Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel or any of the people in it! Seriously! If I did… Asha would have been LONG ago dead, and Logan… Well, he'd be strapped down by now. ::evil grin:: Kidding! Kidding… I'm JUST Kidding!
AN: Hey! Thanks for the reviews folks! Appreciate it… Replies to your reviews will be at the end of the chapter. ::Devil horns grow::
::A Heated Christmas::
(Title has two meanings)
It hadn't taken them long to get through the checkpoints, considering it was Christmas after all. Not many people were on the streets, and those that were waved a friendly wave to passerby's as they stood around their fire singing Christmas Carols. There wasn't much for decoration here in this post pulse world, but what little strings of lights and trees that appeared were a blessing and a cheer to everyone.
Terminal City was one of these cheerful blessings. With its lights strung throughout the top of the chain linked fencing, and their tree on the top of the building across the street. The antique shop and Art Gallery brought in a lot of money for the transgenics in Terminal City. The outside world was given a chance to look deeper into the hearts of the so called "freak nation" through the art that had become a big hit seller for the ordinaries.
As they passed the tree and turned down the block, Max looked up at the large lit up decoration with a big smile on her face. If it weren't for this tree, they'd never have found the truth about the Virus… It was gone! Although, the fear and worry that came with almost losing Logan, she really could have gone without.
Logan soon pulled up along side the Cale owned Medtronics center. The company name itself was a fake, providing a secret tunnel in and out of Terminal City for when times got rough. The seemingly abandoned building gave Logan a roof over his head, and a new operation zone for his Eyes Only broadcasts.
Max stepped from the vehicle and stepped into the apartment, which resembled Logan's penthouse which had been trashed not too long ago by White's group. Logan followed and glanced around. A light coat of dust was beginning to settle onto everything. It had been quite a while since nobody had used the place since the kidnapping.
The two shot a smile toward each other and began to clean. He wanted everything to be perfect, the apartment… the upcoming meal. In fact, he was already running recopies through his mind as he picked up various items and shifted things around.
Max helped, trying to ignore the urges within her cat DNA that was beginning to surface. She realized she'd spent a lot of the time watching Logan work, her eyes settling on his muscles as he flexed them when he picked something up. She remembered mentioning to Logan about her coming heat the day they'd discovered the virus was gone. Now, it wasn't just a hint, in fact… it was nearly a full-blown desire.
Once the cleaning was done, Logan put all of his attention to a meal. He was hungry from the lack of nourishment throughout the time of his kidnapping, so as he cooked he munched on occasional bits.
To keep herself busy, and her mind off of… well you know… Max continued to straighten up. Nothing looked right. In fact, she'd made the bed at least seven times by now, which wasn't the best of all ideas considering her current state of mind.
When the phone rag, Max had to have jumped ten feet. "Go for Max" she answered Logan's phone as if answering her own cell, not realizing she'd done so.
"Oh, Hi Max. Is Logan there?" The familiar voice on the other line made Max's skin crawl.
"Yeah. But he's busy. Think you can call back… Oh I don't know… Tomorrow maybe?"
"Well I guess… But…"
"Who is it?" Logan asked, poking his head from the kitchen.
"Asha." Max growled and set the phone down as if it were diseased.
"Great, let me talk to her." Logan walked to the phone, wiping his hands on a towel. Max walked past him, intentionally rubbing up against him as she went along.
"Yeah?" Logan answered the phone.
Max didn't stick around to hear his side of the conversation. Even though her rabbit ear senses tickled, she ignored it. Instead, she busied herself with stirring the bubbling contents in the cooking pot. Max tested the food with a grin thinking to herself 'Always good to have a man around that can cook'.
"As you know, that was Asha. She's dropping by for a visit, incase you wanted to know." Logan said as he stepped into the kitchen to resume cooking.
"I didn't… But thanks for warning me." She said with a forced smile. She never really did like that tall blonde S1W member. The S1W weren't bad… But from the very start Max felt that Asha was. But then again, her reason for hating Asha so much could have been that it seemed like Asha was trying to steal Logan from her. Not the best of plans on Asha's part… Because to be on this X5's hate list was to have a special VIP invitation to a world of hurt.
Logan ignored the tension that seemed to emanate from Max as he worked on preparing some bread. Max pulled away from the stove and sat on the counter, her eyes glued on Logan as she swung her legs boredly.
It wasn't long before there was a knock on the door and Asha entered. "Logan?" she called out, her way of announcing her arrival.
"In the kitchen." Logan was currently wrapped up in his cooking that he really couldn't pull away.
Asha made her way to the kitchen and smiled when she saw Logan. Of course, her smile faded when she noticed Max on the counter not too far from Logan. "Hey Max. Still here?" She asked with a painful forced smile.
"Actually, just leaving. You know, have to visit the furry little elves." Max said with a forced smile as well as she hopped off the counter. "See you in a little while." She told Logan as she brushed past Asha and headed toward the door.
Once Max had reached the door, she noticed a brightly colored package nearby and rolled her eyes. Asha had brought Logan a gift of some sort… Not like she cared… With that, she headed outside, closing the door behind her.
"What's her problem?" Asha turned to Logan.
Logan simply shrugged as he began tossing a salad. "So… Asha, what brings you here?"
"I just wanted to drop in and wish you Happy Holidays." She smiled "and…" Asha disappeared from the kitchen for a brief moment and returned just as quickly, with a gift in her hands. "give you this."
"What?…" Logan looked at Asha surprised. "A present? For me?"
"Just a little something I picked up."
"You didn't have-…"
"I know," she cut in, "But I wanted to."
Logan stepped away from the counter and wiped his hands on the towel he'd used before and took the gift that was presented to him. "Thanks Asha. This is fantastic. Eh… Sorry, I don't have anything for you. Been 'tied up' in things lately if you know what I mean."
"Yeah… Don't worry about it. Hey, I'm just glad you're back safely."
There was a terrible uncomfortable silent moment as Logan studied Asha, and Asha concentrated on that slim chance that Logan would take her into his arms that very moment. (AN: FAT CHANCE!!)
"Mind if I-?" Logan broke the silence, looking at the box in his hands.
"Go ahead."
"Thanks." Logan began to unwrap the present and open the box. Inside was a nice warm looking sweater with a book on top. Logan picked the book up and turned it over in his hand. "Thanks again Asha… This means a lot. Nice to know I have a lot of friends." He grinned and moved the box from the counter to prevent its contents from getting dirty.
"Don't mention it. You've done plenty for me and all, so I thought I'd just repay the favor. Christmas just seemed like the time to do it."
Logan glanced at her with a smile as he went back to mixing the salad. "If your not doing anything later, why don't you… Stay for Dinner?"
"No, it's alright. Wouldn't want to ruin your night with Max by the way… Speaking of which, how are things going between you two?"
Logan explained the current situation… How the virus had vanished from their lives as if it were never there in the first place. He even told her about how they'd found out and what had happened afterward.
Meanwhile…
Max strolled into Terminal City, waving and greeting the transgenics she met along the way. She made her way into the Media room… A good sized room with a pyramid of monitors with at least three transgenics keeping a close eye on the news and the security cameras around Terminal City.
"All work and no play makes a bunch of old Scrooges." Max said, referring to the post-pulse old Christmas tale as a reference.
"Hey Maxie." Luke said from the raised two-step platform.
"How's it going? Where's Joshua?"
"Right here little fella!" Came the booming voice behind her. Before she had time to react, she was scooped up into a big hug from her canine brethren. "Merry Cristmas."
"Happy Holidays to you too big fella." Max managed to squeeze out.
Joshua put Max down and put a hand on his shoulder, the other hand pointing to himself. "Joshua glad little fella is okay. Didn't see you after big fight. Worried."
"Hey, you knew I was with Logan."
"Max and Logan?… Getting busy?" Joshua said with a mischievous grin on his lion-like features.
"Not quite big fella."
"That's the plan?"
"That's the plan." Max smiled at the big dog boy and pat him on the shoulder.
"Well look who's come to grace us with her presence." Alec said as he stepped around Joshua. "The Christmas angel herself… Or is it our own female Jesus?"
Max got a chuckle out of that and slugged Alec in the shoulder playfully. Alec smiled and put his arms around Max in a hug. "Now don't expect this very often… I have to be good for Santa remember?"
"Dude, Santa has come and gone. Its Christmas DAY, not Christmas Eve ya dope."
"Oh, so that's how it works. I see." Alec walked over and took a seat.
"Hey Max, where were you last night? We checked Logan's place and there was no trace of you. Some of the fellas thought you two had somehow gotten high jacked by one of those Familiar goons." That voice was Mole, who walked through the door, his usual cigar hanging from the side of his mouth.
"We were tired… That's all." Max gave Mole a Christmas hug as well.
"Next time at least give us a call? Dog breath here was all jumpy." Mole walked over to Alec.
"I'll remember that." Max looked around at the Transgenics with a smile. These were her friends… her family… And even though not all of them were beautiful like her and Alec, on the outside… they were the most beautiful people, she knew, on the inside as well.
"Just dropped by to wish you all a Merry Christmas and all. And pick up my bike. Gotta Jet. Want to check up on my sistah girl." Max said referring to Original Cindy.
It didn't take Max long to get across town to drop in at her old apartment to visit with O.C. There were the usual hugs and talk. While Max and O.C. enjoyed a cup of Coffee, Max wasn't too embarrassed to tell her best friend about her condition.
"Boo, what is it I always say?"
"If you've got an itch…" Max started.
"Scratch it." They said in unison with a nod.
"Besides, with this love bug gone, you have every reason to get down with your man." Origonal Cindy said before she took a sip from her mug.
"I guess… I mean, I love him and all. But, this whole freak thing…"
"Call it what you want. Personally, I think you just want your man, and you just put this whole 'heat' thing in place of it just as an excuse."
"That too." Max grinned.
"Girl…" the two bumped mugs and continued their chitchat.
Later that evening, Max returned to the Medtronics center outside of Terminal City, Logan's apartment. A Christmas carol had come into her head, and she hummed as she dismounted from the bike and walked into the apartment.
What she'd expected, was Logan sitting in the living space on his large comfortable sofa, waiting for her. Instead… She found Logan and Asha sitting on the sofa, drinking a glass of wine and laughing.
"Nice to see someone's having a merry Christmas." Max said as she walked around and sat on the armrest nearest to Logan.
Logan and Asha looked up at her, immediately the laughter ceased. "Hey Max, I was beginning to wonder where you'd disappeared to." Said Logan.
"I… Guess I should go." Asha set her glass on the coffee table and stood, grabbing her jacket.
"I guess you should." Max snapped, narrowing her eyes.
"No, wait, Asha. What about dinner?" Logan protested.
"What!?" Max, surprised, looked at Logan.
"Well, I invited her to dinner with us." (AN: BAD Idea Logan!)
"No, its okay…" Asha said as she draped her coat over one arm. "I'll just… see you later?"
Logan glanced at both Asha and Max. "Come on Asha. Its just one Christmas dinner, what's it going to hurt?"
"Well, I know that you and Max would like some time alone. And besides, I have plans of my own."
"Yeah, Logan. She's got plans of her own." Max gave Logan a death glance, rather pissed off that he'd even consider something like this!
"Come on Max…" Logan looked over at Max and his eyes widened, a shiver ran down his spine and Goosebumps rose.
"Merry Christmas Logan… You too Max." Asha said as she made her way out the door.
As Logan opened his mouth to either apologize to Max, or tell her that was uncalled for… She held a finger up. "Hold that thought."
With that, Max was out the door. "Hey! Asha! You forgot something!"
Asha stopped and turned around, "Wha-?" Just as she turned she came face to face with a fist.
Max couldn't control it… It had to be the heat… Fight for a mate, you know that kind of thing. "You forgot your Christmas present." Max said with a grin. As she turned, she let out a sigh. "I feel much better." She started back into Logan's apartment, leaving Asha alone. Asha wasn't unconscious, just stunned. And she knew she'd have a black eye for sure, in fact it was already starting to swell… She could feel it. (AN: Couldn't help myself…)
Max stepped back into the apartment with a big grin on her face. She could admit… she needed that. "Would you accept an apology?" Logan asked, standing in the middle of the hallway.
"Depends." Max walked over and put her arms around his shoulders, basically hanging off him.
Logan gave her a toothy grin. "On what?"
A verbal response was more what he was expecting, but this was much better. Max had taken his lips in a deep kiss. He sure wasn't complaining, he returned the kiss, putting his arms around her. When he finally pulled away, he bit his lip, still grinning.
"Dinner?" Max asked innocently.
"Dinner." Logan nodded.
They ate in peace. Logan was still wondering how Max had suddenly gotten into a good mood. But he didn't ponder it too terribly much. Instead, they stared at each other from across the table, Max flirted while Logan just shook his head with a grin.
Later, they sat on the couch. Logan had his arm draped around Max who cuddled up against him. "Logan?… I-I don't want to do anything that… you know."
"Hm?" Logan rubbed Max's arm lovingly.
"You know that I've always wanted this to be… Well, perfect?"
"Yeah?" He looked down at her curiously.
"Well, you remember what I said about… My cat DNA? The-"
"Oh… The… Heat?" Logan asked, catching on quickly.
Max nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. She was holding back the urge to just take Logan here and now. She loved him! And she didn't want to be thought of as some sort of crazed animal that wanted nothing more than… well…
"Its alright Max. I understand." Logan pulled Max closer to him.
"It's hard to resist, but I've been trying all day. It just started a while ago and its already driving me mad."
Logan grinned. "So…"
"So what?"
"So you need to cool that urge, right?"
"Cold shower should do the trick."
Logan placed a kiss on her forehead. Max grinned, and mouthed a silent 'oh' and returned the kiss lovingly.
AN: hehehe… Couldn't resist! XD I'm just leaving the rest of that up to your sick little imaginations. Anyway! If I get at least 8 new reviews… I'll get another chappie up and running.
Review Replies: (YAY!)
-I have the right to criticize your criticism… And if I say anything to "offend" you… Tough bananas! Get over it.-
Appollina: LoL, thanks Ap… Mind if I call you Ap? Too bad… Anyway… Yeah, had to do it, I couldn't help myself!
Isra: Whatever Bethann Freeman… Anyway! Thanks for the review and… I'll be sure to get my army of mutant rats ready for when you walk into my trap… I mean, house! Did I say Trap?
GUEVERACALE452: Uh, thanks for the review… BUT this is My fic and I can have Max tired and Logan a bit slow if I want. Its nice to know that you got the joke right off the bat… I'm so glad I have a person who gets things in a snap read my fic.
Bob: Thanks for the review! And I'll be sure to get more snuggly moments for you.
NannyGoat: Sorry… I forgot. But this Fic will always be a TBC until I say "THE END" at the end of the chapter… then its over for good. Unless I write a sequel.
Anyway… "You should know for the most part the books were crap."-Horse Shit! I loved the books. And if you think the books are Crap… Why are you reading my fic? Considering the fic if pretty much based off of the urm… books?… Yeah, ironic isn't it? Anyway.
Gflea: GOOD! You read and reviewed! I'm so happy. And eh… Yeah, I agree. Asha would probably taste wicked terrible.