Hey everyone! Ok, here it is... Max's reasons. Once again thanx for the reviews. I didn't expect such a response on my first story! I'm adding chapters as fast as I can (or want to) so the chapters shouldn't be uploaded that far apart. I know a few of you had preferences towards Max's reasons, but deal with what you get - MY STORY! Not yours. LOL - Without anymore meaningless chatter... I present to you....

Chapter 3

Logan's POV

My last night with my love, my Max...

*************Flashback****************

Logan's Penthouse

Max sat on the couch holding little Eve in her arms. I never thought of Max as the motherly type until this moment. Whether it be the maternal instinct in her DNA, or the love, it didn't matter. I could see Max had watery eyes as she rocked our child in her embrace.

I was watching my family from the kitchen, with a huge grin permanently plastered on my face. We were finally a family, regardless of the fact that Max and I weren't even married. The immense love was there, and it didn't matter if it was on paper or not. I popped the cork off an old pre-pulse chardonnay and brought it to my lover along with two crystal glasses. She looked up at me as I sat down next to her, placing the glasses on the coffee table. I saw my baby's face and felt my smile grow.

"Anymore smiling and I'll be able to see your tonsils." Max said with a grin. I chuckled softly and continued staring at Eve. I slipped an arm around Max's shoulders, then my other gently cradling our daughter. Our fingers intertwined underneath our creation. I place a soft kiss on Max's cheek. Eve immediately starts whining. Both of us turn our attention back to her. At this, she smiles contentedly.

"Only her first day back from the hospital and she is already acting like she owns the place." I said with a smirk. Max rolled her eyes as she stood to go put Eve in her brand new cradle, picked out by Max and me together.

I poured the chardonnay into the two glasses as she returned and sat down next to me, leaning against me. She wrapped one arm around my waist as I handed her her glass. I brought mine up to hers, pausing an inch away from her crystal.

"I figured after nine months of mo alcohol you would want a reminder of what the stuff tastes like," I said gazing into her eyes. " To our new family, our new daughter." She gives a half-hearted smile and takes a sip. I also have a taste, watching her carefully. "Max, are you all right?" She looks over at me.

"I.... Never mind." She quickly responds. I can't possibly be satisfied with that.

"Max, please. Tell me." I take a deep breath awaiting her response. For some reason she looks fearful and nervous. I don't understand. How can she be anything but deliriously happy, like me? We just brought our daughter home from the hospital. Max takes a deep, drawn out breath, then looks at the floor.

"Logan... I have been thinking about all the things our daughter will have to face." She glances at me. I wait for her to continue, saying nothing as to not interrupt her. "Not only having a fugitive genetically engineered killing machine for a mommy, but also the possibility of her having to be one as well. Even though I was created in a lab, and she is a creation of love, we have no idea what we are up against." I sigh out of relief. This was expected, and I felt the same.

"Max, we already went through all of our fears and the possibilities. We weren't even sure she would make it to full term. And look, she pulled through beautifully. It's all right... whatever we face, we will face it together." She bites her lip and looks away as I say 'together'. Fear rises in me. "Max...."

"Logan, I have a secret government agency with sadistic doctors looking to put me in a cage on my ass. It's about too much for me to handle, let alone an infant that isn't even self-aware yet. I can't do that to our daughter. Now that I can see her and hold her, all I can think about is making sure she is nurtured and safe."

"Max, please..."

"Please let me finish Logan. Tinga's little boy Case had a father that didn't know what he was. Because of that, Lydecker almost got the poor kid. Now Eve is privileged enough to have a dad who knows one the most part what his child is and who is after her. Logan, you know how to keep Eve under the radar. That's half of her safety. The other half is not having someone else lead Manticore to her."

"Max!" I exclaim, panicking at the thought of losing my lover and friend. "You can't be serious. You have been able to go unfound so far, why should the future be any different?"

"You are smarter than that, Logan Cale. You know Seattle has been put on the map for Manticore already. I have to go to keep her safe. They will get closer and closer to me Logan. I'm not risking my daughter, our daughter to be selfish and indulge myself in normalcy. I... I am so sorry. Logan, you must understand that I love Eve and you more than I ever thought possible. You two are my entire humanity. I can't see you two get hurt on my account."

"Max! Please, I'm begging you... don't leave us. I need to raise this child with you!" I could feel my tears start to come as my eyes watered. I clutched her hand, refusing to let go.

"I want to Logan, God I've never wanted anything more than to just stay here and be happy forever. But I cannot be selfish when it comes to the people I love and their safety."

"No, Max, it isn't selfish."

"Yes, it is. Logan, please try to understand this." Max placed both her hands on either side of my face. She absently wiped my tears away. I watched as one tear escaped her eye and made its way down her smooth cheek. "All I ever used to wish for was normalcy. I wanted people to love me, and to have grown up as any other kid. If I go, I can give that to our child. I trust you to be a good father to her, Logan, I know you will. You can give her the things I never had." She bowed her head and let out a small sob. She raised her head to me once again, with her cheeks streaked with tears. I shook my head, never wanting to accept what she was saying. "I have too."

My shoulders were shaking as she slowly rose from the sofa. I stared at her through blurry eyes, as she extended a small delicate hand towards me. "Now let's go to bed." She said calmly. I grasped her hand as she led me to our bedroom.

Once we were inside with the door shut, both of us had calmed a bit. I silently took her into a hug, cherishing any moment I had with her. She rose her beautiful face to mine, as we shared a gentle kiss. Soon our embrace became more and more passionate, both of us desperate for any contact. We made love, both wanting to forget our conversation we shared in the living room. Afterwards we whispered words of love back and forth as we fell asleep, me clutching her with all the energy I could muster.

In the morning I woke, and reached for her, but found only crumpled sheets. She had left. All that was left was her pillow still wet with shed tears.

********End Flashback********

Well, there's Max's reasons - please don't hate me! Well you know the drill - READ AND REVIEW! Much more to come - evident from the summary... so hang in there!