Triangle

Disclaimer: I don't own them coz if I did, then there would be a third season! Rating: PG Summary: Max, Logan and Alec – join the dots Pairing: M/L/A Author's note: I'm not particularly good at writing fanfics but I enjoy them, so why the heck not hey? This is my third DA fic but the first one I'm putting on the net, so please read and review!!!!

Chapter Six

"Joshua's invited us to dinner tomorrow night."

Logan stopped typing and spun around in his chair. Max was standing at the door with her arms folded across her chest.

"Oh," was all Logan could say, as a quick memory of Joshua's last dinner party sped through his synapses.

"It should be fun," said Max brightly.

"Yeah"

"You don't sound so sure."

"It's just last time wasn't such a great success, with Alec and well. . ."

Max nodded reminding herself of what happened.

"And I mean with you and Alec fighting at the moment," Logan continued, "maybe Joshua should arrange it for some other time."

Max for some odd reason found herself getting very annoyed at Logan's excuses.

"Logan, we are the guests, he sets the time not us," she said sounding harsher than she had intended.

"Yeah I know . . . it's just . . ."

"Logan, if you don't want to go, it's no big deal, really."

"No no I do, it's just Alec."

"Alec?"

"Well I dunno, I just don't trust him especially since you don't anymore either."

"Logan I do trust him and I think you should to."

"Yeah," Logan sighed.

"If you're worried about the atmosphere, don't. Tensions won't be high and it'll just be a nice casual relaxing dinner." Logan nodded, smiling grimly. The look not going unnoticed by Max but she decided not to think too much of it, "Good, well I'll tell Josh he can be expecting both of us."

"The food smells great!" smiled Max, watching Joshua bring the dishes to the table. The plates were set, the candles were lit and Original Cindy had helped lay out the cutlery.

"So now all we do is wait for the boys, huh?"

"Logan will be here," assured Max.

"Well he better coz . . ." Cindy was interrupted by the knock at the door. Max raised her eyebrows at her friend to replace the words "I told you so," but OC just smiled back. Turning around, Max could see why.

"Hey Max, Cindy," smiled the ever charming smart aleck. "Great set you got out here, Big fella," he said pointing to the dinner table.

"Thank you," smiled Joshua proudly.

"So where's Logan?"

"He'll be here," said Max trying to defend the normally impeccably punctual man.

"Good, coz I'm hungry," smiled Alec patting his stomach.

'Yeah he'll be here,' prayed Max, 'he'll be here.'

One Hour Later

"The food's cold," sighed Joshua.

"Cold pasta tastes better anyway," said Alec trying to ease the big guy's disappointment.

"I'm sorry," mumbled Max, "we shouldn't have waited this long."

"Hey Boo, you don't need to apologise."

"Don't worry Max, something important probably came up, that's all." Comforting words from Alec, defending Logan, sounded awfully odd to Max, but she was nevertheless grateful.

"Yeah, you'll probably right."

"He could have phoned," OC said cheesed off anyway. Alec glared at Cindy, they were trying to take the load off Max not pile it on. "Well, I'm sorry, he could have. He's a great man an' all but the amount of trouble Joshua's gone to."

"It's okay," said Joshua, "cold pasta good. Better."

Max collapsed on to the sofa as Cindy gathered the plates back together and dumped them into the sink. Alec, not at all enjoying the atmosphere, decided to make it his mission to try and lift everyone's spirits.

"Hey, I got an idea," he started. Three pairs of eyes turned to look at him. "Why don't we all sing songs?"

"Sing songs?" Max asked incredulously.

"Why not? Piano's downstairs, it'll give us something to do."

"I don't sing honey!" laughed Cindy at Alec's ludicrous idea.

"Ok, fine, what about uh . . . painting?"

"Painting?" Max asked again.

The only person for the idea was Joshua, who was literally bouncing on his feet at the suggestion.

"Nuh uh, sugar!"

"Ok fine you all be boring then," Alec sighed, heading for the basement and the piano.

"Alec, please don't tell me you're gonna sing," yelled Max from the sofa.

Alec spun around, "Hey, I'm not that much of an insensitive jerk. This house is already falling down, no offence Josh, and it don't need any cracked windows!"

Max smiled despite herself, "Good. Just checking."

"Dishes need washing," called Joshua from the kitchen.

"I'm outta here," yelled Alec, making his exit quickly.

"Men," sighed Cindy getting up, "I'll help you Josh."

'What on Earth would I do without these guys?' thought Max as she decided to forget about Logan and unkept promises for the night. She was not going to worry herself sick or even worse get spitting mad at him. For Joshua's sake, she was going to try and enjoy herself.

Alec sat in front of the dusty piano. He never really sat and played anymore. Probably because of all the memories of Rachel it brought back to him, but even so, he thanked Manticore silently for at least giving him one not so destructive method of releasing his anger and emotions. But strangely today, he didn't feel angry or despondent. For the first time in ages, he actually felt content and the piece that he was playing, without really thinking at all, demonstrated exactly that.

OC stopped scrubbing the dishes for a second, as she listened to the soothing music coming from the basement. Smiling, she resumed her scrubbing, whilst Joshua continued drying.

Max gave the appearance of not really noticing the music, as she continued to flick through her magazine, but she had noticed. The strange flutter in her stomach reminded her that she had most definitely noticed. In no simpler terms, the piece was beautiful.

As Alec continued playing, a smile crossed his lips as without having to even see them, he knew his friends too were smiling. 'Mission accomplished,' he thought silently as his smile widened.