A/N: It has occured to me that I probably should have changed the rating of the last chapter to PG because of the language. Sorry about that; I'll try to remember next time. This chapter is rated G, but I suggest you have a box of tissues handy. I did, and I wrote it!

A/N #2: Thank you to Chaosti, SmilinStar, arwen-amy, aleclovemax, Fayth3, nelita, and TikigirlK16 for all the great reviews. I'm so glad you are enjoying the story! I'll try to have another chapter up later today or perhaps first thing tomorrow.

A/N #3: Last note, I promise, then on with the story...After working on this story, I decided to pull my other fanfic 494: A Real Good Man and do a little editing on it. I have finished the first chapter and it has been reposted. If you haven't read it yet, feel free to check it out. It's set Post Season 2 after the events of Freak Nation.

OK, Now back to the story...

Happy Anniversary

It had been one year to the day, since she and Zack and their siblings had tried to take down Manticore. One year since she was shot through the heart; one year since her big brother had given his life for her; one year since Max died and 452 was reborn.

452 was walking through the woods along the outskirts of the Manticore facility. She hadn't been able to concentrate on her studies today so she'd decided to take the afternoon off and go for a walk. Without realizing it she found herself standing in the exact spot where she had fallen one year ago.

452 closed her eyes and thought back to that night. Everything had gone so smoothly. We'd made it in to the facility, blown up the lab and were headed back to the rendezvous point. Everything was good until that girl appeared, the X8 who had my face. There was the sound of a gunshot; I didn't even realize what had happened until I heard Logan calling my name, Logan begging me not to leave him, Logan crying. I never even got the chance to tell him how I felt.

452 opened her eyes, even after a year her memory seemed so vivid. The look on Logan's face haunted her mind. 452 turned to leave, but stopped when she heard the crackle of paper under her foot. Looking down she saw a half soaked envelope with a name on it, Max. 452's knees buckled and she crumpled to the ground. She knew she should leave the envelope where it was and go back inside, it was starting to get dark and 494 would be looking for her soon. Her mind was telling her Don't do it! Max is dead!, but her body just wouldn't listen. Against her will she reached out and picked up the envelope. It fell apart in her hands and a single sheet of paper fluttered down to land in her lap.

It was a letter from Logan...

Max,

I don't know why I'm writing this letter. I know you'll never receive
it; you're gone. I keep thinking back to that night and my
mind tells me that you aren't coming back, that I watched you die, that I
held you in my arms as it happened. My heart refuses to believe it
though; I keep replaying the events over and over again hoping maybe I
missed something, maybe I was wrong, that you didn't die, that you
were just unconscious, that you survived somehow. Of course, that
thought is even worse because that would mean that I just left you
there. Abandoned you.

I guess that's the real reason I'm writing this letter. I wanted to
say "I'm sorry". I'm sorry for leaving you, Max! I promised I'd
always have your back but I lied. I'm sorry for lying to you! I told
you we had all the time in the world to be together, but I was wrong.
I'm sorry for being wrong!

Most of all though I'm sorry for not telling you "I loved you" sooner.

I LOVE YOU, MAX! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!

I will always love you!

Forever yours,
Logan