September

Max was getting married today.

Well, technically, she was getting a marriage license today. There was a three day waiting period after they got the license before they could use it. Also, she was already married. Joshua had walked her down the aisle and everything.

So, really, this was a test.

True to his word, and actually beyond it, the president had sent a team of officials to help them. Every single transgenic and transhuman had been issued a birth certificate. With the exception of the newest babies whose parents were known, in the spaces for the names of the mother and father, each certificate said, "U.S. Government." They'd all been issued social security cards. After that, another crew had arrived to issue them all passports as a form of government ID, since that was what the feds could issue. Not to be outdone, the new interim governor since Governor Harding's resignation had sent a team to assist them with state issued ID and driver's licenses, waiving some of the usual requirements.

All of that had been done by specially chosen volunteers willing to come to TC. This would be the first time a transgenic had to go out and apply to the local government for something using their newly issued papers.

Alec held open the door to the Auditor's Office. He walked in behind her and set a hand at her waist. He was back to his old self after weeks of abject misery. He'd pushed himself too hard, but whenever Max said anything, he'd just smiled and said he had to be ready in case the babies needed him. Max couldn't exactly argue with that.

It had taken some convincing, however, to get him to agree to this little trip. Neither of them really cared if their marriage was legal by the government's standards. They were married, whether they had paperwork or not. It was the principle of it, though. They'd gone through all of this trouble to be recognized by the government, and now they were going to make sure the government stood by its word.

Even so, Alec hadn't been convinced. Thankfully, marriage licenses were issued by the county government instead of city hall. Alec had flat out refused until he learned that. He'd said under no circumstances would he take Max to city hall in her condition. The riot had scarred him as much as her. The change of venue had at least helped her convince him to think about it.

Alec took a number from the little machine by the door and guided her to a pair of seats where they had a clear field of view of the door, the clerks at the counter, and the handful of people waiting in the battered chairs. Alec showed her the number, and Max just nodded. They were only a few numbers out from the one showing on the little electric sign. Hopefully, it wouldn't take long.

Alec tensed every time the door opened for someone to come in, sometimes couples, other times a single person who needed paperwork other than a marriage license. The guards had been forced to wait outside the security checkpoint downstairs since they didn't have any business to conduct in the courthouse. Alec was also unarmed which just added to the tension.

Max took his hand and intertwined their fingers. Strictly speaking, he wouldn't want his hand encumbered if it came to a fight, but Max didn't care. She was getting a marriage license today, and she wanted to hold her husband's hand. Sue her.

"Did you find a rocking chair?" Max asked. "Gem says we should have one."

He nodded. "I found a decent one in a secondhand shop. Slick's going to refinish it for us."

She nodded, and kept mentally running through her nursery checklist. They still had a few things to find, but they were working their way through it. At the moment, everything was piled into the extra room they were going to turn into the nursery. They'd have to get it all sorted eventually, but the babies were still months away, so they had time.

"Maybe we should get more diapers."

Alec just laughed. "Max, we have enough for an army of babies. They're cloth diapers. We wash, we re-use."

Max worried her lip between her teeth. There was no such thing as disposable diapers anymore. After the Pulse, things like that were just impossible to get. Everyone had gone back to the old-fashioned reusable cloth diapers. They were more economical, and easily made if you couldn't buy some already done. Diapers, bottles, blankets…

"We have the list," he assured her for the umpteenth time. "If we think of something else, we'll get it. Just… relax, ok?"

She nodded. She didn't say it, but she wasn't going to relax until the babies were born. She was obsessively reading books, and talking to Gem about what to expect. It didn't help that she kept having nightmares about everything that could go wrong. Night after night, she had dreams about dropping one of the babies, or about something going wrong with the birth. The one recurring dream was of a child crying and she couldn't find the baby, no matter how hard she looked.

"You think any more about names?" he asked.

"I'm not naming my son Incitatus."

Alec's pursed his lips, trying not to smile. They'd spent the evening before tossing out names and letting the other shoot them down. The names had ranged from plebeian, overused names to the completely ridiculous. By the end, Max had been laughing so hard she was crying, and Alec was sitting back, pleased that he'd given her something to think about other than the what-ifs.

"I'm not naming him Bucephalus either. I don't know what it is with you wanting to name your kid after a horse."

"One," he said, all mock seriousness. "They aren't just horses. They are famous horses. Two, they were very special. Incitatus would have been a Consul if Caligula hadn't been assassinated, and Bucephalus was Alexander the Great's horse. That horse was-"

"A horse," she said.

"A really cool horse," he muttered under his breath.

Max rolled her eyes. "Still no."

"Then you have to come up with something."

"Fine. I will." She nodded for emphasis.

Alec gave up trying to keep his face straight and broke into a wide grin. She knew he would be happy no matter what the children were named. He'd had fun, though, coming up with possibilities. Even more, he loved taking her mind off her worries.

A couple came through the door, and Alec watched them like a hawk until they took a number and started looking around for a seat. Finally, the two sat down opposite them in the waiting area. The man was in his late twenties, tall, and thin faced. He hadn't exactly dressed up for the occasion, in jeans and an old flannel shirt, and he looked massively unhappy to be there. The young, dark-haired woman with him, however, looked smug, like she'd finally got her way. Max wondered how long their marriage would last. Granted, if she'd told her younger self she was going to be married to Alec and would be having twins, she'd have probably died laughing.

The man glanced at both of them and a smirk crossed his lips. "Dude," the guy said, "waiting kinda late, aren't ya?"

Alec raised his eyebrows. "What was that?"

The guy glanced at Max and pointed to her stomach. "She looks ready to pop. Leavin' it kinda late, man."

Alec grinned, and if the man had had any sense he would've run from the room. He didn't, though.

"My girlfriend tells me she's knocked up, I'm gonna make an honest woman of her. Not gonna have any kid of mine born a bastard."

"Thanks for the advice," Alec said, pleasant expression still in place.

There was a reporter in the room. He was wearing a hat pulled low, but Max recognized him and his creepy mustache anyway. She had no doubt Alec had too. She was also pretty sure the blonde lady with him had a video camera hidden in her purse aimed right at them. This little trip to the courthouse would be on the news shortly. More importantly, the presence of the reporters meant that unfortunately, Alec couldn't punch the guy, although that would certainly make the news more exciting.

There was already a news crew outside waiting for their exit and there would no doubt be more once word got out. Max was really hoping to be done before that happened. She could kick herself though for not thinking of having two guards pose as a couple wanting a license. They could've had backup.

"Number 42," the overworked clerk called.

Alec stood and helped her up. He headed for the counter, but paused when Max stopped in front of the woman. "Can I give you some advice?" Max asked.

"I guess," the woman answered uncertainly.

Max glanced at her jerk fiancé and then back again. "Sometimes, it's better to have one bastard than two."

It took a second for it to sink in, but the lady finally got it. Her mouth dropped open in shock.

"What did you just say?" Her fiancé started to stand, but Alec stepped back and put a hand on his shoulder. It didn't look like he was exerting much pressure, but the man was planted back in his seat.

"Good luck, you two," Alec said, then quickly guided Max away toward the counter. "Maxie, can you not take a poke at the local wildlife? We're kinda being watched here."

She shrugged. "He deserved it. She'll figure it out too, but it'll be too late."

Alec just nodded in agreement. They walked up to the counter, and he smiled his most winning smile. "Good morning. We're here for a marriage license."

"Are both parties present?" the bored woman asked. She had a pen tucked behind her ear into her short mousy brown hair. She had a pinched face, which was probably par for anyone working a bureaucratic job, and she already looked exhausted even though it wasn't even noon. She finally looked up and her eyes widened in alarm.

"Hello," Alec said politely. "Can you help us?"

"I… umm…" She looked around, headed toward panic.

"We're not here to cause trouble," Max said quickly. "We have all the papers you'll need. We just want the license and we'll go. Ok?"

"But… the mayor…"

"I thought this was a county office," Alec said, an overly dramatic confused expression on his face. "The mayor is a city official."

"Yes, but…"

"But?" Max pressed.

"The county commissioners… and the mayor…" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "They had a meeting. We have instructions to turn you away. Any city or county office."

Max sighed. Apparently, they'd missed that little gathering of idiot politicians. "So no marriage license today." She looked up at Alec, and she didn't even have to fake how sad she was. She'd really, really wanted this to work. She'd wanted all of them to be able to apply for papers legally.

"I'm sorry, Maxie." He put his arm around her and she leaned into his side.

Suddenly, a man shoved a microphone in the woman's face, and Max recognized the reporter who'd been watching them. His partner had taken the small video camera out of her purse and was aiming it at them. "Do I understand correctly, that you are refusing to issue a marriage license to these two people?"

"I… um…"

"Max? Alec? Is that correct?"

"Yes," Alec said. "We have all the appropriate papers, but the commissioners and the mayor have apparently given instructions that transgenics are to be turned away from any city or county office."

The reporter moved the microphone back to the clerk. "Is that accurate? Are the commissioners refusing a license to two American citizens with all of the right paperwork needed?"

"I… umm… Let me get my supervisor." The clerk scuttled away, frantically knocking on an office door behind her. She didn't wait, but went in and closed the door behind her.

By now, everyone was staring at them. The jerk who'd talked to them earlier was pale as a ghost as he realized he'd been offering unwanted advice to two trained killers, famous ones at that. Max tried not to smirk.

Some of the people in the office looked like they were going to run, others, like they were watching a train wreck and couldn't look away. A few looked outraged on their behalf.

"Has this happened before?" the reporter asked.

Max shook her head. "This is the first time any of us have attempted to come to city hall or the courthouse for anything. We were hoping that now that we have all the correct paperwork we wouldn't be turned away."

Alec shrugged. "We can keep going like we have, but now that the federal government has recognized us, we were hoping…" He looked heartbroken. "I just wanted to marry the girl of my dreams," he said, adding a sad smile. "Guess we'll just wait a little longer."

Max hugged him, making sure it was all very visible for the camera. She hated hamming it up like this, but she'd learned it was necessary. If she got angry and started yelling, it would turn public opinion against them. More importantly, it would raise her blood pressure. She'd become an expert at staying calm and collected. After the babies were born, maybe she'd come back and scream at them all or hit someone. That thought cheered her right up.

Finally, the office door opened, and a middle aged battleaxe of a woman walked straight up to the counter. She wasn't anything close to good-looking. She was frowsy, frumpy, and had thick glasses so heavy they were sliding down on her nose.

"Who are you?" the reporter asked.

"My name is Karen Baker, the County Auditor." She pushed the glasses back up. "I was elected by the people of this county and I take my job very seriously."

Max didn't doubt that. She looked like she took everything seriously.

"We're here for a marriage license," Alec said. "Can you help us?"

Ms. Baker nodded. "I will personally take care of it," she said firmly.

The reporter said, "We understand the commissioners are against-"

"The commissioners have given a directive," she replied directly into the camera, "which I believe is contrary to my duties as auditor." She looked back at Max and Alec. "The commissioners can try to fire one of my clerks, but I'm an elected official and they can't fire me." She smiled kindly, and it changed her entire face. "Can I have your paperwork, please?"

Max handed over the folder of paperwork, along with their freshly minted bits of needed ID. "Thank you," she said, and meant it.

"Next year's an election year," Ms. Baker said. She looked into the camera once again. "I hope the people of this city, and this county will remember what happened here today. Please remember who was trying to help people who live here, and who was trying to be obstructive for no reason other than a bit of DNA." She looked back to Max and Alec. "Give me a few minutes," she said, "and I'll have this ready for you. And you," she turned back to the reporters, once again the hardened battleaxe of a public servant, "are not supposed to be in this office unless you have official business to attend to. There's the door." She pointed for emphasis. "Out before I call security."

The reporters both hustled for the door. They had their video and their story, so they were happy to run for it.

"My son has a pig farm," Ms. Baker said.

"Oh?" Max had no idea where the woman was going with that.

"He sells to Terminal City on a regular basis. He says you're good people. You never try to cheat him, and you helped him when he was being bothered by some thugs."

"Martin," Alec said, and nodded. "He's a good guy. He never tries to cheat us either, and we appreciate it."

"My son would never dream of it." She smiled again. "I raised him to know right and wrong, no matter how hard times get." Ms. Baker turned away, but not before she gave Max and Alec a conspiratorial wink.

Alec looked down at her. "So, what do you say, Maxie? Feel like marrying me again?"

"Do I get a honeymoon this time?" She raised an accusing eyebrow.

He frowned in thought. "Might have to wait a few months and make it a family vacation," he answered.

Max leaned into him, and rested her head against his shoulder. She sighed dramatically. "I guess I'll marry you then. Again."

He hugged her close and whispered, "Max, I'll marry you every single year if it means you'll stay with me. I'm no good without you."

"You can say that again," she said, trying for lightness.

"I'm no good without you, Maxie," he repeated, just as seriously.

"Then let's get this license and get out of here," she replied. "I want to kiss the groom, and I hate having an audience."

"Best news I've heard all day."

More tomorrow…