The Surprise
A/N: I am re-writing the chapters again just to help me refamiliarise myself with the finer details of the the story. No major changes though.
Chapter 1: They're baaack!
Logan Cale was excited. Max and Alec had left Seattle over a year ago for Vancouver where Logan had found out "New Manticore" was being set up and were finally getting back later that day. Although Logan would be perfectly content if Alec decided to stay in Vancouver for good he was thrilled at the prospect of having Max back, he had really missed her as in her absence there had been no one to share a bottle of wine with on a long, cold, rainy night. Of course the lack of company had not stopped Logan, he had simply propped up a mirror facing him and had intelligent conversations with himself. He was still annoyed that Max had been away for so long anyway. When he had found the information on New Manticore, Logan had told Max, assuming it would only take her a few weeks to destroy it. Looking back, he was unsure if he would have told her at all if he had known that not only was it going to take her about eight months to make sure that Manticore would be gone for good, but that she was going to take Alec with her. Logan didn't understand why, I mean Alec wasn't much help to anyone.
During the first few months of their separation, Logan had recieved weekly calls, if not more from Max but these gradually became monthly calls. In a one off call, Max had told Logan that it was going to take her and Alec five months more that they had planned. She hadn't explained why but Logan knew it must have been something big to hold two transgenics back that amount of time. During the other infrequent calls, she always sounded distracted and he got the feeling that she was rushing him of the phone, although he had no idea why. He had heard nothing from her for the past two months and he hadn't even know that she was coming home until Original Cindy mentioned it to him assuming that he already knew. He knew that something strange was going on but he didn't know what nor did he care just as long as he had her back.
So he had planned a romantic meal for two where he could catch up with his 'beloved' and listen intently to all she had to say so that she would fall in love with him all over again. He sighed contently at the thought then looked at the clock. 'Three O' Clock already,' he thought to himself. According to OC she would be back at half. He rushed into the kitchen to put on the pasta then started to set the table as he knew that his apartment would be her first port of call when she got back into town.
OC ran to the door when she heard the timid knock. Upon opening the door she put a hand on her hip and gave Max a tough girl look, "Since when do you knock?" OC quickly melted into a smile and gave a delighted squeal as she threw her arms around Max. "Good to see you too OC," said Max returning the hug.
OC stood back letting Max in, then closed the door as Max threw herself on the couch. "It's been far too long Boo! Where's all your stuff or do you just really travel light?" asked OC, sitting down beside her best friend.
Max grinned, "I just dumped all my stuff at Alec's then came right over. I really missed you, Alec wasn't really one for girly talks. I have this backlog of feelings I want to express about my hair."
OC laughed, "I'm not surprised and for the record your hair is looking good girl. So what's new with you? Did you kick Manticore's ass or what?"
"Damn straight we did," said Max. "Manticore can't event think about tring to regroup and well. . .quite a bit's new with me actually."
"We have been apart for over a year Boo, I'd be kinda annoyed if you had nothing major to tell me and we had to get straight on to the topic of your hair."
"Are you trying to say that my hair isn't important to you?" asked Max, with mock offence.
"No, I'm just saying that other things like some good gossip are more important. So come on girl, spill," said OC, sensing that something was up. Max just seemed different somehow but for the life of her OC couldn't put her finger on it. They had definitely been apart for too long.
Max took a deep breath, "Well you see when we were away . . ." She sighed as she was cut off by the sound of the phone ringing.
"Hold that thought Boo," said OC getting up and walking over to the phone, picking it up. "This better be important," she snapped down the phone, annoyed that the first time she had seen Max in over a year was being ruined by someone who was obviously less important.
/Cindy, it's Logan. Its half four and Max still isn't here. I'm beginning to get worried, are you sure she said she was coming back today/
"Yeah, she is here right now."
"Who is it?" Max mouthed over to her.
When Original Cindy mouthed 'Logan' Max frowned and mimed the motion of hanging up the phone. OC was confused but nevertheless did what Max said. "Look Logan I gotta go," she said hurriedly, hanging up on him before he got a chance to object. Max lifted her coat, grabbed OC by the wrist, and headed towards the door. "Come on. He will head over here now looking for me. We can talk at Alec's." With that, OC and Max left the apartment closing the door behind them.
"Hello, Hello? Cindy? Are you there?" Aggravated, Logan hung up the phone and started dialling again. No answer. He tried another ten times before slamming the phone down in frustration. 'Why is Max avoiding me?' He lifted his jacket, blew out the candles at the table with two plates of now cold pasta on them, and headed over to Original Cindy's.
"Now what was all that about?" asked OC as they entered Alec's building. "I thought you and Logan were soul mates and all that and now you aren't even talking to him?" she asked clearly confused.
"It's complicated OC," said Max with a sigh.
"Well you better uncomplicate it for me 'cause you are not leaving me in the dark on this."
OC stopped walking and put her hands on her hips as they reached Alec's door. Cindy watched her friend carefully, raising an eyebrow when Max pulled a key out from her pocket and unlocked the door to Alec's apartment. "I'll explain everything inside," she promised, holding the door open for her best friend.
"You better," said OC entering the apartment.
When inside Max flung her jacket to the side and set her keys on the table then went straight to the bedroom. When she came out she put her finger up to her lips. "Shush!" she said to OC who was now sitting on the couch making herself comfortable. "Alec's asleep," she explained, closing the bedroom door as quietly as she could. "He drove all the way back."
"I wasn't expecting him back at all! I mean you two alone for that amount of time? Please! I was reasonably confident about a week in you were finally going to crack and snap his pretty little neck in two. If he was coming home, I was expecting it to be in a body bag or little pieces. You know with him here alive and unharmed your bad-ass rep could go down the drain! I mean he drives you mad when he's on good behaviour, never mind having to live with him for over a year!"
"Yeah well a lot has happened this year, I don't really know were to begin," said Max.
"Well why don't you start by explaining to me why you are sitting her with me, at Alec's instead of dining with Mr. Eyes Only?" suggested OC.
"Really? Wow!" exclaimed OC when Max nodded. "So when exactly are you letting your face in on the good news , hell or even Logan? Then you two could celebrate by finally getting down to business."
"I don't want to tell him because if I do he will want to get back together," Max explained.
"And you don't want to do that?" asked OC who was getting more confused by the second.
"Yeah, it's just that . . . " began Max.
All of a sudden crying came from the bedroom followed by a loud groan. A few moments later OC watched in amazement as Alec came into the room bouncing a baby in his arms.
