Hello again and thanks to those of you who are still reading this. Thanks for the occasional reviews that are coming in to remind me to keep going on with the story. I don't have too much time to write now, but I'll try to post every once in a while, because I really want to finish this. So here's the next chapter. Please excuse the spelling and grammar mistakes. I hope you can still enjoy my writing despite of them.

Solanacea

Girls' Talk

Max settled on the ragged sofa with a huge bowl of popcorn in her lap. It felt so good to be back home. Sometimes she got tired of the penthouse with its perfect style and cleanliness. After all the time she had spent there lately she felt relieved to snuggle into the soft cushions on the small sofa at her crib. She was wearing sweat pants, an old faded blue tank top and her favorite woolen socks- the ones Kendra had made for her during one of her esotheric phases. Max wondered if her cold feet were something that came with the pregnancy just like her emotional outbreaks. She felt her stomach rumble. She shook her head to herself. Hungry again? Where did all the food go that she had had just a few hours ago? She had always had a high metabolism, but this was crazy! Right now she was eating for two grown-up X5 she concluded as she recalled her calorie input since she had left the hospital; On their way back they had picked upt some groceries and bach at the penthouse, Logan had cooked his famous dinner for her. They hadn't found the chocolate cake she'd been craving for, so instead, Logan had made a huge chocolate milkshake with two extra big scoops of ice cream for her. After dinner they had cuddled up in the living room for a while and had watched an old time romantic movie. In the middle of it, she had gotten up to make herself a sandwich, earning a disbelieving look from Logan, but he had said nothing. When the movie was over, Max had told Logan, that she was going to meet Original Cindy at her crib. Logan had been a little disappointed, apparently he'd had plans for the evening, but he had let her go, knowing that she needed the time with her friend. He had proposed to pick her up later and Max had agreed to give him a call, when she was ready.

Max dug her hand into the bowl of popcorn as her gaze wandered around the small room. Enjoying the familiar, relaxing atmosphere ,she sighed. Although she had spent most of her time at the penthouse for the past couple of months she had always been hesitant to completely move in with Logan. She new, she needed to be able to get away from time to time, to be by herself, do her own thing. Logan had accepted that until now. He had even offered to pay her "rent", but Max had refused. She had always cared for herself and she wasn't going to let Logan pay for her crib. She stuffed another handful of popcorn into her mouth, chewing it, thinking. Now he'd probably expect her to finally move in with him. Max frowned at the thought. As much as she loved Logan, she wasn't sure if she would be able to deal with that much closeness. Such a commitment…She looked at the ring on her finger, biting her lip. She had really liked the idea of getting married when he had asked her and she had been thrilled by the idea of having a child. But now, thinking about what came with it, she felt increasingly uncomfortable. ...Somehow this all came too fast. Ever since her escape from Manticore, she had been able to get up and leave, whenever she had felt the need to. She liked the feeling of being free and independent. After all she had fought hard for it. She didn't know if she was really willing to give it up again. What if her enemies came back chasing her. She would be tied to this place even more than before. She shivered. She'd have to take care of her own family! For Logan, she thought, it was totally different. Probably easier. He had experienced the love and the closeness of a family in the past. It was probably something he was looking for, a feeling he wanted to get back. She, in contrast, only felt trapped and insecure.

Original Cindy put down a cup of boiling hot chocolate in front of Max and took a deep sip from her beer. Then she sat down next to Max.

"Glad you're here, boo. You sure you don't want one?" she asked, talking about the beer.

"Sure, " Max answered. in fact, she would have loved to have a beer right now. But she couldn't do that. She was pregnant. She had to act responsible. She took a sip from her hot chocolate.

"So boo, what have you been up to? I was honestly thinking about calling the hospitals-even the morgue to find your whereabouts." OC asked."

"I've been gone for days before, why worry now?" Max asked, playing it down, though it was good to hear that her friend had been worried about her. That she cared.

"'Cause you'd never in the world leave your 'Baby' behind." Original Cindy had a point.

For a second Max was confused about the word 'Baby' but then she realised what Cindy was referring to. She sighed. Cindy was right. She never left without her motorcycle. " I spent the past couple of days with Logan." she said.

"I tried to call him, but he didn't answer his phone."

Max put down her cup and crossed her arms in front of her chest defensively. "We didn't care to answer the phone…"

"I see, got a lot of time to make up for, huh?" OC teased. "At least finally you admitted that you guys are crazy about each other. That stupid cat-and mouse-game you two had going on all that time, was really wrecking my nerves, ya know! Did you bang the gong all day long or did you even get out at times?"

Max punched OC in the side and frowned. "Cindy! We did not…can't you imagine there are other things to do than 'banging the gong'?"

"Like what?" OC grinned.

"Like talking. Like going out…" Max reached for her cup of chocolate displaying the ring on her finger long enough for OC to notice.

"What the hell is that?" she shouted and jumped from the sofa.

"What?" Max asked puzzled

"That!" OC said pointing to her hand, holding the cup.

Max caught herself and flashed a smile. "It's a ring," she said inocently.

"He gave you a ring?" OC dropped back onto the sofa curiously.

"He did." Max shrugged, beginning to like the little game.

OC's eyes grew wide. "Just like that?" she asked.

Max took another long sip from her drink, before she answered. "Not actually," she put on an indifferent face.

"Come on, Max! Spill it!" OC shouted, trying hard not to lose her cool temper.

"Well," Max took her time. "He took me out to this beautiful Italian restaurant, we had dinner-the best pasta I've had in my whole life, that is ...the second best after Logan's…, "

"Max!" Cindy urged her to go on.

"…it was the most romantic place I've ever been to, with violins playing and stuff. After dinner, Logan became all fidgety and nervous and I was wondering what was going on, but…"

"Max, please!"

"…and before I knew what was happening, he was on his knees asking me to marry him." Max finished, grinning widely.

OC sat there open-mouthed: "You're kidding me!"

"No, I swear!" Max said, raising two fingers.

A smile crept to Cindy's face as the news registered and she flung her arms around Max.

"Wow Max, that's awesome! Wow, I mean, who would've thought that my homegirl was gonna get herself hooked up with a man-and a rich and handsome at that-so soon!

She hugged Max again, but then she drew back and frowned.

"Wait a second; you did say yes, didn't you?"

Max smiled "Would have been kinda impolite to take the ring and say no, don't you think?" she asked jokingly.

The smile on OC's face came back. "Wow, boo….I…wow. Original Cindy is speechless."

Max turned serious again. "There's another thing."

OC stared at her curiously.

Max took a deep breath and dropped the bomb. "I'm gonna be a mommy," she said looking down at her feet.

Original Cindy just stared at her, almost choking on her beer. "What…? Does that mean you are...?"

"Mh hmm," Max said shily.

OC sat back on the sofa and stuffed popcorn into her mouth absently, trying to process what Max had just told her. "Wow, boo, you got the whole package, huh? And quick. I mean real quick!"

Max eyed Cindy from the side, not sure what to think of her reaction.

"You think I'm making a mistake?" she asked her friend insecurely.

Original Cindy, shook her head. "No, I…"

"But?"

"I …don't know boo. You tell me." She turned towards Max. "I'll have your back whatever you do Max. But are you sure you're ready for this?"

Max thought for a second, then shrugged. "I don't know, boo. On one hand it scares the shit out of me , but on the other hand it somehow feels like its the only right thing to do. I want to be with Logan and -even if this was not planned- I want this baby." she said, trying to push away all the conflicting thoughts.

OC finally grinned. "My boo's going to have her own little family!..So much for banging the gong, huh!"

Max puched her again, then hugged her friend. When they drew appart OC grabbed Max's hand. "Now let me see that ring!" "Wow, that guy has some taste-for a guy, ya know." She smiled.

"So he got down on his knees?"

Max nodded.

"That's classy. I would have guessed he'd go for the traditional stuff. But I didn't think he'd be so romantic…I.." she paused, when she saw the worried look on Max's face.

"Hey boo, what's up?"

Max frowned. "Isn't this supposed to be all wonderful and happy? So why is it I'm feeling so scared?"

OC took Max's hand in hers. "It's okay to be scared, I guess. After all you'll have a big responsibility."

"Exactly!" Max said.

"I'm not saying it'll be easy, but you're not alone, Max. You have Logan, all the guys at Jam pony, and Original Cindy of course! We'll work it out. "

Max nodded. "What if I bail out and run, as soon as things get tough?"

OC shook her head. "That won't happen. You love that guy and you'll love that child just as much. And even if at some point you should snap and panic, Original Cindy will drag your pregnant ass back where it belongs, hear me? "

Max nervously played with her ring. "O-kay."

Cindy emptied her beer and put the empty bottle on the table.

"What else?" she insisted.

Max hesitated for a while, searching fo the right words.

"Come on, I can see there's something else you're worried about," OC said, judging from the sour look on Max's face.

Max pulled her knees even closer to her body. She felt cold despite the mild outside temperature. She let out a deep sigh before she continued "I lied to you earlier on the phone….I wasn't just there to accompany Logan. I saw his doctor about my seizures. I had a real bad one last night-worse than anything I've ever had before. Scared the shit out of me…."

"Max, I'm sorry…"

Max waved her hand to indicate she wasn't finished yet. She inhaled deeply, before she continued. "Dr. Carr says the seizure could have harmed the baby, blocked the blood circulation or something." Max felt tears well up in her eyes again.

OC moved closer an drew Max towards her. "Hey boo, don't cry. Don't worry. I'm sure the baby will be all right, …with all those revved up genes of yours."

Max swallowed hard. Tears were flowing freely now. "Damn seizures..They, ...they could have killed my baby..." she sobbed.

OC hugged her tightly. " Max, don't say that. Your baby is gonna all right. Hey…Shhh."

"I just need to know, if the baby is okay." Max whispered, whiping the tears away with the back of her hand.

"I know,boo. I know."

When Max had calmed down a little OC stood up and got her a kleenex.

"Are you gonna see another doctor about that?" Cindy asked her friend when she came back.

Max nodded. "I have an appointment on Monday."

"Good….You okay now, boo?"

Max sniffled "Yeah, sorry. Just those freaking hormones."

"So," OC tried to lighten the mood. "How's rich boy doin? He must be real happy!"

To her dismay, her question caused another burst of tears.

"Ooops, sorry. Wrong question?"

Max reached for another kleenex and blew her nose noisily.

"Sorry Cindy. It's just…," she sighed again, before she continued. "I think he is happy somehow, but at the same time he is having a hard time. Those stem cell transfusions we did to repair the nerve cells in his spinal chord-they didn't work."

"But he was walking last time I saw him." OC interrupted.

"They don't work permanently. As soon as his immune system kicks in it attacks the new cells and within a short time he's back where he started."

Max buried her face in her hands. "That has happened in the past, but this time it is happening so quickly and he is refusing to carry on with the experiments, now that I'm pregnant."

"I see."

"He says he's allright. But I've been watching him lately. He's not dealing with it at all. You know he's got these stupid issues about being in the chair. I'm happy about the child, but at the same time I feel so bad, because that puts him back in the chair. Maybe for good this time."

"Max, I'm so sorry."

"It just hurts so much to see him like that! He tries to be cool, but I know hes hurting. If I could only do something, take away some of his pain!" she continued frustrated.

"Max, that's something that only he can do for himself. All you can do is be there for him. But it's on him to figure out his issues on his own. No one can do that for him."

"Yeah, I know," Max said reluctantly.

"He'll be fine, Max. Maybe it's good for him -for both of you- for this confusion to stop. No more false hope, no more setbacks. Maybe then he can work on accepting being in the chair."

Max forced a smile. "I guess you're right. Thank you."

"No problem, 'mommy'." OC smiled and patted her thigh. "You want some more chocolate?"

"No thank you. I don't wannal overdose. Besides, ...right now I'd rather go for some pickles."

Laughing Original Cindy went over to the fridge in search of something that might come close to that.

TBC... Please tell me what you think!