"There is something seriously wrong with this picture," Max said. She, Logan, Alec, and Asha were all gathered at Logan's apartment. Logan and Alec looked at her curiously, having no idea what she was talking about. They were all sitting around the living room pouring over boxes full of files for a mission Eyes Only and the S1W were working on. "I'm working, you're working...hell, even Alec's working...but Asha's sleeping," she said to Logan, finally explaining herself. "Unlike us Manticore rejects, Asha needs sleep," Alec said, smiling as he looked over at the chair his girlfriend was curled up in. "Whatever, I'm waking her up," Max said. "Max, please cut me some slack. I have to go home with her, and I'm not up to facing her wrath," Alec replied. Max seemed to drop the idea, so Alec turned his attention back to the file he was reading.
"Ow! That hurt!" Asha screamed as a pillow smacked her square in the face, "Max, what the hell did you do that for?" "Me? What's makes you think I did it?" Max asked, trying to appear innocent but failing miserably. "Process of elimination. Logan is too much of a gentleman to ever hit a woman, even with a pillow, and Alec isn't crazy enough to do it," Asha replied. "She's right, I fear her," Alec interjected. "Well now that you're awake, how about working like the rest of us?" Max said. Asha just glared at her. Getting up from the chair, she went over to the sofa Alec was sitting on and stretched out with her head in his lap. "Come on Asha, you can't be that tired. I know you norms need sleep and all, but this is crazy. It's barely 8:00. Besides, Logan's a norm and he's still awake," Max said.
"Yeah, well Logan's not pregnant," Asha said sleepily. "WHAT?!" Max, Alec, and Logan screamed in unison. Asha groaned and buried her face in Alec's lap. That certainly wasn't the way she wanted to tell him. She had been agonizing for a week, trying to think of a way to tell him. She turned over onto her back so she could look him in the eye. "Alec, I'm so sorry. This really isn't the way I wanted you to find out," Asha said. "How long have you known?" Alec asked. "About a week," she answered, "I'm sorry, you have every right to be mad. I really wasn't trying to keep it from you, it's just...I don't even know if you want this." "It's ok. I understand why you didn't tell me right away. What I don't understand is how you could possibly think I might not want this. These past two years with you have been the best years of my life. I love you, and I'll love our baby," Alec replied, leaning down to kiss her. He placed his hand on her stomach and smiled.
"Umm, as acting big brother figure, I'm going to need to know what your intentions are with my little sister," Logan said. Asha laughed, he sounded so much like Aidan. "My intentions? Let's see..." Alec said, easing out from under Asha. She sat up and looked at him curiously as he stood there searching his pocket for something. When he found what he was looking for he kneeled in front of her. "My intentions are to love this woman more and more with every breath, to never let a day go by where I don't tell her so, to always treat her like the goddess that she is, and to make her my wife," Alec said, opening the small velvet box he had in his hand, "Asha, will you marry me?" "Of course I will," Asha replied softly, with tears in her eyes. He slid the white gold and diamond ring onto her finger. Sitting down beside her and pulling her into his lap, he kissed her to seal the deal.
"I can't believe there's going to be a little Alec running around. Why does the world want to torture me?" Max said, breaking the moment. "Hey, not just a little Alec...a little Alec and Asha," Asha said. "Nooo! That's even worse! That's twice the annoying power!" Max whined. "Will you stop picking on my woman please?" Alec said. "Oh but it's so much fun...almost as much fun as picking on you," Max replied. "If you promise to leave my fiancée alone for the next nine months, and try not to scar our child for life, we'll let you be godmother," Alec said. "Really? Cool!" Max said, smiling, "and hopefully it won't come out furry." "I'm never going to live that down!" Asha exclaimed, "Why can't she just let it go? I mean, it was years ago, and I have apologized over and over." "Shhh, I know baby. Ignore her; she's just messing with you. Don't get upset, it's not good for the baby," Alec said, trying to comfort his clearly frustrated fiancée.
"Baby, you're tired. Why don't you go home and lie down while I finish up this work?" Alec said as Asha yawned loudly. "Don't worry about it Alec, you two just got engaged, you should be spending some time alone. Go home and take care of our girl; we can finish this stuff tomorrow. Oh, and congrats guys. I still don't understand what you see in this knucklehead Ash, but as long as you're happy, I'm happy for you," Logan said. Asha hugged Logan, then she and Alec headed toward the door. "Hey Asha?" Max called after them, "Seriously, congrats...on everything. You deserve it, and I'm really happy for you." Asha smiled. "Thanks Max" she said, and with that they headed home. The future was looking bright.
Fin
Author's Note: Well, that's it...I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks to everyone for all the great reviews.