Authors Note- Here you go. This took a bit longer than I expected. I wasn't sure how to end it. To be honest I didn't even plan to end it the way I did. It just sort of came out like that. But, what can you do? Any way a quick NOTE. Logan is aware of Coopers participation in the Metro Court Crisis. He knows all about his connection to Jerry. So, enjoy and please comment!

Come In With the Rain

"Come over."

"No."

"You know you want to Maxie." Came the cocky, though sexy voice of Logan Hayes. Just the sound of his voice, miles away, through the telephone could send Maxie's nerves into a fury. Every inch of her body became alert and her senses went into over drive.

"Oh, do I?" She scoffed in return. It had been just over a month since Georgie's death. There were moments when Maxie thought that it had been only minutes ago. Then again, there were moments where she could swear it all happened in another lifetime. Her days had been filled with twists and turns. Ups and downs. But, the one constant, the one strange ironic constant, had been Logan. Between picking her up after she broke down numerous times and just being there to listen and endure the silence, Logan had become Maxie's rock.

"Don't even try and deny it Sunshine." He teased lightly. Maxie wasn't offended or even annoyed. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips and she allowed it to make way onto her face. He made her smile. It was a simple thought and an even more simple action. But, for Maxie it was a big deal. In a way, it was everything.

"Should I hang up? Do you and your ego need some alone time?" She joked back, hearing him chuckle on the other end of the line. This too, brought a smile to her face. Try as she might, Maxie Jones could not fight the magnetism Logan seamed to have on her. At first he had just been some painful, self punishment experiment. After that he quickly became the person who always seamed to see her fall. And, he jumped right in to whatever ditch she'd dug for herself and lay beside her. Figuratively and literally as well. He was friend. But, with them there was always something more.

"Nah, we're all set thanks. But, seriously, come over." He asked for the fourth time since he'd called. Yes, he had called her. At 2:34 in the morning no less. He'd given her some lame story about not being able to sleep because of the nosey storm. Given that she too had been awake in the dark, she excepted his story. That was over and hour ago. The storm had only gotten worst. Maxie found herself looking out the window as the rain fell hard and fast. She watched the as the world outside because enveloped in uncontrolable wetness. Almost like her life.

"It's 3:30 in the morning Logan. It's raining like crazy outside. I'm not coming over. Besides, I don't feel like dealing with the Lulu factor." She reminded him.

"I talked to her today..." He admitted sighing.

"Really? Do tell." She urged, interested to hear what the star crossed lovers had discussed. No doubt her name had been mentioned in passing.

"Well..." He began.

It was just past noon and impossibly sunny. Though the air was stale with a chill, the blinding light of the sun continued to glow. Bringing a hand up to shade his eyes from the painful rays, Logan headed into Kelly's. His original plan had been to call Lulu and see if she wanted to grab lunch. But, it was his day off and he was in no mood for an argument. Arguing seamed to be the only thing the couple did as of late.

"Go figure." He mumbled to himself as he headed for the stairs. All he wanted to do was take a hot shower and relax on his bed. That's it. But...

"Logan!" Exclaimed Lulu's high pitched voice as Logan opened the door to his room. His blonde girlfriend, no not the one he dreamed about, was sitting primly on his bed. With her hair swept to the side in a sleek pony tail, the war vet couldn't help but notice her beauty. And, truth be told, that was something he had not found himself noticing in a long time. Not because it wasn't there. But, because there were other sides of her, darker sides, that seamed to be more apparent.

"What are you doin' here?" He questioned lightly. It wasn't accusing or even angry. He was curious and that was all. Upon hearing his question, Lulu rose from the bed and took a few step towards him.

"Just wanted to spend some time with my boyfriend. Is that okay?" She asked with a tinge of bitterness in her voice. Looking closely now, Logan could see that she was angry. Every inch of her self restraint was being used to keep herself in check.

"Sure. If this is really where you want to be." He replied shrugging off his jacket and placing on a near by chair. Of course this only angered her more. Gone was the beauty that he'd noted only minutes ago. In place was searing resentment and an accusing glare.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" She snapped. Keeping herself in check hadn't lasted as long as she may have hoped.

"Lulu..." Logan began tiredly. He really, really didn't want to fight anymore. He was just done. Done with all of their ups and especially their downs. It wasn't enough anymore. She wasn't enough. And that, is something he never thought he'd say. "Look let's stop with the underhanded jabs. It's time to get everything out in the open. We both knew this was coming." He finished honestly.

"You start." She directed crossing her arms and setting a stony look on her face. Her response decidedly irritated Logan. He wasn't angry. No, he was done with anger. But, the fact that she seamed to blame the entire situation on him was annoying.

"We aren't connecting like we used to. You have your thing with Zaccharra and-" Before he could go any further she interrupted.

"Are you kidding me? This again? Johnny is my friend and-" Now it was here turn to be interrupted. Logan may have decided to let go of his anger but, he wouldn't roll over like a good little puppy either.

"And, what? And, you haven't kissed him? Huh? Yeah, I thought so." He finished, fighting the urge to cheer in victory when he saw her eyes fill with guilt. A guilty Lulu was a very rare thing to see. Usually she was busy blaming someone or something else.

"Logan..." She trailed off softly. Her anger had dissipated now. Thank God, because that was getting old fast. Her face was now covered in a soft regretful expression. Her lip trembled and Logan was able to recognize all the signs that pointed to Lulu crying in oh... 5 seconds?

"Don't. Look we've both made mistakes and that isn't what I want to talk about now. There's no use in rehashing things that are done with." He informed her hoping to stop her impending sobs. The once sheltered young girl may not have been Logan's favorite person right now but, he was still a southern gentlemen. Way deep down inside anyway. And, the fact was, he didn't like seeing girls cry.

"I don't, I don't understand then." She shrugged helplessly. And, there it was again. Her blinding inability to take control of anything in her life. Sure, Lulu could plan things out. She could even set those plans into motion. It was the follow through that she had trouble with. The wide eyed beauty could never quite finish what she started. Her relationship with Dillon, family issues, and now her relationship with Logan. Fighting to keep thoughts of another blonde out of his head, a blonde who always and sometimes ruthlessly followed through with her intentions, Logan tried to explain things to Lulu.

"Okay, this is hard." He muttered rubbing a hand over his face. He was never one for long talks. He'd much rather cut to the end. "Lulu, we don't work anymore. You're not willing to give up your relationship or whatever it is, with Johnny. And, I'm, I'm not ready to give up who I am for you." He admitted finally. With his admission, a strange look came over Lulu's face. First an expression of confusion, then one of thought, and finally anger again.

"Does this have to do with Maxie? Are you upset because I've been telling you not to hang around with her?" She spat indignantly. Logan recognized her reaction immediately. Lulu couldn't blame him because she felt guilty about spending time with Johnny. She wouldn't blame herself because... well, because she was Lulu. So, that left Maxie. Port Charles' well known scapegoat.

"You know what? Our issues go so much further than Maxie. But, honestly? You telling me not to spend time with her does bother me. Do I get it? Sure, I get why you don't trust us together. But, I don't plan on ending my friendship with her." He said addressing her implorations.

"Of course not." She scoffed.

"Maxie needs friends Lulu. And, I happen to be one of them. You're insecure and I fully understand that. But, Maxie is dealing with things that go way deeper than our petty problems. Her life is a living hell right now. So, keeping her company during all that upsets you? I'm sorry but, I just don't care." He replied a bit more harshly than intended. This conversation had gone on too long and he was more than ready to end it.

"Are you seriously using Georgie's death to justify sneaking around with Maxie behind my back... again!" She was yelling now. Shrieking actually. Fighting the urge to just cover his ears, Logan responded.

"Oh, get over yourself. Yes, Maxie and I had sex while I was with you. We had sex. We suck. I get it. And, clearly you haven't gotten over it. Which is why we never should have gotten back together in the first place. This relationship never had a chance." He said raising his voice as well.

"Wait, so are we breaking up? Are you breaking up with me for her?" She asked looking as though she could vomit at any second.

"No." He answered, lowering his voice. "We're breaking up because of us. We aren't the same people anymore. It's over. And, it's no ones fault." He finished sadly. She stood there for a minute with out saying anything. It may have been the longest he'd ever seen her go with out breaking the quite. After a moment she nodded and set her mouth into a firm line. She did her best not to cry, though she failed.

"Goodbye Logan." She uttered quietly before exiting the room. For the rest of the afternoon Logan replayed the conversation in his head trying to make sense of how he felt about it. Relief, that was evident through out his whole body. But, there was sadness too. The loss of a first love was hard to take. This made him think of Maxie and how much harder it must have been for her. Watching her first love die. The more he thought about Lulu, the more his thoughts would end up back at Maxie. He noticed now, that everything came back to her.

"Oh- my- God." Maxie uttered, tripping over her words. Logan was surprised at... well, he was surprised at her surprise. He had been telling her for a while now that he was going to break up with Lulu. He was just waiting for that 'Ding, ding, ding' moment. He guessed that she never quite believed it. In a way he himself hadn't been so sure that he was going to follow through. Lulu had been with Logan at a time in his life that he would never forget. Before her, he would have never thought he could be a decent boyfriend. He would have never thought that he would be a guy worthy of a second chance.

"Cat got your tongue, Sugar?" He teased hoping to bring them back to their light hearted banter. There was silence on her end of the phone for a moment.

"You broke up with her?" She questioned sounding almost angry. Scrunching his eyebrows in confusion Logan pulled phone away from his face and stared at it. Was the stupid device malfunctioning? Did he just hear her correctly?

"Um... yeah." He answered still not sure where she was going with this line of questioning.

"Why?" She softly asked.

"Are you kidding me Maxie?" He exclaimed in a loud voice.

"I just mean... well..." She started stuttering a bit. Shaking his head Logan cursed under his breath. Maxie was nervous. She was uncomfortable with Logan being single. She'd lost her logical reason to push him away and now she was panicking.

"Well, what?" He demanded feeling his anger rise. Thunder could be heard and a bolt of lightning flashed, almost as if it were complying to Logan's mood.

"You like, loved her or whatever. Why'd you go and break up with the Marsha freakin' Brady of Port Charles? She was good for your reputation ya' know." She questioned. Her nicknames for Lulu had become something Logan was used to now. She claimed it was her way of insulting the blonde with out causing too much of a scene. But, the charming southern could swear that she only did it to enjoy the looks on people's faces.

"Well, jealous Jan..." He started, pointedly making fun of her. "I guess we just weren't clicking anymore. Which by the way, I've been telling you for weeks. You knew it was coming. You know why it was coming. So, why pray tell, are you acting like an uninformed 2nd party?" He prompted, curious to hear how she would explain herself. Unfortunately, that explanation was cut off by the sound of the phone clicking harshly.

"She didn't..." He stated incredulously as he stared wide eyed at the phone. She had hung up on him. He quickly dialed her number again, and again, and again. After calling 6 times and still no answerer, Logan finally gave up. This was not like him. Not at all. Logan Hayes didn't call girls in the middle of the night just to hear their voice. He didn't say certain things just to hear them laugh. He didn't wear specific shirts just because he knew that they liked it. And, he certainly didn't call girls six times in a roe. No- freaking- way. Yet, there he was. Wearing that grayish, blue T-Shirt that in Maxie's words 'brought out his eyes' and standing in the middle of his room with his phone clutched in his hand. Maybe Coop was right...

Logan had been single for one hour and 11 minutes. And, if he were honest, nothing felt all that different. He had yet to experience some big 'Eureka' moment. After spending some time to think to himself, Logan began to feel restless. So, he ventured down the stairs to the diner. A part of him hoping to see Maxie.

"Logan." Came a deep voice. Nope, that defiantly wasn't Maxie. He turned to find Coop, his one time best friend staring at him seriously. Looking at him now, the well built body guard felt as if their friendship had taken place in another lifetime. It seamed so long ago that they were stuck in Iraq, joking about the things they were going to do when they returned home. Who knew they end up 'doing' the same girl.

"Hey." He greeted a little unsure of the interaction. They were civil with one another now. Pleasant even. But, things were so different now and neither one of them knew quite how to approach one another. It didn't help that the whole town was aware of Logan and Maxie new found bond. Coop included.

"Can we talk for a minute?" He asked looking a little nervous. Logan hesitated and then nodded his head. He had already taken on one hurdle after talking to Lulu. He might as well go for two. Coop lead him to a table in the corner, secluded from prying ears.

"What's up man?" Logan asked as they took their respective seats across from one another.

"I'm leaving." Cooper told him wasting no time. Shocked and a little concerned, Logan struggled to find the right words.

"What?" He managed not bothering to hide his confusion.

"I, well, it's time for me to go. Maybe I never should have stayed in the first place." He admitted regretfully. Logan knew Coop didn't really mean that. The good hearted soldier had grown to love the small town. He'd even found love in it. Logan grimed at the thought. Two soldiers... in love with the same girl. What a chick flick.

"And, this just came to you all of a sudden. No way Coop. I don't buy it for a second. What's going on?" Logan asked giving his friend a knowing look. Things may not have been the same for them but, Logan still knew Coop like a brother.

"Fine." He relented. He was just far too easily swayed. "Jerry has been pressing me lately. I think he's planning something and I know, that somehow he'll want me involved. He has too much over me. I just, I have to leave before I get caught up in another mess." He admitted sadly.

"Hey, don't let that jackass run you out of town. We can figure something out. We'll use his hottie girlfriend Alexis to get to him." Logan suggested, his head already in full scheme mode.

"No. No, Logan. I'm done with plans and the game. I'm just... done." He said leaving no room for argument. Logan nodded knowing that he was serious.

"And, for the record... I think maybe it's time you're done with the games too." He added smirking. Logan laughed and shook his head.

"Forgetting who I am buddy?" He questioned lightly.

"Just remembering who you really are." Coop sincerely told him. Logan was struck with a feeling of sadness. Despite what they had been through, despite everything that went wrong, Coop really was the best friend he'd ever had.

"I'm gonna' miss you man." Logan chuckled a bit.

"You too." He responded. Then he cleared his throat and became a little uncomfortable. It looked as if he were debating whether or not he should say something.

"What is it?"

"I just...I know I probably don't even need to ask but-" He paused to look up and stare Logan directly in the eyes. "Take care of her okay?" He finished, unable to even say her name.

"Coop it's not..." Logan trailed off. Cooper looked at him expectantly, daring him to finish his sentence. But, Logan couldn't lie to Coop again. Not about her.

"It is. You love her. I never saw it before... maybe because I loved her too." He declared openly, bravely. Logan wished he were able to be that brave about his feelings.

"I didn't mean to..." He began yet again, unable to finish. If only he could get his damn feelings under control. Then maybe he'd be able to form a full sentence.

"I know. She didn't mean to fall in love with you either. And, don't even bother telling me she isn't. I spent months wishing for her to look at me the way she looks at you. She tried. She really did but, you can't force something like that. Just like you can't force two people apart when they love each other. I don't even know why people try anymore." He laughed breaking the deep, speech-like declaration. "Didn't everyone read Romeo and Juliet in ninth grade?" He continued still laughing. Logan joined him now, happy with the distraction.

"I don't know, I slept through that class I think." Logan added. They continued to laugh. Neither one was exactly sure what they were laughing at. But, it felt nice to be like this together. One more time before Coop left. One more time.

"Stupid Cooper." Logan muttered as a flash of lightning broke him from his memory. He hated how he was always right about these things. He hated how he was so good at the whole relationship thing. Maybe people wouldn't see it that way due to his connection with Maxie. But, really, it wasn't the poor kids fault he'd fallen for Maxie Jones. She was like a virus. Easy to contract and hard to get rid of. Unwanted but, dream like and other worldly. Shaking his head and ridding it of those thoughts, Logan turned to head back to bed. Not that he'd be getting any sleep. Just as he was about to go, a soft knock sounded at the door. It wasn't urgent or troublesome like the one he'd heard all those weeks ago. The one that had brought Maxie to his door. But, at the same time a familiar feeling rose in his chest. He made his way over and calmly, because that's how he felt, opened it.

"Maxie." He uttered before her lips crashed into his. A bolt of thunder sound at that exact moment. It wasn't enough to part their heated kiss. It wasn't nearly enough.