . . and then Alec goes 'Yeah, if it wasn't for the fact that you just tried to kill me and Max here, I'm sure that we would be the best of friends,' then kicked his ass Manticore style."
OC smiled. "Well if Original Cindy could only say one thing bout the boy it would be that he does have a sense of humour."
"Why thank you OC I do try," said Alec making them aware of his presence, a cocky lopsided grin firmly on his face.
"Hey Alec, enjoy work?" asked OC smugly.
"Oh, ever so much. By the way in case I forget, thanks for abandoning me with Normal earlier, just when I though that I could at least catch up with my good friend OC on my runs. I guess you just don't value our friendship like I do," he said with mock hurt.
"I guess not, listen Boo, gotta blaze. I'll see you later."
OC grabbed her jacket and hugged Max before giving a general nod in Alec's direction, only to burst into a fit a giggles soon after. Seeing Alec's confusion and checking for something on his face, Max tried to hide her smile but failed. After looking back and forth between them, Alec caught on.
"You told her about the nappies didn't you?"
Max nodded, "I had too," she protested, "I haven't been able to tell anyone else and it was burning a hole inside of me being the only one who knew."
"How? On the drive home alone, you told the guy at the gas station, the waitress at the restaurant, the . . ." Max listened as he went through, what turned out to be a very long list, hanging her head in fake shame. ". . . and they all laughed in my face!" he concluded, waving his arms around for dramatic effect.
"Aww, poor baby. Manticore's finest couldn't handle a little embarrassment." She patted him on the chest. "See ya later OC, sorry we didn't get to finish our little discussion from yesterday."
"'s OK Boo. See ya!"
When OC had left, Alec snaked an arm around Max's waist from behind. "So, did you have a nice day?" he asked, snuggling into her hair. She nodded. "How is Jen? Is she sleeping?"
"Yeah, OC's nappy acrobatics tired her out." Alec rested his head on her shoulder and Max sighed contently. "Alec?"
"Yes?"
"I've been thinking."
"Aww, I told you not to, you almost collapsed from the pain last time," said Alec sincerely.
Max pulled away, giving him the good old one figured salute and led him to the couch. When settled Alec put his arm around her.
"Do you thing Jen will have our abilities? I mean there is a chance she'll be normal right?"
"Max, can you really define normality?"
"Alec . . ."
"To be honest Max I don't know. I mean there is always a chance that she will be 'normal' but I don't think they're very high. I mean there's no barcode but we don't know if that really means anything and it is really too early to tell. Why, would you really want her not to be able to go all 'Matrix' on people's asses?"
"Alec, don't joke around, I'm being serious," said Max lightly punching him on the arm.
"So am I but Max, it doesn't matter if she does or doesn't. There are pros and cons either way, but if it really matters that much to you, we'll take a DNA sample and bring it down to Dr. Carr and get a DNA work up."
"Thanks," said Max kissing him before snuggling in closer, taking comfort in his nearness. "So what's this I hear bout you and Normal in a passionate embrace?" she asked.
__________________********************_______________________
A/N2: Ok I know that was a little pointless but I need to get things set up to get things going. Oh and until the new chapters start, (Ch 15 being the first) I will post these chapters every Thursday and Monday so look out for them, but don't worry the new chapters are a work in progress!
A/N: Here it is oh and in case anyone was actually wondering don't worry the story does develop some actual plot soon . . . I swear.
______________________*****_________________________
"Oh my God! I don't believe it!"
Alec had to suppress his laughter as Normal threw himself onto the floor in front of him. Just when he thought that he was going to start kissing his toes Normal finally got up but only to fling his arms around Alec.
"Golden boy your back!"
His amusement changed to disgust and Alec had to try his best not to shudder when his former boss tightened his grip. Five minutes later when Normal showed no signs of breaking the hug Alec realised that something had to be done. "Normal I won't be back for long if you don't get off me, right now," and miraculously Alec had his own personal space back within a matter of seconds.
"So can I have my job back then?" he asked pretty sure he knew what the answer would be, but he had to butter him up to get him to take Max back.
"Hell yeah! I missed you ya know. With you back I will be able to get a break from the good for nothing miscreants that 'work' here."
"Oh and can Max have hers back too?" Alec asked, pouting in an attempt to seal the deal.
"Oh so missy miss is back as well. So why isn't she here?" asked Normal folding his arms. "I mean the two of you just disappeared for over a year without a word, I'm assuming yous were at the same place, and yous just come back wanting your old jobs back. I mean you, being the wonderful human being that you are, had the decency to come and ask for your job back in person, not that you needed to ask but still. So what did she have to do that was so important that she couldn't come beg in person?"
Alec smiled, this would be fun.
______________________***************_____________________
"Boo?" called OC as she walked into Max and Alec's apartment. Normal had been so happy to have his Golden Boy back that she had asked him if she could have the rest of the day of and he had actually said yes. Alec had felt bad for dropping the baby bomb on Normal so was working to the end of the day to make up for it, as he felt that he had been chancing his arm anyway.
OC wanted to talk to Max before he came rushing home to see his daughter as she was now sure he would. She still couldn't believe how much he had changed. She would have never in a million years have pictured Alec as a family guy and yet when catching up with Sketchy and the rest of his friends he spent a lot of the time telling them about Jen.
"I'm in here OC!"
OC found Max in the kitchen with Jen in one arm resting her head on her shoulder as Max heated some milk in a saucepan.
For the first time OC noticed just how pretty Jen was. She already had a head full of dark hair and Max's colouring but she had Alec's bright blue eyes with flecks of green in them that would become more noticeable through time.
"Why aren't you a cute boo now that you're awake and not crying?" said OC bending over so that she was level with her. "Can I hold her?"
"Be my guest."
Max watched with a smile as OC took Jen and sat down bouncing her on her knee. "Her milk is ready, if I put it in a bottle for you do you want to feed it to her?" she said taking the saucepan of the cooker.
"I think we have more immediate problems right now."
Max turned round to see a look of distaste on OC's face as she sniffed Jen while scrunching up her nose.
___________________****************______________________
"Hey Alec! Are you going to Crash tonight?" asked Sketchy, running to catch his friend before he left for the day.
"Nah Sketch, don't think so."
"Why?"
Alec looked at Sketchy with one eyebrow raised and an expression on his face that clearly indicated that he thought Sketchy was mad. "Have you heard a single word I've said today?" he asked wondering if Sketchy just had started having memory lapses instead of being completely thick.
"Oh well," said Sketchy catching on. "So how about we come round to yours? A few drinks, a few friends, a bit of music. What do you say?"
'No, just completely thick' Alec sighed mentally. "Sketchy, it is blatantly obvious that the very idea of a baby goes right over your head. They need constant care and attention and as much peace and quiet as possible, especially at night which is a time were you pray with all your might that they sleep for more than three hours at a time, which by the way the usually don't."
"Well do you wanna go for a few drinks now?" asked Sketchy hopefully.
"Sorry dude, I have to go relieve Max of parental duties."
After seeing the hurt look on his face, Alec went on trying to reach a compromise. "I know you just want to see your friends so I will see if I can talk Max into going to Crash tonight and you can catch up then ok? See ya later!"
Alec walked off leaving a bewildered Sketchy. "So is that a no?"
___________________***************__________________
"There!" said OC holding Jen up triumphantly. Max had spent the past fifteen minutes showing OC how to change a nappy because OC said that she had wanted to learn so that she could baby-sit and give Max and Alec a chance to get out together.
OC's face dropped when the nappy slid right off and Max started laughing. "Stop it! Just cause you have maternal instincts doesn't mean that Original Cindy is going to be a natural at this."
"Well I wasn't too bad but . . ." Max's face lit up at the memory of it. "Well let's just say that you are a 'pro' compared to the first time Alec did it. Now that was funny!" She wiped away imaginary tears of laughter before deciding to help OC out by fixing Jen's nappy.
"He was just so frustrated, he went through a whole pack trying to get one to stay on and when he couldn't he was just like 'We got a faulty pack! I thought they were a bit cheap.' He refused to accept hat he couldn't do it! I mean one time he put it on backwards the next upside down and God knows what else! Poor Jen, she didn't know what the hell was going on, cause I couldn't even help him cause I was laughing that hard! And the harder I laughed the madder he got and the madder he got the harder I laughed. He was like 'it's not like they took me out of sniper training and taught me how to change nappies!' It was just so damn funny! In the end he got a roll of sellotape and kept wrapping it round and round, we had to cut her out of it later! "
"Well that makes me feel better knowing a soldier that was trained from no age couldn't do it either . . . a bit anyway." OC admitted. "It's good to know that I'm not the only one not naturally good with babies."
"So did Alec get our jobs back?" asked Max.
"Of course, Normal quite literally fell down on to his knees when he saw Alec. He wasn't exactly ecstatic bout you, but still. We're all glad though cause he is so happy that he is letting people do what ever they want. You should have seen his face when Alec told him about you and Jen. It was classic!"
"It's good to know that Alec's charms still work on Normal, always comes in handy," said Max mentally picturing the scene OC had described with a wide grin on her face.
"I should warn ya boo, Normal's not the only one glad to have Alec back as a few of the Jam Pony females showed today. They were hanging all over him."
"I'll kill them and then kick Alec's ass all the way back to Canada!" exclaimed Max, standing up, ready to go.
OC laughed at her best friend's reaction. "Sit down you fool, you've got nothing to worry about girl, Alec set them straight. I hate to admit it but I was surprised and touched at the same time, he's totally devoted to ya Max. you've really struck gold with this one."
"Yeah I know and it's weird cause he was under my nose all that time," said Max sitting back down, slightly embarrassed.
"You, however will have to watch out there, you seemed a little too eager to believe that Alec was being disloyal," observed OC.
"Yeah, bad habit, I think I kind of miss ragging on him and threatening to kick his ass all the time!" laughed Max, handing Jen back to OC.
"Huh, I coulda swore this child just grinned at me, exactly like Alec does!"
______________________*************_____________________
Logan sat in front of his computer staring blankly at the screen. He was still getting over the shock of the night before. 'How could she have chosen him over me?' He had spent the day comparing himself to Alec and had begun to think that there must have been something wrong with the air in Canada.
'Why else would she have gotten together with Alec?' That was when he thought of something he hadn't before. 'She must have been in heat! Yes, that was the only reasonable explanation. Otherwise, she wouldn't have left an incredibly handsome do-gooder like himself for a good for nothing screw up like Alec.
He immediately began to plan a way to get her back and to make her see the error of her ways.
________________________***************__________________
When Alec entered his apartment, he heard Max and OC talking in the kitchen.
". . . and then Alec goes 'Yeah, if it wasn't for the fact that you just tried to kill me and Max here, I'm sure that we would be the best of friends,' then kicked his ass Manticore style."
OC smiled. "Well if Original Cindy could only say one thing bout the boy it would be that he does have a sense of humour."
"Why thank you OC I do try," said Alec making them aware of his presence, a cocky lopsided grin firmly on his face.
"Hey Alec, enjoy work?" asked OC smugly.
"Oh, ever so much. By the way in case I forget, thanks for abandoning me with Normal earlier, just when I though that I could at least catch up with my good friend OC on my runs. I guess you just don't value our friendship like I do," he said with mock hurt.
"I guess not, listen Boo, gotta blaze. I'll see you later."
OC grabbed her jacket and hugged Max before giving a general nod in Alec's direction, only to burst into a fit a giggles soon after. Seeing Alec's confusion and checking for something on his face, Max tried to hide her smile but failed. After looking back and forth between them, Alec caught on.
"You told her about the nappies didn't you?"
Max nodded, "I had too," she protested, "I haven't been able to tell anyone else and it was burning a hole inside of me being the only one who knew."
"How? On the drive home alone, you told the guy at the gas station, the waitress at the restaurant, the . . ." Max listened as he went through, what turned out to be a very long list, hanging her head in fake shame. ". . . and they all laughed in my face!" he concluded, waving his arms around for dramatic effect.
"Aww, poor baby. Manticore's finest couldn't handle a little embarrassment." She patted him on the chest. "See ya later OC, sorry we didn't get to finish our little discussion from yesterday."
"'s OK Boo. See ya!"
When OC had left, Alec snaked an arm around Max's waist from behind. "So, did you have a nice day?" he asked, snuggling into her hair. She nodded. "How is Jen? Is she sleeping?"
"Yeah, OC's nappy acrobatics tired her out." Alec rested his head on her shoulder and Max sighed contently. "Alec?"
"Yes?"
"I've been thinking."
"Aww, I told you not to, you almost collapsed from the pain last time," said Alec sincerely.
Max pulled away, giving him the good old one figured salute and led him to the couch. When settled Alec put his arm around her.
"Do you thing Jen will have our abilities? I mean there is a chance she'll be normal right?"
"Max, can you really define normality?"
"Alec . . ."
"To be honest Max I don't know. I mean there is always a chance that she will be 'normal' but I don't think they're very high. I mean there's no barcode but we don't know if that really means anything and it is really too early to tell. Why, would you really want her not to be able to go all 'Matrix' on people's asses?"
"Alec, don't joke around, I'm being serious," said Max lightly punching him on the arm.
"So am I but Max, it doesn't matter if she does or doesn't. There are pros and cons either way, but if it really matters that much to you, we'll take a DNA sample and bring it down to Dr. Carr and get a DNA work up."
"Thanks," said Max kissing him before snuggling in closer, taking comfort in his nearness. "So what's this I hear bout you and Normal in a passionate embrace?" she asked.
__________________********************_______________________
A/N2: Ok I know that was a little pointless but I need to get things set up to get things going. Oh and until the new chapters start, (Ch 15 being the first) I will post these chapters every Thursday and Monday so look out for them, but don't worry the new chapters are a work in progress!