AS209 Much Ado About Something Chapter Six, a dark angel fanfic

AS2.09 Much Ado About Something by Star24 and Lelu2

Chapter Six

Logan gave his bowtie one last adjustment and stepped back from the mirror. His new tux fit like a dream. He supposed it really had been time to buy a new one, even though the thought of spending money he could have used for new equipment on an item of clothing he'd probably not wear again for years, still rankled. He ran a hand over his smooth shaven jaw line and gave his hair a quick run through with a brush. Given that Max was going along with this, and was even now closeted in his guest bedroom with Original Cindy helping her to get ready, he supposed he ought to look his best for her.

He turned to leave the room and then paused. He walked briskly to his closet, opened one of the built in drawers, and pulled out a velvet box. He flipped open the lid and an expression of sadness briefly crossed his face as he gazed down at the contents. He gave himself a mental shake before he snapped the lid closed and slid the drawer back into place, carrying the velvet box with him as he left the room.

"Boo, if you don't stay still I'm going to tie you to this chair." Original Cindy looked down at Max with frustration written on her face. "Art takes time and it takes you playing statue for me."

Max sighed and stopped trying to crane her head to see what Cindy was up to as she plied her tools, which consisted of various makeup brushes, on the back of Max's neck. Her hair had been swept into a sophisticated up do which bared her neck, and her barcode, to the world but Cindy had assured her that when she was finished it would be all good. Finally Cindy stepped back and nodded in satisfaction.

"Let me see." Max reached for a mirror but Cindy snatched it away from her.

"Not until you're finished. Now come here and wiggle your booty into this dress."

Max rose from the chair, wearing only a semi transparent strapless bra and a tiny pair of silky beige bikini panties. She stepped into a garter belt and pulled on a pair of silk stockings. Claire had decreed that pantyhose were completely déclassé and were absolutely not to be worn with Max's ball gown.

OC whistled at the sight of Max as she stood there waiting to step into the gown. "You sho you don' wanna switch teams? You hotness personified," she teased.

Max laughed at her, "The dress?"

Cindy held it out and Max raised her arms over her head, letting Cindy slip the dress over her without disturbing the hairdo that had taken far too long to achieve, at least in Max's estimation. Max held the front of the dress in place as Cindy walked around to zip up the back, and then stepped back to look at the end result. A satisfied smile crossed Cindy's face.

"Now you can look."

Max walked to the full length mirror and stared into it. The dress had been beautiful in the shop, but now, with the full effect of her hairdo and the makeup Cindy had applied to her face, she didn't recognize the woman who stared back at her. Her skin glowed golden and Cindy had made her eyes up to emphasize their slight slant, while at the same time making them look smoky and sultry. Her lips glistened from the gloss they were coated with, and a light peach colored blush emphasized her cheekbones. Wordlessly, Cindy gave her a hand mirror and she turned, tilting the mirror so she could see what Cindy had done to hide her barcode. It was gone. Instead, a delicate, tawny butterfly that sparkled slightly in shades of brown and amber, seemed to dance on her neck.

"Oh." Max said. "It's beautiful. Will it stay?"

"Not to worry. The body paint I used ain't goin' nowhere without you applying the remover sittin' in that jar over there. Now put your glass slippers on and let's go dazzle Prince Charming." Cindy held out Max's shoes and Max took them and slipped into them.

As she headed for the doorway of the room she felt a faint flutter in her stomach. This is a mission. That's all it is. Don't get yourself in a twist, she admonished herself.

Logan was staring out the windows at Seattle when Max and Cindy came into the room. Original Cindy cleared her throat and he turned to greet them. At the sight of Max all words fled his mind and he stood there speechless.

Cindy giggled and Max frowned slightly at his silence.

"Boo, I think you done struck the man speechless. Which is sayin' a lot." Cindy observed. "I ain't never seen this boy without the ready word."

Logan started and shot a glance at Cindy. He stepped forward and held a hand out to Max. His voice came out huskier than he had intended. "Let me see the full effect."

Max glanced at Cindy uncertainly and Cindy made a twirling motion with her hand. Feeling unaccustomedly shy, Max slowly turned in a full circle as Logan gazed at her, drinking in every detail.

When she faced him once again he remained silent. Max began to feel indignant.

"Something's not right." Logan said slowly.

Max frowned. "Logan Cale, we've just spent hours doing this…" she began.

"Close your eyes." Logan instructed, ignoring her. Cindy grinned in the background, guessing where this was going.

Max stared at Logan and then reluctantly closed her eyes.

Once he was sure she wasn't looking, Logan reached down and removed a necklace from the velvet box sitting on the table next to the couch. He walked behind Max and reached around her, looping it around her neck and fastening it. Max's eyes flew open at the feel of the jewelry and she looked down trying to see even as her hand came up to feel the piece. Logan stepped in front of her and took her left hand in his.

"Hold still a minute, Max." He concentrated on fastening a bracelet around her slender wrist.

"Now don't that sound like what Original Cindy just spent an hour sayin' to her." Cindy threw in.

As soon as Logan released her wrist, Max flew over to the antique mirror hanging on his wall. She gasped at the sight of the necklace that circled her neck. The delicate filigree chain consisted of tiny sparkling diamonds alternating with pieces of glowing topaz. Suspended from the end, a glowing, teardrop shaped piece of topaz, set in silver filigree and surrounded by diamonds, nestled in her cleavage. The tawny color of the topaz and the sparkling diamonds were the perfect complement to her dress. A matching bracelet consisting of a triple strand of diamonds and topaz circled her wrist. Logan had come to stand behind her and her eyes met his.

"I could fence these for…" Max began, groping to find something to say.

"Max." Logan stopped her. "Here are the matching earrings." He handed her a pair of diamond and topaz drop earrings. "Put them on."

Max felt her hand trembling as she took the earrings from Logan. The look in his eyes had her completely off balance. She fumbled with the earrings, finally succeeding in getting them on. For a moment Logan stood there behind her, his hands resting gently on her shoulders as their eyes locked. Unable to resist, he leaned in and dropped a kiss on the butterfly that covered her barcode. Max shivered as she felt the feather light touch of his warm lips, lingering briefly on her skin.

"This set was my mom's favorite." Logan said softly.

"Oh. Maybe I shouldn't wear it…"

"She'd be happy to see it getting some use again…especially on someone as beautiful as you." Logan assured her. The two had clearly forgotten Cindy who was standing watching in the background, and she smiled to herself at their byplay.

"Okay, let me see the rocks, you two," she finally declared.

Logan stepped back from Max who turned to face Cindy. "What do you think?"

"Original Cindy wishes she could be a fly on the wall to see Cinderella set 'em all flat on their hoity toity asses." Cindy quipped. She nodded approvingly at Logan. "You done good."

"How did you know what color jewelry?" Max asked him. "Or was it a lucky guess?"

Logan grinned. "Claire slipped a hint in my ear on the way out the other day. She knows the Cale jewelry and she suggested that this set would be the perfect one for tonight."

Just then the intercom buzzed.

Logan smiled at Max. "That will be your coach, princess."

He held out an arm for Max, but Cindy stopped them. She glanced down at the velvet box. "Hold on. Cinderella needs one last touch." She walked over to Max and reached up and carefully placed several sparkling clips in her hair. "Don't wanna forget these."

Logan smiled at her. "Thanks, Original Cindy…for everything." He held out his arm once again and this time Max took it. "Bling already took down our luggage, so we can be on our way."

Cindy handed Max a tiny evening clutch that matched her gown and shoes and gave her hand a squeeze.

"You enjoy and bring back some of those fluffy towels if you get a chance."

Max laughed. "You bet."

The elevator door opened and Logan waited for her to precede him into it. As the door closed behind the pair, Cindy stood smiling to herself and then wandered off to find herself a drink. Logan had asked her to house sit his apartment for the weekend. Since Bling would be with Max and Logan, she had agreed to act as backup in case any important Eyes Only messages came in that they needed to know about while they were gone. When she opened the refrigerator, she found a bottle of red wine with a note propped against it.

This is one of my best pre-pulse reds and you seem like a red wine kind of a girl to me. I left you some pate as well, and there's plenty of food in the freezer. Enjoy. Thanks for taking care of my girl for me. Logan.

Cindy opened the wine and poured herself a glass, raising it in a silent toast to Logan and Max. Boo, you done good for yourself. I only hope you know that, considering he's one of the male gender, you got yourself a prize specimen. That boy's got it as bad for you as you do for him. She chuckled to herself as she settled in to enjoy her wine and some of Logan's extensive movie collection.

End of Chapter Six