Rome – Present
"She was what?" Kenny said, as Max stared at him in shock. "Kim wasn't pregnant."
"She is pregnant," Morell repeated. "The test, she bought books on it, Kimberly Brock is pregnant."
"What?" Kenny said, looking at Max stepping back from him. "She would have told me…she isn't…no."
He said he loved me, Max thought numbly, that it should be us. No, no, no…He wouldn't. No. Never. He wouldn't hurt Kim because of that.
"You got my daughter pregnant."
She looked at a stoic John for a long moment before back at Kenny. Why is John looking at me like that? No, Kenny, he wouldn't. "Jimmy, he would never…You really think that?"
"Get out, Kenny," Jimmy said, looking back at her. "You're going to tell me everything, Max."
She looked back at her retreating partner. "Tell you what?"
"What were you two doing last night?" Morell asked.
"He was upset. We went out for drinks, well he drank, just talked. We went for a walk to sober him up…I drove him home and put him to bed on the couch."
"What did you talk about?"
"The case, Kim, how he was feeling," Max trailed off. Loves me, it should be us, no, he wouldn't ever. "Jimmy, Kenny would never hurt Kim."
"We bugged his place, Max, after we found the test."
She looked back at John, oh he's mad at me. "He was drunk. He didn't know what he was saying."
"He said he loved you, Max," John said finally. "That it should be the two of you."
"He was drunk," she repeated. "Very drunk."
"His pregnant girlfriend is missing," John said, fighting the urge to shake her. "You didn't say anything."
"John, he was drunk," she repeated. "Out of his mind drunk. He didn't kill Kim…certainly not because he…is that what you think?"
"Have the two of you been having an affair?" Morell asked.
"No. I'm marrying John…John, can you stop looking at me like that?"
"She isn't having an affair," he said finally. "Max let's get lunch."
In the Woods - Present
Master will think it's his, Elena thought, it will be his. Our baby will be part of our pack, part of rebuilding humanity. Smiling, she stroked her belly, excited to bring their baby into this new world.
Rome – Present
"It was drunk ramblings. Are you really mad at me?"
He turned to look at her. "Not about Kenny telling you he loved you. Max, that's been obvious for a long time. I know how you feel and I trust you. Him telling you that when Kim is missing? You didn't think it was important to the case?"
She let out a long breath at that and looked at him. "Maybe. I don't know. John, he wouldn't…She's pregnant? She's 19…she's in college. I'm barely ready for this, how can she be?"
He nodded. "She isn't ready any more than he is. You are going to be great."
Max looked at him for a long time. "Do you think…John it's Kenny."
"You know people snap."
My partner, best friend, who told me he loved me. He wouldn't… "I should have told you…as the D.A and my fiancé."
"As the D.A it could be important evidence. As your fiancé I don't like other men telling you that they love you and you should be with them. Max, I trust you, and I know you wouldn't…I love you. I'm ready to marry you and have this baby. You can tell me anything."
She looked at him for a long moment. "You're who I want to be with. Maybe, years ago, something could have happened with me and Kenny, but we were too afraid to really try. I moved on from that…and what we have? I never thought I feel this way about anyone. I want to be your wife, Kara's mom and have this baby with you."
"I am looking forward to making you Maxine Littleton."
"I'd elope with you this weekend."
He looked at her with that. "Really? I'm in if you are."
She nodded, as she shook his hand on it. "All in. Make me a Littleton."
Rome – Present
"Max isn't having an affair with Kenny," Jimmy said. "She and John are very committed to each other. Kenny better not have been…he said he loved her. She bolted from him. Kim is pregnant, the bastard got her pregnant."
Morrell looked at him. "The deputy and the D.A? Another deputy and your daughter? This town. Everyone pregnant?"
"Kim is 19. She can't…He snuck around and…He killed," Jimmy trailed off. "We don't know…it could. My baby is having a baby. Kenny's baby."
Rome – Present
"How many times?" John asked as she looked at her phone. "You can answer it."
Max looked up, feeling him studying her. "I don't want to talk to him, John."
"Maybe he's calling to tell you he loves you."
She shot him a look and fought to keep her temper in check. "What if he is?"
"Too bad for him."
"Are you mad at me?"
He looked at her. "Not at you."
At what Morrell wants me to do. Go along with him. Let him talk…let him think I want to have an affair. John should be mad. "I don't want to do it. We're supposed to elope in a few days. I bought a dress."
John held his hand out and she took it. Snuggling in close to him on the couch, she smiled slightly as he stroked her very start of her belly. "Marry me, Max, on Saturday…like we planned. Kenny doesn't need to know. Or maybe it will set him off. Marry me. Let's make this official."
She kissed him again. "Can we?"
"Kenny Lacos doesn't get a say in our wedding. I don't want to think he hurt Kim, Max, but what makes more sense? The secret boyfriend or an urban legend? Yes, we saw those kids, but…we don't know where they came from. Be his friend…do what Morrell wants. Don't make out with the guy. If you think he didn't do it, prove it. You ready, soon-to-be-Mrs.-Littleton? Answer it this time."
She nodded, as her phone rang again. "I'm more than ready. Hello?"
"Max, about time."
She snuggled in close to John, who wrapped his arms around her tightly. Oh, I do love this man. "I've been busy."
"I need to talk to you."
"You are."
"In person, Max. Is he there with you now? Is he listening?"
"John isn't my keeper."
"Max, I didn't kill her."
"I need some time with this. He heard you tell me that you loved me. Kenny, I…I don't how I feel about that."
"Max, I meant what I said. I know it complicates things. We can find Kim…then it's you and me."
She winced at that, as John squeezed her reassuringly. "I need some time to process it. It's complicated, there is John, Kara, I'm pregnant and engaged. Kim is missing and pregnant…we can't just. You know how it looks."
"Kim never wanted what I wanted. We can raise our kids together when we find her."
No, never, she thought, looking at John's hand on her stomach. He is who I want to have a family with. "We have to find her first."
"I'm suspended, Max. Off the case. I need your help with it. Littleton can't know."
She looked up at John, who didn't take his eyes off her. "I know he can't. He doesn't exactly trust me right now after I didn't tell him that you told me that you loved me. It's…it's not great with us right now."
"Tomorrow. Meet me at my apartment. We'll go hike the woods, see what we can find."
Max froze at that, intertwining her fingers with his. No. I don't want to go in there, urban legend or not, I shouldn't be alone with him. "I'm pregnant and spend half the day vomiting…I'm not exactly hiking in the woods ready."
"I'll take care of you."
She looked up at John again, who was shaking his head no at her. "I know you will. I'll see you tomorrow."
In the Woods
Elena smiled as she sliced the deer open with her children. Provide for them, she thought, it is my duty to provide for them and my Master.
Rome – Present
John who hugged me a long time this morning and told me if I was crazy enough to go in the woods with Kenny, to stay on the paths. Knock him out if he touched me. That he loves and trusts me…and not to make out with Kenny.
"You look good."
Max looked at him for a long moment, very aware of her cut-offs, old t-shirt and hair that had grown out over her pregnancy. I keep breaking hair ties, she thought, I can't deal with this mop on my head. This was the first morning I notice my stomach…a very slight curve to it that made John's eyes light up. Kenny is looking at my stomach too… "Thanks."
"Littleton know where you are?"
"He thinks I'm sick. He's in court all day."
"Max, I didn't kill her."
She held his gaze at that. "The FBI is combing the woods, they're flying drones over it…there is nothing there for us to search."
"Those kids."
"I know."
"They were pale, Max," he started. "Scary pale. They'll have her in a place where they can't see it from above."
She nodded at that. Play along. "Underground? A bunker…there is a cave system under the lake. They're going to search there too."
"They think I did it, Max. They aren't taking this angle seriously. We know it's what happened. Max, I'm heading out there. I want you with me."
"When?"
"Now. You and me."
"I can't just leave. I have a job, a family," she started. "It's not just me running off anymore. I know what you want from me, and…Kenny."
"I need to find Kim. Save her. Explain how we feel about each other. It's going to messy," he said, stroking her cheek. "Littleton isn't going to like it much. We're both having kids…Max, this can work."
"I'm going to break his heart."
"Will you come with me?"
"I don't want to hurt my baby by hiking caves. What can I do to help from here?"
"You think I would let you get hurt?"
Never, she thought, I trust him with my life. Or I did. "Stop touching me. I can't think when you touch me."
"Come with me."
"They'll see you in there. We can't go. We need to work from here. Figure out the cave systems. We'll find her, we just can't go in blind."
He looked at her for a long time with that. "We need to find her."
"We will. We need a plan though. You know they're watching you. I ducked them coming here…and I have to go to work."
"To help them railroad me. Your boyfriend think I killed her?"
"What he thinks doesn't matter. I need to go. Get the maps, make a plan…we can't go in blind," she said, as he pulled her to him. "What are you doing?"
"Don't go."
She shivered at his touch…three years ago…maybe. It's too late, way too late, I moved on. "I'll call you later."
He pulled her in. "I need you, Max."
John, she thought, as Kenny kissed her. I'm so sorry…kissing him back. Hmm…this is nice. No, stop…Pulling back, she fought to get control of herself. "I need to go."
"Don't go. Don't go back to him. God, Max, don't marry him."
Eloping, she thought, little lakeside ceremony with us and Kara on Saturday out of town. "I need to go. Now. Call me later."
In the Woods
"Very nice, Elena," he smiled, examining her stomach. "You are with my child."
She nodded, as his hands explored her naked body more in the caves. "I'm so happy, Master."
"You are providing nicely for your pack."
"I belong with the pack and you," she said, as her inner Kim voice screamed against the thoughts and feelings of Elena. Drugs, those drugs made me believe this…Elena…They made me Elena. My family, Kenny, they won't know me like this…I'll hurt them as Elena. It hurts to fight this. "I'm so hungry."
He handed her the skinned squirrel and watched as she bared her teeth at it. "Eat."
Licking her fangs, she ignored her inner voice and ripped into her meal.
Rome
"Caves?" Morrell said, as they studied the maps. "Do you believe him?"
"He believes it," Max said. "You think he did it?"
"There isn't any evidence."
Her burned car, tracks, Max thought, those kids. Him hitting on me while she's missing…kissing me. Telling me he loves me. No. Marrying John, having a baby and raising her and Kara together. "I really don't want to be alone with him."
"You need to get close to him."
She gulped at that. "I don't like him touching me. I don't want to go in the woods with him."
He kissed her again, John thought, she keeps swatting him away. "You're okay, Honey. Are we done for now? Come on, let's take a walk."
"Wait," Morrell said. "You two. He needs to think he's getting through to her."
"He's right," Max said, looking up at John. "We shouldn't…He needs to think I'm having doubts about us."
John just looked at her. Shaky, pale, trying not to cry. "My office then. We need a few minutes."
She nodded. "Okay."
Rome
"There isn't any evidence. It's all circumstantial."
"Against Kenny and this urban legend."
"Tire tracks, her burned up car," Max trailed off. "I know she's pregnant, that they were in a secret relationship and now he's…I'm sorry. I don't want, like…the sudden of him telling me he…"
"That he loves you?"
She nodded. "I know what it looks like."
"He killed her, so he could be with you."
She winced at that. "He didn't. You know I…You know I don't want him?"
"Good because we're getting married and you're pregnant with our kid."
"I mean it. He keeps touching me, kissing me, telling me…I know Morrell wants me to use that and…I hate it. He's my friend, and I don't want to believe he hurt Kim but…Crap."
"Hormones?"
She wiped her tears. "I'm good. How can something so little do this to me?"
He suppressed a grin as she touched her very slight stomach. "Get it together."
"I want to find Kim…it just…how far am I supposed to take this?"
"Don't sleep with him."
"Are we," she started. "We're eloping in three days…Are we still? Can we with this? He's supposed to think that I'm going to leave you for him and I go and marry you?"
"You want to call it off?"
"No. I so want to be your wife."
"Postpone? Just not tell anyone until this is over? I want you to be my wife, Max. I want you to adopt Kara."
She looked at him with that. "What?"
"She thinks of you as her mom. We don't need papers to tell us that…I want you to be on paper too. I've been thinking about it for a while…what do you think?"
"Oh, I'm going to cry again. Yes, of course yes, John. And I want to marry you Saturday."
"It's a date, Honey."
Rome
She's playing me, Kenny thought, watching as she walked with Littleton to his car, her hand interlocked with his. Smiling at Littleton, happy next to his side, her shirt catching on her developing belly, she's with him. Why is he always touching her? Why is she so happy with him? Max isn't this person…happy, engaged…Littleton kissing her by the car, opening the door for her…she's smiling at him. Laughing as he touched her stomach, like she's his. She's only with him because of the baby. We should raise our kids together, we can make it work, Kim never…I need to find her. Explain. Save her. Prove I didn't hurt her.
5 Years Later
Rome
"Ah!" Max laughed, as John wrapped his arms around her from behind. "This is cheating!"
"Too bad," he teased, nuzzling her neck. "Run, Gracie!"
Max giggled and leaned back into his arms as she watched their five-year old daughter run down the yard toward 11-year old Kara. "Are you letting them win?"
"Nah. I just wanted to grope you. I hardly see you lately."
"Hmm, I miss you."
Kids, work, life, John thought, looking at her. "Weekly date, Honey?"
"We need some alone time."
"That we do," he said, as two-year-old Noah chased after his sisters. "Five years, huh?"
She kissed him again at that, smiling as she did. It went so fast and…I love him more every day. I love our family. "It seems like just yesterday."
"And this?" he asked, squeezing her and feeling her stomach. "One more time."
She smiled at that, thinking of her third baby with him. "Last one."
"We did well with Gracie and Noah."
They are pretty perfect, she thought, I didn't know I would feel this way. The minute I held Gracie, stroked her tiny limbs, that little baby…who is five. Who is such a mix of us, all that caramel colored skin, dark curls, instant love when I inhaled her sweet scent…then Noah three years later. That beautiful boy, who looks so much like John. Those big dark eyes make melt. Kara is an amazing big sister, she's my daughter in every way that matters. I couldn't love her any more than I do. And this…surprise. "Should we wager on this one?"
"We're 1-1. Tie breaker, Honey. Girl or boy this time?"
"Hmm...I'll go with boy after picking girl twice."
"Dad," Kara groaned, watching them. "Can you stop kissing Mom? Seriously. It's all the time."
"I can't help it. Your mom is very kissable."
"Mom, come on," she sighed. "We're winning."
She smiled up at her sweet husband and ducked out of his arms. "Your daughter knows you too well."
"Game on, Honey," he teased, before freezing. "Agent Morrell."
He looked at the five of them in the back yard before back at Max. "Your children are growing up. There has been a development in the Kimberly Brock case, Sherriff."
In the Woods
"You're Kimberly Brock."
Elena looked at her new sister. "My name is Elena. You are Lina."
She stared at her for a long moment. "No…you disappeared. Everyone thinks Kenny Lacos killed you because he was in love with his partner and you were pregnant. People thought that her and John's Littleton's kids would end up being his, but…they obviously aren't. Your family thinks you're dead."
Elena stroked her pregnant stomach, her fourth pregnancy in her five years. "You need to drink."
She shrunk back from her. "Please, Kim, I want to go home. We can…snap out of it."
"Lina," she sighed. "You belong to our Master and pack now. You are home."
"Kim!" Cynthia Parks screamed, as the others hauled her to her feet. "Help! Don't let them do this to me!"
"I'll see you soon, Lina."
Rome
"That can't be real," Max said, as they watched the video play out on Morrell's tablet. "That's Kim."
Kim, John thought, in rags, obviously pregnant, with a band of women and kids dragging Cynthia Parks into their old van. Her hair, teeth, they're all covered in tattoos, the same ones on their arms and faces…What happened to her? "Where was this?"
"About 100 miles north of here. Cynthia Parks was touring colleges with her parents, she went for a walk and a jogger caught it on film. She's a senior in high school here."
"She's in Zach's class," Max trailed off. "She's alive. Kim is alive and…Oh, God. We had it all wrong. Kenny was right."
"Do you know where Deputy Lacos is?"
She shook her head. "He stopped talking to me after…He vanished from that hospital after the shooting."
Because he knew he was going to be arrested, John thought, we had enough circumstantial evidence and even know I'm not sure Max believes it. She was eight-months pregnant with Gracie then, pumping him for information, playing into his affair fantasies with her, when Jimmy shot him in his grief when we found Kim's blood in his apartment. Then he vanished from his hospital room…leaving Max with the fall out and her landslide victory as Sheriff. A job now that she doesn't really want…another conversation we need to have. I like her home with the kids if it's what she wants, ah Max, I know that look in your eye right now. A cop down to her bones and I love her for it. "He didn't kill her. Do we have a lead?"
"We have a team on the ground," Morrell said, looking at Max. "I thought you might like in."
She nodded. "I'm in."
"Max."
She turned and looked at him. My love, she thought, I'm a better person because of John. "Ah, crap. Right. Morrell, I'm pregnant."
"Congratulations," he said, looking at them. "The two of you are building a large family."
Max smiled at that, despite everything else. "No one knows yet. It's pretty new and…I can't go on a raid in the woods."
Not reckless, John thought, thinking before she acts. I know that look in her eye, she wants to go with him and… "What can we do on this end?"
In the Woods
"Very lovely, Lina," Elena said, as she and Laila continued to braid and dreadlock her hair as Tati marked her. "You are our sister now."
"Kim, help."
Elena smiled, showing her the pointed teeth and fangs that helped her feed in the woods. "You don't need to be afraid. This is our home. You are safe here with us."
"You're a monster."
"I am a wife and mother. A bringer of the new world. You will be to."
"Drink, Lina," Tati said, forcing the drugged water down her throat. "You are home now."
Rome
"What? Where are they?"
"Morrell wouldn't say," John said, looking at his wife. She wants to be there, it's all over her face but she chose her family and our kid she's cooking.
Jimmy sunk onto his couch at that. "Cynthia Parks? Kim, she was with them? She participated in a kidnapping? What happened to my little girl out there? Max why aren't you there?"
Tattooed, dirty, willing participant, he thought, she survived. "Uh, I'm pregnant, I couldn't. We don't know that she was a willing participant. She's been there…Whatever they did to her, she can…they'll find her."
"You're pregnant? Again?"
She nodded. "Yes, again. For the last time. I wasn't going on a raid in the woods."
Max and John's kids, Jimmy thought, the life they built. One shining good thing that came out of the last five years is them. Max, a wife, mother, sheriff, and even right now the two of them are so in sync together. "Congratulations. Kim's baby?"
Max gulped, as they sat in the Brock living room. "We have to wait. She…she's pregnant too. She looked pretty far along."
"What the hell happened to her?"
In the Woods
Cynthia stood with Kim and gulped back her horror at what she was seeing. "What did you do to me?"
"You're one of us, Lina," Elena smiled, playing with her new hair. "You're part of our pack."
She touched her raw face tattoos. Like all of them… "Why did you do this?"
"You're my sister now. The Master is waiting for you."
She turned and looked at her. "I can't have his baby…I'm not…Kim, help me."
"Ssh. You will serve us well, Lina. The children need us."
Cynthia screamed, as the first explosion rocked the cave, and the rocks began to crumble.
Rome
The job I always thought I wanted, Max thought, leaning back in her office chair. The one I only got because Jimmy was out of his mind when he shot Kenny…Kenny, where…I used him. I made him think, people thought Gracie was his until I had her. I got it all, the job, John, our kids, it's everything I ever wanted…Kenny. God. Kim. This destroyed the Brocks. Jimmy is lucky he's not it in jail. I'd do anything to protect my kids from this. "Morrell?"
"Sheriff," he said. "An explosion destroyed the caves."
Max looked up at that, her heart sinking at that. "What?"
"Solomon Whittaker had explosives buried in the woods. He destroyed everything, he took out 10 FBI agents, we rounded up a few stragglers, but."
"But Kim?"
"We're digging through the bodies."
TBC
