TITLE: Choices-06 "Once Upon a Time"
AUTHOR: Mystic25
EMAIL: yellowrubberduck31@hotmail.com
DISTRIBUTION: Archive, just keep my info as is.
GENRES: Story/Romance/Angst
RELATIONSHIPS: Max/Logan married
CONTENT: graphic description of Manticore life near the end
KEYWORDS: Alternate Universe.
RATING: PG14
SPOILERS: "Hit a Sista Back"..also references to "Art Attack" and
"Blah Blah Woof Woof"
SUMMARY: Max and Logan attend another wedding, and a fairy tale gives
Max the chance to explain some things to her small son.
DISCLAIMER: Okay, Max, Logan, and any other DA characters aren't mine.
(like you didn't know that.) Jesse and Alexis are mine, and any others
I decide to make up.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This may be a little sappy, but after writing that last
shoot'em up, knock'em down chapter I want to calm it down a little.
It won't be soaking in sentiment mind you, but it'll have a healthy
amount. Plus I added a lil bit of suspense near the end. Also this
alternates between Max's and Logan's points of view.
*****
Outside Jam Pony X-Press
7:23 p.m.
I pull my Aztec around to the large section of dirt that I'm
guessing is a parking lot. Shutting off the motor I climb out
of my car, stepping right into the cloud of dust the tires
kicked up.
Great. I brush the powdery substance off the black pants with
my hands. At least it came off, otherwise I'd have to buy this
damn thing. I have no use for a tux, besides attending weddings
and proms. My last prom was in college, and as for weddings, not
counting my own, I wore this kind of penguin suit a total of once.
I have the same reason for wearing it tonight as I did then. Point
of edict. My cousin Richard is getting married, and the blue blooded
family will be decked out in their finest for the festivities. I'm
not in the wedding party like last time, but as a part of the Cale's
I heed the unwritten law to dress like James Bond.
Don't get me wrong, me and Richard are close. He was like a brother
to me, since I didn't have one. We're about as close as Max is to
her brothers. But, the rest of the family, that's kind of a gray area.
I'm to idealistic for their blood. I don't just spend money lashvishly
and wastefully on myself, I actually try to help the down trodden.
"Blah Blah Woof Woof." as my beautiful baby put it. So now I get the
privilege of attending this enchanted evening with my wife.
I smile to myself at that last thought. My Max will be escorting me
to this event. Left the kids in the trustworthy hands of Tinga and
Charlie. Hopefully they won't be over run watching those two as well
as their own. But then again, this is the sister-in-law who keeps a
semi-automatic hidden in her apartment wall, handling three kids
shouldn't be on her 'Impossible List'.
I walk into the always over lit building of the delivery service.
There are a few people still hanging around, probably hoping to
get a little extra on their pay roll. That's what Max was doing
here. Cindy was pullin' a late shift, so she offered to help out.
"You are looking quite well." the voice of Herbal reaches my ears.
I turn to look at the man leaning against the wall. "Thanks." I
hear myself reply. "My tailor wanted to lend me this green one, but
I think black is safer. I won't look like an airport lounge singer."
"And what can I help you with today?"
I turn again to face Max's boss, who addressed me "I'm here to pick
up my wife." I take a step towards the man, looking at him.
"She finished the last run ten minutes ago." Normal informs me.
"Been in the bathroom ever since."
I can't help the feeling of deja vu that comes over me at his words.
The last time I attended a wedding with Max I came to get her at work
like today. She had worked late then too, but man, when I saw her
walking out of the back in that lifted dress, all other thoughts fled.
She looked absolutely amazing. I had never seen her like that before.
After we nailed those smugglers I offered to pay for that dress. She
eventually sold it, saying it was too fancy and expensive to keep.
I kidded her tonight that if she had kept it, we could've done a
reenactment of Bennett's wedding. She then offered to hand off
the Monet in the living room to some looters so that we would be
able to do it all out.
It would have been nice to see her wear that red dress again, but not
at the price of the water lily painting. I still had no idea what she
was going to wear. She bought a dress a few days ago, but told me I had
to wait 'till tonight to see it. We haven't been 'out' since Lexi was
born, and she wanted to have the complete element of surprise.
This was so much like before that I expected to see her waltz out of
the ladies room then, making the anal Normal stutter on his words.
But, it didn't happen. I waited there for about another minute, before
I heard the clicking of heels, and I turned to face her.
I was taken aback. Her dress of choice for that evening was not red
like the last time, but black. The top hugged her chest in a plunging
v-neckline, not enough to make her look like she's sellin' but enough
to state the obvious. Thin spaghetti straps sat on either shoulder,
and the skirt was a slightly darker black (didn't even know there WAS
more then one shade of black.) It flared out slightly at the waist,
ending just above the tops of the satin sandals that she was wearing.
She had left her hair completely down, but the curls were less wavy
then they normally are. Besides her wedding ring, the only other
jewelry she had was a simple black choker around her neck.
I took all this in, running my eyes all over her body. My god, she
looks REALLY good.
"Like what you see?" she asks.
I never take my eyes off her as I close the distance between us.
'You clean up nice' isn't going to be my remark to her tonight.
"Baby, you look absolutely amazing."
She smiles "I thought you said I wear too much black."
"Past ravings of a foolish man." I reply, pulling her to me for a kiss.
*****
I wrap my arms around his neck to deepen our kiss. I'm glad he liked the
dress. All the others I saw were either too bright, or too, well, 'girly.'
I don't do the whole priss thing. The sales lady kept raving on and on how
pink was my color, but I will personally sell myself back to Manticore before
I go out in public wearin' the shade of bubble gum.
I slide my tongue in his mouth. He is surprised at first, but then,
responds in kind. We duel back and forth for a while, before pulling
back.
I love the way he looks. The tux has been custom made for him.
Last time he wore one he was still in the chair, still though, he
was handsome. "Cleaned up well." were my exact words. But now, the
phrase "dressed to kill" comes to mind.
"You're not a bad sight yourself." I tell him with a smile.
"I'm offended." he states, and I can tell he's about to pitch
something "I let the woman I love know that, basically, she looks
hot, and all I get is "I'm not a bad sight."
Bingo. There's the guilt trip. But, my man just told me I'm
hot, might as well return the gesture. "You look really sexy."
I go on, adapting a lazy grin on my face. "There should be a
law against it."
He smiles at my fake attempt to stroke his male ego. "That good
huh?" one eyebrow arches.
I slap him playfully on the shoulder "Cockiness is not a virtue."
He catches my hand before I can pull it away. "Ready for the festivities?"
he changes the subject.
"Yep." I respond "Let's get this bitch started." our hands remained
linked as we walk out the doorway, stepping into the night air.
Logan opens my door for me and I slide in the seat, but not before
stealing a kiss.
He does not object, but looked a little surprised when I pulled
away "Why the kiss?"
I grin "Gotta tip the valet somehow."
He returns the smile, shutting the door and climbing into the
driver's seat.
We idly chat about random topics, how big the kids seem to be
getting, even though Lexi is still only four weeks old.
"Do you think that Richard should've done this privately?"
Logan changes the topic from the subject of us.
I smile inwardly at his remark. Not so long ago I sat in this
car on the way to an event like this, telling Logan how marriages
should be held in secret, in case something turned. I guess it was
partly because of my own past experiences with relationships.
"If he wants to pledge his life to this chick in front of god
and a whole lot of money whording relatives, who am I to rain on
his parade?"
"What happened to that woman I knew that told me that weddings
were just an expensive waste of time?" he asked
"She married you." I inform with an air of teasing in my voice.
"Personally." I add after a few seconds "I still say it's a waste
of green to make a big fuss over one day. Weddings are only one
time thing, marriages are suppose to be forever."
"Like ours." he states, looking me right in the eye.
"One year and ten months, not forever status yet, but we're
gettin' there." I give him a small smile.
He focuses his eyes back on the road "Two people embarking
on the greatest journey of their lives."
I catch his muttered remark, heightened senses never fail
a girl. This may turn out to be an interesting evening. All
I can say is that there better not be a repeat of girls like
Daphne, 'cause now I have just cause to kick major ass.
*****
We pull up to the very fancy old English style cathedral. There
are already a lot of people there. The valet opens our doors.
I can't help but smile at Max, as she informs the man offering to
help her out of the car that she has enough sense of balance that
she won't fall out or anything. The guy sheepishly retracts his
hand. I join my wife a few seconds later, and hand my keys to the
man.
After he goes to park the Aztec I turn to her "Why didn't you
tip that guy the same way you did me?"
She glowers at me for a second "I could 'pay' him when we leave
if you like." she returns the fire.
Ouch. My remark just blew up at me. "That's okay." I reassure,
as we ascend up the stairs to the church. A small gathering of
people are in the lobby. I can see my Aunt Jillian and Uncle
Steve greeting the guests.
"Those are Richard's parents." I point out to my wife.
"They aren't like the others are they?" Max asks me, speaking
of my Aunt Margo and Uncle Jonas.
"No." I reassure. "They're not out to condone people for the
way they live their lives. They're just good people." I take
her hand "C'mon, let's say hi." I lead her through the crowd.
Aunt Jilli spots me out immediately, she always loved me when
I was a kid. "Logan my dear boy how are you?" she envelopes me
in a big hug.
"I'm doing all right Aunt Jilli." I say pulling back with a
smile. I look at my Uncle. "How's it going Uncle Steve?"
He clamps a large hand on my shoulder "Fine son, but I'm more
interested in you introducing this beautiful escort you've
got with you."
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Max blush ever so slightly,
before the mask falls into place.
"Oh forgive me." I take her hand again. "This is my wife, Max."
I look at her "Baby, this is-"
"I heard you when you were conversing." she breaks in with that
killer smile of hers.
"Perceptive girl." Uncle Steve states. He laughs "There's no
harm in that." he holds out his hand. "I'm happy to meet you
Max."
"You too." she responds, the woman can charm people when she
wants.
"No shake for me my dear." Aunt Jilli informs holding out her
arms. "I want the whole deal."
Max hugs my aunt briefly, before pulling back.
"Just lovely." Aunt Jilli announces about Max. She then looks
at me with slight disapprovement "Why didn't you tell me about
this one mister?"
"I have to have my secrets Aunt Jilli." I respond.
I hear the familiar strains of "Canon In D Major." wafting
through the air. "Looks like the ceremony's about to start."
I give my aunt a quick kiss "I'll find you at the reception."
"Do." Aunt Jilli informs. "You have to share that wonderful
creature with the rest of us."
I lead Max to a pew, just as the first procession of the
wedding party begins to come down the aisle. The large church
is almost filled to capacity. It's decorated in a white and pale
green motif with flowers and ribbons. The stained glass windows
allow the softest amount of sunlight to filter in. Richard looks
impeccable standing up there in a black tux and white gloves.
"Do you wish we did it like this?" Max whispers to me, watching
the little flower girl scatter rose petals down the aisle.
"What and miss Sketchy doing a bike trick on the dock's rail?"
My mind flashes back to the way he held up for while, on one
wheel, before nearly landing in the water. Cindy pulled him back,
and told him to either get less dumb or more coordinated.
She smiled at the memory as well. The strains of Pachabell's
masterpiece end, and the organist pounds out the familiar tune
of the "Here Comes the Bride."
The woman walks down the aisle, escorted in the arms of her
father. My relatives and her relatives ooh and ahh over how
radiant she looks. Her father kisses her before giving her
hand to my cousin.
We sit again, and the minister begins his part in the ceremony.
Richard and his bride Jasmine wrote their own vows. Near the
end of the ceremony I caught site of Max wiping errant tears
from her face. For all her tough armor, the woman has a
sentimental heart. "Something in your eye?" I tease her gently.
She laughs lightly through her tears. I wipe some away with my
thumbs and kiss her forehead, running a hand along the top of
her thighs. I allow my hand to remain there as we watch the
happy couple kiss. The traditional "Wedding March." plays and
the newlyweds walk arm in arm down the aisle.
I wrap both arms around Max's mid section from behind as the rest
of the wedding party retreats to the back "I didn't have any words
to forget this time." I kiss the barcode on the back on her neck.
She shivers, it's a sensitive spot for her.
"I don't have to mouth anything to you to save your ass either."
she reminds, teasingly.
"What happened to the mock strokes on my male ego?" I ask.
"Charade is over." she quips good naturidly.
After those participating in the wedding have left, it gives
the all clear for the guests to begin heading towards the
reception. I obtain my keys back from the valet and drive the
ten or so miles to where the reception is being held in the
lobby of one of the few remaining luxury hotels in Seattle.
I pull the car under the covered entrance. Another valet approaches
us. I open my own door and hand him the key. He takes it from me,
going around to open Max's door, but before he can, it snaps open,
hitting him slightly in the process.
"I got it Jeebes." she informs the kid, stepping out onto the
curb. "Been opening my own doors for years."
I chuckle to myself, and make my way over to her. "You could
TRY and be gracious."
"Where's the sport in that?" she jokes, looking at me.
I shake my head in slight exasperation "Maybe I should warn
the doorman that he runs a high risk of being de-briefed on
the sexist ways of his career by a certain revved up female
solider." I whisper this into her ear as we enter the lobby.
She smacks me upside the head for that remark. Since we've
been married I've discovered she tends to do that when she's
a little fed up with me.
Like the church, the hotel lobby is dressed up to the hilt.
There are about thirty circular tables covered with extravagant
linen table cloths and lilies and roses as centerpieces.
There is a long square table, decorated a little fancier then
the others. I assume that this is the table for the bride and
groom, but they aren't there at the present moment. I soon spy
them both talking with some guests.
"Why don't we go over and offer our congratulations." Max announces.
I look at her "You read my mind."
She smiles lightly "This sessions for free, next one's gonna
cost ya."
We make our way over to the newlyweds. I tap Richard on the shoulder.
He turns "My god, he's still alive." my cousin yanks me into a big bear
hug. "Beginning to think you disappeared off the face of the earth."
"Reappeared to come to this wedding." I tease.
"Didn't know I married a magician." Max quips beside me.
I turn to her "A man's gotta have his secrets baby." I tell
her simply.
"Did I hear that right?" Richard asks "You took the vows again?"
He looks at Max. "And here I thought I beat him to the punch this
time."
"Sorry to disappoint." Max apologizes.
"Hey no problem." Richard says with a smile.
*****
Logan's cousin hugs me "I'm glad for any addition to my family."
He pulls back "Now all I need is your name, so I don't have to
call you 'Logan's wife' all night."
"It's Max." I inform the man. He seems easy going, kind, a lot
like Logan.
"Pleasure." Richard replies. He turns towards his bride. "Now
let me introduce you to Jasmine, MY wife. Jaz, this is my
cousin Logan, and Max, the wife I just found out he has."
The other woman laughs slightly at his end remark. "Nice to
meet you both. Rich has so many relatives, I'm afraid I'll
never be able to meet them all."
"You'll get the knack of it." I reassure her. "Got a big family
as well, but Logan still manages to wade through all the names
of my brothers and sisters."
"How many do you have?" Jasmine asks, trying to strike up
conversation.
Not counting the ones who are dead, or still at Manticore..let's
see..."Eleven." I reply. That's a good estimate. Haven't seen
most of them in god knows when.
"Damn girl." Richard looks at me with amazement. "Holidays must
be a mad house when ya'll get together."
I shrug "We usually survive." I feel Logan wrap an arm around
my back, he must've sensed my mood change..guess I'm startin'
to rub off on him.
"It was nice to meet you Max, and I hate to be rude, but
gotta go make nice with the father-in-law." Richard states
to me.
Jasmine shoots him a look "Be nice to daddy Rich, he paid for
most of this."
Richard kissed her. "I'll try and remember." he retreated to the
tall man standing in the corner.
"Well." Logan began once Richard left. "I'm gonna see if that
champaign is pre-pulse or swill, can I offer you ladies any?"
Jazmine shakes her head. "No thanks Logan, I'll wait until
the toast."
Logan looks at me "Interested sweetheart?"
"Mmmhmm." I respond, and he heads back to get it.
"Logan seems like a nice guy." Jasmine states out of the
blue. "Must be quite a charmer."
"He is." I agree. "But, I married him for more reasons then
outside appearances." I am actually being honest with a woman
I just met, but she seems nice enough. "Guess you could call
it a soul mate kinda thing."
She smiles at this "You guys have any kids?"
I nod "a thirteen month old son, and a one month old daughter."
"You have pictures?" she asks.
"Logan does." I reply
"Does what?" Logan asks returning with two flutes filled with
champaign. He hands one to me.
"Have pics of our children." I answer taking a sip of the champaign.
Oh yea, this shit is defiantly pre-pulse, doesn't taste like radiator
fluid.
"What parent wouldn't." Logan says pulling out his wallet and
removes the picture he took of me and the kids the day I brought
Lexi home from the hospital.
He hands it to Jasmine. "The one on the couch is Jesse, the little
one in Max's arms is Alexis."
"They are so cute." Jasmine states.
Richard has returned from chatting with his father-in-law and now
stands by his wife "Whatcha lookin' at Jazy?"
"Your cousin's children." she responds.
Richard adapts a look of surprise on his face and glances at
Logan disapprovingly "And here I thought we were like brothers
man, you wound me." he examines the photo. "They are cute."
he agrees. "Must get that from their mother."
I watch as Logan shoots a glare at Richard, not unlike the ones
my own brothers give each other when someone goes to town on their
egos.
"Can't argue with him there." I tease looking at Logan.
"You know what they say about brains and beauty." my husband returns.
"And vise versa." I quip back with a smile.
"Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder." he volleys a remark
back at me.
"Some people have bad eyes." I inform, tossing the next line
on his side.
"Not in my case." he replies, sincerely this time.
Match point made. "That's what I've been tellin' ya all
along."
He smiles "Now who's bein' cocky?" he places his arms around
my waist from behind me. He kisses my barcode again, knowing
the reaction it would produce from me.
"You two have an interesting banter flow." Richard remarks.
"Is this a public thing, or do you always do this?"
"Whatcha see is whatcha get." I sum up for the man.
Richard smiles at me and turns towards his wife "We should
probably be conversing with more guests then just two."
He holds out his arm for Jasmine to take "Shall we m'lady?"
Jasmine takes his arm "Catch up with you guys later."
"They seem nice." I comment after the pair left. "All
these months married to you, who knew you had relatives
who weren't smucks?"
"I'll take that as a compliment." Logan says and adds
"We should probably find a table." he holds out his hand
"Permission to escort a lady to dinner?"
"As long as you do it right." I announce grabbing his out
stretched hand and snaking it around my shoulders "Can't
go at this thing half assed."
My man draws me closer with his arm. "God bless protocol."
he says enthusiastically.
*****
After a few minutes of meandering, we manage to spot a table
that hasn't had all it's chairs filled with guests. I steer
Max over in it's direction.
"Mind if we join you?" I ask of the five people already seated
around the table. One of them I recognize as Richard's little
sister Lisa.
She notices me immediately, adapting the same look on her face as
her mother "Logan Cale, you better greet me better then that if
you want to sit here." she stands up to hug me.
I remove my arm from Max to hug the other woman "This payment
enough?" I let go and look at the red head before me "And when
did you cast the dye?" I remarked of her changed hair color.
"Geez, make a girl feel insecure." Lisa smoothed her hair with
one hand "I transformed into Pippy Longstocking last year,
brunette seemed so boring."
I turn slightly away from her and look at my wife "Why don't
you try that baby?"
"Keep it up Logan, and you'll see red" she uses her 'I can so
kick your ass' tone of voice "But it won't because of my hair."
she smiles to add a bit of cynicism to her words.
"I like your date cuz." Lisa proclaims "Know's how to keep a man like
you in line."
"Thanks for the comment *cuz*" I use the same shortened word as
her "But Max isn't just my date, she's my wife."
Lisa looks at me in disbelief, and glances at Max "Mind if *I*
make him see red?" she steps up to me "You got married again and
you didn't tell me?" she smacks my forehead with the palm of her
hand "What's the matter with you?"
She faces Max fully "Hi I'm Lisa McKenzee, the groom's sister."
she introduced.
My wife shakes Lisa's hand "Max." she releases her grip "Congrats on
your bro's marriage. I already met him, seems nice."
"Doesn't he though?" Lisa replied "A little goofball and dumb
sometimes, but that runs in the McKenzee family blood." she
grabs Max's hand and pulls her down into the vacant chair
"We have so much to talk about."
******
We conversed with Lisa for the better part of an hour through
dinner. Her parent's, Logan's Aunt Jillan and Uncle Steve
came over to the table as well. They're actually nice people,
a far cry from the prudish Aunt Margot and her equally uptight
counter part Jonas.
Now I know the man's deceased and all, and I as a solider should
have more respect to someone who took the fall, but dammit, I never
liked the jerk. He treated Logan like some foolish dreamer who needed
to be pulled back down to earth and remember where his priorities lay.
I'm glad Logan didn't ask me to attend the funeral with him, caused
I would've probably laughed during the whole eulogy and 'alarmed' the
snooty family by spitting on the bastard's grave.
Steve and Jillian fawned over the picture of the kids. And Logan
got another smack by Lisa for not telling her that we had children.
I got rave comments on my dress, and how good I looked for just
giving birth four weeks ago. Revved up DNA has it's perks.
After the last course of the three course meal had been served,
the strains of pre-recorded music from the DJ's booth floated
through the air. I'm glad the happy couple opted for the disc
jockey, wedding singers can sometimes be lethal.
The bride and groom had their traditional first dance, to
the tune of the pre-post band NSYNC. The song was one of those
sappy, mushy gushy "I'll never let you go" types. The lyrics
are beautiful..but promises aren't that flawless anymore. Battles
aren't so easily won as this pop group claims. Towards the end
of their lyrical yarn my husband disappears from our table.
I see him conversing with the DJ, but even with my heightened
senses, I am too far away to hear their conversation.
"I think my nephew has something up his sleeve dear." Aunt
Jillan announces to me with a gentle grin.
"Probably requesting the sappiest love song ever." Lisa
agreed with her mom "He was always into the whole romance
thing." she smiled in memory "Rich complained he never got
any dates 'cause of him."
I can't help the Cheshire grin that spreads across my
face listening to the tales of Logan's youth. Romantic
fool is right, but he balances it with also being incredibly
stubborn and proud. But then again, so do I, at least on
the last two. We both can't be completely, one hundred percent
romantic, not with all the baggage we have to carry around.
But, we still have fun trying.
The last strains of the song ended, and I expected the DJ to
go into a melodramatic speach about who the next song was for,
but the beginning chord's of the melody simply start with out
an introduction. It takes a minute for my brain to process what
I was listening too, but then it clicked. My god, I haven't
heard this in almost two years.
"This isn't exactly a piece about love." Steve argues to his wife
quietly.
I hear Jillan hush him, and say that everybody's take on romance
is different.
I listen to this briefly, before turning my attention back on
the composed masterpiece that reaches my ears. A hand comes into
my line of sight, and I look up to see Logan standing there.
"Dance with me." he uses the same words as I did in my dream.
Now if I used his line and told him I couldn't walk, that'd
be a croak of shit. So I place a hand in his, and allow him
to pull me up and lead me to the dance floor.
Once we reach our destination, we position our hands and bodies
in a traditional way and glide across the floor effortlessly.
I do not know anything about ballroom dancing, but today it seems
to come to me as easily as popping a wheelie on my Ninja.
We are the only ones on the dance floor. I guess everyone was
expecting to show off their moves to a dramatic love song about
loss, and emotion, or at least one with words. But to me this
IS our love song. The meaning and depth of this piece speaks
louder then all the "I will love you forever." lines of all the
mush that has ever been written on romance.
Memories of that ride on that day so long ago flash across
my mind. Emotions ran high then, loss, fear, loneliness. It
was then that I realized I cared for Logan beyond that of a
business partner, or partner in crime in some cases. The
first time we had kissed was with this hauntingly beautiful
music wafting out of the CD player. It was in that moment
that I was aware of the sacrifices I was willing to make to
remain next to the one I loved.
I look up at him as we continue to move gracefully around
the empty floor. He is thinking of it too, I can tell.
*****
The first time Max kissed me I had put this into my CD player.
Trying to convey with music what I couldn't say in words.
After she came back, she denied her true feelings for the
passion we both displayed, chalking it up to a heat of the
moment emotion. I now know that it's a defense mechanism. She
had never been involved in a serious relationship before, and
didn't know how to deal with it.
"If this turns out to be a dream, I'll be incredibly pissed off."
my wife informs quietly to me.
I laugh gently in the back of my throat. I spin her artfully with
one hand before pulling her close again. "If this is a dream, who's
is it? Yours or mine?"
"Better not be either." she answers back passionately, staring
right into my eyes "Just don't let go."
"I won't. I promise." That dream has now come into reality at
full circle.
"This is a sad piece." Max states out of the blue.
"Yea," I agree. I spin her again in the opposite direction
from before "But now when I hear it, I think of you."
She draws closer to me, breaking the traditional distance in
of two partners in a waltz. And I have absolutely no qualms
what so ever about her messing with this particular folklore.
A waltz is not suppose to be a dance of passion, but we already
messed with one belief, why not screw around with the others as
well? As I lock eyes with my entrancing angel I feel more
trepidation then dancing to all of those Latin songs my college
roommate claimed 'lit the soul on fire.'
Max hold my gaze back just as strongly, and I drown in the
familiarity and strength of the chocolate brown irises. She
has told me more then once that she loves my eyes, and was
extremely glad when our daughter had that specific code in
her chromosomes as well. But I think hers' are more stunning.
There's something to be said of their darkness. They hold the
sadness and horror of a woman who has stared evil in the face,
but at the same time reflect such warmth and compassion for
others.
This soul of mine seems to be lit aflame. I have to give my old roomy a
ring, and tell him to screw the salsa and stick to the two step.
Our moment of a suspended time ends as the last chords of the song decrescendos
into nothingness. We do not break our contact. "You better not give me any of
that 'I was just real emotional' bunk." I warn gently, pushing back that strand
of her hair that always seems to get out of place.
She smiles softly "What a brave new world that will be when I
feed you that kind of lying dribble." she makes reference
to Adolph Huxley's surreal novel to coinside with my use of the
word 'bunk'
I pull her to me then, and we lock lips in what I was planning
to be a simple show of love, but quickly became lustful when
Max gripped the back of my neck, and shoved her tounge so far
into my mouth I could feel it sliding across my secondary teeth.
The parts of me that I couldn't control reacted to the sensations
I was experiencing. There goes my plan to try and blend in with
the prudish family. But I guess you can't always conform.
*****
I know I kinda caught Logan off guard with my bit of eroticism
in the middle of his blue blooded relatives, but judging by the
'object' I felt nudging my thigh, he didn't really mind it.
The reason I did it was, well, because first, I have the right to
kiss my husband when ever the bloody hell I want too. And secondly
to let all single, female, non-relative tag alongs in this place be
aware of the fact that the man is spoken for.
I'm actually getting possessive and territorial over another human
being. If Lydeker were here he'd either haul me over for re-training,
or shoot me down, deeming me a 'unsuccessful endeavor.' But I'm too
thick skulled to be tinkered to become the all American super soldier
again. And as for Lydeker, he can kiss my trans-genitic ass.
The oxygen depravation finally became an issue for Logan. I sometimes
forget that not all people can hold their breath for hours at a time
like me. We break apart, and even me with my cast iron lungs has a
subtle hitch in my breath.
"Any of your relatives starting to size me up for a nun's habit?"
I question this in a whisper.
"None that I can see." Logan answers "It's not an immoral sin to
kiss your husband." he adds in defense.
"Some of these smucks have a different take on immorality then
others." I use the same term to describe these people as before.
"Still that convent style is all wrong for you." he informs me.
He could've gone into some long winded speach about how much he
loves me, and that he'll lay it on the line to the family to defend
my honor. However, this isn't a fairy tale. Although Logan does
try sometimes to play the valiant prince charming, I am no princess,
or damsel in distress. Someone insults me, I drop kiss their ass,
figuratively or literally, or both. But, I still love the way Logan gets
all defensive if someone is talkin' trash 'bout me. False sentimentality
or not, I feel incredibly loved when this man tells those shitty parties
to 'kiss off' instead of just telling me to 'shrug it off.'
"Yea." I finally state out loud, in remark to the idea of me
taking vows into the church "But nuns are suppose to take a vow
of chasity."
This got his attention "Then it is COMPLETLY wrong for you."
"Hey Logan, come talk for a while" I recognize the voice of Richard
without even having to look and see if it was him.
"Shall we?" Logan holds out his hand to me, but I don't take it
"You go ahead, I'm gonna ring Tinga and check on the kids."
"Okay." he responded, giving me a quick kiss before heading in
the direction of his cousin.
I retrieve my cell phone out of my small purse at our table,
and scout out an private area to make this call. I finally
decide the couch in the lobby of the hotel will suit my needs.
There are some people out here too, sitting on the elaborate
and over stuffed furniture, I guess for some sort of 'escape'
from all the festivities.
I dialed my sister's number and someone picked up after the
first ring.
"Yea?" Tinga's voice comes through the receiver.
"Hey hon. Just calling in for a status check."
"Everything's fine baby sister." she reassures me "Charlie's giving
Lexi her bath, and Jesse and Case are crashed out on the couch after
watching an hour of cartoons."
I smile from my end "No worries about them being night owls
like me and Jondy."
"You're right there." Tinga agreed. "So..how goes the night out?"
"It's interesting." I answer truthfully "A lot of Logan's relatives
are a bit egotistical. But his cousin's family seems nice."
"Did anyone give you any shit tonight?" I hear just a slight
hint of assertiveness in my older sister's tone. Tinga's not
as over into it as Zack, but she does tend to get protective
with her younger siblings.
"Not really." I respond. "May have caught a glare here and
there when I put a little something extra in my kiss with Logan
after we shared a dance."
"Like what?"
"I frenched him." our conversation seemed like that of just two
sisters gossiping about our love lives. "Best fifteen seconds of
my night so far."
"Bet you forgot that his stamina can't hold out as long as yours."
"Something like that." I reply.
"I forgot on my honeymoon." Tinga's voice informed "Me and Charlie
went at it for almost ten hours." she laughed lightly in memory.
"He was so sore the next day he had to stay in bed."
"Good thing you weren't in heat." I respond in a low voice "I about
killed Logan on my last cycle. Since we've been married, the attraction's
only been for him, but I demanded that he 'fulfill me' every few minutes.
Even knocked it on top of the Space Needle."
Scratch that comment about 'normal' sister to sister conversing.
"I screwed my husband on his desk." Tinga's voice was slightly
amused and slightly proud. "I came to eat lunch with him on his
break. It was about four months after Case was born. Charlie didn't
know about my stuff yet, so he was surprised as shit when I dead
bolted his door, and knocked all his files off his work station with
one hand. He thought that it was just some sort of post-gestation
hormone rampage." she paused "Took him for a ride that day."
"We're so fucked up girl." I sigh.
"We are." she agreed "But hey, that's not necessarily a bad thing."
I am about to tell her something else when I catch the snatches
of a conversation of two woman standing near the door. They must
be bridesmaids because of their identical moss green velvet gowns.
Not that there's anything wrong with them. Jasmine has far better
taste then all those brides who go for the whole bazooka pink,
frilly, lacy, taffetas with a big bow riding on your ass.
I wasn't intending to eavesdrop, but then heard one of them mention
my husband's name.
"Richard's cousin is a hottie." the nameless blonde stated.
"Uh huh." her companion agreed "But Gina said she saw him here
with someone."
"Yea." the blonde said "But she also mentioned she looked like
more bust then brains."
"Like an s-l-u-t?" her friend joked.
"Oh Maryanne you're so bad." the blonde laughed airily.
Okay, if I weren't so damn strong I might do something simple,
like bitch slap the ditzes. But with my strength I'd probably
break all their bones.
"Max? You still there?"
Oops. Almost forgot about Tinga "Yea, just people watching, and
found something I have to take care of. Kiss my babies for me."
"You got it sweetie." Tinga answers.
I disconnect the call, making the decision to at least give
the smucks a verbal lashing.
"Excuse me?" Maryanne begins when I approach her "Do you have
an eyeliner I could borrow?"
Ha. Like even if I had that kind of makeup with me I actually
let this snob borrow it. If I did have one, I know of ten different
ways to use it as a weapon, why waste it on her eyes?
"I wouldn't help." I inform.
Maryanne looked confused. Imagine that. "What do you mean?"
"You'd still be a woman with two asses." How do you like that
you sleaze? I look at her companion "With both of you, we'd
better make that four." Can't call me a hoe an expect a clean
break.
Of course the 'genteel' inbreeds became offended, but I turned to leave
before they could offer me back any half hearted attempts at insults.
Although I did catch the mutterings of 'tramp' under their breaths.
I only got about one more step, before I heard my name being called.
I turn to see Logan standing near the door.
He approached me "Was wondering where you got too."
"Needed a little privacy to make the call." I reply.
"Are the kids okay?" he asks.
"Fine." I reply "If the need arises, Tinga knows how to clear out of
a building in under five minutes."
"That isn't as comforting as you think it would be." he lets me
know "Uncle Steve is about to give the toast."
"Another speach on 'here's to humanity', or what's left of it."
Logan shrugs "Give's him something to do."
"To honor two people on the greatest journey of their lives."
I quote the lines from Logan's speach, as he did to me in the
car on the way up here.
Maryanne and her counterpart have stayed to eavesdrop on us,
and I saw them cringe slightly at the mention of the word
'kids.' Weren't expecting that I guess.
Logan kissed me again, gently cupping my face in his hands.
And this time, I let the kiss stay soft.
We pull apart "Bling's stopping by later to feed Kaja right?"
I ask.
"Nice to know that you think about our dog when we make out."
I smack him upside the head "She's smart, but not enough to
feed herself."
"Don't worry about it." my husband reassures "Told me he'd
be there at eight."
"Good." I inform with that smile still on my face. "Thanks
for..ya know in there, the song." was being too vague for a
while there, had to clarify. "Lisa was expecting some romantic
ballad."
"The ironic part of her thinking is-" Logan began in correction
"is that *was* a love song to me."
"Song without words." I look up at him "But not without feeling."
"That's an actual composition." he informs "'Song Without Words'
Second movement of 'Second Suite in F'." he touches my face with
one hand "But your right about Sibelius. Means so much more to me
since that day."
"'Me too." I return. Screw Lydeker's training. I'm giving into the
sentimentality I am feeling right now.
"If we weren't already married, I'd ask you now."
Hmm..wasn't expecting that rather random thought. Still, gotta give the
guy pluses for originality. "Oh really?" I arch an eyebrow at him "Isn't
that a little cliche? To be proposed to at a wedding?" wouldn't be a
good conversation if I didn't add my version of 'Twenty Questions' to
mess with his sudden declaration.
*****
"It may be." I answer honestly "But since we're not a cliched couple, I'd
say we're entitled to a little formality. Speaking of which, if we don't
head inside we'll meet the criteria of being 'fashionably late.'" I hold out
my hand, and this time she takes it, casting a glance at the two women behind
her that looked like it would cut through steel.
"Do I sense some bad vibes coming of you sweetheart?" I ask.
She half shrugged "Nothing I wouldn't experience after telling two airheads
that I am not a floozy."
At the word 'floozy' I feel a sudden pang of anger in me. My wife can certainly
take care of herself, but I have the right to be pissed when someone calls her
a slut. It may be the twenty-first century, and there is that dogma about hitting
women, but I will bust some heads the next time an insult comes from anyone's mouth
about my baby.
"Penny for your thoughts?" her voice drags me out of my violence tactics.
"It might cost more then that." I warn gently, leading her back inside
and to a table.
"Right, and America will become a super power again through cleaver market
strageties and wise investing." she offers back, sitting in an empty chair.
I do not have time to give her a remark before Aunt Jillian comes around
with a tray of three remaining chapaign glasses "There you two are, I was
just about to have Lisa start searching the shrubbery."
Aunt Jilli always had a bit of a playful side. She loved dabbling in little
bits of sexual innuendo.
Max takes a champaign flute "Just checked on our kids. Wanted to make sure
my sis. wasn't in over her head."
"I'm sure she's not dear." Aunt Jilli responds "With a mother like you, they're
probably very well behaved."
That faint blush creeps on her face, before she hides it again.
I take the other flute off the tray "Is it hot in here or something?" I jest
sofly.
"Or something." she returns.
The long awaited moment has arrived. Uncle Steve has the microphone to his
mouth, and speaks in the hearty and clear tone I loved so much as a kid.
"Richard and Jazmine. One I have known for twenty-five years, the other,
almost three years. But I love them both the same. Each presented each other
with a special gift. One that will last them a lifetime. They will need to
work on it, build it stronger everyday, and watch it grow. This is you're
touch off point to a future of hope." he raised his glass "To you."
The guests repeat Uncle Steve's remark and sip their drinks.
My wife sets her chilled glass of champaign back down on the table, after
sipping a generous amount from it. "Glad I remembered to pump tonight." she
commented.
"Lexi thanks you as well." I reply to her, casting me eyes to Richard and Jasmine
about to cut the cake. I can't help the gentle grin that comes to my face at the
way Richard doesn't just dab a little icing on his brides nose, but smears it all
over her face. She is laughing so hard she's crying. The happy couple kiss, and
people start to clap and cheer.
The bouquet toss thing came next. All the single women swarmed uo to Jasmine like
ravenous dogs.
"They should've packed tazers for this." Max whispered to me "Something's gonna
die."
I believe her looking at this pack of female vultures lying in wait for a bunch
of flowers. A triumphant hand reaches out to catch it, and Max joins in the
clapping when she sees it Lisa who snagged the cluster of pastel pink roses.
Lisa approaches our table, with a look of satisfaction on her face "Basketball
in high school defiantly paid off."
"Congratulations." Max remarked
Lisa smiled at her "Thanks. Now all I gotta do is find a decent man." she looks
at me "Like my cuz here. To bad incest is such a big issue."
"Bigamy as well." I add to her.
"Life sucks sometimes huh?" she laughs good naturidly "Besides, I couldn't take
you away from this awesome woman you have." she smiles at Max again, leaving the
table to show off her prize.
*****
It wasn't surprising to me when the escort of that shit face Mary-Anne was the
one who caught the flimsy garder off of Jasmine's leg. I swear the woman puffed
up like a pigeon when he slid it on her leg, like a conquest she was able to
fulfill.
As we watched Jasmine and Richard drive off in their rented limo with the trailing
toilet paper on the fender, I caught sight of her looking at me. To which I responded
by glaring right back. She of course pretended to be merely lost in thought, grasping
her dates arm, and headed back into the building.
The same valet pulls our car around to the covered area when we were ready to leave.
Kid didn't even try to open my door. Guess I roughed him up pretty well.
Aunt Jillian and Uncle Steve wish me well, and the male part of the party informs
Logan to 'take care of me, because I am a keeper.'
We drove off in the same compatible silence as before.
"Some night?" Logan asks casting a glance in my direction.
"Yep." is all I respond, looking out at the rolling scenery. The stars are out
in large and numerous amounts. "It doesn't have to be over."
Logan looks at me puzzled "What do you mean baby?"
"You'll see." I tell him.
*****
"Beautiful isn't it?" Max remarks, her gaze upward at the dark and starry
night.
"It is" I tell her "If you're into this kinda thing." Beautiful or not, I'm
not to keen on being this high up.
"You're fine." she reassures me looking over the edge of the once functional
piece of tourism in Seattle "Logan Cale, husband of a genetically enhanced soldier,
father of two, protector of the night, is worried over a couple of thousand feet?"
"Uh-huh" I answer her simply. I've never been to good at heights. And even though
I've been up here before, it doesn't make me any less nervous.
She turns to me, her jeans and black sweater she changed into rustling against
each other, and mingling with the other sounds of the night. "We have to work on that."
she pulls Jess closer to her who is sitting in-beween her legs "We don't want daddy to
have this worry do we baby?"
He shakes his head back and forth eagerly. "No scare dadeee." my son's brown eyes
gaze into mine.
"I'll work on it sweetie." I inform, patting the back of Lexi who is tucked up against
my shoulder. I pull her back to look at me "Guess you don't want that either princess?"
She coos and spews a stream of bubbles out of her mouth.
This makes me laugh "I thought my kids wouldn't gang up on me until they were teenagers."
I wioe my daughter's chin free of spit.
"Changed world." Max informs me, helping our son perform a back flip with one of her
arms on his back, and the other on his shoulder. "Aiight." she smiles at their combined accomplishments "Hive five little man."
Jesse smacks her hand eagerly, a huge grin plastered on his face. "See daddeee?"
I laugh "Yea Jess, I was watching. You're getting as good as mommy."
His response to that was to propel himself at me with glee, to show off more of
his 'moves'. I carefully pass Max the baby, and playfully flip my son onto his back.
"You had an unfair advantage Jess." I tickle him in a rough house fashion. Being my
wife's son, he loves the physical exertion, and wrestles back. I do the popular
blowing thing on his stomach, and he squeals so loud people in the next state probably
heard it.
"Sounds like you at night." Max states in mischief.
I glance at her "Baby.." I trail off in a tone that clearly told her not to
talk about our sex life in front of our son.
She pretends not to hear me, and tickles Lexi's stomach. She too loved it,
and laughed a high baby laugh.
"You are your mother's daughter angel." I say hauling my wrestle mania son into
my lap.
Max shoot me a playful look "I never laugh like that Logan."
"I mean her carefree attitude towards life sweetheart." I clarify "Even with
all the things chasing you down, you still manage to have fun."
She shrugged, shifting Lexi closer to her body "Not gonna just stop being alive
because someone wants to haul me into a cage and keep me there."
I smile at her then. It was her idea to do this. I had plans to simply pick up
the kids and head home for some much needed rest, with maybe a little cuddling
time beforehand, but my wife had other plans. I heard her talking to Tinga as
I was gathering up the kids' things. They seemed to be discussing the best way
to get two small children safely on top of the Space Needle. We finally decided
on the old, but still useful elevator. We had both gone home to change since it
was a cool night, and had efficently bundled up the babies to keep them warm.
"Daddy likes his 'alone time' I guess." Max's voice draws me out of my thoughts.
I see her addressing Jess and Lexi "He don't wanna talk to me."
"I was thinking about you." I notify.
*****
"Good things?" I ask.
He smiles "The best."
Lexi touches at my breasts through the wool of my sweater. "Sorry sweetie." I coo
to my infant daughter "It's not there tonight." I pull out the bottle of pre-pumped
milk I extracted before the wedding. I lead her tiny mouth to the nipple and she
begins to eat immediately.
While feeding my daughter I cast a glance at Logan. I can still see the slight
uneasiness in his eyes from being so high off the ground. Being a product of
genetic engineering, I wasn't programmed to fear high altitudes. I find them
quite thrilling. Somewhere where the average person wouldn't even fathom of
going. Jondy told me she loves it up on top of the golden gate bridge, and Tinga
said she spent hours on top of the World Trade Towers when she use to live in New
York for three months.
But, my husband, as brave and strong as he is, DOES have that fear. That's just
something we can work on.
"Storee mommee."
I am drawn out of my thoughts by Jesse's proclamation.
He is locking both eager brown eyes at me, grinning from ear to ear. He wants
me to entertain him. I've seen that look many a time before when I tuck him in at
night.
I smile at my little baby boy. "You wanna hear mommy make stuff up?"
He shakes his head enthusiastically.
"I have the strangest feeling that this won't start with 'once upon a time'"
Logan informs me.
"I'm gonna start it traditionally." I argue, before beginning my tale.
"Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lived in a big fortress.."
"Like auntie!"
I have to laugh slightly "Yea honey, like aunt Tinga." I continue with the rest
of my story. "This little girl lived there with her family, her brothers and
sisters. The fortress wasn't always happy. Things would happen, and the girl would
often be sad, but she would only cry on the inside."
Jesse is now sitting up in Logan's lap fully attentive, and even Lexi stopped feeding,
and listened.
"One day the girl and her family ran away from the sad place, but to be safe they
had to stay away from each other. They didn't see each other for a very long time,
always running away from bad men.." Once upon a time I never imagined I would be
telling the story of the X5's escape from Manticore to my son and daughter.
"Some of the children though, couldn't run from the place.One was a girl named Jesse."
"Me? that's me!" Jesse wriggled in Logan's lap.
"The girl had the same name as you sweetie." Logan let him know gently "But she
was different from you."
Jess just smiled that big ol' grin of his, and looked at me, wanting me to go
on.
"The girl was sick and hurt, and she couldn't fight off the badness." I use a
children's word to describe the terror I saw reflected in my little sister's
eyes when she saw all the blood staining her fatigue pants, seizing, and being
strapped down. "Her sister couldn't get to her in time, and she went away.."
/"Won't the baby die sir? What'll happen to her?" "X5-342 will be taken care
of solider." the MP spat in my face, and he left me there. The photographer
just looked at me, stunned, seeing a single tear on my face, that wasn't allowed
to be there at all. Crying for the pain of something he couldn't begin to
understand./
"Her family missed her terribly" /"What is that smell?" Brin covers her nose, and
whispers to me. "I don't know" I whisper back. It was foul, terrible, the smell
of death. "Company front!" the bark of the drill sergeant rings in our ears. We
move in a single block formation. To the bon fire blazing in front of us. The
smell got stronger, nearly choking us. Each line was made to go foreword and
stand at attention in front of the fire. And when I finally reached it, I knew
why./ "Because they loved her with all their hearts." /"It's Jesse." Jondy's
whisper was so quiet only our ears picked it up. "Another soldier's life wasted."
Zack hisses beside me. The flames leapt and kissed her skin, and I saw the
bulge of her stomach gaped open, and a child's flesh burned along with it's
mothers./
"What did girl doo?" Jesse wants to know, getting into my story.
/'Do not succeed more then eight pills in a twenty-four hour period' the words
seemed like a challenge. I touched the swell under my clothes. The weight of this
one seemed low. There must be something wrong. A handful of tablets in my hand
were soon swallowed. Nothing for a while, then the pain rippled up my stomach,
down my back. I gasped silently, doubling over, my vision swam, the world
changed colors, and then stopped./
"She hurt for her sister." /The smell was coppery, and it filled my nose. I
felt sticky around my legs. Touching it, my hand came away dark with blood and
clear fluid. I sat up completely. Something rubbery lay in-between my outstretched
legs. A ripped open sac of sorts, and something pink inside. A tiny being not
moving. Small and still on the wooden floor. I rolled over and threw up.
Embarrassing! How could I loose it over that, what I created? If I had been strong
enough I wouldn't have to do it. I climbed to my feet. I burned everywhere.
I hunted for sheets./
"But she made sure a part of her lived on." I look at my baby, unaware of the
tears that had fallen down my face. "You see sweetie, that girl was MY sister,
and mommy named you Jesse to remember her."
"Where'd go?" Jess was confused, he couldn't grasp that bad things could
happen to people even if they didn't deserve it.
"To the Good Place" I answer him. With Ben, with Eva, your cousin, and
your older brother. Three months, I could tell what I would've had.
Jess suddenly climbed out of Logan's lap and came over to me. "Donbe
sad mommee. Good story." he hugged me around the neck. I could feel
wet kisses on my face. Once upon a time I couldn't imagine this kind
of unconditional love from my child. "Thank you baby." I tell him,
kissing him back. He slides into my lap, and I shift Lexi to the other
arm. Both my kids are now nestled in against me, pressed up against
my heart.
*****
I'll admit being up here is still putting me on edge, but seeing what's in front
of me, makes it all worth while. My stunning baby holding the products of our
love to her body, it's almost religious in a way. On top of the Space Needle of
all places, but it makes it all the more special.
Hearing her talk again about that night, telling our son of the aunt he never knew,
makes this night dear to me. I hated to see her re-live the pain, telling Jess the
cut and dry fairy tale, but seeing the grit and real version in her eyes. But, she
promised herself that she wouldn't hide the origins of Jesse's name. He's only two,
so it has to be broken down into terms he can understand. When's he's older, I'm
sure she'll tell him the deeper version. But for now, this is enough.
I reach into the pocket of my leather jacket, pulling out that camera I put in
there, thinking maybe since I'm up here I might as well get some shots of the
broken Seattle skyline to use in an Eyes Only Broadcast. Now I have a better use
for it.
"Smile for me guys." I announce, holding me eyes up to the viewfinder.
"Catch a girl off guard." Max whines playfully, shifting to face the direction
I was pointing my camera. I knew it was strictly for drama. The woman could've
come out of a hurricane and she would still look amazingly beautiful.
"Get closer to mommy Jess." I tell my son, waving my hand in Max's direction.
He scootches closer to her, laying his head on her chest, a place that I love
to go as well. She wraps one arm around his waist and hold's the Alexis with
the other, and gives me a smile that would make any guy putty in her hands.
With a little coaxing I get Jess to smile as well, and snap the picture just
as all that tickling by Max on Lexi's stomach get's her to giggle.
"Now one of just you and Lexi." I say to her.
She shrugs 'okay' and tells Jesse to stay by me. I hold him so he won't try to
be brave and jump off the Needle. While I was doing that, Max had laid down on
her back and positioned the baby to rest on her stomach. I did another double
take when I saw her. Scratch what I said earlier this evening, my wife never
looked more beautiful then she did right then.
Lexi's small body moved ever so slightly under Max's breaths. The slow and steady
rhythm was making her drowsy,and I could see those ice blue eyes start to droop.
I snapped the next picture before they did though. A good photographer knows when
their subjects are at they're best. Max sensed what kind of mood I was going for,
so she didn't smile this time, but looked at me with a gaze of strength and compassion
that I admired her for, one hand resting on our daughter's tiny back. Mother and child,
never a more mesmerizing scene in my mind.
After taking that last shot, I very carefully slid over to her.
She hasn't gotten up yet. Lexi has fallen asleep on her and she didn't want
to wake her.
I move my son into my lap, and reach out with to run my hand along my 'girls.'
I started at Max's face and trailed along up and over Lexi's sleeping form and
finally rest on my beloved's thigh, stroking it gently, not in the way I do in
our bedroom, just gentle loving movements.
A sigh escapes her. "Do you think it was to soon to tell him?"
I snake my head, continuing my movements on her leg "There's not a better moment
then now."
*****
"Once upon a time." I say it out loud this go around "I was living in a warehouse,
and stole my food to survive. If someone told me I would be spending a dark and
beautiful night with my husband and kids, I would've told them to stop fucking
with me."
He smiles at me in the dark, still rubbing my thigh. Baby, I'm gonna start purrin'
if you keep it up..."I could stay like this forever."
"Me too."
One eye opens to look at him "What 'bout that whole agoraphobic dealio?"
"I'm safe in saying someone has my back on that." He leans down, his cologne
filling my senses, and kisses me.
I grip his neck with my free hand, and return the kiss. He pulls back and looks
at me in a way that makes me forget I was a genitally screwed mistake. "Safe to
say that as well." I return.
His hand is again on Lexi's back "You are a great mom baby." he lets me know,
casting a glance at our children.
I can't help but smile "Not so bad yourself daddy." I pause "So am *I* safe in
assuming that you will join me up here more often?" I touch his face "Remember
this girl's got yo' back."
He kisses my palm "It could work out."
The stars around us shine like jewels on a black silky canvas, and that piece
of scrap iron that just fell off the needle hit the ground at 55 mph. Wouldn't
be a super solider if I couldn't wax poetically and calculate at the same time.
Once upon a time a little girl grew up into a ass kicking woman, with a family, a
whole lotta guilt, and a platoon of bad men out to get her. But she didn't live in
a fairy tale, nor did she want too.
She just wanted to live.
*****
End
I added that lil 'bonding' session for a chica who asked for it. I sorta
paralleled the story Max told Jess to the one Tinga told Case in "Hit a Sista Back."
I loved getting into Max's maternal instincts. The show constantly shows her nature
towards kids..and I hope I portrayed it well. Also hopping my sap stayed away from
the nausea factor.