AN: Okay this is part new chapter and part old, so hopefully it blends together and with everything else. Feel free to scream if you think things are getting choppy or whatnot, I haven't been on nicely laid out plans in awhile and I'm not really going back to them, so it's probably gonna happen (or has and you haven't shared). Thanks for reading!

Chapter 38

Independence Day

It was Freak Nation Independence Day, a celebration of the day Manticore had fallen. It was also a reason for a whole bunch of transgenics to get really drunk and rowdy. She headed up towards the roof, looking for to escape the insanity of tonight and the past few days. It felt as if more had happened in a few days than had happened all throughout the siege.

Logan had found someone to finally provide answers, there was an immunity that could be passed along to others, save the world from Armageddon and it was in her blood. Though when that Armageddon was actually going to occur still wasn't clear, the woman had guessed it was going to be soon, Max was inclined to agree with her since the Runes had shown up this year out of all others, but they had stopped and they hadn't provided any clear answers. Logan suggested more might show up once they got closer to the date, so it was a wait and see game, but they weren't leaving this to Sandeman. Max thanked god her people were such fast learners because Sandeman's, lab which had been slowly put back together was in full use suddenly and others were studying sky charts from as far back as they went, trying to piece together from what Isabelle knew to when exactly the comet was supposed to pass by again.

She shook her head hearing the music and laughter even though she was at the top of the stairwell and pushed open the door to see Logan standing there.

He turned at the sound of the door. "It's getting a little crazy down there." He said seeing her expression and knowing his own reason for taking a breather.

"I don't understand how they're celebrating today." she said walking over.

"It's the day you set them free Max" he said with a smile

"Yea set them free into a world that hates them."

Logan shrugged his shoulders, "Still a good day." he turns to Max, "A year since you did your whole Lazarus thing."

She nodded thinking back to that day, seeing Logan's back as he sat in front of his computer. She had stood there unable to speak just seeing his shaggy blond hair, the blue sleeveless shirt, the dark jeans. She had watched as he turned and looked at her in confusion, heard her name pass his lips, felt his hands cup her face, pressed her lips together with his and wondered how she ever got so lucky. "I really thought we'd beat it." her small voice said, she didn't need to further explain, it was finally time to say the words aloud to him.

He looked away and nodded, he swallowed hard "Me too" he shook his head, trying to be positive "We still might."

She laughed "A year Logan. Anyone that's still left alive is in Siberia."

He turned and grinned "I know some people there."

She laughed despite herself.

"The year really didn't turn out too poorly. I mean we're both still alive, I mean the odds of that happening were probably worse than us finding a cure for the virus."

Once more she laughed, what else could she do, it was laugh or cry.

He turned to her "And we have Cale."

She turned to him and smiled "And you have a reputation as a pedophile."

He groaned, "I never should have told Bennett your age."

She patted his back in sympathy and in a joking voice, "Well in your defense you weren't aware that you had gotten me knocked up and I'd had your kid when you told him that."

He smiled "All I thought was I was in a wheelchair, yet I still had the hottest date to his wedding and I wanted to rub it in his face."

"Yea well that bit ya in the ass didn't it. Took advantage of poor innocent 18 year old me, didn't have the decency to use protection, then you don't marry me and you hide it from your family until they stumbled across the truth…Geez good thing Ol' Uncle Jonas isn't around to hear that." she smiled at the end.

"Yea" he shook his head "I'm never going to outlive this one."

"Not a chance in hell"

He turned back to her "Still not a bad year. Not a bad anniversary" he smiled "If you forget about me being covered in hives and almost dying before your eyes."

She laughed "Yea those 30 seconds before Alec showed up. They were a good 30 seconds."

He nodded "A lot of the stuff that came after, it hasn't been half bad."

Max smiled thinking of everyone down below living life for the very first time. Being there to watch Cale discover the world along with Logan and all the new memories they'd formed this year, memories that wouldn't have been possible if she hadn't escaped. "Yea maybe not, but just so you know we aren't doing a 'Yay I almost killed you a year ago February 7th'"

Logan laughed, causing his head to dip down "You got it" he said titling his head to look at her. "Only one almost killing me anniversary a year."

She nodded "Good, I should probably get back downstairs."

He nodded then looked at his watch, it was way past Cale's bedtime, "It's getting pretty late, I think I'm going to find Josh and take Cale back home."

"He's asleep in Ronnie's stroller."

"He's sleeping with all that noise?"

"He's had a long day…The kid's pooped." she said with a smile.

He smiled softly looking down at her face, the noises of the city below them, "Definitely a good day to celebrate" he said brushing a hand along her cheek.

She nodded again still looking up into his eyes thankful she'd made it back to him.