Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel so don't sue me. Thanks. :-)

A/N: As promised, here's the second update! Thank you to peculiarxemma, x5 416, nattylovesu, Alexa, Sandra, and TwilightEclps for reviewing Chapter 10! Please enjoy Chapter 12; hope it lives up to any expectations. ^_~

Ex Multus Familia: Part 2

Chapter 12

"Krit, if you don't get that out of my face…"

"Come on, the camera loves you, Robin," Krit said, his voice chipper while hers had been dark and threatening. "Now, let's see it, do something exciting."

Robin glanced up at him from the sketch she was working on. They were both in one of the rooms in the Cultural Center, one that was close to the first floor conference room where they were supposed to be having a meeting about the building in a few minutes. It was general stuff, such as what to do with everyone now that T.C. was under strict lockdown. Robin was probably going to propose a rotating schedule so everybody got the time they needed or wanted in the rooms.

Krit had been at this for the past few days, and by this she meant recording every move that his friends made with a camera that he and Dix had reconstructed from almost scratch. It was becoming a little more than aggravating. Robin shoved the camera away. "I said no."

"You're no fun, Robin," Krit said, moving away from her, but he closed the camera's small side screen and lowered it. "It's for the TV show."

"We're not having a TV show," Robin replied, "That idea was shot down forever ago." She leaned over her sketch and set her pencil back on the paper. She was drawing the room that they were in, minus herself and Krit. While her first calling was decorating, she was really starting to get into sketch art; she wasn't half bad, and perhaps if she kept at it, she'd eventually be a lot better. But if Krit didn't leave her alone…

"But I can still make home videos," Krit replied, a cheeky smile on his face. He turned the powered down camcorder back at her. "Wouldn't you like to capture these memories?"

"Of me scowling and yelling at you?" Robin raised her eyebrows but didn't look up from her drawing. "I don't think I want that on tape."

"But it already is," Krit replied, "For future generations." There was a cheerful ding from the camera as he turned it back on. "Taylor can see just how mean her mother's always been to dear Uncle Krit."

Robin let out an exasperated sigh and started to turn around to whack Krit, but there was a flash of blond and suddenly the camera was gone. Syl stood nearby, the camera in her hands and now trained on Krit.

"Syl, no, that's my camera," Krit said, his voice going hard and serious. He was normally laidback, but not when it came to his tech. He reached for the camera, but the sprightly blond skipped out of the way.

"What, Krit? Don't like being filmed?" she taunted. Robin watched with a smile as Syl stayed one step ahead of Krit while the tall transgenic tried to get his camera back.

"I just like doing the filming," Krit replied, "And I don't like you holding the camera."

"And now you know how we feel," Robin said. She stood up from the desk she had been sitting at and gathered up her supplies. She tossed them into a small black bag at her feet before carefully sliding her sketchbook in after the pencils.

"Give it back, Syl!" Krit said, lunging for Syl. Laughing, she darted out of range and then out into the hall. Krit followed, blurring after her while shouting for her to give the camera back. While Robin was still packing her bag, Seth stuck his head into the doorway and looked around the now empty room.

"Are they gone?"

"Are you speaking about our friends or the two terrors that just ran out here?" she replied, giving him a warm smile. He chuckled and leaned against the doorway, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Aren't they the same thing?"

"Depends on your point of view on the situation," she said, grinning back at him. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. "What's yours?"

"Undecided," he replied, kissing her back on the lips.

Together, they walked down the hall to the meeting room, exchanging pleasantries about their day, which had been overall boring. The guards were keeping the Ordinaries back and for now the Ordinaries were keeping a safe distance away from the guards with machine guns, but there was a palpable tension in Terminal City and the surrounding area. The peace seemed more like a bad cover-up than the truth.

When they reached the meeting room, most of the supervising team from the Cultural Center was there. The room itself was pretty sparse; Robin hadn't gotten a hold of it yet for a paint job. Joshua was proudly sitting at the head of the table, spinning his chair around in a lazy circle while he smiled at the simple pleasure.

"Everybody here?" he asked when he saw Robin and Seth walk in. He beamed at them and then leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "We get started now, all right?"

Across the table, Syl and Krit were still bickering over his improper use of the camera, but now Krit had the camera back. He was holding it protectively to his chest and scowling at Syl while she fussed quietly at him and threatened to break the camera.

Seth sighed and shared a long-suffering look with Robin. Maybe this chaos about filming or not would stop soon enough. Was it so hard to just go on with their lives and not try to play themselves off as innocents to the human population? Better they know what transgenics were and learn to live with it.

When he sat down, Seth was automatically aware that something was wrong, but even as he tried to stand up, the chair went to pieces under him. He made a grab for the table, and his hand landed on a few papers instead, giving him absolutely no purchase. He ended up lying on his back on the floor, glaring up at the ceiling while the papers floated down next to him. In the next moment, he was up and scowling at the offending, landfill-scavenged chair while Robin asked him carefully if he was okay.

"Shit," Krit complained, "Why can't you guys do hilarious stuff when I have the camera rolling?"

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The Dixon Dare chugged into the marina, its enormous twin motors rotating at the same slow speed as they moved through the water. When the boat was close enough to the dock, Sidda jumped off the deck, a rope in one hand. She landed nimbly on the balls of her bare feet, her shoes left behind on the boat.

It had been three and a half weeks since she left Terminal City, one and a half spent on the road while the other two she had been diligently working at Teach's Marina. So far, Sidda hadn't experienced many of the problems that Sibil had said she would. Okay, so she had been sorta dizzy a few times and the other day she had to quit work early because of a headache from hell, but besides that, she was basically fine. The only thing that was different about her body was that, uh, her bra was a little tighter, and she had acquired a slight tan from so much time spent out on the ocean and the sound.

She was having a perfectly wonderful time…except for the fact that she missed Alec so much that it physically hurt. And everyone in T.C., especially Seth and Robin. What she wouldn't have given for one of Robin's home-cooked meals and a long talk after dessert.

"Sidda, tie 'er off tight!" Roger Collins shouted from the helm of the charter boat. He was a good man, an easy-going captain who had welcomed her after he figured out she could lift a couple coolers full of ice and dead fish without whining. As long as she pulled her own weight, he was fine with her.

Sidda nodded and bent down to tie off the first rope. Bobby Jonson, Collins' other deckhand, was leaning against the side of the boat above her, watching her work while he waited to throw her the second line.

"Yeah, Sidda," he called, giving a low whistle, "Work that nice little ass!" Bobby considered himself something of a charmer, which was about as far from the real deal as possible. He was usually just stupid and arrogant, or at least Sidda thought so, and both Collins and Sidda spent too much time on ship yelling at him to stop harassing the female customers. If his father hadn't been friends with Pete, the manager of the marina, he wouldn't have been working on any of the ships. "Seriously, Sidda, you me and one night, that's all it'd take."

Sidda rolled her eyes and kept working, ignoring his comments. Jerk.

"What the…hey…aghhhh!" Splash.

Sidda smirked to herself as she finished tying off the knot. Obviously Collins had decided that was enough from Bobby and had pushed him overboard. She would have to thank him for that later; she was glad somebody besides her had decided it was time for Bobby to be taught a lesson in manners.

"Serves you right," Sidda muttered as she stood up. Smiling, she looked up at Collins. "You could've let him throw me the rope first."

She shaded her eyes against the glare of the sun…For some reason, Collins' silhouette looked weird. Nothing like the forty-year-old shadow she was used to.

"I can throw it to you." It was a familiar voice that she hadn't been expecting but needed to hear. Sidda froze at the cold tones in the voice that was normally so warm and full of love. A second too late, and she knew why Collins' silhouette was weird. Collins was still where he had been before, staring open-mouthed at the stranger who had appeared out of nowhere on his ship.

Sidda couldn't help an involuntary quirky smile at the thought of Alec pushing Bobby off the ship. And then she remembered. Alec. Not supposed to be there. Bad, bad, bad.

God, she had missed him.

"Here." He tossed her the rope, and Sidda automatically caught it, though she just stood there, not knowing how to react, as she watched him jump off the ship and land lightly onto the dock. Damn, but she had forgotten just how good he could look. And apparently weeks of searching for her had given him a nice, beautiful golden tan. Probably from scouring the South for so long.

"Alec?" She wanted to say something sarcastic, something witty…just something, but her mouth wasn't willing to form words. Where was all her bantering now?

Alec suddenly smiled at her and stepped forward. He brushed a few stray strands of hair off her face, and her skin felt like she had been burned where his fingertips touched her cheek. "I'd tie the boat for you but I don't know how," he said, "But let's hurry and get out of here."

Sidda unconsciously leaned into his touch then quickly stepped back. She couldn't do this. He couldn't be here. This wasn't where he was supposed to be. She glanced back at Collins, who was still staring, and at Bobby, who was struggling out of the water and onto the dock. She didn't want to talk about this right here in front of them though. If she was lucky she'd manage to get Alec to go away and still keep her job.

But oh, she didn't really want Alec to go away…this was so hard, so unfair. Damn it, why'd he have to follow her? And why hadn't Robin warned her that he was so close?

Sidda quickly bent to secure the second rope.

"I'd suggest you stay in the water," Alec told Bobby dangerously. Crap, so he was still angry. Wonderful.

"What gives you the right to order me around?" a dripping Bobby blustered. He was struggling to pull himself up onto the dock.

Alec smirked, walked over and nudged him in the shoulder with his foot. "The ability to do that," he said as Bobby fell back into the water.

"Collins, umm, I'll be back," Sidda said, shooting a sideways glance at Alec. Alec raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. "I think."

Sidda and Alec moved a little further away from the dock. Sidda intended to stop and talk there, but Alec kept walking toward her car, which a motorcycle was parked next to. Great mode of cross-country transportation… "Alec," Sidda said sharply. If she went with him now, she wasn't sure she'd be able to tear herself away again.

Alec frowned and came back to stand in front of her. When he looked down at her, she couldn't remember exactly what she was going to say, so she resorted to the first thing that came to mind. "A motorcycle? Really? What'd you go through, your midlife crisis?" Harassment was such a great thing to hide behind sometimes…

He jerked a thumb back at her car. "A convertible? Really?" he mimicked her as he reached down and took her by the shoulders. "This isn't about vehicles, Sidda."

"You wanna talk, we can talk here," Sidda said firmly. Otherwise, she didn't know if she could tell him to leave.

"We can talk wherever you're staying," Alec said after a moment. His eyes were dark. "But I'm not walking away from you again, Sidda. I can't…" He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. "I can't talk about this here. But we need to talk. Please come with me." He was looming over, and Sidda was suddenly reminded very, very much that he was a man, and a man who was much taller than her at that. And he had muscles, and that smartass, kissable mouth, and he had driven all the way across the freakin' country for her… Oh, he was so amazing…

Sidda thought for a second about what Alec was saying. There was something important there, the way he looked so worried… she just wanted to wrap her arms around him and hug him and kiss him and promise everything would be all right. But she just couldn't. But she supposed… she had enough self-control for the one thing he was asking, right? It was her place, after all. Still technically on her turf.

"Ok," she said, not looking at his eyes. She might give in if she stared at them too long. "But it's nothing special, so don't expect the Taj Mahal."

He was able to surprise her because she wasn't looking in. Another moment and one of Alec's arms was around her, his hand gripping her back tightly. The other hand came up to caress her face and turn it to face him. And then he was kissing her.

Wow… wow…damn it, but that felt too good. It felt so right to just melt into his arms, let him take control. But she couldn't do that! "No," she said softly. Alec ignored her and Sidda shook her head and spoke a bit louder. "No Alec, don't make this hard."

"Why does this have to be hard?" Alec's voice was pain-filled, and it just about broke Sidda's heart.

"I'll explain, I promise," Sidda said. She disentangled herself from Alec's arms and started toward her car, but Alec's hand shot out and he caught her elbow.

"My motorcycle," he said, staring her down. Sidda didn't have the strength to argue with him at the moment, so she simply followed him to the bike and climbed on behind him. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her cheek against his back, enjoying the feel of his strength beneath her. At least he couldn't see her being weak now.

"You don't even know where I live," she mumbled as he revved up the powerful engine. He rolled his shoulders but didn't glance back at her.

"Then tell me." Again, it was a command, not really a request. He really didn't sound happy with her…but then again, she doubted that she would be a ball of sunshine after trailing after someone for about three weeks.

She muttered the directions to him as he drove, his hands tight around the handlebars. His muscles were tense beneath her, and she normally would have tried to calm him down, but she had no idea how to at this moment. She had never made him this angry before, so it was all new to her.

When they arrived at her small, sage green bungalow that was tucked into a back corner of the island about ten minutes from the marina, she slid off the motorcycle and landed awkwardly on the ground. She felt lightheaded, so she leaned back against the motorcycle, waiting for Alec to get off. He glanced at her for a moment, his eyebrows knitting together.

"Are you okay?" His voice was softer, worried. She felt his fingers trail against her cheek, and she turned her head away, sighing.

"Yeah, it's fine," she said, stepping forward. Better not to get attached again. She was determined to explain this to him, somehow, and get him to understand that he didn't have to stay with her, she would be fine without him. Maybe she would be able to go back to Terminal City and live there again without worrying that he was staying with her out of duty, not desire. She just hoped there was some way they could be together without that worry.

Walking past him, she took the steps up onto the tiny porch, complete with white porch swing. She hadn't bothered to lock the door, so it swung open at her touch. He followed inside, so close it was making her feel like she had a second shadow. The house was small, just the bedroom, a bathroom and a combined kitchen/living room area.

"Um, do you want something to drink?" she asked. Oh, so awkward. She could feel a blush coming, creeping up her throat and blossoming over her cheeks.

"No," Alec said, "I don't." He walked over and sat down on the couch. His hazel eyes were expectant. "Come here."

Slowly, she crossed toward the couch and started to sit down on the other end, but he caught her by the waist and pulled her into his lap, one arm clamping down across her waist like a vice. Sighing, she put her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. His heartbeat was rapid, like he was running a race or had finally gotten to the finish line. Oh, Alec…

"Why?"

Such a simple question, but the answer was so difficult.

"It's really complicated."

"Try me."

No, not yet, she had to change where this was going, she wasn't ready yet. "I told you that I was going to be fine," she said, "Don't you trust me?"

"Yeah, Sidda, I do," Alec said, leaning back against the couch cushions. She tried to move off his lap so he could be more comfortable, but his grip around her waist tightened. "But do you know how damn hard it was on me for you to just disappear like that? And on the same day we got attacked by Familiars." He stared straight ahead, scowling.

Sidda winced. Yeah, that had been awfully bad timing, but not her fault, not technically. She had tried to plan it out properly. "I never wanted to hurt you," she mumbled.

"That would've been best avoided by staying in T.C.," he said, glancing down at her.

Sidda pulled back forcefully and pressed her hand to his chest. "Come on, work with me here! You can't just stone-face me, or I'm going to pull Alpha status and throw you out of my house."

He raised an eyebrow at her, the ghost of a smile on his face. "What if I pull rank on you?"

"What rank? I'm the same rank as you," Sidda said. Oh, a smile, bless the smile!

Alec smirked. "But I'm the male in this relationship."

"Yeah, well, that doesn't matter."

"I think it does," Alec said, gently tightening his grip on her. "And because of that, I also think you owe me an explanation." He looked at her. "Now would be a great time for that."

She pressed her face into his neck, trying not to hyperventilate. Why did he have to come after her, it had been so mostly easy up until now. "Can't we just have angry make-up sex?" she squeaked into his skin.

"Afterwards, sure," Alec said, tapping his fingers on her back, "But neither of us are leaving this couch until you tell me what's wrong."

"We could have angry make-up sex on the couch…" Sidda mumbled.

"Sidda."

Sidda slid off his lap with one fluid motion and stood in front of him, her arms crossed as she rocked back on her heels. Her head was spinning; this was not making her happy. Maybe it would be best to get this over with in one quick spurt. Just tell him everything, right now, get it over with, come on!

"I left because I didn't want to force you to stay with me just because I'm having your kid."

She shoved her hair back behind her ears and took a deep, calming breath to put air back in her lungs and stop the tears that were trying to squeeze out of the corners of her eyes. She looked at the ceiling, afraid to see the expression on his face. "So, please, Alec, look, you don't have to feel like you're locked down with me or anything, I don't want you to do anything you don't want to…"

Sidda twisted her hands nervously as Alec simply stared at her. She honestly had no idea what he was going to say, and it unnerved her that she couldn't read him when normally it was so easy for her.

"Sidda," Alec breathed. He stood up in a quick motion that was nearly as fluid as hers had been, and he crossed over to her. Before she could move his arms were around her and his forehead was resting on the top of her head. He sighed, and his breath ruffled against her hair. "Is that really why you left?"

"Um, yeah…" Sidda momentarily forgot how bad she felt about leading Alec around for weeks. "That's what I just told you, smartass," she said, poking him in the chest.

Alec laughed, moving her hair again. His breath felt sort of nice…really nice. "Sidda, Sidda, Sidda."

"Alec, Alec, Alec." She liked laughing Alec. Laughing was good. Laughing meant he wasn't too mad at her.

Alec leaned back and looked at her, then gently touched her cheek with his hand. "So you left because you're pregnant?" He had a slightly weird, half-cocked, crazy grin on his face. What was wrong with him? She was pregnant. He should be freaking out right now. Completely losing it. Right?

"Yes…." Sidda said slowly. The explosion was coming, it had to be, she knew it.

"Sidda." Alec took another deep breath, then kissed her. Fully, deeply, inescapably kissed her. Sidda was pretty sure she felt shock waves travel through her body. It was amazing what weeks of total abstinence could do to a person. She melted against him and returned his kiss, eager to feel and taste him again. Yes, no more talking. That sounded good. One more night with Alec.

But Alec broke apart. He was still grinning. "Sidda, I spent weeks searching for you, and I never knew why. I mean, I didn't know why you left. I couldn't figure it out, except that somehow I had messed up somewhere."

He shook his head at Sidda when she opened her mouth to speak, and he placed a soft, hushing kiss against her lips. "It's a good thing I love how ridiculous you can be," he said. "It's awesome that we're having a kid. I don't feel chained to you at all. If I did, I would've let you know. I've never felt chained to you. I'm excited, Sidda…I want to have what Robin and Seth have. Our own family." He smirked now. "Even if I'm psychotic , and you're a schizo, and our kid's going to be a psychopathic chronic liar."

Okay, maybe Sidda was crazy. Was she hearing him right? Alec wanted to settle down? Her Alec? That just didn't make any sense. Or… "But Alec, you… you're not the get married, let's have babies kind of guy. I know that. It's okay."

Alec sat back down on the couch, pulling Sidda with him so that she was kneeling on his lap. "I think I'm totally that guy when it's with the right girl," he said, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. "I…" he hesitated, and Sidda was surprised to see how unsure he looked. Usually he was so confident of what he was doing.

"If you were worried I wasn't ready to commit, don't think about it anymore. When you left…I realized how scared I was of losing you. I can't lose you. And I won't let you lose me." He grinned for a second and then gave her a stern look. "So you really don't have a choice. I'm taking you back to Terminal City to be with me." His grip on her waist tightened a fraction, as if he was scared she was going to bolt.

In any other situation, Sidda might be annoyed at Alec's commanding tone. But right now…she was just happy he wanted to stay with her. Wanted her. Wanted to be with her, and the baby.

"So you don't mind the baby?" she asked cautiously. She had to make sure. She narrowed her eyes at him and put her hands on both sides of his face. "Alec, be serious."

He grabbed her hands and yanked her forward so he could put his arms around her and hold her closer. "I am serious. And shit, no, I'm excited about the baby." He paused for a moment as if to let the words sink in. "It sort of blows my mind…" Alec shook his head. "I never even suspected." He played his fingers across her thigh. "I thought you were on birth control."

"I was," Sidda said dryly. "But heat sort of crept up on me unexpectedly."

"Ahhhh." Alec moved her so that she was resting against his chest, and then he rested his head on hers again. Sidda rather liked this position, she thought, as she drunk in his warm scent. Such a heady vintage to her thirsty, lonely self.

They stayed like that for a moment, just quiet and comfortable with each other. Sidda was almost half-asleep when Alec suddenly kissed her forehead.

"Sidda?"

"I'm awake," she mumbled, pressing her forehead against his chest. "Barely."

Alec's laugh was a low rumble against her. "Just so you know…in case you ever consider taking off again…since you're crazy like that…"

"Alec! I swear I'm not…" Sidda sat up to reassure him, but Alec pulled her back.

"Like I said, just in case." He smiled at her. "I want you to know something before you do."

"Mhmm?" Sidda eyed Alec, wondering what was up Alec's sleeve now. He wouldn't be telling her whatever it was unless he was sure that it would have a hold on her.

"I love you."

Sidda sighed and leaned back against him, at ease and completely safe for the first time in weeks. "I love you, too."