Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel or any characters featured in either of the seasons.

A.N: Thanks for all the reviews!

With Ben In Between

When Vanessa and Alec walked into Crash, Alec immediately spotted Biggs and his current girlfriend. Weaving their way through the crowd, Alec was constantly stopped and greeted by familiar people. Every time he introduced Vanessa to people, they seemed to give the same reaction; shock and not a so wholesome welcome to Seattle. He understood, but Vanessa didn't. This was Max's territory, so to speak. Anyone here who knew him knew him to be with Max, seeing him with some other girl was unusual. "Hey man!" Biggs greeted when the duo finally reached the table. The two friends hugged and shook hands. "Alec this is Lindsey, Lindsey my dumbass of a friend Alec." Alec laughed and shook hands with Lindsey.

"Nice Biggs, nice. This is Vanessa," he introduced Vanessa who smiled flirty at Biggs. Sitting down the four started to talk, Biggs wanting to get Alec alone and talk to him about something he couldn't in front of the girls.

Max sat in the back room where the pool tables had been moved and set up. Needing to get her mind off earlier today and Alec, she talked with friends and co-workers. Getting comfortable on the plush couch, Max watched as Sketchy tried to beat someone at pool, and fail miserably. "Sketchy when you going to learn?" She asked laughing. Sketchy plopped down beside her and sighed.

"Man I was sure I was going to win, I was this close," he said while gesturing with his hands. "You know I heard a rumor today."

"Oh what? Weed is healthy for you?"

"I already know that. Nah, I head that my man Alec is back in town." Max looked away and stared at the next pool game, "seen him?" Max nodded her head, but didn't' look away. "Max, I'm not the smartest one in the room, I know that. But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure some things out." This got Max's attention, "You and Alec breakup, you turn out to be pregnant right afterwards and won't tell anyone anything about the daddy. It's his kid isn't it?"

"No Logan is going to be the father."

"That's wrong Max, really wrong." Leaning back into the couch he looked at Max, "let me rephrase that. He's the biological father and doesn't have a clue." It wasn't a question.

"It doesn't matter if he is or not, he wants nothing to do with me. And frankly I reciprocate that feeling." Looking at Sketchy with a small smile, "why don't you go buy a pitcher on me and grab a bottle of water while you're at it? Here," she handed him some money and smiled. Sketchy stared at the money and looked at her for a moment. Giving a sad smile, he reached up and squeezed her shoulder before up and going to fetch something to drink.

Alec had been ignoring Biggs since they sat down. His reason for doing so was because Biggs was giving him hand signals, signals that were saying to meet him at the bar to talk. When Biggs got frustrated he tried another tactic, he leaned forward and whispered something in Lindsey's ear. Since Lindsey knew the jist of things going on, she played along. Moments later Lindsey knocked her beer onto Vanessa's jeans and top, "oh my god! I'm so sorry!" Vanessa stood up quickly the cold liquid hit her.

"Oh! Uh, its ok…accident," Vanessa said weakly looking at her wet clothing.

"Come on I'll help you dry off in the bathroom," Lindsey stood up and ushered the girl away.

"That was sneaky," Alec commented once the girls were out of hearing range. Biggs just smiled and then turned serious, "what do you want to know?"

"Why you are here with Vanessa and not Max."

"Vanessa is my girlfriend and Max is my ex-girlfriend. Big difference and pretty self-explanatory."

"God you are an idiot you know that!" Biggs exclaimed a little too loud, catching some surrounding people's attention.

"What?"

"She's pregnant, that should be pretty self explanatory!"

"With another guy's kid," Alec deadpanned. Biggs just rolled his eyes.

"You know I thought you were the smart twin, guess I was wrong."

"Huh?"

"Do the math, Max is about 5 going on 6 months along. When did you leave? And when was the last time you slept with each other? Do the math," standing up Biggs went to find Lindsey and leave. Alec watched his best friend leave and felt conflicted. Cindy's words from earlier started to ring in his heart while Biggs current words rang in his ears.

"Alec?" Vanessa's voice broke through his thoughts, "ok?" Plastering on a smile, Alec nodded kissed her hand. Vanessa smiled and sat next to him with a dreamy look, and for some reason the look did nothing for him. Giving a weak smile he took a large gulp of scotch from his glass. "Alec, you know the way you've talked about Seattle and your friends I'm surprised."

"Hmm? Why?" Alec asked half heartedly.

"Well you always made them out to be these great people…but all the ones I've met seem to be just bloody rude." Vanessa had turned to face Alec with a raised eyebrow. Alec knew this look, it was a look of determination and wanting an explanation. "Why is that? I mean they are all warm and happy up to the point that you introduce me."

"Nessa…most of my friends here in Seattle I made when I first moved here and…"

"Was dating her," Vanessa finished with a sneer.

"Was with Max, yes. We have a lot of mutual friends, and when we broke up I left shortly afterwards. So now that I'm back for a blip of a moment, seeing me with someone else is a little foreign to everyone." Looking at Vanessa, Alec could see plainly that she wasn't pleased with this explanation, and truthfully he wasn't surprised. Vanessa was the type of person who everyone seemed to like and couldn't stand the thought of not being liked. In Europe he had been introduced to her friends, who became his friends, and they were happy. But now, while in Seattle, she wasn't getting the same response he had received, and that pissed her off to no end. "I can't help that Vanessa. I was with Max for over a year, that's how everyone is use to seeing me. With Max, it just takes time."

"There is no excuse, especially one that weak, for people being to bloody rude. I didn't break you guys up!" She said a little to loudly, causing bystanders at other tables to stare. Drinking the last of his drink Alec was ready to leave, Crash wasn't fun and he knew that Vanessa wasn't going to let any of this go.

"Look let's go, I'll meet you at the car. I'm gonna run to the bathroom." Setting her lips into a thin line, Vanessa grabbed her bag and started to the door. On her way through the maze of tables she ran into someone, and seeing this just made Alec's day even worse.

"Excuse me miss," Logan said after he bumped into the woman, holding her shoulders to make sure she didn't fall.

"Oh sorry," she replied smiling sweetly.

"Logan?" Max's voice came from behind the woman. Looking over the woman's shoulders he saw Max walking towards him. When the woman turned around Max stopped and stared. Logan noticed that the woman tensed up.

"Logan…Vanessa….Max?" Turning around Max came face to face with Alec staring at the sight before him. When his gaze settled on Max he just stared at her, immediately feeling an overwhelming about of guilt from earlier, tidal wave him. "Max…" he started, "uh… can we talk? Not like before, just I want to say-"

"Alec I think you need to leave Max alone," Logan interjected, leaving Vanessa behind and walking to stand by Max.

"Look Cale, this is non of you business-"

"Quite the opposite considering I'm the father of her child," Logan stated smugly. "So her health is my business and you stressing her ties into her health and my business." Finished, he wrapped his left arm around her waist and laid his hand on her stomach. This action infuriated Alec to no end.

"Cale, I repeat myself, this is none of your business!" Alec growled out, restraining himself from strangling the bi-spectacled journalist. Logan didn't move, and Max saw the Manticore mask fall over Alec's face and set in place.

"Logan, I'll met you at the car," Max said extracting herself from his arm and moved to stand in the middle of the two men. Letting out a huff, Logan stormed pass the group and headed out of Crash. Vanessa still stood in her spot, glaring at Max and then Alec.

"You have one minute, and I leave," she said before turning around dramatically and following Logan's lead.