By Shikasta
Spoilers: Anything's fair game in my view although this is an AU
Disclaimer: The characters of Dark Angel are owned by Twentieth Century Fox Television and Cameron Eglee productions. In laymen's terms: Don't own them but by god I wish I did.
This story is the third part in the Fable universe and follows on from Alec's War.
Chapter One – Logan's LegacyThe wind played hide and seek through the valley and chased the fallen autumn leaves up the hill before pausing to tussle with the rich brown hair of a heavily pregnant woman. Max stood at the hill's peak, her new high place, looking down on the farm that had become her home. A milk pail rested by her feet the fruit of her days labour and she happily licked cream from her fingers. She stretched her back carefully before grabbing the handle of the pail and beginning her waddle down the hill towards the farmhouse.
Everyday she marvelled at the beauty of the place, and was determined to see that Logan's legacy remained unspoiled.
Logan's Legacy was a farm comprising of 2000 acres that provided a refuge for the thousand odd transgenics forced to flee before the final confrontation. To the outside world it appeared nothing more than a new wave community and was respectfully left alone. Logan's gift on the other hand had provided Alec with a back up if Seattle had fallen. For three years it had been home to a skeleton crew and there job was to prepare the farm for mass population, Seattle may be in ruins but Logan's Legacy was where they would start to rebuild their fledgling nation.
Behind her the sun began its descent and Max paused to feel the last rays of tepid heat against her back. She had softened during her time in this place, the harshness of her life slowly washing away, and for the first time she felt an awkward peace.
Fizz came to relieve Max of her burden and accompany her the rest of the way back.
"How was your walk?" Fizz enquired.
"Refreshing as always, I will be sad to leave."
"Maybe you could stay."
"I had considered that, Logan's Legacy would be a wonderful place to raise a family."
"But-"
"My place is by Alec's side helping any way I can to rebuild Seattle." Max turned and looked at Fizz "What is it?"
"Do you intend to tell Alec about our individual detours."
Max looked thoughtfully at Fizz "you really look up to him don't you."
"Yes I do."
"Don't worry I hadn't planned to tell him for almost the same reasons that you don't want him to know."
"How much longer do you think finalising a peace will take?"
"God only knows, you know the ordinaries they overcomplicate everything."
The pair continued the remaining metres in silence, they had found an odd kind of comfort with each other, Max somehow becoming the mother figure Fizz had never known.
They entered the communal kitchen, where two hundred and fifty eyes acknowledged them before returning to their meals.
"Get me a plate of food Fizz, I've tired myself out today."
Fizz put the pail down and began to take her arm to help her to a seat.
"I'm not an invalid, take the milk to the kitchen and bring us some food" she said in a motherly tone.
Fizz smiled then picked up the pail and made his way to the kitchen. Max waddled uncomfortably to the nearest table with some space and clumsily eased herself down.
"I don't know why you still insist on milking that darn cow!" Ivy joked with her friend.
"Because for some strange reason I enjoy it."
"I remember when they first suggested you do milking detail, you crossed your arms indignantly and huffed at the suggestion."
"I was stubborn."
"You still are."
"So how is our outgoing doctor today." Max smiled changing the subject.
"For a transgenic incredibly tired. This place is reasonably sophisticated but our medical readiness could be better, what I wouldn't give for some of those gadgets I left back in Seattle, probably only good for scrape metal now."
"I'm sure Alec will ensure you have nothing but the best when we go back."
"Unfortunately I don't have Alec rapped around my little finger anymore" Ivy responded giving Max a knowing look.
"I think Alec is too much of a free spirit to let anyone rap him around their finger."
Ivy returned to her food thinking over Max's words "I was jealous of you, you know."
"Why."
"I loved him, but he loved you, I just helped to numb the pain slightly."
"Ivy, don't belittle yourself, Alec thinks the world of you."
"Sometimes a girl doesn't necessarily want the world."
Fizz returned with Max's meal and the conversation stagnated suddenly, Max unsure what to make of Ivy's confession. Life was very odd here, their lives had become very human, their relationships with each other more than a structured hierarchy. Living what one would deem a normal life for these past months they had learnt how to live beyond the walls of the facilities and the hardship and struggle of Seattle.
The communal dinning hall was drowning with the sound of cutlery, voices and food being digested but all this would be shadowed by the sudden primal scream of Max as she hunched in pain.
"I think the baby wants into this world." She gritted as she allowed Fizz and Ivy to help her to medical.
TBC
A/N A review gives life to my muse and ensures the story goes on.