Our little Angel(s)

Title: Our Little Angel(s)
By AnitaB
Rating: I don't know, pg-13, I guess. No sex in this chapter.
Chapter 9: Angel one is landing
See chapter 1 for all disclaimers.
Let's start the show.
***
"They were so cute," Logan whispered against Max's skin.

"Zack and Syl? Yeah, they were but get over it." She turned in his arms to put a hand on his bare chest. "I swear, the all you talk about lately."

"No, not Zack and Syl. The two little kids in my dream." Logan leaned dto nto nuzzle the mound of her stomach. Rolling his eyes up to look at her face while dropping kisses along her skin. "Our daughter was beating up Zack's son. They were so cute."

Burying her fingers in his hair, Max mused. "How sick is that, You're overjoyed that the little girl in your dream is violent and destructive."

"If you could have seen the look on Zack Jr.'s face, you wouldn't think it was sick. He was so infatuated, it was cute."

"It wouldn't bother you for our daughter to end up with Zack and Syl's son?"

Leaning above Max on his elbows, Logan thought for a second. "She can take care of herself and keep him in line. So I guess it's okay with me. Not that our opinion will matter much after they fall for each other."

Rubbing a hand over her stomach, Max spoke to the child, "So, little Max, in order to beat up and fall for Zack Jr. you have to be born. I'm tired of being pregnant so feel free to show up a little early."

Smiling up into her eyes, Logan teased. "Does that mean you don't want to give our angel any younger brothers or sisters?"

"I'll let you know after she's born."

"Oh come on, Max. You know you want Maxine to have a little brother." His hands on her body were just as teasing as his voice.

Laughing and groaning in the same breath, Max leaned in to reach for Logan's lips with her own. "I'll let you know after the baby in born."

***

Maxine Jr. ever attentive and obedient, listened and complied. Max began having contractions within a week. However, the child getting willfulness and stubbornness from both parents, kept the contractions steady for over a week, refusing to allow labor to begin or the contractions to end.

Max was not a glowing, happy mother-to-be. Everyone near her knew to scatter and flee the second she hunched over and her face paled.

Even Logan had only partial immunity to Max's dark moods.

"You know this is your fault, Logan."

Pulling her down onto his lap and wrapping her in his arms, Logan commiserated. "I know, Love, it's all my fault. But I love you and in a few weeks we'll have a beautiful baby girl and I'll ghe che credit, not the blame."

Brushing light kisses across her lips and resting a warm hand on her stomach, Logan gently rubbed and stroked her, trying to help ease her discomfort. She cuddled down into his arms, relaxing a little.

"Thank you, Logan. But it's still your fault." Pouting and still cranky, Max twined her fingers through Logan's. Cradling Max in his arms, he nuzzled his cheek against her.

"It'll all be worth it when we hold that little girl in our arm


"I know, I'm just sick and tired of being pregnant."

Dropping a kiss on her neck, Logan made a deal. "Hey, Max. How about you go get in a nice, hot bath while I make dinner. What do the cravings want to eat?"

She brightened up amazingly quick. Logan's cooking was always greatly appreciated. "Steak and baked potatoes."

"Yes, love. Go soak while I cook."
"I love you, Logan."

"I love you, too."

She hefted herself off of his lap and moved down the hall to the bathroom, grumbling to the child all the way. "You know little one, it's a very interesting world. Wouldn't you like to come out and see it? You've got a lot of people waiting to see you. Once you're born you'll have lots of people to play with you and take care of you. Isn't it boring in there?"

***

Eventually even Maxine Jr. had to obey the laws of nature. Pregnancies have to come to term sooner or later. And while Jr. was pushing for later, Max's biology stepped in and vetoed that idea.

Max woke one morning to find Logan talking to the stubborn brat in her abdomen.

"Come on, honey. You know your mommy and I want to show you off to all your aunts and uncles." Logan sighed, brushing his stubbled cheek back and forth across her stomach. "I understand, if I were in there I wouldn't want to leave either." His eyes darkened momentarily with an emotion not directed at the child. Max's heart tightened at the fact that Logan still saw her as beautiful and desirable -- eight and a half months pregnant and cranky as hell. "But there's a whole world out here waiting for you. You'll even have a cousin to play with in a few more months. So how about it, you come out and Mommy and I will show you everything. Whatta ya say?"

"I'd vote for it."

His head popped up. "I didn't know you were awake."

"I hope she listens to you."

"She will, Max, it'll be soon."

The smile on her face changed slightly. "You know, mommy could use some of the attention daddy's giving jr." One hand slipped from his shoulder down his ribs.

Now his smile, "Oh, really. I can't let Mommy feel neglected." Logan slid his body along Max's, moving up to bury a hand in her hair. "I love you so much, Max." Pulling her lips to his, Logan kissed passionately.

Wrapping both her arms around his neck, Max responded just as eagerly, for a second anyway.

"Oh," Her face paled and her hand clenched in his hair.

"Max? Honey, what is it?"

"Call Sebastion, apparently little Max will listen to you but not to me."

Shifting himself into his wheel chair, Logan grinned. "We're having a baby?"

"Yes, I think so. And if you don't get Sebastion and the tech over here soon, you'll be delivering your own daughter."

"Yes, love. I'll be right back." He stroked a hand over her stomach on the way out of the room. "I better call Zack and Syl" the semi-frightening image of a labor-ridden Max crashed through his mind. *I better move any weapons too.*

"Come on, Max, lean on me."

"I can walk, Bling."

At the expression on her face, Bling obediently let go and stepped back. However when her knees buckled a second later, Bling took his life in his hands and Max in his arms.

"Relax, Mrs. Cale. You're in labor not in battle."

"When the pain stops I'll get for for that."

He dropped a kiss on her forehead and laughed. "When the pain stops, you'll be too busy with your newborn to beat me up." Bling carried her into the workout room and set her on the table. "Stay there, I'll be right back."

"Ugh. No, stay," her hand reached out blindly as her body hunched around the child. Bling took her hand, wincing at her crushing grip.

"Breathe, Max, remember to breathe."

"You try to breathe when your stomach's in a vice." Her grip tightened even more, driving Bling's breath from his lungs.
"Pregnant X-5's, I should've quit."

"Ughhh,"

"Max, I'm here, baby, I'm here." Rolling to her side, he reached for her. "Sebastion's on his way, so are Zack and Syl."

"Logan," Max reached for him, having released Bling's hand. "It hurts."

Logan took her hand and pressed it to his lips. "I know it hurts, Angel. I'm so sorry."

Another contraction hit and it was Logan's voice that made the pained noise. Max clenched her hand around his. The pain lessened and Logan felt the blood begin to circulate through his hand again.

"Max, love, I don't think I can hold your hand through this."

"Logan, stay with me. Don't leave." She clutched his hand closer.


"Never, Max. You know I would never leave you. But when you're in labor, you could break my hand."
"Oh," she released his hand immediately.


"I'm still here for you, Max." He pushed himself up beside her on the table, sliding to pull her back against his chest. "We're doing this together." He rested his chin on her shoulder and rubbed both hands over her stomach. "We'll get through this together."

Max covered his hands with hers and turned her head to look into Logan's eyes. "I don't think this is gonna be fun, so no matter what I say, I love you, Logan." She pressed a kiss to his lips.

"Max," he kissed her back, burying one hand in her hair. "I love you and I know you love me. And soon we'll be holding our little angel in our arms."

Bling stepped back into the room and laughed. "That's what got you two -- and me -- into this mess in the first place. Stop it, I'm not working here through another X-5 pregnancy!"

"Bling, you'd still be here if we fired you, so stop complaining."

Smiling Bling responded, "Well, whatever. I work here now and we gotta get you two ready for delivery." He tossed a huge hospital gown over Max's stomach. "Change into this, and don't forget your breathing. Sebastion and the others should be here any minute and I'll go get Cindy."

As soon as Bling disappeared around the corner, Logan helped Max out of her clothes. "Come on, Angel. It's time to have a baby." Pulling the gown over her head, Logan heard the door open.

"Logan, Max?" Zack's voice was a little panicked.

"We're here."

Zack entered the room with Syl only a step behind. "Is it time? Is the baby coming?"

"I juI just like sitting here in pain. Of course the baby's coming." Max's teeth clenched to hold in a pained sob and her nails dug into Logan's hand.

Logan's gasp pulled Zack into the room. He walked over to the table and pried Max's grip off Logan's hand.

"Max, watch your strength." Zack winced slightly as she transferred her grip to his hand. Syl followed suit and held Max's other hand between her own.

"Sorry, I can't help it." Max gritted out through her teeth. "It hurts."

"No problem, little sister, in a few months you can hold my hand and we'll be even."

Logan, for the most part, stayed in constant contact with Max. Cuddling her close against his body, he rubbed soothing hands over her skin, stroking her arms, face and stomach. Pressing his cheek to hers, he whispered softly and comfortingly. "It's gonna be all right. Hold on, Angel, breathe. Don't forget to breathe. Relax, love, I'm here and we're gonna be just fine."

"Logan, you-will-never-touch-me-again! This is your fault and I'm never gonna let you touch me again."

Logan smiled, "Take notes, Zack, Syl's gonna say the same things to you. All women do and they never mean it."

"Don't you tell me what I do or don't mean. As soon as this kid's outta me, I'll show you how this feels." Max hunchver ver in the strongest contraction yet.

"Shh, Angel, Max, be strong for me."

"You always fall for strong women." She leaned into his arms, squeezing Zack and Syl's hands.

"Only for you, Max, only for you."

Sebastion and medical help arrived between contractions when Max laid quietly in Logan's arms.
"How is she?" The mechanical voice somehow conveyed worry.

"We're okay, Sebastion. Thanks for coming."

"Anything for a friend, Max."

The tech stepped up to Syl. "Should we be prepared for two births tonight?"

"No, we're not due for over a month." Zack reached across the table to twine one hand with hers. "Our child isn't coming tonight."

"Good, one less worry." The tech pulled on a set of surgical gloves and pulled up a stool to sit between Max's ankles. "How far apart are the contractions?"

Logan checked his watch. "Less than five minutes."

"Good, we'll be done quickly th"
"

"We better be done soon, or I'm gonna run out of patience." Max groaned as another contraction ripped through her body.

Setting his hands on her ankles, the tech began coaching her. "Don't push yet, Max, don't push yet."

"Come on, love, relax."

"Good, Max, you're doin' great. Breathe."

Syl cradled Max's hand against her cheek. "Be strong, little sister."

"Gotta love a kick-ass female." Max loosened her grip just a touch, will power rega a l a little.

As the pain passed, Max's attention was drawn to a mark on the inside of Syl's arm. Releasing Zack's hand, Max pushed up the sleeve covering Syl's arm to see the imprint of Zack's teeth stand out clearly in her skin. Max turned to Zack with an expression somewhere between scolding and happy. "Zack, a wedding ring is a much more permanent way to claim someone."

The expression on Zack's face was a mixture of embarrassment and tenderness. Logan stepped in to rescue him from sisterly teasing.

"Max, honey, you're in labor. Arranging Zack's life isn't of the highest priority right now." Logan's hands stroked up and down her stomach, resting his cheek against hers. "We're having a baby."

"But, Logan, teasing Zack is a lot more fun than giving birth."

Seeing the beginnings of the next contraction on her face, Zack recaptured her hand. Mustn't let her hurt anyone. "I'll still be here after my niece is born. You can tease me later." He smiled over the table as Syl, twitching only slightly as Max tightened her grip.

"Okay, Max," The tech sitting between her ankles coached her comfortingly. "Max, listen, okay? On the next contraction we're gonna push."

"Okay," Max gritted out between clenched teeth. "Logan, I've decided, no-more-kids. This one is it. You hear me?"

Brushing a kiss on her cheek, Logan smiled. "Of course, dear."

"I'm not joking. I mean it. No-more-kids."

"Come on, Max, push."

Grunting with the contraction, she pushed, her grip crushing the hands holding hers.

"You're doing great, Max, breathe. Keep breathing."

The mindless drone of the tech blended with Logan's voice whispering in her ear. The only reality that was still solid was contact. Zack and Syl's hands in her. Logan's chest pressed to her back, his arms around her. The tech's gentle touch on her ankles.

The contraction passed and the tech's voice finally got her attention.

"Max, breathe and don't push."

She nodded, fighting to get control of herself and obey him.

"Max, honey, release your grip." Logan touched the back of her hand, feeling both grateful to and sorry for Zack. There were shallow crescent mark on his hand that filled blo blood the second the pressure was lifted. "Good girl,"

Zack flexed his hand, working to get back full circulation. Weak was not a word used to describe his little sister. *Not more than once, anyway. *

The next contraction hit sooner than expected as Max went into hard labor and her hands clenched on the first thing they touched--the flesh just above Logan's knees.

Logan halted Zack's move to pry her hands away. "It's okay, Zack. I can't feel a thing." Max's low groan cut off the conversation as Logan turned his attention to Max. Cradling her against his chest, he whispered encouragement in her ear. "Come on, Max-love, push."

"Push, Max."

"Yo, Mrs. Cale, I want to hold my niece." Zack rested one hand on her knee, "So hurry up and push."

Syl moved to stand behind the tech. "She's coming, Max, I can almost see her head."

The tech smiled, "Come on, Max, push. One more big push for me."

Max ground her teeth together and concentrated all her strength on one last push.

"I can see her, Max. You're almost there."

"I love you so much, Max," Logan supported her with his body, his love, and his voice. "Hold on for me. Just one more push."

She bore down, digging her nails into the senseless skin of his legs. Max's cry matched the first wail of her daughter -- their daughter.

Sebastion rolled uxt txt to the tech to see the child.

"How is she, Sebastion?" Logan asked as he cuddled a tired Max in his arms, gently stroking her face.

Syl answered before Sebastion could have possibly started to. "She's beautiful, Logan, absolutely perfect."
Max kissed Logan on the cheek, "We have a baby girl."

Smiling widely into her eyes, Logan replied, "Yes, we do. Thank you, love."

Then they both turned to the tech still sitting at the foot of the t, sa, saying simultaneously. "I want to see her."
A burst of laughter around the room later, a squalling red bundle was laidtheitheir arms.

Max immediately unwrapped the blanket and examined the child, looking for fingers, toes, and barcodes. Finding the right amounts of the first two and a complete lack of therd, rd, she relaxed.

"Max, she's beautiful," Logan marveled at the child they'd made. Dark hair lay matted to golden skin and the occasional glimpse of blue appeared as the girl opened and closed her eyes. Delicate hands waved in the air before one clenched around Logan's finger with surprising strength.

Max turned to Sebastion, "Is she okay?"

He smiled, "Everything looks fine, Max. She's perfect."

Zack reached out hesitantly and brushed a fingertip over the baby's hand. "She's so small."

"That's what size they start at." Syl whispered, sliding into Zack's arms as they both stared down at the gi

Tightening his arms around Syl, Zack rested a hand on her stomach. "Will ours be that small, too?"

"Maybe,"

A door slammed ae fae far end of the apartment and Cindy's voice rang out, "I didn't miss it, did I?"

Logan laughed, "Just barely, Cindy. Come and see my girl."

Cindy stopped into the room a few feet ahead of Bling. Barely sparing the others a glance, she rushed to the table. "Max, Logan, how is she?"

Max shifted the newborn to face Cindy. "She's beautiful."

"She's red, and wrinkled, and tiny. At least she's got your hair." Smiling, Cindy cradled one tiny hand in hers--pale gold against chocolate brown. "She's beautiful, boo."

Max smiled, laying back in Logan's arms. "She's too small for her leather jacket."

Bling leaned over the table, "She got a name yet?"

"Sylvia..." Logan looked over at Max. They'd decided to each choose one name and argue about it later.

"Katherine Cale," Max smiled as Logan's eyes softened. Katherine had been his mother's name.

Bling laughed, "Sylvia Katherine Cale it is, let me hold her." He reached out for the baby just as several voices protested. "Hey, it's not my fault none of you asked first. Gimme the girl." He cradled the tiny child in his arms. "Hey, Sylvi. I'm your uncle Bling and when your daddy's too busy working you can hang out with me."

"Oh, Bling. That's enough, I want my turn." Cindy lifted the child into her arms. "Hey, baby-boo, you gotta come stay at my place when the parents are too boring."

Logan whispered in Max's ear. "Do you see a trend here? All our friends are going steal our kid 'cause we're boring."

She smiled, trailing a fingertip over his lips. "Hey, free babysitting and we get a little time to ourselves. They can say whateveey wey want." As they shared a kiss, the girl changed arms again.

"Hi, Sylvi, I'm your Aunt Syl and this is your Uncle Zack." She pressed the child's hand to her stomach. "And this is your cousin. He'll be out to see you soon." As if he knew what was going on, the baby inside Syl placed several kicks against the newborn's hand.

Max laughed. "They'll get along great, if they don't kill each other first."

Zack stroked a finger over Sylvi's cheek, "They'll get along, they're family."

"Hey, my daughter just got here and everyone's held her more than I have. Bring her back." Settling back with Sylvi in one arm and Max in the other, Logan smiled at his girls. "She looks like you, Max. She's so beautiful."

Max placed a palm against his cheek. "Don't forget she has your eyes, Logan."

Sebastion rolled up to the table-side, reaching out a shaking hand to touch Sylvi's cheek. His mechanical voice holding warmth, he said, "A perfect little Angel."

"Amen."

***