Okay question to those who use the Reflection Board, who do I contact (there are like 5 different top people) about the site apparently hating my email address or something odd like that because I cannot get an activation code for the life of me nor can I get a new name (and it's not in my spam box). Everyone else seems to be fine on the board except for me for some odd reason. Okay thanks in advance to anyone who helps.

Thanks for reading. Sorry about the delay. I'm kinda iffy on these final chapters, not really working for me.

Chapter 14

He was left staring at the door and he continued to do so for a few moments, too stunned to react. He hadn't known what to expect, but he was pretty sure in all of the scenarios he imagined she'd hadn't told him to find the baby a nice family and then ask calmly if he needed anything on her way home from work. He turned back thankful to see the baby still sleeping and held in his groan for the sheer fact that he didn't want the little guy to wake up.

He had absolutely no experience with babies. He was an only child, he might have four cousins, but he was smack dab in the middle of the nine year age gap they encompassed. It also didn't help that he hadn't grown up in a world were the girls he dated baby-sat their younger siblings. Noelle was the perfect example of how much he interacted with babies, he held them for the obligatory few minutes and passed them off to the nearest available person either as soon as they started to fuss or the necessary time minimum had passed.

The past few months starting to rush through his head as he gingerly lifted the carrier off of the counter and moved it over the coffee table before he sat.

Things had seemingly appeared normal for months, probably even within weeks of her return home. She laughed, she joked, she teased just like she always had. She got lost in herself more often than she had in the past though, her nightmares had abated somewhat, they were no longer a guaranteed occurrence every night. Sometimes she'd go a week without one, then out of the blue though, they'd terrorize her for days in a row. She'd shoot up, sometimes crying his name. Occasionally she'd let him comfort him, but more often than not, no sooner than his hand would be on her arm trying to soothe her, she'd be out of the bed and wouldn't come back for hours.

He stopped pushing, stopped following her out of the room; it only caused her to retreat more. Krit tried, Syl tried, Original Cindy had tried, hell even Bling had tried having more experience in traumatic events than any of them, but she just smiled and said she was fine.

'I should have found a way to tell her,' he thought looking once more at the carrier. For months though every time they'd gotten a lead it had fallen apart. Lydecker had been looking for months longer than Logan, searching out all of the previous facilities Manticore had used. The women had no idea they weren't carrying a average child; poor women had been recruited to serve as surrogates for infertile couples and placed in what were basically 'Homes for unwed mothers' that had almost all but disappeared in the late eighties, but had made a return with the Pulse.

When they'd gotten this final lead and Lydecker had gone with Brin to double check all of the facts, they still weren't positive it was Max's child. The dates seemed to fit as did the gender, but they had no way of positively identifying it as her child until it was born. The surrogate was a 21 year old, soft spoken petite blonde girl who was doing this to earn money to help support her two younger siblings who were living with her aunt after their parents had been killed. Yet another case of the defenseless being exploited and Logan would have been outraged even if Max weren't involved. They'd shuttled her off to a private hospital hundred miles away Friday night, her labor had been induced Sunday morning and the little guy before him had been born at 6:19 last night, Brin had kept guard the entire time until Logan had settled him into the back of his car.

Lydecker had made a solemn vow to Logan to reconnect the girl with her family and acquire the appropriate papers to relocate her, swearing he'd contact Logan if his contacts fell through. Lydecker had given Logan a amused look as Logan handed the girl an envelope with 10 grand, when she'd been more than thrilled with Manticore's promised payment of 5 grand when delivery was over. So here he was hours later with Max's son before him. Her son, who had already proven he'd inherited his mother's difficult streak causing Logan to have to stop on the highway twice and he'd paced with him the entire time Shelly, Sebastian's 'assistant' had run the DNA test at a private lab Sebastian had connections with.

Her son.

The little guy before him had half of Max's DNA, of course he also had half of Zack's which Logan was pretty sure if someone had said to him a year ago…Well the point was a lot changed in a year, as had Logan's opinion of Zack. He'd sacrificed himself for Max; Zack had kept Max alive when he couldn't. He would have willingly taken a dozen boys into his home with only Zack's DNA.

He looked over at the baby again and focused on his features trying to figure out if he looked like Max or Zack. He still had no idea, he didn't see either of them in the infant's features beyond Max's dark hair and the possibility of Zack's eyes, thinking of the slate blue eyes that lay beyond the slightly translucent lids. He was pretty sure that was another piece of evidence proving he had no experience with kids because everyone else always saw someone else in the baby's nose or lips, he saw either a cute or ugly kid. Based on that he was guessing the kid looked like Max because he was pretty damn cute and considering Logan had been tempted to tear his hair out on several occasions and still thought that was saying a lot.

He sat there continuing his vigil, hoping the baby wouldn't wake up and trying to figure out what the hell to do. He debated calling Syl or Krit, but knew it wasn't his place to tell them their siblings had been joined in a little child. He wondered how hard it would be to take the baby back out and finish getting everything they'd need for at least the time being. He ignored Max's words, focused on Bling's and Lydecker's of giving her time.

Hmm Bling. Logan wondered what his trusted friend was doing today and if he could stop by the store for him, he'd probably have a better idea of what to buy than any of them anyway.

He stood letting out a final shaky breath as he looked down at the sleeping newborn and hoped to god he wasn't completely off base with this entire thing.

-o-o-o-

Bling contained his laughter walking into the kitchen, he'd used his key not wanting to disturb the infant by knocking, Logan was turned facing him having heard the door as he attempted to clean up either spit up or formula from his shirt.

"Kids should come with instruction manuals."

Bling laughed, "I picked up a few books, figured you had no idea what the hell you were doing."

"Thanks" Logan said with a slight raise of his eyebrows and smile as he nodded and draped the towel next to the sink, pretty sure he'd need it again. "Is that all you got?" He asked walking over to the two large shopping bags Bling had just placed down.

Just as Bling was about to speak, Charlie one of the guys who worked in the building came into the apartment with two boxes on a dolly, "Hey Mr. Cale congratulations."

"It's Logan" he said haphazardly, used to trying to convince the workers in the building they didn't need to call him by his last name, especially since everyone just called Max, Max. He shot an accusing look over to Bling, he had been trying to keep this on the dl until Max had a chance to get used to it.

"I bet you and Max are real excited," he looked around the apartment, "where is Max?"

"She's…She had to go out."

"Aww is that the little guy?" he said moving around to see the baby in the carrier. "He's real cute." He said looking down at the wide eyed infant. "He even kinda looks like you two."

"Uh yea." Logan said as he slid his hand into his pocket for his wallet, "Thanks for all your help Charlie, can you do me a favor though." He said sliding the bill into the man's hand for carrying up the boxes.

"Sure Mr. Cale"

" Logan" he smiled again, "Can you not tell anyone about the baby for a few days, we're still trying to get used to it ourselves."

"Sure thing" he nodded only slightly wondering if that was an odd request, but he knew from personal experience once you said the word baby, strangers would be showing up at your door to get a peak at them. "You want these things--"

"Yea" Bling nodded, moving around to the other man's vacated position of standing before the baby, "There's good."

"Should I be telling the guys downstairs to expect a delivery?" he asked as he lifted off the two boxes, a paltry amount of baby things and he knew for a fact that they hadn't had anything delivered lately, especially not baby furniture, someone would have mentioned that.

"Not for a few days," Logan nodded, once more cursing Bling for not only bringing another person into this but his whole building, "he caught us off guard. He's early."

"Kay well just let me know and if you need any help when--"

"Thanks Charlie." Logan once more nodded.

"Tell Max I said congrats?" he asked again.

"Will do." He nodded once again.

Logan turned to Bling once the young man had left.

"I would have had to make three trips." Bling said absent-mindedly. "He really looks like Max," he said sitting down before the baby.

Logan was suddenly proud of himself that Bling had come to the same conclusion as him.

"How'd she take it?" Bling asked looking up, he didn't know why anything that went on in Max and Logan's lives still managed to surprise him, but it did.

Logan looked down at Bling.

"That well?" He said taking in Logan's face.

"Yea" Logan answered walking over to the boxes, squatting down before them. On top was a grayish green stroller, he moved it to the side and looked at the picture of the basinet, it was ivory and hooded with a little mobile type stuffed animals hanging down, "They didn't have anything less frilly?" he turned and asked, it looked like there were two levels of white ruffles covering the basket.

Bling looked up tearing his attention away from the baby, "How many options do you think there are Logan, you're lucky I found this much." He started to stand, to move over to Logan, "Not to mention this one vibrates."

Logan looked up puzzled.

"It calms the baby."

"I'll take your word on that."

Bling chuckled and moved over to the bags, "There are batteries in here somewhere." He said as he started to empty the bags, padding for the bed, sheets, a few more outfits, diapers, more formula, books.

"What's that?" Logan said moving over, seeing a box extracted.

Bling raised it up and turned around.

Logan looked at the picture it looked like his backpack just in front of someone; you weresupposed to put a baby in a sling? He looked back up at Bling.

Bling laughed and began to open the box and extracted a burgundy and orange sling.

Logan looked back at Bling, "He weighs six pounds." Why would they need that thing?

"First off you'd be amazed at how heavy that can seem after awhile."

Another disbelieving look, not to mention he was pretty sure the little guy wanted the constant attention that came from being in someone's arms.

"What happens when the exo fails or it's the middle of the night?"

Logan's mouth opened, he hadn't gotten that far in thought.

"Exactly. I just hope this one fits." He said holding it up, "That kid's really small." His eyes went back over to the carrier. "Try it on" he said extending his hand giving him no choice but to take the article in question.

"No, don't pick him up." Logan said seeing the other man moving towards the infant and started after him. He had no idea what had gone into making that baby quiet.

Bling's hands were already over the fasteners, leaving Logan looking down in anguish that all of his hard work was being destroyed. "Come on," he said scooping the infant in close to him and nodded towards the sling.

Logan sighed and his hands went to work adjusting the offensive pack. He looked down in disgust once it was on before looking up at Bling.

He shook his head, Logan had definitely been one of his more trying patients at times, "Let's try this out huh." He paused and looked up from the baby, "Does he have a name?"

"I got Max to look at him for 5 seconds."

Bling made a pained face, before looking back down at the baby, "Okay well little man, let's see how this works."

Logan looked down as Bling stepped back, "I feel like I'm pregnant."

"That's the original point of it, I think that's too big. I know a woman who makes the cloth ones."

Visions ran through Logan's head of native women carrying their baby's strapped across their chests, he looked back up at Bling.

Bling laughed seeing Logan's horrified expression that's why he'd picked up the backpack looking one in the first place, as Max and many of his other patients' spouses/girlfriends routinely referred to the delicate male ego. "She's already in love with you, Logan. Don't worry. I think she'd rather her kid be comfortable and safe."

"Can I take this off yet?" He asked supporting the baby's weight with a free hand, despite the fact that that was the entire point of the sling.

"Chair first." Bling said with a nod.

-o-o-o-

He started to clean up the apartment, Bling had left to go meet a patient awhile ago (after promising he wouldn't return with a floral sling, only a dark or neutral solid color one), leaving Logan to finish putting together the items. Visions of Christmases past ran through his head and he had a new appreciation for every time a parent bitched about having to put together a toy. How something that could look so simple and should just snap together caused so many curses and scraped knuckles he'd never know. He'd fixed the exo after all…A stroller and a bassinet should have been a breeze. Now he was picking up all the packaging that had been carelessly tossed to the side instead of being thrown out in the first place.

His mind flashed back to Christmas and finding out about the little boy who was once more asleep, but now in the bassinet. His mind was stuck on that for a few minutes, remembering that horrible realization of what Max was going through…Then out of nowhere a vision of Max in short red velvet with fake white fur trim popped into his head. He groaned, not for the first time in five days. Five days without Max. Records like that weren't the kind he wanted to ever break. He allowed his mind to linger over the memory for a few minutes before moving back onto cleaning with a sigh.

-o-o-o-

She let herself into the apartment noiselessly because of the thing she'd spent the entire day doing her best not to think about. She'd actually thrown herself into work, given Normal a damn heart attack with how many packages she got out, she allowed herself a silent chuckle to distract herself.

She walked slowly towards the living room looking for Logan. She smiled seeing his sleeping form stretched out on the couch, a few feet away was a fluffy ivory monstrosity, might be an overstatement, it wasn't like it had lace or anything, just ruffles. She moved softly across the floors to it and the person she knew lay within it, it wasn't as if she wasn't glad Logan had found him…She wouldn't have wished the fate that had awaited him on anyone. She just…

That was about as far in her thinking as she'd gotten. That and wondering if it now meant the nightmares would come to an end. She couldn't stand to see Logan die in anymore horrible ways, she couldn't survive hearing a baby's cries she couldn't reach, always out of touch. She let out a shaky breath and extended a finger to touch the baby's covered foot. He was safe now, he would never be Manticore's guinea pig.

She turned to look back at Logan and suddenly felt the past five days with little sleep catch up to her…She needed his arms around her so badly. She bent down before him and dropped a kiss to his soft lips.

He murmured softly his eyes barely opening.

"Stay asleep." She lifted up his arm and he shifted so he was sideways on the couch so she could join him. She slid in alongside him and pulled his arm in tight over her.

"Max" he said softly.

She stopped him before he could speak, "Promise you'll never go away again. You'll never leave me."

"I promise" he said softly and pulled her closer as she fell asleep in his arms.

Yea, I'm sorry. I told you it wasn't working for me.