Title: Yes, a Baby or Our Little Angels
Author: AnitaB
Rating: NC17 for sex
See chapter one for disclaimers.
Our Little Angels
By AnitaB
Chapter 3: The pregnancy
000
Three weeks later Sebastian confirmed Max's gut feeling and Logan drove a teary-eyed Max home. She stayed as close to him as possible during the trip, keeping an arm looped through his. During the ride up the elevator, she sat in his lap curled up in his arms. At the top floor Max reluctantly climbed out of his lap and led the way into the living room. Flopping down on the couch with a smile on her lips, her hands cradled her stomach. "I almost can't believe it, Logan. We're really going to have a baby."
Logan moved to sit at her feet and stretched out between her legs to rest his cheek on her stomach. He sighed as her hands tangled in his hair. "It's true, Max my love, our child is sleeping inside you." He pressed a kiss to her stomach and settled heavily against her.
"Sorry, Max, Logan. I didn't mean to intrude." Bling stepped out of the room as quickly as he'd walked in. Max's laughter stopped him short just outside the door.
"Bling, get back here. We're not doing anything for you to interrupt." Logan called out without lifting his head. Bling wandered back into the room, sitting in the chair across from the couch.
"So, what's the news on the baby front?" They both smiled and Bling knew the answer was good news before they spoke.
"Put in your resignation, Bling, we're in for at least a year of hormones."
"That's great!" He stood and kissed Max on the cheek, clapping Logan on the shoulder in the same motion. "So when is little Cale due?"
"Eight months," Max answered softly, "a little more." She ran fingers through Logan's hair, cuddling him closer to their child.
Bling's eyes sparkled, "Who gets to plan the baby shower?"
Max's puzzled "Baby shower?" was perfectly timed with Logan's easy response "Cindy and Kendra."
"What's a baby shower?"
Bling laughed loudly at the confusion in Max's voice. Logan muffled his laughter against her stomach but she could feel his ribs shaking against her legs. Max tightened her fists in Logan's hair tugging upward.
"What? Stop laughing, Logan!"
He moved up her body to lightly kiss her lips. "I love you, Max."
"Don't think you'll get out of this by saying you love me. You're laughing at me. Stop it."
Logan kissed her again still chuckling under his breath. She responded to his touch a little unwillingly but he could feel it. "I love you, Max my angel."
Bling just sat back and smiled, watching Logan's unconventional way of handling Max. "I think we'll get through this pregnancy just fine."
000
Max sat in the living room surrounded by people, presents, and streamers. Sketchy and Herbal pushed their gift toward her. Logan watched over her shoulder as she pulled the brown paper from the box. Lifting the lid, Max pulled out a little tricycle. It was painted red and looked home made.
"Baby's first wheels. Cool, thanks guys."
"The baby's got to have a mode of transportation just to keep up with its mother. In the words of the great Bob Marly "
"Inspiring words can wait, my brother, the girl's got more presents to open. Here, Boo, open mine." Cindy pushed a bag into her hands. "Baby will need some flava clothes for riding around town with mommy."
Logan laughed and reached into the bag between Max's hands. Pulling out a baby sized leather jacket he laid it across Max's gently rounded stomach. "Perfect fit."
Max turned and socked him on the shoulder. "I know I'm starting to show but I'm not that big yet." She turned back and smiled at Cindy. "Thanks, any child of mine would have to look good."
"You know it, my sista." High fiving Cindy in the air Max noticed a rapid flash of movement out of the corner of her eyes. Dismissing it due to the height of the windows, Max turned to Bling.
"You're still here? I thought you quit."
"You'll be glad I didn't when you see what I got you."
"What is it?" Max smiled at the big box Bling set down in front of her. Peeling the paper off, she read the label out loud. "Durable canvas playpen with zippered top." She looked up at Bling with a question, "A baby cage?"
"Just until little Cale learns to walk, then this should help." He handed Logan what looked like a bundle of nylon straps.
"A leash?"
"Hey, I've felt that baby kick. You'll need a way to hold the child still."
Cindy laughed, "I wouldn't be surprised if the kid's first words are 'Gotta Blaze.'"
Logan chuckled, "She's right, Max. Bling, how big does this leash adjust?" He leaned back and measured it against Max's back.
She laughed and leaned back to whisper in Logan's ear. "Like you need a leash to keep me around." She brushed her lips teasingly against his skin.
"Anything to keep you close."
"Hey, Boos, you have time for that after the party." Cindy grinned widely. She relished the small role she'd played in Max and Logan finally getting together and watching them so obviously mad about each other was fun. "You still got gifts to open."
Kendra leaned forward with a dark grin. "This is for you two, not the baby." Logan reached out for the package Kendra held. Peeling the wrapping paper from the book, his jaw dropped at the title: Kama sutra for expectant parents. Max giggled as Logan flipped the book open to an illustration similar to something they'd done the night before.
"This was fun, let's try some of the others tonight." Logan whispered in Max's ear. She blushed and closed the book setting it title down on the carpet.
"Thank you, Kendra, I'm sure we'll get a lot of use out of it." Her voice was choked a little from the effort not to laugh. A soft click… something like a door latching… registered in the quiet space between laughs. Max was fairly certain no one else had noticed the small sound. That sound combined with the earlier movement outside the window warranted investigation.
Pulling away from Logan's arms, Max pushed to her feet. Resting a hand on her stomach, she lied. "The baby thinks my bladder is a soccer ball, I'll be right back."
The look on Logan's face said he didn't quite believe her. She hadn't been able to lie to him for months. "Hurry back, Max."
"I will." Max walked normally to the bathroom door, opened and closed it then crept silently to the bedroom door. Listening for movement she heard a quiet rustling at the far side of the room. Quietly and quickly she entered and closed the door behind her. Faster than Max could escape, a pair of arms trapped her against a familiar leather jacket. One arm crossed at her throat and the other cut across her stomach.
"Zack?" Ignoring the strength of his hold on her, Max pulled away and turned to face him. "I didn't know you were coming. Come out and see everyone." She started pulling him towards the door.
"No, Maxy, I can't stay. I just wanted to stop by and leave a gift." He stepped away from the door, leading her with him. Zack's eyes locked on her stomach, and a hand hovered an inch above what used to be a small waist. "I'd heard about the baby, but I couldn't really believe it. How soon?"
"Four more months. Do you want to feel it kick?" Max pressed his hand against her stomach and whispered to the child. "Go on, little one, kick your uncle Zack." With her head turned down, Max didn't see the pained expression on Zack's face. Obediently the child placed several kicks directly against Zack's palm. Moving closer, Zack marveled at the little life kicking him. Slowly sinking to his knees, he pressed an ear to her stomach, feeling the light kicks against his cheek.
"Boy or girl?"
"A girl, we think."
"Is she...all right?" Max smiled at the fear and concern in his voice.
"She's fine. No fur, fangs, or barcodes according to my doctor."
"She'll be strong like her mother." He stood, keeping a hand on her stomach. "Are you happy, Max?" The intensity in his eyes was making her uneasy. Ever since he'd found Max in Seattle, Zack occasionally made her uncomfortable with attention that seemed less than brotherly. This was one of those occasions. Stepping back slightly Max increased the distance between them.
"Very happy."
Zack nodded, his heart squeezing in his chest at the tension etched in every line of Max's body. It was time to go. Pressing a package into her hands he prepared to leave. Cradling her cheek in one hand and resting the other on her stomach Zack whispered, "If you need me, if either of you need me, I'll be there."
"I know you will, Zack."
Zack pulled away, his hands reluctantly leaving the heat of her skin. "It's time to go, I'll be around. Goodbye, little sister."
"Goodbye, Zack."
000
Max left the gift, unopened, on the night stand and trailed back out to the party. She lowered herself into the circle of Logan's arms, feeling a question breathed into her ear.
"You okay, sweetheart?"
She nodded against his cheek, but his body language said he didn't believe her. She couldn't lie to him and they both knew it. He tightened his arms around her and whispered "We'll talk later."
Max brightened, a little forced, and smiled. "Who's next to shower me with gifts?"
Normal, quietly sitting nearby, leaned over to hand her a book.
"Thank you, Normal." Max smiled as she tore off the paper to reveal..."Inspiring words from George Walker Bush." Logan's hand tightened on hers as Max fought not to laugh.
"Thank you, Normal." Logan said clearly over Max's half-smothered giggles.
Then everyone else saw the title and burst into laughter. Even Normal smiled.
A unique baby shower for a unique couple.
000
But there was one more present to open. Max sat on the edge of the bed cradling the package between her hands.
"What did Zack leave?" Logan wheeled quietly into the room.
"How did you know who it was?"
"Who else could show up without anyone else noticing, and not get their butt kicked for coming uninvited?" He moved to sit next to her on the bed. She lifted her head and pushed the package into Logan's hands.
"You open it, I don't think I can."
Unwrapping the black bandanna, Logan lifted out a small but powerful handgun. A scrap of paper fell to the bed. Handing the gun to Max, Logan read the note aloud. "Max, this is to protect you and the little one when I can't. Take it! Love, your big brother Zack"
Max cradled the gun in her hands and noticed a small mark on the barrel. It was an engraved name hers. In pretty swirling cursive the gun said 'Maxine Cale.'
"That jerk," Max's words didn't match the soft tone they were spoken in. "How could he do this to me?"
Logan pulled her into his arms, "Because he loves you, almost as much as I do."
000