Logan looked up as Max and Alec came into the Command Center. They both looked worst for wear. "You guys look like shit," he muttered, causing them to look over at him.
"Well thanks for the nice 'Welcome back' gesture, Logie," Alec said, as he slumped down onto the table next to Mole. "We missed you two." He then ran a hand over his face. "It seems that a lot has happened since we've been gone. Who the hell put those idiots on guard duty?"
"Um..." Mole muttered, as he glanced over at Logan. "I'll give you a guess."
"Logan, who gave you control of this place?" Max asked, as she got to her feet from her perch on the table. "Those guards aren't part of this place. They would have let any body in. That was poor judgement on your account. The reason why we put X-series on guard duty is for our own protection, not hired guns. We protect our own." She then let out a sigh. "You just don't get it."
"Get what Max?" he asked as he looked at them. "That you all can go save a half-breed and then come back to think that it makes it all better. It doesn't. She still doesn't belong here."
"And where does she belong?" Mole asked in a somewhat harsh tone, causing them to turn to look at him. "Back at a New Manticore. If so, I'll go back too."
"Mole," Max started, putting a hand on his arm, stopping him from getting up. "We got this."
"No, you don't," a voice called out from the door, causing them to look up to see four very road weary X5s. "He's not gonna listen to you, Maxie."
"What, and I'm gonna listen to a bunch of homeless people?" Logan snapped, as he turned to look at them. "I think not."
"KRIT!" a small voice cried out, as a blur raced past Logan, upsetting him from his chair and nearly throwing him from it. He barely caught himself as he looked up to see Pip running towards the group. "Zane!" She threw herself at the two men first. They hugged her and she then looked up at the other two. "You guys made it." She then hugged them as well. "I'm so glad."
"And we thought we were loved," Biggs muttered as he came into the room with CeCe and Gem. "Guess not."
"Ah, you know we love you, Biggs," Syl said, as she reached out and pulled him close. She then shoved him over to Zane. "But Zane loves you more."
"Hey!" Zane said as he backed away from Biggs the same time he did. "I ain't that way."
"Ah, I'm hurt," Biggs sulked, as he back up until he was next to CeCe and Gem. "Guess I'll have to stick with these guys."
"Guess so..." Zane replied as he glanced over at Logan. "I hate to tell you buddy, but she's where she belongs."
"And that's where?" Logan asked, as he glanced over at him. "I don't even know who you are 'buddy'."
It was Pip's turn to smile while she looked up at the X5s standing behind her. "Logan, these are Mom's fellow '09ers," she replied as she pointed to them. "Zane, Syl, Krit, and Jondy." Logan's eyes grew wide for a second. "They're the good guys. You can be nice now."
"Nice to meet ya'll," Logan replied as he glanced over at Max. "So I guess that's it."
"Yeah, I guess so." Logan then nodded as he got up and left. He shot Pip a harsh look, before he slid past the X5s and headed out the door.
"Dirt bag," Syl muttered, as she glanced over at Max and the others. "Come on, we got something we need to do."
"And we can't do it here?" Max asked, as she followed them out the door.
"Nope," Zane replied, as he hoisted Pip up onto Krit's back. "It's gotta be high."
"We know a place," Alec replied, glancing down at Max.
"Good, let's go." They then took off to a very special high place that almost all the X5s new about.
----------
"So where does that leave us?" Pip asked, as she glanced out over the city. The others smirked, as they looked down at her.
"That leaves us as a family," Krit said, as he hunched down next to her. "It just means that we won't be always together but we'll always be there for you. Okay?"
"Cool." She then hugged him.
"Yeah, we're stuck with them," Max muttered, as she shot Alec a look. "No way we're getting out of not having them drop in every now and again."
"Is that a bad thing?" Syl asked as she came up to their side. "It means back up for jobs and stuff."
"True," Alec said as he shot her a smile. "I knew I liked you."
"You like all girls," Biggs pointed out, which got Jondy to hit Alec over the back of the head. "Ha, I only thought Max did that to him."
"Nope," Jondy replied as she looked up at Alec. "You gotta watch now, Alec. You're in a way bigger family now."
"Yeah, I kinda noticed that," he smirked as he glanced around them. "But I think that's a really good thing. Families are neat to have."
"Always," Max said, as she glanced over at Pip, Krit, and Zane. "I wouldn't trade it for the world."
"Yep, it's gonna be fun, this new life."
"Yeah, who said a new addition to the team wasn't a bad thing," Krit said, as he came over with Pip. "I mean, I like her."
"Who wouldn't," Zane put in while swinging her up into his arms. "Well, 946, we have to say this. We do welcome you into our unit. Along with the others as well." She beamed as she looked around at them. "You may be little and spunky, but you are a member of our unit, and don't ever forget that."
"I won't," she replied, as she glanced at him. "So that makes us...?"
"A unit...a group...a..." he began as he looked around at the others.
"A family," Max, Jondy, and Syl said at the same time, causing the others to break out laughing.
Pip looked over at Krit and Zane with a confused look, "It's okay, Little One, them girls are out of their minds," they whispered to her. "But it comes with the family."
"Yep," Syl said, as she slid her arm around Krit. "And we wouldn't have it any other way. "We're in for life."
"That's good." Pip looked around at her 'family'. It was full of very unique individuals, but it was her 'family'. She wouldn't have it any other way. "It'll do."
"To the new addition," Zane pipped up, as he tossed Pip up into the air. "And who knows who many more there might be in the future. But to the newest one."
"To the new addition." They all quirked.
The End
Author's Note
Thanks you guys for reading this story from beginning to end. It means a lot to me. I know it took a long time for me to finish it, but I finally did. I want to thank everyone who reviewed and read this story. I couldn't have done it without you. Pip loves you guys as well. She wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you guys.