Chapter 5

Biggs slowly eased into consciousness. The room was familiar, yet strange. But what was stranger was the presence of a soft, warm body pressed against his. He tensed slightly and gazed down at the woman curled against his chest. He relaxed when he saw who it was, memories of the night before sending a fiery heat through his veins. Lianna, he thought contentedly. She was still sleeping; her quiet, even breathing sending a sense of comfort through him. It felt so right for her to be with him. He tightened his embrace, pulling her closer, wishing he could put off the inevitable - waking up.

He laid his chin gently on Lianna's head and inhaled her scent. She shifted, eyes fluttering beneath dark lashes. When she opened them, they reflected what he was feeling. He smiled softly.

"'Morning, gorgeous."

Lianna couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth as she heard that voice. Oh god, I've got the big sappy grin! she thought, simultaneously realizing she wouldn't give it up for anything.

"Morning, baby."

Biggs returned her smile and leaned in for a good morning kiss. He was surprised when Lianna pulled back, placing a hand over her mouth. Eyeing her questioningly, all he received was a muttered, "Morning breath."

He rolled his eyes, pushed her hand away from her mouth playfully. "Babe, the way I see it, I'd better get used to morning breath," he said, placing a loving kiss on her lips. "After all, I plan on waking up next to you as many mornings as I can."

She curled her body closer to Biggs', laying her head on his chest and sighing contentedly.

"Promise?" she asked.

He kissed her again and whispered into her mouth. "Hell yeah."

Lianna wrapped her arms around his neck, one hand tangling in his soft hair, pulling him closer. He groaned at the taste and feel of her.

"You're gonna be the death of me, babe," he said huskily, gently pressing open-mouthed kisses to her jaw and trailing them down her neck. Sweet torture. Perfect, hot, sweet torture. "I want you," he breathed hotly against her throat.

Those three words full of passion and promise of things to come accompanied by the feel of his lips on her skin sent shivers of delight through Lianna's body.

"Mmm, show me," she whispered seductively, using the grip on his hair to pull him deeper into a fiery kiss. Her fingers traced a line down his smooth chest, the sensation of just touching him enough to drive her gladly to insanity.

She grinned against his lips as he groaned when her hand delved lower teasingly. And he says I'm going to be the death of him she was able to muse before all coherent thoughts were made impossible.

Their passion spent, Biggs gazed deeply into the eyes of his lover. He could see his own feelings mirrored there. They were contented, sated, happy. Rolling onto his back, he pulled Lianna with him so she was resting on his chest, her soft hair tickling his sides.

"I don't wanna get up," he sighed, running an idle hand up and down her arm and over her lower back.

"Do we have to?" she replied softly, rubbing her cheek against him. I don't want to get up either. I've waited for this for too long.

Before he could answer, the sound of a creaking floor jolted them from their relaxed state.

Each felt the other's body tense, the sound reminding Lianna of the consequences of all their actions the night before.

"I guess Quinn's awake."

Listening more carefully, not one, but two pairs of feet could be heard moving about in the room across the apartment.

"Shit," she said, closing her eyes.

Biggs brows furrowed in confusion. He'd heard the extra person, but that wasn't an unusual occurrence for a morning in their apartment.

"Why do you care if Quinn had someone sleep over?" Lianna gave him a worried look, and the pieces began to fit.

"Oh shit."

"See, I was right the first time. Max...well...Max and Quinn were here and we - Alec and I - kind of found them in a ...compromising position. Alec was upset and..." She stopped, giving Biggs a moment to process the information. "You don't think they...I mean, Quinn wouldn't do that, right?"

"Not if he values his life," Biggs muttered under his breath.

He looked at Lianna, worry creasing his brow and sadness in his eyes. "Was it really that bad? I mean, how you guys found Quinn and Max?"

She nodded wordlessly.

"Damn," he cursed shortly, running a hand through his already tussled hair. "Wait, so where's Alec?" he asked as it dawned on him who's room they were occupying.

Lianna ran the events over in her mind, trying to remember seeing Alec. "Well baby, I think it's safe to say he's not in here," she said, gesturing to the room. Biggs gave her a 'no shit' expression and she sighed. "I was a little too preoccupied last night to know where he went. I'm guessing he left."

"Great. We've got a pissed off Alec, a possibly screwed-himself-into-a-corner Quinn and Max is not going to be fun to deal with...can this day suck any harder? It hasn't even started!" Biggs closed his eyes, pulling Lianna close, thanking whichever higher power that had led him to her. "At least one thing worked out right," he murmured, kissing her forehead softly.

Lianna closed her eyes, taking a moment to revel in just how right this 'one thing' had turned out. After she was as satisfied as she could be, she lifted herself up on her elbows, scanning the room for her clothes.

"What are you doing?" Biggs asked, a smirk on his face.

"Stretching," she replied, a hint of sarcasm evident in her voice. "I'm looking for my clothes." Her shirt was lying close to the bed on the floor and she leaned over to pick it up. She groaned upon seeing the fabric ripped down the middle. "Dammit, Biggs, that was my favorite shirt." Though she spoke the truth, there was no anger behind the words. Her eyes sparkled and a grin spread to her lips as her gaze fell upon Biggs' tee-shirt. "Guess that means I'm stealing yours!" she squealed, pulling the shirt over her head.

Biggs laughed and shook his head. There was no arguing with her. Besides, she looks way sexier in it than I ever did!

After much searching, all of their clothes were found - some articles in decidedly better condition than others - and they had mostly finished dressing. Biggs was wearing only his jeans; his shirt having been repossessed by Lianna as 'compensation'.

"You ready?" Lianna asked as they stood just behind the closed door.

Biggs nodded, putting one arm around Lianna's waist as the other reached for the doorknob.

As soon as Max woke up, she knew something was wrong - really wrong. For one, her body ached, and two...there was a very warm, very hard body lying next to her. She groaned and was afraid to open her eyes. Please tell me I didn't go into heat, she thought. Opening one eye just a slit, she was able to see Quinn's deceptively angelic face, his eyes still closed in sleep.

Wait, we didn't - no, we didn't. The memories of the night before swarmed back to her and she groaned once again. We didn't, but they obviously did, she thought bitterly, remembering the tell-tale sounds she and Quinn had heard the night before.

She felt Quinn stir next to her, her sounds having awoken him.

Stretching languidly, Quinn pointed his toes, arched his back and rolled his shoulders, all done without opening his eyes. Bending his knees, he slipped his hands under his head, linking his fingers. Settling back, he heard the sounds of early morning; birds trilling outside, the slight breeze coming in from the window, and the faint sound of breathing. He'd never realized how loud it sounded before.

Inhaling, he held his breath, yet the sound continued. He groaned.

"Biggs, you're in the wrong room again, man," he mumbled, unwilling to open his eyes to the morning.

Max couldn't resist the laughter that bubbled up at that. "Well, that's a first. No one's ever mistaken me for a man before." She leaned over him and smirked. "Biggs spend much time in your bed, Quinn?" she teased.

His eyes snapped open and he gaped at her. "I - uh - we - no!" he sputtered. He was hard-pressed to form a coherent sentence at this hour of the morning.

"Uh-huh." She laughed whole-heartedly, and stood up, ignoring the looks of disgust she was getting from Quinn.

"How can you just willingly get out of bed like that?" he asked groggily.

"It's in the genes. That's more sleep than I've gotten all week." Not to mention the fact I just want to get out of here before Alec and Lianna wake up.

She walked over to his dresser and started sifting through the clothing.

"Uh, Max?" he started. She ignored him. "What the hell are you doing?" Quinn swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up.

"I'm finding a clean shirt. You're leaving the room while I change." He was about to inquire as to why she needed one of his shirts when he noticed the dried milk staining the front of her tank.

"You sure you can handle that on your own?" he grinned cheekily. Her reply came in the form of a pair of balled socks hitting him square between the eyes. "Okay, okay, I'm going, jeez!"

He was about to go to the door when a sly look played across his face and he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall. "On second thought, no. You can change in the bathroom."

She turned to glare at him, but could only smile at the look on his face. "No gentlemen these days, I swear." Rolling her eyes, she picked up a random shirt and was headed for the bathroom when she realized something important - she didn't know where the bathroom was. "Uh, Quinn?" she said sheepishly. "Where is the bathroom?"

He chuckled. "Probably under a pile of clothes. No, seriously, it's down the hall to the left. You can't miss it. Follow the socks."

Max snorted. "Leaving a trail to find the way, Quinn?"

He muttered sourly. "Sometimes it seems like it." Suddenly aware that he was in dire need of the facilities himself, he waved her off. "Never mind. You change here, I'll be right back."

Quinn stepped out into the hallway and smiled wryly at the trail of socks that did indeed lead to the bathroom. Roommates. Closing and locking the door behind him, he settled into his morning routine. After a quick shower, he slipped his jeans back on and padded back to his room.

He stopped in front of his bedroom door. Quinn could hear the faint sounds of movement from down the hall. They must be awake. God, this is going to be weird. He knocked softly.

"Max? You decent?"

"Yeah, don't worry about your poor virgin eyes," she said through the door. "I mean, really. As long as you took in the shower, how could I have not gotten a shirt on by now?" She'd meant it to sound light-hearted, but having heard the shuffling in the other room, bitterness tinged her voice.

Quinn quickly entered the room and closed the door softly behind him. He stared at Max for a moment, taking in the pain etched on her features. He knew she'd heard them too. The reality of the situation weighed heavily on them both.

Quinn walked over to Max and pulled her into a hug. She tensed slightly but soon relaxed in his embrace.

"I'm sorry, Maxie. I really am," he whispered into her hair.

She sniffled a bit and pulled away slowly. "Stop this sympathy crap. It'll ruin my tough chick rep if people know I can cry," she joked half-heartedly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

"You gonna be alright?" Quinn asked, concern evident in his eyes.

"We'll see. Let's just try to get me out of here before I have to see them, alright?"

"No one would believe you could cry anyway," he teased. "I'd be locked up for suggesting it." He smiled softly and reached for her hand. "They were still in the room a few minutes ago and I haven't heard anything since. I think it's safe to make a break for it now. Tell ya what, how 'bout we get the hell outta here and I buy you breakfast?"

"Sounds great," Max replied, managing something reminiscent of a smile as Quinn led her out of the room by her hand. When they'd only been out of the room a few steps Max ran into Quinn's very stiff back.

"What the hell - ?" she began until she realized why Quinn had suddenly come to a full stop. Following his gaze, Quinn's look of surprise was soon mirrored on her own face. There in front of Alec's door stood Biggs and Lianna.

Max tore her cheek away from Quinn's naked back and stared open-mouthed at the two transgenics at the other end of the hall.

Max gave a short laugh and a snort, shaking her head in wonder. "Well it looks like we missed the party. Didn't know Lianna was into that kinda thing."

Biggs furrowed his brow in confusion. "Max? What the hell are you talking ab-" Noticing the other man for the first time, his eyes moved over Quinn's naked torso. He also noted that Max was wearing Quinn's blue t-shirt. "Man, that's low. Couldn't you at least have gotten dressed?"

Quinn's eyes glittered. "Not that this is any of your business, but my shirt is in the living room. And I second Maxie's question." Directing his next words at Lianna he continued. "Didn't think threesomes were your style either."

Lianna looked back and forth between the three transgenics, trying to find someone with an answer. "I think I would be pissed off about that comment if I knew what the HELL you were talking about!"

Biggs tightened his grip around her waist. "Well, I think we have a right to be pissed anyways," he ground out as his eyes fell on the scratches on Quinn's stomach and sides. "Feisty are we, Max?"

Max looked at Biggs, thoroughly confused. Following the path his eyes took, her gaze fell on the scratch marks lining Quinn's sides and stomach. Her hand flew to her mouth in mortification. "It's not what you think!"

Quinn looked down and gasped. He'd forgotten about that. Biting on his lower lip, he scowled and then yelped, as he resplit the soft tissue. "Fuck, that hurt."

Glaring at the two transgenics, Quinn narrowed his eyes. "Max is right. It's not what you think."

"Oh really? Then, pray tell, what exactly is it?" a voice called out.

All eyes shot to the entranceway of the apartment where Alec was leaning on the doorframe, his face blank.

TBC