Disclaimer: Grow a brain

A/N: Sorry I didn't update lately, I was too busy going out with Zack. Haha. I wish.

Max and Zack entered T.C. and headed directly to HQ to make sure that everyone else had arrived safely. As soon as Zack walked in he was engulfed in hugs by several of his brothers and sisters. Zack was never good with displays of emotion, especially with hugs, giving or receiving, unless the person in question was Max. He looked helplessly at her, silently asking her to get their family off him, but she just smirked and shook her head then walked over to Dix.

"Getting a little crowded here, huh?" she asked him.

He smiled kindly at her, and said, "I don't mind. Back at Manticore, I was locked in the basement so I didn't get to interact with people much. It's nice to be around people."

"I'm sorry," she said. "I know when we were younger we used to think you guys in the basement were monsters, but that was because of all the lies the guards and trainers told us. Anyways, I'm glad I got to know you guys 'cause you're really exactly like us. Just a bunch of hybrids trying to make a life in a shitty little world."

Dix nodded. "Thanks for your support. I'm really glad you're our leader, Max. You're kind and fair, but you don't take stuff from anyone."

Max chuckled inwardly. Dix was such a kind and gentle anomaly, so innocent he couldn't even say the words "shit" or "crap". That's what she liked about him. He was like a child seeing the world for the first time, and he didn't mouth off because his mom would smack him.

Max turned her head to see that Zack had successfully freed himself from his brothers' and sisters' arms, looking kind of worn out. She laughed and said, "You alright Zack?"

"Yeah. Who runs this place anyways?" he asked.

All eyes on the room looked at Max and he followed their gazes all the way to her face. His mouth opened slightly with shock.

"You're in charge here?" he asked.

She blushed slightly. "Yeah. Seems like I can boss you around now, huh? I have a higher ranking."

He chortled then said, "I think I'll find a room to stay in."

"Okay," Max said and he walked off.

Zack wandered T.C., imprinting every little detail in his mind. It wasn't exactly the nicest place ever, but it was somewhere the transgenics could stay without fearing for their lives every second of the day.

He kept walking down the hall, opening some doors to see what was inside and taking in everything: the kitchen and mess hall, rec room, med bay… everything until he heard a familiar voice.

"So do you think that there's a chance for curing the virus?" the voice asked. It seemed they were talking on the phone.

Zack recognized it as Logan's voice and crept closer to the room he was in. During the ride back to T.C., Max had filled him in on practically everything so he knew about the virus between her and Logan.

'Good,' he had thought. 'That'll keep that nerd's hands off of her.'

He strained to hear the answer of the person Logan was talking to.

"Well, I make it a point to never say never," the voice said. "I think it's curable, but I'm not the one who could do it. I analyzed it; it's the most complex thing I've ever seen. This Manticore place; they really knew their stuff. I'm sure if you find a doctor from there, they could probably cure it. But I'm sorry Logan; I'm just not the person who can."

"Alright, thanks," Logan said, his voice obviously disappointed. He hung up the phone and just stood there for a moment, and then he walked out.

Zack backed away from the door when it opened and Logan came out, looking very weary. Logan started down the hall and Zack followed him, walking so lightly his feet didn't make any noise. It seemed that Logan sensed someone was behind him because he quickly whirled around but no one was there. Zack had blurred away a second before then blurred back behind him when Logan kept walking.

Zack grinned. This was fun.

The hairs on the back of Logan's neck stood up and he turned around again.

"Who's there?" he shouted.

A transgenic passing by looked at him weirdly, as if to say, "Why is there a lunatic screaming in the hall?"

Zack tried hard to stifle a laugh as he continued his game of cat and mouse with Logan. But this time when Logan turned back around to continue walking, Zack blurred in front of him and blocked his path, arms folded over his chest and a predatory grin on his face.

Logan froze. 'My God, Max actually brought Zack back. Is she crazy? Now he's going to kill me! Who's going to continue Eyes Only? The world needs him. He makes their lives better and more enjoyable!' He tried hard not to flinch upon seeing Zack and instead forced his mouth to open.

"Hi Zack."

'Okay, short but at least I said something.' Logan looked around to see if there was anyone there who would witness his death or if there were any tools to defend himself with against Zack, but he saw that there were none. His mind forced his body and legs to move, but it was as if he was paralyzed again. They wouldn't listen to him.

Zack didn't stop grinning. "Hello Logan. Long time no see."

Logan gulped. "Uh, yeah."

"How've you been?" Zack asked.

Logan stared at him incredulously. Was this Zack's version of chit chat before he killed him?

"O-okay," Logan said, trying hard not to stutter but not succeeding. "And you?"

"Good, good." Zack's grin wasn't coming off his face and it was unnerving Logan.

"That's um –" Logan stopped. He would not die this way. Not playing Zack's game. He would die his head held high, a true hero.

(aod78: coughtrueheromyasscoughcough. Clears throat. Ok, on with story.)

"You know Zack; I'm not going to play your stupid games. If you're going to kill me, then do it," Logan said bravely. He clenched his eyes shut and Zack rolled his.

Zack walked toward Logan and lifted his hand as if to strike him, but instead ruffled his hair. Logan's eyes opened with shock to see Zack still grinning madly at him.

Zack laughed and walked away, throwing an "I'm not going to kill you, you idiot. Drop your dumb heroism act," over his shoulder.

Logan wiped at his forehead where sweat had accumulated. "Phew. Close one."

Buffy sat in a nice little clearing outside T.C., thinking about all that had happened recently.

'I can't believe Faith lied to me,' she thought. 'I know she had a good reason; she didn't want to put me in more danger than usual, but still. She should've told me. I'm her best friend and she didn't tell me.'

She felt someone walk up behind her and knew it was Spike.

He sat down and put an arm around her shoulder.

"What's wrong luv? Looks like something's gotcha down," he said.

She leaned into his embraced and sighed. "Faith. It's like I don't even know her anymore. She kept so much from me."

"With good reason luv," Spike said. "I know it hurts but ya gotta let it go. She did it because she cares about you. 'Bout all of us really. She didn't want to see us in more trouble with these Familiar whatchamacollits."

"I know it was for good reasons but it still doesn't take away all the hurt," Buffy said. She snickered at herself. "Look at me. I'm supposed to be a tough slayer, but because my best friend didn't tell me a secret I break down. Isn't that stupid? I wonder what all those vampires would think about me now."

"I'm a vampire and I think you're a wonderful human who can't help expressing your emotions. It's only natural, luv, don't let it bum you out. You've been Faith's friend for a long time now and of course it hurts that she didn't tell you something. But you gotta get over it so you can help Faith beat this battle with those creepy 'no pain no gain' guys. She needs you Buff," Spike said.

She smiled at him. "Thanks, that makes me feel better although your opinion shouldn't count."

"And why the bloody hell not?" he demanded, affronted.

She laughed. "Because you're in love with me."

He relaxed. "Damn right there."

"So I should go to Faith and talk things out with her?" Buffy asked.

"Yup. Then you should go to my room and talk things out with me," Spike said.

She frowned, confused. "Talk what out with you?"

He raised his eyebrows suggestively. "You know luv… things."

She grinned. "I just might do that."

Liz sat in her room in T.C., deep in thought when she finally noticed that someone was knocking at the door. She sat up slowly then walked over to the door and unlocked it. Maxwell stood in front of her.

"I was wondering if we could talk," he said.

Liz nodded and pulled him into the room. But before he could speak, she pulled him towards her and kissed him. His arms quickly wrapped around her, and after a minute or so they pulled apart. Max grinned at her.

"Well, I said talk but this I could do with too," he said.

She pulled him onto her bed and they just sat there looking at each other.

Liz was the one who broke the silence.

"You want to know why I didn't tell you earlier about what I am," she stated.

He nodded. "Yes, I do. I know you didn't want to put us more at risk, but you should've trusted me Liz, at least me. I told you what I was."

"Yeah, but that was different. You unexplainably healed me when I was dying. You had the whole glowy hand thing; you couldn't exactly say you had phosphorescent glue on your hand or something. You had to tell me, you didn't really have a choice because I witnessed it," Liz said.

"Still, don't you think I worried about you? Don't you think I was afraid to tell you? And even when I did save you, the explanation I gave wasn't everything. I told you everything later, even though I didn't want to put an innocent, human – or so I thought at the time – girl at risk with all the people out to get us. I trusted you Liz, I thought you trusted me too," he said with a hurt look on his face.

"I do trust you. With my life, Max," she said. "But I just didn't – I don't even know why I didn't tell you. Maybe I was afraid of something; maybe I got so used to being Liz, the ordinary girl that I forgot about who I was. Maybe I couldn't find a way to tell you. There are so many maybes, Max. I don't know why I did what I did, and I'm sorry."

She looked down because she didn't want to meet his eyes. "Things were just so complicated. I was alone without my family, and you and Michael and Isabel and all the others… you guys were the best thing that happened to me while I was on the run and you guys became my family. Maybe I was afraid that you guys might think it would be too risky to stay with someone who was being hunted just as much as yourselves, and leave me alone again. I didn't want to lose everyone."

Max sighed and put a hand under her chin, lifting it up so she couldn't hide from him. "Alright Liz, I understand. I'm not mad at you; I just wanted to know why."

"So we good?" she asked.

He grinned. "Better than good although I have a girlfriend who can kick ass better than me."

She laughed and cuddled up to him. She had been the happiest lately. She had gotten her family back, told Maxwell and the others the truth about what she was, and so far everything was peaceful. She just hoped it wouldn't all come crashing down on her.

"Sir?" Otto asked White. "There are a few people here to see you," he said.

White looked up. "Send them in."

Three men and a woman walked in. Two of the men looked a little strange though. Their teeth stuck out and looked very pointy and sharp. The funny thing was that White couldn't hear their hearts beating.

He looked at them strangely. "Please take a seat," he said.

They pulled out the chairs and sat down.

"May I ask who you are and what you're doing here?" White asked.

"My name is Hilda. Jaquen and I come from outer space," she said. She pointed to the man on her right.

"And I'm Vlad," one of the guys who had pointy teeth and no heartbeat said. "Boont and I are vampires," he said.

White laughed. "Ha! Yeah right. You know what? Keep smoking whatever crack you're on. Maybe you'll come up with even crazier ideas. Get out of my office, you loonies."

Vlad smiled cruelly. "No joke. You are a Familiar, are you not? Our leader told us about you. How you have enhanced reflexes and such. You can hear that my heart isn't beating."

White observed them more closely. No, it couldn't be true. The world was sick enough already with all its fairy tale come true stuff. Transgenics and Familiars were enough, now there were aliens and vampires too? Impossible.

"We're not lying, Mr. White," Hilda said. She flicked her wrist and a book on his desk levitated. White watched in fascination as she made it fly around the room.

"And we truly are vampires," Boont said. He bared his teeth that were very red with blood.

"So what are you here for?" White asked. Despite his calm around enemies, not fearing anything nature, these people made him a tad uneasy considering some of them could make things fly around.

"We have a proposition," Jaquen said. "We aliens and vampires have already created an alliance. We're going to wage battles against the kind we want to get rid of; some aliens and slayers. We were wondering if the Familiars would like to join our alliance. We would help with your transgenic situation if you help with our problems."

"I can't make this decision on my own; I have to consult with the Conclave. But I'll get back to you if you give me some more information on this proposition," White said.

"Certainly," replied Vlad.

"So what is it you call yourselves?" White asked.

Boont grinned maliciously. "The Purest."

A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. Please, please, please review! I'm begging you! LOL Hoped you liked this.

Thanks to –

Taye – Thanks for reviewing! Ya, I was planning on making it M/Z and F/A (Faith/Alec) There will be other ships too like J/Zane and S/K and stuff. I hope you don't stop reading because of the ships. Please continue reading and reviewing! Thanks :)

ZombieGurl98 – Thanks for reviewing!

Mae – Thanks for reviewing!

shygirl1 – Thanks for reviewing! Zack's back. Yes! (Pumps fist into the air) LOL

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Please keep reading and reviewing! For those who are interested, please check out my other fic, "Whose Love".