Our little Angel(s)

Title: Our Little Angel(s)

By AnitaB

Chapter 7: Future playmates
Thoughts are indicated inside // //
***

"Logan, I'm home." Max stepped in the front door and set several shopping bags on the kitchen table. "Logan?"

"In here, Max." Logan met her just outside the computer room with a huge grin on his face. "You won't believe what just happened." He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the room. "Zack came over just after you left--actually I think he might have been waiting for you to leave--to talk to me."

Max sat down with a puzzled look on her face. "What about?"

"Well, to congratulate me on little Cale," Logan reverently touched Max's stomach, "and to ask me to talk you into carrying the gun he gave you--you should, you know. But here's the best part. You remember last night we were talking about setting Zack up with someone to help him get over you."

"Yeah, I remember. So?"

Logan laughed, "There's no need. Zack walked in here with a very clear bite mark on his neck. I asked about it, thinking it might have come from a fight," At the change in her face, Logan corrected himself. "Okay, I was pretty sure it wasn't fight damage, but how else could I ask about it. He made it very clear that it wasn't something you needed to know about. You would have loved to see the look on his face when I asked who she was. It was priceless."

"What did it look like?"

Logan thought about it for a second. "Soft, caring. A little like I look when you walk into the room."

"He's in love?" The shock on her face was mixed with happiness.

"Zack may not know it yet, but he's falling hard. When I pushed for a name he oozed protectiveness. When I asked if we knew her, Zack slammed a fist into the wall and left."

"Damn. I can't believe I missed it. When am I ever gonna see Zack so emotional again?"

Patting her hand comfortingly, Logan said, "Well, if whoever she is stays with him long enough, maybe you'll see it sooner than you think."

***

Zack tightened his arms around Syl, breathing in the scent of her hair. He loved her hair--long, soft, and silky it wrapped around his hands like a caress. Lifting one hand from her waist, Zack ran his fingers through her hair, feeling each strand touch his skin, tangling between and trapping his fingers. He couldn't let go and more surprisingly, he didn't mind. He didn't want to let her go. He didn't want to be able to let her go. He needed her to stay.

Syl woke, nearly purring at his fingers petting her hair. She turned in his arms, looking up into his face. The unguarded emotional need in his eyes squeezed her heart.

"Zack?" she laid a palm against his cheek.

"Syl, stay with me. Don't leave."

Tears welled up in her eyes at the struggle to express emotion in Zack's eyes and voice. This child-like plea meant more than any sophisticated love song because Zack meant it and had fought and overcome his fears to ask her to stay. Turning to face him completely, Syl propped her knee on the side of his hip. Lifting his hand, she laid it over the imprint of his teeth in her thigh, "Yours" Tracing the bite mark on his neck with her fingertips, Syl whispered "Mine."

Keeping his hand on the mark on her leg, Zack pulled Syl harder against him, "Oh, God, Syl." Pressing his lips to hers, Zack cradled her cheek in his hand, "Syl, honey, you're mine and I'm not letting you go."

In reply, Syl leaned up and deepened the bite mark on his neck--renewing her mark on him. "Oh, Zack, you're mine." Groaning with the pleasure of her teeth in his flesh, Zack pulled back enough to see her eyes. Comforted and pulled closer by the emotions he saw there, he leaned in to place a soft, possessive kiss on her lips--a confirmation of each one's claim on the other.

***

A week later something occurred to Syl with the speed and impact of a motorcycle slamming into a brick wall. //Blue Lady, I was supposed to bleed!// The X-5 mating cycle was consistent. If the X-5 female in question didn't get fertilized during the fever, she started a normal human menstruation within three days of the fever subsiding. For Syl, it had been over a week since the fever ended and she hadn't bled at all.

Syl sank down to a nearby bench with a look of complete shock on her face. //I'm pregnant.// Resting a hand on her stomach the shock changed to include a grain of happiness. //Zack's baby inside me, a little piece of us.// Her growing smile collapsed. //Zack is always telling us not to tie ourselves down to places or people. How is he going to feel about this? Blue Lady.// Standing slowly, Syl left the store and headed back to Zack's place in a daze. Climbing into his bed, Syl wrapped herself in blankets from head to toe. Suffering from an emotional not a physical chill.

An unknown span of time passeforefore Syl became aware of the front door opening.

"Syl?" Zack closed the door behind him and walked into the kitchen looking for her. "Syl? Are you here?"

The growing concern in his voice prodded a response.

"I'm here."

Zack stepped into the room with an expression close to fear on his face. "Syl, are you alright? Why didn't you answer?"

"I'm okay, Zack. I was thinking."

He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her into his arms. She basked in the warmth of his embrace, eagerly receiving his kiss. A part of her was afraid that this might be the last time she felt his touch. That this thing between them-whatever it was-was over. The fear Syl felt transmitted itself in her desperate touch.

"Syl, what's wrong?" Zack pushed her back enough to see her face. At her hesitation, Zack pushed a little, "Syl, trust me, talk to me."

"Zack, there's something I have to tell you." She pulled away and stood up. "I don't know how to say this..."

"What is it?"

"I....I'm...You know about the fever. The rest of the fever's cycle depends on what happens during the fever. My cycle hasn't finished. Something that should have happened hasn't."

"I don't understand, Syl. What do you mean?"

She turned to face him, straightening her spine and squaring her shoulders as if standing in front of a firing squad. "I...I'm pregnant."

Syl's eyes searched his face for any reaction, but she was still surprised by the warmth in his eyes. He stood, reaching out to place a warm hand on her stomach.

"A baby?" She nodded.

"Our baby?" He moved closer, the line of his body parallel to hers.

"Yes, Zack. I know you don't approve of complications so don't feel you have to stay with me if this isn't what you want." The pain in her voice and the rigidness of her body belied her words. It would kill a part of her to lose Zack now.

"Syl, baby." Zack stepped closer, cradling her face in his hands and forcing her to look at him. "I'm not going anywhere, Syl. You're mine and our baby doesn't change that. You're mine and I'm not letting you go. So the question isn't am I leaving, 'cause I'm not. It's do you want to have a baby with me." One of his hands slid down to her stomach. "Do you, Syl?"

Syl searched his eyes, needing to know he meant what he said. She found what she was looking for. This wasn't some unwanted obligation he'd shoulder because it was his responsibility. Zack wanted this child.

"Yes, Zack. Yes, I do."

Sweeping her into his arms, Zack laid Syl down on the bed, moving into her arms. He kissed her avidly, his hands stroking her flat stomach and running fingertips over the imprint of his teeth in her leg. He found it unerringly even through the layers of her clothing. "We're having a baby, Syl. We're pregnant."

Her eyes teared over at the wonder and joy in his voice. "Oh, Zack, love."

He slowly stripped off her clothes, caressing every inch of exposed skin. //Love, that sounds so good on her lips.// He brushed his lips over hers, tasting her sweetness before moving down along her body. He dipped the tip of his tongue into the hollow at the base of her throat then kissed a line to her heart. Burying his face between her breasts, Zack groaned, "Syl, my love" against her flesh. //God, that feels so good to say. It feels...right.// Scooting further down to place a kiss over their child, he whispered "my baby." Pulling off the last of their clothes, Zack moved back up into her arms. Poised at the entrance of her body, Zack gazed into her eyes.

Slowly filling her with himself, Zack whispered, "Syl, my love." //God, it feels even better to watch her eyes soften at my words. Syl, my love.//

"Zack," Syl pulled him even deeper inside her, her heart clinging to his words and the look in his eyes.

They moved together slowly, gently leading each other towards a climax caused as much by emotional connection as physical intimacy. With eyes locked, they collapsed into each other's arms, replete.

"Tomorrow, we'll see about getting you a doctor."

"Have anyone safe in mind, Zack?"

"No, but I know who to talk to." //And he'll get a kick out of this.//

***

"You drive, Syl."

"I don't know where we're going."

"Exactly. If I drive, you'll just sit on the back of the bike distracting me. You won't be paying any attention to the route. I want you to be able to get to Logan's place if you ever need help."

"Why would I go to him for help?" Syl asked pointedly.

Zack sighed, a little irritated. "Because he's a good man and he knows about us."

"Us?"

"X-5's. You'll see. Just get on the bike." Syl shot Zack a strange look then climbed onto the bike. Zack straddled the bike seat behind Syl, pressing against her back and wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Now I know why you wanted me to drive." Breathless, Syl pressed back into the V of Zack's legs, feeling his hardness against the small of her back. His hands tightened in the fabric of her shirt. "So you can distract me."

"You know what you do to me, Syl. So just drive."

"Nice digs. How did someone who lives like this get involved with us?"

"Logan isn't your normal rich man. Wait here a second, I'll see who's home."

Zack crept silently into the computer room.

"You're losing your touch, Zack. I heard you this time. How are you doing?"

"Actually, I need your help?"

Logan visibly went into work mode, turning away from the desk to face Zack. "What's the problem and how can I help?"

"Syl, come on in."

Logan's jaw dropped as the petite blonde walked into the room and moved to take Zack's hand.

"Is this her?" Logan smiled and Syl looked puzzled.

"Her who?"

"The her who bit him." Logan smiled at the possessiveness and instant jealousy in the girl's voice at the mention of a 'her'.

"Logan, this is Syl. Syl, this is Logan, Max's husband."

"Max is married!"

"And pregnant." Logan added, never missing a chance to brag about his child.

"That's the reason we're here, Logan. Syl needs an appointment with Max's doctor. Could you set it up?"

"Pregnancy related or otherwise?"

Syl smiled, "Pregnancy, we're having a baby."

"And you're an X-5 too, right?"

Syl glanced at Zack before nodding.

"I have to call Max, if she misses this she will kill me. Stay here."

***

"Yeah, Logan, what's up?"

"We have a visitor that you want to see. Can you ditch the girls and get back here?"

"Who is it?"

"You'll see when you get here, so hurry."

***

"That looks like Zack's bike downstairs, is he here?" Max leaned down and kissed Logan. Logan kissed her back, then took her hand and turned her around to see Syl and Zack.

"Syl?" Max rushed over to hug her, "How long have you been in Seattle?"

"Not long. Blue Lady, Max, you're ready to explode." Syl set a hand on Max's stomach to feel several thumps against her palm.

"She always kicks my siblings."

Syl smiled, "Just imagine, my little sister Max married with a bun in the oven. Who'd thought it."

"Who woulda thought it?" Logan laughed, "Tell her why you two are here."

Max turned to Logan with puzzlement in her eyes and the beginning of a question on her lips.

"No, Angel. I want to watch them tell you what they need us for. I'm not telling you."

Max flopped down on a chair. "Okay, guys. The suspense is getting old. What's the news?"

"Zack pulled Syl into his arms and rested a big hand on her stomach. Max's eyes widened at the sight of Syl relaxed in Zack's arms. For that matter, the sight of Zack embracing anyone would have been a good enough reason for shock.

"We're having a baby."

Logan laughed quietly at the sight of Max completely speechless for once in her life. It didn't last long.

"You're pregnant! You're pregnant?" Max jumped up and flung her arms around the two of them. "Oh my god, congratulations! I can't believe it, a baby. How far along are you?"

"A week, maybe a little more."

Max turned to Zack and suddenly the joy was tinged with irritation. "How could you know Syl was here in Seattle for over a week and not tell me?" She punched him in the shoulder a little harder than a teasing blow. It would have bruised a normal human.

Then Syl turned on him, too. "Yeah, how could you not tell me Max lived here?" One punch. "And got married?" Two punches. "And was pregnant?" Three punches.

Max stepped back to watch. //God, they are so cute together.// Zack caubothboth of Syl's hands and pinned them behind her back, dragging her body against his.

"Well, as I remember, I didn't get to talk much the last week. Someone was keeping me busy."

"That's no excuse." Even as the words left her mouth, Syl's body was relaxing in Zack's arms, pressing against his. "You could always talk afterwards."

"Come on, Max. Let's go call Sebastion and set up an appointment for the love birds." Logan rolled towards the door with Max trai beh behind.

"Anymore of my sibs come to town and Sebastion'll have X-5 pregnancy clinic."

***