Yay! The next chapter! Now, what will happen in the event if Max's return?????? READ!!!!! Author notes can't tell you everything! But they can tell you this - Thanx 4 the reviews! Especially the nice LONG one from Domino Nermandi. Yes, I most certainly AM encouraged by reviews. Anyway, four scores and seven years ago.......

Chapter Six

Logan's POV

"Max!" I exclaim in surprise. Zack jumps at my outburst, and realizes what just happened. Eve is just standing over her own mother, giving me a confused look that replaced the animalistic aggression that was there a moment before. Before either of the two can say a word, Zack and I are rushing up to the fallen Max in panic. Eve steps off of her mother and shrinks away to the corner of the room.

I can't believe it's her! What the hell is she doing here? Why come to my home after all these years. Those are questions that will be answered later. I wasn't sure exactly how to react to this situation. The mother of my child was just thrown from my ceiling to the floor by my child. How often does that happen? I stop a few feet from her and crouch down to get a better look at her. I feel Zack roughly drop to the ground beside me and start asking her questions about whether or not she's hurt. I catch her eye, and she freezes like a deer in headlights. She looks so frightened and unsure of her surroundings. We kept staring into each other's eyes as Zack started shaking her to get a response. He took her chin less than gently in his hand and forced her to look at him. Damn that guy.

I stand up and watch the two interact. It feels like I am in a dream, watching a scene that is in pieces, and doesn't make much sense. I pinch my forearm just to check. Nope, this is real. Why am I not reacting? What am I supposed to feel? I force myself to try and find the right emotions, but I have none. No emotions towards the return of my long lost lover. There it is again, that disconnected feeling as if it were all one of the many dreams I have had about Max's return.

"Max! Answer me soldier!" Zack barked into her face. That did it. She jerked and bounded up to stand at attention. I couldn't help but gasp. I have never seen her take orders from him like that. Even Zack took a step back in surprise.

"I'm fine, no major injuries, just a few bruises from the fall." She is avoiding my eye contact and she knows it. Wait a minute... She just spoke. Her voice still sounds about the same, but not as vibrant and confident. I see the redness in her eyes and her puffy cheeks. Has she been crying? I haven't seen her cry, it must have been while she was still on the roof. But I can't believe I can see her and hear her voice, and if I tried, I could touch her. And I have no idea what to do about it.

She looks down at the ground then quickly glance in my direction, not quite making eye contact. Max raises her beautiful face to her pseudo brother. "What... What happened?" Zack suddenly let out a soft laugh at her confusion. She had no idea what hit her, literally.

"Don't worry, Maxie, we'll fill you in on that later." Zack responded. She frowned at him, then cocked her head to one side. I watched as she reached out and gingerly touched Zack's face where his cheek was purple and blue from Eve's earlier outburst. She met his eyes in a silent question. Zack simply shook his head, disregarding it. He carefully took her hand from his cheek and returned it to her side. After a second he let out a sigh and glanced at me, calling her attention to the fact that I was here. She pursed her lips and averted her eyes once again. Zack turned and briskly walked into the kitchen, not before flashing me a warning look. Probably meaning 'Careful what you say.'

For a long time we both stood at opposite ends of the living room, scared to look at each other. Both of us were waiting for the other to make the first move. As if on cue, our heads raised at the same time to summon the courage to speak. We met each other's gaze and slowly felt the tension begin to flow away. Slowly and cautiously, we began to move towards each other.

I saw a tear make its way past her eyelashes and descend down her smooth skin. We continued to drift together until we met at the center of the room, with her a little out of an arms reach.

She dipped her head as another tear developed and showed itself. I felt a deep sadness inside me as I watched her emotions take her over. She must deeply regret leaving. All I wanted to do was comfort her, and to be comforted a little, also.

"Max..." I whispered, and her eyes slowly rose to meet mine.

"Logan... I... I am so sorry." She spoke just above a whisper as I strained to hear her words. I took a brave step forward and touched her cheek forgivingly. After all, she did it to protect Eve; it wasn't an unspeakable thing to do. I probably would have done the same. I wanted her to be her old self, and to be bright and happy and herself again. After sixteen years of no contact, who knows if she could be the Max I remember.

"Logan." She croaked as she urgently wrapped her arms around me and started weeping into my chest. I felt my arms wrap around her as if on their own accord. I tear fell down my face, threatening to show my emotions to the world, and to this woman. Who gives a damn.

I pulled away just enough to see her beautiful face. Thanks to genes buried deep inside her she hasn't aged much. Her face is just as I remember, every line, every curve, every lash. The only things that had changed were the dark circles under her eyes, and the sadness in her.

One of my palms made its way to softly touch her cheek, cupping it lightly and my thumb dried her tears. She watched me with wide eyes and a passion I had nearly erased from memory. All I felt was important was expressing my love to her, letting her know that it'll be all right. My face dipped to meet hers, as our lips found each other for the first time in sixteen years of sorrow.

I know! I know! It was very, incredibly short and you all hate me, but I was just in a rush to get this one out for you guys before I got assassinated by the Mafia for not typing quick enough! But have no fear, cause I'm, working on the next chapter right now as I type, while also reading a fanfic, juggling plates, feeding the dog and performing martial arts for Harrison Ford. (Me and me multi -tasking abilities.)