A/n: Sorry, everyone! You know my muse buggers off as soon as I drop a cliff on you. Massive thanks for your reviews, as ever.

Oh, by the way, my brain seems to be stuck in Fluff Mode at the moment. Mind you, most of you seem to like it that way…

I'd say 'your wish is my command,' Maria, but I still have nearly three weeks of exams left. Please don't try and freeze me; it's only just got warm around here.

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Chapter 26: Wedding Bells

"Marry me, Max," said Logan simply.

"Are you serious?" Asked Max incredulously. "Come on, Logan, I'm a genetically enhanced killing machine, the leader of the transgenic community, about to get into another fight for our human rights. I'm not the kind of girl to settle down and be a housewife."

"I'm not asking you to; I'm more than happy to be a househusband," he replied.

"We've never even been a couple, Logan, how can you even suggest we just get married?"

"Not a couple? Max, what have we been to one another in the past two years if not partners, in everything we've done and achieved? Don't tell me you don't feel it, the connection, because I know you do. I could sense you were close while I was fighting with White." Logan pressed Max's hand against his heart, so she could feel it beating in his chest. "Right here. I can't explain how I felt it but I did. We've shared dreams; something I'm not sure has happened to anyone else, ever. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me; and I don't want to be without you ever again."

He kissed her softly on the lips, with such love and tenderness it brought tears to Max's eyes.

"But what if it doesn't work out?" Max breathed, suddenly terrified. "I can't lose you…"

"After everything we've been through, I don't think there's anything in the world that can tear us apart. But if it's too soon for you; if you don't feel ready… I can wait, as long as it's not forever."

"Logan… are you sure about this? About me? Because it's never going to be easy for us; we'll never have that Disney ending."

"Maybe not. But I'd rather have Hans Christian Andersen with you than Disney with anyone else." A smile crept onto Max's watery features.

"That was the mushiest thing I've ever heard," she said, rather shyly.

Logan's brow furrowed. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Not when it's you saying it."

"Is that a yes?"

"Damn straight," said Max with a smile, as the first tear rolled down her cheek. Logan brushed it tenderly away with his thumb and then kissed her so sweetly Max thought she would burst with joy.

"Mrs Max Cale," said Logan slowly, savouring the words. "You know, that kind of has a ring to it. Unless you'd rather stick with Guavera."

"I've never been particularly attached to any of my surnames. But Cale I think I could warm to pretty very quickly."

"Good to know," said Logan, unable to hide a grin in reply. He reached down to the gold chain about Max's neck and caressed the locket fondly.

"You wore it," he said, a pleased smile on his face.

"Haven't taken it off since Alec gave it to me," Max replied.

"Did you look inside?" Asked Logan.

"No; why?" In answer, Logan pressed a hidden catch on the side of the golden oval and the locket sprang open. Between the photographs inside was a gold band with a large blue stone set within a circle of small white diamonds.

"I know it's not a new carburettor, but…"

Max regarded it with awe. "Is that…"

"My mom's engagement ring. Dad had it specially made for her."

"I can't take that, Logan. That's got to be half a carat of blue diamond; I could fence it for twice what Marianne's was worth."

"It's still not the most beautiful thing in this room. And I don't think it could grace the finger of anyone else as well as it could yours."

After that, there were no more words. Logan slid the ring onto Max's finger and then kissed it before wrapping her tightly in his arms. The newly engaged couple simply held one another close until they fell asleep again, their happiness still apparent on each of their faces.

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Original Cindy, Syl and Krit entered the room to check on Max and Logan a couple of hours later.

"Aww. I swear those two couldn't be any sweeter if they were sleeping on cotton candy," said OC.

"Yeah. Kinda makes you wanna puke, doesn't it," said Syl with a grimace. Krit and Original Cindy both gave her a look.

"But in a good way," she added hastily.

"Whatever, boo," said Cindy.

"Either shut up or get the hell out," added a sleep muffled voice. All three of their heads snapped around to see a half-open dark eye glowering at them.

"How you feelin, Max?" Asked Krit.

"Like someone just woke us up," said Logan, craning his neck to look crossly at the visitors.

"Logan! You're awake! Sandeman said you'd be out another day at least." Exclaimed Syl.

"Obviously he was wrong," said Logan, pulling Max even closer to his chest. As the couple shifted on the bed a sparkle from Max's left hand caught Original Cindy's sharp eye.

"Boo," she said slowly. "Is that thing on your finger what I think it is?"

"Um, yeah," said Max, blushing as a goofy smile spread across her face.

Cindy virtually ran across the room to examine the ring. "Daym, boo," she breathed. "That is the biggest rock I ever saw. About time, too," she added.

Krit and Syl were just gaping. "You're… you're getting married?" Stuttered Krit.

"If not, it's kinda a waste of a ring, dontcha think?" Said Logan. The two X5's just continued to stare at the happy couple, totally lost for words.

"Well if you're not gonna say it, I am," said Cindy. "Congratulations, Max, you may just have hooked the best of a bad bunch." Max disentangled herself from Logan just enough to hug her best friend.

"Thanks, I think," said Logan, with a grin.

"And as for you, Nanoboy," OC declared, "if you ever even think about messing with my boo I'll kick your ass so hard you won't be able to sit down for a month!"

"That's never going to happen, Cindy," Logan told her, wrapping an arm tightly around Max, who blushed crimson as he pecked her affectionately on the cheek.

"It better not," she replied, but leaned in to hug him too. "When you two need a wedding planner, step to me."

"We will," said Max shyly.

"I'm so happy for you, baby sister," said Krit, also embracing Max. He shook Logan's hand firmly. "And you, brother in law to be, step to me when you need a bachelor party."

"I'll keep it in mind," replied Logan.

"Congrats, you two," said Syl, a grin starting to form on her face. "Do me a favour? Don't tell Zack unless I'm there to watch."

"Oh, that is going to be a fun conversation," said Max, leaning against Logan. Even the mention of Zack couldn't remove the glow of happiness from the couple.

Just then, Sketchy burst in.

"Dudes, you will not believe this," the lanky bike messenger announced.

"You and Normal are gettin hitched too?" Asked Cindy.

"What? No, it's that Lydecker guy. He's gone."

Max turned to Logan. "See, now this is what I was talking about."

"Normality is highly overrated," he replied, smile growing even wider as he released his fiancé from his arms to deal with her former torturer's disappearance.

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Lydecker had vanished without a trace; Sebastian's security cameras showed him leaving around 3am that morning. He hadn't even left a note.

"Did you know anything about this?" Max demanded of Sandeman.

"I knew the Colonel intended to leave, yes, but not that he was going so soon," the old man replied.

"Don't suppose he mentioned where he was going?"

"Lydecker never was much of a conversationalist, especially when it comes to his plans."

"So there's no way we can track him down. That's just great."

"Why would you want to? He's hardly the first person on your Christmas card list," Sandeman remarked. "And I doubt he can cause you any further problems."

"With Lydecker, anything is possible," Max replied with a roll of her eyes. "Especially when it comes to ruining my life."

"I understand we'll be hearing wedding bells fairly soon," Sandeman said with a slight smirk. "I hope you'll be very happy."

"Thanks, I guess," Max replied.

"Now, if you don't mind, I should check on your husband to be."

"Just one thing... what are you going to do, when all this is over?"

"Planning on sending me an invitation?"

"No, just wondering if you want us to hook you up with Ray."

"Ray? Who's Ray?"

"Your grandson," Max replied, observing the shock on the doctor's features. "You didn't know White had a kid?"

"No. No, I didn't."

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When Max returned to the room she'd been sharing with Logan, she found him standing shakily, holding onto his IV pole for support.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She demanded, going to his side and gripping his arm tightly.

"Getting up," he replied stubbornly, but not trying to shake her off as he might once have done.

"But you're sick; you only just woke up," Max protested.

"I'm feeling much better, Max; my healing processes are pretty quick now."

Even as he spoke, Logan took a step, wincing as he put weight on his injured leg. "See? I'm ok. My ankle's only sprained and it'll heal up in a day or two."

"You, Logan Cale," Max announced, trying to sound stern, "are officially the world's worst patient."

"Got that right," said Bling, who was leaning against the doorpost behind her.

Logan grinned broadly to see his old friend again. "Hey," he protested, "what about that guy you told me about who sprained an ankle halfway down a cliff and you had to carry him back up?"

"He was lighter than you," the therapist replied. "Seriously, man, get your ass back in that bed. You may have miracle healing robots in your blood but I've seen your x-rays; you should be six feet under by now with all the injuries you had in the bombing, let alone what White did to you. You need to take it easy."

"I hate it when you two gang up on me," said Logan, allowing them to help him back into bed.

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I actually did sprain an ankle halfway down a cliff a couple of weeks ago. Although unfortunately there wasn't anyone with Bling's biceps to carry me back to the top; I had to climb. (Sigh, and ow. It took two hours.)

Anyway, what did you think?