AN:

Gotta love reviews you learn something new all the time, like "kawaii" means very cute (let me also point out, gotta love google that explains these things :-P).

Oh and Rei about the tubing/piping stuff I decided (after a decent amount of thought) that you don't waste things in the Post-Pulse world (though I am hoping at least the needle would be brand new each time) I am hoping they have a better way of cleaning it than the hydrogen peroxide that I envisioned (I have no idea why, I just think that stuff cleans everything). Also don't you need to get blood out of the body before putting it in? I decided if you did then it could have happened in my in-between time since I don't mention it all. Figured folks like Maria who had any idea about any of this stuff would just take the minimal amount of stuff I said and expand it in their minds. :-P

I have a mini little rant over in the BBWW forum in the Terminal City topic if anyone's annoyed by less frequent postings or quality…If you're not then feel free to skip reading it.

Thanks for reading and all the great reviews folks! And yes I survived my plane trip (and only had an hour an a half delay trying to leave on my trip---which trust me here can be quite an accomplishment).

Baby Steps


She felt him shift as he started to wake, she'd dozed on and off, refusing to leave the comfort of his arms. Felt the thumb of the hand she had clutched to her take a few tentative movements, followed up by the rest of his fingers as he tested the water, all while testing to make sure she was really there.

"I don't think so," she smirked, "you owe me dinner."

"I could make something here," the warmth of his breath catching the skin of her neck.

It succeeded in only slightly distracting her, "Promised me fresh air too."

His mouth started to open.

"We've already discussed how leaving the skylight open does not equal fresh air," she replied without pause.

"Had to try," he smiled.

"No," she said quickly turning him over and herself around so she was straddling him almost before he was even aware what was happening, "what you have to do is feed me. One meal in 24 hours is just plain wrong."

"While normally I'd agree with you," his eyes strolled down, "this probably isn't the best way to convince me."

Her eyes dropped down, yup boobs still there, just like they had been for the past five years. "Seriously Logan," she said hopping off of him, giving him a new sight, "would have expected a little more focus from you."

"I'm plenty focused Max."

She turned back with another smirk, "Turn that focus over to feeding me."

His eyes continued to remain focused on her, "Little hard to do."

"Sketchy has more self-control than you," she couldn't help but smile and pulled open a drawer to grab a tee-shirt out. "There distraction gone," she said as the gray shirt was pulled down.

"Matter of opinion," he said with a smile, but didn't push it.

She stopped and simply smiled at him, rolled to one side watching her with the sheet only halfway covering him.

He gave her a puzzled look.

"I don't think I've ever seen you without gel in your hair before."

He waited for her to say something, rather than try to explain it away.

"It's a pretty color," her head cocked, "length doesn't even look half bad; don't know about with your glasses though."

"I can save you trying to imagine it," he smiled and sat up, "it looks bad."

For some reason she couldn't imagine him ever looking bad. "Well then you might want to throw on a baseball cap because we're going out as soon as I can get some clothes on."

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"How'd you do that?" she asked walking into the bathroom in time to see Logan returning his toothbrush to the holder.

"Do what?" he asked turning in a gray pullover with a white shirt peaking out, jeans, boots, complete with spiky hair.

"Get dressed that fast," she was only in jeans, a white tank and purple track jacket, her hair beyond any means of being saved was pulled back into a low knot.

"I'm a guy," he smiled.

"Since we're doing the gender stereotypes, you're paying," she said shaking her head and turning, finding it easy to slip into their normal routine once out of bed…and the shower. Or maybe it was just easier than anything else.

"There was even a chance of me not paying?" he asked walking after her.

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"How have I not eaten here before and how is this tofu?" she asked raising a fry to dip at they sat across from each other at the restaurant, before her spring rolls and tofu fries with dipping sauce since she'd scoffed at his suggestion of soup to tide them over until their main course arrived.

"I think it was all the mentions of tofu in their menu," he smiled as he briefly looked down at it.

Might just be, she realized popping the fry into her mouth because she'd definitely stopped and looked in the window before.

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"Isn't this nice," Max smiled as the waiter left them, "being waited on for a change?"

"I'm assuming that was directed solely towards me," he smirked.

"And what do I do all day Logan while you're lollygagging around the house?"

"I'm lollygagging suddenly?" she normally complained he worked too much.

"I don't see you bustin' your hump all across the city," her head cocked.

"Hmm…Yea shocking some of us actually use our brains for work," he gave a halfway seriously smirk.

"Wanna watch those physical abilities you exploit on a regular basis disappear?" she asked leaning back in her chair.

His fork waved and he gave a sheepish smile, "Not at all."

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She understood the term 'stuffed to the gills' as she reclined back in the chair. She wasn't sure what would follow their meal…Did she make some sorry excuse about needing to get back to her apartment? Worse would he not invite her back to his?

She'd failed to read the playbook on what you were supposed to do after sleeping with your friend, your boss, your confidant. Failed to have any idea how to deal with the horrifying thought that this might just be a one day deal and tomorrow they'd simply be Eyes Only and his legman once more.

So she was milking it, drawing out their meal as she tried to ignore what might come next.

"Can I get you two any dessert?" the waiter asked appearing at their side.

"No," Logan turned with a smile, "not tonight thank you, just the check."

She was frowning at him as he turned back to her, she was sure her stomach could have shifted a few more organs out of the way, "One meal in 24 hours ring a bell?"

"You're getting dessert just not from here. There's a pastry shop a block down, I think I have a Riesling back at the apartment that should go well with a few things."

She smiled, "Well why didn't you say so in the first place?"

"Silly me," his lips smirked, "I should have known better by now than to come between your food and stomach."

"Damn straight."

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"Should I get the glasses?" he asked as she put down the little white box on the center island as he propped his cane up against another, carried although never used for their little excursion.

"You did promise me dessert," she pointed out.

"You're right I did," his face held only the slightest sign of dejection, as he was used to hiding it. He turned to retrieve the bottle.

"Then again," her voice light and teasing, "we did just eat a lot. Could probably use to work some of it off."

"Build our appetites up again?" he asked walking towards her.

"Makes sense doesn't it? You appreciate it more when you're a little hungry."

"I think you might be on to something," he said nodding as his hand went to cup her face.