Thank you Teegs for the betaring

Chapter Ten

His eyes snapped open he could hear banging and shouting. Logan again he groaned. Fuck! What is his problem? Alec thought angrily his eyes quickly darting to Max's anxious, shocked face.

He looked at her eyebrow raised. She shook her head emphatically and pulling the sheet around her upper body moved into the middle of the bed as he swung out and looked around for his jeans.

The banging was getting louder. "What the hell is his deal? Can't he knock like a normal person? Does he have to bang the fucking door down?" Alec snapped angrily.

She watched him pull on his jeans. "It's not his fault Alec, hhe doesn't understand," she said tremulously.

"Yeah, yeah I know, Max, I know," sighing as he ran his hand through his hair.

"I'm sssorry Alec," she sobbed.

"Don't be, it's not your fault," he said adamantly his eyes swinging helplessly from Max in the middle of his bed, tears streaming down her cheeks back to Logan and his noise. Fuck, he thought stomping into his living room, fuck, he thought, as he worked the locks on his door, fuck he thought, as he opened the door.

Logan angrily banging and calling for Max stopped disconcerted when he saw Alec. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed his bare footed jean clad body. Alec suffered his disdainful perusal without comment.

She'd been gone for days now. At first he'd thought Alec was just guarding her while she was in heat. That had made him angry enough, he didn't like her around Alec. He didn't trust him. Alec might think nobody else knew how he felt about Max but I know, Logan thought disgustedly.

After his first visit when Alec had been so protective of her and so fucking rude to him he had suspected he was doing much more than just guarding her.

Now confronted with a partially clad Alec he knew exactly what had been going on. His bodies a fucking map of what they're been doing, he thought furiously, running his eyes over the marks on Alec's body. Even his stomach he thought disgustedly. They had some fucking explaining to do. If she thought he was buying 'it was my heat I couldn't help it' then she was sadly mistaken.

He'd swallowed that shit once before because he hadn't really known the guy, but this was different this time it was with Alec. Why the hell would she want that unreliable, untrustworthy, womanizing socio- path, I'm so much better for her than that, he thought self righteously, unease stirring as his eyes ran involuntarily over Alec.

It's just the virus, if he could touch her she wouldn't be here with Alec he reassured himself, already starting to feel better. We can get through this. Once she understood how angry he was they would establish some ground rules around her heat. The first one being that she has nothing more to do with Alec. We can move on from this he assured himself his mind already busy thinking about how she could make this up to him.

"Go home Logan she still isn't ready to see you yet," Alec quietly, interrupted his thoughts.

"I've had enough of this, Alec, I want to see her now," he spat back furiously. "OC tells me you've got her here again. I don't know what the hell is going on, what you people think your playing at keeping her from me?"

"Nothing is going on Logan. She just doesn't want to see you yet. When she does then she knows where to find you."

"Get her now Alec," he demanded imperiously.

Alec knowing Max could hear Logan and hearing her sob louder tried to contain his anger.

"Max is fine Logan just go home when she's ready she'll contact you," he replied, closing the door his patience exhausted.

Logan stuck his food in the door.

Alec looked down at it incredulously. Opening the door wide he stepped out into the hall and grabbed Logan by the throat squeezing his windpipe. "Listen Logan," he said softly, "Right now the only thing that's stopping me beating the shit out of you is that it will only upset Max more than your coming here already has. Now I'm not gonna tell you again she doesn't want to see you." he repeated, his eyes hard the muscle in his jaw ticking.

"Alec, what are you doing?" Max asked anxiously from inside the apartment.

"Ah nothing Max," he said quickly releasing Logan's throat.

Stepping back into the apartment he looked her tear stained face over anxiously. Logan quickly collecting himself and taking advantage of Alec's distraction sidled into the apartment.

"Max you've been crying," Logan said accusingly.

"I knew he was lying about you not wanting to see me," he added triumphantly, sneering at Alec. Pulling a gun out of the back of his pants he motioned Max over to him. Alec stared at the gun Logan was pointing at him dumbfounded. This fucker has definitely got a death wish.

Max could feel Alec getting ready to move.

"No Alec," she ordered sharply.

"Its okay Max. He's powerless now I'm here," Logan said pompously. "I'm taking you out of here. Go and put some clothes on," he ordered. His marks are all over her too he realized disdainfully eyeing her neck before contemptuously dropping his gaze to what was obviously Alec's tee-shirt.

Catching his look Max's mood rocketed from anxious to enraged.

"Stay where you are Logan!" she snapped as he began to edge toward her his eyes and the gun on Alec.

"Its all right, Max just come here,' he said, still moving toward her.

"I told you to stay put," she said angrily sensing Alec on the other side of her angry and bristling and getting ready to move.

Shocked at her tone Logan stopped and looked at her.

"Who the hell do you think you are to burst in here waving a gun after being asked to leave," she raged.

"Now Max…" he flustered indignantly.

"Alec told you I didn't want to see you because at the moment I don't, OC told you the same but you disregarded both of them and pushed your way into their homes."

"Now Max…"

"And now you're back again," she raged on. "Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look?"

"Alec could have that gun off you and your neck snapped before you knew what hit you."

Alec grinning from ear to ear looked over at Logan yep he looks ridiculous all right standing there his gun at half-mast gaping and blustering at her. Oh god I love Heat Alec thought, beaming at a now scowling Logan.

"Now Max……"

"I don't want to hear it Logan. Now take your gun and go," she stomped over to the door and flung it open.

Still grinning from ear to ear Alec watched Logan gather his dignity about him and stalk indignantly past her.

She slammed the door after him.

"What are you grinning at Alec," she snapped.

"Nothing Max, how about some food huh, I'm starved."

She burst into tears.

"It's all right don't cry it doesn't have to be pizza," he said putting his arms around her and patting her back. She pinched his side but he could hear her crying turn to spluttering and then she was laughing into his chest.

"He did look ridiculous didn't he?" she giggled hugging him.

Max giggling and laughing and about how ridiculous Logan looked. Alec peered delightedly down at her.

"Yeah he did," he agreed laughing with her.

"Do you think he'll forgive me?" she asked suddenly serious "I've never spoken to him like that before."

Mores the pity Alec thought. The arrogant bastard could do with some more of it.

"Sure Max just explain it was your heat I'm sure he'll understand," he suggested, struggling unsuccessfully to keep a straight face.

She pinched him again much harder.

"I'm going to have a bath I was going to let you share it, but I'm not now," she huffed.

"You can have yours after me."

"You're very wiffy," she added, slamming the bathroom door on him.

"Fuck."

Pizza it is then. And I'm not wiffy, he thought indignantly, sniffing his underarm experimentally.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"I don't like pizza," she sulked as she ate her third slice.

Alec bent over the pizza box shovelling his sixth slice down, eyes transfixed on the TV, grunted something unintelligible at her.

She glanced over at him in irritation. Eyes drawn to his bare back as he bent over his food she watched in interest as even the small movements of eating caused the muscles to flex and move. He even eats energetically, she thought thinking about his fidgeting and inability to concentrate on anything for longer than five minutes. Except me, she congratulated herself smiling contentedly her irritation gone.

"Alec.''

Riveted on the TV he didn't react.

"Alec." she repeated more sharply.

Oblivious he continued to stare at the TV.

"Alec!" she snapped louder.

Still eating he swung around his eyes questioning. Not really having anything in particular to say just wanting his attention back on her she cast about for something, anything.

"Your such a pig you've eaten all of yours and half of mine you'll be sick if your not careful."

Rolling his eyes he turned his attention back to the TV and continued eating.

Scrunched sulkily in the corner of the couch her thoughts drifted off to think about what had happened when Logan had arrived demanding she go with him. She thought about how Alec had gone without question, uncomplaining to deal with her problem and had had a gun waved at him for his trouble. She knew how angry he had been and how badly he had wanted to forcibly remove Logan and his gun but hadn't because it would have upset her. She thought about Logan…

"Max."

Pulled away from her thoughts she stared at him blankly. He had finished eating had cleared away the debris and was now sitting beside her eyebrow raised quizzically.

"What?"

"I asked what you wanted to watch," he said, gesturing at the TV with the remote.

"Oh umm you choose," she said moving across the couch to settle herself under his arm against his side, he looked at her surprised, his expression moving to startled when she smiled sweetly back at him.

Giggling she snuggled against him. This is so nice she thought sighing as she settled herself more comfortably against his warm solid chest. She could feel his smooth satiny skin under her cheek the steady thud of his heart in her ear. His scent was all around her a heady combination of soap, and the unique smell that was purely Alec now overlaid with her own smell.

She loved her own smell on him it reminded her of her siblings when they were young that similar safe pack smell. It reminded her of how she used to feel with Zack and the others, like she was part of something and not on her own. She had only started to realize how much she'd missed that since Alec had come into her life. She liked the feeling that if she let her guard down he was there protecting her back just like her siblings had been. She could rely on him trust him like she could them she reflected.

He'd been there for her over her heat not just sexually but emotionally. He'd understood what she had needed and had provided it for her. She'd probably need him while she was pregnant too and when the babies born. It was incredibly reassuring to know that she could rely on him trust him to be there for her.

Alec, his arms full of warm contented Max couldn't have been happier. This is special he thought. When he was a kid and wondered what it would be like to be part of a family, to have people who he cared about and who cared about him, this is kinda how he'd imagined it would feel, he remembered, his cheek on the top of her head as he gazed sightlessly a the TV.

A week ago he couldn't have envisioned being here like this Max curled up at his side just watching TV. It's so enjoyable he thought playing with her hair. Just having her close and content to be here with him, was nearly as enjoyable as making love to her. This last thought bought a self-depreciating grimace. With other women when he'd done the deed he couldn't wait to get away. With Max its different, pulling her tighter into him he looked down at her hand lying on his stomach fiddling absentmindedly with the button on his jeans, he needed her like this as much as her wanted her sexually.

"Alec?"

"What Max?"

"Why do you want to be my mate?"

Fuck

Alec felt his warm and mellow mood dissolve into thin air.

Silence.

"Alec?"

"I want to help you look after the baby, Max," he blurted panic stricken.

"Ooh," she answered quietly, suddenly feeling flat and sad and not knowing why.

He watched her hand withdraw from his stomach and felt like snatching it back he felt the rest of her body preparing to withdraw as well.

"I need to know your both okay, seems like the best way to do that," he added in dismay.

"Okay," she answered brightly. "I'm really tired gonna go to bed," extracting herself from him she stood up.

"Max," he grabbed her hand as she moved away.

"Nite Alec," coolly she pulled her hand out off his and turned quickly towards the bedroom.

I'm not gonna cry she told herself as she walked away I'm not gonna fucking cry.  She made it inside the bedroom before the tears started. What did you want him to say you idiot. That you were his soul mate…that he loved you and couldn't live without you. Of course it's because of the baby she thought confusedly crying all the harder.

Great, just great you fucking idiot. Alec reproved himself disgustedly.

He could hear her trying to muffle her sobs. She had never tried to pretend she wasn't crying before this made him feel even worse. He knew he should have said more but she had taken him by surprise, caught him off guard, scared him.

Fidgeting outside the door he tried to decide what to do. Just go in and act normal he finally decided. He could hear her trying to swallow her sobs as he quickly stripped his jeans off.

She turned her back on him and moved away as he got into the bed.

Reaching out he gently rubbed her back. "Are you okay?" he asked tentatively.

"I'm fine I'm just sad," she sobbed.

He closed his arms around her from behind a warm reassuring, comforting embrace.

"What are you sad about Maxie?" he asked gently into her ear, relieved when he felt her lean back into him.

"About everything you, me, the baby, Joshua all of us. What if we can't keep it safe Alec eeverybody wants to kkill us. Mmaybe it would be best to have an abortion," she sobbed.

He felt his heart constrict. "I don't want that Max. Do you?" he asked, pulling her more tightly against him his cheek resting on her neck.

"No but I'm sscared."

So am I, petrified he thought. Rolling onto his back he pulled her against him, "We will keep it safe Max we trained for years to protect ourselves. What sort of soldiers would we be if we couldn't protect our own families?"

What sort of transgenic would he be if he couldn't protect his own, he asked himself as he stroked her hair back from her face. You'll both be safe he vowed silently, his face suddenly grim. Nobody's hurting what's mine again.

Hugging his waist she sobbed into his chest. "You don't really want a baby Alec. You're just trying to make the best of a bad deal tthats just you," she stammered.

His heart heavy he thought about how much was at stake how much depended on what he said now. He really didn't intend for Logan to raise his child nor would he let Max go without a fight. He thought about how to tell her how much she meant to him.

He had to make her understand that he did want her and the baby but he wanted, needed to be more than just confusing thoughts in her head more than just a possible option, before he trusted her with the fact he loved her.

Hand under her chin angling her head so he could see her he cleared his throat nervously. "I do want it Max, I want the baby and I want you as my mate," he repeated, his eyes locked with hers. "Your heat has proven you and I are good together even without the baby I would still want you," he said, hoping it would be enough.

She frowned disbelievingly, "You're just saying that to make me feel better. You have a different woman every night you like it like that. Why would you want to settle down with me and a baby?" she sniffed into his chest.

Does she really believe I prefer a parade of nameless, meaningless women? he wondered incredulously. "No Max I'm saying it cause it's what I want you, me and the baby. There haven't been that many women either," he added defensively.

She raised her eyebrow skeptically, "Alec your bedroom practically has a revolving door."

He couldn't help laughing, "I don't belong with them, Max. I belong with my own kind. You're the only family I've ever had you and now the baby, you're what I want," he promised huskily.

Her eyes roamed his lean strong features absorbing the heart-stopping smile now curving his full sensual mouth. Yes, she realized with a surge of confusing emotion, somehow through everything, they had become family, Alec like Joshua was part of her new family.

His eyes dropped to her lips she saw the flare of hunger as they darted back to hers. Excitement fired her blood even before his mouth claimed hers. The gentle invasion of his tongue sent her senses spinning. He kissed her long and slow, sweet and deep his lips moving on hers his taste invading her senses she heard herself moan as he pulled away.

"You're not in heat anymore Max," he said huskily.

"I know."

His eyes roamed her flushed cheeks lingering on her lush mouth.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked hoarsely. He watched her long dark eyelashes brush her cheek as she blinked languidly at him.

"No," she whispered pulling his head back down to her.

TBC

Please Review