A/n: Many thanks for your reviews. Sorry this is a bit late everyone, I'm really busy at the moment.

Chapter 25: Breakfast At Janey's

By the time Max had got back into the house with the escape kit Logan was already sitting up in his chair, glasses back in place, chatting with Maria while he sipped the water she'd brought him. The girl blushed deeply every time he looked at her. Max smiled to herself. Looks like Maria has a crush on Logan. Knew she had taste.

"Got your stuff, Logan. Hey, Maria, is Jude up yet?"

"He's in the bathroom. Mom'll be making breakfast soon, he'll be down then."

"Do we have time to go out and see your pony before it's ready?" Max asked.

"Sure." Maria looked hopefully at Logan.

"You girls go ahead," he said. "I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Are you sure? Maybe I should wake Brin…"

"You don't have to guard me every second, Max. I'm not going to disappear. Go on." When she still hesitated, he raised his eyebrows at her. "That was an order."

She gave a little mock salute. "Sir, yes, sir."

Max and Maria went outside, the young girl talking excitedly as she led the X5 over to the stables. "This is Freddie." The chestnut pony snickered and tossed his head, more interested in the carrots his visitors had brought than who they were.

They petted the horse for a while, before Maria shyly asked, "so, is Logan your boyfriend, or…"

"It's complicated," Max replied. "I wouldn't call him my boyfriend, exactly."

"Then what would you call him?"

"I don't know. Haven't figured it out yet."

"Really? But he's so…"

"Yeah, he is." Max allowed herself to remember what had happened between them a few short minutes before. "But enough about me and Logan. What about you? You seem to like it here."

"I love it here; it's great. I have Freddie, and Jude, a real family. I go to school, and I have friends; we hang out at weekends and have sleepovers."

"Lucky you. D'you have a boyfriend?"

The girl flushed bright red. "No. But there is this boy I like, Jason, he lives nearer town. I think maybe he might ask me out."

"Good for you, Maria. Nice to know you're happy."

"Max! Maria! Breakfast's ready!"

"We should go. Come on, I'll race you!"

Max did no more than keep up with Maria on the way to the house; if she'd been trying she could have covered the distance in less than thirty seconds. They went into the kitchen where Logan, Brin, Jude and Chris were already at the table.

"Wash your hands before you eat, girls," called Janey, putting a huge stack of pancakes in front of Brin. She looked like she was having the time of her life looking after them all. "Here, sweetie, have some bacon with that. Look at how thin you are, you need feeding up."

"Don't say that, Janey," remarked Logan. "If she's anything like her sister she'll eat you out of house and home. I should know; my grocery bills have doubled since I started cooking for Max."

"Well you shouldn't be so good at it then," said Max, sitting down beside him. "Besides, you forget to eat if I'm not there to remind you. Pass the butter." Logan rolled his eyes, but passed it across to her anyway. Max smiled when she saw Jude practically drowning his pancakes in syrup.

"So what are you up to, Jude? Helping out on the farm?"

"I like to feed the chickens," he said, seriously. "I gave them all names and I get to collect the eggs too. And dad says soon I can have my own pony."

"Wow. Sounds great."

"Jude's doing really well at school, too," said Janey proudly. "He's better at math than I am. And his drawings are great."

"Really?"

"I'll show you them after breakfast if you like."

"I'd love that, Jude. It's a shame we can't stay longer, you could give us the guided tour."

"Maybe we could come out one weekend," Logan suggested. "If that's ok with you."

"Of course it's ok. We'd love to see you here for a social visit for a change." Chris was grinning at the prospect.

Max had never experienced such a joyously chaotic meal. She felt like she belonged there, like the whole gathering was made up of her own family. It was perfect; even sitting squashed between Logan and Maria on a rickety stool felt… right. Although that might just be because of what just happened with me and Logan. I mean, we kissed. And neither of us were in danger of death like last time. He didn't declare his undying love for me or anything mushy like that; he didn't have to. All he did was say he understood, that he'd let me into his life. He knows I've killed, and he still wants me around. I can't believe it really happened that way. It's like a dream I can't wake up from, like in that movie he loves so much.

Then again, it might just be being close to him that's making me feel so happy. God, I am so whipped already.

All too soon, the meal was over. While Maria and Janey cleaned up, Logan took Brin into the living room to make her some fake ID. Max went to look at Jude's pictures. Janey was right, they were exceptional. Much earlier than she'd have liked, Max was sitting in the passenger's side of Logan's Aztec waving goodbye as the farmhouse disappeared into the distance. She sat back and sighed.

Logan noticed the sound and turned towards her. "You know, in a couple of weeks I might be up for a short vacation…"

Max beamed. Impulsively, she leaned across and planted a firm kiss on his cheek.

Tell me what you thought.